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The University of Cumbria Students' Union Magazine. This months issue looks at The SU's involvement with Radio 1's Big Weekend as well as the latest news from all corners of the SU.
Citation preview
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -1
CONTENTS
RADIO 1 AT CONCRETE
VERNON KAY’S VOLUNTEER ARMY
VOLUNTEERING LATEST
BYE-ELECTIONS YOU HAVE SPOKEN
WHAT DID THE SU EVER DO FOR US?
COURSE REPS LATEST
TV LICENSE CASH-BACK
ADVICE LATEST
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -3
As part of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend BBC Introducing carried out 3 days of unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar music. The Students Union was lucky enough to play a big part in one of these events that was carried out on your Official UCSU night at Concrete.
The BBC, Concrete and Students Union worked together to ensure that the students were guaranteed to have a fantastic night and that’s exactly what happened. The Union was allocated a number of wristbands to be given out on the day of the event to guarantee entry. Giveaways took place at Brampton Road, Fusehill Street, Caldewgate and Concrete, with students lining the street outside Concrete to grab a wristband.
Local DJ’s played a variety of music to get the party started then DJ Target from BBC Radio 1Xtra took to the decks and certainly got the crowd going.
Not only did DJ Target stir up a storm on the dance floor with his fantastic set, but he also visited Concrete in the afternoon to offer master classer to local talent. Listening to demos and offering positive feedback.
Article by Jeanne Gate
Radio 1’s Big Weekend
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -5www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -5
This year students from the University Of Cumbria have been involved in volunteering, taking part in one off volunteering days and projects or doing it regularly, such as helping at local sports and youth groups. On Saturday 7th May 20 students joined Vernon Kay’s Volunteer army in Carlisle on different projects around the area in the run up to Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
People who have never done any volunteering and those who have lots of experience all offered their help and chose an activity that they thought they’d enjoy.
Steven Baty, a second year Child and Family Studies student said of the day: “Today I’ve been doing a bit of gardening, planting flowers and general tidying up. I feel like I’ve achieved
VERNON KAY’S VOLUNTEER ARMY
Left; Vernom with his army, right; A proud Volunteer
something. Tidying the local community has been a good way to bridge the gap between local residents and students”
Rahul Mehrotra, a first year Animal Conservation Science student at Newton Rigg, who is a volunteer in the Conservation Society said “As a team we did habitat restoration and landscaping for Longtown Community Centre. It was a good work out and I got muddy which I enjoy. It was also good to be able to use my own expertise to help other people.”
Other volunteers took part in activities ranging from refurbishing a neglected radio control race track to volunteering at a local hospice.
Louise Managh, a second year Childrens Nursing Diploma student at Lancaster said “I found it really enjoyable and had a good laugh with the other volunteers. I’d like to continue volunteering but probably a bit closer to home.”
As a special thank you from Radio 1 all the
volunteers received a ticket for the Saturday of the One Big Weekend which was a brilliant surprise for everyone who took part.
Lewis Walker, a second year Criminology and Law student stayed on site at the Youth Zone, a new £5m centre for young people in north Cumbria, and was able to watch a live lounge performance whilst he and other volunteers made canvases. He let us know what the highlights were; “The best bit was doing something different to usual every day stuff and it was cool to see a live Radio 1 event. For three days I volunteered in the acreditation office at the radio1 big weekend. this was a hands on experince into behind the scenes of a major festival. There were several tasks that I was was allocated. One of these was that three of us all from the University of Cumbria helped write up passes and organised passes to the faces, voices and crew of the bbc, this included Fearne Cotton and Chris Moyles. Other duties were such as taking tours round the site the tours which I took round were students from the Richard Rose Academy.
The work experience was very enjoyable, meeting new people and working in a completely different environment where new duties and challenges arose each day.
The most enjoyable bit of course has to be the guest passes to all of the big weekend, however I am not one to brag... pah!”
If you would like to be kept up to date with volunteering opportunities please register online as a volunteer at; www.thestudentsunion.org.uk/volunteering
Article by Kati Brown
VERNON KAY’S VOLUNTEER ARMY
Radio 1’s Big Weekend
Left; Vernom with his army, right; A proud Volunteer
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -7www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -7
A Great YearArticle by Kati Brown
Beach Clean at SillothLancaster and Penrith students carried out a beach
clean at Silloth Beach in October to help clear up some
of the mess – and did a brilliant job! It was a great day
to mark the start of the years volunteering projects.
