May 2017 - Edition 67
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3
Introduction.
May Issue
This Edition: page 6
Goodbye Sabbatical Officers - read Joe, Jenny and Ohio's final farewells as they reflect on all they've achieve during their time as Sabbs at Bucks. Page 4.
The Story of The Mural Joe Collins, Bucks Students' Union President, describes the journey that led to the underpass mural finally being completed.
page 8
Contributors Jenny Wade • Ohio Orumen • Joe Collins • Tim Dixon Zoe Moorton • Daisy Howells • Frances Mollett Katherine Bower • Rochelle Jerrum-Dore • James Taylor Charlotte Crackett • Jessica Miles • Chloe Bampton Hesham Saghir • Luke Froud • Chloe Kimber • Catherine Lymer
Editor's Opinion: Why you should vote Zoe Moorton, Editor of the Bucks Student, explains why she thinks you should vote on Thursday 8 June.
Mark Sweeney • Connie Onions • Morgan Outlaw
page 21
Stevie Thomas • Charlotte Thomas Sian Lipscomb • Greg Pike Want to see your name in the list above? Want to have your writing or artwork on show to thousands of people? Get involved. Email editor@thebucksstudent.com
Advertising
Student Radio Conference Charlotte Crackett, host of Northern Soul on Rusty's Radio, talks about the Radio Team's experience at the Student Radio Conference.
page 26
For all advertising and media enquiries please contact the Students’ Union Communications and Marketing department. Simon McDowell - simon.mcdowell@bucks.ac.uk Articles in this newspaper do not necessarily represent the views of Bucks Students’ Union but are that of the specific author. View this edition online at bucksstudentsunion.org/communications.
Union Awards 2017 Catherine Lymer and Mark Sweeney recap on all the awards and excitement around this years event.
© 2017 Bucks Students’ Union
If required, this document can be made available in different formats. Please contact Bucks Students' Union for more information.
page 31
A.U. Dinner 2017 Sport Development Assistant (AU), Charlotte Thomas gives us a run through of all the nominees and winners of the 2017 Athletic Union Dinner.
4 May Issue
Farewell Sabbatical Officers.
By Jenny Wade, Ohio Orumen & Joe Collins
JENNY WADE - VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION & WELFARE Your time here at Bucks will fly by quicker than you can imagine; so make the most of it and get involved with as much as you can! I’m so lucky to have spent the last two years working as your VPEW and hope that I’ve helped in some way to make your time at Bucks a little bit better. Here are some of my highlights: Peace of Mind
Placements on all courses and course collaboration
I've always had an interest in mental health and am proud to have launched the Peace of Mind campaign, by signing the Time for Change pledge with the Vice Chancellor. This was a commitment from both the University and Students’ Union to encourage students and staff to talk about mental health without fear, rejection or prejudice.
One of my manifesto points was to lobby the University to have placement opportunities on all courses, to improve employability. The Pro-Vice Chancellor Education is now working towards each course having at least one placement module. I also helped direct the cross-disciplinary performance ‘TRADED’ in the Town Hall last year, which saw Performing Arts, Dance, Film & TV and Fashion students collaborate on an immersive production to tackle the issue of human trafficking.
The campaign involved a number of events with Wycombe MIND, including ‘Thai for Change’ and ‘Pizza Mind’ and had focus weeks of themed training sessions and mindfulness workshops. I’m so pleased to have seen a number of students build on this and run their own events; such as the mindfulness for mental health workshops and the mannequin for mental health campaign. Jenny Wadio Over the past couple of months our listener figures have more than doubled, alongside the number of students involved with the Radio. I’ve had loads of fun with the Valentines show, Rep Takeover, Sabb Rap Battle and hopefully this has encouraged students to get involved and try it out! I also attended Student Radio Conference this year, which made me excited to see Rusty’s Radio go from strength to strength in the future. Personal Safety campaign Every student and staff member has the right to feel safe on and off campus. After a number of reports from worried students, I launched the personal safety campaign that will hopefully continue each year. The campaign included self-defence workshops, a quick tips video, posters around campus and the Union purchasing a load of personal alarms – you can pick one up for FREE from either advice centre!
Car parking Despite it not being possible to get free parking for students, I’m proud to have produced our first commuter booklet; which is full of information and different transport options. Lists and prices of car parks, bus routes, park and ride schedules and cycling options are all included. Parking in both Wycombe and Uxbridge can be a nightmare, so hopefully having all the information in one document will prove helpful for a lot of people. Rusty’s Renting student housing campaign My horrendous experience of rented accommodation in my second year led me to wanting to help other students having a nightmare with housing. The campaign included a brand new house hunting checklist being developed, an updated housing guide, multiple newspaper articles and a Rusty’s Renting radio special. This will be an on-going issue but hopefully the campaign made students feel they’re not alone in these issues and encouraged them to fight for their rights as tenants. I have had the best time throughout my five years at Bucks and although I will be sad to leave, I am sure that your new Sabbs will do an amazing job.
5
Farewell Sabbatical Officers.
May Issue
OHIO ORUMEN - VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT INVOLVEMENT Wednesday 11 February 2015. 11:39pm. Students' Union Smoking Area. This was the moment then-President Matt Gilbert approached me to be the next VPSI. I submitted my nomination two minutes before the deadline and the rest is history. But just in case you’ve ever wondered what I really do… Uxbridge Resources
Women’s Rugby Collaboration with London Irish ARFC
BUCS Officer
Evaluated logistics and finances with the UXB library team to try and improve reading material for our UXB students. Thankfully we secured an extra 30m of shelving space for the UXB library.
A chance meeting with a parent at a University Open Day opened the door for me to organise meetings with London Irish Amateur Rugby Club to form a partnership with our Women’s Rugby society. In a short space of time with our ladies have gone from strength to strength by competing in their first Varsity fixture, aided by training at such high quality facilities every week.
Once elected as BUCS Officer, I attended a Student Minds roundtable event where I weighed in on the upcoming Supporting Student Mental Health in Sport Toolkit. There is now a Bucks alumni case study in the ‘Body Image’ section. I am also qualified in Mental Health First Aid and delivering Mental Health in Sport workshops.
AU Committee Training
Platinum Award
AU committees were given an extra edge with the help of Dr. Mark Stone, Scott Bradley and Kevin CampbellKarn. This year’s committees benefited from ‘Warm-Up Workshops’; an ‘Introduction to Sport Psychology’ and an ‘Introduction to Sports Therapy’.
In 2015/16 more than 8 times as many students clocking 100 hours and achieving the Gold Award than in 2014/16. This gave me the impetus to implement a Platinum Award for 250 hours.
#BucksGirlsCan
The HPC is a state-of-the-art facility primarily used by sports courses and the Powerlifting Society. I have taken advantage of my sports academic department links to facilitate our AU teams utilising the HPC.
Accreditation The implementation of the new accreditation system was key to improving the effectiveness of Athletic Union (AU) and Societies Council. Clubs and Socs now have more structure to develop their own targets as well as their elements of inclusivity, liaison, stability and promotion. Drop In, Don’t Drop Out Student Retention Campaign launched after joining the Student Engagement Working Group. I created an email platform (studentwellbeing@bucks.ac.uk) for the Advice Centre and the counselling service to effectively collaborate together. Netball4RAG I wanted to increase the number of RAG opportunities and Netball4RAG was an idea that was born from staff netball game and has proven to be a success, two years on the trot. AU Spin This was another free opportunity through the Big Deal which served to benefit our Athletic Union members specifically. Every Monday, Gym Manager John Ide puts around 20 Bucks athletes through their paces with a gruelling spin session.
#BGC is about liberating Bucks women from the fear of judgement and empower them to be active however they please. Alongside activities we already run, I facilitated a Body Positive Q&A; Groove Aerobics class (both run by alumni students) and Combat Academy self-defence classes. #BoomBucks Working with Jenny, DJ Special D and DJ Short-T to bring an urban night to Bucks was such an enjoyable project, as BME students and those who appreciate urban culture have been crying out for this for so long. We have enjoyed performances from Section Boyz, WSTRN, Kojo Funds, Abra Cadabra, Jaij Hollands, Fekky and Afro B.
