Labour students in Manchester suffered a severe blow in last week’s annual Union elections, as almost every member of their “Students First” coalition was defeated.

Unlike the Students First candidates, who maintained strong affiliations to the Labour Party and Jewish Society, candidates without party political backing experienced victory on numerous occasions.

There was no triumph for proponents of online voting however, despite expectations that it would boast participation. Shockingly, turnout increased by less than one per cent on last year, with only 8.9 per cent of the student population logging in to vote – that’s a woeful 3,605 votes compared to the more than 4,000 cast in the 2006 Union elections.

The largest margin of the night was won by Lib Dem Kate Little, standing for Academic Affairs Officer, who beat political rival and Socialist Worker Party member Dave Sewell by an overwhelming 766 votes. “I’m so happy that all the students at the University of Manchester have put education before politics,” said Little.

The battle for Campaigns Officer was won somewhat less solidly, with newly elected Laura Williams beating notorious megaphone man and member of Action Palestine Katan Alder on second-preference votes alone.

Reclaim the Uni activist Gabriel Hassantopped the bill after the fifth round of eliminations for the position of General Secretary, beating Labour candidate Richard Neudegg – “like an egg that is naked”, as he said at the Candidates’ Debate – by a convincing margin. Throughout the election, Hassan claimed he was proud of his recent conviction for “aggravated trespass” because it represented a triumph for student activism. “It’s a mixed Council next year and we’re going to be really progressive,” he said of the elections. “This entire Union is going to do a lot of social good.”

In what was perhaps the most deserving win of the election, former Student Direct Deputy Editor Jennie Agg quashed Reclaim the Uni campaigner and Student Direct novice Ruben Seveelaventhan by an impressive 560 votes. Since 2007, Seveelaventhan’s only contributions to Student Direct have been letters of complaint, as well as one Opinion article advocating vegetarianism. The disgruntled activist has persistently failed to pass a motion condemning this year’s publication at a number of General Meetings.

The biggest surprise of the night saw “random independent” Thomas Fairhurst defeating Mohamed Ghalaeiny, another prominent member of Action Palestine, by 237 votes, leaving Labour student and current Humanities Faculty Officer Alex James trailing in their wake. Fairhurst is perhaps most easily identifiable from his campaign video, which he begins with the words “blah blah blah”, deriding the slick public speaking skills and empty promises of the typical student politician.

Another candidate without overt political alliances, Jacques Graves, achieved the position of Student Activities Officer, beating his closest rival Islamic Society candidate Ahmed Khan by several hundred votes. Graves will now be in charge of almost 200 Union societies – despite never having been member of a society himself.

It was second-time lucky for Hands Off the People of Iran (HOPI) candidate Vicky Thompson, who was successful in her election as Welfare Officer, appearing undeterred by her defeat in the race for Campaigns Officer last year. Welfare was however won by the smallest margin of all the contests, with Thompson seizing victory over Jewish Society member Natalie Samuel by a mere 94 votes.

The position of Women’s Officer went to Hazel Kent, already an active member of UMSU women’s rights group The Riveters, who was unopposed in her election.

The blow to the Students First “slate” will have come as a shock to the many students who saw their rows of red and white carbon-copy banners and painted cardboard boxes littering campus throughout the week.

Lib Dem Chris Jenkinson, Academic Affairs Officer and newly elected Postgraduate and Mature Students Officer, claimed that the election constituted “an end to Labour Students in Manchester”. Chair of Manchester Labour Students and Students First Campaigns Manager Mike Joslin was understandably frustrated by the results. “I’m disappointed a convicted criminal was elected General Secretary by telling anyone who would listen that the opposing candidate was a member of the Labour Party,” he said on polling night.

But Students First weren’t alone in their embarrassment. Having run for the position of Academic Affairs last year, Campaigns Officer candidate Katan Alder was hoisted onto a friend’s shoulders in celebration after the second round of eliminations for the position. However, Alder’s festivities came to an abrupt end when Laura Williams was announced the winner in the third round – and supporters rushed to congratulate her instead.

The other non-sabbatical positions on Executive were gained by candidates on both sides of the political divide. Current UMSU Anti-Racism Secretary Oliver Worth secured Humanities Officer, unopposed Jewish Society member Shoshana Ajoodan-Poor is Life Sciences Faculty Officer, Electronic and Physical Sciences Faculty Officer went to Sara Mahmoud of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) and Medical and Human Sciences Faculty Officer was won by Adibah Abdullah (also FOSIS). The position of International Students Officer went to Suha Jafri, another Islamic Society candidate.