When we arrived at Silloth we were all given our litter
pickers, gloves and bin bags and off we went to see
what grotty bits of litter we could find. The bigger the
pieces the better too, it was the only time I’ve ever seen
people excited to find soiled nappies and abandoned
push chairs! Marine animals can mistake rubbish for
food and many have died from consuming plastic bags,
fireworks debris, and cigarette butts so the little bits
of rubbish we removed was a big help. It was a really
rewarding day, lots of fun, it was a nice excuse to be
outside and the hot chocolate and soup breaks back at
the bus were a good way to warm everybody up.
I.T Sessions for Elderly ResidentsLancaster students volunteered to teach I.T on Wednes-
day afternoons to help local OAPs. Over the 10 weeks
it became so much more than an opportunity to learn
how to use a computer and became a great social
event to look forward to each week. It was a friendly
environment where residents could chat with student
volunteers in addition to learning how to network
online. Many residents set up their own email account
It’s been a great year for volunteering, with lots of people taking part in one off events and many of you carrying out regular voluntary work. Next year we’re going to be organising more one off projects, giving you the opportunity to try your hand at loads of activities either relating to your courses or something totally different!
and were communicating with family and friends online
when they hadn’t done so previously. Others set up
Facebook profiles, uploading photos and inviting their
friends to join them.
Painting, Decorating and Befriending
More than 15 volunteers from the Lancaster, Penrith
and Carlisle campuses worked with service users at
Heathlands on a painting, decorating, and outdoors proj-
ect and ten students took part in a similar project at the
Eden Foyer in Penrith.
Heathlands Farm day centre for adults with learning
disabilities at Harker, Carlisle, provided an opportunity
for students to form a befriending environment whilst
working on a painting, decorating and outdoors project,
allowing the members to develop confidence and rela-
tionships by offering practical assistance and support.
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -9
Painting and Decorating at Eden FoyerThe Eden Foyer is the only facility in Cumbria which
provides young people with support and opportunities
into independent living. The Foyer offers a wide range of
services for young people and the wider community. All
the volunteers got stuck into the painting and decorat-
ing, some of whom had never done anything like that
before, and completely transformed the rooms in the
building
Activities and Information Day for Children with Disabilities
16 UCSU Volunteers and SU staff helped run an Infor-
mation & Activities Day for Families with Children with
Disabilities at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.
The aim was to design an accessible and fun event to
enable families with children with disabilities to access
support and information about local activities and agen-
cies, providing an opportunity for the children to try out
activities, such as; archery, trampolining, boccia, cycling,
arts & crafts, curling and multi-skills.
And that’s not all…..Other volunteering that students have taken part in
over the year include tree planting around Cumbria with
Diggin’ the Trees, running sports sessions for adults and
children around Cumbria and Lancashire, being panel
members for the Youth Offending Team and Cumbria
Police Authority, habitat management with Cumbria
Wildlife Trust, Fundraising for Read International, Arts
workers for the Youth Zone, Conservation days with
Friends of the Lake District, window displays and shop
work for charity shops, Special Needs Assistants for the
Scouts, website developers/social networking sites for
charities, Ambassadors for Drugs and Alcohol Services,
and many more………
RAGfunRachel Garlick has this year run fundraising events
for the RAGfun Society (Raising and Giving), raising
money for different charities. RAGfun raised a fantastic
£260 for Children in Need through a Wednesday night
carnival themed social. This included many games, face
painting, fancy dress and an auction of promise and
money was also raised through a cake sale around the
campuses. Over November or ‘Movember’ men around
the country embarked upon the moustache-growing
month. The Try-It society and members of Lancaster
Rovers Football Club chose this month to raise money
for the Prostate Cancer charity. They planned an open-
mic night and quiz to raise money for this cause. Money
has also been raised for The Wallace and Gromit’s
Children’s Foundation for sick children in hospices and
hospitals around the UK. Staff and students baked cakes
and RAGfun hosted a Great British Tea Party, making
£160 for the foundation.
Volunteer of The YearThis year’s award went to Matt Tennant, a volunteer
from the Lancaster Campus. Matt is the Ethical and
Environmental Officer for the Students’ Union and has
this year gone above and beyond the role, listening to
student opinion and putting things in motion, such as se-
curing a student allotment and introducing a Fair Trade
Policy, to make the SU and the University more sustain-
able. Matt has also volunteered his time as Secretary
for Outdoor Pursuits and for QAA (the Institutional
Audit) to put forward the views of students within Arts
Business and Science.
