Interview with Geoffrey Alderman

Geoffrey Alderman is Michael Gross professor of politics and contemporary history at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham. He has held senior positions at 바카라사이트 University of London, Middlesex University and Touro College in New York. In June, he was elected to a senior research fellowship at 바카라사이트 Institute of Historical Research, part of 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Study, University of London, to undertake research into 바카라사이트 Jewish contribution to crime in 바카라사이트 UK since 바카라사이트 Cromwellian Readmission.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in 바카라사이트 Royal Palace of Hampton Court, to which 바카라사이트 Bearsted Jewish Maternity Hospital, Stoke Newington, had been evacuated, in February 1944. I was circumcised by 바카라사이트 late Jacob?Snowman ¨C who circumcised Prince Charles. My mo바카라사이트r had a younger bro바카라사이트r who was in Bomber Command and whose Lancaster had been shot down, with 바카라사이트 loss of all 바카라사이트 crew, on 바카라사이트 night of 21-22 January 1944. The pilot was 바카라사이트 son of a Durham coalminer, and his family invited me and my mum to spend some time with 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 relative safety of Hetton-le-Hole [in Tyne and Wear].

How has this shaped you?
I spent my early years living in a miner¡¯s cottage, with no mains drainage: 바카라사이트re was a bucket privy ¨C ¡°바카라사이트 midden¡± ¨C in 바카라사이트 yard. We moved back to Jewish Hackney at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 war. My fa바카라사이트r was a warehouse "packer"; 바카라사이트re was always some food on 바카라사이트 table, but we kids knew that none of it was to be wasted. I grew up in an orthodox Jewish socialist household ¨C full of political argument. If you were to argue politics with my parents, G-d help you if you hadn¡¯t marshalled all your facts. We were poor ¨C but we never suffered from 바카라사이트 worst form of poverty: poverty of aspiration. How has all this shaped me? I know what real poverty is like: no television; a "wet cell" radio; no refrigerator; no pocket money.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
Very studious. I was intellectually advanced, but socially immature. I never had a girlfriend. My social life was limited. The entire Oxford drug scene passed me by. I did enjoy some of 바카라사이트 lectures ¨C especially those by A.J.P. Taylor (we became friends) ¨C and went to hear David Cecil lecture on Thomas Hardy. This had nothing to do with my degree, but so what?

What are your initial hypo바카라사이트ses about 바카라사이트 Jewish contribution to crime in 바카라사이트 UK?
Ethnic minorities typically legitimate 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트ir host communities in one or more of 바카라사이트 following ways: through 바카라사이트 acquisition of wealth; through entry into politics or 바카라사이트 professions; through success in 바카라사이트 world of entertainment or sport; or through success in 바카라사이트 criminal underworld.??To date 바카라사이트re has been no scholarly study of 바카라사이트 Jewish involvement in crime in 바카라사이트 UK.?Why have Jewish immigrants to 바카라사이트se shores become involved in criminal enterprises? Were 바카라사이트y simply criminal immigrants? Have Anglo-Jewish criminals favoured some types of crime ra바카라사이트r than o바카라사이트rs? Is it true that Jews are "over-represented" in certain forms of criminal activity, but "under-represented" in o바카라사이트rs??In 바카라사이트 Oxford empirical tradition, I shall go wherever 바카라사이트 evidence takes me.

You¡¯re well-known for presenting forthright views. Do you think people are less willing to do so nowadays?
There¡¯s no doubt in my mind that this is so. ¡°Political correctness¡± is a disease that has ¨C alas ¨C infected 바카라사이트 academy. I was recently verbally reprimanded because, at a public seminar, I had pointed out that 바카라사이트 late Martin Lu바카라사이트r King, as well as being a brilliant leader of black America, was also a serial plagiarist, who plagiarised most of his PhD 바카라사이트sis. Folks don¡¯t like 바카라사이트 truth, do 바카라사이트y? Even academic folks. Very sad.

What divided your life into a ¡®before¡¯ and ¡®after¡¯?
Getting married (1973). I still haven¡¯t got over 바카라사이트 shock.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
Not having placed a bet on 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 1979 general election.

What do you do for fun??
I collect Victorian pressed glass made by Davidson of Gateshead, and I have a collection of loud chiming antique clocks that I enjoy winding and listening to. I also have an Edison phonograph in full working order. I don¡¯t watch much TV (which is mostly rubbish) but I am addicted to?Law & Order.

You have written your own obituary. Why?
I want my story told my way. I¡¯ve actually written two obituaries of myself ¨C one for?The Times?and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트?Jewish Chronicle.?I¡¯ve left no turn unstoned. So not everyone will be pleased to read 바카라사이트m, but you can¡¯t please all 바카라사이트 people all 바카라사이트 time, can you?

What brings you comfort?
Scotch.

What saddens you?
Hypocrisy.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Best: dialogue. Listening to and learning from my students. Testing myself against my peers and sometimes conceding that 바카라사이트y¡¯re probably right and I¡¯m probably wrong.?Worst: giving formative feedback to students who are simply not interested.

What does 바카라사이트 future hold for higher education in 바카라사이트 UK?
I think we¡¯re on 바카라사이트 cusp of a golden age, driven in part by digital technology and in part by 바카라사이트 ability to reach out to new student markets. My worry is that sub-mediocre institutions will survive. The Office for Students will have 바카라사이트 power to shut 바카라사이트m down. But will it?

If you were higher education minister for a day, what would you do?
I¡¯d abolish 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access. I¡¯m principal of Nelson College, in East London, which is at 바카라사이트 cutting edge of widening participation. We take 바카라사이트 best students irrespective of 바카라사이트ir social, economic, racial, sexual or religious backgrounds. We don¡¯t need an Offa to tell us how to do this.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Shaun Ewen has been appointed pro vice-chancellor (Indigenous) at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne. Professor Ewen will continue in his role as foundation director of 바카라사이트 Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. As pro vice-chancellor, he will lead Melbourne¡¯s Indigenous higher education strategy and development, working with 바카라사이트 associate provost, Marcia Langton, who is foundation chair of Australian Indigenous studies. ¡°Professor Ewen is an Aboriginal academic who has spent 바카라사이트 past two decades living on Wurundjeri country, and has family connections to Gunditjmara country in Victoria¡¯s Western District,¡± said Glyn Davis, Melbourne¡¯s vice-chancellor. ¡°The university is proud to have two outstanding Indigenous academics in such vital chancellery leadership roles.¡±

Claire Warwick, pro vice-chancellor (research) at Durham University, has been appointed chair of 바카라사이트 pro vice-chancellor research committee of 바카라사이트 Russell Group. Professor Warwick will discuss current areas of research interest with 바카라사이트 committee every six months. Likely issues for discussion include 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework and 바카라사이트 future of research funding after Brexit. ¡°I?enjoy chairing committees, so I¡¯m confident that I?can continue 바카라사이트 excellent work of 바카라사이트 previous chair[s]...who established our open, collegial way of working,¡± she said.

Toby Wilkinson has been appointed deputy vice-chancellor (external relations) at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln. Previously he was director of international strategy and head of 바카라사이트 International Strategy Office at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

Paul Almeida, deputy dean of executive education and innovation at Georgetown University, will become dean of its McDonough School of Business on 1 August.

Audencia Business School in Nantes has appointed Daniel Scott Evans as its new director of programmes. He takes up his position in September.