The Bucks Student - Edition 72 by The Bucks Student

February 2018 - Edition 72

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Introduction.

page 5

With Nominations coming to a close and Elections nearly here, Mark Sweeney encourages everyone who wants to make a difference to put their names forward. Pages 6.

Sabbs' Update Your Sabbatical Officers recap the last few weeks and go through some of their plans for the year ahead.

Contributors Lauren O'Shea • Ben Parmar • Jimi Adeyinka • Mark Sweeney Claudia Waghorne • Grace Yelverton • Louise Harvey Raghida Halaoui • Rainbow Pilgrims • Reece Rimmington Taylor Gray • Emma-Louise Smith • Raj-Christian Eriksson Will Willett • Hugo "Nemo" • Shannon O’dell • Sarah Randle Katie Thompson • Romey Commons • Theo Kkoshi Tara Hicks • Sonia Cardante • Dan Wigmore • Chloe Kimber Adam Potter • Daisy Howell • Jenny Ellis • Jessica Baldock Rhona Noel • Rebecca Hamer • Giulio Magliano Hufriya Mehta • Morgan Outlaw • Jess Miles • Georgie Lucas Keeley Hamilton • Julie Botwood • Mari Krupa • Sam Jones Olivia Jones • 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

page 8

#BucksProud Louise Harvey speaks to VPSI, Jimi Adeyinka and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Nick Braisby about the new #BucksProud initiative.

page 10

Student Housing 2nd year student, Claudia Waghorn writes about her experiences of living in both Halls and privately rented accommodation.

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.

Uxbridge Update Student Experience Assistant, Rhona Noel goes through all the upcoming activities that Uxbridge students can look forward to.

If required, this document can be made available in different formats. Please contact Bucks Students' Union for more information.

page 28

Volley4RAG Sport for Fun Volleyball Ambassador, Giulio Magliano, explains what Volley4RAG is and why you should get involved!

February Issue

This Edition:

4 February Issue

A word from the Editor.

By Olivia Jones

Pancake day, Valentine’s day, and Varsity, February and March are going to fly by... But maybe most noticeably right now, is that we’re pretty much halfway through. We’re halfway through our work load for the year,

New Stationary: Personally, I’m really not sure there’s much better than new stationary. If you’re feeling a

maybe you’re halfway through your entire time at

little uninspired, a new set of pens and a nice new notebook can be exactly what you need- especially as

university, and halfway through our Varsity count down,

Bucks has a huge range of art and design courses. Check out Paperchase in House of Fraser, or Papier

with only a couple of weeks left till the big day. January

online, they’ve got really lovely stuff that can be great gifts too. Or if you’ve got any John Smith money left,

always goes so slowly, it kind of feels like we should be

maybe you could use that.

halfway through the whole year at this point, so it can be hard to stay motivated whilst it’s cold and rainy.

Exercise: Okay so it might be really hard to motivate yourself to get out and exercise, but once you do, you’ll want to do more, and then you’ll want to eat foods that energise you so you can exercise more, and

So, I’ve had a little think and asked around for the best

then you’ll feel more energetic from good food, and the exercise will release good endorphins which in

tips to staying motivated; weather that’s sticking to your

turn, will make you feel happy and you’ll feel motivated. So one big positive circle really.

new year’s resolutions, working on your dissertation, or a personal goal, maybe you want to be at the best of

Friends: It can be so hard when you’re busy to make the time to spend with friends. You just kind of do your work and then relax, because you don’t have time to do anything else. But trust me, no matter how

your game for varsity, or just be better at remembering

busy you are, always try and make time to hang out with people outside of the lecture theatre. Go and get

friend’s birthdays. I know I’m certainly feeling the

involved with a society, or to go to the takeovers at the Students' Union on a Wednesday. Make evening

halfway-dip, so hopefully these tips can inspire all of us:

plans or do things on the weekend- even if it’s just for a few hours. 4.

Being Organised: Write a list, get a diary, make a plan. Wake up at the same time every day.

Find a Good Playlist: Obviously nothing is more motivational than Spotify’s ‘Feel Good Friday’. Liv x

AN UPDATE FROM YOUR SABBS JIMI ADEYINKA BEN PARMAR VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

LAUREN O'SHEA VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION & WELFARE

January went quickly despite a quiet start to the year all our sports club and Societies are back up and running. With some great takeovers hosted already from both to raise money for their club & society. There are some exciting events life this Volley 4 RAG in which everyone comes to the Events Hall to play volleyball dressed in fun costumes and donates money to raise money for our RAG charities on Tuesday 20 February.

Huge well done to everyone sitting exams or handing in dissertations, you’re one step closer to getting that degree!

January is finally over and what a long month it was, many of you had exams and deadlines that I’m sure you’re glad are over and hopefully can take a second to breathe now that February is here.

Last month we held our second ever Rep Conference with nearly 80 eager reps in attendance! We were lucky enough to receive a visit from Ali Milani Hopefully you’re all getting along nicely with your (NUS Vice President Union Development). He sat studies and are looking after yourselves physically, on the panel alongside Nick Braisby (Deputy Vicementally and emotionally, but if you need any help in Chancellor), Tristan Tipping (Students' Union CEO and doing so, all of our services and activities are on offer myself. It led to a great conversation about the future as always to help you however you need. Also puppy visit day, puppies from Hearing Dogs for of Higher Education, followed by a number of breakout Glad to see quite a few students signing up to Parkrun Deaf People come to the Students' Union to play. sessions in the afternoon. I ran a session called and attending when they can, well done to both Campaigning Made Easy the reps came up with two Varsity is next month, so tickets are on sale now for the Netball & Cheer who took the initiative to use it as a great ideas, one about scrapping plastic and the other biggest sporting event of the year against Roehampton fundraiser and raising a few hundred pounds each. about the welfare of international students. If you’re University. Look out for promotion on our social media. I stand by it being the best way to start the weekend, eager to run your own campaign, don’t forget Bucks for mind, body and soul, so if anybody is interested I am also glad to announce the University’s Sports and Students’ Union is here to help! in trying it out too then don’t hesitate to get in touch Wellbeing Clinic students are holding physiotherapy Currently I’m working on finalising the part-time with me and I’ll be happy to explain a more about it sessions and you can book a Thursday session through Jobshop, free weekend parking on campus and looking and help you get signed up! me. The first session will be FREE! Sessions after that will into new ways of promoting the Big Deal to all students! be £15. For more information about these sessions, or Also, check out page 7 to find out why we're posing anything else, message or come into the office for a chat. with a wire version of Rusty... Get in touch to hear more about what I’m up to!

