Western Eye issue 3

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Western Eye 11.13 – Issue 03

WORLD CUP BRAZIL

The Good, The Bad and quite possibly, The Ugly With the World Cup on the horizon, a debate has taken the football world by the scruff of its neck. The three articles on this spread will display the arguments for and against the event in order to help you answer the question – will it all be worth it?

Why the World Cup in Brazil will be a GOOD thing The World Cup is coming to Brazil. This will not only be a spectacle for football fans across the globe, but Brazil will see some great benefits from hosting the world’s biggest sporting event.

WHERE THE WORLD CUP FINAL WILL BE HELD ESTADIO DO MARACANA

GEORGE GILL

sectioncoordinator@westerneye.net

Brazil, the most successful nation in the history of the game, are the f irst South American to host the world cup since Argentina in 1978, and it will be the f irst time they have ever hosted the tournament, remarkable given their World Cup pedigree.

After achieving what was to be a winning bid for the World Cup in 2007, and then securing the Olympics in 2016, Brazil has been busy in creating the necessary infrastructure to host an eff icient and atmospheric tournament.

Investment in infrastructure, which primarily means transport, will see roads, trains and other forms of public transport improve signif icantly and will see citizens of Brazil benef it in the long-term. Many jobs will be created for the World Cup and the Olympics, with current estimates at 3.6 million new employment opportunities.

Businesses will also benef it.

A recent report by Bloomberg pointed out that foreign investors are prof iting from publicly-traded companies connected to some infrastructure projects for the World Cup, particularly the building of stadiums. One particular construction company, which supplies concrete and scaffolding, has seen its stock price triple since 2010. Foreign Direct Investment will bring much growth to Brazil from

abroad. Brazil, one of the world’s leading emerging economies, will cement its place on the global stage if it successfully hosts the global tournaments.

The tourism industry will increase dramatically as Brazil will be the focus of the world until the Olympics conclude in the summer of 2016. Brazilian culture will be projected the world over, as the Samba and carnival atmosphere will be infectious to all who watch.

Recognised and important leaders in the sporting world agree that the tournament will bring a strong degree of prosperity and happiness to Brazil for both the World Cup and the Olympics.

Jack Rogge, the current President of the International Olympic Committee gives reasons for why the tournament will be a success: “Public investments are for the long term,” Rogge said on a teleconference. “Public investments are not for the short term. It’s not for the two weeks of the Olympic Games or the month of the FIFA World Cup. “The investments are for generations to come — be it the metro, be it the bus line, be it improvements of the airport, be it improvement of the harbour. This will serve (the) community for a very long time.”

Sepp Blatter, the Head of FIFA, agrees with Rogge’s views that the World Cup will bring prosperity to the people of Brazil: “In football,

the whole country gets the legacy,” he told the O Globo newspaper. “Football involves the whole country. The country improves airports, hotels, highways, telecommunications, and sustainability programs.”

Blatter continued:

I can understand that people are unhappy.

But football is here to unite people. Football is here to build bridges, to generate excitement, to bring hope. Brazil asked to host the World Cup. We didn’t force it on them. It’s obvious that stadiums need to be built but that isn’t the only thing in a World Cup: there are highways, hotels, airports and a lot of other items that remain as a legacy

An argument could be made that it will be cost too much money and the benef its will not outweigh the money spent to stage both the World Cup and the Olympics. Lessons

can be learned however from previous tournaments that were heavily invested in. The over-budgeted and complicated f inancing of the London Olympics in 2012 was for the most part completely justif ied, given the overwhelming success of the event. Not too many people are regretting hosting the Olympics, whereas many were sceptical of hosting it before the great event began.

A further argument that is often cited is that the event may only be benef icial for Brazilian national morale if they have a successful tournament. Of course, the pressure will be on, but they are the bookies favourite so they should certainly reach the semi-f inals and have a strong chance of winning the whole thing altogether.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE AT WESTERNEYE.NET

Facts and Details about the World Cup

Current Favourites (SkyBet) Estádio do Maracanã: 12th June – 13th July BELGIUM 14/1

ARGENTINA 11/2

ENGLAND 22/1

BRAZIL 100/30

SPAIN 11/2

GERMANY 5/1

Western Eye 11.13 — Issue 03

17

WORLD CUP BRAZIL

Why the Brazil World Cup will almost certainly be BAD for Brazil The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is set to be overshadowed by crippling debts, government overspend and huge economic disparity. in football’s prosperity.