Click here to find out how each of the elected officers has been getting on during their year in office and read manifestos and reports from the latest UMSU Executive and Council meetings.

[First published in Student Direct in March 2009]

Threatening a police officer and drawing graffiti on a University wall during a student protest – those are the crimes that have seen former Communications Officer Alex Castro cautioned by police.

24-year-old Castro participated in ‘Reclaim the Uni’, a dramatic demonstration that took place during April of this year, alongside more than 200 other protesters.

Last year’s Student Direct reported that traffic was brought to a halt along the Oxford Road as the activists marched on the road in protest to contact hour cut-backs, insufficient library books and poor quality feedback from the University. The march resulted in a large policing operation, including riot vans and even a police helicopter.

Castro, at one time an active member of societies such as the Stop the War Coalition and Student Respect, attended a police station on Friday 10th October, following months of police investigation into the offences. He was interviewed and cautioned for criminal damage and a public order offence. The threatened police officer was the University of Manchester’s Police Liaison Officer, PC Scott Schofield.

Student Direct News Editor Jane McConnell was a witness to one of the offences, and was asked to give a statement to police. McConnell, who attended the march in a reporting capacity, said: “I was walking past Blackwell bookshop with the protest when I saw Castro threatening Scott.

“He had his arms outstretched and he was leaning forward in a menacing manner. I heard him shouting at them, ‘What are you doing here? Pigs!’”

Castro, who was last week elected as a delegate to NUS conference on behalf of UMSU, spoke to Manchester TV station Channel M on the day of the protest on behalf of the group. Speaking from the Arthur Lewis building, he told the broadcaster: “It’s really good that we’re occupying this building because we’re having this discussion on our demands to the University… We believe that education should be free for everyone.”

Organisers of the event have dismissed claims that Castro’s actions may be detrimental to the reputation of the pressure group. One of main planners, 20-year-old Philosophy student Gabriel Hassam, said: “Lots of incidents happened on April 22nd including the police setting off the fire alarm on purpose in the Arthur Lewis building, but it’s not individual incidents which are at stake, it’s the issues of quality of education, access to staff, working conditions for staff, contact hours – those are the issues we’re concerned with, not the individual incidents. 

“Alex Castro is responsible for his own behaviour.”

Police however expressed concern at the offences. PC Scott Schofield said: “Threatening behaviour towards anyone, including police officers, is unacceptable. During events such as large scale protests, police play a vital role in maintaining order and ensuring public safety.”

Castro, it appears, is no stranger to trouble. A candidate for the post of International Officer in last year’s Students’ Union elections, the half-Colombian half-German was disqualified from the selection amidst rumours that he had assaulted a lecturer and claims from Women’s Officer Jennie Killip that he had made sexist comments to one of her supporters.

Despite being made directly aware of Student Direct’s report and messages left on his answer phone, Castro declined to comment.

Unsurprisingly, current Communications Officer and active campaigner Robbie Gillett is also a prominent member of the Reclaim the Uni coalition, which has organised a number of smaller-scale demonstrations and discussions since April 22nd. Their Facebook group currently totals 800 members.

Reclaim the Uni have submitted a motion to next Wednesday’s General Meeting calling for the Students’ Union to endorse their campaign as union policy. Specific proposals include mandating Student Direct to publish a monthly column written by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Alan Gilbert, as well as an interview once a semester about “University goings-on”.

[First published in Student Direct in November 2008]

Elected. Not selected.

The past few months have been insane, across so many different levels.

Can I firstly start off by thanking all those who have taken the opportunity to get involved, you make my job worth while on every level – your support has been appreciated and it’s made a real difference.

Secondly, to provide a little background to this blog, it’s my chance to show you – the people who I represent the clear truth ( I don’t have time to spin ): not some mushy, manipulated view or hidden agenda, it’s about what I do, why I do it and how to get things done!

Another aspect to this blog, is to provide comment, opinion and insight into the things I love dearly – Communications, PR & the big bad world of Business!

Sort , sweet and simple.

Oh, one last thing… I wanted to make something very clear – this is MY OPINION NOT YOURS! The views expressed on this blog belong to me, no one else, they represent no organisation, institution or person – just little old me.

Check back soon for more.

Christopher

Students and police community support officers spread the Christmas spirit this week when they organised a special Christmas party for the residents of Keele village.

