Big plans for this year...

After being in office as Campaigns Officer for a week or so now, the coming year is starting to take shape…
Our outlined priorities have been decided as HE Funding, Accommodation and Employability.

As stated before, and in my manifesto on which I was elected, my main aim is to get out and talk to students, encourage them to run their own campaigns or get involved with the campaigns we have planned, as well as ensuring that the campaigns we do have planned only run if students are actually interested in them.

I’m currently working on a project proposal ready for fresher’s week, which will give us a strong start to opening up communications with new students, and I’m now starting to think of what I’ll be doing myself this year…

I believe that if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right; so although my role is to provide support for all campaigns, I will be concentrating on a small number of high profile campaigns myself; the most interesting of which is based on Accommodation Rights.

I hope to involve as many students as possible, as it’s something that involves all students to some degree.
I’ve known a large number of students who have been living in sub-par accommodation, with, for example, maintenance issues in clear violation of the landlord’s contractual obligation to correct; the main aim of this campaign will be to give students the understanding of their rights and obligations, and those of their landlord, ultimately resulting in students themselves cracking down on appalling student accommodation.

Just because we’re still in education doesn’t mean we are any less of a person; any other tenant would have sued in some instances I’ve witnessed – what I don’t understand is why aren’t we doing the same?

The end of an era...

Although I was only an officer for the Students’ Union for the latter half of 2009/10, it’s still an emotional time looking back on those who I’ve worked with and got to know very well, most of whom became good friends who I'm sad to see moving on to other things; even so, I wish them well!

Most of the 09/10 SU team at the S&S Awards 2010.

I’m proud of my achievements so far; particularly spurring on the Communications Strategy Review, and my work on Accommodation, both of which I will have continued involvement with this coming year.

I feel I’ve upheld my instinctive moral obligation to be overly outspoken and tenacious – however as a student officer, i.e. – still being a student, I know this has resulted in the true, honest and somewhat gritty views of students being presented; I feel there’s no place for niceties and dodging around the point – hopefully that’s something of a quality I’ve passed on to the other officers, in return for the encouragement and support they’ve given me.

It’s something I will continue to do for 2010/2011 – I’ve been accused of being overly ‘radical’ and dismissive of some projects; I just want to make my time here have a lasting impression on students – I’m not an officer to become popular or add to my CV, I’m here because I know I’m more outspoken than most, I accept I’m a little arrogant, and certainly embrace the fact I’m bolshy!

...I’m sure that’s why students’ elected me as campaigns officer this year; I make people listen to what the Students’ Union SHOULD be, and not what we can easily make from what it currently is.

Anyways, this is quickly turning into a bit of an essay!

...if you’re still with me so far, let me just give a big thanks to those I’ll be missing a hell of a lot over the rest of my time here; namely, Steven Greaves – a brilliant welfare office, always up for a laugh and gave me all the support I could ask for in what I wanted to do... Kayleigh Turner – a very intelligent (as proven by our resounding victory against Bishop Grot in University Challanged!) and tactful VP Ed. who again was always there to offer support and advice not only to me in my Officer role, but also when I needed help as a Rep and School Rep. Emma Devine – guaranteed to make me smile whenever I saw her, supportive of my interest in communications and took an active part as Comms Officer in some of the projects I wanted to be involved in. Chris Farrell and Kayleigh Valentine – the perfect pair of S&S officers, knowledgeable, supportive and great to work with – both have also been particularly helpful to me in my role as President of the Parkour Society! Emily Gough and Kat Walker – we’ve had some great times together; really going to miss these two! ...as student officers themselves, they were always encouraging of what I wanted to do, and were always there with a coffee for me when I was feeling a bit de-motivated!

As for those who I’ll be working with next year – Chris and Dan – both have been very encouraging and supportive, sharing similar views on many topics to me; very good at keeping professional and personal relationships separate – we can have a heated disagreement one minute and be sitting having a cuppa the next, something I really admire and appreciate.

I’m also really looking forward to working with the new incoming officers as well, who so far have shown themselves to be determined and enthusiastic; Jonathan and Andreas both have very strong views on what they want to achieve in their role; again something very admirable...

Phil has infectious enthusiasm; with some of my plans for next year potentially concerning the greater community, I can see some big things coming our way.

Namely, my interest in pursuing various aspects of accommodation improvement for students, which I’ll be working on with Kayleigh (now officially ‘Taylor’ – too many Kayleighs in recent history to keep track! :P) – another highly motivated individual with a genuine concern for student welfare; I know her abilities have been tested already when, on her first day in office, my girlfriend actually rang up in a total mess with her accommodation which was quickly resolved.