Human Performance Centre
Student/Alumni Varsity involvement I worked with the Sports Therapy department to deliver Varsity Massages, this also doubled up as placement hours for Sports Therapy students. I also co-produced the Varsity 2017 video alongside Virtue, a film company run by Bucks alumni Virgyl Sowah and Josh Tue. I am sad that my time at Bucks is coming to an end but I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I would happily rewind back to September 2012 and do it all over again. No pressure Jimi ;-)
JOE COLLINS - PRESIDENT Deciding to run for President was one of the best decisions I ever made, and being elected was definitely one of my greatest achievements to date. However, as the current law stands a sabbatical officer can only be in post for a maximum of two years, so unfortunately for me these next few months will draw my time at Bucks to a close. I have had the best time at Bucks, as President, but also as a student. This article is a brief reflection on my time in post and what difference I have made, hopefully a positive one. 24/7 library
Underpass Mural
Student Ideas
When I was a student, having a library that was open 24/7 was a God send. During my time as President, Jenny, Ohio & I managed to convince the University to continue this valuable service, despite budget cuts, as we understand just how much it is appreciated by students.
I am sure everyone will agree when I say that the underpass used to look like a crack den. It was actually within my initial few months as President I started a project to clean it up. Fast forward 16 months later and a series of hoops jumped through, permission was granted, funding secured, license signed and the mural was a go! Hopefully by the time this paper is printed it will be finished.
Giving students a platform to suggest new ideas
Sexual harassment is #NeverOk
make it happen.
My first ever campaign as President and now hopefully a reoccurring one. The last campaign seen the #NeverOk pledge (banner) be signed over 1100+ times and for a great cause. All space in Bucks should be a safe space!
A massive thank you to everyone who supported/voted
Study Lounge When one of the creative courses closed, a workshop space became available just opposite the dance studio next to Beats. I wanted a space where students could work in a more relaxed atmosphere, have a quick bite or coffee in, socialise with students from different courses and arguably most important, beanbags! The Study Lounge was then born.
of improving the student experience. At Bucks we have thousands of students, each with an individual experience. In order for Bucks to have a chance to ensure each student has a positive student experience, we have to be able to let students take control and make things happen themselves. Submit an idea and if approved by Union Council, work with the Union to
for me and I hope I done you all proud. This experience has been life changing, I cannot recommend it enough! It has been a pleasure and I will miss Bucks greatly.
6 May Issue
The Underpass.
By Joe Collins
THE STORY OF THE MURAL
I am sure everyone will agree that the Underpass desperately needed some TLC for quite a while. I hated walking through the underpass as a student and when I became President, I realised the negative affect if could have on potential students visiting the University for open days etc. I decided to do something about it and the idea of a mural was born! Knowing the talent we have within the University, Ian Plover the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the time and I decided to keep the project in house and create a live brief. The challenge of designing a mural that was a ‘transition from the town to the University’ was pitched to our Graphic Arts students with the help from lecturers Mark Hudson and John Hazlewood. We had 12 original submissions and each student pitched their ideas to a panel made up of representatives from the University, Students’ Union, HWBIDCo and Wycombe District Council. Only six designs made it through to the second round and each student was tasked with improving their design from the feedback provided from the panel. Some weeks later the winning design was selected by an internal panel and 3rd year student Will Dover came out on top.
THE PROBLEM:
the ground when you walk through the underpass you can still see the markings from the original width. Internal plaster had been used on the walls, which over time as the walls got damp they started to crack and crumble away, hence the need for the walls to be boarded up.
Dan said “the public loved seeing the mural progress over Receiving permission from the Council, drafting and signing the week - there were loads of positive comments which made it engaging and fun. Will’s cheery, bold design was the license as well as securing the funding also took some the perfect choice and I hope we’ve done it justice!” time, however, better late than never in my eyes.
The professional artist picked to paint the winning mural design was Dan Wilson at Decreate. Having previously worked with him on a joint Conservation project run by Chiltern Rangers, it was clear that Dan was more than Many will not know but this process actually took place in qualified to tackle the underpass - he painted the Brunel February 2016, now at the end of April in 2017, 14 months Shed mural at Wycombe Train Station! He also did an Art later and the mural is finally painted. There were many Foundation Course here in the early 1990s which made hurdles that presented themselves within these months that him the perfect choice. Check out Dan’s website for other delayed the start of the mural project. One of the biggest samples of his work: decreate.co.uk. hurdles being that the walls in their original state was not The project finally got the green light nearly a year after fit for purpose, i.e. to paint. The mural was previously scheduled for September 2016. You may not know this but conception and then suddenly (in April 2017) it was all systems go: walls were clad, under-coated, and the the two walls within the underpass were actually at one epic job to realize the vision finally began. Dan drew the time internal walls and it wasn’t until the underpass was widened that these walls became exposed. If you look at outlines in pencil, and used masonry paint and a steady Will had created a graphic, vectorised Chiltern landscape, in playful Google-colours, that pays tribute to the town’s heritage with well-known icons from the last 125 years.
hand to colour it all in. With two days painting assistance from good friend Tom Webb (whom he met working with Award-winning agency Soulful Creative), the murals were finally brought to life.
The busy underpass has now been transformed. The finished artworks have been covered with a special ‘antivandalism’ coating so should be protected, and we now have a clean and bright transition between town and the University that we can all be proud of. As my time as President comes to a close, I am over the moon that the project was completed before I have left. I hope the mural hangs around for many years after I leave and brings joy to everyone who passes through. Special thanks to the sponsors of the mural project: Wycombe District Council, HWBIDCo, Bucks New University and Bucks Students’ Union. If you want to see the wall being transformed, check out this video: tinyurl.com/BucksMural
FOR THE SUMMER
It’s not long now until the end of the academic year and with that comes the endless days of summer. Whilst the summer period is a great opportunity to let your hair down and take
If you would like further advice on money issues and you would like to discuss it
a well-earned break, it is also a time to take stock of the last academic year, plan
with an advisor, you can do so by contacting the Students’ Union Advice Centre at
ahead for the next, and to have fun at the same time.
High Wycombe on the ground floor of the North Wing, or by calling
There are a few things that you can start to do to plan ahead for the summer and put yourself in a better financial position for when you head back to university: 1. Check your financial position. What have you got in the bank and what are you still going to be paying out for over the summer? Are you up to date with your household bills? What contracts do you have running over the summer that you will need to continue to pay out? It won’t be long until your final loan payment hits your account and it’s a long time until the next payment. If you haven’t already reapplied for your funding for the next year, do it now! 2. Plan ahead for the summer. Have a plan for what you are going to do this summer and note down how much the summer is going to cost you. This will help you in deciding what you can afford to do and what you can’t, but also give you an idea of how much you’ll need to work over the summer to fully enjoy it. An easy way to do this is to draw up a budget and to forecast the cost of your summer. The Students' Union Advice Centre can help you with this and we also have resources on our website that you can use. Visit bucksstudentsunion.org/money for more information. 3. Set yourself some realistic goals. When you have assessed what you have and what you will need and what you plan to do for the summer, set yourself some realistic targets for your finances. This maybe to come out of the summer period breaking even or being in profit from the summer. Once you have a target you can challenge yourself to reach your goal, do the things that you planned to do, and put yourself in a better position for the end of the summer period. 4. Summer jobs. Start applying for summer work now. It’s likely that most students will need to work over the summer to pay off any debts from the last year, cover the costs without student funding, or to save for the next academic year. Think about the type of roles that you can get the most from both financially and that will add benefit to your future career aspirations. 5. Have fun, relax and take some time out for yourself when you can. Learn something new. Spend time with friends and loved ones. And come back for the next academic year ready to get going.
01494 603 016; Or at the Uxbridge campus on the 1st floor next to Pulse, or by calling 01494 605 181. You can also email suadvice@bucks.ac.uk. The Advice Centre at both campuses is open across the summer from 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am-4.30pm on Fridays.
May Issue
GET MONEY FIT
By Tim Dixon
7
Money advice.
8 May Issue
Editor's opinion.