Get in touch: Ben: ben.parmar@bucks.ac.uk Lauren: lauren.oshea@bucks.ac.uk Jimi: jimi.adeyinka@bucks.ac.uk

Bucks SU Pres Bucks Vpew Bucks Vpsi

@BucksSUPres @BucksSUVPEW @BucksSUVPSI

February Issue

By Jimi Adeyinka, Ben Parmar & Lauren O'Shea

Sabbatical Officers.

6 February Issue

Nominations and Elections.

By Mark Sweeney

FINAL WEEK OF NOMINATIONS We’re now into the final week of this year’s nominations period and come noon on Friday 16 February, we’ll know all the candidates for this year’s elections. Will your name be in the mix? Are you going to be the next person to lead our Union? Don’t miss out on your chance to influence the student experience here at Bucks and make the changes you want to see.

rewarding experiences you will have during your time at University. The opportunity to speak to students from all walks of life during the elections period gives you a real insight into the types of students we have studying at Bucks. These may be students you’ve never spoken to before but you’ll gain a real understanding of the difference in experiences amongst our student body.

Here’s a reminder about all of the roles available in this year’s elections:

This will then give you a real platform to build from if elected into one of the many leadership roles available within the Students’ Union and will help to frame some of the work you undertake during your time in the role.

Sabbatical Officer: President Sabbatical Officer: Vice President Education & Welfare Sabbatical Officer: Vice President Student Involvement Executive Officer x 8 Student Trustee x 4 NUS Delegate x 2 Student Rep

The benefits to standing in our annual elections are huge. From improving your communication to gaining in confidence to having a positive impact on the student experience to gaining in transferable skills. There’s just so much to take from these roles and every single bit of it will help you throughout your time at Bucks and beyond.

So with just a few days left of our nominations period being open, now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and put yourself forward to become one our fantastic student leaders here in the Students’ Union. From there, you’ll receive key information and training once you’ve nominated yourself and will be more than prepared for the elections week running from Monday 5 - Friday 9 March.

For more information about any of the roles available, the nominations process or the elections as a whole please visit bucksstudentsunion.org/elections or email surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk.

Green, Rag and Fairtrade Ambassadors

Becoming a student leader is also a fantastic way to boost your employability. Employers love nothing more than to see someone who has gone above and Society Committee Positions beyond during their time as a student and with the jobs market tougher than ever, this is the perfect way Each and every leadership role available within the to stand out from the crowd! Even better, if you are Union has the opportunity to shape some of the work we do. So whether you’re running to become one of our successful in becoming one of our Sabbatical Officers, three Sabbatical Officers, one of eight Executive Officers, you’ll be starting in a full-time salary paid position from June 2018. a Student Trustee, an NUS Delegate, an Ambassador or a Student Rep for your class, your voice really matters. Don’t forget, you can run to be a Sabbatical Officer at Not only that, you’ll also be responsible for representing whatever stage you’re at in your degree but if you are the voice of so many others at Bucks and ensuring they in your first or second year, you will have to take a get the most from their time here. break from your studies to complete the role. All of our Standing in Bucks Students’ Union annual elections can other roles are voluntary and are completed alongside be one of the most daunting but also one of the most your studies. Sports Team Committee Positions

WE ARE RECRUITING BUDDIES TO SUPPORT OUR APPLICANTS FROM WHEN THEY APPLY AND THROUGHOUT THEIR FIRST TERM AT BUCKS. This is a discreet service conducted via email, so you will be set up with a Bucks Buddy email address. We are looking for students that fall in to the following categories so we can best provide assistance and advice to our broad range of members. Mature student

A Further Education level student (ie Foundation)

Student with family responsibilities

Student from overseas

Post Graduate student

Student who commutes

Part time student

Under Graduate student

Student who hails from the local area

Any queries email: katie.smith@bucks.ac.uk For more information and to apply, please visit bucksstudentsunion.org/jobs

LOVE LOCK BUCKS Love Lock Bucks is a week-long campaign set to make students aware of self-care. Self-care techniques and general lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of many mental health problems. They may also help prevent some problems from developing or getting worse. A self-care technique could be sitting down and eating a healthy meal or making more time for friends and family. During the week beginning Mon 12 Feb we have Rusty 2.0 standing tall around both the High Wycombe and the Uxbridge campuses. Similar to Paris’ Love Lock Bridge, students can pledge to take care of their wellbeing by popping an initialled padlock onto our new wire Buck! Recently I attended a Positive Psychology course where we looked in depth at

Activity 2: Self-Care Assessment - Rate the following statements... 0 – Never, 1 – Rarely, 2 – Occasionally, 3 - Frequently __ Dance, swim, walk, play sports,

__ Make time away from

__ sing, or any fun, physical activity

__ phones and Internet

__ Eat regularly (e.g. breakfast,

__ Listen to my thoughts,

__ lunch, and dinner)

__ attitudes and feelings

__ Stay in contact with important

__ Share a fear, hope, or secret

__ people in my life

__ with someone I trust

__ Re-read favourite books,

__ Identify projects or tasks

__ re-watch favourite movies

__ that are exciting and rewarding

__ Eat healthily

__ Praise myself

__ Exercise

__ Love myself

__ Take time off when sick

__ Find things that make me laugh

__ Get massages

__ Spend time in nature

__ Get enough sleep

__ Be open to inspiration

__ Wear clothes I like

__ Be aware of non-material aspects of life

__ Take vacations

__ Meditate

__ Take day trips

__ Listen to inspirational talks

__ Make time for self-reflection

__ Call, check on, or see relatives

__ Write a journal

__ Spend time with pets

__ Read literature unrelated to work

__ Allow others to do things for me

__ Minimise stress in my life

__ Enlarge my social circle

__ Attend a show, sports event, theatre

__ Ask for help when I need it

__ Be curious

__ Take a break during the workday (lunch)

__ Be open to not knowing

__ Take time to chat with co-workers

__ Allow myself to cry

__ Make quiet time to complete tasks

happiness and wellbeing. Give the following activities a go… Activity 1: Write a list of ten things that make you happy, for example, 1) Visiting family 2 Rollercoasters 3) Socialising with friends etc… once you’ve finished look at the list… how many of those things could you do next week? Probably most of them, right? So how many did you do last week? If these are the things that make you happy then find a way to make these a priority each week.

