SDS Presents:
Release X
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A warm welcome, one and all, to SOAS! The raison d’etre of a students’ union is to provide students with a voice which is heard, internally as well as externally. It is a formal way of expressing the unity we have as a student body, whilst embracing the diversity which that very idea entails. At the SOAS Students’ Union (S.U), we pride ourselves in providing students with the highest Your Union diversity of events and activities of all calibres. The Union O cers Union facilitates and funds around 140 clubs and UGM Autumn elections societies covering culture, sport, film, politics, food, Student Representatives art and much more. Join us at the Fresher’s Fayre on Union Structure Saturday 1st October to join in on the unparalleled Sta services range of student-led activities on offer. ULU We have 3 elected sabbatical Co-Presidents working NUS alongside 14 elected part-time officer positions, to SU priorities ensure the above takes place. Elections for these Save Our Studies positions take place in October and March, and as Our History a Union we pride ourselves in having the highest e r proportional turnout in the country. a lf e W Your This is a SOASian tradition we proudly want to retain, Introduction and it takes YOU for that to happen. All officers are Money es democratically elected to represent the opinions ic rv Student Se selling un Co lth of all students, and are determined to fulfil this ea H l Menta nal io at rn te mandate. But YOU, as a union member, have the In y Disabilit opportunity to have your voice heard directly too. Safety The UGM’s (Union General Meetings) take place in Clubs & Socs the JCR (Junior Common Room) and Union policy Intro is debated and decided. If you value your say, value Awards circa your voice enough to attend and speak! The first of Setting up the year is on Friday 7th October. Clubs Societ As your Co-Presidents we are dead excited about ies the year ahead. With the current climate affecting educational institutions across the country, it is Year ahead particularly important that we as a Union remain Dont forget tips united in our diversity, and that we work, play and party Local map harder and louder than ever before. We’re committed, Year planner and we need your help to make it happen. Diary End term Enjoy Freshers’ Fortnight, SOAS! SOAS ’til we die! Start term Useful contacts SOAS Passport (your Co-Presidents)
Ali, Arianna, Chuck
Union Secretary
secretary@soas.ac.uk
Alex Etchart
Welcome back to SOAS home to improbable fusions imaginative events and impossible bureaucracy Just in the middle of organising a Sudanese poetry festival setting up the Kazakhstani yurt or giving an English lesson to the cleaners the last thing we need is to nd the faculty o ce door shut minutes before our essay is due Achieving change starts with communication which proved sluggish during last year s occupation against cuts Our Union bureaucracy has led to frustration under attended last minute UGMs passing symbolic motions with no practical resolution In the current socio economic climate time s come to live up to the SOAS spirit put the pen down and take action This may seem a radical departure from the role of secretary but I ll make sure all Union decisions are paired with practical action to avoid getting lost in the limbo of lobbying our tensions out with the school management and the outside world through words alone
Students’ with Disabilities Officer Edward Armston-Sheret
Hi I m Ed I am dyslexic Middle Eastern Studies student Studying at SOAS is a great experience however disabilities and learning di culties can make being a student harder I m here to represent the interests of disabled students in union meetings and relay problems and suggestions to the management So please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any issues that you would like me to take forward It is also important to understand that SOAS is connected to the outside world we therefore need to campaign against the policies of the Con Dem government which are adversely a ecting the lives of people with disabilities sudisabilities@soas.ac.uk
Women’s Officer
Sian McGee & Anna Malzy
women@soas.ac.uk
Hello Freshers We have the privilege of serving as your joint Women s O cers this year Our goal is to make the S U as welcoming and inclusive as possible and with the other liberation o cers we are here to make sure that your experience of SOAS is a positive one We are plan ning several events throughout the course of the year looking at current debates in gender the ways in which we are a ected by the political climate around us and much more We are listening ears in the event of you experiencing any form of discrimination and feel free to contact us with any questions comments or ideas for events
Co-President
Sports & Societies soas ac uk
Madek we
sport soc
SOAS in the COMMUNITY You will always remember your rst steps into the SOAS campus and more memorable will be your rst steps into the SOAS Junior Common Room the hub and the Chuck heart beat of the union Where ideas once relegated to stu of dream or myth becomes reality as you engage with the most passionate intelligent and highly informative minds on any London university campus In my rst few days on the History and African Studies degree I remember over hearing someone saying you would learn far more about the subjects outside the classrooms as our students have a wide range of knowledge and experience spanning all continents So I urge you as you focus on the academic and enjoy the joys of living in our Olympic city do make an e ort to get involved and stay engaged I am certain that we have a sports recreational club or society that is just for you Our Societies and Sports clubs are the fabric of the union and are here both to provide opportunities for extracurricular and get you acquainted with the workings of the Student Union From political protests in the UK to addressing global injustices open mic SOAS Jams to the most eclectic Friday Night Live music from Rugby to Yoga We have over in house clubs and societies with something for everyone If there is a void that needs lling then setting up a new society is easy Email me or pop into the SU o ce and I will provide you with all the logistical help you need to make it happen As your Co President for sports and Societies I will work with the union to ensure a wide range of events suitable for all Whether you re on the rst year of an undergraduate course or a post graduate we aim to nd a means of positive distraction For the rst time this year the school are making a move to free Wednesday afternoons for student activities so join us in the JCR for the society bazaar SOAS Jam starts at pm or pop down to the Peel Centre Regents park for all sporting activities Finally the coming year will be a very interesting and challenging one With the heartbreaking changes to higher education and the buzz of the Olympics there will be di culties as well as opportunities meaning there is no better time to be active in London The union will continue to provide a platform for debate challenging any threats to equality and diversity while using our sports clubs to provide opportunities to be a part of London We would love our students to engage more with the wider community through student led volunteer programmes our Saturday Club Beyond Borders adventures and the SOAS Sports Academy We have always been proud of our tradition of been a secret village in the heart of London and now is the time for us to step out and show just how contagious the SOAS Spirit can be And If you nd yourself asking what is this SOAS Spirit Then you re in the right place to nd out Welcome
Environment Officers
Joss Ames & Henning Holst
environment@soas.ac.uk
Hi everyone Together we will work towards a greener and more sustainable SOAS from all the di erent angles we can think of Some of the things we look forward to work this year are improving the recycling system promoting sustainability in our Halls of Residence organising workshops helping you nd out about cycling in London hopefully setting up a biodiversity garden and greening the SU in any other way we can If you d like more information about how to get involved with green initiatives at SOAS have a complaint idea suggestion or just want to talk about the potential bene ts of baths over showers drop us an email at environment soas ac uk or come and talk to us because we re very friendly Have a fantastic year
International Students Officer Kieko Ono
Welcome to SOAS I m Keiko Ono and I ll be your International Student O cer ISO This being my nal year at SOAS it s pretty bittersweet having come to love this place for the people and having grown and learnt so much I urge you to make the most of every day as each one will y by quicker than you d expect As your ISO I hope to be the rst port of call for any practical questions if you re not familiar with the UK let alone London There s a whole lot to discover and enjoy so I hope to introduce you to all the weird and wonderful things in this great city but also enable you to showcase your country and carry on with that SOASian tradition of sharing your interests and experiences in other cultures which makes this university and your time here so one of a kind international@soas.ac.uk
Campaigns Officer Bernard Goyder
campaigns@soas.ac.uk
As Campaigns o cer my role is to help facilitate all social activism by SOAS students has been already been a year of revolutionary social change across the Middle East Here in London SOAS students are at the centre of the students movement holding the government to account for its philistine Higher Education policy But the campaign will only succeed if we get everyone involved Along with other students union o cers my priority will be engaging new people in campaigns at SOAS We need the skills input and energy of new students if we are to succeed democratising our university providing a counter narrative of hope against the cuts and reversing the environmental direction of our planet None of these things will be easy but be realistic demand the impossible
Co-President
Welfare & Education soas ac uk
I imagine you must be very excited to be starting this new adventure and rightly so Studying at SOAS and living in London is a thrilling experience that will probably change you and your outlook on life for ever
ri
Ciao to you all and welcome to SOAS!
Arrian
na
Tassin a
welfare ed
I m here to make you feel welcome and to ensure that your time as a student here is as smooth easy and satisfying as possible Having arrived from Italy as an inexperienced fresher three years ago I know very well how daunting it can all feel to start with But fear not My door is always open to guide you and advise you if you have questions or problems but also just for a chat and a cup of tea when you feel in need of one SOAS is an incredibly diverse and buzzing community where you ll always nd interesting conversations endless debates and good parties to keep your mind busy and your soul happy I can assure you you ll soon adopt the JCR as your second home But if at any point you feel like you re struggling either with your course or with your personal life please do come to us and we ll hopefully be able to give you the support you need Whatever your walk of life wherever you are from we are committed to ensure that your experience of SOAS and of the Students Union is as perfect as possible But obviously no place is perfect and in your time as a student here you ll come across many things that don t work as well as we d wish I am incredibly passionate about education and this year I ll work hard to get the ball rolling on many improvements we need However representation on the key issues that a ect us as students only works with engagement To transform our complaints into productive changes we need to work as one making our voices heard and engaging with our democratic structures so please come to our Union General Meetings become a course representative join our campaigns in one word get involved As I m sure you re aware these are di cult times for universities SOAS has been su ering huge cuts to its funding and fees for undergrads are set to raise to next year There is an increasing and worrying tendency in society to see Higher Education just as a commodity rather than as a vital social good but here in the Students Union we believe that you are students and members of a unique special community not just mere consumers And it s indeed this sense of community that makes SOAS so special we are committed to defend it and with it all the beautiful specialized and obscure courses that make SOAS the unique wonderful institution it is I hope you will join us in this challenging endeavour and that together we ll be able to keep SOAS the magical engaged and active place it s always been
Academic Affairs Officer
academic@soas.ac.uk
Joseph Buckley
Eyup So what are the academic a airs issues Well SOAS management decided to set undergraduate fees at Hmmm jury s still out on that Courses and modules are being slashed Yeah that s rubbish too So join the ghtback and let s ght the government s ideological public spending cuts Secondly let s take contol of our own academic life we should be able to shape our degrees we re paying enough So whatever your issue the faculty being funny about your oater a bad lecture a clashing timetable Come to me I ll guratively ght and probably literally shout for you and be a thorn in the side of the administration Hopefully said thorn won t make them even slower or more disorganised if that s possible Finally there s the ongoing saga of breaking printers and lack of library opening hours I ll see what I can do Mega cheers see you in the bar
Entertainment Officers
Pravin Wadhwani & Damian Burns
Over the past two years at SOAS we ve been at the frontline of the entertainments scene We have stopped at nothing to keep the masses entertained We re looking forward to continuing the work we ve put in to making SOAS a more entertaining place We also have numerous plans and ideas which compliment the SOAS ethos and will hopefully revolutionise the way people see events and entertainment here If you or your society have any ideas or plans for the coming year we d love to hear from you and help out Also please contact us if you would like to be involved in the ENTERTAINMENTS COMMITTEE which we will set up soon We are looking for creative enthusiastic people who are passionate about making SOAS events bigger and better than they have ever been entertainment@soas.ac.uk
Anti-Racism Officer Anja Fahlenkamp
anti-racist@soas.ac.uk
Hi everyone First of all Congrats you have made it to the probably most colorful university in the UK SOAS gives you the unique opportunity to meet students of all di erent origins and faiths Here prejudices shouldn t be in the way of an amazing experience of learning and intercultural exchange Besides promoting multicultural events I will be there to help students that feel discriminated because of their origin ethnicity or religion In this upcoming year I want to raise awareness of racism and intolerance in and outside of SOAS motivate and show students how to take up action against racism and awake your curiosity for other people s perspectives traditions and opinions If you have any questions ideas or suggestions feel free to email or just stop me in the corridors
Co-President
Finance & Communication soas ac uk
GREETINGS, FELLOW SOASIAN! As your Co President of Finance and Communications for it gives me great joy and honour to welcome you all to the wonder the delight the bundle of sheer unabashed pride that is SOAS
Ali
Khan
n com