Around 22 villagers attended the party at Keele Village Hall, enjoying a buffet and a glass of mulled wine provided by the Sneyd Arms. Guests were also presented with a Christmas card, a Keele china mug and were also entered into a free prize draw.

Reverend Stuart Ansell from St John’s Church read out a Christmas tale and members of Keele Philharmonic Choir added to the Christmas spirit when they sang a number of Christmas carols. Children from St John’s School Choir also gave a festive concert which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Becky Wardell, project leader of the university’s volunteering society VE @ Keele, said: “We would like to extend thanks to everyone involved in making this event such a success, including the Keele Key Fund for providing the essential funding which enabled this event to go ahead. Feedback has been really positive and it is hoped that VE @ Keele can work with students to ensure a village Christmas party becomes an annual community event.”

The Students’ Union have been getting all social this semester. I don’t mean by going and talking to people -well they’ve never talked to anyone I know- but through the powers of Facebook and Twitter.

Has it worked though? When I check Facebook I generally skip by what ever the ULSU accounts have written, as do many others. Invitations to events? I don’t even check the information for the event but my answers is usually a no.

I have five ULSU accounts added as friends, I don’t know how many there actually are.

Ulse Welfare Facebook account

My flatmate Helen told me the other day that she had actually utilised the “hide” function on Facebook so the accounts no longer appear in her news feed. Her reason? They just keep posting stuff that she doesn’t care about. “He kept posting constantly things that were of no interest. There are so many updates and every other person is him [Ulsu Prez], I don’t care.”

Some of the accounts don’t even seem to be used to their full potential. Ulsu Comms (Emma Devine) last posted something on the 16th of October. Welfare is being used though, perhaps too much. I feel like I am being spammed out. I’m very tempted to follow suit and hide all of the Ulsu accounts.

The blog notes are completely uninteresting too. Yes, I know it’s nice that they’re there. Trying to let more people know what is happening but if they don’t get read what is the point?

Now don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a good effort to try and keep students updated it’s just that I feel Facebook is being abused and as such students are just ignoring it.

Does anyone have a completely different experience or does everyone tend to ignore it?

Earlier today, I wrote an essay-length comment over at John Peart’s website.

John made a keynote speech at the Quality Strategy Network’s Student Engagement Symposium on 9th December at Ashridge Business School and he kindly published the speech on his blog the next day.

The speech is about the challenges of student engagement in an age where the student population is so diverse, many have to work to supplement their income, and large numbers are part-time or distance learners.  The argument goes that in order to engage a hyper-diverse community, a hyper-diverse approach is required:

“…engaging students is never an easy task, but students’ unions need to continue to challenge themselves. No one method alone with cut it when you’re dealing with a student population that is so diverse.”

If you have time, I suggest you read the entire speech.

photo by Christopher Saccaro

It’s important stuff, which is why I wrote an essay in response.  And it’s why I’m posting my reply on here too:

My comment on John Peart’s blog

Hyper-diversity is difficult to achieve, despite being necessary. Just as you describe students as having wildly varying needs, different circumstances, must take on jobs, and so on, students’ unions are also isolated from influencing and helping students as much as they’d like to because of their increasing range of commitments.

Can a modern students’ union be truly representative of all students? It can get close. And I agree that officers and volunteers need to be active both online and offline. However, this further stretches them for time.

Your mention of 21% of undergrads feeling uninvolved in shaping their course and 21% of undergrads also wanting to be actively involved is interesting. How easy is it to become actively involved? I wonder how many students who don’t feel involved have tried to involve themselves further (and indeed, had the time to do so effectively). That’s a key issue for students’ unions, who are there to help in instances such as this. And while many unions are stepping up their game each year with great success, I’m still concerned that it’s difficult to make truly dynamic moves with such limited resources.

Many years back, unions could get support and engagement from students and vice versa by “being where the students are”. As you say, something like wallpapering corridors may have brought a good turnout. To an extent, that’s still the case. Trouble is, the students are absolutely everywhere and being bombarded by issues. So how do you spread out in order to reel everyone in to a particular cause, whilst demonstrating that their engagement would benefit them?