Make a note of the 0s and 1s you’ve identified and find ways to turn them into 2s and 3s. Making small changes can make a big difference towards your mental and physical wellbeing.

February Issue

By Lauren O'Shea

Love Lock Bucks.

8 February Issue

#BucksProud.

By Louise Harvey

#BUCKSPROUD Nick Braisby, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Jimi Adeyinka, Vice President Student Involvement

Jimi Adeyinka, Vice President Student Involvement, and Nick Braisby, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, talk about the new Bucks Proud campaign. Set to launch in March, they’re calling on students to share what makes them proud about life at Bucks.

Jimi, what prompted the Bucks Proud campaign? When I was a student I was heavily involved in the Students’ Union and had a great relationship with my tutor, Lyndon Buck. I felt part of a close-knit Bucks family. But I realised that it wasn’t the same for all my friends. It left me feeling that perhaps some students were missing out on opportunities. I want everyone to leave Bucks feeling they were involved during their time, and proud of the institution and their achievements. The campaign is about capturing that pride and sharing it to inspire others to get involved and feel part of the Bucks community. My advice is to throw yourself into university life. It’s never too late, even for final-year students. You only get out what you put in.

I WANT EVERYONE TO LEAVE BUCKS FEELING... PROUD OF THE INSTITUTION AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

Nick, what’s made you proud about Bucks since you joined last year? We have so much to be proud of at Bucks. Our fantastic student body is really engaged and students’ volunteering and fundraising efforts make a real difference to the charities they support. Our students achieve great things at Bucks and go on to succeed in a wide variety of careers. I’m also enormously proud of the Students’ Union for being the sixth best in the UK and for all the fantastic work they do. The Big Deal is a unique way for students to engage and get the most out of their university experience. It’s an important initiative because it encourages students to participate in a way they perhaps wouldn’t do otherwise. I’m also very proud of our staff and all that they achieve. We have a very fine 125-year history of giving opportunities to people who traditionally might not have been given chances to access higher education. Staff take great pride in their students’ achievements and we want them to get involved in the campaign too.

#BucksProud.

February Issue

What are the benefits of getting involved in the Students’ Union? JA: There are so many opportunities to get involved including sports and societies, representing your fellow students and taking advantage of the skills workshops. All these will help you when you graduate. Employers aren’t just looking for what you’ve learned at university. They’re as interested in the experiences you’ve had and the qualities you’ve developed. You need to demonstrate why you’re the ideal candidate and show the positive influence you can bring to their organisation. NB: We know engagement with the Students’ Union, which has risen steadily, has real benefits for building skills, and that students who get involved do better in their studies too. The data show that our students get the results you’d expect from someone who joined us with higher A-Level grades. Some of our students may have previously struggled with school work or life’s circumstances but they get an academic boost because of the excellent work we do here at Bucks. What do you think people outside think about Bucks? JA: We may not be the highest ranked university in the league tables but there is plenty at Bucks to be proud of when you look at our courses and facilities. I’m really proud of the Big Deal because it gives our students great opportunities. Take part and you will be a different person to when you started at Bucks. Don’t be shy of your achievements. Share what you’ve done with everyone, show how you’re pushing yourself to success and achieve your goals. Get out of your comfort zone and get involved! NB: We want to improve our position in the university league tables and are working hard to do so. That said, league tables don’t tell the whole story. Key partners including Sennheiser and the NHS Trusts we work with credit the quality of Bucks students, telling us that our graduates really stand out. We’re proud to hear that they’re ready for the world of work and make an impact from the outset. Our alumni tell us that their time at Bucks, and the networks they created, set them on course to succeed in their careers. That’s a verdict we can all be proud of. Final thoughts about boosting pride at Bucks? JA: Help us to continue the things we do well. Share good teaching and the facilities and opportunities we have at Bucks. Graduates tell me how much they miss the place when they leave so make the most of your time here. Let’s come together, encourage each other and be proud of all the good things at Bucks! NB: Let’s be proud of the wonderful things we do and continue our hard work together in identifying how we can do even better. We want people to feel part of our Bucks community. So please don’t be on the outside looking in. Get involved, speak up, make a difference and share your pride in the valued contribution you’re making at Bucks.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Email a picture or video telling us what makes you proud about Bucks to: jimi.adeyinka@bucks.ac.uk

Share what you love about Bucks in the Study Lounge at High Wycombe

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK The University and Students Union want your feedback throughout your time at Bucks. We don’t know what’s important to you unless you speak up. Feedback helps to ensure that you’re successful in your learning and supported to achieve your ambitions when you graduate. We want to hear when things don’t go right so improvements can be made. We also learn as many lessons from hearing what’s going right because it can be shared across the University to benefit students on all courses. Please take the time to give your feedback and share your views. Here’s how you can make your voice heard:

•

Speak to your course and personal tutors

•

Make your views known to your course reps so they can represent you

•

Give your feedback through the Module Evaluation process

•

Contact your elected sabbatical officers

•

Attend Union Council meetings, remaining dates for the year are: 15 Feb; 15 Mar; 26 Apr; 24 May

•

Participate in surveys such as the NSS, UKES and PTES

•

Tell the Students' Union what you think: bucksstudentsunion.org/union/feedback

•

Email the University directly on speaktous@bucks.ac.uk

The University promises to listen to what students say and let you know what action is taken.

10 February Issue

Student housing.

