The Bucks Student: Edition 115

A ‘stinky’ situation...

Bucks Challenge wraps...

Last call for sports fans...

So long and thanks for all the articles...

This will be the last newspaper that I will be designing as my career changes trajectory. In my time at the helm of The Bucks Student, I have released over 50 editions and edited well over 1,000 of your articlesand it has all been an absolute pleasure!

But wherever the direction of The Bucks Student goes, we encourage you to get involved and get in touch with us if you have any feedback or ideas for future editions and articles. So drop an email to editor@thebucksstudent. com or any of the Elected Officers and we’ll take it from there. There’s space for content both big and small, all you have to do is suggest it and get in contact.

For all advertising and media enquiries please contact the Students’ Union Communications and Marketing department.

Simon McDowell simon.mcdowell@bnu.ac.uk

Oli Gunson oli.gunson@bnu.ac.uk

Articles in this newspaper do not necessarily represent the views of Bucks Students’ Union but are that of the specific author. View this edition online at bucksstudentsunion.org/media/ newspaperarchive

Page 4 – It’s time to talk about The Venue toilets...

your

ELECTED OFFICER EDITORS

How the SU is supporting library services at the Aylesbury campus

A library is so much more than a place to search and take away books, it should be a quiet safe space for students to study and in some areas, students to work together on projects. Not everyone can study at home as distractions enter and may not have an appropriate space to study.

We need to push for a library at the Aylesbury campus and work with the university to make this happen. Many areas within the campus would make excellent locations for a full library with some quiet space and isn’t just open planned.

Whilst we are lobbying the university for this the SU has provided a help-yourself to the bookshelf where books have been kindly donated by current and alumni students. This is free it’s on the ground floor of the Aylesbury campus, all we ask is you put your ID and the book you have taken on the paper next to the shelf. You can bring books back at anytime throughout your study.

These books are to support students with their educational journey and if you have any books you would like to add please do so or contact myself amy.pile@bucks.ac.uk

Thank you to everyone that donated books and continue to do so.

We want you to know that this is an issue we are continually raising with the university. Aylesbury is a lovely campus and deserves a library. If you have any feedback or suggestions on the library please do contact surepresentation@bucks. ac.uk

Sruthi K. Subhash VPEW (HW)

Brandon Tester President

Jess Bradbury VPAB

Amy Pile VPEW (Uxb and Ayls)

Kicking up a ‘stink’ about The Venue toilets…

(Yes, pun intended.)

Socialising, coming together as a community, shared experiences and safe spaces are critical to a sense of belonging and institutional loyalty and pride. The space where this happens most regularly at BNU is in desperate need of some TLC –Students’ Union President, Brandon Tester tells us more.

Picture this: you’re attending Festiball, the biggest weekends we have to at BNU, when nature calls. You make your way to the nearest toilet, only to be greeted by a scene straight out of a horror movie, one situated in a swamp... That’s the unfortunate reality for students at the Bucks Students’ Union Venue, where the toilets have become a nightmare that just won’t end.

For nearly a quarter of a century now… Yes, that is correct, over 20 years passed by, and these toilets have been stuck in a time warp. Sure, there have been some touch-ups here and there, a fresh coat of paint, a nice hand dryer. But when it comes to the plumbing and the cubicles – the stuff that really matters – it’s a space that has been deprioritised and overlooked while the rest of the estate has been developed and improved.

And remember, the Venue isn’t just a place for parties, it’s the busiest café on campus, a place to relax and study, student societies and special interest groups use it, we host fundraisers, student development sessions, liberation activity, training and development sessions, cost-of-living support and the free meal programme, awareness and wellbeing events as well as timetabled academic teaching sessions and assessments alongside community events.

We are open 7 days a week, up to 18 hours a day with many different activities occurring, often at that same time – this space works hard and deserves some love!

The fact of the matter is, there is not a more intensively used area on any of our campuses, that caters for as many groups from our diverse community as the SU Venue – yet as a space it has fallen woefully behind of other facilities.

“If this was any other space, I would have left the instant I walked into the toilets when I first came here 3 years ago” says Tim, President of Bucks Men’s Rugby Club. “The only reason I stayed and continue to come to events is because of the amazing stuff the SU always put on, the toilets really do let it down though”.

I wonder how many of our members have turned up but instantly left because of the state of our facilities. Students have been dealing with leaky pipes, malfunctioning flushes, and overflowing toilets for longer than they care to remember. It’s a daily struggle that’s taking its toll on morale and hygiene alike for our staff members.

By Brandon Tester

“We put so much effort into creating the events programme and making brilliant things happen, but that can be ruined by the toilets failing yet again! On a bad night we can spend more time cleaning up and shutting down toilets than looking after our guests’ experience. It’s particularly bad when the accessible toilets are affected and it’s embarrassing when we have members of the community attending”

I also spoke to one our Alumni’s, Paige Owen who graduated two years ago.

