The Sabbatical Team are dead…
Issue Number 1 : September 22nd 2007
…serious about making KUSU the ultimate student experience!
Matt Alexander Vice President Democracy and Communications
The summer in Keele is a completely different experience to that of term-time. There are minimal students around, which creates a very eerie silence across campus that can never really be filled by staff and conference delegates. However to say that Keele is just on standby over the summer would be a false statement to make. So while all the students are back at home working over time in their local pub to claw back their student loan (or off on holiday digging deeper into their overdraft!) the Students’ Union has been working over time to get projects and plans in motion for the big year ahead. All over the summer KUSU has been under going some major refurbishment to transform it into a more vibrant and engaging place to be. You don’t have to look far to see where the changes have been
made; the lobby has been completely revamped to create a more open and engaging environment. You can now sit in the Kiln whilst keeping an eye out for your friends as the come and go! Sam’s Bar has received a lick of paint and been upgraded with some new décor to lighten the atmosphere in there. Harvey’s has also undergone a re-fit to keep it feeling fresh! A new and major development soon to be completed is
In Concourse Issue 1 Meet the Sabbatical Officers > Page 2
the K2 toilets that will virtually eliminate the long queues on Wednesday and Friday nights as well as providing a much more pleasant visit to the loo! Our very own KUBE Radio has also been having a bit of an upgrade over the summer with a new studio that will help them reach new heights. Along side these developments is the opening of a new room within K2 that will provide a completely different experience to a night out at the union. Keep your eyes pealed in the coming weeks for more news about this exciting new venue! The changes to KUSU are not just located within the building, you may have noticed that the kusu.net website has been revolutionised with a new design and some (much needed) updated content. This new website will give KUSU a bet-
ter online presence and provide a much more engaging medium for you to read up on all the latest Keele news, special offers, sport/society info and officer reports from the union. Make sure you check up on it regularly for the latest info and ways for you to get involved with KUSU. Those of you who are regular readers of Concourse will notice that the newspaper has not escaped the winds of change blowing through the Students’ Union. The paper has now been upgraded to a full colour print throughout, whilst maintaining the 100% recycled paper ethic (which helps keeps the Keele trees happy). With new artwork and a new structure this years Concourse will be the most colourful Keele University student newspaper ever!
KUSU Ents Freshersʼ Lineup > Page 6&7
As was reported at this point last year, the Students’ Union is under going some serious ‘re-branding’ and I am glad to report that never has this be more apparent than now. We really hope that changes for the better will continue to take place throughout the rest of this year (and the years after too!), but these can only happen if you get involved and be part of the union. Just remember that your time at Keele is just like your student loan; once it’s gone it’s gone! Get involved with your union and be part of something so that when the time comes for you to leave you can say that you were part of something truly unique. So if you’re a first year make sure you join as many sports and societies as possible, go out to the union as much as possible and experience as many new things as you can (just remember to make it to your lectures on time!). If you’re a second year make sure you catch up the things that you might have missed the first time round, like those nights at the union you never made it to or the experience of volunteering at KUSU’s VE project (just remember to get an early night once in a while!). And lastly, if you’re a final year student then make sure you remember how to have a good time when all that work is getting you down! All of us here at KUSU hope you have a fantastic year at Keele and learn lots about your degree, and as much about yourself.
Oh, and in true Concourse first issue tradition, welcome (back) to Keele!
What the IAU Can do for you! > Page 9
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22nd September 2007
Meet Your Sabbatical Officers (2007-08)!
Your Students’ Union is run by 4 elected officers know as ‘Sabbaticals’. They are here to ensure that your voice is heard and that the Union provides the best student experience possible! Sabbatical Officers are elected by the Keele students once every February and they work along side the part-time officers to form Union Committee. On this page you can find information about your elected Sabbs for 2007-08!
Nadeem Patel : ‘Naz’
President President@kusu.keele.ac.uk
Matt Alexander : ‘Mr Matt’
I’m the one who takes student issues and concerns in order to get them resolved with the University. My overarching aim is to make the students union a more vibrant atmosphere, both socially and politically. I aim to get as many students involved in decisions that affect us as residents at Keele. My advice to Keele students this year is get involved with everything you can because itís the best way of meeting new people and learning new things. The friends you make at Keele are forever so get out there and mingle. There is something at Keele for everyone, from the Students union to the halls you live in. Get Involved! Naz
Vice President (Democracy and Communications) vp.comms@kusu.keele.ac.uk
Hey there! I sincerely hope that you have had an enjoyable and extravagant summer that will prepare you for the year ahead. I’ve been busy all summer with my training and getting settled in at KUSU Towers to make sure that I’m all clued up so that I can be of best use to you. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my job remit, you might be interested to know that my priorities are focused around the out-going communications of the Union (e.g. Concourse and kusu.net), our main and general elections and representation of you. In my time in office I hope to live up to the standard set by my predecessor John Hutchinson, and push some new ideas out there. I’d really like to hear from you what you think about the Union and what you’d like to see happen. In my free time this year I’ll be trying to spend time with societies and sports because there are a few things I’d like to try before I leave (so you might see me out and about with them!). Feel free to swing by the Sabbs corridor on the top floor of the Union at any point if you have any problems or if youíd just like to get involved with the SU (we’d love to hear from you!). Take care Keelers Matt
Jack Corrigan : ‘The Duke’
Vice President (Education and Welfare) vp.edwel@kusu.keele.ac.uk