By Claudia Waghorne & Grace Yelverton

LIVING IN HALLS VS. PRIVATE RENTING HOUSE HUNTING? The first rule of house hunting is - Don’t panic! Do not be rushed into any decisions. In the Students' Union Advice Centre we see many students every year who want to move out of accommodation that they are unhappy with. Most accommodation contracts will cover a fixed period and for students this often means

September to June, so if the rent is £300 a month then signing such a contract means that you are committed legally to paying the land lord a total of £3000. You should NEVER rush a decision that will cost you that much money!

Do not sign a contract for accommodation unless: 1) You are absolutely sure the accommodation is right for you. 2) You completely understand and agree with the contract you are being asked to sign. 3) You are as sure as you can be that you are

going to get on with your housemates. 4) Your housemates are all signing as well. On the right is the NUS House Hunting checklist that we would advise you to use when looking for your house for next year.

Problems with you Private rented Accommodation? If you have a serious concern about your private rented accommodation for instance serious repair issues like dodgy electrics or serious damp that your landlord is refusing to put right then you can report these issues to Wycombe District Council. The Council will need your landlord or

agents name, address and telephone number and details of the issues. These you can email to environmentalhealth@wycomeb.gov.uk You can also come and speak to us in the SU Advice Centre for further advice.

More Housing News and Information Endsleigh, the insurance people who specialise in providing insurance to students, have a wealth of useful information about the following: • • • • • • •

Get ready for a mix of people Establish your accommodation budget Check your contract Take photo’s How clean is your house? Share the cooking Have a house warming party

• • • • •

Sort out repairs Get prepared for moving out day How to protect your deposit? Take the housemate quiz What the experts say? – Advice and tips from students and industry experts.

All the above can be found here: endsleigh.co.uk/student-articles/categories/accommodation

TENANCY DEPOSIT SCHEMES In England and Wales, if you rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007, your landlord must place your deposit in one of the following tenancy deposit protection (TDP) schemes:

• Deposit Protection Service • MyDeposits • Tenancy Deposit Scheme These government-backed schemes ensure you’ll get your deposit back if you: • Meet the terms of your tenancy agreement • Don’t damage the property • Pay your rent and bills Your landlord or letting agent must put your deposit in the scheme within 30 days of getting it.

At the end of your tenancy If you and your landlord agree how much deposit you’ll get back, it must be returned to you within 10 days of the tenancy ending. If you’re in a dispute with your landlord, then your deposit is protected in the TDP until the issue is sorted.

Holding deposits Your landlord doesn’t have to protect a holding deposit (money you pay to ‘hold’ a property before an agreement is signed). However, once you become a tenant, the holding deposit becomes a deposit, which they must protect.

Deposits made by a third party Your landlord must use a TDP scheme even if your deposit is paid by someone else, like a rent deposit scheme or your parents. For more information visit: gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/overview

Coming to university is a big part of anyone’s life because, for most people, it is the time where they truly become independent. Some people relish this and others start to feel homesick, which is why it is important that Bucks tries to make you feel at home as much as possible, as well as catering to your study and social needs. The accommodation service at Bucks provides a great choice of accommodation, with 885 single study bedrooms. Bucks have three selfcatering halls of residence in High Wycombe: Brook Street, Hughenden and Windsor House. This is what most students choose when coming to Bucks, however others choose to live in privately rented accommodation instead. Being in second year now, I have had experience with both.

The accommodation service can also help you if you decide to rent privately, from contract checking to issues with residents and landlords. They run StudentPad, which allows students to advertise council accredited, furnished properties in Wycombe and chat to other students that have lived or are living in these properties, which could help you decide.

So far, I find privately renting much better than student halls, especially for my second and hopefully third year. I feel that I have more freedom in a house, it is more cost effective and it also holds much more responsibility, which has made me mature further. I am living with friends, which makes everything easier Before coming to uni, I thought that halls were and I do not get homesick as much anymore. the way to go in my first year, and I was right. It With this said, I have also had a lot of trouble is a great way to start off university and make with the house regarding a housemate and friends, however it was a new experience, which the estate agents themselves, so it can also be was quite nerve-wracking. All halls that Bucks quite tricky to get the right balance. offer are a short walk away from Uni, meaning they are convenient, and of course all halls have I do believe that by starting off university in student halls to find your bearings is great but the all-important WiFi connection. getting a house after that allows you to really Throughout my experience of living in experience adulthood and enjoy university a Hughenden, it taught me how to look after lot more, due to having your own freedom of myself and my ‘home’ much more. I faced a becoming an adult. couple of issues with flatmates and charges, The accommodation service can support but my independence grew rapidly and I you in any of these situations and any other learnt a lot of life skills because of this. By concerns or queries by offering advice. living in a flat of other people, I made friends Please get in touch with them or email but I also felt quite secluded, which got me feeling quite homesick often. accommodation@bucks.ac.uk.

Student housing. February Issue

HOUSING CHECKLIST Address of property: Number of rooms:

Number of floors:

Rent per week per tenant: £

Contact details of landlord:

LOCATION OF PROPERTY

DELETE AS APPLICABLE

Is the property in an area convenient for your studies and social life?

YES / NO

Is the property within a suitable distance to local public transport and local amenities?

YES / NO

Would you feel sufficiently safe walking around the area during the day or in the evening?

YES / NO

EXTERNAL FEATURES Does the exterior of the property appear well maintained? This would include no broken guttering, no damage to the roof e.g. missing roof tiles, no cracked windows panes and solid front and back doors

YES / NO

Are all boundary walls in good condition e.g. no missing or crumbling bricks?

YES / NO

Are there sufficient bins for the property, including recycling?

YES / NO

IF THERE IS A GARDEN Is the garden well maintained and clear of any rubbish?

YES / NO

Is the landlord/agent is clear about who is responsible for the maintenance of the garden?

YES / NO

INTERNAL FEATURES Is there sufficient communal living space?

YES / NO

Do bedroom sizes meet the household’s expectations?

YES / NO

Does the interior of the property appear well maintained? This includes no signs of damp, hot water and heating work, décor and furniture in good condition, no outstanding issues of disrepair and all the appliances and lights work?

YES / NO

Are there enough facilities (e.g. kitchen appliances and cupboard space, bathrooms) for the number of tenants?