“As if they still haven’t got the toilets sorted, all my time as a student and all the events I attended, from quiet socials to big parties, there was always a problem, from shutting the toilets off to having to pretty much swim to go for a wee!”

Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill?

Because it wanted to get to the bottom (of this toilet refurbishment situation at the Bucks Students’ Union Venue!).

These sentiments are echoed throughout the membership of Bucks Students’ Union, not just the present members but also those going back. As a Union we have consistently requested for this refurbishment to happen over the years and to be fair to the Uni, there has always been positive noises and support for the idea, but nothing has actually happened to date.

Looking at the recent new atrium with all their fancy new toilets, why is it that our decades old toilets can’t get some love?

“If they can find the money for fancy new buildings and an unused facility up by the train station, surely they can spare for some decent toilets in the Students’ Union” mumbled John Heatley, final year student and a member of the Union, when asked the question about what they think of the situation.

“I love the venue and there’s always something to do, even when you have no money. I’m proud of our SU and like bringing friends from home here, who are all at other Uni’s, but the toilet situation is just a bit of an embarrassment really” said Lucy Holmes, third Year TV Film and Production Student.

As President, and past student at BNU across 6 years (WOW), I am frustrated with this; this conversation has been going on for far too long, well before my time and the fact I am having to pick this back up is slightly embarrassing. We don’t need marble flooring and rose petals in the sink, we just need a working facility that doesn’t ruin the experience of The Venue and Lounge and releases the stress of worrying about the toilets for our team.

So, this piece is to show we hear you, we share your concerns, and we are working to try and make things better. Thank you for reading and hopefully we get some movement on this with the upcoming Estates Masterplan that is being put together by the University.

Brandon Tester

Bucks Students’ Union President

Dennis Smith, a member of our student staff team said:

By Arjun Anilkumar Nair

Officer updates

Postgraduate students’ officer

My journey at Bucks has been an exhilarating experience, filled with opportunities for personal and professional growth, all thanks to the dynamic environment fostered by Bucks SU.

Serving as a student representative and later as the executive officer for postgraduate students has been an exciting and fulfilling journey.

Postgraduate studies inherently carry a focus on career and future prospects, and in my role, I am dedicated to enhancing the employability of our students. The eagerly anticipated Strive festival stands out as a pinnacle event, showcasing our commitment to student development. Building a supportive network is crucial, and collaborating with fellow executives, I am actively organizing mixers and campaigns to foster connections among students.

Addressing student concerns is a priority, and I’ve successfully tackled issues related to accommodation and inconvenient class timings, ensuring a more conducive learning environment. To optimize the learning process, I actively engage in educational and executive committees, staying updated on programs and advocating for improvements. Recommendations for enhanced accuracy and ease in the learning experience have been put forth, reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement.

My joy stems from being a resource for students, readily available to assist in every possible way. Together, with a dedicated team, we are shaping a vibrant and supportive community at Bucks, where every student can thrive. Join us in this exciting journey of growth and learning at Bucks SU – your gateway to a fulfilling academic and personal experience.

Want to be kept up to date with what I’m working on and learn more about what I’m doing throughout the year? As a Postgraduate student, you’ll automatically receive updates from me to let you know what I’m working on and how you can get involved.

Arjun Anilkumar Nair Postgraduate Students’ Executive Officer

By Ellie Lynn

Officer updates

LGBTQ+ students’ officer

Ellie Lynn

Hello all,

I hope that your terms have been going well for you. I have a few updates on what I am working on to support you this academic year.

First off, I am working on creating a resource for individuals in the closet who are studying at BNU. This will take the form of a leaflet and page that could potentially be added to University leaflets. The aim of this is to provide an extra resource for the University and Students’ Union to be able to support members of this community before they come out. It will include helpful information including what resources the uni offers to LGBTQ+ students and who to go to in regard to different things in the Uni (e.g., name change). It will also offer advice on coming out.

Secondly, I am going to be making some advice videos aimed at Trans students who are studying at BNU. When I came to University there were many things I didn’t know which would have helped me navigate this gender journey and I hope that these videos will be able to help future students with these issues. This will hopefully include a guide to HRT and an introduction to makeup for transfeminine students along with a guide on changing your name. I want to make sure all aspects of the trans community are represented by this so I am making sure there is trans masc and nonbinary input into the project.

If any of you wish to be involved in these projects in any way please send me a message to let me know through emailing ellie.lynn@bnu. ac.uk

I know the recent news stories surrounding our community may have been quite distressing so if any of you need to reach out to the counselling team for support then please do so through emailing counselling@bnu.ac.uk

As a final point I’d like to make a quick reminder to everyone that the uni has a “preferred name” option which can be separate from your legal name and can be changed much more easily than legally changing your name. I just wanted to point this out because it is something that can be particularly useful to trans students early on in transition.