To all the first timers welcome to Keele University and to the rest of you welcome back. This year at KUSU promises to be really brilliant, with exciting bands, new look events and engaging awareness campaigns planned, we have something to suit everyone. One piece of advice that I have to offer is, get involved! Find a sports club or society that you are interested in and truly take advantage of what your Union can offer you. If you do feel a little overwhelmed during your time at Keele, don’t bottle it up or be embarrassed to get it off your chest. The Independent Advice Unit (IAU) here at KUSU can offer you support with the whole plethora of student issues. Enjoy yourself this year and through-out your whole time at Keele. If you ever fancy a chat, feel free to drop by the sabbatical corridor on the top floor of the Students’ Union and talk to any one of us. Be Safe!! Jack ‘The Duke’ Corrigan ‘Oi Roy Bring Me Love Bring Me Joy’
Oliver Cotterill : ’Little Oli’
Vice President (Finance & Activities) vp.finance@kusu.keele.ac.uk
Hello and a very warm welcome to you all, whether you are returning back to Keele or starting here for the first time, I wish you all the best for the year ahead. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the services that KUSU has to offer. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if I can be of any support to you. I’m Oli and I am your Vice President (Finance & Activities), elected into office for the forthcoming year. It feels like only yesterday that I started my year in office but suddenly three months have passed and Freshers has finally begun, thousands of students arrive and the fun starts! I remember back to my first day at Keele (only 5 years ago now...how old do I feel?!?). The excitement, the independence, the newness and the sudden panic of ‘What the hell have I done!?!’. Trust me, Keele is full of really friendly people so don’t be afraid to start randomly talking to anybody...if this doesn’t work, come and talk to me, I really can talk for England; the trick is getting me to shut up!! An Oli is normally quite hard to spot, being a modest height of 5’ 2” I am quite close to the ground so be careful where you are treading! Normally I can be found on the pool table or by the bar, I am sometimes quite partial to the odd beverage or two... or ten! Seriously though, if I can be of any help to you feel free to get in touch either by phone or email or pop up to the Elected Officers corridor on the top floor of KUSU. Here at KUSU you will find a million and one things to do, you may want to dazzle us with your singing at karaoke, show off those pool skills in our weekly competition or even test your knowledge in our weekly quiz hosted by little me! Maybe amazing us all with those dancing moves is more your thing, no matter what type of music you are into there is a night for you all, ranging from Rock to Indie to that good old Cheesy-tasticness! Anyway, I better be going now, soooo many things to organise. Enjoy and make the most of your first week at Keele, you will have an absolutely amazing time. I look forward to meeting you all at some point throughout the year. Feel free to get in touch, my office door is always open! Take it easy! Oli
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That StAR Quality Jack Corrigan Vice President Education and Welfare
StAR’s, or to give them their known acronym title of Student Academic Representatives, are students who act as a spokesperson for the student population within the module which they represent. StAR’s are expected to be the eyes and ears of the collective student body, who are taking a specific course. Any qualms or complaints on a course are channelled through the academic representative to the relevant academic boards and heads of schools, departments and faculties. A StAR has the power to directly influence the academic procedures within the university. With the formalities of the ‘What is a student academic representative’ covered, the real benefits of being a StAR can now be discussed. Whilst there are requirements to being a StAR, there are also many benefits. I will start with a cliche, being an aca-
demic representative ‘Looks great on your Curriculum Vitae’. Whilst almost all extra curricula activity is smeared with the C.V. improving brush, being an academic representative, really does ‘look great’ on a C.V. it suggests the person behind the C.V. is dedicated to improving their own and their peers working conditions, which is an admirable trait. In addition to this, the requirements to be a well organised, patient and articulated person, which is necessary to being a student academic representative, can turn your C.V. to solid gold. With the cliche benefit to being a StAR put to one side, there are still other advantages to being an academic representative that can be discussed. The fact that StAR’s have a genuine opportunity to make a difference is a real plus point to being a StAR. Academic representatives are the individuals who can really insight change on their course meaning that they have a direct influence on how, when and where they are taught. The student academic representative can initiate change for everyone on the
Fancy a Ride? Matt Alexander VP Democracy and Communications
course, and the position comes with the ‘satisfaction factor’ as StAR’s can really make a difference. Something new for the 2007-2008 academic year in the StAR’s realm is the introduction of Faculty Representatives. These newly created positions will act as a figure head within the faculty and undertake an increased number of significant roles. Faculty representatives will have direct access to faculty learning and teaching committee, and thus will be able to influence decisions made across the entire faculty. There are 3 faculty representative positions available, Faculty of Health and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Natural Sciences. If you are interested in being a StAR, inform your module leader as soon as possible, so that they can run the necessary election, quickly and fairly. If you feel you would thrive off the extra responsibility and would like to be a faculty representative, contact me on; vp.edwel@kusu.keele.ac.uk before October 8th
Imagine you’ve just stepped out of the union on a Friday at half two in the morning after having an incredible night out, only to find that you can’t find your friends to walk back with. You could take a risk and decide to walk back by yourself, or you could get yourself a free lift back safe and sound courtesy of the Students’ Union. I’m talking about the Safety Bus, which is a free service provided by KUSU to ensure you get home safe at night. This does not mean that the service is limited to those who have spent their evening at the union; you can still use the bus to get home safe if you have been out elsewhere in the evening. There are 2 safety busses (one 17 seater and one 8 seater) and at least 1 will be running from approximately 9:30pm – 2:30am every night if the week!
Safety First!