All volunteers, whatever you’re involved in, are eligible
for nomination for this award so keep letting us know
about your volunteering and we’ll look forward to
receiving nominations in the next academic year.
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -11
Activities include:•
•
•
•
•
Benefits for volunteers•
•
If you would like to apply for this volunteering
role please download an application form at
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk/volunteering and
email it to Kati at [email protected]
Student Run Self Help (SRSH) for students with Eating DisordersCould you work with a team to provide support for
students with eating disorders? We need more volun-
teers to help establish and run this valuable service to
benefit students on our Lancaster campus. Training takes
place in Aug/Sept and on-going support provided.
You don’t need any prior experience with eating
disorders just a passion to offer support and to make a
difference. This is a great opportunity to gain new skills
and experience, or develop existing skills!
IT Sessions for Retired Local ResidentsWe’re looking for volunteers who could help teach
basic IT skills to retired local residents at Lancaster and
Fusehill Street, Carlisle. You don’t need to be an expert
in IT, just able to use a computer, create a word docu-
ment, surf the internet and have the patience to teach
those skills to someone who hasn’t used a computer.
These sessions are friendly, non-threatening and provide
an opportunity for students to help residents and get to
know them.
RAG Fundraising (Raise and Give)Are you passionate about raising money for charities?
Want to run fun events and help make a difference to
the lives of others? RAG Fun is the SUs charity fundrais-
ing group, organising events throughout the academic
We are now recruiting for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to help out during the day over welcome weeks in September. WANTED!
Volunteers for Welcome Weeks
Help new students locate their rooms
and move on to campus.
Talk to new students and answer questions
they have about Uni life.
Help with the registration process and
guide people around campus.
Support, promotion and recruitment of Students’
Union services and activities (for example student
reps, volunteering and advice).
Help in additional areas where volunteers
are needed at times.
Loads of fun and you’ll meet lots of new people.
.An opportunity to develop and use your team-
work, time management, communication, guiding
and problem solving skills.
year to raise and give to identified charities. If you have
a charity you’d like to support, email us today!
Students’ Union Allotment, LancasterCould you help on the SU allotment? Maybe do some
weeding and/or planting? Are you staying in Lancaster
for the summer or could you spare an hour or two
periodically? We need extra hands to help!
If you’re free and willing to help please get in touch!
Also, we’d like to encourage student parents to bring
your children to the allotment – it’s a great opportunity
to learn together and get some fresh air at the same
time!
READ International READ International Book Project is a national award
winning, student founded and entirely student
volunteer-led project.
Volunteers collect books from secondary schools
& colleges during the academic year, sort them and
send the most relevant & best quality to school kids in
Tanzania, in summer 2012. You’ll run fundraising events
to raise £7,500 by summer 2012 and deliver school
workshops and presentations to schools.
You need to be outgoing, fun, driven & motivated.
For more information please email Emma at
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -13www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -13
3pm Friday 20th May
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -15
your candidatesChristopher Mason (Carlisle) - Independent Chair*Tom Kenrick (Lancaster) – Lancaster Campus RepSteven Shaw (Lancaster) – Postgraduate Exec Rep*Emeline Crossley (Lancaster) – Lancaster Health Faculty RepIain Younger (Lancater) – Lancaster Health Faculty RepDavide Angeletti (Carlisle) – Carlisle Education Rep*Alex Walker (Tower Hamlets) – Tower Hamlets Site RepresentativeAnna Beaumont (Carlisle) – Carlisle Non-Portfolio (Activities) Officer*
*Positions eligible for Carlisle students to vote on
voting opens between 3pm Friday 20th and 3pm Wednesday 25th May through the SU online voting portal:
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk/election
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -15
In these unfortunate times for students going into or
studying in Higher Education, competition in employ-
ment can be as tough as ever, making it ever harder for
graduates to get on the career ladder. So what could
be more useful for a CV, than having been the former
President of the UCSU.
Emma Green 24, studied Outdoor Leadership
at the Newton Rigg Campus in Penrith. After being
approached by the then vice president, she decided
to stand in the elections, becoming the Vice President
in Penrith 2008-9 and becoming the President of the
UCSU the following year in 2009-10. Emma has now
gone on to have a career working with the National
Union of Students. During her time in the UCSU,
Emma was instrumental in saving the Ambleside Cam-
pus, getting a promise from management to bring in
anonymous marking, a backtrack on removing outdoor
education students from Ambleside as well as the high-
est turnout in elections for many years.