Having spent nigh on ve years here I can safely say that there is nothing like this place The content you study the manner in which you study it the debates you have the societies you partake in the sports teams you sweat for everything here is tinged with a SOASian spice of the rarest and most valued avours Many of you will know about SOAS before coming but it is safe to say that many of you may not know as much as you would have liked before arriving at this place you re about to call home Many of you may also be wary about the reputation that the SOAS Students Union has or else the idea that you may not t in culturally linguistically politically or any other way Before you go any further you must understand that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TYPICAL SOAS STUDENT That s what makes SOAS SU the proudly diverse institution that it is The best way to feel at home straight away is by getting involved whether it be in the form of a student rep for your course or as a sportsman or as an avid campaigner or all of the above there is nothing stopping you from adding your e ort to the legacy that is the SOAS Student s Union As Co Pres for Fin Com my responsibilities range from organising the Union s nances and keeping them public and transparent to being a point of contact between SOAS and the outside world whilst trying to improve internal communications between the union and the school and with the SU itself But the main responsibility is making sure that Union members feel as if they are having the best time possible whilst at SOAS and whether that involves a cup of tea and chat or looking to set up the next world changing student led project I m always there primarily to help Cheers
Ali Khan
LGBTQ Officer
Stephanie Chan
lgbtq@soas.ac.uk
Hi my name is Stephanie and its a great privilege to introduce myself as your LGBTQ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Queer o cer for Whether you identify as gay lesbian bisexual trans queer or other I ll be here to represent you lend a listening ear raise and solve any potential issues you may have Everything said to me will be con dential I aim to make SOAS a safe and vibrant place for LGBTQ and straight students to explore and celebrate diversities of gender and sexuality I also hope to work closely with other Liberation O cers and the International Students o cer to make SOAS a more accepting place for all
Postgraduate Officer James Meadway
I m currently a third year research student in the economics department studying nance and risk My role as postgrad o cer is to make sure that the speci c needs of postgraduate students get represented both in the Union and throughout the School Last year s student movement had a huge impact but the ght against cuts and fees continues Postgraduate students were central to the campaign at SOAS As priorities I want to see the introduction of fees payable in instalments for improvements to postgraduate accommodation and for a united campaign against fees hikes and swingeing cuts postgrad@soas.ac.uk
Black Officer
Ayanle Yusuf Ali
black@soas.ac.uk
‘Black’ is the term used to de ne all groups that face racism or under representation It is for ALL minorities present in SOAS When I say minorities I m not limiting to our ethnicity I mean everyone who feels alone with a belief a certain origin or even political ideology I want to increase the level of communication and understanding amongst ourselves I am relishing this opportunity and hope to many things this year So if you have any issues or ideas feel free to approach me when you see me around
Union General Meetings
UGM Dates:
Got a burning issue that you d like our union to support Want to th mandate us to lobby the school on an issue If so the only way Tues 4 ndOct, 5pm to change things is to persuade other people to agree with you Tues 22 th Nov, 5pm pass a motion and make it Union policy In short you need to Tues 17th Jan, 5pm Tues 28 Feb, 5pm come to Union General Meetings Thurs 19th Apr, 5pm This year there will be UGMs each term these are the policy making arm of the Union Emergency General Meetings EGMs can be called at other times All societies are mandated to send a representative as are Student Reps Union O cers We as the Union Executive Body are making it a priority this year to report back on discussions and actions taken on motions passed at the UGM After all UGM s are about you the student Our rst UGM is on Tuesday th October pm in the JCR All the Union exec o cers will be there explaining what they hope to do We ll debate motions on new campaigns and other pressing issues local or international UGM s are traditionally the arena for the more rhetorically silver tongued amongst us to brandish our egos but the vote does not necessarily follow ego The brand new Public Speaking Society will help develop your con dence Something you truly value will inevitably come up at a UGM cherish the moment and give your voice a chance To get started in the UGM process look online at soasunion org There you will nd a UGM video guide as well as the correct procedure for proposing a motion Make sure you check the constitution online to see the framework upon which this reputation ourishes and on which we rely for the union to keep its integrity If you need any help or have any questions email Ali Khan at n com soas ac uk Motions must be received at least 3 working days, 72 working hours, before the UGM
ELECTIONS IN OCTOBER Part-time positions: Mature Students’ Officer and Vernon Square Officer. AND NUS Delegates (x2), to attend NUS Conference 2012 on behalf of SOAS Union, speak on motions etc. NUS run delegate training for anyone new. Elections for these positions will take place in the autumn term YOU could stand for election check the timetable in the diary at the back of this Handbook For guidance come into the union o ce Nomination packs will be available We also hold the Affiliations ballot alongside the October elections that is when you decide which organisations the S U should a liate too a liations were NUS see pg UKCISA UK Council for International Student A airs Birzeit University A Palestinian University in the West Bank BUCS British Universities Colleges Sports Nightline see contacts page Stop the War national anti war campaign launched in build up to war in Afghansitan subsequently in Iraq London Citizens Juba University Coalition of Resistance and New Spirit Foundation
Student Reps Become the champion of your peers Reps are elected by each year and each degree or course ask in your core lecture undergradute tutor Elections for new students by the rd week of term Reps have a vital role. A well co ordinated rep network gives students the scope to in uence the educational experience You can be part of that now Democratic Student Representatives are elected from among student peers Take the opportunity to stand as rep in the rst weeks of term Vocal and Active Reps attend department meetings ensuring students concerns are raised and pressing for solutions Reps are a crucial contact for each department and for the S U The Union looks to reps for input in determining what education campaigns to take up because reps know what is actually happening in the classrooms Support Reps share experiences with each other to solve problems and make progress on
“You ���� get ���� to ��� ����� many inte know resting people a nd chance to they get a meet you .�”
student concerns year on year We are here for those times when it gets frustrating working closely to create a network who can lean on the Union and each other Levels of involvement We will ask for some reps to volunteer to work at a Faculty wide level gaining further insight into how the school runs from the creation of new courses to decisions about reading lists We will organise this at the rst rep s welcome meeting Reward Students get a great deal from representing their peers and being inolved in thier department Those who have taken initiatives have found they could change things for the better Why not consider it yourself Find out more at www.soasunion.org
Former Student Representatives said: “�������������������������������������� learning about the reality is also an eye-opening experience��” “..to get to grips with the working aspects of your department and put faces to names it is probably the best way to do it.” “I always knew who to ask for help if I could not handle a problem” “Have an open mind and heart—this will allow you to observe and participate both as a student and a bridge between the school and student body.” “If you plan some social events then it can be quite interesting.”
Representation Assistant Antonia Bright
ab93@soas.ac.uk 0207 898 4998
My main responsibility is toward the rep system Student reps take up issues within their course or faculty We in the S U provide training and organise the network that links reps across the school This provides important support and fresh ideas If you re interested in being a Student Rep or want to know more about it just ask I can be found in the SU o ces in Russell Sq but only for half of the week I m a 10 part timer You can always email too
ALL students
exec reps societies clubs general student body
The UGM
Union General Meeting at least per term the policy making body of the S U All students can attend submit motions speak in the debate ask questions and vote
Student Reps
for every dept approx in all Research Masters UGs all year groups Special Programmes
Faculty Reps... in all
per faculty
S.U Trustees
xfull time xprt time Sta General Manager Services Management o ce sta and several student sta roles
Dept meetings
Faculty Committees: Faculty Board x UG rep x PG rep Learning Teaching x UG rep x PG rep Research x research rep
elected in Oct
Research Committee x research students
Governing Body Supreme policy making body for the school Co Presidents Other school committees are attended by S U Exec o cers e g Student Experience Estates Equalities They can assert issues which reps report at UGMs meetings through the S U website Informal meetings through year with the Director with each Dean
NUS Delegates...
Rep SU meetings every term Regular forum for Research reps
NUS Conference April
ULU London Citizens Halls local forums other external liaision
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Key Staff General Manager Peter Baran
pb14@soas.ac.uk 0207 898 4996
The role of General Manager is to manage the day to day activities of the Union and to make sure that it can continue to be successful I manage the commercial services making the money which allows the Union to run I also manage the statutory charitable aspects making sure the Union is properly administered and run I also give advice to the sabbatical o cers as I have been around a long time I can help them avoid past mistakes That kind of experience can also help all students my door G is always open to answer any questions you may have My role is to do anything that helps the Union run smoothly from doing tax returns to assigning lockers and breaking the locks I m also a bit of a lm bu so if you want to just pop in a see my growing collection of lm posters feel free
Shop Manager Khaled Ziada
Hi I m the cheery smile that greets you every day into the Union Now you may be asking yourself why does he smile so much Well I ve got a secret you can t get better service prices on those day to day items that right here in the Union Shop and SnackBar Sounds crazy I know but trust me I m a Palestinian Pro t is not my aim spreading love and happiness is Love and happiness is the only way to achieve world peace and I kz1@soas.ac.uk also nd that happy people tend to buy me duty free fags 0207 898 4990 Marlboro Light please
Bar Manager Kris Jensen
0207 898 4930
Ask yourself why would anyone young attractive witty and intelligent want to run the SOAS bar Answer is they dont So you re stuck with me SOAS Bar is one of the most famous student bars in the world and I ve been running it for quite a while so I know that the slightly lived in atmosphere is what makes you love us Come down get a pint and listen to our genuine vinyl jukebox enjoy the brand new outside area and be part of SOAS history Many a rst class degree has been based on a SOAS samosa a pint of ale and a game of pool in the bar 12 12
The University of London consists of collegiate institutions and research institutes SOAS is one of the collegiate institutions and therefore its students are also students of the University allowing them to use its libraries facilities and Union The University of London Union ULU consists of around students making it one of the largest in the world ULU is based on Malet Street just around the corner next to Birkbeck and as well as its famous bars and clubs has an important array of facilities on o er This includes a gym with Olympic size pool an opticians a print shop the UoL Housing o ce ULHS the ULU Careers Service and ULU also houses London Nightline a listening support and information helpline run by students for students As a SOAS student you can use the services see www ulu co uk for more details ULU is also famous for its sporting tradition Its strengths often lie in activities not o ered at a collegiate level such as the University of London Union Lifesaving Club UoL Big Band and even the prestigious University of London Society of Change Ringers Church Bell ringing You may have even heard of ULU s most successful sporting endeavour the London Dragons Ice Hockey team are known internationally topping time and time again the British Universities Ice Hockey Association Division and Division Not only do they blow away the national student competition they also give professional teams a run for their money The University runs the famous University of London Boat Club which is considered along with Oxford and Cambridge to be one of the three best university rowing clubs in the country If you have an interest in these at any level of experience get involved they re a great way to build a community of fellow UoL students and nd you may not be so di erent to your counterparts at other institutions such as the LSE Politically a bastion on the national scene too ULU is e ectively run by two sabbaticals a President and a Vice President elected annually SOAS students are eligible to stand and vote and for the last few years the sabbatical positions have been dominated by SOASians and alumni This year James Meadway SOAS SU Postgraduate O cer is a Student Trustee whilst Vraj Domalip Queen Mary and Sean Rillo Raczka Birkbeck take over from Clare Solomon SOAS and Viktoria Szmolar Queen Mary as President and Vice President Our SOAS ULU Senator is our very own Arianna Tassinari Co President for Welfare and Education so feel free to talk to her or any of our other Sabbaticals for more information
ULU Freshers Fayre will be held on Friday 30th September. 12noon til 5pm
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The National Union of Students is the representative voice for students across the UK it has a proud history of standing up for the rights of students and ghting to ensure you can gain access to a world class education system NUS has played a critical role defending your rights and winning campaigns to make student life better The year ahead promises to be as challenging as last year with Government cuts to education starting to bite NUS will also be campaigning with SOAS S U on feedback contact time quality of teaching environmental issues liberation global justice volunteering employability academic representation As a member of an a liated Union you are a member of NUS and you can therefore buy an NUS Extra card for It gives you access to a host of nationally negotiated discounts You can also add on an ISIC Card for more For more details go to the website www.nus.org.uk
SOAS STUDENTS’ UNION
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES As part of the Union’s Strategic Planning process for SOAS’s 100 anniversary in 2016, we ran a ballot last year to identify SOAS Students’ priorities for action. There is so much the Union can do, but time and pressure means we have to prioritise certain areas. This Strategic Referendum identified six areas to concentrate to which SOAS Students’ feel need to tackled first. Below are the six priorities, success so far, and how we will be moving them forward this year.
