QMSU Newsletter
Volume: 3 January 2012
Find out what we’re doing for you
Its Elections Time!
Important Dates: Nominations Open Nominations Close Voting Opens Voting Closes Results Party
Jan 9th, 10am Feb 2nd, 4pm Feb 10th, 10am Feb 16th, 4pm Feb 16th
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here are very few jobs, let alone graduate jobs, that provide the same varied responsibilities and experiences that being a Sabbatical Trustee affords those lucky enough to be elected by their fellow students. It’s a job that you can uniquely make your own, as the heads of the Students’ Union, the Sabbatical Trusteess can shape the direction and activities of the Union towards whatever way they think is best for students. It will also be an interesting year to be a Sabb, it will be the first time for a very, very long time that all the officers will be in their first year of the job. It’s the first year where the new structure is in place, with Education and Welfare being split into two roles and Communications and Student Activities dropped as full-time roles. It would be pointless to lie and say that it’s an easy job, it takes up a huge
amount of your time and will take over your life for your time in office, but it is worth it. Representing students and ensuring that they get the best possible deal from the university and from other organisations is a hugely rewarding thing to do and the skills you will gain will set you in good stead for whatever you direction you want to go in afterwards. Even if you don’t want to take a year out of your studies to be a Sabbatical Officer, there are a huge number of part-time positions available, from becoming a Student Representative, a Part-time Officer, a Student Trustee, an NUS Delegate or even Executive Editor of the Student Media. With a frankly staggering array of different portfolios, these are oppportunities to suit everyone. These positions are open to people who will be students at QM next year and are done alongside your studies. They also offer a whole range of valuable skills and experiences and can act as a good taster to see if you want to run to be a Sabbatical Officer nearer the end of your course!
information Need more information about the elections?
Need more information about the positions ?
Go to: www.qmsu.org/elections
President- Sophie: Vice President - Oscar: Vice President - Sam: Vice President - Dom: Vice President - George:
Contact: Election Official - Phil: elections@qmsu.org
president@qmsu.org vpwelfare@qmsu.org vpcommunications@qmsu.org vpactivities@qmsu.org vpassociation@qmsu.org
Available Positions Sabbatical Trustees
Part-time Officers
Educational Reps
President Vice President Education Vice President Welfare Vice President Barts & The London
Student Council Chair RAG Officer (ME) RAG Officer (BL) Societies Officer (ME) Societies Officer (BL) Sports Officer (ME) Sports Officer (BL) Volunteering Officer (ME) Volunteering Officer (BL) Vice President Barts Vice President London Dental Society President
BL Faculty Rep (Pre-Clinical) BL Faculty Rep (Clinical) BL Faculty Rep (Dental) Humanities & Social Science Faculty Rep (x2) Science & Engineering Faculty Reps (x2) Postgrad Research Rep (ME) Postgrad Research Rep (BL) Postgrad Taught Rep (ME) Postgrad Taught Rep (BL) International Rep (ME) International Rep (BL)
NUS Delegates Four Positions Available Student Trustees Four Positions Available Student Media Executive Editor
For more information and contact details visit: www.qmsu.org
Welfare & Equal Opportunities Reps Welfare Rep (ME) Welfare Rep (BL) Students with Disabilities Rep (ME) Campaigns Officer (BL) LGBT Rep (ME) LGBT Rep (BL) Multi-cultural Rep (ME) Multi-cultural Rep (BL) Womens Rep (ME) International Rep (ME)
Award Season... This spring QMSU will be rewarding and recognising our members who have contributed above and beyond the call of duty throughout the year. There are three celebratory events planned for March and you could be up for an award!
Club Sport Awards Dinner – Tuesday 27th March in Proud Cabaret. The Sports Clubs’ Black Tie and Cocktail Dress event with a sit down dinner and after party brings glamour to the Club Sport Awards Dinner.
There are three awards ceremonies happening this term so keep an eye out for tickets and news and check qmsu.org for all the details. The ceremonies are: Course Rep Awards – Friday 9th March in Drapers Hall. Course Reps celebrate with your peers and lecturers in one of London’s richest and most beautiful buildings, the home of Thomas Cromwell and the Drapers Guild. Awards & Honours – Monday 19th March in Rich Mix. The Rich Mix is the cultural destination for East London, offering live music, dance, theatre, comedy, film, spoken word, and other creative arts all under one roof. It’s the perfect place for societies, volunteers, fundraisers, media, campaigners, and officers to show off and party.
Make Volunteering your New Year’s Resolution - Student Volunteering Week, 23rd-29th Jan. Provide Volunteering, have organised a week’s work of volunteering events and activities for you to get involved in during QMSU Student Volunteering Week, taking place between Monday 23rd and Sunday 29th
January. From feeding the homeless, to a toy trolley dash, there is something for everyone! Volunteering is a great way of helping others and making a real difference, whilst also developing
the skills that employers are looking for. To find out more details on the opportunities taking place and to apply, please register as a volunteer on www.providevolunteer-
For more information and contact details visit: www.qmsu.org
ing.org and click through to the News section of the homepage. Also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/providevolunteering
QMSU’s new recreational sports programme GET ACTIVE had enjoyed a hugely successful first semester with over 5,000 participants benefiting from the wide range of sporting activities on offer. Both students and staff have enjoyed taking part in turn up and play sessions and intramural leagues in 10 different sports – athletics, badminton, basket-
ball, climbing, cricket, football, judo, netball, table tennis and tennis.