When asked what made her want to become
involved with the union, Emma said, ‘Originally I had
thought of the SU as simply a bar and sports teams
throughout most of my first year, however after
working at the bar and then meeting the campus Vice
President at the time, I got to understand what the
union was really there for.’
‘In my final year I wasn’t sure that I wanted to
continue down the path of being an outdoor instructor
(at least not immediately anyway) and so I started to
think about my other options...I realised how the role
really spoke to some of my passions for changing things
for the better and generally being a part of something
bigger... following my year as Vice President I went on to
stand for President and was successfully elected.’
Whilst you might think that being President of the SU
would be too stressful for someone already working to-
wards a degree, Emma says, ‘Ultimately anyone who has
a desire to really achieve great things or even simply to
just make life better for other students, should not find
this role demanding in a way that would be detrimental
to them.’
‘The challenges I faced, whilst at times quite
emotionally draining, have undoubtedly given a rocket
boost to my development as a person, not only in terms
of employability but in terms of my ability to deal with
issues in general life and to be a confident individual.’
‘I think the role of President is only truly demanding
in a negative way if you either go into the role believing
it will be about getting drunk and organising events (it
isn’t, although the socialising aspect is amazing) or if you
The Perks of PresidencyAN INTERVIEW WITH EMMA GREEN by Andy S Hamilton
Emma Green Interview
are not truly passionate about turning
student’s thoughts, ideas, grievances or problems into
real outcomes’.
The post of President and involvement in the SU can
also help develop many skills, greatly valuable to employ-
ers and always handy for blank spaces on a CV. With
the help of her time spent in the UCSU, Emma Green
says she developed skills in ‘diplomacy, networking,
negotiation, management, relationship building, finance,
campaigning, lobbying, time management and use of
the media.’
‘Without the masses of experiences I went through
and the breadth of situations I dealt with as part of this
role, I could not have been capable of facing an inter-
view at such a level, and certainly would not have been
as instantly employable as I am now.’
Today, Emma works as a North West Regional
Organiser for the National Union of Student, help-
ing Unions to develop themselves in areas such as
campaigning, elections and representation. Commenting
on how her time as president helped with her current
work for the NUS, Emma said,
‘My position as President has led directly to my
progression into a career path with the National Union
of Students... This is a role which effectively could have
taken me years to achieve by working in less senior
positions in other students’ unions, and is effectively a
boost up the career ladder of at least 4-5 years, not to
mention a significant pay rise which I do not believe I
could have hoped to achieve within such a short time
frame otherwise.’
‘It involves a significant level of travel all over the
North West, everywhere from Carlisle down to Ches-
ter. There are also a lot of times when I am expected to
travel to various cities in the country to deliver training
for officers, steward at demonstrations or provide
advice and assistance. It is an incredible job which gives
a great level of satisfaction because I truly feel as if I
am helping to achieve positive change for unions and
students across the country.’
‘Whilst the hours can sometimes be long and the
travelling can take time, it is entirely worthwhile for the
sense of achievement and relationships that you build
throughout the entire student movement.’
The UCSU is currently holding the
Bye-Election, with voting open until 3pm
Wednesday 25th May. Anyone who wants to
find out more about the UCSU can contact;
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -17
Building A Better University For You
On Thursday 7th April students held a cross-campus
Activities Assembly where various ideas concerning
the development of student-lead activities within the
Students’ Union were debated and voted upon.
What is an Activities Assembly?Our Assemblies are to allow any student like you
to have your say on what we do. We are here to
represent your needs and the only way we can do
this is to engage with you along the way. We do this in
various forms, but by having these meetings they set
formal policy (what we should be doing) which binds
the Union to acting on your behalf. Anything can be
discussed in these meetings as long as it comes under
the meetings purpose, so in the case of the Activities
Activities Assembley You Have Spoken
Assembly we look at issue surrounding Student Groups
(such as sports, societies and other activities).
What Happened?Firstly and importantly, the meeting was quorate (Union
regulations state a minimum number of students that
must attend for the process to be democratically
legitimate) which means changes can be officially
adopted and that the Union is bound to carrying out
the actions decided. There were 5 items submitted to
be debated and voted on and 4 of these passed which
included:
Lifting the Membership Cap. The motion was presented to remove the current
minimum membership cap, which to start up or
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -19
continue a student group states you have to have 10
members. However as this motion was passed groups
now only have to fulfil a full leadership committee
structure (which is currently 5 people). We will still
encourage group pooling, which means trying to join
groups with similar objectives/overlap together, for
example instead of separate mountaineering, walking
and climbing groups encouraging a merger into one
Outdoors society.
