February newsletter 2024
Welcome to your February newsletter. This month we’re excited for longer days and slightly warmer weather on campus.
If January feels like the longest month of the year, then February is definitely the shortest! This month many of us will be thinking about Spring cleaning, so we have a special Spring Cleaning request for you in this newsletter. This month we’ll also begin asking our Class of 2024 to get involved with their yearbook.
Supporting our fantastic community
This month, we’ll be marking LGBTQ+ History Month, Time To Talk Day and the Lunar New Year.
LGBTQ+ History Month
February is LGBTQ+ History Month. On campus, our students will be able to access and attend a range of events throughout the month. There are also three events which are free for anyone to attend:
- On Wednesday 7 February, Free Speech and Hate Speech: Analysing ‘anti-gender’ discourse will discuss this important topic with York St John’s Professor Helen Sauntson.
- Join Dom&Inkon Tuesday 13 February for a fascinating conversation about their work, including illustrating RuPaul’s Drag Race and their new graphic novel.
- Can You Adam and Eve It? Queering Heterosexuality in Genesis will be held on Wednesday 21 February as a hybrid event hosted by our Centre for Religion in Society.
You can browse our other upcoming events on Eventbrite.
Lunar New Year
On Saturday 10 February, millions of people around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year. In many cultures, each year is also associated with a zodiac animal, with 2024 being the Year of the Dragon.
You can find out more about the Lunar New Year in an article from the Royal Museums Greenwich.
Time to Talk Day
Thursday 1 February is Time to Talk Day. An annual awareness day held every February, Time to Talk Day is an opportunity to start a conversation about mental health.
- Time to Talk have some advice for having a supportive conversation about mental health
- Mind’s website has several guides and articles full of tips about everyday living and mental health.
- Our Communities Centre runs a range of drop in sessions, and also provides counselling and coaching services for local people. You can learn more about our Communities Centre on our website.
Looking back…
York and flooding
Last time you visited York, you might have seen an interesting plaque in Tower Gardens (near Clifford’s Tower). In Tower Gardens, a plaque marks the flood heights of major flood years in York and in a recent blog post, York Civic Trust explained more about York and it’s flooding years. Apparently, the highest flood waters were recorded in the 17th Century!
Find out more about York, its flood defences and its historical flood records on their blog.
Pancake Day
On Tuesday 13 February, many alumni will enjoy a pancake to mark Shrove Tuesday. Commonly known as Pancake Day, it’s probably also the day our smoke alarms go off the most in our student accommodation!
But why pancakes? If you’ve ever wondered, English Heritage have an insightful blog all about why pancakes, and why Shrove Tuesday is on a different Tuesday every year.
A Ripon College ‘mystery’
Last month, we went down a rabbit-hole when we began looking into the history of this photo. We did everything from a spot-the-difference between other library images, to researching the history of using gas before electricity to light our homes and workplaces!
Learn more about this photo on our blog.
Spring cleaning
February might be the ideal time to Spring Clean your home, but it’s also a great time to make sure we have your correct details too. If you’re not sure if we have your current details, please update your details.
News from YSJ
Did you know that our academic staff also write articles for The Conversation? These articles often explain their research in easy to understand terms and give insights into their academic discipline.
- Somdip Dey, one of our Data Science lecturers, recently wrote about four ways AI will impact music.
- Kevin Buckle, a graduate Research Fellow at York St John, recently wrote about how Marvel’s Echo is a one-of-a-kind superhero.
Last month, York St John also published a report about the vital role of NHS wellbeing hubs, collaborated with other universities to create a green toolkit for space sector sustainability, and were awarded the prestigious Food for Life accreditation for our onsite catering.
York 10k
Last year a small but fantastic team of alumni and staff ran the York 10k to raise money for our alumni-funded scholarships. Thanks to their tireless fundraising, they raised nearly £1300 for our fund!
This year, our target is even bigger and we need your help to reach it.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner or have never run 10k before, we’d love you to join our York 10k team. Known as a personal best 10k because it’s such a flat course, it’s also great for beginners.
Run at your own pace and take in the city centre on Sunday 4 August 2024. All we ask is that you raise over £100 for our alumni-funded scholarships.
Tickets cost £15, which is £13 cheaper than if you buy them independently. In return, we’ll support your running and fundraising journey with frequent emails, support setting up your JustGiving page, and the opportunity to join team runs. You’ll also receive a YSJ tshirt.
We’re giving our fantastic alumni community the chance to join our team before we invite staff, students and supporters. So don’t wait too long, join our fantastic York 10k team this February.
Love is in the air
How many alumni met their life partner whilst studying with us, or because they studied with us? Every year, we enjoy sharing some of the fantastic love stories from our alumni community on Valentine’s Day. This year, there’s still time to take part! If you’d like to share your alumni love story with us, please email alumni@yorksj.ac.uk by Friday 9 February to be included.
You can read our love stories from 2023 and 2022 on our blog.
Upcoming events
York Colour & Light is back
If you’re in York this February make sure to see the Colour & Light projection at York Art Gallery from 6 to 25 February. Last year the projection was on the front of York Minster and was seen by over 45,000 people!
The projection display will run on a loop from 6pm to 9pm and is free to see. Find out more on the York Bid website.
Old Johns
Next month, our fantastic Students’ Union are hosting Old Johns on Saturday 2 March. Including match fixtures and student prices at the Students’ Union bar, you can register your interest in attending on their Facebook .
If you have any questions about fixtures, please email them directly. Their email address is sportunion@yorksj.ac.uk.
York Literature Festival
Next month, York Literature Festival is once again taking over our city! Including free and low cost events, York Literature Festival holds a range of events on different subjects. Alongside plenty of author events, the festival is also holding a children’s poetry workshop, a creative writing workshop on writing horror fiction; literary tours of York and an open mic night!
Browse York Literature Festival’s events on their website.
On campus events
There are plenty of free events happening across campus in February and March, including several as part of York Literature Festival. Other upcoming events include:
Browse our upcoming events on Eventbrite.
Our alumni community
Remembering Janey
Last month we were honoured to be included in a very special event at our Boat House. Over 40 alumni and loved ones gathered together to watch the unveiling of ‘Janey’ in memory of Jane Hunter, nee Brothwell. Jane’s friends and family also organised a fundraising appeal for the Boat Club in Jane’s memory, raising over £900 to support them.
You can read more about the event, and why Jane’s YSJ Legacy included the Boat Club, on our blog.
Webinars
This month we’re excited to release another fantastic webinar! Ros Denby graduated in 1986 and enjoyed a successful teaching career before deciding to return to university in 2015 to study Person-centred Psychotherapy. In 2019, Ros launched her own private counselling practice.
In our latest webinar, released on Monday 5 February, Ros discusses her fantastic career, gives advice on taking the leap to change career and much more. For a sneak preview, check out her alumni snapshot on Alumination.