In Fortaleza, a £150 million stadium has been constructed whilst 130,000 of its citizens live in extreme poverty.

With the expenditure

Over 1.25 million Rio de Janeiro citizens live in the slums on the hillsides of the city, overlooking the recently redeveloped Maracana stadium, built to the tune of £320 million.

BRAZIL WORLD CUP PROTEST OF SUMMER 2014 ESTADIO DO MARACANA

Over 1 million Brazilians took to the streets during the Confederations cup GEORGE GILL

sectioncoordinator@westerneye.net

When the World Cup was awarded to Brazil in 2007, there was unbridled joy across a nation steeped in a rich football history.

For FIFA, it is a PR opportunity like no other - taking football to where many believe its heart lies.

For the worldwide football community, it is a chance to play on the biggest stage in a country that has the sport at the very core of its foundations.

For spectators, the atmosphere will be a special one with global TV audiences around the world set to bask in the sun-soaked samba party of 2014.

Since the awarding of the tournament in 2008, the costs of building stadiums, infrastructure and security have spiralled out of control, with the costs of building stadiums alone tripling in this time.

Over £600 million has been put aside for security with £9 billion being spent on improving the infrastructure such as airports, roads and hotels.

One of the many government commissioned studies into the economic impact of the World Cup showed that the Brazilian economy would be boosted to tune of between

£50 billion and £85 billion over a ten year period starting in 2010.

There have been many critics of these studies however, criticising them for being politically motivated and questioning the validity of the claims that the World Cup could have such an impact on tourism.

Jumping forward to South Africa in 2010, the organisers did not disclose the corresponding f igures in the aftermath of the tournament, despite previously stating that they expect to make £4 billion from tourism.

With the Brazil tournament only a matter of months away, it is no surprise that many citizens are apprehensive when seeing these astronomical expenditure f igures.

It is even more striking when the billion dollar f igures being discussed are set in stark contrast with the crippling poverty of Brazil’s infamous favelas.

Whilst the organising committee will try to conceal the favelas by shining the spotlight on the multi-million dollar stadiums, only those blinded by the shimmer of FIFA’s golden showpiece could fail to sit up and question how the poorest Brazilians can suffer whilst the rich few revel

f igures being widely discussed in the media, it is unsurprising that there was such resentment towards the government in a country where over 20% of its citizens live below the poverty line.

In the aftermath of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, there was much discussion about the amount of money spent by the organising committee on stadiums which went unused once the FIFA circus had moved out of town.

The cost of the Brazil stadia is nearly three times that of South Africa and there are major concerns at the prospect

of several ‘white elephants’ being left across Brazil.

In the sparsely-populated cities of Manaus and Cuiaba, there are no f irst division teams and therefore no club who could viably take over the stadium at the conclusion of the tournament.

Despite this, the Brazilian government have committed over £150 million in each city to build brand new stadiums.

It seems that the government have decided that the potential losses they may make on the spiralling costs of stadium construction and organising costs will be offset by the increase in tourism over a ten year period as well as the prestige that being the World Cup hosts brings with it.

The answer is no. It is

But will the organising commitee turn a profit when the accounts are filed after the final ball has kicked? hugely unlikely that Brazil will feel any long-lasting benef it to hosting the biggest football tournament in the world.

The real winners will be

FIFA who are likely to pocket over £2 billion by selling television rights, and £1 billion from advertising and marketing revenue.

Whilst the common perception would be that all the money will be helping to line the pockets of Sepp Blatter and his team of fat-cats, in fact there will be many good causes who will feel the benef it of the swelling of the FIFA kitty.

Whilst £1 billion of the revenue will be put towards the costs of hosting the tournament, another 70% of FIFA’s income will go towards community projects, particularly in Africa where football initiatives for low-income children are in place.