ARTICLE 50
By Zoe Moorton
that came out of nowhere, most of it completely false and hands that decision should fall into. it all became a huge mess of confusion. I love our generation, we are so open-minded and so up Never ever will I forget what it felt like to sit and watch Our current government is currently being investigated for equality, with all our tattoos and colourful hair but last year we made a huge mistake – most of us had never the results coming in, that Britain had voted out of the for electoral fraud by eight police forces and have European Union (EU). collapsed EU negotiations before they have even started. been interested in politics before and while there may be various reasons why that might not be our fault – at As someone who grew up in Europe, this was especially Whoever is voted in for the General Election, will the end of the day, as students and as adults, we have heart breaking for me. essentially get to rewrite all the laws that we have no excuse to not educate ourselves and avoid making been protected by under the EU. They will establish The worst part? 64% of 18-24 year olds didn’t vote. decisions about our country. new relationships with every country in the world and It was 1928 when women received the same rights determine whether we get to remain a part of the single Unfortunately for us, the mistake we made last year has as men to vote - all the suffering that our great market (trade of goods within the EU) or not – and if not, a very heavy price. grandmother’s endured just to gain that right and less what kind of deal we get. In the wrong hands, this could So let’s not make the same one again. than 90 years later we can’t even be bothered to vote. be absolutely catastrophic. The deadline to register to vote is the Monday 22 May – The entire issue with last year’s referendum was that we It is your right and your responsibility to research and there are absolutely no excuses. It takes thirty seconds were bombarded with information in the last few weeks make an educated and informed opinion about whose to register – all you need is your National Insurance Number. Visit: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Do you remember how it felt waking up on Friday 24 June 2016?
If you miss the deadline, you can apply for a proxy up to six working days before the election (someone you trust, who has registered, votes on your behalf). Visit: www.gov.uk/apply-vote-proxy When Thursday 8 June comes, be prepared to vote! Make the time. You have the legal right to vote. The best part is, we have the opportunity to swing this vote. Don’t let the 9 June feel the same as when we woke up on the 24 June last year. We made our mistake once - the rest of the world will remember if we make it again and they won’t be so forgiving this time.
BUCKS NEW
USAGE Moving out of halls? Unwanted items that you don’t want to take home?
DONATE THEM TO BUCKS NEW USAGE! Bucks New Usage Upcycling Project is working with and serving the community, by offering free homeware items and volunteering opportunities to support people practically when they need it most. For more information, or to organise a pick up, please contact multifaithchaplaincy@bucks.ac.uk Donate your unwanted items today!
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED Whether you’re a third year who’s just handed in your dissertation, a nurse on your placement, or you’re focusing on those end of year exams, summer is drawing closer and we want to make sure you make the most of your Students' Union in the last few weeks of term.
What better way to do this than with a recap of everything we’ve done over the past year, what we have left and what we have planned for September! This year we introduced the new ‘How to...’ guide for both High Wycombe and Uxbridge members giving you the opportunity to see exactly what’s on offer over both campuses throughout the course of the year. The ‘How to...’ guide was designed to help you choose what you’d like to take part in and what will compliment your academic studies. The guide will be back next year and we’ll be busy over the summer working towards an exciting schedule packed full of fun activities and training for you. Courtesy of the Big Deal, all of our events are completely free of charge! So what’s the story so far? We kicked off the year running unique celebratory activities alongside Jenny Wade’s Black History Month campaign. Our jam packed agenda included a melodic must-have experience at Motown the Musical in London, celebrating the diverse array of artists and music that made up the iconic and globally renowned record label. Closer to home students enjoyed a cinemastyle film screening with traditional Caribbean food, followed by a night of live music, spoken word acts and resident DJs playing until late. November and December saw us host a variety of different events including Emergency and Paediatric First Aid, Public Speaking, Sports Taping, London day trips, Bubble Football, the Cat Café and even a night of feel good festivities at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. With the debut of Ohio Orumen’s #BucksGirlsCan campaign in November students took part in Self Defence, a Q&A with Bucks Alumni Beth Brennan and Groove Aerobics. After a quiet time on campus over the Christmas period and a busy start in January with the first of the year’s exams, a variety of events were on offer to help you relieve some of the exam stress and start your year with the best possible experiences, these included Life Drawing, Time Management, Combat Academy, Sing Language, Singing Lessons, Paintballing, London Fashion Weekend, School of Rock and the much anticipated Student Pride Weekend. It’s been an exciting year and we hope you’ve taken the opportunity to get involved in lots of different activities that you may not have found ordinarily. Don’t forget, it’s not over yet! We’ve got lots more to come in the final few weeks and everything is ready and waiting for you on our website. You can partake in your first scuba diving experience, complete a level 2 certificate in food safety, brush up on your journalism skills and spend the day swinging from the trees at Go Ape. If you’d like to take part in a training workshop or activity that we haven’t’ yet offered, please do let us know. We are working hard to prepare a busy year of events for you come September so now is the time to let us know if there’s something you want us to deliver... just pop in to either of our offices or contact us at surecactivities@bucks.ac.uk.
May Issue
By Daisy Howells
9
Get involved.
10 May Issue
Raising money for Mind.
DO YOU MIND? By Frances Mollett
I'm Frances Mollet, 21 and currently in my final (3rd) year of a degree at Buckinghamshire New University studying Music and Live Event Management. I'm hoping to raise ÂŁ700 for the charity and therefore it is crucial that I not only get money donations, but also raffle prize donations. Why MIND? Each of us has a mental health story. Many of us, unfortunately, have more than one. Anyone impacted by a mental health diagnosis or who have lost someone to suicide are aware of the incredible physical, mental, spiritual and financial stress it has on not only the person with the diagnosis, but all their loved ones. As a mental health sufferer myself, I understand how isolated, frustrated and confused people can feel when going through a poor mental health period. That is why, this year, I have chosen to fundraise for MIND. MIND provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign
to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Their local Minds support over 375,000 people across England and Wales, with services include supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, counselling and befriending. What will I be doing? Aside from the fundraising of tombolas and minigames at a few event, In June 2017, I will hiking 40 miles across the Lake District in 24 hours. For someone who has never hiked before, this will be HUGE challenge but I want to do it to raise money for a charity that is close to my heart and can help many others out therefore who are suffering.
More information on the June challenge can be found here: tinyurl.com/FrancesHike My donation link is here: tinyurl.com/FrancesMind
ENHANCE YOUR CV BY HELPING NEW STUDENTS AT BUCKS We are looking for students from all courses and nationalities to support our new students through our Buddying scheme. This is a volunteering opportunity, however you will be awarded ÂŁ100 on completion of the project in January 2018. The role is flexible and can be carried out around your studies and other commitments. You will be set up with a Bucks Buddy email account to provide advice, send information and answer questions. The experience and skills gained from this position will enhance your CV.
Please visit bucksstudentsunion.org/jobs for more information.
DEALING WITH
EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE
ON PLACEMENT
It’s so easy to tell someone “don’t stress”, or “don’t let it get to you”, but it can be a lot harder to listen, and take on your own advice. Nursing is a strenuous course, but if you know how to deal with the emotional side of it, then it's one of the most rewarding jobs you can have! Whilst out in practice you may experience certain situations that you’ve never seen before, but it’s the way that you handle the situation emotionally that I want to help you with. Your colleagues may say ‘you’ve just got to leave it at work’, but it isn’t always that easy. Remember though, if it’s hard to accept the things that you cannot change, then this is when your connections come into great use. First year nursing student explained to me her nerves and the anticipation before starting placement. She explained that it’s more of the unknown and not knowing what to expect that is the most challenging part. It is difficult to know what to expect if you have never been on a ward before, or have no healthcare experience. However, it is completely normal to feel nervous, it just shows that you’re passionate about the job. One of our nursing lecturers, Sarah Hughes, explored with me the importance of developing your support network, and having the courage to talk to people if you need to. Sarah has also given some top tips in dealing with difficulties that may arise on placement; know your limits, learn from role models, make sure you have enough rest, and find a safe space to talk to someone, whether it be a friend or even your Year Lead. From my own experience of placement, seeking support from academics in University has been highly beneficial. I have been able to explore my feelings with them, and explain certain scenarios that I’ve experienced, thus helping me come to terms with some of the more difficult situations I’ve witnessed. My friends have also been incredibly supportive, allowing me to offload on to them, and for me, that has really helped. It is important for “student nurses to understand the emotional nature of nursing, having emotional skills in order to deliver competent nursing care and develop emotional intelligence in order to deal with chaotic working environments” (Smith, 2008). Therefore, understanding emotional resilience, and developing the skills for life to deal with certain situations is really important.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS, LEARN FROM ROLE MODELS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH REST, AND FIND A SAFE SPACE TO TALK TO SOMEONE...
Top Tips to remember: • Reach out!! It’s OK to ask for help, you’re acknowledging that you need support, and this is a huge strength. • Confiding in your mentor or any other work colleague, as they are someone who sees you on a regular basis, and they’ll be happy to support you. • Talk to your link lecturer or your personal tutor. • Talk to your friends. Your friendships are some of the strongest and most supportive bonds you’ll have, and they’ll be able to listen to you, and sometimes just having someone listen is a huge help. • Access the Students’ Union Advice Centre or contact the Counselling department. They’re both free and confidential services that can offer someone to talk to. • Have a good ol’ cup of tea. A good brew and a chat will help!