Saturday, netball sessions being moved indoors to Qmotion and FREE badminton on a Monday morning. Get Active Get Active is back BIGGER is a fun, convenient and low and BETTER in Semester 2! cost way to get in shape in this We have expanded, modified and improved our programme new year! Sessions start on the based on feedback we received 9th of January 2012. For more information on all of our acin Semester 1. Some of our tivities go to www.qmsu.org/ new features include: basketgetactive or email ball leagues running every get.active@qmsu.org
Need Help? Have Questions? Look out for the ‘Activators’ in their bright blue shirts!
Beyond the Degree... Thousands of students are actively engaged in the wide range of extra-curricular activities offered by Queen Mary Students’ Union. Through these activities, students are developing a wide range of employability skills. To enable students to recognise and reflect on these skills, QMSU staff have been working hard to develop the
‘Beyond the Degree’ Development Programme.
will take place between January – March 2012, allowing QMSU staff to assess the effectiveness of the programme and to make recommendations before the official launch in September 2012.
ular activities, allowing students to develop further skills and improve the student experience.
or motion to be discussed and take part in the debate. The next meeting of student Council will be at 6.30pm on 31 January in Francis Bancroft 1.02.6. Find out more at qmsu. org/studentcouncil.
Student Council exists to change things for you. To find out more and get your issues discussed go to:
The Union-wide programme will give students the chance to self-assess their current skill set, strengthen weaknesses by taking part in a range of training courses The ‘Beyond the Degree’ proand work towards accredited gramme will raise the importance certificates. A pilot of the scheme of being involved in extra-curric-
For more information about the programme, please contact Claire Britton on claire.britton@ qmsu.org
Student Council Update Student Council voted on a wide range of measures to improve the student experience from cashpoints to Q-Review.
Representatives and Part-time Officers were signed off ahead of the Union Elections later this semester (see front page).
The Union’s Student Representatives and Part-time Officers and, have called for an investigation into the future of cashpoints on the Mile End campus. The Union will also now lobby the College to encourage the use of Q-review, the lecture recording service, and to improve accessibility across the campus and online.
A motion proposing to open up the new Postgraduate Reading Room in the Mile End Library to undergraduates did not pass. But Officers will work with the Library to open up empty teaching space for undergraduates that seek a quiet study space during the exam period.
New job descriptions for the Un- Any students can attend Stuion’s Executive Officers, Student dent Council, submit an issue For more information and contact details visit: www.qmsu.org
qmsu.org/studentcouncil
Next Meeting: Jan 31st, 6:30pm
Refreshers Fair 2012 - Jan. 17th The annual Queen Mary Students’ Union Refreshers Fair is now on the horizon. The event will take place on Tuesday the 17th of February 2012 from 5:30 – 7:30pm in the Francis Bancroft Building, Room 113 and 113a. The event will include stalls from a range of Societies, the ‘Provide’ volunteering team, Club Sport, Get Active, Student Media, Student Representation and RAG. The Refreshers Fair is open to all students and staff and is a
great way to find out information about the wide range of activities you can get involved in. If you are new to Queen Mary this is an opportunity to meet fellow students and sign up to new clubs, societies and volunteer opportunities. It’s also an excellent networking opportunity and the chance to pick up a few freebies along the way. For more information please visit www.qmsu.org/refreshers We hope to see you there.
Teaching Awards
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his year the Students’ Union is playing a much more active role in the organisation of the Teaching Awards. We are working with the Learning Institute so that students are not only the ones doing the nominating but that you also play a vital role in deciding awards go to through the involvement of Course Reps. This year we will also see the Teaching Awards being presented at the Course Rep Award Ceremony on the 9th March 2012. If someone teaching you is outstanding, motivating or inspiring, why not consider nominating them?
Whats On? Week 1 Monday 9th Jan – Mondays Calling @ Drapers Tuesday 10th Jan – The Big Quiz & Rock n Roll Bingo @ Drapers Wednesday 11th Jan – Play On @ Drapers; BLu Cheese @ New Globe Friday 13th Jan – FND – School Disco
Week 2 Monday 16th Jan – Mondays Calling @ Drapers Tuesday 17th Jan – The Big Quiz & Rock n Roll Bingo @ Drapers Wednesday 18th Jan – Play On @ Drapers; BLu Cheese @ New Globe Friday 20th Jan – BL Toga Party @ Drapers
Week 3 Monday 23rd Jan – Mondays Calling @ Drapers Tuesday 24th Jan – The Big Quiz & Rock n Roll Bingo @ Drapers Wednesday 25th Jan – Hail Mary @ Drapers; BLu Cheese @ New Globe Thursday 26th Jan – Lol Comedy Show @ Drapers Friday 27th Jan – FND – Neon Rave @ Drapers
Week 4 Monday 30th Jan – Mondays Calling Live @ Drapers Tuesday 31st Jan – The Big Quiz & Rock n Roll Bingo @ Drapers Wednesday 1st Feb – Play On @ Drapers; BLu Cheese @ New Globe Thursday 2nd Feb – Movie Night @ Drapers; Pressure Cooker @ Fabric Nightclub with Ms Dynamite Friday 3rd Feb – FND @ Drapers Free before 10pm. For more info on events join our Facebook groups: Queen Mary, QMUL, QMSU Freshers 2011 - 2012 Barts and the London / Barts / BLSA BL Events and Info
For more information and contact details visit: www.qmsu.org