(Headline Championed by the V.P. Democracy & Communications) Jack Corrigan Vice President Education and Welfare
The KUSU safety week will run this year from October 22nd to October 28th. Do not let the name fool you; this event will not simply be a lot of bureaucratic boredom, with someone preaching do’s and don’ts at you for 7 days straight. The week will aim to make awareness interesting and engaging. With events including a ‘beat the stress’ day, which will involve plenty of inflatable fun and the opportunity to re-discover the childhood joys of hitting your mates with large pieces of foam. Safety week 2007 promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable 7 days. Look out for more details in the 2nd Issue of Concourse, such as the 999 fancy dress evening and the prize draw where you could win £100 worth of driving lessons with the AA.
Your Residential Managers!
Paul, Neil, Ursula and Bob (Residential Managers) would like to welcome all students to the new academic year at Keele University. We are here to support you through any issues and concerns that may arise through out your stay at Keele. As part of our role we are also here to help implement accommodation policies to ensure a pleasant and peaceful life on campus. We work closely with the Residential Tutors and can be contacted via them or as stated in the above. We look forward to meeting you all at the hall meetings. As a team we hope you all have a happy, safe and successful year.
Paul, Neil, Ursula and Bob are located in house 82 on the chicane near Lindsay S block. Call into our office as we have an open door policy between the hours of 1000hrs and 1400hrs Monday - Friday
Call us : 4621 E-mail us : resmanager@kfm.keele.ac.uk Mail us : House 82, Post room NIkki Cooper Disabled Students Officer
Hello, my name is Nikki Cooper, and I’m the officer for students with disabilities at KUSU. Part of my plan for the year is to set up a society that will provide some form of service for students with disabilities. Since this society does not exist, and a similar society has not been provided before, I need to know what level of interest there would be in such a society. If you are interested in this society which would be designed to support and aid students with disabilities then please contact me. My email is STA54@kusu.keele.ac.uk, I welcome all suggestions and ideas. I will also have my own stall at fresherís fair, at which you can give me suggestions, and sign up for a mailing list with which I will be keeping you updated. I look forward to hearing from you all.
Concourse Editor : Matt Alexander Concourse Issue 1 contained articles from; Matt Alexander, Jack Corrigan, Oliver Cotterill, Nikki Cooper, Neil Watkins, Bill Dixon, Fay Harris, Becky Want to write for Concourse? Taylor, Jess White, Rich Hill, Ron de Vos, Chris You can submit articles and adverts to Matt Major Alexander in the VP Comms office on the top floor of the Students’ Union, or at; vp.comms@kusu.keele.ac.uk
Next Edition of Concourse: Monday 8th October
Please submit articles for this edition by 12pm on Sunday 30th September to VP Comms
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22nd September 2007
Making a Difference at Keele Neil Watkins
The 'Love Music Hate Racism' event hosted by KUSU at the end of 2006/07 was the culmination of a year during which Keele students were particularly active in campaigning against racism, both locally and nationally. Organised with the aim of celebrating a multicultural Britain through music, the lineup featured a variety of acts, ranging from well-known bands to some of Keele's very own unsigned talent. Earlier in the year we had an open debate about the problems posed by the BNP and UKIP as well as a successful 'Kick Racism Out of Football' 6-a-side tournament, both of which were hosted by the Keele Labour Students society. While raising awareness of racism in our area is of course an essential part of eradicating the problem, it is also pretty obvious that we can't make Britain a fairer and more tolerant place to live just by talking about it. It's pleasing to be able to say that actions spoke louder than words as far as Keele was concerned last year. A large group of Keele students participated in the
'Hope Not Hate' days of action in Stoke-on-Trent and Sandwell, which formed part of a nationwide campaign organised by the antiBNP group 'Searchlight'. Keele Labour Students, who last year were one of KUSU's most active political societies, carried out a concentrated campaign in Stoke-onTrent's Longton North ward in which they were successful in defeating the incumbent BNP City Councillor in May's local election. So much was achieved last year, but the problem remains. The number of BNP Councillors in Stoke-onTrent, currently seven, continues to
grow; meanwhile, in our own constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme UKIP Councillors were elected for the first time, standing on a platform of anti-immigration and isolationist policies. This year we will be redoubling our efforts to combat racism in whatever guise it may come, as there is no point in saving our planet if we are unable to live upon it together. If racism is an issue that you care about, then get involved - you can get in touch with KUSU or Keele Labour Students if you want to find out how. Of course, racism isn't the only instance of social injustice in modern Britain. Although the figure has fallen dramatically over the past decade, there are still over a million children living in poverty in the UK. Similarly, although crime in Britain has been reduced by a third since 1997, anti-social behaviour remains a visible presence on many of our streets. While it's important to appreciate just how lucky we are to be living in 21st-Century Britain, it's equally important that we continue to recognise problems that need to be solved. Most important of all, however, is the fact that you really can make a difference.
The NUS Extra card will be available throughout Freshers’ Fortnight!
SUPPORTING STUDENTS: KEELE’S NEW SYSTEM OF PERSONAL TUTORING Bill Dixon
As another generation of first year students arrives at Keele, Bill Dixon describes the University’s new system of personal tutoring.