If anyone has any questions about anything I’ve spoken about what I’ve spoken about here feel free to email me at ellie.lynn@bnu.ac.uk

LGBTQ+ Students’ Executive Officer

By Mohit Nayal

Officer updates

BAME students’ officer

As BAME Executive Officer for the Students’ Union, I am proud to represent the diverse and vibrant community of students from different ethnic backgrounds at our university.

My role is to ensure that the voices and needs of BAME students are heard and addressed by the Students’ Union and and the University administration. Being away from our own communities and then adapting to the new culture can be tricky and stressful, so to make sure that my team enjoys their university life and the new culture to the most, we will be organising and leading various in person as well as online events.

Some of the goals that I have for the next term include:

• Conducting a survey to gather feedback and suggestions from BAME students on how to improve their academic and social experience at the university.

• Hosting an event with other fellow Executive Officers in which students from the BAME community can showcase our different cultures to the world.

• Developing a campaign to raise awareness for local and global causes that affect BAME communities, such as racial justice, health equity, and environmental justice.

• Establishing a network of BAME student ambassadors who can promote and represent the interests and perspectives of BAME students at various levels and platforms.

• Building partnerships and alliances with other BAME organisations and groups within and outside the university.

• Creating a safe and supportive space for BAME students to share their experiences, challenges, and achievements through social media, newsletters, and podcasts.

I am looking forward to continuing my work as BAME Executive Officer and making a positive impact on the University and students. I welcome any feedback, ideas, or questions from anyone who is interested in supporting or joining our BAME community. You can contact me via email through emailing subameofficer@bnu.ac.uk or surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk

Thank you for your attention and support.

Mohit Nayal

BAME Students’ Executive Officer

By Dhanya Mohan

Officer updates

International students’ officer

Being an International student presents unique challenges, requiring immense courage and determination to establish new roots in a foreign land, leaving cherished memories behind.

The Bucks Students’ Union (SU) recognises these difficulties and is committed to enhancing the overall student experience, with a particular focus on supporting international students. In my role as the International Students Executive Officer, I’ve diligently worked to bridge connections among students and address their concerns.

Financial constraints and accommodation issues are predominant struggles for international students. To alleviate these challenges, the SU has been proactive in addressing the concerns raised by students. Many have found university accommodation through SU initiatives, and ongoing discussions are in progress to implement financial aid programs tailored to support international students.

In the realm of university life, efforts have been made to foster inclusivity between home and international students. I have proposed an Ice Breaking campaign with the aim being to create a conducive environment for students to connect and build lasting friendships. Complementing this initiative, I have recently put forwards the suggestion of a Diversity Campaign to pave the way for a Grand Cultural Fest, celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures within the university community.

At Bucks SU, our mission is to make student life more enjoyable and fulfilling, especially for our international community. We remain committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by international students and fostering a vibrant, inclusive campus culture. Through collaborative efforts, we aspire to create a supportive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and culturally.

Dhanya Mohan International Students’ Executive Officer

By Liv Ross

Officer updates

Women students’ officer

Hi everyone! Its Liv here, your Women’s Executive Officer.

Since my last update, we have had another fantastic self-defence seminar hosted by ACT, where it was amazing to see you guys learning how to protect yourself in the best way possible. During this seminar, we focused on four main points - Prevention, Action, Legislation and Practicality. During the Prevention section, we looked at safety advice for nights out and general safety whilst doing everyday activities. During the Action section, we discussed the psychology of fear and the 5 Fs: fight, flight, freeze, flop, and friend. During Legislation, we discussed what we can and cannot do during self-defence, and finally, during the practice, we focussed on strikes, breakaways and went through the basics of grappling.

Following my recent Executive Officer team meeting, I have been working in the background to progress some of my campaign ideas, too! I have been working with both the Students’ Union and the University to discuss my student safety campaign and how we can raise awareness of the importance of reporting.

I am also working on getting a safe space in the Students’ Union Venue or The Lounge. This space will allow people to take a quiet moment in a safe and comfy space rather than the only current option, which is the first aid room. Within this safe space, I wish to include posters or leaflets that discuss the options someone has to report an incident or receive any support they may need be this internally or externally from the University. Additionally, I have been in discussions surrounding International Women’s Day, so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please reach out so we can make this year’s International Women’s the best celebration possible. The best way to contact me is through emailing liv.ross@ bnu.ac.uk

Liv Ross Women Students’ Executive Officer

By Jacob Hosanee

Officer updates

Students with Disabilities’ officer

Hosanee

Hey there, I am Jacob, your students with disabilities officer!

