Happy Birthday · Issue 859, by Will Taylor

Cardiff University’s ‘Year of Giving’ began last week with a light display in front of the Main Building to celebrate its 125th anniversary

January marked the start of a celebratory year to mark Cardiff University’s 125th anniversary.

The official date for the University’s 125th anniversary is not until October 24, but a whole year of celebrations are planned to mark the milestone event.

Celebrations began with a spectacular illumination of the University’s Main Building.

2008 is being called the ‘Year of Giving’ by the University and is the main focus for the year’s events.

The University has said the ‘Year of Giving’ would include celebrations of past, present and future achievements by all involved with the institution.

Dr David Grant, Cardiff University’s Vice Chancellor, said: “Our 125th anniversary is about celebrating all that our staff and students have achieved but also recognising the potential of all that can and will be achieved in the future.

“We will celebrate the foundations on which we have built our current successes, and we will recognise the distance we still have to travel.”

Further events include concerts, award ceremonies, conferences, lectures, sporting and other cultural and social events, which the University says are “all designed collectively to bring together the widest range of people to mark this important year.”

Dr Grant said: “Further events and activities are still in the planning stage and your views on how we celebrate our past, our present and our future are welcome.”

The University is also calling for today’s staff, students and alumni to join in the ’125 for 125’ appeal.

It is hoped the appeal to create 125 new scholarships will help the next generations of students meet their fee and living costs at Cardiff.

The first £100,000 of donations made will be matched by the University as a sign of their commitment to the ’125 for 125’ appeal.

Grant commented on the appeal, saying: “Cardiff University giving to its various communities and stakeholders, and the stakeholders in their turn giving something back to the University.”

The appeal is one of many projects, planned to improve the future of the University.

Projects for the future have significant focus on bettering sports facilities for students studying at Cardiff University.

The planned improvements include the building of three floodlit all-weather tennis courts at the University Sports Complex, a total refurbishment of the old Field Hall sports centre, and new gyms inside both the Students’ Union and the University Sports Complex.

Non-sport related improvements include a new Cancer Research Unit at the Heath Park Campus and a new main entrance to the School of Biosciences on the Cathays Park Campus.

Hannah Davies, captain of Economics netball, said of the improvements: “I have always been happy with the sports facilities at Talybont, but I can see how for some sports the facilities may need to be improved.”

In addition to improvements on campus, the University is also running on-going competitions, including one focused upon photography.

The competition invites students to photograph in a range of different categories, such as the University Campus, their working or social life at University, or to simply use their imagination.

The 125th celebrations have been met with wide support from people in and around the University.

University President Neil Kinnock said: “This is a University which for 125 years has put something substantial back into this part of South East Wales as well as Wales more widely.”

Kinnock’s support was echoed by Jane Hutt AM, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, who said: “I hope that this year provides Cardiff University with the platform to showcase its many past achievements.”