It is a bitter pill for many Brazilians to swallow that so much is being spent on the tournament, and very little long term benef it is going to be felt especially with charitable funds not going back into their system.

It will be the citizens who will be left to foot the bill.

Whilst the eyes of the world will be f ixed upon Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium at the climax of the World Cup, it would be worth averting your gaze towards the Rio hillside where in the shadow of Rio’s famous ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue will be one million Brazilians too poor to afford food and water.

ONE OF THE MANY FAVELA’S IN BRAZIL JUSTIN KNABB

Shanty towns will be hidden away during the World Cup

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Western Eye 11.13 – Issue 03

LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE — WESTERN EYE’S ADVENT CALENDAR

25 days of fun before Christmas!

If you’re a Scrooge then do not read on. I do warn you though, Christmas is the best thing ever and you are uncool.

PHOTOGRAPH BY IDLEFORMAT

ERICA TOMS

lifestyle@westerneye.net

If you’re a Scrooge then do not read on. I do warn you though, Christmas is the best thing ever and you are uncool.

Most of these activities are on every day (or some every weekend) in December, so make the most of Bristol this Christmas, before you head home. It’s probably a good idea to re-arrange this calendar.

Sunday 1st: Start your Christmas shopping early.

Being a student is not a valid excuse. There are many stores that offer generous student discount in Cabot Circus, such as Topshop/ Topman and House of Fraser! Also, Bristol is home to the UK’s longest

street of independent shops: Gloucester Road. Park Street also houses many boutiques, and the Victorian Clifton Arcade in Clifton Village has some of the city’s most unique shops.

Monday 2nd: Knackered from yesterday’s shopping?

Have a well-deserved break or if you’re truly dedicated, go Carol singing at your own risk…

Tuesday 3rd: Starbucks “12 days of Christmas” promotion reaches its 3rd day: a FREE mince-pie when you buy any festive drink. Check out the offers of the other 12 days; including 50% of Christmas tumblers- perfect for uni or as gifts. I suggest you visit on these 12 days, not that I’m biased or anything…

s t a r b u c k s . c o . u k / promo/12-days-of-christmas Wednesday 4th: Decorate!

I know we’re broke students, but you can f ind cheap decorations in supermarkets and cheap high-street stores, or even make some yourself...

Thursday 5th: If you’re artsy and want to get involved for a good cause, make some Christmas cards! info.uwe.ac.uk/events/ event.aspx?id=15172 Friday 6th: It’s the last ever Christmas Last Orders at St. Matts before the July 2014 closure! Not one to miss.

The bar crawl continues to Glenside until 11, then on to Frenchay. p i n v e n t s . c o m / event/179622372241576/ t h e - l a s t - e v e r- c h r i s t m a s - l a s t orders-at-st-matts Saturday 7th: For three days only (today, the 14th and the 21st) City Sightseeing Bristol are hosting the “Twilight and Illuminations Tour”; which is the open top bus tour, but at night! For those that love Christmas lights, hop on and take this evening tour. They even give you blankets and hot drinks which may be warmer than student housing. citysightseeingbristol. co.uk/public-trips/tickets.php Sunday 8th: Go Panto this Christmas! Cinderella is on at the Bristol Hippodrome, with cast members such as Louis

Spence and Suzanne Shaw.

With matinee and evening performances most days, there will be time for everyone. Brilliant excuse to avoid any end of term coursework deadlines… atgtickets.com/shows/ cinderella/ bristol-hippodrome Monday 9th: Have a Christmas dinner. Organise it with your flat-mates and either head to a pub or nominate the best cook. Don’t forget the crackers and music. studentbeans.com/ s t u d e n t - m o n e y / a / how-to-cook-the-perfectchristmas-dinner2098.html Tuesday 10th: You might want to start planning your New Year’s Eve around now.