I study Business and Psychology and I am in my second year. I chose this role because I believe I can be a student with a difference in BNU, where disabilities are an important part of university; students can get diagnosed during their course, finally get the support they need, or be a part of a campaign that drives the exact thing they would experience. I can be a young voice that carries the message that should be expressed and acted on in the university. I want to make changes in the Students’ Union that encourages students to look beyond their disability and know there are no limitations that the world can have on their joy and university experience.

My areas of focus, along with many more, are to bring students with disabilities, and those who want to know about it, together. Making the university more accessible than it has been before by campaigns and awareness around the SU to ensure all students really feel comfortable where they study. One of the ways we will do this are events to bring an understanding of what are the common problems students with disabilities have had and what has been done to aid them. The outcome of these events is to understand what students can be provided with in their university and how can we make it better.

Jacob

Students with Disabilities’ Officer

NUS National Conference

By Tash Neal

So what is it?

The NUS National Conference is an annual conference hosted by the National Union of Students with the main purpose of electing in new officers every two years, considering the Unions statements so that each Unions funds are being spent appropriately, consider reports made by current National and State officers as well as discussing policy changes to improve the student experience nationally across the United Kingdom.

At Bucks we pay an annual membership fee to the NUS to make sure that we are supported every year when it comes to national campaigns and are able to access support to enable us to create change within the University. You also receive TOTUM cards thanks to the NUS that give you access to hundreds of discounts across the UK.

The Conference

This year we have three student delegates and our Vice President Education and Welfare: Uxbridge and Aylesbury, Amy Pile attending the conference to represent the voice of students at BNU.

Priorities for this year include:

• The next General Election

• Changes to the NUS’ organising model

• Discussing a proposal for a specific NUS for England (there is currently an NUS for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)

Every two years delegates are able to vote on who leads the National Union of Students for the next two years. This year our delegates will have the opportunity to vote for who they feel best represents students at BNU to improve the national student experience. The roles that are up for election that our delegates can vote in are:

• NUS National President –elected by NUS National Conference

• NUS Vice-President Further Education – elected by NUS National Conference

• NUS Vice-President Higher Education – elected by NUS National Conference

We spoke to one of our delegates for this year and our Students’ Union VPEW Uxbridge and Aylesbury Amy Pile to find out what they hope to gain from the Conference this year:

Dhanya: “As a delegate at the NUS Conference, I aspire to immerse myself in thoughtprovoking discussions, gain a deeper understanding of current challenges in higher education, and actively contribute to the formulation of progressive solutions. This experience will empower me to bring back valuable insights to our student body and contribute to positive changes on our campus.”

Amy: “This year, I am excited to attend the NUS conference with the delegates and hopefully will have a different experience. I am particularly interested in learning more about the NUS student manifesto for the upcoming general election. The manifesto highlights the fact that students are barely surviving and not thriving as they should. It calls for more investment in students’ future and education. ”

By Peter Ashiagbor

Becoming a Trustee of the Young Futures Fund at the Heart of Bucks

I would like to take the opportunity to share how I became a Trustee of the Young Futures Fund under the Heart of Bucks. The Heart of Bucks is a charity that supports other charities in Buckinghamshire by funding them to help them achieve their objectives for the benefit of residents in Buckinghamshire. As a trustee on the Young Futures Fund, I have the opportunity and responsibility to decide on the allocation of funding for charities, determining the amount and terms of use based on applications received.

Prior to this, I gained significant exposure in various roles. During my foundation year, I took on the role of communicating my group’s views as a student representative. This provided me with the opportunity to develop my written communication and listening skills professionally. Currently, I am actively involved in roles such as Student Trustee, Student Development Ambassador, Undergraduate Representative for the Education committee, and Chair of both the Business and Law society, and BNU Chess. I have come to see the Student Union as an organisation that actively seeks opportunities to nurture talent while representing the views of students. This is evident in the structure of Student Leadership roles and the support we receive through 1-1 mentorship, the Leadership Academy, and other internal opportunities. My journey has enabled me to develop the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in my current roles and seize opportunities.

In closing, if you are interested in opportunities to learn, grow, and represent your peers, please check out the websites below for internal and external roles, or visit the SU office to speak with our Training and Development team or Volunteering Team.

The Venue and The Lounge at Bucks Students’ Union are open seven nights a week. If you don’t see an event listed below, check online nearer the time; bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson

Have an idea for an event, want to arrange a takeover, or feedback for our events team? You can get in contact with the team by dropping an email to; events@bnu.ac.uk

Many reasons to celebrate

We are kick-starting the most exciting time of the year off with our election results afterparty on Friday 8th March at 10pm. As we welcome our new officers for 2024 – 2025, The Venue is bringing you a night of partying and music. There are many reasons to party, whether you are elected or celebrate the huge amount of effort you and your team have put in.