May Issue
By Katherine Bower
11
Emotional resislience.
12 May Issue
Renting Toolkit.
By Jenny Wade
MYTH VS FACTS MYTH: There is a shortage of properties to rent in High Wycombe.
FACT: Students who look in the summer next year will still find a property to rent.
MYTH: All the bigger room properties get snapped up first.
FACT: You can always consider renting smaller properties side by side or on the same street.
MYTH: Students live in scruffy accommodation.
FACT: Students who rent properties advertised on Studentpad know that they meet legal health and safety standards!
TOP 5 TIPS BEFORE YOU SIGN 1 Choose your housemates wisely
Think carefully as you will be stuck with each other for a year!
2 Make sure you can afford your rent and bills Monthly rent per person + utility bills + food + living costs = monthly amount you are committing yourself to.
3 Look at the property with everyone together
Try to view as many as possible, with all your prospective housemates, as everyone has different tastes. You wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes without trying them on first!
ARE YOU REGISTERED ON STUDENTPAD? Studentpad is a website run by the Accommodation Service that advertises good quality housing for Bucks students. Post on the message board to find housemates, leave reviews of your landlord or letting agent and get property alerts every time a new property becomes available!
4 Do not rush in to signing
Landlords/estate agents are fabulous sales people. Don’t let them panic you in to signing without looking around the property properly. Ask the current tenants if repairs are being done.
5 Read the contract properly
Never sign anything you don’t understand as contracts are very difficult to get out of. The Accommodation Service offers free contract checking or you can contact the Students’ Union Advice Centre.
Site: www.bucksnewstudentpad.co.uk Password: Myroom022015
CONTACTS Bucks Students’ Union Advice Centre
The Accommodation Service
High Wycombe Campus: ground floor, North Wing, HP11 2JZ Uxbridge Campus: first floor, UB8 1NA
N1.02, High Wycombe Campus, HP11 2JZ
01494 603 016 suadvice@bucks.ac.uk bucksstudentsunion.org/advice
01494 603 063 accommodation@bucks.ac.uk bucksaccommodation
JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM AND HELP US FULFIL OUR MISSION OF
"MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR STUDENTS AT BUCKS"
We value employees with ideas and personality, and believe that lively, active and vibrant people shape our organisation. We offer competitive rates of pay in a diverse and welcoming environment, with great opportunities for personal development. We currently have the following opportunities: Event Security Team Member
Freshers Helpers and Head Freshers Helpers
Working within our Venue is no ordinary parttime job! It’s enjoyable, rewarding and an opportunity to join our amazing team in an extremely sociable environment. Bucks Students' Union are looking to sponsor students through their SIA Door Security training for employment in our Events Security team in The Venue. Sponsored places will be offered to suitable candidates on a first come, first served basis (terms and conditions apply).
The key purpose of this role is to help students integrate into Bucks New Uni and the local community and provide a friendly welcome to new students during the first two weeks of term. As part of a team, organise trips and activities for students, provide information about Bucks Students’ Union and local services and socialise with Freshers as well as acting as ambassadors for Bucks New Uni and Bucks Students’ Union.
Buddies and International Buddies
Other positions
This is a unique project funded by the University who are aiming to make the transition into Higher Education as easy as possible by preparing, supporting, reassuring and welcoming new students to Bucks from the moment that they apply, helping them integrate during the first few weeks and then on until the beginning of the January term.
We are also recruiting for the following roles for the remainder of this year and for the next academic year:
Full details of all opportunities can be found on bucksstudentsunion.org/jobs, or for more information please contact sujobs@bucks.ac.uk.
• Event Staff • Bar Staff • Event Technicians
14 May Issue
Student opinion.
By Rochelle Jerrum-Dore
TO DEGREE OR NOT TO DEGREE? THAT IS THE QUESTION... I am a first-year student studying Creative Writing for Publication. I must admit that when I decided to go to university, I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. I know that doing a degree gives more diversity and a better chance at making contacts within the industry -as these could be vital in the future- however, I was still apprehensive because of the cost of studying. £9,000 per year is a lot of money and it’s a three year commitment. I could, in theory, have just gone for some small part-time writing course, while working full time and somehow managed to get my writing career started, but if I had done that I wouldn’t have met such wonderful professionals. I will admit that being told that our degree is coursework based and that there are no exams kind of helped me make the decision to join Bucks New University. I know there might be other courses that could potentially be better and/or with exams, but that doesn’t mean it was right for me. I love the fact that my degree is coursework based because it allows me time to do my own writing as well as doing the work necessary to pass the year. I know that some of my assignments probably were not to the highest standard I would have liked and in the end, I didn’t get the grade I was hoping for, but the way I see it is, those pieces that are a lower grade show aspects of writing that I am either uncomfortable with or am not suited for. However, no one perfect so that's okay, because there are some things I am great at, such as writing lyrics and poetry, and I am just starting out as an amateur writer. I will learn new techniques along the way.
According to our head of Creative Writing, Allen – who has improved the quality of the course at Bucks - we have already seen, spoken and interacted with more professionals within the writing world than any student had on the previous unrevised course. I recently was given advice by a publisher about my poetry. I must admit, I agree that poetry is slightly out of fashion in some sense, but I want to be the person who turns that around and makes it something enjoyable again. The publisher gave me confidence in my ability and is potentially providing me with key contacts within the poetry industry. So, when I look back, I wonder why I hesitated about going to university in the first place. Obviously, the fees were something I worried about, though it should never be seen as a debt, but more of an investment into your future -provided by the government. Just remember that you only pay it back if you earn over a certain amount. I will admit that my first two weeks at university were not the best. I didn’t get on with the people I was living with and that was affecting my mental health. However, that soon changed when we started classes. I spoke to my lecturer about my living situation, which ultimately lead me to moving dorms. I made friends within the following weeks/months and am now happy with my choice. I have met some amazing writers, both professional and amateur like myself. I am developing my skills in many ways and learning other platforms that could lead to a potential career. I know that I could have easily learned these platforms - such as writing a play, script,
screenplay and documentary proposal, through shortterm courses, but I do not feel I would have developed as much as I have. Without university, I would not have made any of the contacts that could potentially be vital to my future. Do I regret going to university? Not really. Sometimes I do question whether I am good enough to be on my course and whether my ability is up to the standard that I want, but I brush those feelings aside. I do not let this sway my decision about coming to university because I know I am meant to be here. One of our lecturers - Kol has given us great advice as encouragement, he told us, “You are all like a small chunk of gold. You need to polish it and work at it. And when you do, that piece of gold will become something amazing.” That is exactly what I am doing, whether it’s poetry, becoming a journalist or writing a best-seller. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to and I believe that if you have the will, strength and courage, you too can achieve anything you desire. University may not be for everyone. You may decide to go another route, perhaps being an intern at a magazine and building your way up, or an intern at a publishing house. There are many ways to go about getting into the writing industry. You just do what suits you and for me; University was the right choice. In the end, it is your decision; Go to University. Don’t go to University. Whatever makes you comfortable is what’s right for you and I know that with hard work we can all achieve our ultimate goals.
15
Film Review.
May Issue
16
23 - 26 May
28 May - 01 Jun
May Issue
Tuesday 23
6pm 'til late | Free entry for stUdents and gUests
Wednesday 24
Thursday 25
Tuesday 30
TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER
8PM-11PM | THE TUESDAY 30VENUE MAY FREE FOR BUCKS STUDENTS
Friday 26
| THE VENUE 8PM - LATE VIBESBNU VIBESBNU@OUTLOOK.COM
Thursday 1
17
02 Jun - 01 Jul Sunday 28
Friday 2
May Issue
Saturday 3 Wednesday 31
Fri 30 & Sat 1
Drinks Promotions Snakebite: £1.90 to midnight Frat Punch: £2 Pint of soft drink: £1 VK: £2 Snakebite: £1.90 to midnight Smirnoff Ice: £2 Sailors Jerrys and Mixer: £2 J20: £1 Pitchers of selected draught: £7.50 Bottle of wine: £7.50 Rekorderling: £3 Pint of juice: £1 Red Stag and mixer: £2 Staropramen: £2 Can of Red Bull: £2 Magners: £2 Disaronno and mixer: £2 Becks Vier: £2 Hooch: £3 Rubicon: £1
May Issue
18
19
Rusty recommends.