Obama’s election campaign worked well through the Web, since he had a strong presence on many services. But this took a lot of money and resources to make happen convincingly. Obama seemed to shock many people recently when he said he’d never used Twitter. But is that really such a surprise? Obama’s web presence must have been almost entirely worked on by other people, unless he’s a comic superhero with the power to stretch time to get everything done so well…

The big challenge in my mind is to help students realise how important it is for them to engage and campaign effectively. But here’s a little story that shows the difficulty of the situation:

When I had the pleasure to meet you a few weeks’ back at the Reading Town Takeover, the first person I spoke to on campus didn’t want to talk to me. I was looking for the students’ union and said “Excuse me?” to someone walking toward me. She kept her head low and pretended not to hear me, but clearly knew I was trying to get her attention.

I carried on by saying, “Sorry, I only want to know where the SU is please.”

She then looked up, smiled, and said, “Oh, you just want directions. Oh right, good, fine.”

After showing me the way, she walked off happy to have helped. I mentioned this later at the SU and was told that it’s no surprise as she’d probably been concerned that I was ‘yet another’ person out campaigning about this cause or that, trying to get her support. I was told the campus can get quite busy with people wanting your attention on all sorts of issues.

So do we increase engagement by being less engaged? Of course not. But this highlights the challenge faced on so many levels.

Still, it’s a challenge worth pursuing.

photo by gnackgnackgnack

It’s christmas at uni and we all know what that means, endless amounts of drinking. So many events coming up. Xmas party at the SU tomorrow in which I’m dressing up as a Shepard. Should be fun. I just need to find a large stick to use as a walking stick, so if you see me rummaging around in the trees outside you’ll know why…

Next week is the Snowball at Oceana! Woop! The Freshers ball was amazing and I can’t wait for this. Everyone’s getting hyped up by “Kano” who will be appearing, although I have no idea who he is.

Also got the SU “Drink the Bar Dry” which is where they try and get rid of all the stock before Christmas so sell stuff really cheap. I think I shall be taking advantage of this offer!

However overshadowing all of this is assignments and unfortunately they come first. So no fun until I get them done. The deadline is ticking away but thank god I’m ahead of schedule.

Today was quite boring if I’m being honest, I’ve done nothing but work and it’s driving me crazy. Me and Amy have our presentation tomorrow so wish us luck! Um, that’s all, I’m off to bed to watch a film (if Sky Player actually wants to work). It says that I have already registered another computer as my main one which isn’t true! Might have to ring them sometime… I need Sky Moviesss! GAHHHH!

Last week I wrote a post here with the title ‘68 lives on’, which was about two people who, at least in my life, played an important role in the events of 1968. One reader added a comment which made me feel all nostalgic: he was reading the post from the vantage point of a student occupation of the Library of Trinity College Dublin. My first immediate response was ‘God be with the days…’ And then I remembered that, on the same day, it was exactly the 35th anniversary of my own relatively brief foray into student politics, also in TCD. At the time I stood for (and was successful in) election to the role of student representative (actually, any self-respecting student would only ever say ‘rep‘) for my class of law students. And what was the order of the day: protests about catering, protests about rules concerning overnight visitors in student rooms, sit-ins and occupations. Yes, including a library occupation, which saved me because I spent the night revising ‘Legal System and Methods’, on which we were about to have a test a day or two later. I came top in the test, and always put it down to the occupation.

I have previously mentioned the great TCD student leader of the day, David Vipond. But on the national scene, a good few student activists in the Union of Students in Ireland or the various college unions who were around at the time went on to become prominent, particularly in politics. Right now the names of senior Labour Party politicians is a roll-call of student activists in the 1970s and 1980s.

But when I became a lecturer, the roles suddenly changed. Or maybe what I mean is, they didn’t change. I remained the radical, while the students I was teaching were often breathtakingly respectable (though also very gifted academically). It seemed to me then, and it still seems to me now, absolutely remarkable that in a discussion with a group of students I would have almost invariably been the most radical person in the room.

Nowadays students I talk to often just shrug at the mention of student politics. It’s not for them, or the particular political outlook they most like isn’t on the menu. And as these are challenging times, often what they want is to be left alone in order to prepare for their careers. They sometimes fear that being active in student politics, far from fine-tuning various skills, will in fact cut them out of key positions for the rest of their lives

I guess nobody could blame students for pursuing career goals. But I think it would be a great pity if the concept of student political activism were to fade away. As some of today’s more senior politicians show, student politics is good territory for practising relevant skills and for gaining an insight into the cut and thrust of political debate, and the process for negotiation and compromise. These are important skills not just for mature politicians, but also for aspiring leaders in business, the voluntary sector or even government itself.