YES / NO

Is there sufficient heating (radiators etc) throughout the property? (Ask to turn this on when you arrive)

YES / NO

SAFETY FEATURES Does the landlord possess a current gas safety certificate that has been provided by a Safe Gas registered engineer within the past 12 months? You can check this on gassaferegister.co.uk

YES / NO

Does the property have working smoke alarms?

YES / NO

Are plug sockets free from cracks and other damage?

YES / NO

Are there sufficient plug sockets in each room in the property?

YES / NO

SECURITY FEATURES Are all windows lockable?

YES / NO

Are there suitably strong locks on front and back doors, in line with regulations?

YES / NO

YOUR LANDLORD Is the landlord or letting agency is part of an accreditation scheme, which is run or approved of .by your students’ union or local council?

YES / NO

Do you have the landlord’s full contact name and address?

YES / NO

Do you know you are renting from the landlord and not subletting from another tenant? (If not, seek advice before signing)

YES / NO

Have you seen a copy of the HMO license (if property is five people or more)?

YES / NO

Have you seen at least three other properties with other landlords and compared rent levels with other properties?

YES / NO

Has the landlord provided details of which deposit scheme they will use to protect your money?

YES / NO

CONTRACT Have you taken the contract to your students’ union or local advice centre for checking? We strongly recommend you do so if not. Do you know how much the weekly rent is? And when rent payments are due? Are you on a joint or individual contract?

YES / NO YES / NO JOINT / IND

Do you know if things are included within the rent? E.g. bills, broadband etc?

YES / NO

Have you got all plans for refurbishments / promised changes / dates of completion confirmed in writing?

YES / NO

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE CURRENT TENANTS Are they happy with the state of the property?

YES / NO

Do they consider the landlord to be professional and get repairs done quickly?

YES / NO

Does the heating work sufficiently?

YES / NO

Is there a working burglar alarm, and is it easy to operate?

YES / NO

Do they like living in the property?

YES / NO

Any outstanding issues?

YES / NO

Why are they leaving?

Additional Notes:

12 February Issue

Hand in Hand.

HAND IN HAND

By Raghida Halaoui

Systematic targeting of medical facilities and ambulances, has resulted in more than half of all public medical facilities being forced to close, or rendered useless in Syria (Hand in Hand for Syria, 2017). Many hospitals have been forced to close their doors due to a lack of staff and resources, in 2016 The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) found there to be a ratio of just 2 doctors per 10,000 civilians. Many hospital buildings have been damaged beyond repair, and others re-purposed as temporary shelters for internally displaced families. The medical sector in Syria is in a deep crisis. With so few doctors left, and a limited number of hospitals open and struggling with shortages in supplies and constant airstrikes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thousands of people in Syria are left without medical care, in a country with a rising number of severely injured people & casualties. 6.1 million People rely on the countries struggling medical facilities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and those are the ones with access. Since Hand in Hand for Syria began working in Syria in 2011, their prime focus has always been the medical sector. In 2012 they opened the doors to their first purposebuilt hospital, and the first Neo-Natal unit in the whole of the North of Syria. Syria may filter in and out of headlines every few months, but the crisis only worsens day by day. Any donations contributed to this important humanitarian cause is essential.

During exam week in January I set up a fundraising event to raise money to rebuild hospitals in Syria. This was organised with the help and support of the amazing staff at the Students' Union. Courtesy of Beauty Gate, I borrowed shiatsu massage machines. I offered a massage for any donation. Many students and staff in Uxbridge and High Wycombe campuses took part and enjoyed massages to de-stress and were so generous with donations. I am happy to announce that over ÂŁ250 pounds was raised in six days. I want to extend my gratitude and thanks to everyone who supported my cause. All donations are 100% to the charity Hand in Hand for Syria where it will be used to rebuild lives and futures for the citizens of Syria. I plan to attempt the same fundraising event with the massage machines during the exam time of the February cohort in Uxbridge and again in High Wycombe. I also would like to arrange a raffle, so I am on the hunt for anyone who is able to donate prizes for this. If there is anyone who knows a local business that can do this or has anything from home that can be donated please call or text me at 07878 080 768. Raghida Halaoui (3rd year Child Nursing Student).

RAINBOW PILGRIMS Rainbow Pilgrims symposium at Bucks New Uni (BNU) explores LGBTQI+ migration Landmark project Rainbow Pilgrims will launch its multi-media exhibition this month as part of LGBT History Month, exploring the hidden stories of LGBTQI+ members of migrant, refugee and Romani / Traveller communities in the UK. The launch comprises of four separate, free events in and around London, the first taking place at BNU's High Wycombe Campus on Wednesday 14 February. The project explores the personal journeys of LGBTQI migrants, documenting the interconnection between faith, sexuality, gender and ethnicity, using multimedia platforms, symposia and the creation of cutting edge learning tools. Project Manager Shaan Surat Knan says: ‘The global landscape for LGBTQI+ refugees, migrants and travellers is a dubious one and we want to shed a light on the important stories marginalised people have to share. At Rainbow Pilgrims, we have given a voice to people who sometimes feel unheard, in order to better understand what more can be done to support the members of these diverse communities and celebrate their contribution to British society.’

Rainbow Pilgrims have been working closely with BNU's Professor Margaret Greenfields to host the conference, which will set up a platform for dialogue across communities and sectors, allowing participants to meet and share experiences. Margaret Greenfields is Professor of Social Policy and Community Engagement and Director of the Institute of Diversity Research, Inclusivity, Communities and Society (IDRICS) at BNU. The day will include exciting panels with guest speakers; Head of Projects and Programmes at Stonewall, Dominic Arnall; Executive Director of the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group Leila Zadeh; Peter Tatchell Foundation representative Pliny Soocoormanee; a Research Fellow from University of Sussex Law School, Dr. Moira Dustin; Paul Dillane from the Kaleidoscope Trust, and Henry Chapman – an LGBTQ activist from the Romani Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community, who recently visited Parliament to voice his concerns about the lack of support for people within his community.

Discussions will cover a number of topics from activism within Romani/Traveller communities, to advancing human rights for LGBTQI+ people, and using

art and multi-media to create discussion on important topics and record personal experiences.