May Issue
The venue is open seven days a week and sometimes it is difficult to decide which nights to go to - you may end up missing out on something amazing! Here are my recommendations for the next few weeks for those of you who like to experience something a bit different!
THURSDAY 25 MAY - THE VENUE The Teenage Dirtbags themselves are joining us, playing
studio to record sixth full length album, which includes
Now in their 22nd year, Wheatus are back at Bucks
a career spanning set that’ll be sure to have you singing
latest single, Tipsy.
and are sure to wow the crowd again – bringing cameo
and dancing along for the duration, as we round off another huge year for live music at Bucks.
Recently playing in Inverness as part of this tour, it was mentioned that “Wheatus are not a band that should be
appearances with them last time to spice up their hitladen set. This event is open to the public and will sell out, so get your advanced tickets from seetickets.com
Formed in mid-90s New York City, the seven-piece have
taken seriously. Like ever. You’re not meant to and they
gone through a few transformations, with members
wouldn’t want you to.” And I think this is an ethos we can
coming and going, but this is to be expected for a
fully appreciate at Bucks! Last time they were here, it was
This really is one for every year group – a great way
worldwide touring band that has a career spanning over
equally as funny as it was musically entertaining, and the
to round off your first or second year at Bucks, and for
20 years! Frontman Brendan Brown is now the only
relaxed, easy-going nature of the band rubbed off on the
those that are about to leave us, an even greater way to
surviving member of the original quartet, but he admits
crowd, who loved it!
celebrate the end of Bucks Uni life!
that this was pretty much the plan all along. Brown played and produced all of his own original stuff in the early days; it was only when it came to playing live that he recruited the help of his drumming brother Peter, Guitarist Philip Jimenez and bassist Rich Liegey. It was of course the turn of the millennium hit ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ that sky rocketed Wheatus from the underground and to the eyes and ears of millions around the globe – a track close to our current President Joe Collins, who lip synced the track in hilarious style at the inaugural Lip Sync Battle last year. The self-titled debut album followed and it was a hit, including tracks such as ‘Leroy’, and ‘Punk Ass Bitch’. From there, two more studio albums, Hand Over Your Loved One and Too Soon Monsoon, and various world tours followed, before leaving the fans waiting seven long years before releasing Pop, Songs & Death (2012) and The Valentine LP (2013). However, since their seven year break, Wheatus have found some creative flair and, since touring the latter, coming to Bucks for the first time, they’ve been on tour with the newly reformed Busted, on the ‘Pigs Can Fly’ tour, and have gone back into the
(just search for ‘Bucks’).
20 May Issue
Student Radio Conference.
By Charlotte Crackett
STUDENT RADIO CONFERENCE
I’ve always listened to and loved radio, everything about it, from the discovery of new music, to the story telling, hilarious presenters, the wake up calls and silly games, all of it. So when the opportunity came to start my own show on Rusty’s Radio, I jumped at the chance. I love music and have a lot to say, so it was a match made in heaven. I am now host of ‘Northern Soul’ every Monday 5-7pm. I enjoy having my own show so much that I plan to grow my radio career, from student to professional. Meaning attending the annual Student Radio Association conference in Leicester, was a perfect chance for me to learn a ton of things, meet professionals and other budding radio presenters and producers and gain as much information and contacts I could in three days. The Student radio association host this conference every year at a different location and it’s basically three days dedicated to giving as many sessions as possible aimed to develop student radio, station programmes, show teams and individuals. It sees a ton of budding radio presenters and producers from
student radio across the UK and Rusty's Radio went along for the first time. You have lecture style set ups with radio professionals across all areas, and you just choose what you want go to throughout the day as well as story time sessions with famous radio names such as Greg James, Mista Jam, Steve Lamacq, Stephanie Hurst and James O’Brien. As well as the sessions they hosted ‘The Demo factor’, a chance to enter your demo into a competition to be judged by radio professionals including Greg James and Paul Sylvester. Demos are like show reels of radio, a 3 minute clip to showcase your voice and what you can do as a presenter. After me and my producer Sam spontaneously decided to enter mine and completed it literally the night before, I entered! Unfortunately the system was like a lucky dip with a tombola, and my number wasn’t picked, meaning my demo wasn’t played. However it will still get listened too and I will receive feedback from all six judges, which is amazing. Listening to everyone else’s also gave me ideas on how to improve mine and I knew what was liked, so
it’s only going to better myself and my demo! I got to attend a session in which I got a one to one with a radio professional in ‘Global Sound Check’ and received great feedback such as ‘great voice and radio presence and sound really confident on air, could hear you on a breakfast show’ and he gave me his contact details and told me to get in touch. This has only boosted my lust for a career even more. I feel so inspired after the sessions and talks and already have a million ideas and things I want to do with my show for the future and I’m sure the rest of Rusty’s radio squad feel the same. There was also the I love student radio awards, a big fancy dinner and night to celebrate the best of student radio. Unfortunately us only being set up a year and still small with a long way to go we didn’t enter, but next year, watch this space! *cough cough best newcomer?* If you love music, or in fact anything and want to host a show around it, DO IT. It’s so fun, and it’s not every day you get the chance to host your own show, you never know what doors it could open! Get involved with Rusty's Radio now!
FANCY TWO CHANCES OF WINNING
A £100
VOUCHER?
To enter, just visit bucksstudentsunion.org/surveys and complete two quick surveys about our website, and our newspaper. One winner will be randomly picked for each survey. The winners will be notified by email.
SWORD FIGHT The swords clashed against each other as the heroes fought valiantly to defend their lives, they struck once, twice, a third time, circling each other. They slashed and blocked as they danced around, always moving, always predicting the next move from their opponents. Their dance continued well into the night, people from near and far watched the titans duel, neither one backing down, neither giving in. People gasped and awed at the skills of the fighters in their neverending dance. Suddenly, one of the knights
By Jessica Miles
Roses Are Red Roses are red, just like the blood of yours on the floor. Violets are blue, just like the sky at night. I love you more than anything, but do you love me? Our love is true, until you decide you want something better than me. It's just you and me against the world, until you run away. I thought we were great, I guess I was wrong. The thought of us breaking apart, scares me more than wasps. But please know I'm sorry. I love you, I really do. By Chloe Bampton
hooked their foot around the other’s ankle and tugged it causing the knight to fall. The fallen knight tried to get back onto his feet to continue the dance but his sword was kicked away while his shield was pinned down. He no longer stood a chance. His opponent stood above him, sword held high, and in one swift move, the killing blow was delivered. The curtains fell and the watching adults stood and cheered for the final act. The young children who had played the knights had delivered a truly amazing fight. The parents gushed over how realistic the costumes and the moves looked, how the sword looked like they were made from actually steel. Behind the curtains the teacher came and helped the fallen knight back onto his feet. The victorious knight took off their helmet and shook their head until their pigtails fell back into place. She gave a toothy grin towards the boy who had now also taken off his helmet, he grinned back and the pair of them shook hands. Their dance had ended for now but tomorrow was a new night and so a new dance would begin, the pair looked forward to it.
May Issue
By Jessica Miles and Chloe Bampton
21
Creative Writing.
22 May Issue
Game review.