Impartiality within Student Groups. The motion was presented to see if students wanted
a policy to allow people full and equal access in
participating in all Student Groups. We are currently
analyzing to see if the policy is possible.
Funding From the Union
The motion was presented to see if any further funding
can be provided for our student groups. Even though
the emphasis should be on student groups to find
funding themselves, which was clearly highlighted in the
meeting, additional support in maximising all avenues
of funding is something which people felt they needed
help with, therefore our External Sales and Events
Coordinator has been asked to provide support in
terms of making funding and sponsorship bids. It was
also mentioned we could link up with bigger businesses
to try and get some additional funding from them and
offer it out to all student groups as currently only local
bars and clubs are approached in this manner rather
than the full range of local businesses.
The Big Item: The Activity Group Review
Yes, you have spoken and have decided in light of
student feedback and changes within the SU sector on
how Union’s ‘run’ student groups to review the way in
which we enable students to run their own activities
(Student Groups).
So Where Does the Review Go From Here?Some of the things we will be doing as part of the
Activities Review include;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Final Date for the Review
The final date for the Review is January 2012, we will
ensure an Activities Assembly is called with a submission
paper covering all aspects of the review from day one
and at this point a series of recommendations will be
put to the student membership for debate, amendment
and approval. This, in turn, will probably lead to a new
series of directives about how the Union and students
work in relation to student groups, with the ultimate
aim being a better, fairer, more open and transparently
student-lead system.
Set up action plan meetings with Emma Egglestone
(Volunteer Support & Development Manager),
Allan (Student Group Facilitator) and Rachel Garlick
(Student Life Sabbatical 2011/12) and invite other
interested persons.
I will write to all Student Groups individually
explaining the process.
Hold Student Group Focus Meetings to be held
in September/October (covering student groups,
societies sports, faculties, diverse range of students).
Visit other similar sized Students’ Unions along with
Rachel to see how they operate.
A comprehensive review of what we currently do
(facts, figures accounts etc).
Another Activities Assembly will be held in October,
to discuss where we are and listen to student views
on the Reviews findings and recommendations at a
half-way stage.
Questionnaires - What do our students want?
Look into Intramural Sport and see how this can fit
into the plan.
The motions from the Activities Assembly can be found
on our website www.thestudentsunion.org.uk and the
minutes from the meeting are available by request. I just
want to say a big thank you to everyone who turned
up and made the meeting possible, which allowed the
motions to be voted on.
Please contact me if you want to speak about anything
relating to the review or any other non academic issue.
Hope to see you around soon
Cheers,
Liam Walker (Student Life Sabbatical 2010-11/Representation Sabbatical 2011-12).
01524 526566
01228 616253
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -21www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -21
The Students’ Union has a simple
purpose, which is to improve the
educational opportunities for
our members as students at the
University of Cumbria. Behind the
scenes of the Union offices, shops
and bars there is a team of elected
officers and staff beavering away to
this end, and although some of the
activity we undertake is long-term
‘big picture’ stuff there are plenty
of small victories to report. Some
of the successes we’ve achieved for
our members are reported in brief
here, but rest assured that every
working day there are dedicated
people looking after your interests.
Here are top results achieved by
your Representatives in 2010/11:
Turn around time for assignments tightened and even reduced!Thanks to a presentation made by
the SU to University staff the new
Pro-Vice Chancellor Academic
made it one of her top priorities
upon starting in January to make
sure tutors return assignments
within the 25 day limit specified by
academic regulations. (Shockingly
research done by the SU suggested
50% of assignments were returned
later than 25 days). Recently
WhaT did The sU ever do for Us?
Academic Sabbatical Lorri Millar has
been strongly supporting a move
to reduce assignment marking turn
around time to 20 days, which
has been approved and should be
implemented next year.
Student lead by Lorri Millar
Academic Sabbatical
forestry students get the degree they wantAfter student’s asked the Union to
investigate the use of the word’s
“top-up” on their degree certificate
we managed to successfully negoti-
ate the removal of the term as per
the academic regulations. They will
now be graduating without the
phrase on their degree’s to the
satisfaction of themselves and their
future employer’s.