After its initial launch at BNU the project continues with events across London, including a creative workshop with Multimedia Artist, Vijay Patel on how to produce stop-motion animation to tell your story, and an innovative pop-up multi-media exhibition of fascinating oral histories and heart-warming personal experiences provided by over 35 LGBTQI+ people who have come to the UK, or are from Travelling communities. There are a number of opportunities for Bucks New University students to volunteer in connection with this project, both helping out with publicity and social media activities and stewarding on the day of the launch event. For further information please contact Becky Hamer, Societies & Volunteering Assistant at BNU’s Students' Union. Rainbow Pilgrims is a project spearheaded by Liberal Judaism and funded for by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund. Once launched in London the exhibition will go on tour around Britain. For more information on the project and events visit rainbowpilgrims.com.

February Issue

By Rainbow Pilgrims

Rainbow Pilgrims.

14 February Issue

Meet the band: Good Tiger.

By Reece Rimmington

After a respectable support set from Atlas:Empire, Thursday 1 February 2018 saw Good Tiger dominate the Students' Union with heavy rock riffs, fast-paced guitars and impressive Canadian vocals from frontman Elliot Coleman. They had the entire crowd in the palm of their hand as fans revelled in their love for the impeccable alternative-metal five-piece. I caught up with band members Joe and Morgan before their set to ask them a few questions: What is life like for Good Tiger right now? Joe - Life’s good. We’ve just been picking up momentum because it was real slow beforehand. We’ve had the album done for a while so we just felt like everything slowed down, drastically. Morgan – The album is out in like a week so things will pick up from here – that is the most pessimistic intro ever. It was an intentional break. Tonight, you’re performing at a university, did any of the band go to university or contemplate going? Joe – Everyone but the Americans went to uni because to go to uni in the states you have to be incredibly wealthy. What did you study? Morgan – I studied music at Goldsmiths in London, it was very good *laughs*

Joe – I studied music production at Leeds The new album ‘We Will All Be Gone’ is out on Friday 9 February, how did the creation of this album differ from ‘A Head Full of Moonlight’? Morgan – The first album was less of a collaborative effort, it was spearheaded by Dez. The new album is less metal and more mature. Joe – I think it’s heavier in other ways. You’ve previously toured with the likes of Biffy Clyro, Dance Gavin Dance, Mongol Horde etc., what’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you on tour? Joe – We were on our way back at the end of tour and we had like a hundred-hour drive. Elliot was driving – he was in shorts because it was warm. We had just had coffees and he said ‘I really need a piss, but I don’t wanna stop’. He gets the cup and pisses perfectly into this cup and it was beautiful. So, I was like ‘wow, that’s impressive, well done.’ He wound down the window and any sane person would tip it

backwards, but he tipped it forwards and it went all over his arm and face. This is day three of your UK headline tour, what has it been like touring with Atlas:Empire so far? Both – They’re great, they’re lovely people. Morgan – We like them a lot. The bassist offered me a string today. Joe – It sucks that it’s such a short tour. Usually, it takes a while for people to really get to know each other because you don’t really see them that much. Finally, what can we expect from Good Tiger in the future? Morgan – Nothing Joe – Absolutely nothing Morgan – We’re calling it a day. No, we're releasing new album, you can expect that very soon and a number of tours surrounding that album.

Film Review.

February Issue

16 February Issue

Monday 12

Monday 26

�urban, bashment and afrobeats

TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 10PM-3AM · THE VENUE

R E S I DE N T D J S - D J S P EC I AL D & D J S H O R T - T FREE FOR BUCKS STUDENTS • £5 GUESTS LAST ENTRY AT MIDNIGHT

Thursday 1

Friday 16

Wednesday 21

February Issue

Wednesday 28

Thursday 8 Saturday 29

Friday 9

RESULTS NIGHTer Party Aft

plus

Saturday 3

Drinks Promotions Snakebite: £2 ‘til midnight Frat Punch: £2 Pint of soft drink: £1 VK: 2 for £5 or 5 for £10 Snakebite: £2 ‘til midnight Bombs: £2 Becks Blue: £2 VK: 2 for £5 or 5 for £10 Pitchers: £9 Wine: £8 Rekorderlig: £3 Pint of Juice: £1 Red Stag and mixer: £2 Staropramen: £2 Can of Red Bull: £2 Bulmers: £3 Disaronno and mixer: £2 Bud Light: £2 Hooch: £3 Can of Rubicon: 80p

February Issue

Rusty recommends.

February 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! Live music is a massive part of what we do here at Bucks (we even have a few academic courses devoted to it!) and bringing up-coming bands and artists through our doors and onto the stage is seen by some as a rite of passage. If you like it live, you’ll love the sheer range of acts we host in the short space of an academic year. Our on-stage alumni include the likes of Nothing But Thieves, The Amazons, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Arcane Roots, Black Peaks, Fickle Friends, Chloe Howl, Nina Nesbitt, Circa Waves, Everything Everything, Bastille, Lucy Rose, Newton Faulkner and, most recently, Declan McKenna (!), to name but a few; and we’re not stopping there.

THE VENUE | THURSDAY 1 MARCH | DOORS 8PM

We host live performances every week, with Vibes bringing the laid back to The Lounge, Crash Rock Club bringing the finest Pop-Punk tribute bands, #BoomBucks with the freshest PAs this side of London, and regular live music nights from touring acts on Thursdays, often in conjunction with in-house student music group MC9 Music. There really is something for everyone, and if you love keeping your fingers on the pulse, there’s plenty of opportunity to discover the hottest up and coming acts from around the UK and further afield. This edition we’d like to turn the spotlight onto bands Blanket and Peur, who are performing at The Venue on Thursday 1st March. Both hailing from the north, Blanket from Blackpool, Peur from Manchester, they’re making their way to Bucks via a handful of other dates to kick off their 2018. Bringing their own brands of atmospheric rock, the acts have been described as “hard core rock, that at times takes heed from Muse, in the best way possible. Expect a whole lot of noise, punchy drums, guitars at full throttle and captivating vocals.” For fans of Muse, Oceansize, Arcane Roots et al., this will be one to check out! Even if this sounds like it’s just outside of your comfort zone, the beauty of it is that all live music is completely FREE for Bucks Students, so you can dip your toe at no cost at all. As mentioned above, we often let Bucks students get the reins, giving budding prospective Events Managers the chance to get involved in the entire live music production process. If you have an interest in anything from Booking, Promotion & Marketing, Artist Liaison, Stage Management and more, then be sure to contact the Events Team (email below), or search ‘MC9 Music’ on Facebook! All of our live music is open to the public, meaning that students aren’t limited to signing in two mates and instead you can bring down the whole gang to check out what Bucks has to offer. Keep an eye on the What’s On section of our website for non-student Tickets. We think we cater to a diverse range of music fanatics’ tastes, but if you have any suggestions, drop our Events Team an email at suevents@bucks.ac.uk and we’ll see what we can do!