By Hesham Saghir
Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U was already a fantastic kart racer, fit to burst with imaginative courses, ranging from all new thrill rides to familiar locales. Sporting one of the most diverse rosters in a Mario Kart game, this title was the complete package. Fast forward to the Nintendo Switch we now have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. As the title suggests this is the definitive Mario Kart 8 experience. Not only do you have the wealth of content from the original game. Included with the Deluxe version is all the DLC (Downloadable Content) tracks and racers. In addition to the original game’s DLC characters included are brand new racers. These include fan favourites such as Dry Bones, King Boo and Bowser Jr, and newcomers the Splatoon Inkling Girl and Boy. Further improvements to Mario Kart 8 include the game
running at a much higher resolution. The game really benefits from this, and the bright and colourful graphics pop out, looking as vibrant as ever. Whether you are playing this game on a television or in handheld mode on the Switch itself, you will be able to appreciate Nintendo’s great use of art. Another visual upgrade was fixing the frame rate. This change improves the game’s handling, making races feel much smoother giving the player a greater sense of control. With all these visual tweaks, plus the already amazing jazzy soundtrack, this is the nicest looking and sounding Mario Kart to date. Gameplay wise, Mario Kart 8 has seen some rather significant changes. First of all you can now carry two items at a time. This is the second time in the history of the franchise that you have been able to do this (the last time this was possible was Mario Kart Double Dash for Nintendo Gamecube). This change makes alternate routes that may have not been optimal before more attractive, as they may have double item boxes. The change in the amount of items you can carry also means if you are in first place you have a lot more to worry about. In most Mario Kart games it always felt once you got the lead, there was not much you or the other racers could do to affect you. The final gameplay change they made was a third level of boost when drifting. The “Ultra Mini Turbo” adds another layer of depth and I am sure those who love to shave off milliseconds from their best times, in the time trial mode will greatly appreciate this addition. Also new, is the completely revamped battle mode. Classic modes like balloon battle, Shine Thief and Bob-omb Blast make a return. New to the series is a mode called Renegade Roundup. Essentially a cops and robbers type mode where one team must capture the other team, before the time runs out. Unlike the original version of the game, there are eight battle courses specifically designed for these battle modes. The stand out maps are; The Lunar Colony (for it’s use of low gravity). Battle Course 1 from the original Mario Kart on the SNES, and Urchin Underpass from Splatoon. Overall, this game has an AMAZING value proposition, if you did not own the Wii U version. From the get-go, without having to unlock anything you have 42 playable characters (which is the biggest roster in the history of the franchise), all 48 tracks which are a mixture of brand new tracks and remade, retro tracks from the franchise’s past, as well as eight battle courses and a plethora of different modes. However if you already own the original, I think it’s up to you if the additions and improvements are worth paying full price. You also have the benefit of playing the game on the go.
What do you get when you cross the action RPG genre of video games, the magic of Disney and one of the biggest over-arching plots in video game history? The answer is Kingdom Hearts, and action RPG game series, created by Square Enix (the same company that brought us the Final Fantasy series). The game is based in a universe that interconnects with several Disney worlds, such as the Lion king, Snow white and even the more modern, live-action movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean.
After the original game, other enemies come into the games mythos, such as the Nobodies, the Unversed, Organisation 13, Maleficent and Pete, and the Nightmares, all of whom want to consume the worlds in darkness. But Sora meets other friends, all of whom are connected to Sora and his friends, all of whom seek to defeat the darkness and bring balance back to the universe.
Trying to explain the vast overlaying plot of the entire game series (now including a grand total of seven games, plus a mobile game on iOS and Android) in such a small section as this, would be completely impossible, due to how deep the story is, and how everything and everyone is interconnected.
The games are primarily 3D free combat RPG games, with the player traversing through different worlds defeating villains such as the Heartless, and even Disney villains such as Jafar, and Judge Frollo. The games always have bright and vibrant world designs, that easily reflect the Disney worlds they represent, but even the darker and more terrifying levels are still easy to recognise.
The basic plot summary of the series revolves around Sora, a young man who is the wielder of the Keyblade, a magic key shaped sword with the power to defeat the embodiment of darkness, known as the Heartless. After his world is destroyed and he is separated from his two friends, Kairi and Riku, Sora sets out on a journey to both find his friends and save the entire universe whilst he is at it. With his constant companions; Donald and Goofy. Sora travels from different worlds - some Disney, whilst others are originally made for the game, helping out people and defeating Heartless.
Due to the vast universe these games are based on, Final Fantasy characters appear as cameos who either contribute to the plot, or even help out Sora on his quest. Such characters include the like of Cloud, Aerith, Yuffie and Squall. Overall, the games are a classic battle of light versus darkness, and are something that can be enjoyed by the whole family. If you are interested in playing Kingdom Hearts, the PlayStation 4 has HD re-masters of all the main games in the series now available, so if you are a die-hard Disney fan, go nuts and enjoy yourself.
May Issue
By Luke Froud
23
Game review.
24 May Issue
Game review.
By Hesham Saghir
The biggest appeal of the website Kickstarter, is its potential to resurrect inactive genres. One of those is the collect-a-thon platformer. At one point these games were system sellers. Games such as Mario 64, Spyro the Dragon and so many more. However, after the sixth generation of consoles (PS2, Gamecube & Xbox) said genre took a backseat to the console shooter. At the height of the genre’s popularity one the most consistent devlopers was RareWare. With classics such as Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie (with the latter being the inspiration for the Kickstarter campaign) the company catapulted itself into success, creating games full of whimsical charm, enticing gameplay and LOTS of googly eyes! In 2015 former Rare employees formed a studio called Playtonic Games. Before coming together to launch a Kickstarter project. Said project was used to fund YookaLaylee to the tune of £2,090,104. Needless to say the campaign was incredibly successful. For the interest of disclosure I did donate to the game so take that into consideration. As the name suggests, the game is a spiritual successor to BanjoKazooie. Does this game manage to live up to it’s predecessors or is it a cheap imitation? The story is rather simple; Laylee (The bat) has her book stolen by the greedy
Capital B. A villain who may or may not represent their former Publisher Microsoft. True to form the story is simple. A main character has a precious item stolen and must retrieve it with the help of her friend. Clearly a lot of work went into the dialogue, as well as the ridiculous names coated in puns. A lot of the humour revolves around references to previous games in the developers catalogue. As well as spoofing modern video game tropes. Obviously, humour is one of the most subjective concepts, but I did find myself smirking and having a sensible chuckle at a lot of the dialogue. Even the signature Banjo-Kazooie grunts that are used in place for spoken dialogue, were humorous at times. Presentation wise this game is a feast for the senses. The worlds are colourful and are appealing to the eye. I particularly like the third level, Moodymaze Marsh. A dark dank swamp with a touch of Hallowe'en mixed in for good measure. My only issues with the levels from a visual aspect is; I wish there were more levels. The game only has 5 worlds to explore which is a little underwhelming. The levels also don’t seem to have much in the way of continuity. You go from a tribalistic jungle, to an icy lake/ cavern, followed by a marsh, then a casino before finally ending in space. The progression and theming of these levels are all over the place. They are clearly distinct from one another but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there may be some levels absent either due to time and or budget. The gameplay as expected is a carbon copy of Banjo-Kazooie. You enter worlds through portals this time in the form of tomes, exploring and collecting an assortment of items. Such as Pagies which is this game’s version of Jiggies from Banjo or Stars from
Mario 64. Another key item are quills which can be used to learn new moves by trading them with a snake called Trowzer. Pagies are used to proceed to new worlds as well as a feature that is unique to this game. Said feature is the ability to expand the worlds by adding Pagies to the tomes. This means more opportunities to collect as well as opening up mini games. Which can range from fun nostalgic romps like the minecart sections paying homage to Donkey Kong Country. To infuriating “retro inspired” arcade games with poor controls. While it is fun to traverse these levels finding collectables and secrets, there are a few moments of frustration that can sour the experience. I also felt the worlds were a little too big, especially when expanding them. I never really got lost because the game did a good job helping me find my way around with unique landmarks. But there is a lot of empty space which is even more apparent when you finish collecting in said area. Long boss fights with bizarre control schemes are found throughout the game to, and the final boss is laughably easy. Would I recommend this game? I would suggest if you’re not really a fan of collectathon platformer games, to possibly skip this or maybe wait for a sale on Steam. I did enjoy most of my experience with the game. I felt a childlike wonder when exploring these colourful worlds, meeting zany characters all while being serenaded by a spectacular soundtrack, which was composed by Grant Kirkhope (composer for Banjo-Kazooie) and David Wise (composer for Donkey Kong Country). I feel the game managed to just about recreate the joys of a collect-a-thon platformer, but its flaws make it hard to recommend if you were not already a fan.
Beauty and the Beast follows the story of Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, young girl with her nose always in a book. After her father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), is taken by the beast (Dan Stevens), Belle bravely takes her father’s place in the castle to protect him. Despite her fears she befriends the enchanted ornaments in the house and soon learns the beast is not all he appears. After Disney’s success with the remakes of Cinderella and The Jungle Book, there was a lot of anticipation towards the release of Beauty and the Beast. Especially, as it saw Emma Watson, an actress no-one quite expected to take on Belle, in her first singing role. She didn’t do too bad a job either, although sometimes she did seem slightly awkward in her movements and expressions. Alongside her sees an impressive cast, Emma Thompson (Mrs Potts), Ian McKellen (Cogsworth), Luke Evans (Gaston) and Ewan McGregor (Lumière), all of whom brought their characters to life brilliantly. The film in itself is beautiful, from the locations, to how it’s shot, to the costumes and that’s all before
the CGI comes into play, which is spectacular to say the least. Although I must admit that I found the beast slightly disturbing at times, purely because the animators have tried to make him handsome but it just ended up being creepy. It didn’t quite have the same effect as the animation did, where you can suspend magical belief.
did sing a song about his admiration for Gaston, it came across as comedic and more like he wanted to be him, than with him. Of course, let’s not forget that he shared a dance with a man at the end, which lasts all of one frame and then moves on to Belle making a slightly gross joke to the beast about beards; I expected more from you Disney.