Student lead by Martin Dodd
Representation Sabbatical
Tower hamlets gain study spaceAfter years of lobbying by the
Students’ Union the University an-
nounced it had designated private
study space within the library for
students to use. Union Commu-
nity Sabbatical Tom Underwood
was instrumental in meeting with
relevant service head’s to lobby for
the change in recent months and
will now be working to measure
the suitability of the new space
to ensure it meets the needs of
students at the site by visiting Tower
Hamlets in May.
Student lead by Tom Underwood
Union Community Sabbatical
fee’s not as high as they could have beenNo-one’s happy with the new
tuition fee situation, least of all the
SU. But through a series of meet-
ings and close scrutinisation of the
Universities decision-making process
the Union feels that our constant
involvement helped edge the final
fees position to the lowest end of
the range the University was con-
sidering. Although shaving £200-300
off a fee level of £8,400 might not
seem like much of a margin of suc-
cess, bearing in mind that regional
competitors like UCLan and Edge
Hill have set their fees at £9000 it
does reflect the time spend by the
Union asking probing questions.
Student lead by Martin Dodd
Representation Sabbatical
Article by Danny Prescott
automatic Book issuing equipment in amblesideThe SU channelled student opinion
that ended up with LISS installing
automatic book issuing equipment
in the Library space in Ambleside al-
lowing students there to be able to
borrow and return books outside of
the libraries normal opening hours.
Student lead by Tom Underwood
Union Community Sabbatical
cat Bells forum set up in newton riggThanks to the SU lead Pro-Vice
Chancellor open meetings residents
in the Newton Rigg Cat Bells porta-
cabin accommodation were offered
regular contact with Facilities Man-
agement and other key staff on site
to manage issues arising from living
in the ‘temporary’ accommodation.
Student lead by Liam Walker
Student Life Sabbatical
department heads actively seeking student inputThrough the ‘Dialouge Group;
initiative Service Department Heads
(such as LISS, Facilities Management
etc) are recognising the importance
of communicating in advance with
students about changes and new
ideas, and the Union is working with
them and our members to set up
regularly meeting sessions where
students and University staff can
freely exchange ideas and opinions.
Student lead by Liam Walker
Student Life Sabbatical
sU opens door for University fair Trade statusThe passing of the SU’s Fair Trade
and Environmental Policies enables
the University to bid for Fair Trade
Status, putting environmental sus-
tainability and ethical trading firmly
at the heart of the University of
Cumbria student experience.
Student lead by Matt Tennant
Environmental & Ethical Rep
student input helps University achieve top Qaa statusThe University has been audited for
the first time ever by the indepen-
dent quality watchdog the Quality
Assurance Agency, and thanks to
the SU students were involved at
the heart of this inspection which
has seen the University awarded
the highest rating. Fundamental
to this was the Students’ Written
Submission report, authored by the
Union, which turned a constructively
critical eye to the full range of issues
defined by our members as having
a positive and negative on their
student experience.
Student lead by Lorri Millar
Academic Sabbatical
course reps professionally sup-ported by permanent staff memberThe Union has created a staff posi-
tion to provide dedicated support,
training and advice to Student
Academic Representatives (Course
Reps) significantly improving the
ability of students to have an impact
on their educational experience at
programme level. We have been
able to employ a qualified solicitor
to bring a rigorous analytical ap-
proach to this vital Student Voice
activity.
Student lead by Lorri Millar
Academic Sabbatical
student allotment and on-campus wildflower garden
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -23
In Lancaster the SU has set up an
allotment 2 minutes away from the
campus for students to grow their
own food, plus we have negotiated
space on campus for a wildflower
garden to improve the environment
on site.
Student lead by Tom Underwood
Union Community Sabbatical
Unprecedented year of activismWith 150 students going to the
NUS National Demo in November,
over 125 attending the Debat-
ing the Cost debates streamed
simultaneously across Lancaster
and Carlisle, students supporting
the joint UCU/NUS march in Man-
chester in January and many more
local demonstrations 2010/11 has
been seen more student activism
than the past ten years combined.
The SU has been instrumental in
facilitating student opposition to
spending cuts and the impact of the
Comprehensive Spending Review
on vital services both in the Educa-
tion and Health sectors.
Student lead by Martin Dodd
Representation Sabbatical
sU ‘Top Ten’ issues prioritised by the UniversityAs part of the QAA process the
Union identified ten over-arching
issues that we felt had to resolved
before the University could enter
in a full-fee contract with students
in 2012.