From the beginning of the new academic year Keele is introducing a new system of personal tutoring. Designed to make sure that every first year student has access to the full range of support services the University has to offer, the new system is being introduced following a comprehensive review of student support at Keele by Professor Ray Cocks, Pro Vice Chancellor for Staff and Students. Under the new system, every first year will be allocated to a personal tutor who will act as her or his first point of contact for advice and support on both academic and personal
issues. For students studying dual honours, teaching staff in schools will continue to provide detailed advice relating to individual modules and academic programmes, while personal tutors take on the responsibility for reviewing student’s progress across both principal subjects, and on the complementary studies programme. Recent research shows that, as more and more people come into higher education, universities can seem rather impersonal as lecturers lose contact with individual students. One of the aims of Keele’s new system of personal tutoring is to overcome this problem by making sure that every student has someone with a personal interest in their progress to whom they know they can turn for support and guidance. It ís inevitable that personal tutors won’t be able to deal with everything themselves, but they will be
able to point students who need additional help and support in the direction of specialists such as the University’s Centre for Learning and Student Support, the Counselling Service, or KUSU’s Independent Advice Unit. Under University guidelines, personal tutors are responsible for giving their tutees the opportunity to meet them regularly throughout their time at Keele, and four times in the first year. But they also make it clear that students themselves are responsible for making sure that the relationship works by letting their personal tutor know if they are having problems, meeting with their tutor to discuss them, and being an active participant in finding solutions. During the first week of the new semester, personal tutors will be available to welcome students to Keele and talk them through the
first few weeks of university life. Everyone recognises that this period can be a daunting experience as well as an exciting one, and personal tutors are there to help if things don’t go according to plan. It ís hopelessly idealistic to think that every student will feel an instant connection with their personal tutor, but no-one should feel that they don’t have anyone to turn to. In the end it ís the responsibility of both personal tutors and students to make sure that, if things do go wrong, problems can be identified and resolved as quickly as possible. Bill Dixon is Associate Dean for Learning & Teaching in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. Views on the new system are welcome and Bill can be contacted by e-mail at w.j.dixon@keele.ac.uk.
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What do our students think about the scheme?
Keele University Widening Participation Department, is offering a number of placement opportunities paid via bursary to the student. The Scheme is designed to attract students who want help in deciding whether or not a career in secondary school teaching is for them, or perhaps to clarify which age group they want to teach whilst getting paid for it! The Scheme also wants students to promote the benefits of higher education to young people in school. It is a no-obligation experience of secondary teaching, and it is perfectly valid for someone to decide that teaching is not for them based on what they discover whilst participating in the Scheme. Rather than us trying to explain the benefits of you engaging with the scheme we thought our students could do it better.
‘Working for the Widening Participation unit at Keele has to be one of the best things that I have done since coming to university. This might sound like an exaggeration but I find it hard to describe it in any other way. For starters the ability to try your hand at a job that you might be considering after university and get paid for it is a bonus all on its own. Now throw in the fact that the work you do involves getting to know and
work with different and passionate and helpful people of all different age groups pretty much stands the experience on a pedestal. I have known that teaching has been my career or vocation as it were for sometime now, so if you are not as sure then discredit my opinion and take in to account the stories of other such individuals who have never had an inkling to teach children. Many of these individuals fresh out of school themselves decided to apply to WP simply because they thought the remuneration involved was promising, however one term into the placement and almost every one I know and have worked with is clamouring to come back (my self included). The opportunity to work with young adults who are full of promise and expectations of what their lives will turn out to be is a very rewarding and fulfilling experience. What sets working in these schools apart and therefore more rewarding is that many of these children have no idea of the potential and promise they themselves posses. At first glance, and a few glances after, these children strike you as not having the slightest inclination to progress out of their little social sphere and that the few of them who do are penalized for it. This opinion, soon changes
to that of seeing that these young individuals know no better, have not been exposed to much and are frightened of themselves, their own potential and just about anything different that comes in to their lives. With a little bit of understanding and a lot of patience what is achievable is truly shocking. I once had a boy who was noted as being very difficult and not afraid of making racist comments when he saw fit, get up and tell me he wanted to send all the extra tables and chairs in the classroom to the deprived country we were speaking of. Such reactions happen all the time when working with these students all that is needed is a little bit of extra time and attention.’ Samantha Ferdinand 2nd year Educational Studies and English Literature ‘I really think this scheme is useful for all professional careers, not just for those who want to go into teaching. For me, as a medical student and later as a doctor, having good communication skills are essential. There are no better ways to improve communication skills than physically being there and facilitating teaching in schools. Furthermore, gaining invaluable experience of work-
ing with children will become useful when I am in clinical practice, especially in pediatrics. I also feel I have the privilege of being in higher education, and I want to use this privilege to help others to get this privilege by simply knowing more about university. This scheme is not only for people who consider becoming teachers as their career; it is really for everyone who seeks opportunity to widen their scope. Of course, that extra line on your C.V. can make a huge difference to your life too as the world out there is extremely competitive in every aspect. This scheme is an excellent starter for anyone, regardless of what you are planning to do in your future career. So if you are thinking of why, perhaps start to think why not!’ Ralph W.F. Lee 2nd Year Medical Student
How to get involved If you are interested in applying, please visit www.keelelink.co.uk and select ‘Placement Scheme’ here you will find more information and a link to the online application form.
Welcome to KUSU Ents 2007-08!
