15 October 2010

Staff and students get set to square off once again

Photo opportunity: 6pm on Thursday, 21 October at Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee. The third annual staff v students University Challenge will take place.

Here is your starter for 10 - who are the favourites for this year’s staff v students Dundee University Challenge?

The students stormed to victory in the inaugural event in 2008, but the staff team mounted a stunning comeback to overcome a 100 points deficit and snatch victory on the final bonus question last year. With the score now tied at 1-1, both sides will be going out to secure bragging rights, and raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) when they go head-to-head again on Thursday, 21 October.

The showdown takes place at the University’s Dalhousie Building from 6pm, and organisers are hoping that a large audience of staff, students and members of the public come along to support the popular event and help raise money for a worthy cause.

Returning captain of the student team Gary Cocker said he was looking to avenge last year’s defeat and restore some student pride.

'My team and I can't wait to (hopefully) exact our revenge on the staff this year,' he said. 'Having stormed into a 90-point lead only to throw it away we're determined to put the past behind us this year and return the trophy to student hands.

'We had a lot of fun last year despite our loss and we did really enjoy ourselves. Since this is my last year at University somebody else will have to take over next year so I hope students really engage with it and want to take part.

'I’d say we’re confident, but are trying to keep a lid on things because I think over-confidence played a part in our defeat last year. The team members study a range of humanities and science subjects so hopefully we’ve got a good spread of knowledge.'

This year’s staff team includes University secretary Dr Jim McGeorge, English lecturer Dr Brian Hoyle, and Dr David Edwards from the Dental School.

Dr McGeorge said, 'Now that we’ve tasted victory there’s no way we’ll be surrendering our title lightly. We showed our experience last year by keeping our heads even when we’d fallen behind, and that will stand us in good stead again.

'This has quickly become one of the most popular events in the University calendar and I’m sure everyone will have a great time once again. We’re looking forward to it and won’t be giving the students a head-start of 100 points this time around!'

All money raised at this year’s event will go the DEC, an umbrella organisation for thirteen humanitarian aid agencies including Oxfam, Islamic relief and the British Red Cross. The DEC's latest appeal is for the floods in Pakistan, where over 20 million people have been affected. They have also been raising money in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake as well as Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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