These issues are large and wide
ranging, and include IT provision
(both start-up times, network access
and relevant software), time tabling
(room and space allocation for
teaching), the Personal Tutor system,
the future of Gateway Sites, Educa-
tion Faculty placements, the Campus
Carlisle project, anonymous marking,
provision of childcare facilities at the
main campuses, customer service
training for UoC staff and hidden
course costs.
The timetable for movement on
these various issues varies, some
(such as IT) are expected to be re-
solved to the SU’s satisfaction by the
beginning of the next academic year
wheras others require some sig-
nificant investment and/or process
revision to sort out. Never-the-less,
the top managers of the University
have taken very seriously the need
to improve these areas and updates
on progress will form part of the
Unions’ regular meetings with the
Senior Management Team.
Student lead by Martin Dodd
Representation Sabbatical
Article by Danny Prescott
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -25
Top left: Lorraine Millar, top right: Liam
Walker, bottom left: Martin Dodd,
bottom right: Tom Underwood.
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -25
Course RepresentativesArticle by Debra Robinson.
I undertook my role as Representation Facilitator for
the Students Union in February. After being a Course
Representative during my time as a law student at New-
castle University, and then also being elected as one of
two reps during my Legal Practice Course, I felt this role
would be perfect for me and I could use my skills to
help transform the current structure to help students
get the best from their academic experience.
The Students Union has been concentrating this
semester on revolutionising the Student Academic
Representation system, and I have been working behind
the scenes on making sure that everything is in place
to start the next academic year with an entirely new
scheme which focuses on recruiting new reps, support-
ing current reps and ensuring recognition for everyone
who works towards guaranteeing that the student voice
is heard and is a key feature of quality assurance.
Where we are?
I have had to start completely from scratch, and corre-
lating information about 13,000 students across various
campuses across the country is no easy task. We are
currently in a position where we are planning a train-
ing regime which will go live in September, a massive
recruitment drive, there will be a definitive list of WHO
your reps are, and where you can find them and a new
focus on advertising the Student Academic brand.
Where we are going?
With the support of staff and students, the sky is the
limit with Student Academic Representatives; the new
system will never be ‘fully’ completed, as it is an organic
process which will involve trial and error. The best
way to make progress is to engage as many students
as possible, after reading this article I urge as many of
you as possible to get in contact with me, and help
the Students Union work towards a bright future of
representation.
how yoU can get involved. Please email me with any comments, questions
or suggestions at [email protected].
REP-RES-ENT.+
+
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -27
3pm Friday 20th May
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -27
cash-Back for sTUdenTs WiTh Tv Licensing refUnd
TV Licensing is reminding students from University of
Cumbria who are moving back home for the summer
holidays that they could be eligible for a refund of
around £37 on the final quarter of their annual
television Licence.
Many students moving back home for the summer
from halls of residence or shared flats and houses will
no longer need their TV Licence over the holidays. If
so, and there are three full calendar months before the
licence expires, they are entitled to a refund for the
unused quarter.
Students need to ensure they buy a TV Licence
early on, by the end of September/ early October, in
order to allow enough time at the end of the academic
year to qualify for a refund. A colour TV Licence bought
in October 2010 cost £145.50 so the refund is
around £37.
You need a TV Licence to watch or record
programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV,
whether you are watching on TV sets, or other devices
including laptops.
Nearly a quarter of students surveyed (23 per cent)
watch live TV online, according to wresearch conducted
on behalf of TV Licensing*. The survey also showed
ownership of computers is generally much higher than
TVs among students. Seventy-six per cent of students
living in rented property have a TV, compared to 27
per cent in halls of residence. However, 100 per cent of
students in rented accommodation have a laptop or PC,
as do ninety-nine per cent of students living in halls of
residence, suggesting that more are watching TV through
this medium.
Tim doWns of Tv Licensing said:
“We know for students managing tight budgets every
little helps, so we want to ensure those who are eligible
know to claim the TV Licence refund. It could help by
easing the burden of end-of-term household bills, or just
by putting a little cash back in pockets.”
Students who wish to arrange a refund or who need
further information, simply need to complete an online
form at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo or call TV
Licensing on 0300 790 6090
TV License Refunds for Students
Ben WhiTTaker, naTionaL Union of sTUdenTs (nUs) vP added:“The TV Licence refund offers students a great
opportunity to save some cash, which will be
particularly welcome in the current economic climate.
We are glad TV Licensing continues to raise awareness
about television licensing requirements among students,
particularly around watching TV online where there can
sometimes be confusion over when a licence is required.
Students need to be aware of the law, so they avoid
risking a prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.”