So I did take heart a little from the Trinity library occupation. Though whether that warm feeling towards the student occupiers would survive an attempt to occupy anything in DCU is another matter.

This week has been a very busy one for me. On Thursday I attended the Students Union Annual General Meeting to vote on policies and to hear the results of the NUS Conference Delegates election in which I was running for office. To my great surprise I was elected as one of the eight to represent the university!

During the weekend I visited Bristol city centre and was amazed with the decorations around Broadmead, Cabot Circus and The Mall! The German Market was also great fun and the food was fantastic.

The busy week continues as I have a few assignments coming up which have to be handed in before Christmas.

However I’m looking forward to my practical assessment in Music, Drama and Expression coming up. Being observed teaching “Movement” aka. Dance. Let’s hope it all goes to plan!

I’m hoping that this Christmas will be a relaxing one after my first term at university. I very much doubt it though as I have an exam in January which I will be revising for… That’s all for now. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend! Chow.

Keele University students got together with Newcastle Borough Council to help clean up an area in Wolstanton this week.

Student volunteers collected a total of 23 bags of rubbish, debris and overgrown vegetation from where two paths lead down to the back of Wolstanton Retail Park, which Community Warden Joanne Morris then disposed of safely.

Joanne also provided all the equipment, including litter picking sticks, bin bags and high visibility jackets. Residents using the path to access the retail praised the good work the volunteers were doing.

Keele Volunteer Experience Project Leader Becky Wardell said: “This was a great opportunity to show that Keele students are responsible and valuable members of the community, who really do care about the local environment. It was also a great opportunity for us to work in partnership with Newcastle Borough Council.

“We are all responsible for the litter that we throw away, and hopefully, seeing a clean environment will encourage the litter bugs to be more respectful of the environment in future.”

If you would like to find out more about student volunteering at Keele, contact Becky Wardell at volunteering@kusu.keele.ac.uk or Tel: 01782 733626.

Keele University Students’ Union is making merry this Christmas with a festive indoor and outdoor market.

The Christmas Market takes place on Tuesday, December 8, from 10am to 4pm, with fresh local produce on sale outside on the central concourse area and gifts and crafts available in the Ballroom.

Stalls range from local farm fresh beef and pork to fresh fish and delicatessen goods to handmade glass, jewellery, Christmas cards and vintage homeware. Mulled wine and mince pies as well as live carols from the choir should all add to the festive atmosphere.

The star attraction is two real reindeer which will be outside on the concourse, along with their sleigh, between 11am and 3pm.

Marketing Manager Emma Walker, who is organising the event, said: “We are really looking forward to a fun event which will start the festive season with a bit of Christmas magic. Visitors will find unique Christmas gifts and lots of fresh local produce to stock their Christmas dinner table with, plus the opportunity to have their photo taken with real reindeer! We look forward to welcoming students, staff and local residents alike.”

For more information, or if you would like a stall at the Christmas Market, contact Emma Walker or Lee Bradshaw on 01782 733814 or marketing@kusu.keele.ac.uk

Last night’s PACT meeting at Cardiff University Students’ Union saw a mix of about 40 local residents and students get together to discuss issues affecting Cathays. The perennial issues of bins being put out on the wrong day, noise late at night and lack of car parking were raised. But there was also discussion about licensing landlords, which is currently out for consultation by the council.

PC Steph Samuel, Neighbourhood Beat Manager for Cathays, said: “Auto crime has gone through the roof.” There have been 51 crimes relating to cars in the past four weeks, but burglary figures are looking better, with just 16 in the past month.

There was a strong focus from the chairman, Jason Dunlop, General Manager of Cardiff Students’ Union, on not blaming all the ills of the district on its high student population. This didn’t necessarily go down all that well with the local residents.

Cliff Williams, 83, of Wyeverne Road, summed up the arguments of many in the room when he said: “Some students are inconsiderate. It is just the couple of odd ones that make it bad for everyone else.”

But Ed Dolding, Cardiff Students’ Union welfare and campaigns officer, explained that about 1000 students from Cardiff University volunteer at various charities and initiatives across the city. He said: “There are a lot of people out there putting a real effort in to improve this community.”

Cathays Councillor Elizabeth Clark revealed that applications to sell alcohol put in by Tesco and Spar on St Mary Street have been rejected. But the main news from the council was a plea for residents to fill in the surveys recently sent out about the licensing of HMOs (houses in multiple occupation), which is explained on the council website. The additional licensing survey can be accessed online either via Cardiff Digs or the council site.