1:
EDUCATION
Unsurprisingly the No priority for SOAS Students is their education Whilst we get good satisfaction scores in teaching areas like feedback and personal tutoring has traditionally been weak LAST YEAR: We wrote an Point Education priority paper to academic board and succeeded in bringing coursework feedback turnaround time to three weeks and a proper commitment to personal tutoring THIS YEAR: A new Education Priority paper a focus on improving language teaching and improvement to data collection on satisfaction before next years educational quality audit
2: 14
SPORT DEVELOPMENT In the Times Higher Student Satisfaction survey SOAS was rated as have the lowest satisfaction in sports facilities of all UK universities Our aim is to improve
this and get students playing some form of regular sport by LAST YEAR: We successfully lobbied the School to double the spending on Sports Facilities THIS YEAR: New regular team sports of Hockey and Volleyball and regular access to the Peel Centre by Vernon Sq for recreational sports Research into MA Students desire to play sport to improve time o on Wednesday afternoons for all Take part in the Olympic Be A Champion campaign
3:
INTERNATIONALISATION
SOAS is a major international institution and care for international students is at the heart of what we do It is important to strengthen this and to give more opportunities for home students to feel international too LAST YEAR: Took part in the NUS International Students Union projects Set up the International Exchange society for language exchanges THIS YEAR: Lobby for an International O ce in SOAS set up an International Students Forum
4:
ENVIRONMENT & ETHICS
SOAS Union wants it and its students to be responsible global citizens which starts at home ensure highest environmental and ethical standards LAST YEAR: We got a Green Impact Silver Environment award Lobbied and won a change to a more ethical catering supplier THIS YEAR: Aim for a Gold Green impact Award Achieve Fairtrade University Status
5:
ENTERPRISE & EMPLOYABILITY
The Union provides all of the extra curricular activity which is the distinguishing mark on your CV We also work closely with the Enterprise O ce to foster entrepreneurship LAST YEAR: We helped run the rst Enterprise Boot Camp and the In House Volunteering Programme We also bankrolled some enterprise projects like the Recipe Book THIS YEAR: Piloting the SOAS Passport achievement record Putting SU Volunteering on the Careers database Setting up seed funding for SOAS Enterprise
6:
WELFARE
Money is tight and getting tighter Accommodation is hard to nd and sometime lousy SOAS needs to pay more attention to these issues LAST YEAR: Campaigned hard against the introduction of tuition fees worked for fairer scholarship terms in the OFFA agreement THIS YEAR: Review provision of accommodation advice in SOAS set up a halls committee and lobby for School welfare services to be moved to Russell Sq
15
Olympics & Paralympic Games The Olympics and Paralympics come to London in The Union is keen to get everyone involved celebrating the spirit of this global gathering As London s most international institution we are keen to celebrate the values set out by the modern games founder Pierre de Coubertin of respect excellence and friendship Over the Union will put on Olympic themed sporting and cultural events to gear up for the games We will also be looking seriously at the impact the Games has had on London displacing communities the cost and the legacy The Games may exist to promote friendship between nations but at what cost to local communities Are the modern Olympics too corporate and commercial and can sport really overcome war The th Century seems to suggest otherwise In the rst instance the Union is taking part in the NUS Be A Champion programme more about which can be found at http://london2012.nus.org.uk/ They will be nding ways for students to get involved and have some exciting competitions around the games coming from some of those corporate sponsors And the Union will be looking for a Be a Champion Student Ambassador to spread the information around these events so keep your eyes open for the next year
SOAS Radio SOAS Radio is an online station and social media enterprise based at SOAS Students Union The station taps into the expertise of SOAS to produce programmes with a focus on Africa Asia and the Middle East The station aims to share the knowledge of SOAS academics with a world wide audience and help SOAS students engage directly with the parts of the world they re studying Students are trained and mentored in broadcasting journalism online publishing and digital marketing in a highly motivated and creative environment They conduct interviews with leading international gures in education international politics the arts and media Notable interviews include Fatima Bhutto Bollywood director Yash Chopra entrepreneur Danny Choo musicians Manu Chao and Jarvis Cocker and BBC presenter Zeinab Badawi The station hosts the SOAS Director s teaching prize award winning Presenting World Music on Radio course in the Music Department taught with Dr Lucy Duran a lecturer in African music and presenter of the BBC Radio programmes World Routes and Music Planet Students are welcome to join SOAS Radio by applying for internships proposing radio programmes or volunteering in PR marketing and digital development For information visit www.soasradio.org 16
Our History: 1916-2010 1916 School of Oriental Studies founded 1927 SOS Union Society Founded with a view to promoting social intercourse amongst students and sta Union membership fee crown 1934 The Magazine of the Students Union founded Dates unkown precursor to today s Spirit 1938 Renamed the School of Oriental and African studies 1945 SOAS SU gains rst constitution The Mallet magazine founded 1957 SU split ideologically after Soviets march into Hungary After a debate regarding Jailhouse Rock the Union bans Elvis as a fad which will never take o 1959 SOAS SU one of the rst institutions to instigate a boycott on South African goods Ban on Elvis overturned 1964 First ever Union handbook published Government discuss introduction of student loan system rejected and heavily campaigned against successfully by SOAS SU 1970 SOAS SU disa liates with the NUS claiming it was too reactionary The college bar opens 1972 Union gains rst full time sabbatical o cer President 1974 Union gains representation on the School s Academic Board 1977 Students occupy the Registry in protest of the government s regulations quadrupling overseas fees 1978 Union gains Common Room JCR As protests endure against government cuts SOAS SU becomes the Reggae venue of choice for London 1981 Overhaul of the Union constitution Union gains second sabbatical post Vice President 1985 School shut down twice by the Union over the new Education Reform Act as well as Palestinian Rights 1989 SOAS becomes famous for its American New Wave Rock scene acts include Mudhoney Soundgarden Nirvana play rst ever UK gig in SOAS 1991 Union gains third Sabbatical o cer During the Gulf War SOAS Union helps set up a helpline for victimised Arab Students SOAS Spirit Founded 1994 Union disasagrees with SOAS and NUS stance on no platform for Hizb ut Tahrir following member strong UGM with the press waiting outside 1996 Union loses its third sabbatical o cer due to nancial mismanagement 1997 The three week Great Occupation of the library regarding School s refusal to buy library tickets to Senate House Library for students Students win tickets back 1998 The First SOAS Festival of Arts and 17 The UGM of
2000
2002 2003 2005 2009 2010
Diversity formed as a result of fears over merger with UCL Merger does not happen Union occupies the Directorate over the introduction of tuition fees Leads to largest ever UGM of over people to ask them to come Stop the War m arch out Union takes over the SOAS bar from the School Has to deal with the legacy of drug use on the premises Union also gains representation on the School Governing Body Addition of the Sports Societies Co President SOAS SU con rmed as having the largest proportional turnout in the country for its annual elections Smoking ban in the bar solves the drug problem SOAS Radio founded Summer demonstrations lead to SOAS cleaners earning the right to earn the London Living Wage First Beyond Borders tour takes Football team to Turkey Syria and Lebanon Massive refurbishment of the JCR and bar Occupation of the Brunei Gallery regarding proposed education cuts and imposition of fees again Union starts Saturday School volunteering scheme The old SU Bar
Save Our Studies, Fight the Cuts, Defend Education! As you surely all now last year the Tory Lib Dem government raised university tuition fees to and scrapped the Education Maintenance Allowance betraying election pledges and e ectively pricing many students out of education The decision to cut public funding to humanities a ected universities like SOAS very negatively threatening to destroy the unique and specialized academic provision of our institution Those who want to go onto masters degrees or doctorates are facing uncapped and rapidly rising fees at the same time as cuts to what little funding exists to support them Now the government has recently presented a Higher Education White Paper which is attempting to push through a wave of privatisation that threatens to make universities about pro t and management not about students or social justice Last year students pupils and workers fought back with mass protests and waves of direct action and SOAS students were right in the middle of it It is very important to keep up the campaign in defence of education this year and there are many ways in which you can get involved A national demonstration has been called on Wednesday November 9th in London by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts in defence of education and against privatisation more details will be announced soon but keep an eye out for publicity and pencil the date in You can also join the SOAS Anti Cuts group to organize campaigns and actions in and out of SOAS send an email to welfare ed soas ac uk if you re interested and let s 18 make this year an active and ghting one
The following pages provide advice on staying safe and happy in London, and information on what to do / who to see if you need help. Think welfare issues have nothing to do with you Think again Even if welfare concerns are now at the back of your mind at some point during your SOAS journey I guarantee you ll bene t from help support or advice It s better to be prepared and know where to turn when things get complicated Student Services are on the rd oor of Vernon Square and their wonderful team of counsellors and advisors can help with speci c issues relating to disability health psychological wellbeing as well as visa immigration and money di culties If you feel you re struggling seek help things are worse when you are isolated The SU can advise you and help you arrange a meeting with the relevant sta or contact them directly at studentservices soas ac uk check page If you re nding study overwhelming no need to panic The Academic Development Directorate ADD provides study support workshops and to sessions to help maximize your academic potential and
Your
Welfare
overcome di culties They o er tailored support for students with speci c learning di culties so do go and see them For more on the ADD check www soas ac uk add or contact Louise Harrington on lh soas ac uk This guide also contains information which could prove useful getting through university life so make sure you use it It will keep you organized and has all the important contacts Throughout the year we ll organise campaigns and workshops on welfare themes especially on sexual health mental health and disabilities giving these issues the visibility they need Remember the union is here for YOU Whatever is the issue a ecting you we can be your rst point of call and our job is to ensure that all your welfare needs are promptly addressed So do get in touch at welfare ed soas ac uk For more info pop into the S U o ce in G next to the JCR or see www soasunion org My door is always open
Arianna
Childcare:
SOAS doesn t provide childcare facilities despite having campaigned for crèche facilities in the past Some time ago we secured a room for mothers to breast feed in the main Russell Sq building on the st oor You can get the access code from Peter Baran in G For information on what options are available for childcare arrangements local nurseries and funding available get in touch with myself or Student Services in Vernon Sq who publish a booklet with details of facilities local to SOAS and advice on nding childcare near to home If you feel that the lack of crèche facilities could be reviewed please send questions and comments to me welfare ed soas ac uk We know juggling studying and parenting can be tough For this reason we are setting up a Student Parents Peer Support Group where student parents can meet share experiences and advice and socialize Email me if you re interested in taking part 19
Remember if you have any money problems do not keep them to yourself Talk to the bank your landlord whoever you owe money to about the situation and the Students Union and School Welfare Advisors are always here to o er advice
Money When you receive your loan the first thing you may think you’ve just got rich! Think again. University can be an expensive place, particularly in London. The good news is that with forward-thinking it’s actually quite easy to manage your debt.