On Saturday 9 March 2024, Speakeasy and Loud Women have joined together to bring you a day of indie goodness showcasing talented bands/artists with women at their heart: The IWD Fest. We have sought out only the best across the country for an unforgettable festival. The IWD Fest is not only a fantastic showcase for talented artists, but it shall also serve to generate well-needed funds and publicity for SAASSBMK (Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes).

The countdown is on for Festiball 2024! For those who don’t know, Festiball is an end-of-year ball unlike any other. From the Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May our venue will be completely transformed with our famous silent disco, outside themed areas, food stalls, cocktail bars, photo booths, and so much more!

On top of this, we bring you some of the hottest acts right now, with guest appearances and performances across 2 stages, over 3 nights - bringing the ultimate festival atmosphere to Bucks! It is the most talked about event, which everyone wants to attend. This event is FREE to Bucks students, thanks to The Big Deal, so there is no reason not to come! Keep your eyes peeled across our social media as we will be announcing our headline acts very soon…

FRUIT BUBBLE TEA

£3.50 338 kcal New!

Choose from:

Lychee and Jasmine Fruit tea

Strawberry and Jasmine Fruit tea

with:

Fruity Popping Mango Boba

or or

Strawberry Boba

Bucks 24 challenge

24 events….154 people engaged….

£320

24 EVENTS.

24 DAYS. 2024.

By Daniel Lawrence

raised for Stokenchurch Dog Rescue.

Across January and February, we embarked on a journey of 24 different events based around improving mental health and fitness. All of these were designed to give people a break from their normal routine and have a laugh with friends.

It all kicked off on Wednesday 17 January in the Atrium, with some table tennis and rowing challenges which were both well received and attended. Lots of students and staff tried to stop the rowing machine on 24m exactly. Some succeeding and others getting very frustrated always being 1 or 2m off. Other successful events were colouring pictures to help students relax, helping sports therapy students with some placement hours with 2 hours and 40 minutes of massages, basketball shots in Uxbridge and climbing 24 flights of stairs. The whole 24 hours ended with our showcase event, the 24-hour sporta-thon, from Tuesday 20 February at 4pm until the following day at 4pm.

24-hour sport-a-thon

Let’s start at the beginning, with a showcase of disability sport with blind football and sitting volleyball taking centre stage. It was a testament to those who ran these events, showcasing these sports in a way which broke down barriers and redefining perceptions of what is possible.

The evening continued with a strong turnout for Netball, Cricket and then an introduction into Ultimate Frisbee before indulging into video games on the Nintendo Switch, playing Just Dance and Mario Kart. The pace was picked up again with some Touch Rugby and Volleyball before some childhood

nostalgia and light-hearted fun with party games including pass the parcel and musical chairs. The competition aspect showed during this hour!

The standout event during the evening was at midnight, kicking the Wednesday off with UV Volleyball. Our first attempt at doing a UV Sport for Fun event and something I have always wanted to; I was so pleased to see it come to fruition. Wren Sell, Sport for Fun Volleyball ambassador had this to say:

“As Volleyball Ambassador, it was great to be able to be offer a UV Volleyball session, even though it was just an hour, the attendance was great, and everyone enjoyed it. Having tried this previously at my HEVO training at the start of the year, it was something I wanted to do and, in my opinion, was delivered better than Volleyball England.”

Numbers started to dwindle around 4pm after Dodgeball but there were a handful of students who powered through for the following hours before daylight struck and Football began. The following hours attendance was steady with Hobby Horses for our own mini equestrian run and curling during Olympic hour before some Badminton and Tennis. The 24 hours ended with a playground and a classic sports day.

Throughout the 24 hours we also attempted to cycle 2400m, although we fell just short of this target.

We would like to thank everyone who came along and donated to Stokenchurch Dog Rescue, and we look forward to doing it all again next year…. potentially.

13.3.24

The Bucks Student

By Alex Ditchburn

Competitive sport at Bucks

Just joined as a new student recently, or found you have spare time around your studies now that you have settled in?

Look no further than competitive sport at BNU.

As part of The Big Deal joining a sports team is free and comes with so many great benefits. From making new friends and memories, keeping active for your wellbeing, and getting top coaching. So why not give it a go.

With 14 clubs and over 20 different teams there is a place for you. It doesn’t just stop there, if you are interested in individual sports then we give you the support to go and compete for our university. Bucks are a member of the British University College Sports (BUCS) meaning we participate in leagues, cups and championships. Sports range from Dance to rugby to volleyball and futsal, so what are you waiting for? Come down to the Students’ Union office to speak to a member of staff for more details. Our doors are always open, or alternatively, email sports@bnu. to get more details. You can also check out our Instagram @bucksstudentsactivities or head to the website to message our clubs committees who are always willing to help and keen to have new members. We all look forward to meeting you and hope you have a wonderful start to university life.