The next PACT meeting will be on 8th February in Crwys Road Methodist Centre, Crwys Road (Fanny Street entrance).

Just a reminder that there will be a PACT meeting (Police and Communities Together) this evening, which is open for anyone to attend. It starts at 7pm in the Students’ Union.

See Our Bobby for more details.

If you can’t make it, be sure to check the blog later tonight for information about what was discussed.

Student engagement is the no longer the two sexiest words in post-secondary vernacular. All too often bandied about as a reason to do this or that, to spend this money or not spend any at all, the idea behind ‘student engagement’ has become almost meaningless. With students expected to pull A’s, work part time to support their academic career, maintain a semblance of a social life, and get involved in school activities it is no wonder that dark shadows grace many an eye and stress is palpable in the hallways.

At an institution, Students’ Unions are based around the very idea of an active and engaged student body and without such, these bottom up organizations would be fairly inconsequential. It is no wonder then that our very own Students’ Union, the ULSU, constantly fights the good fight, proving that our UofL students are active and responsive. At the very least, page twelve of The Meliorist proves that there is somewhat of a Chuck Norris loving – classmate call out – disgruntled roommate student community here.

Recently, there have been grumblings about newly placed barriers the University administration and the various departments within have put up to discourage club activity on campus and over all students ‘good times’. There have been significant changes in the attitudes the ULSU has taken regarding clubs and their vigilance to ensure that rules and regulations are being followed. Observing the number of events and the outstanding attendance for club activities, this is not acting as a deterrent to event organizers.

Speaking to Alex Masse, Vice President Academic for the ULSU, he commented on club restrictions, “Everyone at the SU thinks that clubs should be able to go out and have dinner at a restaurant, or help promote a concert, for example like the Headbangers want to do. Everyone wants to make it happen, but it’s on our books that it can’t happen.”

Student events have been increasing by both the ULSU and clubs at large. As well, events and speakers being brought in by the University of Lethbridge to engage students and community members at a more visceral level, an education outside of the classroom, continue to be of excellent quality and well attended.

Student engagement is not a one sided issue. It is not just a matter of students not caring, or not being interested in exploring new idea’s and paradigms. In fact, to believe in true student apathy is a disregard for the sacrifice students make to continue their education at a post-secondary institution.

The reality is, students are no longer just students. Students hold part-time jobs alongside attending full time classes. Financial restrictions place a greater emphasis on success in academics as well as time spent working to ensure rent is paid, food can be eaten, and tuition is forked over.

Tuition in Alberta continues to rise, worrying many that it will soon reach unaffordable rates. Albertan students now pay the third highest tuition in the country. A province that can afford to promise two billion to a green washing initiative sadly does not prioritize education to the same extent.

Those who are involved, especially those who work to advocate changes to post-secondary education, understand the pressures many students are under. Masse, “I do see where students are coming from when they do come across as being disengaged. Quite frankly, we are dealing with a campus where so many people are spending so many of their waking hours just trying to do well in school and then dedicating the rest to work. I don’t think that it is so much that students don’t want to be engaged, I think that haven’t bothered to care because they are already hurting from all the other burdens placed on them, because of the amount of actual paid employment students need in order to get through a degree without having a crippling amount of debt. It’s really hard to find the time to come out to hear such and such person speak about whatever topic, regardless oh how important it is.”

Students are engaged, and they do care. The continuous efforts being put into their academics and into ensuring they are financially stable enough to remain in post-secondary education demonstrates that. It is our institutions and our governments that need to prove to students that they also care, that the work and effort is noticed. Lowering tuition rates, ensuring there is adequate on campus housing, and fiscally prioritizing funding to post-secondary education will have a lasting impact on students and on their communities. Students will give back in volunteer time, in student engagement, and in making this campus a better and more vibrant community for all.

Azi am fost la cinema la 2012. Impresiile mele le gasiti aici.

De ajuns de spus de spus ca a fost prima data cand am fost la toaleta in timpul unui film (la cinema adica).

Seara, am fost la UBU pentru o proiectie de film: Waltz with Bashir. Am cam adormit (prea obosit dupa 2012!) si au fost si niste probleme tehnice, dar, per total, mi s-a parut foarte original (un semi-documentar animat? uau!), desi finalul a fost… nepotrivit, dupa parerea mea.