Budget
Divide your loan and any additional income you receive into monthly budgets Work out your essential buys each month e g rent food bills and transport Give yourself an allowance for unexpected costs such as expensive study pack replacing lost items etc which always crop up when you least expect Subtract these from your monthly budget Work out how much you have left If there isn t any look back over your budgets REALISTICALLY If you cannot make any cuts look for a job Most of us have to
Debt
Expect it Do not rely on credit cards They make money o your debt You will already be building a substantial debt to the Student Loans Company particularly with the new top up fees The interest on credit cards is a nightmare If you don t control your debts early on credit card bills will probably plague you for years to come
Saving Money We have negotiated that your SOAS ID card will double as your NUS card It s always worth asking for discounts at local shops cafes restaurants and bars You can also buy an NUS Extra card for online to add ISIC for international use Go to www nus org uk nus extra
JOBS: Most undergraduate students in Still got money problems? central London will need an additional jobs / benefits / loans / funds income Take advantage of studying in this exciting city and nd a part time job to match The trick is to balance it with studying Good time management means that a decent or even a st is still possible Visit the Careers O ce in room y e Bulk buy special o ers on G Russell Square or visit www n o M Save staple items careers lon ac uk ocl for help and Use the weekly Food Co op in the JCR advice Get fruit veg toiletries from the market Social Security Benefits: Home Take a packed lunch or have a Hare Krishna EU students with disabilities lunch available outside for a small donation or with children and part time Check out charity shops and markets for clothes students may be entitled to Go to the cinema before pm on weekdays certain social security bene ts so Invest in a bicycle Far cheaper greener and this is worth checking out with quicker and cycle lanes are slowly improving your local JobCentre Plus o ce 20
Student Loans
If you are a home undergraduate student then on the day you enrol SOAS will inform the Student Loan Company that you are now a student and your student loan will be released It should be in your bank for you to use days later If you applied late or your loan is held up for some other reason and you run out of money then the Welfare Advisers may be able to help you International students and all postgraduates must make their own arrangements to cover their expenses through loans sponsorship savings or money from family Remember the school expects fees for the year to be paid in full when you enrol
Hardship Fund
The School s Welfare O ce does have some extra money in the form of hardship funds to o er students in dire need You will need to show that you really are under the breadline to obtain it Most of this money is aimed at home students though there can be small grants to overseas students who are in hardship due to unexpected exceptional costs Nevertheless if you are in di culty the School s Welfare Advisers are very good people to talk to about ways you might improve your nancial situation The Welfare Office is in Vernon Square (see below). If you have any Home students: Student bank problems with your accounts often have enticing o ers bank or start getting Remember though you will probably stick with the bank for a unauthorised over long time so check the interest rates overdraft facilities and drafts talk to them graduate conditions Though it s a long way o when you re before the situation in or years worth of debt it s helpful to have an interest gets worse and daily free graduate overdraft to tide you over charges start piling up International students: The accounts available for you are more restrictive and dont o er free gifts and overdrafts To open an account you need your passport and a letter from SOAS con rming your student status home and UK addresses Request the letter on the day you enrol Some banks want more documents The Welfare O ce o ers information on banking for Overseas Students Visit www.soas.ac.uk/welfare/international/banking/
Bank Accounts
Student Services CONTACTS / APPOINTMENTS Email: studentservices@soas.ac.uk On the 3rd floor at Vernon Square the Phone: 020 7074 5015 school welfare advisors, counsellors Website: www.soas.ac.uk/studentservices and disability advisors are there for you if you need welfare advice, or for Mental Health & Well Being advisor: someone to talk to when you feel low. Sachiko Kishi We all need to look after our mental health Any student who has Counselling Service: Alison Barty, concerns about their emotional wellbeing or Neil Farrelly, Sheila Root wants assistance in supporting a colleague Counsellors at SOAS provide an can access con dential support from me For easily accessible con dential service an appointment Tuesdays or Wednesdays students experiencing distress anxiety contact the Student Services Administrator or confusion or who just need to speak or myself sk soas ac uk Workshops to someone who is trained to listen and support groups will be available as well The service aims to assist students as buddying Some students will be eligible in the process of managing their 21 to apply for mentoring support
studies when this process is interrupted or a ected by emotional personal or psychological pressures Common concerns include anxiety about progress on the course loneliness low self con dence relationships adjusting to a new environment The nature of the counselling o ered is exible to students needs and sensitive to the diversity of the student population within SOAS www.soas.ac.uk/counselling National Student Counselling website www.student.counselling.co.uk Disability Advisors: Zoe Davis & Angela Axon The term disability is wide According to the Disability Discrimination Act it can include problems with mobility seeing or hearing speci c learning di culties e g dyslexia dyspraxia dyscalculia mental illness or mental health di culties severe dis gurements cancer HIV Aids epilepsy diabetes progressive conditions even at an early stage conditions characterised by a number of cumulative e ects e g pain fatigue and a past history of disability If you re are experiencing di culties but aren t sure if you re covered contact us for advice We support to individual students and if they agree we liaise between them and tutors the exams o ce library and education authorities Feedback informs the strategic parts of our role e g the creation of policy working with sta to make SOAS accessible There are rooms at SOAS with specialist software for students who are visually impaired or who have speci c learning di erences loan equipment for disabled students who haven t been able to get it through the DSA mind mapping and screen reading software on most computers dyslexia tutors a mental health and well being advisor and sta who are more 22
aware of access issues and provision of accessible information See us early on so we can let you know what s available and ensure any reasonable adjustments are made as soon as possible We d like for SOAS to be welcoming and friendly where students feel able to disclose any disability We d love to hear from students how you feel We see students Mon Fri Make an appointment by contacting the student services administrator Drop in sessions are term time Tuesdays Fridays pm International Student and Welfare Adviser: John Hitchman John gives students information and advice on practical problems or issues a ecting or disturbing studies These may include nancial matters immigration housing child care and welfare bene ts The information and advice is impartial and con dential in a private quiet room Meet John by appointment or at a drop in session There s a drop in service at Russell Sq during the rst term Lea ets application forms and general information are found in Student Services room V Finance: John advises on sources of funding entitlement to student support for fees and living costs and on budgeting He advises students on the Higher Education Access to Learning Fund and the School s Hardship Funds and can help students apply for assistance Immigration: John is the only person at SOAS authorised to give immigration advice If extending your stay in the UK for further studies at SOAS the Advisor can check your application before you send it andvv if appropriate can forward your Tier application to the UK Border Agency under the Student Batch Scheme See www soas ac uk welfare
SAFETY
Travel Safely at Night Taking an illegal cab home after a night out is dangerous. Any minicab that isn t booked is illegal and unsafe even one carrying the blue Transport for London sticker in the front and back window Illegal cabs are unregulated there is no record of their journeys Illegal cab drivers pose serious risks to the public and can be a cover for serious crimes including sexual violence and robbery Only taxis black CABWISE cabs can pick up Text 60835 customers on the store it now street If a minicab approaches you on the street they are breaking the law Transport for London s service Cabwise helps you get a licensed taxi or minicab to pick you up wherever you are and take you home safely Just TEXT ‘CAB’ to 60835 to get a taxi and local minicab numbers sent to your mobile Text p per enquiry standard text message rate Roaming rates apply to overseas networks See tfl.gov.uk/cabwise No more than p from a BT landline other lines may vary
Safety in London
Living in a big city like London can be daunting Keep money keys oystercard on your person rather than in a bag Avoid using a mobile phone outside and consider inconspicuous headphones for your ipod If you feel you re in a threatening situation get to the nearest public place and call a friend or the police If travelling alone let someone you see regularly e g at mate know where you re going Report incidents to the police halls S U or security
Public transport is a safer than taking an illegal cab. There are over Night bus routes all with CCTV Last Tubes leave central London around Monday Saturday nights pm on Sundays Transport for London fund over o cers dedicated to policing London s transport network to further improve safety and security when travelling If you decide to walk home take care Stick to well lit streets and avoid using alleyways or short cuts Plan your night out in advance using the latest information on late night travel by visiting t gov uk traveltools Plan your journey with Journey Planner use Findaride to get details of licensed minicabs in the area you re going to and get maps timetables and free mobile travel alerts Oyster Card Discounts A Student Oystercard gets you o season tickets on London buses and tubes Apply at http www tfl gov uk tickets aspx Always use an oystercard cash fares can cost double For latest info visit tfl.gov.uk or call London Travel Information on 0843 222 1234** Don t forget SAFE SEX! Even if it s easy to forget when you re busy having fun protecting yourself during sex is incredibly important for you and your partner s health as well avoiding undesired pregnancy The most important message we have for you is if you are sexually active, USE A CONDOM at all times! Condoms protect from STDs HIV and are the most reliable contraceptive method Think about it before it s too late pick up free condoms in the JCR and use it For more info on sexual health and available services check out www soasunion org sexualhealth or attend our Sexual Health Workshop on October th at pm 23
Clubs &
Societies
With over 140 societies to choose from there is little you can’t do at SOAS.
With competition for jobs ever tougher showing extra curricular activities is important But ultimately students don t need an incentive to get involved SOAS Societies are fun positively impact the world and potentially enrich your student experience taking your mind o the stress of study Societies are the heartbeat of SOAS In the JCR up a mountain in the prayer room or on sports pitches society activity goes far and wide The Union is here to help from starting up to arranging events and trips abroad Help comes in various forms funding planning events booking rooms and putting you in touch with external organizations or like minded people If and when you join a society don t see it as an isolated thing but as an integral part of SOAS Come to UGM s put motions and have a say on the workings of your Union Traditionally ‘Sport’ and ‘SOAS’ were not deemed synonymous But that s changing the level of participation and success keeps growing We have male and female Football Basketball Tennis Hockey Volleyball and Badminton teams male Rugby and Cricket teams and a female Netball team There s a vast array of Martial Arts taught If your sport can t be found at SOAS it can almost certainly be found at ULU the University of London Union next door or if you are passionate enough you can lead the drive to make it available in SOAS Pop in and see me in G For the rst time we have SOAS sourced facilities for our sports teams which will increase recreational sports The Peel Centre behind Vernon Square will house all indoor sports except squash which will be at the Bloomsbury Gyms Our Football and Rugby teams are based in Regents Park and Cricket at Lords For all those seeking to ex their muscles or in pursuit of general tness we are now partners with the Bloomsbury Gyms meaning SOAS student friendly priced membership Email sport soc soas ac uk for details Last year we had winning basketball and squash teams a football tour to West Africa and increased recognition through the Annual Sports Society OSCARS SOAS was also the hub for live music events The quality of our Friday Night Live entertainment was the envy of UoL unions I have grand plans to take us to new heights next year from Beyond Borders Development tours for both sports clubs and societies SOAS in the Community volunteer projects and all new Friday Night Live exhibitions in the JCR We ll keep raising the pro le of SOAS Sports and carry on the legacy as one of the most active student unions hvvin the country Check the website for information about what s going on http://soasunion.org/sports-and-societies 24
Chuck
Chuck, and the ACS at the cultural show
Clubs/Socs of 2010-11: 4DPresents…, 5a-Side Football, 5-a-side Women’s football, Abacus, Aegis, AfricanCaribbean, AIESEC, Airenjuku, Aikido, Amnesty, Group, Anarchist Discussion Forum, Angoleiros Do Mar, Animation, Anti Slavery International, Armenian, Art, Badminton, Ballet, Bar, Belief & Reason, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Caipirinha, Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines, Capital for LifeCatholic, Ceilidh, Charitable Fundraising, Chinese (CHOC), Chinese Cultural,
Setting up a SOAS Society or Sports Club is easy If there isn t a club or society doing the things you want it to do consider creating a new one To set up a club or society you should go to the Union Website Setting Up A Society Page http://soasunion.org/sports-and-societies/setting-up-a-society/ where all the information is available Here you can download the Society Handbook which has all the rules about setting up a society Then a Fill in the online society form You will need the names of your society President Treasurer and Secretary to get started you can change these later b Download the Membership Form and get sixteen people to sign up c Submit a budget if required to Chuck the Sports Societies Co President Its as simple as that once these are submitted checked and com plete your society will go up on the website as an o cial Union society
0/11 ies of 201 e t li a n o s r w e ek Sports P uck Mad
Christian Union, Climbing and Mountaineering, Coalition of Resistance, Common Ground, Conservative, g ri W Anna ing Correspondents, Outstand ution Counterfire, Cricket, Critical Mass, Cuban trib Big Band, Debating, Detainee Support, Drama, Drumming, Individual Con Economics, Falun Gong, Film, Filmmakers, First Aid Links, Food Coe Union op, Francophone, French Folk dancing, GBLT, Good Beer, Common to th k Ground, Green Group, Haldene Society for Socialist Lawyers, Hands Elly Badcoc Walton Off Venezula, Hitchhiking, International Internships, International ax Genard Jason Ta s M Solidarity Movement, International Exchange, Iranian Music, Iranian, uncan yte Iraqi, Islamic, Israel, Italian, Japan, Jewish, Justice for Cleaners, Kali, Sally D nigan Co Khaleej, Ki, Klezmer Ensemble, Korea, Krishna Consciousness, Kurdish, Harrison La Labour Students, Law, LGBTQ, Liberal Democrats, Lifedrawing, London Citizens, Malaysian, Martial Arts & Karate, Marxist Reading, Mature Student, Media Network, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Football 1st, Men’s Football 2nd, Middle East, Model United Nations, Modern Dance, Muai Thai, Music Group, Muslim Women’s, National Campaign Against Fees & Cuts, Native Spirit, Netball, Nippon Kempo, Nordic, Spiritual Dialouge Society, SOAS Radio, Pakistani, Palestine, Penchak Silat, Photography, Poetry & Music Jam, Poker, Pool, Polish, Postgraduate Law, Rebetiko Band, Recipe, Respect, Rugby, Running, Rustle, Samba, SAPA “Jam”, Selam Ethiopian, Shodokan Aikido, Shorinji Kempo, Ski and Snowboard, SOAS Spirit, Social Enterprise, South Asia, Squash, Stop the War, Students Stop Most Activ e Soc SOAS D AIDS, Swahili, SWSS, Tae Kwon Do, Mos etainee Suppor t A t Group ct iv e New Soc Cyclin Tennis, Thai, The Maqam Project, Tibet, g Soc B es t Festival Carni Turkish, UYDO, Veda Life, Veg Soc, Vocal val of Love Class/Singing, Volleyball, War On Want, Best Musical Ensemble Sam WILPF, Woman for Woman International, Mos batage t Original Even Women’s Basketball, Women’s Football, t Fists of Fury B Boxing Soc es t Use of Intera Women’s Hockey, Women’s Society, ctive Media SO Women’s Tennis, Workers Liberty, World AS Rustle 25 25 Music Choir, Yoga.
