SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER, 2016 – UWI TODAY
9
CAMPUS NEWS
One of themost beloved aspects
ofThe UWI Graduation
ceremonies is the live music courtesy the Department of
Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) and accompanying
bands. DCFA Head of Department and Senior Lecturer
Jessel Murray gave us a behind the scenes glimpse into
what the production process for the big band sound
driving all our Graduation ceremonies’ pomp and
circumstance.
DCFA oversees the recruitment and supervision of
the bands that providemusic for the respective ceremonies
(Police Band and UWI Arts Steel in 2016). The Head of
Department (HOD) also consults with the Coordinators
of the Performing Arts Units (principallyMusic andmore
recently Dance) to provide interludes. Lecturers make
recommendations and the HOD ultimately decides on
the scheduling – though sometimes depends on student
availability. Dance pieces are usually proposed based on
previously developed concert material.
DCFA is always striving to present music which
has a high impact whether it’s a traditional piece such
as
Old Man River
, an esoteric Chinese Dance Duet
performed by students who are recent graduates of the
Beijing Academy as well asThe University, or the equally
esotericMarimba Duet performed by percussion students
of the DCFA. When it comes to coordinating with the
Police Band typically the ensemble decides on its own
repertoire, however, there are certain mandates – the
prelude consists of freely chosen music, followed by the
required processional music for academic procession,
and lastly the platform party. The last musical element is
recessional music for the entire company.
Outside ofTheUWI GraduationCeremonies, DCFA
has been in high demand for several similar ceremonies.
In the past three years, they have received numerous
requests for Faculty graduations including the Faculty
of Humanities and Education (FHE). The DCFA has also
been requested for seminar openings, workshops, and
many other events. Services may be asked for a rendition
of the National Anthem (either sung or played), other
times it may be for full scale performances or background
music for a reception.
The DCFA also recognises the achievement of their
talented graduates beforehand and continues to showcase
their multifaceted artists through a host of concerts
and exhibitions throughout the academic year. The
Dance Unit has major performances at the end of each
semester –
Fete de la Dance
and
Sole to Sole
respectively
while the Music Unit has nine ensembles that includes
The UWI Arts Chorale and The UWI Arts Steel (who
perform together many times),The UWI Arts Percussion,
UWI Arts Guitar Ensemble, UWI Arts Classical Indian
Ensemble, The UWI Arts Jazz and UWI Arts Wind
Ensembles.
For more information about DCFA,
please contact Joseph Drayton at
645-1955 or visit their website:
/
Creating an
ambiance of Pomp
and Ceremony
As I looked through
the entire lists of awardees commencing in 1994
I recognised that this year the diversity of our group is unparalleled
in the history of these exercises. My colleagues and I are all first
timers to these awards but I have no doubt that each of us in some
way has been celebrated in the past for our achievements. Yet, this
is the first time that we have come before our University of the West
Indies community in this manner to be celebrated for our diverse
achievements.
The list of prior achievers of this award is full of colleagues who
have distinguished themselves and is drawn fromall the departments
and disciplines housed or practiced atThe UWI. However, this is the
first time that a person in the field of sports has been so honoured
and it is the first time in fifteen years that there is an awardee in the
field of performing arts/culture.
So on behalf of my colleagues and co-awardees, we thank
the Selection Committee, for your bold choices that have led us
to being recognised. The range of work that is acknowledged by
these awards showcase the burgeoning diversity of educational
pursuits at The University of the West Indies. Indeed, our current
diverse slate of awardees is a meaningful
start
to the recognition of
broader approaches in academia that are now resident within the
hallowed walls of our institution. We urge the Selection Committee
to continue to execute their duties with this level of diversity and
inclusivity.
While putting my thoughts together for this occasion, it has
crossedmymind that while we are outwardly diverse – by disciplines
and interests, wemight not be diverse in the pathwe took to this level
of community wide recognition. I think we are primarily driven by
our students – that we believe that their success as human beings is
equally composed of social and emotional needs that are important
to their academic, athletic, and artistic endeavours.