Check out club websites and this link if you’re in Bristol. headfirstbristol.co.uk/ whats-on/new-years-eve Wednesday 11th: The f inal 2013 UWE’ Off icial Sports Night at Mbargos (Revolution continues until next week): u w e s u . o r g / e n t s / event/2405/ Thursday 12th: You can have today off Christmas celebrations (last night was a big one). Watch some of the best Christmas f ilms (see link) and chill out on the 12th day of Christmas. t o t a l f i l m . c o m / fe a t u re s / 5 0 best-christmas-movies If you’re a Scrooge then do not read on. I do warn you

though, Christmas is the best thing ever and you are uncool.

Most of these activities are on every day (or some every weekend) in December, so make the most of Bristol this Christmas, before you head home. It’s probably a good idea to re-arrange this calendar.

Sunday 1st: Start your Christmas shopping early.

Being a student is not a valid excuse. There are many stores that offer generous student discount in Cabot Circus, such as Topshop/ Topman and House of Fraser! Also, Bristol is home to the UK’s longest street of independent shops: Gloucester Road. Park Street also houses many boutiques, and the Victorian Clifton Arcade in Clifton Village has some of the city’s most unique shops.

Monday 2nd: Knackered from yesterday’s shopping?

Have a well-deserved break or if you’re truly dedicated, go Carol singing at your own risk…

Tuesday 3rd: Starbucks “12 days of Christmas” promotion reaches its 3rd day: a FREE mince-pie when you buy any festive drink. Check out the offers of the other 12 days; including 50% of Christmas tumblers- perfect for uni or as gifts. I suggest you visit on these 12 days, not that I’m biased or anything…

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE WESTERNEYE.NET

How to make a freeze-able and microwaveable Spaghetti Bolognese As students we receive an abundance of “Top 10 Helpful Hints” lists that are aimed at helping us make the most of our time SYNNE VANGEN

lifestyle@westerneye.net

PHOTOGRAPH BY SYNNE VANGEN

Often the best tips are gained just by asking around how people do things, I’m sure people f ind it odd when I ask what their normal Tuesday dinner is and how they make it, a prerogative of being keen on food and hopelessly nosy, but what I f ind is that people mainly keep it simple, very, very simple.

Most students don’t dedicate a lot of time to cooking but not because they don’t want to. Mainly because they

don’t necessarily know where to start, having come from home cooked dinners without guidance on how they were made or simply just microwave meals.

Whilst I ask around, what most people have for dinner is Spaghetti Bolognese. But not the good stuff, I’m talking half price Dolomio out of a jar with browned mince. Nothing wrong with that on a lazy Tuesday, but by investing in an ice cube tray and an evening of cooking a big batch of sauce – you’ll have sauce ready at the click of a microwave button.

Here’s my proposition.

Bolognese sauces have become drenched in tomatoes, where in my opinion they should be creamy sauces that wrap into the mince – not overpower it by tasting like acidtripped tomato stew.

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Western Eye 11.13 — Issue 03

19

LIFESTYLE

All about ‘The Ring of Fire’

‘King’s cup’, ‘Circle of Death’ and most commonly known as ‘Ring of Fire’, is (from experience) one of the most popular drinking games amongst students and other party-goers alike.

RING OF FIRE PHOTO BY WEIGLEN

ERICA TOMS

lifestyle@westerneye.net

Since pubs and clubs in reaction to the recession have increased drinks prices, the importance of hosting ‘pres’ or pre-drinking sessions has become the done thing. In fact, organising whose place to pre-drink at goes without saying when planning a night out. It allows us to buy cheap spirits, wine and beer in order to avoid high prices in pubs , clubs and bars and save our precious funds. Student loans

these days are also wasted on expensive taxis and the allimportant chips and kebab on the way home.

Drinking games tend to originate from card games, which have been developed over the years and have been passed down from student to student and one of the best games ‘Ring of Fire’ itself causes some controversy with its rules.

The majority of the student experience entails three years of being skint; so relying on (in the most unfortunate situations) Tesco’s value vodka and 18p lemonade is a life

saver when on a night out with housemates or attending a society social. This means that students spend longer predrinking so that they go out later and make it to the early hours of the morning, without spending too much money.