The Bucks Student

By Lauren Milne

Queers in the Capital

Nine members of the LGBTQ+ society went on a three-day trip to London between the 23rd and 25th February. During this trip they spent 2 nights in a hostel within London. On the first day of the trip the group dropped off their stuff at the hostel and then went to the “Cute” exhibition at Somerset House within London before heading to grab some food at Wasabi and went and got some free food and drinks from student pride, once they got back to the hostel the group played a game in which they created a playlist and had to guess who added the song to the playlist.

The next day the group made their way to Forbidden Planet to have a look around and make a few purchases. The group then split into two groups, one group went to Camden Market and the other group made their way to student pride to check out the small businesses, two members of this group also went to listen to a talk about LGBTQ+ representation within film and TV and had the opportunity to meet members of the panel, while also having the opportunity to have some pictures taken and an autograph from one of the main people from the panel.

The group who went to Camden Market went to places such as Cyberdog, small markets and explored the sights to see. Some things the group saw while at Camden were Umbrellas on the ceiling as well as visually appealing stands and statues within the food court. On the third day, some members of the group left early, the remaining members went and visited the Science Museum before grabbing some lunch at a pizza place. The final two locations visited was the oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop in the Uk. The destination was Queer Britain museum which is the first and only LGBTQ+ museum within the Uk that opened in May of 2022.

Volunteering Roundup

February is the month for love, so we’ve been busy loving the world around us.

From RAG week to making dog toys we have completed it all, lets break that all down.

To support students with their mental health we have been making anti-anxiety bracelets, supporting our RAG charity by heading to Stokenchurch Dog Rescue and being hands on with the dogs and supporting the charity with the day-today activities. Chiltern Rangers have been covering all the environmental volunteering in and around Bucks, and we have added to this by litter picking and making sure our immediate environment is clean and litter free.

Your VPAB Jess Bradbury got you all involved with replanting the box hedges and plants from the SU garden, making the garden more inviting and beautiful. Enjoyment was had by all getting messy and pulling apart the old furniture.

The One Can Trust is the local food bank and we have been supporting them for many years, by volunteering with One Can allows the charity to reach the most vulnerable people more quickly and efficiently. More volunteer days with the One Can Trust can be found on the What’s on Page.

Bronze Volunteering Award:

Gene Tipping

Vik Mairet

Harriet Kozlowski

Seyi Solola

Desmond Hadi

Harriet Kozlowski

Georgia Haynes

Wisdom Amadasun

Mitch Chandler

Leo Spinks

Silver

Volunteering Award:

Joao Pires

Wisdom Amadasun

Mitch Chandler

Will Johnson

Vik Mairet

RAG week 2

RAG week was a roaring success with everyone coming together by donating, running an event, or sharing the social posts showing all the fun that was happening. Bucks FC kicked off the week with Wax a footballer raising an amazing £370 in one afternoon, a few eyebrows were raised and then waxed off, chests are now hairless, and legs are a mishmash of hairless squares.

Volley for RAG in the events hall was attended by 79 players and spectators. Always a great way to get everyone involved and try something new.

Wednesday saw the RAG Ambassadors Dee and Jorja takeover the venue with a Wild West theme, with specially made cocktails and games, fun was had all around.

Thursday saw the start of the 24hr Gamea-thon hosted by the BTAG Society. From Mario Kart to Just Dance this was well attended and everyone had a great time. Netball hosted Pie a Netballer on the Friday, with 8 girls willing to face the pies. Lots of mess was made not just of their faces and hair but the Venue Garden as well. Netball raised a massive £311.92

To add a spectacular finale, we finished RAG off with Soak A SU Staff Member, including the CEO himself Tristan! 13 members of staff faced the buckets and raised a humungous £428. Thank you to everyone who took part, donated, or supported the events. All donations will be heading to our RAG Charity Stokenchurch Dog Rescue.

Our employability festival STRIVE was a great success!

We had 13 different sessions throughout the week, where students could increase their employability skills.

We started the week a bit different to the past few years, by kicking off the week with our Employer Showcase and Networking Event. This went down a treat, all the students who turned up were chatting to the employers and getting lots of employment details, tips, and tricks from them. We also added a networking pack for all the students who came to the event. Inside these packs were: Create-your-own business cards, networking tips and tricks, to-do list, questions to ask employers and a pen. These were loved by all students (they all ran out!), and they were using them to help network and get information from the employers.