h ley and C
Society Awar
ds 2010/11
SOAS POKER
SOAS Poker has been going strong for almost decade running a weekly rebuy tournament of No Limit Hold em poker during term times Tournaments start at every Friday in the Post Graduate Common Room Room on the second oor of the main building If your a beginner or would like to learn how to play we will provide guidance and tuition from in the rst few weeks of term Last year we introduced the SOAS Poker League and this year we ll be adding the SOAS Poker Shield for regular players wishing to compete throughout the year Players accumulate points each week and a Freezeout Tournament is held at the end of the year deciding the eventual winner There is no obligation to take part in the league and many enjoy the social atmosphere that SOAS Poker provides on a casual basis What is “SOAS Jam�? Where funky beats meets mystical instrumentations Multiple languages intertwine over the microphones The performer and audience divide is bridged by nuclear fusion Scienti c proof that dancing and beanbags can co exist in harmony Musicians playing for each other as much as the audience Toured three festivals this summer and this is only the beginning Wednesdays 9am until the early hours of the morn Bring sisters and brothers and awkward acquaintances o the bus assault the stage and make it your own without you there is nothing Throw a piece of persian poetry in time to the mambo rhythm Then help pack up at the end and wander home with friends wondering if you ll ever have a night like that again Do not despair Yes yes you will I have forseen it It ll be the following Wednesday
SOAS CEILIDH BAND
The SOAS Ceilidh Band kay lee plays the traditional dance musics of the British Isles and Ireland We follow the lunar cycle every full moon we organise a ceilidh dance hot sweaty and fun We have a caller to explain the steps it s easy to join in If you re an instrumentalist you are welcome to join the band ddles utes guitars drums whatever you play In the big city it s easy to lose touch with the rhythms of nature and of the body We restore the rhythm to life We also have a strong activist presence Our ashmob guerrilla ceilidh posse play at occupations and protest marches Each year we tour Ceilidh Beyond Borders In the band toured to Italy Istanbul and to Palestine where a member has set up a West Bank Ceilidh Band Rehearsals are Fridays pm term time For a copy of our tunebook tunes a few songs and caller s cards or 26 to join our mailing list e mail ceilidh@soas.ac.uk
SOAS Research Students’ Society
A community of research students for research students We work to provide peer support support research practice disseminate information and lobby for change Each year we hold social gatherings and parties ask us how to win the Golden Brain this year And organise the research student database We hold seminars on requested topics see the schedule on www soas ac uk rsearch rsp rss We organise a conference release issues of the research journal Polyvocia and answer questions about research student life sent to researchsoc soas ac uk We run on the energy of our members and each year our programme changes to re ect what we as the research community want Look forward to our new Stonehenge trips and potluck parties and contact the current board if you would like to run a program for research students or join the board
Iranian Music Society
The SOAS Iranian band was established in by Peyman Heydarian and follows a cross cultural yet authentic approach to Iranian classical music Each September new musicians and singers join the band and get to know Iranian music and culture throughout the year Further to Persian music we perform and promote music of other cultures within Iran and beyond the borders such as Kurdish Azeri Lori Guilaki and Armenian Greek and Turkish We have monthly concerts and weekly music classes for santur daf and music theory You are invited to visit our website to listen to our music and we hope to see you in our music concerts and also The voice of santur a multicultural concert series featuring Persian Kurdish and Greek music www.thesantur.com soasiranianmusic@yahoo.co.uk
SOAS REBETIKO BAND
Each October residents of the Greek island of Hydra eagerly await the arrival of the SOAS Rebetiko Band We play an all night dance party of rebetiko music a form of Greek urban blues deriving from the maqam based modal music of Asia Minor We re quite famous in Greece partly because confronting traditional enmities we have both Greek and Turkish singers and musicians We re famous in London too for our dance parties The best at SOAS If you are a Greek Turkish or Middle Eastern musician you are welcome to join the Rebetiko Band We rehearse Monday nights No auditions just come along Our music is rebel music including historical dope smoking and prison songs alongside songs of love and liberation The band arose out of a programme of rebetiko seminars organised at SOAS by Ed Emery and this programme of research continues All in all a fascinating combination of historical research critical intelligence and soul stirring music You are invited to join the band Bouzouki baglama guitar ud accordeon violin percussion Singers and dancers also welcome 27
PalSoc is one of the most active UK student societies dedicated
to debate and organizing for justice in Palestine For over years the society has heightened awareness and understanding of the Palestinian people culture rights and struggle for self determination amongst a broad audience Annual events include the Israeli Apartheid Week and Palestine Film Festival Annual conferences have covered Edward Said s life and work international law Palestine the economy of Palestine occupation the Nakba Palestinian resistance and the Left in Palestine We run trade fairs photo exhibits seminars workshops book launches and public meetings with Palestinian and international academics journalists activists and organisers PalSoc is open to all students We invite you to join in organizing for justice in Palestine Email palsoc@soas.ac.uk We raise awareness of the cruelty behind meat sh dairy industries and the reality of mass production vivisection animal testing bull ghting horse racing etc Our objective is to inform of new ways to make a di erence for billions of animals by not supporting companies that pro t through cruel exploitation We want to achieve the highest possible cut in demand for animal products and support animal NGOs and charities Animal Aid VIVA WSPA BUAV PETA by fundraising bake sales documentary screenings and lea ets We want to decrease speciesism prejudice towards other species motivate care for the environment Go Vegan reduce carbon footprint Meat Free Mondays and health and support all wishing to switch to veg etari anism President: Marta Schmidt 249590
B M est u En si se cal mb le
NUS march
Sambatage at Reclaim Love Piccadilly Circus
Spiritual Dialogue Society
A society which aims to educate and share the many spiritual paths that are present today it seeks to bring people together to discuss and share the spiritual ways in particular focusing on the spiritual aspects of Islam It will allow people who are on a spiritual journey who are looking or searching for enlightenment for us to share love light and knowledge Or for those interested in Spirituality Past years have allowed us to organise a variety of events such a s Su chanting from Africa the Middle East and Asia lm screenings talks about spirituality in the modern world and the many di erent spiritual paths from di erent faiths We don t close the door to anyone Much Peace and Love 28 28
SOAS Polish society
We strive to unite multinational SOAS students with students of Polish ancestry We promote the understanding of Polish culture by means of visual art music performing customs and introducing Slavonic food Our past activities include free tickets to Polish themed concerts international carol singing Easter egg decorating traditional glass painting paper Polish Society meal circa cuttings We marked St Andrews night with fortune telling and enjoying Polish food One of our notable events was celebrating Polish composer s Frederic Chopin s th birthday In the past years we have participated in the Congress of Polish societies in Britain To learn more and join us write to juliet hellokitty com
SOAS Origami Society
Mo Act st Soc ive iet y
Origami Society Bactrian Domedary camels
We re devoted to the ancient Japanese art of paper folding We accept anyone interested or already hooked Origami is a leisure activity for those who want to enjoy a spontaneous therapeutic activity teaching patience and geometry and meet students from all over the world and share designs In our rst year we folded origami squares from business cards donated by an unsuccesful businessman (http://nedbatchelder.com/text/cardcube.html). Workshops covered seasonal themes Christmas tree decorations winged hearts for Valentine s Easter egg holders owers on Mothers Day and families of camels for the Camel Conference at SOAS in May We attended the ALUMNI Friends Weekend with alumni and guests and events We made models out of old Chinese Arabic and Hindi newspapers Some are still on display in the SOAS JCR We were promoted in the British Origami Society magazine Aug Contact juliet804@hellokitty. com
29
Women’s Football
Rather than throw your books across the room why not kick a ball across a pitch Women s Football is the perfect antidote to long hours in the library We re a fun bunch who enjoy winning matches but are just as interested in having a good time always rewarding our e orts with a post match drink regardless of the result We also have a number of social events throughout the year from pub crawls though last year we only got as far as the second pub to bowling We are of course keen to take on budding Hope Powells but rst timers are just as welcome and some of our most valued players played their rst match for SOAS We train on Wednesday afternoons in Regent s Park and usually have games every other Sunday Find us on facebook or the SOAS SU website We look forward to seeing you
YOGA
SOAS Squash
SOAS Squash have come on leaps and bounds this season having gone from a modest th place nish in the ULU League in to winning every single game and the title in the process With of our best players graduating we will need an in ux of freshers to make sure we can compete in the nd division and push for promotion in the BUCS League especially with our new second team New Captain Jan Fox will no doubt continue the legacy of SOAS squash and make us one of the most established sports teams at the university The womens team will also continue their progress under Joanna Raymond
Welcome to SOAS Our Yoga society o ers a ordable classes in a variety of di erent styles with experienced teachers As of last academic year we ve been o ering classes in Ashtanga Hatha and Kundalini yoga among others Classes run during term time and holidays We will continue to o er a variety of classes this year from beginners to the more advanced And we ll o er free classes at the beginning of term so you can come and try any class out mats and props provided Here s what one of our members has to say about their experience last year “Having affordable, regular, easily accessible yoga classes right here, in the friendly environment of SOAS, provided great support in adjusting to the new place in the beginning of my studies. It then became an important practice that has helped me keep fit and more balanced. www.yoga.soasunion.org Invaluable, especially during the exam periods!” Facebook: SOAS Yoga Society Ksenia Ashtanga student 30 See our website for info and current schedule
SOAS Cricket
As a young society we ve excelled in the past two years becoming a well established Society As an active member within the Union we have gained a huge amount of support from other sports teams societies and the student body On the competitive side we play in the University of London ULU League and the British Universities Colleges Sport BUCS League or so matches over summer term We have a vast pre season training scheme starting after Freshers Fortnight to prepare for the new season from mid April We train at Lords the home of cricket We are a society as much as a sports team hosting events from Freshers Week to the o cial End of Year Party We collabarate with other sports teams in order to contribute to the Union an attribute we wish to continue We believe in driving the growing sporting ethos at SOAS and have a laugh as well If you wish to join a good group of lads with great team spirit and comradery please email the Team Captain Mayank Verma soas ac uk Damian Burns soas ac uk or Pravin Wadhwani soas ac uk
Men’s Football
Tae Kwon Do training times
Monday pm Thursday pm Friday pm Monday classes are for all grades Thursday is for senior belts only Friday is only for beginners and junior grades Noel Blackman SOAS TKD instructor
First to the freshers and others who can play or have an interest in football Welcome to SOAS I m Timothy and this year I am captaining the SOAS st team I m already con dent enough to assure you will bene t in more ways than you can imagine committing to the football team Each year what starts as a group of guys with a similar interest moulds into a brotherhood Members form lifelong friendships that supersede the university experience The season involves two games p week most likely Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon hence the need for a big squad so come as you are regardless of how you perceive your level of skill We enter the ULU league University of London where Saturday mornings we play teams within U of L travelling as far as Royal Holloway for an away game In this league you ll enjoy playing a high level of football and the most heated and tense games of our university life pitted against close rivals UCL LSE surrounding SOAS with whom we can never lose to We also enter the BUCS league British Uni College Sports playing every Wednesday against regional teams The SOAS football team has an esteemed history boasting tours of Africa and the Middle East and as you settle into SOAS you may hear talk of our recent tour of Egypt Palestine Israel and Jordan But as of yet we haven t won anything on home soil so help me truly bring football home and lets win some silverware See you at trials 31
The Rustle Best use of SOAS s very own interactive media
Pool
student radio show the talent of over students sta alumni under one banner The show s got it all news interviews debate reviews and live music soasradio. org/soas-rustle
There was a pool team, and if enough sign up, there can be again! See Chuck...
