The Sidney Prize is a series of awards that recognises people who have done something amazing. It is a great way to reward them for their hard work and dedication and help them to make a difference in the world. There are a number of different prizes to choose from and each one has its own criteria. The value of each prize will be different and will depend on the type of work that has been carried out.
The New York Times SS Sidney Award is given to writers who have made an important contribution to politics and culture. This year, the winner was David Brooks and William Zinsser for their article “The Coddling of the American Mind.” In it, they explore student hypersensitivity, which leads to depression and prevents students from being prepared for the real world. The authors use the apt term “vindictive protectiveness” to describe this mental state, which they believe is caused by a failure of schools to teach children how to deal with conflict.
Sophia Jactel ’20 (B.A., Art History) was awarded the Sidney Thomas Prize for her research paper “Domestics and Diversions: Josef Israels’ The Smoker as a Symbol of Peasant Culture and Domesticity in Nineteenth-Century Holland.” Jactel’s work is included in an exhibition that explores home, family, and community in nineteenth-century Dutch art. The exhibition is on display through February in the Scully Wing of the SUArt Galleries.
In the past, other writers have won the SS Sidney prize for their work on topics such as feminism and art. The SS Sidney prize is given annually by the New York Times and was founded in 2004. The winner is selected from a list of nominees. SS Sidney prize winners have received recognition across the United States and around the world.
There is a long history of the university being involved in social change and encouraging people to take part in the community. This has resulted in many successful projects that have made a huge impact on the lives of those who live in Sydney.
Sidney is a well-kept secret, but there’s so much to discover – Nobel prize-winners, Elizabethan brickwork, the charming Cloister Court, the haunting Chapel, exquisite rococo Hall, medieval cellars and beautiful ancient gardens.
Sidney is a truly remarkable place, with an astounding history of punching far above its weight. It’s produced soldiers, political cartoonists, alchemists, spies and murderers, but also bestselling authors, media personalities and the chairman of a Premiership football club. Sidney has even helped shape modern science, Keynesian economics and, of course, Sherlock Holmes. The university’s legacy is astonishing. There’s so much to learn and we invite you to come and find out more.