We provided some specific skill sessions where students were able to improve on specific skills to boost their CV or help them in interviews. We had a CV Writing session, Public Speaking, Linked In workshop and a Building Resilience seminar. All these skills are great to help students when they leave university, and they are transferable to different aspects of life. We have plenty more sessions like this that we can provide for the students throughout the year. If anyone feels as if they need to improve on certain skills that will help them find a job after university, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any ideas: sutraining@bucks.ac.uk

There were a few talks from professionals from varying sectors which students studying or looking to go into those professions found

By Imogen Sanders

very useful. The Cyber Security talk was very well attended, and all the students found the topic engaging and relevant to the work they may want to get into. One of the Students who attended said this; “It was extremely insightful and helped me to understand the industry better.” We had two talks from business owners, one who had no previous business education and one who was talking about how to start your own business. These both were very informative, and it showed to the students that they can create their own business and not necessarily need to have the business education to succeed.

To top it all off, we had a student taking professional headshots for those that wanted to add to their LinkedIn or Handshake profiles or for their CV/Portfolio. Having an up-to-date picture of yourself on your profile or CV shows that you are actively engaged and want to present yourself in a professional way. It is also proven that people are more likely to connect with someone who has a recent profile picture, so it encourages networking and interaction. These headshots were great and looked very professional, we are very grateful for Ben taking them.

Thank you to everyone that came to STRIVE, we hope you all found it useful, and we can’t wait to put it on again next year! If you have any ideas or skills you want to improve on, please let us know your thoughts and we can look into putting it on for you.

By Lawrence Hayes, Sean Catchesides, Tyler Smith

My Name is Loz and I am part of the CS2 team for BNU.

In the adrenaline-fueled world of Counter-Strike, my role as an entry fragger is pivotal to our team’s success. Tasked with initiating engagements, I breach enemy lines to create openings for strategic manoeuvres. However, the effectiveness of my role relies heavily on the collaborative efforts of my teammates. Communication is the backbone of our strategy, allowing us to coordinate attacks and adapt to evolving scenarios. Game sense is crucial; understanding opponents’ tendencies and predicting their movements is a strategic advantage. Precision is equally vital, as splitsecond decisions and accurate shots can turn the tide of a round. The synergy among teammates transforms individual skills into a cohesive force, emphasizing that

Esports

Hello, my name is Sean and I am a player for the Rocket League Esports team For Buckinghamshire New University.

Rocket League is approachable due to the fact that it is a free game which is readily available on any platform and can run on relatively low end hardware. The unique concept of the game is prevalent especially when you take into the account the physics of the game. These take a little time to learn but you’ll have a blast through the learning process. This game is fun at any skill level and playing with friends only enhances your experience.

Hi, my name’s Tyler and I’m part of the overwatch esports team.

I think the biggest part about over watch is the teamwork skills that are put into play every game. Being a main of a hero who relies on other people to contribute to team fights, this goes double for me. In a fast paced 5v5 game, every hero pick, as well as every action, can help decide a fight and therefore match, which is why it’s so pivotal to be constantly communicating with my dps and tank to formulate attack, defence and flanking strategies

The advantages of putting so much time and effort into learning a team based FPS such as over watch, are numerous. Some of the less known skills improved every game include increased reaction times, used to evade oncoming fire or fire against a flanker, and speed and ease of decision making.

I think however, my most used underrated skill has to be the use of Spatial Reasoning, or the ability to understand objects in 2d or 3d and draw conclusions and actions to deal with any potential problems that may arise from them

What enhances the experience is the game’s approachability –having at least 3 heroes of each role welcome to newcomers, while having numerous other heroes with higher skill ceilings, makes the game consistently fun and challenging

By Stephen Izobo, Kai Brophy

BNU Basketball

Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) isn’t just a place of academic pursuit; it’s also where I regained my love for the sport of basketball. As a student-athlete at BNU, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in the game I love while simultaneously pursuing my educational goals. Being a part of the BNU basketball program has allowed me to not only enjoy playing basketball but also to excel at a competitive level.

The vibrant basketball community, comprised of passionate players , dedicated SU staff members and great coaching staff welcomed me with open arms and provided the perfect environment for me to grow and thrive as both a player and a person. Since joining the BNU basketball team there has always been a strong sense of family which has allowed me to create lifelong friendships.

Moreover, BNU has provided me with countless opportunities to take my basketball career to new heights. One such opportunity arose when I was given the opportunity to play and train with Reading Rockets Division 3 men’s team. Having played Division 3 basketball in the past I am grateful to my coach Jack Adams for giving me the opportunity to continue my pursuit of playing professional basketball. Representing the Reading Rockets has been an honour and a privilege, allowing me to showcase my talents on a larger stage while also contributing to the success of the team.

Playing basketball at BNU has not only enriched my university experience but has also had a profound impact on my personal and professional development. Through the challenges and triumphs of competitive play, I’ve learned valuable lessons about resilience, teamwork, and leadership that will serve me well in all aspects of my life.

This past season has been challenging for myself and the team, however I am extremely proud of everyone for sticking together and working hard at practices to make sure we produce our best basketball when we go on to the court. We are looking forward to finishing off our year strong with only a handful of games left to play including Varsity. Being one of the more experienced players on the team allowed me to share my knowledge of basketball with the team and it has been great to see some of my teammates develop and get better as basketball players because of this.