Women’s Netball
The netball team is going to be a fun and exciting society to be part of this year Beginners and more advanced players are all welcome Despite a slightly disorganised start to last season we managed to still come rd in the ULU league and only missed out on winning by points so with a committed team this year we should be set to move up a division by next season The girl s netball team is planning to and has begun some fundraising for a Beyond Borders trip to South Africa next summer which will focus on empowering women through sport If you are interested in playing netball either just at practice or in matches or want to nd out more about Netball Beyond Borders please come along to our rst training session or email me Kathryn on 227649@soas.ac.uk
SOAS Food Co-op
Self organised empowering our community to source good a ordable food and saying goodbye to the supermarket the Food Co operative opens this year in its permanent space in the JCR We re student run not for pro t sourcing healthy organic fair trade foodstu s from wholesalers Wholegrain rice quinoa lentils cous cous chick peas seeds oats muesli banana chips honey and lots more are on sale make an order what you want isnt there Minimizing plastic packaging pesticides food miles and exploitation we supply students across central London We have exciting plans this year centred around the JCR a hub for info and self organisation around food We organise talks workshops lms and foodie adventures like apple pressing day read home made cider We ll kick o with a consensus decision making workshop run by Seeds for Change The Co op is run by volunteers YOU Sign up for a shift be involved dream up a project bake bread Meet us at Freshers Fair and in the JCR or send an email tosoasfoodcoop@gmail.com 32
Women for Women International (WfWI)
Established in 1993 WfWI provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts, with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. WfWI provide financial and emotional support, jobs and business skills training, rights and leadership education, and operates in 8 countries around the world including the DRC, Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq. The SOAS society provides a platform to learn more about the work of WfWI and take part in international campaigns such as Join Me On The Bridge. Last year the society put on film screenings and talks raising awareness, and organised the ‘Congolese Festival’ raising £4000 for the women of the Congo. We want to carry on with this fantastic work, get even more people involved. For more information: www.womenforwomen.org.uk Do you play Tennis? Are you passionate enough to get others involved? Or maybe you want a fun way to keep fit? Find yourself saying YES!...to any of those? Then contact me at sport.soc@soas.ac.uk
Women’s Basketball
One of the smaller societies at SOAS but easily one of the friendliest. Whilst we may not win all of our games, at the end of the day the most important thing is that we enjoy what we’re doing and representing SOAS and women’s sport at SOAS. By the end of the season, regardless of our success, we’re a family who enjoy training and playing together. Basketball is also great for improving your fitness and meeting awesome people! We normally train twice a week or have games to play. Whether you’ve never so much as picked up a basketball and don’t know your jump shots from your layups, or you used to play for your school or another club and have been playing for years, we accept all, complete beginners to seasoned players! Join us, we look forward to seeing you!
CALLING ALL HOCKEY LOVERS!! We have a new hockey team starting this year. This is your chance to actively participate in the union and you could be the start to the next big thing. Contact Alexandra ‘Lexi’ on 252670@soas.ac.uk
Volleyball
SOAS needs more sports people. And what better sport to start than volleyball! - if you’re looking for a spot of sand, or if you’ve always wanted to try your hand at volleyball this year we’ll be setting up a volleyball team for some fun mixed sessions and in the very near future, competition. We’ll be meeting for practice every week, so feel free to come even if you have nada experience - the point is to make it one. Contact Keiko: 249134@soas.ac.uk WHO ARE WE?
SOAS Men’s Basketball
DOMINATION On and Off the Court Established in 2009, SOAS basketball are now the most decorated SOAS Sports team in recent times. We are less of a club and more of a family, providing you with the space and opportunity to play hard and win big. Basketball at SOAS is great fun and the ULU Cups and BUCS championship come as a bonus. We have both competitive and play for fun opportunities, so come along and meet new friends. We also participate in community development projects and are have also launched the Beyond Borders Development Tour East Africa. For more information contact Ekow: basketball-society@soas.ac.uk
33
Don’t Forget...
...www.tvlicensing.co.uk
A colour T.V licence is £145.50 p/year; see the website to check whether you need it -most do.
...claim your travel discounts: A Student
...licence to view (T.V): use a television or anything that receives or records T.V? Get a TV Licence, or risk prosecution and fine...
Oystercard gets you 30% off season tickets on London transport - weekly or longer. See p23. But, for those who only use the tube occasionally a season ticket wont be worth it. With a Young Persons Railcard you can get the 1/3-off in off-peak day travelcards (http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/). The Railcard discounts national train journeys, and local transport. Ask to link it your Oyster PAYG -‘pay as you go’. Its not well advertised but it works.
... Get your locker: There’s about 1000 lockers at Russell Square for students, about
the size of a sports bag. You can’t live out of one, but they’re useful if you carry lots of books. To get a locker: 1. E-mail pb14@soas.ac.uk with “Locker” in the subject line, give your full name, SOAS ID number and course end date. 2. Wait for a return e-mail with the allocated locker number. 3. Put your own lock on the locker. The locker is allocated until the end of your course. Email any problems (squatters!) or if you aren’t using it.
... Look after your health: register with a doctor, the Gower Street Practice caters for many SOAS staff and students. Find contacts at the back. Meantime, for nhs-priced condoms (approx 9p each) visit http://www.freedoms-shop.nhs.uk.
... Meet new friends: as well as joining clubs and societies within
SOAS there is also ISH (International Students House), 229 Great Portland Street (near Regents Park). They facilitate students of different cultures getting together and having fun. They have late cheap bars, a cafe, free internet, karaoke, fitness club, more socities, free movie nights, cultural evenings, live music, and short term accomodation. www.ish.org.uk
... Escape: Budget airlines will get you across Europe cheaply, but pay careful attention
to add-on costs. A more environmentally responsible option is the train. A young persons railcard can get you to mountains and lochs, bustling cities, or seaside resorts.
...Do something new: This is a time to expand your
mind, and London is the place for it, so why not? ���� The West End has some of the worlds best theatre - reflected in the price! Go an hour early to try for a cheap ‘Student Standby’, or visit the Leicester Sq booth. Don’t forget the inexpensive world of fringe theatre, showing new works by new writers, with new actors. The National Theatre on the Southbank does good deals and modern productions; at the Shakespeare’s Globe get a £5 closeup view standing by the stage edge. Time Out lists deals; buy it at student rate from the S.U Shop. Lona Rhiannon Chaloner’s tip: Keep your train tickets. With a printed off voucher use them to get 2 for 1 entry into places around London (the Zoo, Tower of London, most exhibitions on weekdays). Vouchers are found at www.daysoutguide.co.uk, and no conditions on your ticket date -even old ones can work! ...An umbrella: 34
It will rain.
Nightline is a London-based helpline run by students for students, offering confidential listening, support and information every night of term from 6pm to 8am. You can talk to us about anything - big or small - in complete confidence. We won’t judge you or tell you how to run your life: we’ll simply listen to whatever is on your mind. www.nightline.org.uk
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The SOAS neighbourhood - for key see over
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Tuesday to Saturday 10.30-17.00 Admission Free 13/10-17/12: ‘Weaving the threads of livelihood’ http://www.soas.ac.uk/gallery
The Brunei Gallery
Around Russell Sq 1 Institute of Education (IoE), an alternate S.U bar. Good relations with SOAS S.U, we often swapp use of equipment for their rooms. 2 ULU (see page 13) 3 Store Street: Pizza Paradiso, Busaba Eathai, cafe’s 4 Gower Street Practice; GP, most students can register here, if not check with local council 5 Bloomsbury Theatre; comedy and new plays. Bloomsbury Fitness: UCL Union’s, gym offering discounts for students 6 Bloomsbury Lanes; bowling 7 Waterstones bookshop; small secondhand section. Try Charing Cross Road for several large and small bookshops, like Foyles... Hard-to-find books -try online (skoob or abebooks) 8 Drill Hall: theatre and arts center. The venue is used to record radio and TV shows with live audiences. To get free tickets sign up at www.drillhall.co.uk
The Russell Sq - Vernon Sq Route 9 Brunswick Centre; developed into a complex of housing (top), shopping (ground level), and the Renoir Cinema (below). Food and drink: sushi, juice bars, coffee, patisserie. Clothes & shoe shops. Plus: Skoob, secondhand bookshop; professional photography rental; supermarket; chemists... Farmers Market on weekends. 10 Marchmont Street a nice walk to Vernon Square; convenient stop-offs include organic hot food in Alara Wholefoods, ‘Gays the Word’ bookshop, vegetarian Indian buffet, a Postoffice, hairdresser - a bit of everything! 11 Lumen; a cafe within a Church, on the way from Vernon Square to Russell Sq... Set up by a longtime campaigner promoting sustainable food. 12 Foundling Museum; dedicated to history of abandoned children, and London’s first public gallery 15 Coram’s Fields; contains a mini-zoo, playground and football pitch. Children only, adults must be accompanied 14 The Horse Hospital; was a stable, now a progressive arts venue and exhibition space. www.thehorsehospital.com = Bike scheme docking stations 20 St Pancras International: (gained the title ‘internationl’ since Eurostar moved in with routes to Paris, Brussels etc. 21 Africa Kitchen: on Drummond Street behind the west side of Euston. 23 Sadlers Wells; theatre, specialises in dance 22 Arthur Probsthain; Africa & Oriental book specialist 24 Brook; under 25 sexual health advice centre 25 Holborn Library 26 Charles Dickens Museum 27 British Museum: world famous collections of artifacts from all corners of the globe. Free entry except for special temporary exhibitions.
General
19 Eastman Dental Clinic
18 The Peel Center: behind Vernon Sq site, will be used by some of our sports teams.
Around Vernon Sq 15 Dinwiddy (& common Ground garden) 16 Paul Robeson House 17 Exmouth Market; world-wide range of food stalls weekday lunchtime
Coursework
the best way is to plan...
you know that’s true...
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September 2011
Public Hols (UK)
October 2011
November 2011
December 2011
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
February 2012
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May 2012
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
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January 2013
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February 2013
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F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
July 2013
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
M T W T
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M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
January 2012
M T W T
May 2013
M T W T
2011 / 2012
June 2012
June 2013
F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
March 2012
July 2012
April 2012
August 2012
M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2012 / 2013
March 2013
December 2012 M T W T
April 2013
August 2013
39
September
MONDAY 26
TUeSDAY 27
Navaratri
Hindu, 28th - 5th Oct
WeDNeSDAY 28
FRIDAY 30
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year 29th/30th
September
THURSDAY 29
ULU Freshers Fayre
12-5pm Sign up for ULU societies and sports teams, and find out about their services.
SOAS Freshers Fayre
10-4pm. All-day fun, meet each other and get to know your Union. Societies and Clubs will put on stalls and sign up membership forms. Come and enjoy the pre-term atmosphere!