The 10/11 Officer team - back, left to right; Chris Charnley (President), Dan Derricott (VP Academic Affairs), Jonathan Holmes (Liberation Officer), Andreas Zacharia (VP Activities) - front, left to right; Phil Krstic (RAG Officer), Kayleigh Taylor (VP Welfare) and ME! (Campaigns Officer)

As to what I want to do for next year, you’ll have to wait; my manifesto basically consisted of finding out what students wanted and helping them to try and get it – and indeed I will be even more present on campus than last year, but as I keep saying to the other officers – our title role makes up only 50% of our responsibility at max, the rest is acting as an executive officer, taking on any challenge that comes our way and overcoming it in a manner that ensures the best for students; particularly relevant with the drastic changes in government and unavoidable cuts in funding.

We cannot stop this, but we can minimise the damage...

I don’t know if anyone actually reads these blogs any more, but if you do, let me know!

...and check back in a week or so; I’ll have a proper layout for the year ahead of what I ultimately want to achieve.

Week of the 7th

...got back of holiday this week, hence no post for last week as I was away...

I attended the board of trustees meeting; always good to have oversight of the Union, and some important items, such as investment opportunities and info on new trustees, made it quite an interesting meeting.

I also went off to Riseholme again to do some more work on the R-Bar project; so far its been a great success - we've already had a response from the VC (see the SU Website - linked on the right - to have a read of her reply.)
Thanks to Izzy, who's also been working on this project, for all her hard work!

Handover for next year starts in a week, and we're moving office this week so I'm unsure of whether there'll be anything interesting to report next time around... But look forward to a some kindof close to this blog, and a bit of a visual update ready for next year :)

Week of the 24th

Had my exam on Tuesday; not too bad to say I'm rubbish at Economics!

Exec on Wednesday was interesting, with some important papers being passed through, including a reformation of RAG to give the group a bit more structure, and stop the confusion between the society and committee, and the laying out of new processes to receive feedback from key University meetings.

Also, a project proposal from Chris Charnley with an aim to improving the social facilities, namely the R-Bar, at Riseholme; this is a project me and Dan Derricott will also be supporting...

On Friday, I went to Riseholme with 200 Letters addressed to the Vice Chancellor naming the aspects of the R-bar which need to be improved; with a lot of Riseholme students living on campus, it's essential that their social well-being is taken into consideration as well...

With many students having already left for summer, and the remainder being in exams, it was quite hard to track students down, however I got around 50 students to sign a letter - 100% of those I could find to ask - and then posted them off to the VC; a successful start to the project in my opinion...
Riseholme was something mentioned in most of 10/11 Exec Team's manifestos; hopefully projects like this will continue being ran...

I'll be at home most of this week, taking a well deserved break I think! ...I'll be back on Thursday, though may be working... the week after should be good though :)

Week of the 17th

...nothing much to report this week; I spent a lot of time talking to students and chatting to some on FaceBook with regard to faculty issues, and have arranged the first Student-Academic Forum for the Business and Law Faculty (8th June, 1PM in the Hub) - hopefully this is something we can roll out to all faculties next year as I'm positive it'll give students and reps a direct way to raise issues with academics between formal meetings.

Exam coming up on Tuesday, revision timeee :/

This week...

On Tuesday we essentially finalised plans for the future of Bullet - exciting stuff - hopefully it'll lead to a strong future for the magazine, as well as other aspects of Bullet Media, and some great opportunities for students...

Today I was going around courts again, photographing problems, despite many people being away for the weekend/gone home having finished their course, it was quite successful with some serious issues being highlighted. I always enjoy getting out and talking to people anyways...

Some major issues and events arising within my Faculty as Business School Liaison Rep, so next week I'll most probably be concentrating on that as apposed to anything Office-based, though might be venturing a bit more into the Accommodation Accreditation Scheme...

-Joe

The internet's down again..?

Sorry for a late post; as many of you will know the Internet was down again in courts this weekend...

Last week I finally handed in the last two of my assignments, which although left me not much time to do anything before I went home for the weekend, though with only one exam to go until I'm done, I've been looking into what I can be doing before the end of the year...

Today I've been arranging another accommodation initiative to target specifically the University Courts'; I'll be coming round this week taking photos of any problems and breakages, and offering advice on any immediate problems... (not that Students paying so much should have any problems - but hopefully that's something we can continue to work on...)

Tomorrow, I have meetings with the General Elections and Bullet Review Project Groups, both of which are quite important projects, which although may not be in the students' eye, are beginning to produce some good outcomes...

Expect another post this week with an update of how things have been going...