While props must be given to Disney for the diversity of the cast, there was a lot of disappointment with their supposed portrayal of a gay character. There had been so much hype about the fact that LeFou (Josh Gad) was openly gay, which was a big step for Disney in terms of representation. However, the context was so subtle that I don’t think anyone even realised. While he
Beauty and the Beast did have its flaws but there is no denying that it is a great movie. It’s timeless in a way and the sort of thing you can watch over and over again. Although perhaps it is more aimed for those who like Disney and musicals, if you have little brothers and sisters I would definitely recommend taking them, because they will be completely entranced by its magic and beauty.
May Issue
By Chloe Kimber
25
Film review.
26 May Issue
Union Awards.
By Catherine Lymer & Mark Sweeney
The Eighth Annual Union Awards were held on Thursday 11 May where we celebrated the individual and collective efforts of our members and University staff. With 250 invited guests, the evening is undoubtedly one of the best nights of the academic year. This year was extra special as we recognised some big milestones; The University’s 125th anniversary and The Big Deal’s 10th birthday. Hosted by CEO Tristan Tipping and our sabbatical officers Joe Collins, Jenny Wade and Ohio Orumen, the evening kicked off with recognising the six societies who achieved ‘Outstanding’ status in their accreditation. These were Yoga, Feminist, Snowsoc, Acapella, Ballet and Circus. Following this we recognised our 11 volunteers who gained the Platinum Volunteering Award for each completing over 250 hours of volunteering during their time at the university. An incredible achievement and a big congratulations to Lewis Newton, Rhona Noel, James Brookes, Ryan Morrell, Klaudia Dudek, Emilee Platts,, Emily Nurden, Jill Salt, Alix Todd, Alix Wilson,
Emma Wednesday and Lauren O’Shea. Collectively, these students have undertaken 4,436 hours of volunteering, half the total amount of hours contributed by students’ within the Students’ Union.
The Excellence and Innovation in Student Learning Support award was awarded to Rosie Cate for dedicating considerable amounts of time to getting to know her students on an individual basis. Rosie pushes them when needed but is always supportive, offering Emilee Platts was also recognised as the first ever student rep to achieve Gold on our new Rep Recognition them as many opportunities to advance themselves as possible. Scheme thanks to her exceptional contribution throughout the course of this year. Karen Harrison – White was the worthy winner of the Two cheques were also presented to our two chosen RAG Charities - Pepper Foundation and Medical Detection Dogs, each receiving £2,300. Next to be presented were the Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards where this year we received over 70 nominations, the highest number we’ve seen since they were introduced six years ago. Three awards were up for grabs; Excellence and Innovation in Student Learning Support, Demonstrating Excellence in Academic Leadership and Excellence and Innovation in Learning and Teaching Practice.
Demonstrating Excellence in Academic Leadership award. Despite having a difficult year with staff sickness, she still managed to oversee one of the most positive results in the NSS, improving significantly on the previous year. The Excellent and Innovation in Learning and Teaching Practice award was presented to Alex Balfour for being incredibly effective in captivating her audience imparting her knowledge from both her theoretical and practical expertise in a manner that students find to be enormously beneficial and enjoyable.
This year’s Union Awards were awarded to the following people:
CAMPAIGNER OF THE YEAR Asia Teagle
STUDENT REP OF THE YEAR Katherine Bower
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE EMPLOYEE PARTNER OF THE YEAR Ruth Gunstone
RAG CHARITY FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR Georgia Globe
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Lewis Newton
MEDIA CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD Jen Stones
BIG DEAL AWARD Robert Collcott Beata Napora
UNION FELLOWSHIP AWARD
Zoe Moorton
Ben Parmar
ACADEMIC STAFF PARTNER OF THE YEAR
SOCIETY OF THE YEAR
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Mark Stone
Yoga Society
Wendy Lumley
SPORT FOR FUN AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
COMMERCIAL SERVICES STUDENT STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Jenny Wade
Joshua Peckham
Sam Mapp
SOCIETY COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE YEAR
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES STUDENT STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Eimear Mcquillan
Daisy Howells
Ruth Gunstone Joe Collins
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Tristan Tipping Matthew Kitching
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners... We look forward to 2018!
FIGHT FOR FITNESS
BOX FOR BUCKS! WE’VE MOVED!
‘BOX-IN’ TO NEXT YEAR…
At the end of February we sadly said goodbye to our first training gym. For many of our members the gym at Leigh Street was where our boxing lives began and for all of us where we hold unforgettable memories. That is not to say the story is over… we now hold our sessions at Unit 3 Fryers Works on Abercrombie Avenue where we are moving onwards and upwards with our brand-spanking-new facilities!
My name is Connie Onions and I have recently been elected as the new Chairwoman for BNU Boxing for the next academic year. I am so proud of our society and each member’s achievements. From my own experience I can say how much being a part of this society has changed my life. For fitness alone, boxing has allowed me to improve enough to pass fitness tests for my wanted career and has taught me skills I wish to pursue competitively.
For those of you who appreciate gym equipment and know the fancy fitness lingo we now have access to aqua balls, speedballs, maize balls, floor-to-ceiling balls, two rings, a huge matted area for workouts, training and floor exercises and plenty of strength equipment including a bench.
WHAT WE REALLY DO… Now if you’ve been to any sports or society socials before you will know what to expect, but perhaps not so much with training. That is not to say we aren’t regularly down the Students' Union swigging Frat punch but we have also held various events and have exciting ideas for the next year. So aside from the relaxed side of our society, we have training sessions. I know many will agree with me that our Thursday training days don’t come around soon enough! With a substantial warm up, rounds of intense cardio and strengthening activities we begin rounds on the bags - in the ring or on the pads, in pairs with each other or with the coaches, or even guest fighters. My first spar in the ring was with a national champ… that’s not something you can say every day! Whilst learning new moves and practicing techniques we always have a great time and get pushed to our limits. To top off the sessions we usually do some core exercises before some intense stretching in our cool-down routine. If one session a week simply isn’t enough then members are welcome to join the public training sessions, which are held on various days. It’s not too late to join us and learn some new skills and get fit.
BNU Boxing is an immensely successful society but as Chairwoman I aim to push us even further. I want to continue to support our diverse group of boxers and provide opportunities for members to compete as this is still something I know some of us are ambitious about. I think it’s time we compete as a society! Next year is the year for BNU Boxing!
May Issue
By Connie Onions
27
Society news.
28 May Issue
Society news.
BUCKS BLADES Your resident sword fighting society. By Morgan Outlaw
Yes. Sword fighting. Game of Thrones. Princess Bride. Vikings. That kind of style. That kind of sword fighting. Knights. Armour. Steel. All re-enacted in a simple dance studio in South Wing, every Wednesday evening between seven and nine.
with opportunities to teach the children in the Medieval Knight School, and if children aren’t your forté, then there will be plenty other opportunity to help out. With charity fundraising events and more, Bucks Blades isn’t just swords, it is much more.
And what is a better stress relief of swinging a sword at someone and picturing their violent demise? Probably a lot of things, but that’s not the point. The point is, swords. And what’s more, it’s not just swinging a sword. We swing multiple different styles and variation of swords.