20 February Issue

WHAT’S YOUR PASSION? The Bucks Student newspaper is looking for current students to write articles - if you’re passionate about a subject, we’d love to hear from you. Can’t think of what to write? No problem! Join us at a Newsgroup meeting and we’ll give you a topic to write about. Our meetings are in the Study Lounge (near Beats, opposite the Dance Studio) - email editor@thebucksstudent.com for a time and date. Not only will you get your views and opinions out there, but being able to say your work has been published will look fantastic on your CV. For more information email the student editor, Liv, on editor@thebucksstudent.com. Want to take your writing even further? We are starting to look for an editor to work with the Bucks Student for the next academic year (2018/19). If you would like to find out more please email sucommunications@bucks.ac.uk.

We are Glass Roots Theatre Company; 3rd year performing arts students performing DNA by Dennis Kelly. We will be performing two shows, one in Camden on Mon 19 Feb and the other at The Old Town Hall in Wycombe on Wed 21 Feb. Within the dark confines of the forest lies a dark secret amongst a group of so-called school friends. As they try to cover up a sinister crime which they believe they have committed, changes of circumstance revels that this may prove a more difficult task than they thought…

As the group of peers continues to come up with story after story to cover their tracks, they soon realise that it will take more than their wit to overcome something more challenging than homework. A tragic thriller, Turing darker as time goes on.

MEET THE CAST & CREW: Emma-Louise Smith, 21

Shannon O’Dell, 20

Theo Kkoshi, 21

Director

Marketing/Actor - Jan

Venue/Actor - Mark

I have been studying acting for nearly ten years now and I am currently studying performing arts at Bucks New Uni.

I love makeup and acting and I’m part of the LGBT+ community and I’m flawless!

I’ve loved drama from a very young age finding a passion for acting as soon as I could speak. As I’ve grown older I’ve become more and more interested with the stuff that goes on behind the scenes whether that's directing, filming and editing, or working on sound/lighting.

Raj-Christian Eriksson, 25 Director I have always been fascinated by film and theatre. How through these mediums the audience members are magically immersed into the world of storytelling. I am amazed how people allow themselves to be taken on a journey to an unknown destination, making themselves in a sense, vulnerable. I believe this vulnerability is the beauty of all art. Growing up in Sweden my initial goal was to move to England in order to become an actor. But as my time in university has gone past, I haver learnt to pick up new interests and in particular the art of directing and cinematography.

Will Willett, 24 Stage manager/Actor - Richard Hello I am a third year performing arts student and I’m extremely interested in political film-making and also a keen practitioner of Parkour.

Hugo "Nemo", 22 Stage Manager/Actor - Brian Hello, I’m Nemo. I came from Portugal all the way to the UK to study performing arts and to hopefully to become an artist.

Taylor Gray, 21 Marketing/Actor - JT I’ve always been a show off and lived on stage. Becoming someone new each time is so exciting and liberating. I’ve been acting since the age of nine and have been in many stage performances.

Tara Hicks, 22 Financing/Actor - Danny I love performing, so you’ll probably find me doing karaoke at my local pub!

Sonia Cardante, 20

Sarah Randle, 22

Set/Actor - Cathy

Make up/Actor - Lou

I am Portuguese and I have discovered my passion for acting a few years ago.

I haver been studying acting for over 10 years now and it is a huge passion of mine! I am mostly interested in make up and I especially enjoy becoming a different character when I’m on stage.

Katie Thompson, 20 Lighting/Actor - Leah I love acting, but I may have a slight obsession with Korean dramas which could possibly be a little out of hand. But hey, its research for me acting career, right?

Romey Commons, 21 Set/Actor - Phil I enjoy a range of acting from theatre to film, something that has given me a wider knowledge about the subject. I also enjoy writing and would one day hopefully want to write my own screenplays or scripts.

Dan Wigmore, 20 Sound/Actor - Adam I have been in love with the stage since I was seven and starred in the play about St Patrick. I just love seeing everyone’s face light up in the audience.

Etcetera Theatre, London. Monday 19 February, 7pm, £7.50 (£5 concessions) Members of Etcetera Theatre will receive £1.50 off the ticket price). The Old Town Hall, High Wycombe. Wednesday 21 February, 7.30pm £6 (£3 concessions).

February Issue

PERFORMING ARTS: DNA

By Taylor Gray, The Cast & Crew

Performing Arts.

22 February Issue

Film review: Maze Runner: The Death Cure.

By Chloe Kimber

The Death Cure is the final film in the Maze Runner trilogy. It sees Thomas (Dylan O’Brian, Teen Wolf) and the surviving Gladers trying to defeat WCKD, save Minho (Ki Hong Lee), all the while trying not to be killed by the cranks, in the epic finale to the Maze Runner franchise. With a three-year delay in the trilogy, it can’t really be said that The Death Cure was eagerly anticipated, which is a shame considering the success of the books. After the second film was released in cinemas, a lot of fans were left disheartened by how different it was to the book. The Death Cure is the same, taking only the main plot points. However, this does not make it a bad film. In actuality, it is the opposite, being completely action packed from start to finish and wrapping up all the loose ends nicely. Wes Ball also kept the most heart-breaking death from the book, which now makes it one of the most tragic deaths in the history of cinema, easily beating Ellie from Up and Jack in Titanic. However, there were some seemingly unrealistic moments, apparently Ball forgetting all the laws of physics several times throughout the film, but this is easily overlooked. The plot is also a little shaky in places, Thomas’ main goal seeming to be to save his friend Minho, which in principle is fine, but when it causes the deaths of hundreds of others and mass destruction on a large scale, its another matter. Perhaps it is pessimistic for me to say that at the end of the day, they probably wouldn’t have gone through that much trouble for one person.