The Entertainments Dept would like to welcome home all returning students and say a big hello to all our freshers and congratulate on your immpecable taste in choosing Keele......welcome to the family......i have every faith in the 2nd and 3rd years that they will take good care of you and instruct you in the ways of the keele family!!!! We've lots to keep you entertained this year, check out the wallplanners for the listings so far and keep an eye on the Kusu Entertainments pages on kusu.net/ents and facebook for some exciting announcements we'll be making in the next coming weeks. We hope you like the selection of gigs we've got
lined up for you. Im sure you'll agree Keele has not seen a line up for freshers semester like this in a long time and there's more to come......but we're not telling you just yet!!!!! The Enemy gig has now sold out and the only way to get a ticket for this is to enter the Golden Ticket draw. To enter all you have to do is email us at with golden ticket in the subject header.. Check out the freshers pink fancy dress party poster for more details........Speaking of the freshers party I hope you're all gonna pink it up and come along and have some fun. See you out in Freshers’ week! Jayne and Rob
Your entertainments department enlists the managerial skills of Rob Chamberlain and the fresh innovations of Jayne Winstanley. Rob Chamberlain Venue Manager (Ents) is responsible for the overall operation of the department and the venues, together with Venue Manager (Bars) Carl Titterton. Residing over the evolution of your pleasurable pastimes and fun-time-frolics is Jayne; dealing with promotions, Club nights, DJs, student bands, and for anyone who wants to get involved. Check out the KUSU entertainments facebook page, if youíve any qualms or queries or get in contact with Lizzie Leeson, your elected Ents Officer and the chair of the Entertainments Forum. The Entertainments Dept is actively seeking DJ’s, technicians, publicity officers, web & graphic designers, journalists, photographers, decorators. The Ents Forum takes place once a week, Mondays at 1pm in K2, it’s open for all those who want to get involved in any of these positions or just come along and critique our events... RWD, a frivolous mid-week cheesy knees-up, shimmering into a colourful extravaganza once a month becoming Flirt, the perfect occasion to dress-up, hook-up and flirt ;) Reloaded, classic shindig celebrating the start of the weekend, presenting precious pop plastic tunes
in the ballroom with our new resident DJ Lee Saunders and sexy R’n’B, upfront hip-hop with a twist of grime and dancehall in K2 from Jus:J (DefJam UK & BBC Blast) and turntablist extraordinaire DJ P. We’ve also the alluringly enticing collaborations of Manic Mondays; setting you on an impeccable note to start your week. Exclusively eclectic mixes, from resident DJ’s Jayne and Chilly as well as showcases from new student DJ’s. Music from every genre served scorchingly hot with cheap drinks promotions, all in preparations for the monthly occurrence of ‘Massive Mondays’; where Manics blooms into two rooms of seductive decor, tantalising drinks promos and music for the indie, nu-ravers, emo, R’n’B, electronica and everything in-between. u Disco, is the new bi-monthly indie night, providing a platform for student DJís and bands, u DJ, u Play, u Disco!! If that wasn’t enough we’ve scooped up a few evenings of live music from the hottest bands for this summers festivals, including the Enemy, the Twang, the Pigeon Detectives, We Are Scientists and Pendulum with more to come. Contact Details; r.chamberlain@keele.ac.uk j.winstanley@keele.ac.uk sta49@keele.ac.uk (-Lizzie Leeson)
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22nd September 2007 Fay Harris IAU
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Indepedent Advice Unit
OK, so it’s the start of term. You have moved into your room / house and you want to know what your timetable is like and what else Keele can offer you. At the Advice Unit, we know what it is like to be a student and to be going through what you are going through for the first time; whether you are a fresher, a repeat year student, final or postgrad student, we are well placed to help with any issue or problem, you may encounter during your studies at Keele. We have had a busy summer. We have been working on a new look which, we hope, wraps up all the services you can expect from your IAU. The IAU provides information, advice and representation on so many topics and, until now, we have struggled to represent this visually. However, we now think we have cracked it; our new ‘tube’ style graphic (which you can see on the opposite page) should give a clear idea of the range of issues we can help with. That said, we still couldn’t squeeze all the info about what we can help with, which is, basically, anything from A-Z! We have also been helping a lot of students over the summer, delivering advice and providing representation,
but sometimes simply listening and providing reassurance. We have also been working closely with a number of agencies, and services, both on and off campus. IAU team members have attended conferences and training sessions to ensure that we continue to deliver high quality, up to date and relevant info to you. Other things that we have been working on include getting information into the WebCT space, so you can access the answers to your questions at the click of a button. This info has been written in a chatty, and hopefully, accessible way. We would very much appreciate any suggestions or comments you have about what you find on WebCT, drop us a line at independent.advice.unit@keele.ac .uk. The website, again, is a great place for you to find info, and we have been looking at improving our webpages over the summer. Hopefully, you will like the new look! If you can’t find what you are looking for, it doesn’t mean we can’t help, so email us, let us know what we can do to help you, and what you would like to see on the site. We know that your timetable is very busy, in response to this, we have created the Bitesize series - we only want 20 minutes of your time! The
Jobshop
Looking for part-time work? Need help getting a job? Whatever your part-time employment needs, we can help!
On Campus Jobshop Access The Jobshop is based on the Top Floor of the Students’ Union, jobs are advertised on the Jobshop notice board, employment information is available to take away and there is a computer and telephone for students to job search and call employers. All minutes away from wherever you are on campus! Open 10am to 4pm Mon-Fri.
Job Fairs Local and national employers come along to the Job & Volunteer fairs at the start of each semester, where you will be able to meet prospective employers.