Though the f inancial situation may have been the initial cause of this trend there are other perks. Having a large group of friends or people you don’t know well participating in such drinking games provides a real laugh and an opportunity to make new friends. Listening to loud music that people help themselves to on the chosen laptop, chatting and getting ready is sometimes the best part of the night.

People from different parts of the country and different university’s all have their own versions. The game itself can be confusing when trying to play it when everyone thinks each card means something different.

So here they are, from the off icial www.ringoff irerules. com website, are what seem to be the off icial rules on how to play. Get your deck of cards (without the jokers) spread them out face down in a ring around the King glass (a pint glass), go round in a circle of

at least 3 people and take it in turn to pick a card and watch the game unfold. It may also add some extra laughs to invest in comedic packs of cards. © Ace - Waterfall: Start with the card chooser, all must start drinking at the same time and mustn’t finish till the person next to them has.

Somewhat like a Mexican wave of drinking.. © 2- ‘You’ The person picking up the card can choose someone else to drink. © 3- ‘Me’ The person picking up the card must drink. © 4- ‘Whores’ All girls must drink. © 5- ‘Thumb Master’: When the person selecting the card puts their thumb on top of the table everyone must follow and the last person to do so must drink. © 6- ‘Dicks’ All guys must drink. © 7- ‘Heaven’ Every time the person who chose the card points up into the air everyone must follow, last person to do so must drink. © 8- ‘Mate’ The person who selected the card must pick a ‘mate’. The chosen mate must drink every time this person drinks throughout the rest of the game. © 9- ‘Rhyme’ Do this

mini-game round in the circle. The person who picked the card says a word and then go round and each take it in turns to say a rhyming word. Get it wrong, repeat a word or get stuck for 5 seconds and you must be the one to drink. © 10- ‘Categories/ word association’ Same as with the ‘rhyme’ game but the person with the card must select a category eg- cars, bands ect.. each word MUST relate to the category. This is left to the discretion of the rest of the group, but if someone gets it wrong or hesitates too long, drink. © Jack- ‘Make up a rule’ Break it, or anyone else breaks it, drink. (Personal favourites include: no pointing and the ban of using each other’s names.) © Queen- ‘Question Master’ If the card chooser asks a question to anyone in the group and someone answers them they have to drink. © King- ‘Pour!’ the variety of drinks make for the better torture for the person who gets the last king who must then drink the mixed cup of drinks in the middle of the ring.

Moustaches throughout history and ‘Movember’ Movember is well and truly upon us.

NATASHA MCGREGOR lifestyle@westerneye.net

For those of you who are still not completely certain what Movember is all about but are wondering about the swift increase in male facial hair; it’s a chance for men to raise money for testicular cancer by growing humorous beards and moustaches. And trust me, it can get absolutely absurd in some cases - the f irst time I met my boyfriend’s brother he was sporting a Hulk Hoganesque horseshoe monstrosity.

Unfortunately I couldn’t comment on it because I was trying to make a good f irst impression. Thankfully I now know him well enough now to mock him for it, and we’re all very grateful it was only around for a month.

Whilst facial hair is on our list of hot topics, I thought I would take this chance to chart the rise and fall of the ‘tache in our history. It hasn’t always been about jokes and raising cash for charity. The moustache has a variety of meanings and connotations too.

‘imperial’ style moustaches, not too large but requiring a decent amount of styling and grooming to achieve the look.

They had special ‘moustache soup spoons’ manufactured to save embarrassing dinner time blunders.

The politicial moustache

A symbol of class During the Victorian and Edwardian eras the style and standard of your facial hair was a symbol of your status.

The working class had their big bushy beards (easy to maintain and convenient for keeping your face warm warmer in the winter). The more upper class you got, the more elaborate and time consuming your facial stylings became.

For example, military off icers sported their ‘handlebars’ and

PHOTOGRAPH BY DRAKE GOODMAN

Sadly in the f irst half of the twentieth century the moustache was adopted by the power hungry, an association that has stuck around somewhat until now. Dictators such as Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini are now as easily recognised by their moustaches as by their faces, such is the power of the well-groomed ‘tache. These styles still to this day cannot be worn without judgement, and much care must be taken when shaving to avoid accidentally sporting a ‘Hitler’.