We are constantly aware that our own successes in our discreet
fields allows us to be profiled as role models and we are under
constant scrutiny by those in our charge. And yet, we have to, at
times, let our guard down to allow students to know that we too do
not always get it right, that we are after all ‘human’ and we empathise
with their own struggles to achieve excellence. We know that our
research does not always yield the desired result when we wish it to;
our teaching methods, which are under constant revision, do not
always yield the desired results to diverse student populations; our
attempts at social outreach do not always yield fairy tale results. I
can tell you that some performances will draw polite, even bored
reactions from audiences followed by other days with raucous
enthusiasm. Yet, it is the sumof our drive to be constantly better - to
always regard a new project as Brian Lara would - after every century
innings we start back at zero. So, how did we even reach our desired
goals and levels of expertise in these diverse fields?
Professor Verene Shepherd of the Institute for Gender and
Development Studies shared that she, “always wanted to be a
historian.” Professor Shepherd further stated that she liked the
subject in school and liked it even better at UWI after shemet Kamau
(known as Edward) Brathwaite. She stated that it was his lyrical and
dramatic style of teaching and his interest in using the past to explain
the present that piqued her interest. She also said, that “the History
Department always had a mission to use scholarship for the good
of the people and so outreach was taken for granted in the tradition.
Professor Jayaraj Jayaramanmused that, “since my childhood I
had two career options; to become a doctor to serve the community;
[and] if not, be a good scientist to do research on real-life problems
and use science for obtaining sustainable solutions.” He further
stated that “he gets eternal satisfaction whenever he finds that his
research outcome has addressed a problem.” He concluded that “he
does not regret missing medical school but rather feels blessed to
work as a researcher on core issues on human health. He is doubly
happy for being a good scientist and an effective teacher.” I believe
that Dr Farid Youssef who was honoured tonight for excellence in
teaching in the Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences would concur
whole-heartedly with the totality of this statement.
Professor Jennifer Knight-Madden decided to be a doctor at
age five, because she wanted to own an ophthalmologists’ chair and
thought it was great. Her mother informed her that only doctors
had such chairs, and she therefore made her career choice! She
further stated that playing and enjoying hockey, with little talent,
she learned to be persistent and committed and it led her eventually
to make the national team. I know that our colleague Floyd Reifer,
the first awardee for excellence for University service in sports is
simply saying “I told you so”!
I, myself was torn between the world of science, economics
and music. However, like honoured colleagues here including the
vast provide of educational services at the Department of Electrical
and Computer Engineering, I was always passionate about teaching.
Strangely enough, even though I come from a family of teachers
(both of my parents were teachers) I was warned by my late mother,
Sylvia Murray, an eminent educator, to think about commitment
to this field because I was told that the gains from it would pale
in significance to those of my so called ‘upward bound’ peers. I
pondered on her advice and
still
made the decision to be a teacher in
the performing arts. It is a rare privilege to be both a performer and
a teacher helping to build on the nascent efforts of my predecessors
in ensuring that The University of the West Indies recognises that
two performance disciplines: sports and arts/culture are brought
into full recognition.
Certainly, our Vice-Chancellor has been leading the way on
many fronts inclusive of the need to recognise the value that our
sportsmen and women bring diverse and inclusive University
experience.
My colleagues and I recognise that this singular honour afforded
us this evening in all of its splendid diversity is an affirmation of
years of dedicated work supported by many colleagues and the
wider University community. Each of us had a Head of Department,
a Dean, a Principal, and many, many other colleagues who have
supported our work. To each and everyone of you – we say thank
you! You have a share in these awards! Professor Knight-Madden
summarises this succinctly and powerfully when she intones “This
award is special tome. It is recognition frommy almamater. Despite
having attended others, UWI is MY university; three generations of
women in my family have graduated with diverse degrees and gone
on to serve their country and region. It recognises my work and the
great teams that I have been part of over these years.”
In closing and at the risk of being repetitive, the primary
driver towards these awards is working towards the betterment of
our students. I can only imagine that it is they who will cause us to
continue to exert the effort towards other and greater achievements.
Diverse
and
Dedicated
b y J e s s e l M u r r a y
All VC Award winners stand for a moment in time with senior members of the admin and academic staff of The UWI