Student employment issues Access to a range of employment is-
sues including National Minimum Wage, income tax, holiday entitlement, guidance for international students and working in the UK and much more! www.kusu.net/jobshop includes: -On-line job search facility -Local Jobcentre contacts -Useful web links
-Jobshop Pack factsheets and Personal Development Log
-Information on student emp loyment issues -CV, application form and in terview advice -Basically all you need to know about student em ployment
Bitesize talks cover living off campus, consumer contracts, our ‘don’t be a copy cat’ guide to plagiarism and collusion, and surviving the 1st 2nd and 3rd year. Look out for the programme of talks on the website, and in the next edition of Concourse. We know many of you need to find part time jobs during the semester so Jobshop has been in touch with local employers and invited them to come and recruit staff on campus; if you need work, come along to the Ballroom in the SU on 10th October and see if you can find a job to suit you. We have a new Project Leader for the Voluntary Experience Project who has been working very hard this summer to ensure that the project gives you the placement you need at a time to suit you. Again you can come along to chat to potential placement providers - see what they can offer. New for this year are VE VIPs, who will receive very special treatment at big nights in the Union to find out more come along to the Fair on the 10th! Well, we hope that you are ready and raring to go for this academic year. If you need info, advice, representation, work or opportunities to improve your student experience (and CV!) you can contact your IAU to see what we can do for you.
KUSU JOB & VOLUNTEER FAIR
WEDNESDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2007 11AM TO 4PM
THE SU BALLROOM
Come along, meet employers, find part-time work and get all the employment advice & information you need! Keep an eye on www.kusu.net/jobshop to find out whoís coming along, floor plans etc!
It’s a Jungle out there! Jack Corrigan Vice President Education and Welfare
The experience that is University life is different to any other living experience out there. The opportunities that will come your way during your time at university will be varied, exciting and extremely random. Dealing with personal finances, is just one issue that regularly affects the typical student. Being well informed on such issues however can help you cope with them effectively, safely and happily. The Student Survival Guide has been set up to help students deals with issues surrounding; sex, drink, debt, kitchen/cooking safety and drugs. It also includes a specialist section with useful tips for international students. Available through www.kusu.net, the student survival guide, is a no-nonsense, none judgemental guide to dealing with some of the worst case scenarios, such as friends passing out due to alcohol poisoning. The helpful hints and carefully selected information are designed to help you survive the experience that is university life, and come out of it having had an extremely happy few years. So check-out the student survival guide on kusu.net. It even has helpful tips for dealing with a hangover.
Want to stand out from the crowd? Become a volunteer!
Becky Taylor VE
A big welcome to all the students arriving at Keele! For many of you becoming a student at Keele for the first time will mean moving away from home and a whole new life, bringing with it new experiences, opportunities and of course new people! For others you may be returning to complete your studies after the summer break. Whatever your situation we hope you will have a wonderful and unique experience with us that will stay with you throughout your time here at Keele and beyond!
As part of your experience at Keele, why not get involved with the Voluntary Experience (VE) Project? The VE Project enables Keele students to experience unique opportunities, develop new skills and expertise in an area of interest or in relation to your degree studies, as well as help local community projects. Volunteering through VE you will:
*Get involved in the local community *Improve your CV *Enrich your Keele experience *Develop new skills *Have fun & meet new people!
There are lots of ways you can get involved in volunteering, and working with a wide variety of organisations, the VE Project can help you to find a placement that meets your needs and interests. Here ís what previous volunteers have said about volunteering; ‘I’ve had fun and met a supportive and varied group of people. I wish I’d joined VE sooner!’ ‘It gives me an opportunity to meet new people, try new things and gives me a chance to give something back to the community in which I live.’
Interested? To find out more contact Becky at the VE Project office (based in the Independent Advice Unit on the top floor of the Student Union building). Tel: (18) 3626 (Internal) or 01782 583626 (External) Email: volunteering@kusu.keele.ac.uk Check out our website: www.kusu.net/ve Look out for our Newsletter in October!
Concourse
Oli Cotterill Vice President Finance and Services
What do you like doing in your spare time? And no, before you say it, that wasn’t the answer I was looking for! How would you fancy the chance to meet loads of like-minded students, go to numerous social events, have bucket loads of fun and spend your time doing a hobby that you really enjoy??? Well, if you like the sound of that, with over forty societies on display, come and see what they have to offer at Freshers’ Fair. Regardless of your interests, hobbies or musical tastes, there is bound to be one or two societies to share them with. You might even find something new, or discover a hidden talent! If you’ve ever fancied the idea of producing your own radio show, opening your mind to different languages and cultures, DJing, doing some martial arts, or voicing
Freshers’ Fair!
your political views in a relaxed environment, now is the time to try it all out! There are even some societies that can offer you academic and personal support, as well as faith-oriented and cultural societies to share your beliefs with. It’s a fantastic way to get to know other students, even if at the end of the day you only come out with a handful of leaflets and a bit of inspiration! Freshers’ Fair society sign up days this year are on Sunday 23rd September between 12noon-4pm and Monday 24th September between 11am-4pm in the Ballroom. Each society has an executive committee that are responsible for the running of each society, they are made up of a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Each society will have a stall at Freshers’ Fair, so come on down and have a look around them all, there really is something for everybody. A small membership fee will be charged by each society,
even though you can pay on the day (cash or Keele card) there is no obligation to; many societies give the option of coming to a ‘taster’ session first to see if you like what they have to offer. Please remember to bring your Keele card even if you are paying by cash as we will need a record of who you are. This year Freshers’ Fair will have a fruity theme with balloons and baskets of fruit and we will even have a fruit smoothie bar serving a selection of deliciously blended refreshing fruit drinks for all to enjoy! What better way to feel revitalised after the Ice Breaker Disco antics of the night before?! Come on down and join as many societies as you would like to; all societies will have a representative on each stall who will more than happily tell you what their society is about and what exciting events they have planned for the year ahead!