SDS presents Release X
SUNDAY 2
9pm-6am; Brixton Jamm (261 Brixton Road SW9). Ruby and the Vines: Homegrown, velvety melodies; Sambatage: The protesters’ favorite; Super Best Friends Club: The neverdancers will dance; Alejandro and the Magic Tombolinos: Frenetic gypsy gyromatic; + DJs
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
October
SATURDAY 1
October
S.U Elections: nominations open, 10am
MONDAY 3
First UGM
TUeSDAY 4
Black History Month
5pm, JCR
WeDNeSDAY 5
October
THURSDAY 6
FRIDAY 7
SUNDAY 9
Black History Month
SATURDAY 8
Yom Kippur Judaism
October
MONDAY 10
London Jazz Festival
TUeSDAY 11
Black History Month
11th- 20th http://www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk/
S.U Elections: nominations close, 5pm BFI London Film Festival 12th - 27th http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff
Native Spirit Film Festival 12th - 22nd www.nativespirit.org
WeDNeSDAY 12
Sukkoth
Jewish, 13th - 19th
October
THURSDAY 13
Brunei Gallery
13th October-17th December Weaving the threads of livelihood: the aesthetic and embodied knowledge of Moroccan weavers
FRIDAY 14
Student Rep Welcome Meeting
Welcoming all reps - new and old; the meeting will agree on all Faculty Rep positions for ’11/12.
SUNDAY 16
Black History Month
SATURDAY 15
October
S.U Elections: voting open, 10am-5pm
MONDAY 17
Black History Month
TUeSDAY 18
WeDNeSDAY 19
October
THURSDAY 20
FRIDAY 21
Black History Month
21st - 23rd Oct Look out for posters SATURDAY 22
SUNDAY 23
NUS Zone conference: Society & Citizenship
MONDAY 24
NUS Zone conference: Further Education
TUeSDAY 25
Jain / Hindu / Sikh
Black History Month
October
NUS Zone conference: Higher Education Diwali
NUS Zone conference: Union Development
WeDNeSDAY 26
October
THURSDAY 27
FRIDAY 28
SUNDAY 30
Black History Month
SATURDAY 29
Clocks go back 1 hour overnight - British Summer Time is over
October
Halloween
November
World Vegan Day
MONDAY 31
TUeSDAY 1
WeDNeSDAY 2
November
THURSDAY 3
FRIDAY 4
SATURDAY 5
SUNDAY 6
Guy Fawkes Night
Eid al Adha Islam, 6th-9th
“Altı tane atılır mı be ? Oha Fenerbahçe!”
Patrick Cox, SOAS Turkish Society Vice-President
Reading Week
November
MONDAY 7
Day of Remembrance of the Night of Broken Glass
TUeSDAY 8
WeDNeSDAY 9 (Reichspogromnacht), the German Nazi-led nationwide pogroms against Jews in 1938
Guru Nanak Dev Sahib birthday Sikh
SATURDAY 12
SUNDAY 13
gnidaeR keeW
FRIDAY 11
November
THURSDAY 10
NUS Black Students winter conference
November
MONDAY 14
TUeSDAY 15
WeDNeSDAY 16
November
THURSDAY 17
FRIDAY 18
SATURDAY 19
SUNDAY 20
Interfaith Week 20th - 26th
November
MONDAY 21
UGM
TUeSDAY 22
5pm
WeDNeSDAY 23
FRIDAY 25
SATURDAY 26
SUNDAY 27
November
THURSDAY 24
November
MONDAY 28
TUeSDAY 29
WeDNeSDAY 30
FRIDAY 2
World AIDS Day
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
SATURDAY 3
SUNDAY 4
Animal Aids Cruelty-Free (Christmas) Fayre
December
THURSDAY 1
December
MONDAY 5
TUeSDAY 6
WeDNeSDAY 7
FRIDAY 9
SATURDAY 10
SUNDAY 11
December
THURSDAY 8
December
MONDAY 12
TUeSDAY 13
WeDNeSDAY 14
FRIDAY 16
December
THURSDAY 15
End of term
SATURDAY 17
SUNDAY 18
UN International Migrants Day
December
MONDAY 19
TUeSDAY 20
Hunukkah
WeDNeSDAY 21
Jewish Holiday; 21st - 28th
THURSDAY 22
FRIDAY 23
Christmas Eve
SATURDAY 24
Christmas Day
SUNDAY 25
Well done!
You made it through first term! Now this is the time of the year when you will start thinking about essays and coursework and, very importantly, about the feedback you receive on them once back from the Xmas break…
Essay Feedback
Feedback is the area in which levels of student satisfaction at SOAS are lowest. Here at the S.U we believe that, considering all the efforts you put into your essays, they deserve to be marked carefully, quickly, and in a way that is helpful for your learning experience: for this reason, we are making improvement of feedback one of our priorities for 2011/2012! What does this mean, in practice? 1) Thanks to the lobbying of the SU, SOAS now has a policy that states that all pieces of coursework must be returned marked to students within 3 weeks from the essay deadline. This year we are pushing for this rule to be really applied in all courses and departments, so if your essay has not been returned after 3 weeks from the deadline (not including holidays), LET US KNOW! If you report to us cases when the rule is breached, we can act to improve the situation! Check www. soasunion.org/education for more details, or get in touch with your class rep! 2) The coursework marking sheet that you will be receiving for your essays this year is new and designed to help you understand better how you did and which areas you should focus on in the future to improve. To see if it’s working, and how it can be improved to better suit your needs, we will be organizing focus groups and
Student Reps: Dont forget - send in your report on what you’ve been doing over term 1. We will be circulating reports regularly to all students.
forums in January / February to gather your views. So if you have a burning complaint or want to tell us what has really worked for you, come along! We’ll also be collecting evidence of good and bad feedback practices from students, so keep your essays marking sheets as they will be the basis of our campaigning efforts later in the year! 3) For the first time this year, some departments will be piloting an anonymous essay marking system: we believe anonymous marking for essays is fairer and ensures that all students are marked solely on the basis of their academic performance, so we will be pushing to see this implemented in all departments by next year. We’ll also keep campaigning for more office hours and face-to-face feedback, because talking to your teacher is really the best way of improving. In the meantime, our advice is: don’t be scared, go and see your lecturer whenever you can! They are there to help you! For more info, questions or suggestion, send an email to welfare.ed@soas.ac.uk. And remember: the SU is the sum of its parts, and to achieve improvements we really need your involvement… So, if you have a problem, let us know!
NEED HELP!
This can be a tough time of year for anyone feeling low or struggling with the course. If you are having any problems, or not feeling like you can cope, you are not alone. There is help on offer from several places - Student Service’s counsellors and advisors’ feature in this handbook under Welfare (pg 23/24). The ADD gives support learning how to manage workloads. And there are a number of external organisations for other issues, see ‘useful contacts’ (p.110/111). It’s a new year - and a new start :)
65
December
MONDAY 26
Bank Holiday (Boxing Day)
TuesDAY 27
WeDNesDAY 28
THuRsDAY 29
FRIDAY 30
January
New Years Eve
sATuRDAY 31
Happy New Year Gantan-sai (Shinto)
suNDAY 1
Bank Holiday
TuesDAY 3
WeDNesDAY 4
THuRsDAY 5
FRIDAY 6
sATuRDAY 7
suNDAY 8
January
MONDAY 2
January
Term starts
MONDAY 9
TUeSDAY 10
WeDNeSDAY 11
FRIDAY 13
SATURDAY 14
SUNDAY 15
January
THURSDAY 12
January
Martin Luther King Jnr Day
MONDAY 16
UGM
TUeSDAY 17
US holiday
5pm
WeDNeSDAY 18
FRIDAY 20
SATURDAY 21
SUNDAY 22
January
THURSDAY 19
January
Chinese New Year
MONDAY 23
Year of the Dragon
TUeSDAY 24
WeDNeSDAY 25
FRIDAY 27
January
THURSDAY 26
Holocaust Memorial Day (Liberation of Auschwitz)
SATURDAY 28
SUNDAY 29
February LGBT History Month January
MONDAY 30
TUeSDAY 31
WeDNeSDAY 1
FRIDAY 3
SUNDAY 5
Setsubum-sai - Shinto
LGBT History Month
SATURDAY 4
February
THURSDAY 2
Happy Birthday: Hanadi
February
MONDAY 6
LGBT History Month
S.U Elections: nominations open, 10am
TUeSDAY 7
WeDNeSDAY 8
February
THURSDAY 9
FRIDAY 10
SUNDAY 12
LGBT History Month
SATURDAY 11
Reading Week
February
MONDAY 13
LGBT History Month
Valentines Day
TUeSDAY 14
WeDNeSDAY 15
SUNDAY 19
LGBT History Month
SATURDAY 18
gnidaeR keeW
FRIDAY 17
February
THURSDAY 16
February
MONDAY 20
Pancake Day
TUeSDAY 21
LGBT History Month
‘Shrove Tuesday’
WeDNeSDAY 22
S.U Elections: nominations close, 5pm
February
THURSDAY 23
FRIDAY 24
SUNDAY 26
LGBT History Month
SATURDAY 25
February
MONDAY 27
UGM
TUeSDAY 28
LGBT History Month
5pm
WeDNeSDAY 29
SATURDAY 3
SUNDAY 4
Women’s History Month
FRIDAY 2
March
THURSDAY 1
March
Women’s History Month
S.U Elections: voting opens, 10am - 5pm daily
MONDAY 5
TUeSDAY 6
WeDNeSDAY 7
S.U Elections: voting ends, 5pm International Women’s Day Magha Puja Day - Buddhist Purim - Judaism
SATURDAY 10
SUNDAY 11
Women’s History Month
FRIDAY 9
March
THURSDAY 8
S.U Elections: full results published
Women’s History Month
March
MONDAY 12
NUS Womens conference 13 - 15 th
TUeSDAY 13
th
WeDNeSDAY 14
SATURDAY 17
SUNDAY 18
Women’s History Month
FRIDAY 16
March
THURSDAY 15
St Patricks Day
Mother’s Day
MONDAY 19
19th - 21st
Women’s History Month
March
NUS Disabled Student’s conference
Naw Ruz / Norouz
New Year - Baha’i / Persian/Zoroastrian
TUeSDAY 20
WeDNeSDAY 21
SATURDAY 24
SUNDAY 25
Women’s History Month
FRIDAY 23
March
THURSDAY 22
End of term
Clocks go forward 1 hour overnight - British Summer Time begins!
Women’s History Month
March
International Day for the Elimination of Racism
TUeSDAY 27
WeDNeSDAY 28
THURSDAY 29
NUS LGBT conference
FRIDAY 30
30th March - 1st April
SATURDAY 31
April
MONDAY 26
April Fools Day
SUNDAY 1
April
MONDAY 2
TUeSDAY 3
WeDNeSDAY 4
THURSDAY 5
Good Friday
FRIDAY 6
UK holiday
Mahavir Jayanti - Jain
SATURDAY 7
Pesach (Passover)
7th - 14th Judaism
SUNDAY 8
Easter Sunday
April
MONDAY 9
Easter Monday UK holiday
TUeSDAY 10
WeDNeSDAY 11
THURSDAY 12
FRIDAY 13
Baisakhi
New Year, Sikh
SATURDAY 14
SUNDAY 15
Exam period - preparation Now that the 2nd term is over and write, but there are many useful tips you you got most of your essays in… it’s can learn to keep calm and manage exam time to start thinking about exams! anxiety. We know that exams often seem like a daunting prospect, and they can be a very stressful and challenging period of the year... however, don’t panic! Here’s a list of tips and useful contacts that will help you manage your time, stress and energies during this period – and, ideally, do well! • Make sure you start your revision in time! Allow at least 4 weeks before your first exam, so you don’t find yourself too rushed in the end! • Make yourself a revision timetable: even if you don’t stick to it, it’ll help you realize how much work you have left to do • Be savvy with your revision: find topics that overlap and you can use in different exams/questions, read your friends’ essays, memorize key quotes and names of key thinkers • Go to the exam techniques workshops organized by the ADD: they provide useful tips that will help you make the most out of your revision, as well as teaching you how to write a good exam answer. Check http://www. soas.ac.uk/add/studysupport for more details. Stress and anxiety can often be your bigger enemy during exam time. Remember that you are not alone, and that everyone feels stressed to an extent… It is very common to feel afraid your mind is going to go blank, or that you’re not going to have enough to
• Learn some relaxation techniques and use them – breathing exercises and centring can be really helpful!