Azi nu mai scriu articol despre topul la filme. Imi pare rau pentru curiosii care vor sa dezlege puzzleul, dar ma simt epuizat. Maine, doua articole despre top + unul despre premiera Amintiri din Epoca de Aur (sper)!

Keele University Students’ Union’s Independent Advice Unit has received high praise in a recent Community Legal Service Quality Mark audit. 

The IAU has been offering a full range of advice services to Keele students for the last 17 years, including advice on housing, debt, immigration and academic and personal issues.   The Unit’s three trained advisors offer professional, free, independent advice that’s confidential and non-judgmental.    

The IAU is a member of the Community Legal Service, which awards the Quality Mark.  The Quality Mark itself ensures that organisations who provide legal services to members of the public have achieved quality assurance standards that assure the quality of information and advice provided. 

While the unit has held the full award for the past 7 years, the post-award monitoring audit highlighted its ‘very good strategic planning process’ and its exemplary documentation process.  The auditor said, “Congratulations to everyone involved in maintaining a high level of compliance…this is a credit to your organisation.”

Students from Keele and Staffordshire Universities are working with local organisation LOVEstoke to make a difference for people in need across North Staffordshire as part of CSV Make a Difference Day, the UK’s single biggest day of volunteering.

Student volunteers will be at the LOVEstoke When… distribution centre in Fenton on Saturday (October 31) to sort items that have been donated from companies such as Ethel Austin. Once sorted these items are distributed to people in need across the City such as single parents, children’s centres and women’s refuges.

Keele and Staffordshire University students regularly give up their time to volunteer with a variety of organisations in Stoke and across Staffordshire, while LOVEstoke works with people and projects across the City to improve communities.

The CSV (Community Service Volunteers) Make a Difference campaign encourages and celebrates people who take action to make their community a better place. Together with LOVEstoke, Keele and Staffordshire University students are only too glad to take part in community action that ensures Stoke is a great place to live, work and play.

Becky Wardell, of VE@Keele, Keele’s volunteering society, said: “Our volunteers are really passionate about helping others.  It’s often the small volunteering projects which can make a real difference and a big contribution to improving our whole community.  That is why we are supporting LoveStoke at the When… distribution centre, because it’s something that anyone can be involved in and it benefits local people in the community.”

For many students, including myself, a tour around Brampton Road university campus was much like any other.  A tour of the lecture rooms followed by a visit to the library and finished off with a quick coffee.

  September arrives and with it the students, all eagerly awaiting a new academic year.  But wait.  Isn’t there something missing? I ask myself as I stand looking at where not six months ago a large selection of books used to be.

  That’s right.  Incase you’ve had your head in the sand Brampton Road no longer has a library.   Where did it go to?  Well there isn’t really a straight answer to give, assuming that it didn’t just disappear (which by the looks of it could be a truth), but it’s safe to say, despite the University of Cumbria’s efforts to dismiss it, that there’s been a monumental cock up somewhere.

  So its all very well me sitting here pointing the blame, but as a student shouldn’t I be doing something about it? Well fear not because help is at hand in the form of The Students’ Union.

   As Emma Green, President of the University Of Cumbria’s Students’ Union, points out, the SU are going to great lengths to make amends, contacting senior members of staff and the Faculty of The Arts with their demands. To no response I might add.  Further more, there is no evidence that the UoC are actually doing anything to make good use of a bad situation.

  But what could be done?  There isn’t any room at Brampton Road campus even if the library was reinstated, which as Emma points out is ‘not a tangible thought’ anyways.

  So what the hell are the SU fighting for?  Well for a start better access wouldn’t go amiss.  Having to walk from one side of Carlisle to the other just to access a meager 20% of Brampton Road’s previous stock isn’t exactly what students expect from a course charging £3,225 per year.  Aside from this the other 80% of stock situated at Milbourne Street is only available for browsing and loan 2 hours a day, four days a week. Not what many would call accessible.

  However Emma, who is approaching her final term and will be the university’s last SU president, says she is fuming about the library move and that she will keep fighting on behalf on Brampton Road’s students till something is done about it.

For the time being, we’ll just have to wait and see.

e frig si englezii merg in pantaloni scurti pe strada. uau.