KRAP says hey to the ‘07 freshers! Jess White KRAP Secretary
So ‘what is KRAP?!!’ I hear you cry. Well, KRAP stands for Keele Rock Appreciation Posse, and we cater for all your rock and roll needs. We will have a stall at freshers fare which is in the ball room of the students union on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September so come and say hi, and we’ll be able to answer any questions if you have any. You can also sign up to be a member of the society for just a few £’s for the whole year! Definite bargain I’d say! This entitles you to a discount at all our club nights which are in K2 fortnightly. Fancy socialising and meeting lots of musically like minded people in a relaxed environment? Then come on down to our first social of the new term at Horwood Bar on Tuesday 25th September! Our lovely friendly committee will welcome you and make sure you’re well looked after! Our first club night Anti-pop is also coming up on Thursday
Groober Keele LGBT General Secretary
Keele Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Society is a FREE social and support group. People of all sexualities and genders are welcome to our socials on Mondays at 7.30 (in Samís Bar, upstairs in the union). You don’t have to be ‘out’, and no one at the society will ask about your sexuality unless you broach the subject! We have a strict confidentiality policy that means that you won’t be at risk of being ‘outted’ if you use any of our facilities. We provide support if youíre having trouble settling in, or perhaps are being bullied. We also have a great laugh! We have activities to keep you on your toes every week or so, from scavenger hunts and pool competitions to our K2 club nights, for example our Rocky Horror night coming up in Freshers’ Fortnight (4th of October, to be precise!). We also have a very active online community, most of which can be accessed from www.keelelgbt.org.uk. Our email is keelelgbt@gmail.com, and weíd love it if you dropped us a line, whether you want advice on telling your new housemates you’re gay, where the nearest clubs are, or you just want to talk about the latest NUS campaigns. We’d love to meet more people (we’re sociable folk), so do come along to our socials or visit our forum (accessible from our website).
22nd September 2007
27th September in K2 9pm-2am. Come, one and all for a fun filled evening and we can dance the night away together! Hope to see you there!
KEELE UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY COME AND JOIN US AT FRESHERS IN THE STUDENT UNION BALLROOM
SUNDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER - 11 - 4PM MONDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER - 10 - 4PM
YOUR STUDENT RUN SOCIETY FOCUSES ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE LAW AND IS A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO IS STUDYING LAW AT KEELE.
WE HOLD EDUCATIONAL TALKS, PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS TO HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY INTO THE LEGAL WORKPLACE, AND OUR SOCIETY HAS REGULAR SOCIALS TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AND GET TO KNOW YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS MEMBERS ALSO GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO OUR LIBRARY ROOM, WHERE ALL THE BOOKS NEEDED FOR YOUR COURSE AND ESSAYS CAN BE FOUND ON TOP OF LOTS OF CAREERS INFORMATION TO HELP YOU MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION OF WHAT TO DO AFTER KEELE WE LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING YOU UP AT FRESHERS
Keele Concert Band
Calling all Brass and Woodwind players. Keele Concert Band are looking for new players for the year ahead! Playing all genre’s of music, from Disney classics through modern compositions to 17th Century classical arrangements, there is music for everyone, and for all abilities! Keele Concert Band is the ultimate opportunity for all those musicians to continue playing through their university careers. You don’t have to be a music student to join, the band is mainly made up of non-music students. As well as making music, you will get the opportunity to make a load of new friends, participate in the socials and to sing at Karaoke (but only if you think youíre good enough to take on Stew!). We are going to be touring France in July 2008, with several concerts already planned, and three different hotels already booked, tour this year promises to at least match the excitement and enjoyment of previous tours! Having been on the last two tours, I can honestly say that they are some of the best experiences of my life, and something that I would always do again. We rehearse every Sunday evening from 7pm9pm in Lindsay Studio 2, with the first rehearsal on Sunday 23rd September. This will be a light hearted affair and a chance for you all to meet the band, and to learn more about the France 2008 tour! For more details, visit out stall at the society signup days, or email Bradley at keele_concert_band@hotmail.com
Keele Fundraising Society
The KFS are a student run society for raising money in aid of charities. We like to encourage our members to come to or take part events and also to run events of their own where we can give advice and support. Our first year looks to be full of promise with events like a three-legged bar crawl on the horizon and not forgetting RAG week! Our first planned event is going to be a Coffee morning in aid of Macmillan cancer support on Friday the 28th of September – For more details keep an eye out for posters around campus! Why not find out more about us on the Facebook group? Just type KFS in the search box Alternatively email Amy Wagstaff on u6j56@ugj.keele.ac.uk
22nd September 2007
Concourse
Welcome to Keele University Athletic Union 2007/2008 Rich Hill AU Deputy President
Firstly, I’d like to say a warm welcome to the freshers and to our returning members. I hope you all had an immense summer and are ready for the year ahead. I guess I best introduce myself! I’m Rich the deputy-president and I oversee A.U. Concourse publications. This first article is to give a general introduction for the freshers and to publicise recent and future events within your A.U. The ‘Team: KEELE’ committee is made up of four non-sabbatical officers. This means that we are students at Keele and are voluntary officers with our work being supported by a full-time coordinator. We are your collective voice and are responsible for all students at Keele who are interested in sport. The 2007/2008 A.U. (‘Team: KEELE’) committee is: President: - Manni Purewal Deputy-President - Rich Hill Treasurer - Lee Searle Secretary - Adam Gledhill
Some facts and figures about your A.U.