• Remember to take time off during revision to do things you enjoy and see friends • Make sure you sleep and eat properly: don’t stay up until 4am revising, it does not help you as you will not memorize anything if you are over tired Student Services can provide you with support and advice on how to manage your stress levels. They also provide counselling and many other wellbeing services, so if you feel like you are struggling, do go and see them! Check www.soas.ac.uk/ studentservices for more details or send an email to studentservices@soas.ac.uk. If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty, you are probably entitled to special exams arrangement. Make sure you get in touch with the disabilities advisors at disabilities@soas.ac.uk early in the year! If you are ill, experience bereavement or any other issues that will affect your capacity of sitting an exam, let someone know immediately! Contact your Faculty Student Support team or the Exams Office in the Registry at exams@soas.ac.uk Remember that we are always here to help: if you have any questions or problems, get in touch at welfare.ed@soas.ac.uk. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!
Mitigating Circumstances If you have submitted a piece of coursework late, you must complete an “Evidence for late submission” form, available from your Faculty office, and submit evidence of “mitigating circumstances”, ie evidence that proves you had a good cause for late submission, such as a doctor’s note. Evidence of mitigating circumstances must absolutely be submitted on time, and the deadline is usually on the 1st week of May – always check! Remember that it is not automatic or guaranteed that your evidence will be accepted as valid – even if you have an SpLD! It’s always better to check beforehand or, if you can, get your coursework in on time. For any questions, get in touch with your Faculty Office, or us at welfare.ed@soas.ac.uk
93
April
Term starts
MONDAY 16
TUeSDAY 17
WeDNeSDAY 18
UGM 5pm
NUS Black Students summer conference 19th & 20th
FRIDAY 20
SATURDAY 21
SUNDAY 22
The London Marathon
April
THURSDAY 19
April
MONDAY 23
NUS National Conference 2012
TUeSDAY 24
Sheffield, 24th - 26th
WeDNeSDAY 25
FRIDAY 27
SATURDAY 28
SUNDAY 29
April
THURSDAY 26
May
April
MONDAY 30
International Workers Day
TUeSDAY 1
Mayday
Beltane - Samhain Wicca/Pagan
WeDNeSDAY 2
May
THURSDAY 3
FRIDAY 4
SATURDAY 5
SUNDAY 6
Visakha Puja - Buddha Day Buddhist
May
International Donkey Day
MONDAY 7
Bank Holiday
International Red Cross Day
Exam period starts
TUeSDAY 8
WeDNeSDAY 9
FRIDAY 11
SATURDAY 12
SUNDAY 13
May
THURSDAY 10
May
MONDAY 14
TUeSDAY 15
WeDNeSDAY 16
FRIDAY 18
SATURDAY 19
SUNDAY 20
May
THURSDAY 17
May
MONDAY 21
TUeSDAY 22
Declaration of the Bab Baha’i
WeDNeSDAY 23
May
THURSDAY 24
FRIDAY 25
SATURDAY 26
SUNDAY 27
Eurovision Song Contest, Final
May
MONDAY 28
Ascension of Baha’u’llah
TUeSDAY 29
Baha’i
WeDNeSDAY 30
THURSDAY 31
May
FRIDAY 1
June
SATURDAY 2
SUNDAY 3
June
Bank Holiday
MONDAY 4 4 MONDAY
Queens Diamond Jubilee
Tuesday 5
an extra UK holiday
Wednesday TUeSDAY 6 5
THURSDAY 7
WeDNeSDAY 6 FRIDAY 8
End of year
SATURDAY 9
108
SUNDAY 10
14th June, Happy Birthday: Youssef Gasmi, Vice President of the Francophone Society
STUDENTS’ UNION www.soasunion.org 0207 898... followed by:
THE SCHOOL
www.soas.ac.uk (‘Current Students’ > ‘Student Services’)
Welfare & Education Sports & Societies Finance & Communication General Manager
+4997 +4994 +4995 +4996
Main switchboard 020 7637 2388 Registry 020 7074 5105 Library: 020 7898 ... +4163 (enquiries) +4790 (hours) +4197 (renewals) Student Services: 020 7074... +5015 (main); +5014 (welfare); +5016 (counselling) +5018 (disability officer); +5049 (textphone)
GENERAL ADVICE & INFO NUS (www.nus.org.uk) ........................................................................... 020 7272 8900 ULU (www.ulu.co.uk) .............................................................................. 020 7664 2000 U of L Careers Office ............................................................................... 020 7554 4500 Educational Grants Advisory Service ..................................................... 020 7249 6636 Student Loan Company ................. 0800 405010 .....(disabled helpline) 0870 60 60 704 ................................................... In arrears? 0870 24 23 220 UCAS ................................................................www.ucas.ac.uk............. 01242 222 444 ULAO (UofL Accommodation Office) ................ housing.lon.ac.uk/cms ...020 7862 8880 Sanctuary Housing ................................... www.smsstudent.co.uk/ ....... 020 7841 0480 Shelterline ...................................................................(24hr freephone) 0808 800 4444
INTERNATIONAL UKCOSA (Council for international education) ......................................... 020 7288 4330 JCWI (Council for the Welfare of Immigrants)......... www.jcwi.org.uk ........020 7251 8708 International Student House .............................www.ish.org.uk ............ 020 7346 6700 British Council ................................................... www.britcouncil.org.uk ...161 957 7755 HOST ................................................................................................... www.hostuk.org Refugee Council ............................................................... www.Refugee Council.org.uk
HEALTH NHS Direct .....................................www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk .......................... 0845 46 47 Health Centre ................................www.gowerstreetpractice.org.uk .... 020 7636 7628 Meningitis Helpline ............................................................................... 080 88 00 33 44 Sexual Health Line .................................................................................... 0800 567 123 The Naz Project (support and advice for South Asian, Middle Eastern, African and Turkish communities on sexuality & sexual health) ...... www.naz.org.uk .............. 020 8741 1879 Mortimer Market Centre (male & female clinic, HIV / STD tests, general sexual health) ....................020 7530 5050 Brook (free, confidential sexual health advice, for under 25’s) ...........www.brook.org.uk .......... 0808 802 1234 MIND (mental health charity) .............. www.mind.org.uk ........ 0845 766 0163 109
HELPLINES / SUPPORT British Dyslexia Association.................................................................... 0118 966 8271 Disability Alliance ................................................................................... 020 7247 8776 Skill (For students with disabilities)...................... 0800 328 5050 ........ www.skill.org.uk Equal Opportunities Commission........................................................ www.eoc.org.uk Trades Union Congress (TUC) ................................. www.tuc.org.uk ......020 7636 4030 National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau.............................. www.nacab.org.uk London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard ............................................. (24hr) 020 7837 7324 GALOP (victims/witnesses of hate crime) ...........www.galop.org.uk ....... 020 7704 2040 Stonewall (lgbt) ........................................ www.stonewall.org.uk ..........020 7881 9440 Victim Support ......................................... www.victimsupport.org ........ 0845 3030 900 The Roofie Foundation (drug rape/sexual abuse) ........................www.roofie.com ...(24hr) 0800 783 2980 Rape Crisis helpline.................................................................................. 0115 941 0440 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre .................................................... 020 8683 3300 Nightline ....................................................................................... (24hr) 0207 631 0101 Drinkline ................................................................................................. 0800 917 8282 RELEASE (legal advise on drugs issues) .................www.release.org.uk ....020 7729 5255 .........................(helpline) 0845 4500 215 Bindmans (independent legal advice) ............................................ (24hr) 020 7833 4433
women - focused Women in London, directory ........................................... www.womeninlondon.org.uk Kulubi Centre (Formerly ‘Camden Black Sister’s Group’) .......................... 020 7284 3336 British Pregnancy Advisory Service ........................................................08457 30 40 30 Fawcett Society (Campaigns for gender equality) ...............www.fawcettsociety.org.uk FORWARD (Women’s Health Research)....... www.forwarduk.org.uk ......020 8960 4000 Abortion Rights .................................................................. www.abortionrights.org.uk Womankind Worldwide (international gender issues)...............www.womankind.org.uk Muslim Women’s helpline ............................................................... 020 8908 6715/8193
Travel / other stuff
Kings Cross Radio Cars (taxis) .................................................................. 020 7713 6030 Star Cars East (near the Halls) ................................................................... 020 7837 1111 Yellow Pages (directory) .......................................................................... www.yell.com Gay community news, entertainment ................................www.rainbownetwork.com Timeout, weekly guide to London entertainment..................www.timeout.com/london Loot (Classified ads online).......................................................................www.loot.com Transport for London ....................... www.tfl.gov.uk ....... (lost property) 0845 330 9882 National Rail Enquiries (Timetables, tickets, railcards)...............www.nationalrail.co.uk STA (student travel) ........................www.statravel.co.uk ........................ 0871 230 0040 YHA (Youth Hostel Assoc.) ................................................................... www.yha.org.uk St Christophers Inns (hostels around Europe) ...................... www.st-christophers.co.uk 110
0800 and 0808 numbers are FREE. In EMERGENCIES call 999 and ask for the fire brigade, ambulance or police
Take part in SIFE
Enterprise
Acquire funding for a project
Attend a Ventures event 1
Attend and complete the Enterprise Boot Camp
Attend a Ventures event 2
Students’ Union
Attend a 1:1 session with Student Enterprise
Consistent participation in a Union society
Organise & run an event
The SOAS Passport pilot scheme is aimed at recognising your engagement in extra curricular/ activities and the value of the skills you acquire through doing them. This is open to all students. Completing the Passport will enable you to achieve a non-credit bearing certificate in Enterprise & Employability. As this is a pilot, it will initially focus on three areas – Student Enterprise, Students’ Union and Careers. Having completed your SOAS Passport, you will attend a debrief session to reflect on your experiences and how they can be showcased to help you achieve your future plans and your career ambitions. You will then receive your certificate.
The Big Idea
SOAS Passport - go beyond your borders
Regular participation in sport
Set up an enterprise (social, charity, business)
Get started
Volunteer with SOAS Radio / The Spirit
Be an active member of the Ventures Committee
Register online*
Be a course Representative (attend 60% of meetings)
Take part in an external competition
Watch podcast /presentation
The Last step
Attend a event 3
Attend a event 2
Do volunteering at SOAS or elsewhere
Take part in a community / fundraising activity
Work part-time for the Union / be a P/T officer
Complete the online survey*
Have a CV check
Do part time work or consultancy
Attend a debriefing session(group or 1:1)*
Active involvement in a Union campaign
Organise an event
Take an Alum for coffee
Be nominated for a Union award
Attend a careers Fair
Careers Service
Have a 1:1 session with a Careers Advisor
Attend a event 1
To complete your SOAS Passport you will need to obtain three stamps from authorised people in each section (Student Enterprise, Students’ Union and Careers), and the starred* elements in the shaded sections. Each activity box can only receive one stamp. For Student Enterprise, this will be Claire Hardesty; for the Students’ Union, Peter Baran; for Careers, Sue Young. Students can only achieve 1 certificate per academic year. Completed Passport applications can be submitted to Claire Hardesty, ch29@soas.ac.uk (by hard copy or email) up to the end of the penultimate week in any term. For further information please visit: www.soas.ac.uk/enterprise/studententerprise
The small print
Do a practice interview
Stand for election
Design & Editing: Antonia Bright. Contributors: Peter Baran \ Ali Khan \ Arianna Tassinari \ Chuck Madekwe \ Khaled Ziada \ the S.U Executive \ SOAS Clubs & Societies. Photography: Dougal Wallace; Glen Ratcliffe, Antonia Bright. Printing: www.fiprint.co.uk Thanks to all who helped bring together this publication. All information was true at the time of printing, see the website for updates. If you have a contribution or want to place an advert in next year’s S.U. Handbook please send details. Contact: ab93@soas.ac.uk SOAS Students’ Union su@soas.ac.uk www.soasunion.org