The 80’s - need I say more The ‘80s introduced the masses to Magnum PI, Lionel Ritchie, Freddie Mercury and many more who sported their own unique facial stylings.

Some would describe them as an acquired and dated taste.

I know that looking back they look like bad Halloween costumes (and who hasn’t worn at least one of these styles on a night out) but back then they were worn by the coolest guys around. My own father had his own version of the Magnum PI, which thankfully is no longer around. It was a good time for the moustache, where it enjoyed good press and good publicity on both the small and the silver screen.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE WESTERNEYE.NET

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LIFESTYLE

Western Eye 11.13 – Issue 03

Cabot Circus Cardiac Arrest 2013 #goodbyestudentloan!!

The Cabot Circus Student Lock In proved to be a complete sell-out on Monday 14th October

PHOTOGRAPH BY FANPOP

vintage or of the indie crowd, I think it is fair to say none of lifestyle@westerneye.net us were disappointed by the night’s events. The student Happy hour (or perhaps I sell out flavors trended largely should say crazy hour) ran from on multiple pairs of Converse, 6-9pm and what seem like the Vans and Uggs as well as entirety of Bristol’s student Superdry prep-wear, shiny population flocked into Cabot leggings and skater skirts.

Circus for the UK’s biggest It was easily done wasting shopping night of the year for 45 minutes queuing outside a ‘relaxing’ and student loan- the doors to beloved brands, depleting evening of retail however freebies and goodie therapy. bags def initely eased the pain While 6pm seems only too and impatience to break into early for a ‘lock-in’, students my student loan. traded their SU and favorite The most popularly Monday night antics in for the swamped stores appeared to Cabot Circus shopping centre, be those of Shuh, Topshop with Dubstep blaring from and American Apparel, of Vodka Revs who were camped whom offered not only great out in Urban Outf itters, discounts but goody bags and rounds of free vodka shots, and freebies that accompanied increased security as students this shopper’s paradise. To packed out the shop floor name but a few Cabot craving instead of the dance floor. treats this included, glasses The urgency not to miss out of champagne for the f irst 50 on the generously extended customers in Swarovski; 50% student discounts promised Off the total bill in Zizi’s with students one night only of up a special student menu for to as much as 50% off in some the night; free joining and big high street names such as starting training packs at The Urban Outf itters, Topshop, Gym; free screening of The H&M and even the unlikely Haunting in Connecticut 2 at up market kudos of Harvey the Showcase Cinema; 20% Nichols attracted snake lines double discounts in the fashof skint students. I don’t think ion capitals of New Look and I just speak for myself when I Republic and free vodka shots, reiterate how worth the queu- smoothies and DJs battles. ing on a cold and wet Monday It almost seems that the night was for the Brizzle swag timing of the Student Lock our NUS cards bought us.

In was not accidental at the There was something for beginning of the new term. everyone in the young wave Whether you are fresher or of consumerism, whether your a senior you are drawn back style was more preppy, glam, into the city you have probably GEMMA DAVIS

been missing over the summer at home. Therefore, the saviour and liberator of either Student Finance or the bank of mum and dad, only serve to fuel our appetites to spoil ourselves in retail therapy.

Especially because for most of us 20%, when we are used to the standard 10% discount, seems like a very good deal not to be missed especially when we are looking for money saving offers.

However, whether we can really afford this big self indulgent retail spree seems beside the point; the fact that there are so many ‘discounts’ makes you dangerously tempted to spend more! So perhaps just one small word of advice for future reference, as tempting as it might be, try not to break the bank!

If you were unlucky and missed this year’s Student Lock In, it will without a doubt return back next year around the same time and you can keep up to date on Twitter by using #studentlockin #bristol or Facebook. Be sure to save the date, and make sure you don’t miss out on what has been called ‘the biggest student event of the year!’

Let’s just hope we have all got enough dosh left to treat ourselves amidst looming deadlines to a bratwurst and baileys hot chocolate at the Bristol and Bath Christmas Markets this month… not to mention the horizon inescapable Christmas shopping!