Am fost pe la 10 la Uniunea Studentilor, unde se desfasoara Freshers Fair, un eveniment mare la care sunt standuri ale tuturor organizatiilor stundetesti. M-am inscris si eu la Fine Film Society (4 lire; proiectii gratis martea si joia, tot anul; filme ca Magnolia, Memento, Annie Hall si un Almodovar la alegere; free popcorn; intr-un auditoriu ca o sala de cinema) si la Engineers without Borders (o societate caritabila de ingineri). Nu am putut sa ma inscriu la Computer Science Society (sunt oricum inscris automat, dar vroiam informatii si nu era nimeni la stand) si la Tubes (organizatie inginereasca, la stand erau niste tipi cam high care ascultau Pendulum la maxim). La iesire, era o expozitie cu vanzare de postere. Mi-am luat si eu un poster Futurama in stilul afiselor de propaganda.

si… cam atat.

A while ago we’ve talked about how we could use video to “spice up” the communication with your students, and you were invited to check out Cornwall College Students’ Union YouTube Channel.  Alex Ledbrooke, their Communication and Participation Officer, has shared with us their latest video production on the result of exit survey for 2008/09 academic year:

How did you come up with this idea?
The ideas were a combined effort.  The content itself was generated by the survey.  I took the “you could fit xx double decker buses…” idea to the students who gave me the topical themes to work around. 

What about the actual production of the video?
I then did the creation (which is using powerpoint and very simple animation) and finally the music was recorded by a student at our Camborne campus.

Although Alex explained his work in very simple terms, I’m sure you’d agree that there’re lots of creative work and effort in it.  Not only did the students’ union manage to report “boring” figures in an interesting, easy-to-understand way, the cooperation between students’ union and other students with talents is also brilliant!   And of course their committment to follow up the negative experience is encouraging too!

So have you been inspired?  If so, don’t sit and wait – make your own media today!

According to the Guardian “Freshers’ week is an education in commercialism”:

…freshers’ fairs have come a long way from the commercial innocence of earlier years. They offer Britain’s businesses “the perfect opportunity for you to enlighten students to your products and services”, according to BAM Student Marketing. “Get face to face with your potential customers … student spending habits have not been developed at this stage, which is why the freshers’ fairs provide excellent potential for forming new customer relationships,” it adds.

Yes, there is more commercial activity than historically, but there really is so much more to it than this. For example, the University of Nottingham’s Students’ Union has a bit more on offer as the Freshers’ Fair site shows. Whilst there is still in many freshers’ weeks an undue emphasis on alcohol-fuelled activity, things are changing for the better although this remains the issue that newspapers generally focus on.

However, the Guardian also notes that:

Other universities run their own lucrative commercial arrangements at freshers’ fairs. Last year Oxford charged £12,000 for sponsorship and £2,000 for a standard stall at its fair, and £1,500 for a bag insert (plus £850 for your name on the bag).

This is more like “commercial innocence” – it seems to be an extremely good promotional deal for the companies concerned, offering huge exposure for very little money.

Two days ago, NUS hosted the first annual networking event for FE student officers and learner voice professionals.  We had altogether 80 participants joining us to share experience and ideas on various campaigns and issues in the FE sector.  Becta is also very pleased to support the event as sole sponsor.

As this blog is about using technology to strengthen learner voice, I’m sure you already expected something about technology!  Yes technology played an important role in facilitating the whole event - We’ve built a social networking site using Ning, for delegates to check out agenda, discuss different issues and share thoughts before, during and after events (Ning is a good platform if you wish to have more customised and secure environment for a specific target community).  Some delegates volunteered to use flip cameras to record their fellows’ actions and feedbacks throughout the day.  We also had a breakout area with laptops, so delegate could comment, blog or upload files onto the Ning website real time.  Besides, we also had a Twitter hashtag (#nusfestival), and invited delegates to text us feedbacks at the end of the day.  As some delegates mentioned, technology was everywhere and it proved to be very effective in creating and facilitating the dynamic!

We’ve also held a workshop on how technology could help engage students.  Delegates shared how they currently used technology at their colleges, and what more they would like to see in the coming year.  Many students’ unions are now looking at setting up their own websites, using online registration for their activities and events, introducing online forum and blogs, installing video conferencing and texting system, as well as improving the use of their virtual learning environment.  It’s encouraging to see more and more officers seeking technological solutions to better support their students in multiple campuses, with various engagement alongside their learning journey.

The best quote I heard about technology during the day was – It’s about finding a solution, even simple things like a phone call can be very useful! - It’s not about making life fancy, but making good use of technology to get the right things done!