For further information please contact the TV Licensing
Press Office on 0113 2200700 or send an email
To arrange your refund, or for further information,
simply visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo where
you can complete an online form, or call TV Licensing
on 0300 790 6090.
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -29
BE VIGILANT!
TRUE OR FALSE?It is safer if you are walking home alone at night, to use your mobile to chat to someone at home until you get there, so that you feel more comfortable and they know you are safe.
In recent weeks the University of Cumbria Students’ Union have had reports of random at-tacks upon males and females in the Lancaster and Carlisle areas. We would like to remind all students of a few hints and tips for your personal safety;
FALSEIt is not a good idea to chat on the phone when walking home alone. Although it may be comforting, it does not make you safer – if you were attacked, then the person at the other end of the phone could do nothing to help you – and in fact, it can make you less safe. Chatting on your mobile will only distract you from your surroundings and make you less likely to see or hear danger approaching and therefore make you less able to avoid it.
You may often be laden with books and bags but always try to keep one hand free and walk confidently and purposefully.If you are out at night, try to stick to busy streets and near other people. Avoid danger spots and short-cuts such as poorly-lit areas, deserted parks, or quiet alleyways and walk facing on-coming traffic to avoid kerb crawlers.Think about getting a personal safety alarm. Keep it in an easily accessible place and carry it in your hand if you feel at risk.If you see someone else in trouble, think twice before piling in to help. This may just aggravate the problem and you could end up hurt as well. It may be a lot more helpful to shout for help, call the police or generally make a lot of noise to attract attention.Always carry the telephone number of a trusted, licensed taxi or minicab company with you.Never take an unlicensed mini-cab, as these are unchecked, uninsured and can potentially be very dangerous.Try to plan ahead. Make sure someone knows where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to return. Always plan how you are going to get home again.Know your limit. Alcohol will dull your instincts and can lead to you making unsafe decisions.If you are socializing with a group of people, then watch out for each other and make sure everyone stays safe.Remember, the most common date rape drug is alcohol! Keep an eye on your drink so that neither drugs or extra alcohol are added.And finally the answer to the question...
www.thestudentsunion.org.uk -31
Since April 2007, landlords entering into new tenancy agreements are now required to place any deposit with a Government authorised scheme, which will safeguard the money and offer inde-pendent adjudication in the event of any dispute. Tenants who have kept their rented property in good condition can be confident that they won’t have all or part of their deposit withheld unfairly.This means your landlords (or agent, if undertaking those duties) must also give you information about how your deposit is being protected (normally as a clause within the Tenancy Agreement and by giving you a leaf- let) at the time of entering the deal. The landlord must pay your deposit into one of the three authorised schemes within 14 days of receiving your deposit. One is custodial (where the money is held with the company itself) and two are insurance companies (where the landlord keeps the money but it is insured by these companies for pay out if the landlord goes bankrupt etc). Deposits can only be withheld from tenants for:
⇒
Deposits cannot be claimed for fair wear and tear. If the deposit is protected, the tenant can dispute the deductions of monies by contacting the scheme administrator and following their mediation service or go through the small claims court. If the deposit is not protected this is illegal and you can claim for a breach of the law. Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or local council for legal advice on how to proceed. If you do not have any information as to whether your deposit is protected, you need to ring the three schemes stating your address and the lead tenants name (normally the one at the top of the contract but not necessarily). If the tenants are not registered with any scheme they must inform the landlord in writing that they are breaching the law and that they expect their deposits to be protected as soon as possible before legal pro-ceedings may be ensued. You can find example letters on our website at www.thestudentsunion.org.uk/advice The three schemes are; Deposit Protection Service (custodial) 0844 4727000 My Deposits (insurance) 0844 9800290 Tenancy Deposit Scheme (insurance) 0845 2267837
If, at the end of your tenancy you can’t agree with your landlord/agent over the amount of the deposit to be returned, or aren’t satisfied with the explanation for withholding the deposit, you can register the dispute using whichever scheme your deposit has been protected with.For any further questions about housing, deposits, tenancies and contracts please contact Mike, Hayley or Chloé on 01524 526560 (L) or 01228 616272 (C)
IS MY DEPOSIT PROTECTED?
Damage to the property or its fitting in excess of wear and tear. The cost of cleaning necessary to return the property to a lettable condition. Damage to décor. The cost of removing large amounts of waste from the property. The cost of replacing locks or keys if keys are not promptly returned. Any outstanding rent.