Western Eye 11.13 — Issue 03

21

COMMUNITY & WELFARE REPORT

TOM RENHARD — VICE PRESIDENT A DETAILED UPDATE ON THE WORK SO FAR

Vice-President Community and Welfare Report

A detailed update on the work of Tom Renhard, your VP Community and Welfare over the year so far.

TOM RENHARD

vpcommwelfare@uwe.ac.uk

It has been a busy period on the Welfare front over the summer and a very exciting time to be a Network! We have eleven new Networks setup that are in varying stages of development which is more than double the number of Networks setup last year. So far the most successful of the new Networks has been the Postgraduate Network with 42 members with more work being done to encourage student engagement in others.

I am very excited to have been able to announce over the summer that Networks are now free to join which has seen membership in nearly every network rapidly increase. As way of compensating for lost income of members joining a pot of money for £3,000 has been secured that will be allocated on or around November 1st 2013 based on number of members in your Network. An additional increase in the main funding pot of £2,000 has also been secured to support greater Network activity throughout the year.

Other things I have been involved in since being off ice:

the Networks stalls at the Freshers’ Fair as they were the best yet! All of you I managed to get around to speak to seemed to be enjoying yourselves and talking to lots of students, which is what the day is all about. I have been working closely with Campaigns and Communities Co-ordinator over the summer to ensure it was as good as it could be for all of you and look forward to gathering more feedback at the meeting.

Network Development

Over the last few weeks I have attended a number of Welcome Events for different Networks which have been extremely enjoyable and I want to congratulate each and every Network that has held one, whether I was able to attend or not as feedback has been extremely positive! Please send in your photos and some info about the events that were ran so we can upload them to the website and really shout about what the Networks are up to this year!

This year I am really keen to increase the prof ile of the Networks on campus and support the fantastic work you all do. As part of trying to better support Networks and based on feedback we have removed the training day that has existed for the previous two years and have instead been doing development meetings which has given us the chance to see how we can support your Network throughout the year! We have received largely positive feedback and would welcome any further thoughts you have on it. Let us know if you would like more of these to

I was very impressed with

Mental Health Campaigning

Over the summer I took part in a Time To Change (TTC) Village Event at the Harbour Festival to challenge Mental Health stigma and discrimination that is still very prevalent in today’s Society. I ensured the Union and the University became fully involved, with the Volunteering opportunity going out to over 17,000 people on Jobshop as well Accommodation as the staff of UWE. It was Looking towards the end hugely successful with over of this term I will be turning 1,300 ‘conversations’ taking my attention on the issue of place over the course of the accommodation which affects weekend. a huge range of students across We also ran a Mental the university and I am really Health Awareness week which keen to push for some changes has engaged with hundreds which include better provi- of students so far through sion and holding landlords to conversations, making inforaccount more fully. Over the mation available, selling cakes, summer we released a short giving out apples and inviting brief ing on what Landlords students to get involved in our must do with your deposit “What makes you happy” activ(http://www.uwesu.org/news/ ities (leaf on a tree/ boards/ a r t i c l e / u w e s u / Yo u r-Te n a n c y - interviews) to promote posiDeposit-Protection/). Please tive Mental Health and the let me know your feedback on importance of good wellbeing. other issues you would like me If your Network would like to at this year alongside a Rate support with campaigning on Your Landlord Campaign that any issue then please let me is planned for next term. know so I can get fully behind it and help to make it happen.

Welcome Events

Freshers’

help ensure that your Network achieves its full potential.

Community

As part of the work I am doing this year I am looking to strengthen the community side of my remit and as part of that increase and better support Networks being able to get involved in the local communities in and around our campuses. Please get in touch for support with community based projects this year!

Keep up all the good work and get in touch with me for anything you need support with throughout the year and to let me know of all the fantastic things you are doing!

PHOTOGRAPH BY UWE STUDENT UNION

@VPCOMMWELFARE VPCOMMWELFARE@UWE.AC.UK FACEBOOK.COM/VPCOMMUNITYANDWELFARE