So, if you don’t mind hating the one light that is differently orientated to its fellows, and cursing ballets bars for all eternity (it does tend to get in the way),
EVER WANTED TO SWING A SWORD? ROOM S2.06 FROM 7-9PM ON WEDNESDAYS IS THE PLACE TO BE. Want to explore the world of living history and reenactment? Blades has got your back. Cosplayers, want to give your act a little something else, or expand your LARPing repertoire? Blades has got that little something. Actors, want some realistic stage fighting practice? Blades challenges you to a duel. Fellow writers in need of something to help that fight scene that doesn’t read the way you want it to? Blades is a literal writing trove. Or have you just ever wanted to swing a sword? Then Bucks Blades is the place to be — well, room S2.06, 7-9pm on Wednesdays is the place to be. With connections to outside re-enactment societies, you can dive right into the world of living history with Blades if you want. Or if just want to see what it is like to swing a sword then you can do that too. Blades is a friendly, social environment where you can pick up a new skill, a new hobby and new friends; all rounded off with a postsession trips to the pub. Through Blades there are opportunities to go to TORM, a medieval history market, for anyone who wants to dive head first into living history or just explore it. Volunteering opportunities, like helping out at the Chiltern Open Air Museum and their spooky Halloween events, which basically consists of standing in the woods for a few hours scaring the venders. As well as a trip to the Enchanted Museum on Saturday 20 May),
then Bucks Blades is your new Wednesday night engagement. And what’s more it doesn’t clash with Frat House, so you can still fulfil that full student night experience. If you’re into that kind of thing… Anyway, Bucks Blades, Wednesdays, 7-9pm, S2.06. Be there or be square, unless you want to be a square, or any other shape, it’s up to you. Just remember, we have swords. And not the foam kind…
A FAREWELL LETTER TO BNU CIRCUS SOCIETY FROM THE GRADUATING CHAIR, STEVIE THOMAS All good things come to an end, and apparently, mediocre things. Of course, I jest, my time at Bucks New Uni has been the best, from the work I’ve done through my course, to the activities I’ve enjoyed with the Students' Union, I am going to miss this little university dearly. In my last few weeks, I thought it would be nice to write a farewell letter to those in Circus Society that I will miss, I would write a letter to everyone but that would take a while and I’m quite bad at remembering names, sorry Breckie(sp?). To the equipment in Circus Society: Staff: We had a thing once, a long time ago; I tried you, you tried me. In the end, we are still friends, just friends that don’t talk much, but I guess that’s because you’re an inanimate object. Juggling Balls: We had a love affair, that’s all it was. Just two weeks at my place, nothing came from it. I’ve moved on, you should too. Devil Sticks: I didn’t know you went here… Bye, I guess! Flow-wand: You were the newest member of the group and I tried my best to nurture and care for you. But you do so little. You look pretty, though, so yay for being a 6/10! Diablo: I don’t like you. I never liked you. I never will like you. But Connor does, so have fun, I guess. Hoop: Sadly, we only became well acquainted recently, I really wish that we had more time to learn each other’s hoopiness. The time we did spend together was good though, and we shall always remember it, or at least I will, cos you are also an inanimate object. Unicycle: I’ve blocked you on all social platforms, including here. *Blocked* Juggling Scarves: I still love you. Don’t tell the Juggling Balls. Call me. Yo-Yos: Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you! Bye x
Poi: Oh, poi. Poi, poi, poi, poi, poi. You know you’ve always been my one true love. My passion. I will miss you the greatest. Your agility and grace, the way you carve through the room. We spent a long time together, not quite an eternity but close. We learnt so much together; sure we fought occasionally, and maybe you smacked me in the face a few times, I even threw you out of a third story window! But we’re still friends, we always will be. I’ll miss you the most. Goodbye Poi…
Society, from the smallest bean bag, to the largest staff. The skills I have learnt and the friends I have made at session will not be easily replaced, if at all, which is why I’m glad to say that I’m probably staying in High Wycombe next year, so it’s all irrelevant and I’ll see you all in November when I get back!
Juggling Scarves: Seriously, call me.
If you want to learn any of the skills listed above or anything else come along to Circus Society! Check our Facebook page for details, BNU Circus Society Page, or visit bucksstudentsunion.org/societies!
I will miss every* last piece of the equipment at Circus
*I will not miss Diablo. Ever.
May Issue
By Stevie Thomas
29
Society news.
30 May Issue
Sports news.
By Charlotte Thomas
SPORTS ALUMNI FESTIVAL Bucks Students’ Union are always trying to create new events to increase our visibility within the community. This year we made a target to create an event for our ex-students.
We decided to combine a weekend of sporting fixtures with the annual Festiball event, and so the inaugural Sports Alumni Festival was created! We welcomed back teams for Men’s Football, Women’s Football, Rugby, Mixed Hockey and Netball. The weekend was a chance for alumni to re-live their University days, catch up with friends and play some great sport. Clearly the ex-students have been keeping up their training regimes as all the Alumni Teams won their matches except for Men’s Football, who drew 1-1. The event was well reviewed by alumni, current students and staff. Ohio Orumen, current Vice President Student Involvement, had positive reviews from the day: “The Alumni Sports Festival was a very enjoyable
experience and one that I hope becomes an annual fixture for many, many years to come.
It was great to see several generations of Bucks students - ranging from 2006 graduates to 2016 undergrads - coming together to celebrate an important part of their university experience - Bucks Sport. I will 100% be coming back for next year's event." Ash Coles (alumnus rugby player) said: “It was an excellent event. We had one of the biggest rugby alumni turnouts ever which was fantastic and we all had a great time.”
Ben Kidby (alumnus rugby player) added:
“All in all, it was a brilliant event. The staff were friendly and the stalls outside the Students' Union were great fun! I will definitely be attending next year as it’s always a pleasure seeing Bucks friends from the past.” A special thanks goes to Tom Foy for organising the Alumni Rugby team, and Shay Fenlon for Men’s Football. Bucks Students’ Union are looking forward to making this an annual event in conjunction with Festiball. Next year we hope to make it bigger and better event with more sports on offer and we anticipate an even bigger turnout.
The 27th annual Athletic Union Dinner was a fantastic evening of celebration, with sports teams coming together to recognise team and individual accomplishments from across the year.
At this point in the season, with Cricket still to complete their outdoor season, we are sitting at a 41% win percentage from our BUCS fixtures. Seven of our BUCS teams finished in the top three of their Leagues, and Bucks FC 1st reached the semi-final of the South Eastern Conference Cup. One of the real highlights of the season has to go to Women’s Basketball who won the Cup final against Sussex in front of a packed home crowd. American
Football finished with a winning season and BNU Dance and BNU Swans brought home 50 trophies between them. All these sporting successes led to an influx of nominations and an incredibly tough shortlisting session. Being part of the ‘Fantastic Four’ is an honour and a privilege that demonstrates appreciation and respect from your peers at Bucks. Congratulations to all our shortlisted nominees and winners.
COACH OF THE YEAR
TEAM OF THE YEAR
COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Brian Eckheart - winner
Golf
Lewis Newton - winner
Kirsty Anley-Dean
Women’s Basketball - winner
Rhona Noel
Manuel Pena Garces
Men’s Football 1s
Alex Wilson
Olivia Chambers
Novice Contemporary
Alix Todd
FRESHER OF THE YEAR
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
CLUB OF THE YEAR
Christina Demetriou - winner
Shane Probbitts
Bucks FC - winner
Norbert Staniszewski
Tomasz Drywa
Women’s Football
Victoria Mackenzie
James Bowditch
BNU Dance
Alex Devine
Matt Draper - winner
Women’s Hockey
CAPTAIN OF THE YEAR
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Charlie French - winner
Rhona Noel - winner
Josh Kidby - winner
Sara San Millan
Conosolata Enobakhare
Alanah Walters
Jill Salt
Victoria Mackenzie
Olivia Vroone
Ashleigh Paviour
Andrea Gomez
Schawn Monteiro
Bucks Students’ Union also recognises a person or people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty over a prolonged period of time. The Outstanding Contribution to Sport award measures how their actions have had a positive impact on sport at Bucks.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SPORT Alix Todd David Tungate This year the Union decided to give this award to Alix Todd, who can be described as the backbone of Bucks Ladies FC. From walking through our doors as a quiet
and introverted first year individual, she now embodies the core values of the Students’ Union and can be seen as real role model for students at Bucks. For the second year in a row the Students' Union decided to give this award to a second person. David Tungate, our second deserving recipient, has been one of the most dedicated sportspeople at Bucks this year, but not many people outside of the Badminton Club would have known this. The sheer number of people involved in Badminton at Bucks is a true testament to his hard work over his time here – it must have had something to do with his music choices at training!
Bucks Students’ Union also gave out a special award this year. The Big Deal Award for Services to Increased Participation and Professionalism in University Sport was given to Ohio Orumen, our very own Vice President Student Involvement. Ohio’s dedication to getting the whole University community involved in sport, especially with the running of his Bucks Girls Can campaign, has been admirable. Bucks Students’ Union wishes the warmest congratulations to all our award winners. We can’t wait to see what sporting success we get to celebrate next year. The countdown begins!
May Issue
By Charlotte Thomas
31
Sports news.
32 May Issue
Quick break.
RELAX WITH OUR QUICK BREAK SECTION COLOUR ME IN!
SUDOKU Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.49) MEDIUM:
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