As its my 3rd and final year at BNU I really look forward to my last Varsity basketball game with the team, having been through so much this year as a team I look forward to leaving everything out there on the court and finishing off the year on a high note.

Since joining the university basketball team in September, the experience has been a positive one. I have enjoyed competing at a competitive level while also being able to prioritise my studies. This season there have been a few new changes to last year’s team. I personally wasn’t here last year so apart from the three first years and I joining being the first change, we also have a new coach whose resume speaks for itself and has coached at the highest levels in British basketball, and it has been an exciting and helpful experience having him as our coach.

With the new changes in the air, the team was raring to get going. Throughout the course of the season, we have faced ups and downs like any team, but we have always overcome those downs as a team and together.

I am excited for what the future holds for this team. Next year will bring about even more changes with people leaving and so on. However, as a team I know we will always play hard and it’s only a matter of time until that translates into wins.

By Oliwia Milkiewicz

Psychology soc

Psychology Society holds sessions every other week on Thursdays from 7pm till 8pm in N2.01. The society hopes to bring people with an interest in psychology together to talk about different topics they are interested and share their own thoughts and opinions, no matter whether they are studying psychology or another subject.

We welcome anyone with an interest in the subject.

Sessions are made on different topics to fit the interests of our members with interactive aspects such as quizzes and discussions to keep it light and fun, and not just like another lesson. Some of the recent topics we have had include a succesful session on emotions, neuropsychology and the brain, revision and exam techniques that helped students manage exam stress and share revision techniques with each other that have been found helpful, as well as sessions on language and stresstoy making, which members found particularly enjoyable when making their own stress balls using flour and water.

We’ve also had a successful social in collaboration with Musical Theatre and Women’s Hockey and we hosted a movie night together Members that have joined us for this social enjoyed a good time together and had a lot of fun while watching some light-hearted movies, and we hope to host more sober sessions like these in the future with hopefully you included!

We have also managed to bring in some guest speakers for our members, including Natasha who was a BNU student and currently works at the university, as well as a BNU alumni Nicola, who came in to talk to us about what she is currently doing now that she has graduated, and she shared with us some tips and ideas on what we could do after graduation too if we are interested in continuing

our path in the field of Psychology. She recommended some Masters programmes in Child and Adolescence Mental Health, as well as shared some useful places to gain some work experience and volunteer in that area. It was a very insightful session that gave us a lot of new ideas of what we could do within the field. In the near future we are also hoping to host guest speakers from the NHS that will present us with a talk on CBT and different pathways withing talking therapies here in Buckinghamshire. Additionally, in plans we have some more socials ideas based on feedback from our members, who really enjoyed doing quizzes in our sessions, to potentially hold a quiz night with prizes in collaboration with another society. If these sound like something you would be interested in, we would be extremely happy to welcome you as a new member and join us in our next sessions to see of this is something for you, regardless of whether you are studying Psychology or if this is just something that have picked your interest. We are always interested in other people’s perspectives on psychological topics, and we would hope to see you at our next session in the near future!

Wycombe Wanderers Football Club

By Neil Peters

We’re off to Wembley!

We know it’s likely you’re already an avid fan of another football club, maybe one in the Premier League, or one in your hometown. Or perhaps you have no interest in football at all. But what if – for one day at least – you became part of the Wycombe Wanderers community heading to Wembley Stadium for its Bristol Street Motors Trophy Final on Sunday 7 April?

The team have reached Wembley for the fourth time of a decade, having defeated Bradford City live on Sky Sports to set up a final against Peterborough United in a few weeks’ time. It’s hoped that somewhere in the region of 20,000 supporters – five times the regular home attendance for league fixtures at Adams Park –will make the short trip along the Chiltern Railways line to the home of football to cheer their local team on.

Messages of congratulations and support from senior figures from Buckinghamshire New University were some of the first to flood in after that win against Bradford, with the club’s Official Higher Education Partner holding a close relationship with the club at

many levels, and we’d love to engage with as many students of possible ahead of and during the final, and at the remaining league games this season, which reaches its finale at the end of April.

And you might see some familiar faces while you’re there! Dozens of students have benefitted from matchday opportunities with the club, either in parttime stewarding or catering roles, or in media and TV positions on matchdays, capturing the action for the club’s WanderersTV and social media platforms.

In what has been arguably the most successful era in Wycombe Wanderers’ near 140-year history, there’s been no better time to experience the rollercoaster ride that comes with following a football team throughout its adventures in the league and cup.

So come along for the journey. A day out at Wembley and the chance to be part of history as we seek our first ever success in this competition. Come on Wycombe!

Wycombe Wanderers have a date under the arch on Sunday 7 April