Headlines

The editorial staff of the U-blad will take its annual Christmasholidays after publication of the current issue. The editorialoffices will be closed until Thursday, January 6. The first issuein 2000 will appear on January 13. In this first issue of themillennium, U-blad will devote one page to photographs representingimpressions of readers' millennium experiences. If you plan to takea particularly beautiful or special photograph during the festiveseason, please send it to us with your name, mailing address andall the accompanying information about the photograph you thinknecessary. Our

external mailing address is: Redactie U-blad, PO Box 85.232,3508 AE Utrecht (U-blad, Bestuursgebouw, if you use internal mail).Every photographer published will receive a small prize. Finally,we the U-blad editorial staff extend our best wishes to our readersfor the whole of the festive season, including a happy New Year in2000!

Jesus

Paul Verhoeven, the film-maker, will present his views on filmsabout Jesus in the Educatorium on Friday January 21. The creator ofBasic Instinct, Striptease and the Dutch film of the century,'Turks Fruit' (Turkish Delight), has been preparing a film aboutJesus for years. He therefore seems to be the obvious person torefute the symposium's theme that, 'Making a film about Jesus is animpossible task'. The symposium is being organized by the Facultyof Biblical Studies of the Roman Catholic Theological University ofUtrecht (RCTU). Applied theologian T. van den Berk will endeavor toshow with the aid of various fragments that it really is impossible- in spite of the more than 115 films in existence - to make arealistic film about Jesus. A panel discussion will round off theday. Prospective participants must register with the RCTU beforethe end of this year.

Celtic studies.

The Board of the Faculty of Arts wants to close down theDepartment of Celtic Studies. The Faculty is in severe financialtrouble and is working seriously on reducing the number of coursesit offers. In the Faculty's opinion Celtic studies attracts too fewundergraduates. In addition, the Faculty doubts whether the currenttotal of 39 Faculty Chairs can be maintained. The Chair of Celticwill fall vacant on November 1 2001, when the present holder,Professor Doris Edel, is due to retire. Celtic studies plays animportant role in Medieval Studies in Utrecht.