-1400 students in the A.U. -We have 34 sports clubs ranging from Football and Netball to ulti mate Frisbee and Korfball. -Keele is affiliated with the British Sports University Association (B.U.S.A) and the majority of our teams enter the relevant competi
tive leagues. -In total we have 57 different teams -Last year we had 5 B.U.S.A cham pions (a big hand to those teams!!) -In 2006 we were named B.U.S.A’s ‘Most Improved University’ moving up an incredible 49 places in the championship rankings.
The A.U. Sports Fair Freshers and returning members, it’s that time again to aquire or re-new your A.U. membership and to join up to your devoted sports clubs. Or perhaps the possibility of trying something new for a change? This seasons A.U. Sports Fair is the 24th and 25th of September - 10am-4pm in the leisure centre. This year, we will also be holding a stall in fresher’s week, at the Student Union’s ‘Society Signup Day’ on the 23rd of September- 12am-4pm. Hope to see you there on one of those dates. (This year, you will need a passport photo for your A.U. Card so plesse bring one along. Thanks!)
Calling up any budding photographers and media students ‘We Want You!’ If there any people that would be willing to be part of a team to take photos/videos at matches then please get in touch with me. Basically there is hopefully going to be a really cool format to display live fixtures results on SubTV (the plasma screens in the union!) with photos and videos of the best bits from a match. For example it could be the winning try from the rugby lads or the best catch on
the ultimate frisbee field. It would create great publicity and fan support which teams have missed in past years. For the individuals that come forward, not only will it look good on your CV but it will also count towards hours with the Millenium Volunteers scheme or an equivalent. (You don’t have to be apart of the A.U.)
Recent News Chris Longsdale resignation Over summer, Chris Longsdale, the A.U. Coordinator resigned. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank him for all the hard work and dedication he has spent working for our A.U. Without him we would not be the institution we are today. We wish him all the luck in the future. However, we would also like to say a big hello and good luck to the new acting Co-ordinator, Beth Redfern.
Ron de Vos
It has been quite a number of years ago that I attended the part-time MBA training at Keele University. That was not all plain sailing. Apart from studying, it also took a considerable amount of energy to keep the other part of my life going. It needed proper planning; I had a fulltime job and a busy household. During the week everything had to run smoothly in Amsterdam so that the weekends would be free to study or go to the University in the U.K. Look-
That’s all for this edition but if you do have any further queries or suggestions feel free to get in touch with us. If you have any future articles you would like published then please send them to au_dep_president@hotmail.co.uk. Lets get this season off to a winning start!
Astro-turf update Yes it’s here! The new astro-turf should have been officially opened by the time you read this. I’m sure the football and hockey guys and girls will be eagerly awaiting to train on there. Have fun!
Facebook Yes, even your A.U. is on Facebook! Isn’t everyone these days? Search us like you would a friend and request a confirmation. It’s a very easy way to get in touch with us and be informed of the latest news that could affect your club.
What can happen after Keele? ing back it was a very special time. The MBA training, apart from a lot of knowledge, gave me special insights which freed me from my shackles. Studying in another country together with students holding a different nationality really taught me to think differently; redefine problems and look for solutions in alternative ways. Strange you may say, because how far apart are our countries? only a little bit, and can there be so many differences? Most definitely. I will tell you about these. At the end of the nineties, I was on a selection committee to select people who applied for a job with the Dutch government. The selection protocol had standard questions and at one point I spoke with applicants who had served in the army. Dispatched on a UN peace mission to, among other places, Bosnia, Kosovo and Lebanon. When I spoke with these people, I noticed that a lot was going on inside and that the aftercare service of the Ministry of Defence left gaps. I recognised things because I myself had been on a peace mission as a conscript in Lebanon in 1979. At the time there was no such thing as aftercare service. As a result of these selection interviews I wanted to inform the Ministry of Defence about my experiences, in order to ensure that the aftercare service could be adjusted, but how to go about it? I had learned to make analyses, in various forms, and to write policy documents. This was something else. How was I to quantify and incorporate feelings and intuition in a
A.U. Xmas Ball Itís time to dress your best and get those Cinderella gowns and penguin suits on! Pencil the date of this years ball in your diary: Saturday 24th November. We’ll keep you posted nearer the time regarding tickets.
piece of writing, so that people could feel and live through the experience of what it is like to be on a peace mission? I then remembered a lecture on corporate strategy and how the lecturer was saying that you can really change things when you go off the beaten track and free yourself from the boundaries we set ourselves. That lecture was my starting point and I wrote a book where the reader himself goes on a mission. An emotional book, straight from the heart, without expansiveness and stripped of all its frills. It had to be from this perspective, because the maxim is that you have to experience something yourself to really know what it is like. I wrote it and meanwhile the book has partly been made into a film and translated into German and English. For many people it has become a self-help book and it also adds to the social discussion: 'should we go on missions to other countries?' Just like that I became a successful writer, a side of myself I did not know. I want to invite you to read my book. It can be typified as multifaceted; it contains elements of social psychology, leadership but mainly emotion. It is the story of a number of guys, most of them 19 years old, who fulfil their military service in a war zone with an impossible task to maintain the peace between fighting parties in the mountains of South Lebanon and the Israeli border. It is called ‘Patrol to the north border of Israel’. You can read more about the release at, www.lemmensonline.com
A ROW OF SHOPS AND SHOPPERS
Chris Major 2nd Year Nursing Student Keele
and each word on this line a parked car, each letter from here in a person. Windows fluid with the reflected life of cakes and coffee, beer and chat in the heat of a lunch hour sun. A ten mile gap between verses. Someone turning to a mobile, people to statistics _ a word in line one to a bomb........