Aside from this, the actors were well-cast, especially Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Love Actually, Game of Thrones), as Newt, who captures his kind heartedness and struggle perfectly, easily making him your favourite character. You do also find yourself being very conflicted about Theresa (Kaya Scodelario, Skins) and her alliances. Although, I know anyone who has read the books will just plain hate her, but the film tried to make her more likeable and redeemable, which almost worked. Furthermore, you are very much thrown into the film in a truly epic opening, which sets the pace for the rest of the film. It is easy to understand why The Death Cure was a storm at the box office, beating all other films released this year. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and it is definitely worth watching, although if you haven’t seen the first two films, then try to see them before you see this one. It ramps up the action to a whole other scale, proving to be an epic finale to The Maze Runner trilogy.

Justice League is essentially a mixed blessing; On one hand it is a fine tonic for the majority who dislike Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice for it’s dark, serious tone but on the other hand for many, DCEU fans and haters alike, this new chapter in DC’s cinematic universe is tonally all over the place and, to a degree, narratively. standalone movie this December coming. Gal Gadot continues to excel as Wonder Woman for the third time. Ray Fisher is a reasonable amount of tragic for The tonal shift from a dark, non-Marvel, post 9/11 world Cyborg without giving us too much to bear. This film to a brighter, more hopeful one feels more like a natural has one key issue that is in common with the Marvel universe films: A bland villain whose only goal is to progression than a sudden or obnoxious turnaround destroy the world. as these superheroes emerge from the shadows at last and unite against a more powerful threat. Like Batman While still holding onto that DC vibe that every DCEU v Superman, we get the most comic book-faithful film, even the Michael Bay-meets-Guy Ritchie-esque version of the Dark Knight by far and he is back with Suicide Squad, has somehow managed to capture, an awesome first scene that feels like a treat for the die- it’d be hard not to understand where many others are hard Batman fans, including yours truly. coming from when they say that this movie is a mess. In this writer’s opinion, Batman v Superman at least Ezra Miller as The Flash for me was a tremendous knew what it was going for tonally and stylistically; stand-out performance. While Grant Gustin’s Flash shines like a star on TV screens, Miller’s version comes it was not Marvel, it was an epic with serious vibes in across like a rookie superhero with autism and proves a thriller and a powerhouse performance from Ben Affleck as a darker, more bitter and angry Batman who to be fitting comic relief alongside Aquaman, (Game of Thrones’ Jason Mamoa) who will have his own finds himself in a redemption story while the world In this writer’s view, despite the few steps backwards, such as an attempt to mimic a part of Marvel’s success, Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin this is not!

fears and distrusts a powerful superhero along with the Caped Crusader himself. It should be noted that according to Ezra Miller, director Zack Snyder said that the script for JL was meant to be more lighthearted even before BvS was released to such negative responses. (Empire magazine) On the other hand, it can be argued that Warner Bros is taking criticism to heart but Suicide Squad tried so hard to be funny like Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla mixed with Michael Bay. JL isn’t the same kind of in-yer-face funny but it doesn’t feel like it takes as much risks as BvS did. While it’s not as immensely epic or layered as BvS, it cannot be denied that the big DC team-up movie is still a fun, exciting ride of comic book colours and highoctane stylised action. Sadly for all the humour and effort to improve on where Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad may have failed, it seems DC will never succeed in cinema under Marvel’s shadow. Oh, well.

February Issue

By Adam Potter

Film review: Justice League.

24 February Issue

Food.

By Daisy Howell & Jenny Ellis

FOOD FOR THOUGHT As your Students’ Union we want to ensure you are making the best of your time at Bucks both on and off campus. Making sure you are eating healthy, well balanced meals is a great way to feel active, energised and focused! In order to get as many students as possible cooking and understanding the importance of a wellbalanced diet we have teamed up with Claire Gallagher at Splendiferous Cookery School to provide fun-filled cooking classes in a friendly and welcoming environment for all abilities! Claire’s tailor-made cookery classes are designed specifically for students to ensure everyone has the opportunity to eat fantastic food, even on a budget!

We will be running classes throughout the year and have two upcoming classes on Wednesday 14 February and Wednesday 14 March. For more information and to sign up visit our website at buckstudentsunion.org/whatson. Have the Christmas celebration and exam pressure meant you’re regularly at the takeaway or consuming more sugary treats than you usually would? Jenny Ellis from the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy recently appeared in popular TV Chef Tom Kerridge’s show ‘Lose Weight for Good’, in which a group were selected to change their eating habits and try out Tom’s recipes as part of a healthy lifestyle change. We asked Jenny to tell us a bit more about her experience… We started filming at the beginning of May. The whole programme was to be based around the NHS guidelines which are designed to be used over a twelve week period. Every two weeks we would receive a new batch of recipes from Tom Kerridge plus two weeks’ worth of NHS healthy lifestyle guidelines. Tom’s mantra is that people fail at dieting because the food is often so awful and faddy celebrity endorsed diets do not usually address the underlying issues that have led to weight gain in the first place. All that was to change. ‘But it costs so much to eat healthily…’ I thought and challenged the production company, wanting to know who would pay for all the extra £s we would be spending as we worked at shedding the lbs. The production company were cagey... expenses would be reimbursed but nothing else. So armed with my

shopping list, I prepared to bite the bullet and spend what I needed in order to share in the glory of being part of the show. I filled my trolley with everything I needed for my first week, loading a veritable rainbow as I shopped – yellow peppers, purple aubergines, red tomatoes, green salads, blueberries, oranges – I was proud of that trolley. The checkout bill came to £29.03 – around 40% LESS than my usual shopping bill! You could have knocked me over with a feather (or wet lettuce leaf)! Over 12 weeks, I had more energy and it actually became fun. Sticking to the changes I made over those 12 weeks has ensured that the weight has stayed off and the energy levels have not dipped. It was not easy – ‘life’ often thwarted my best laid plans – but it was worth it and I would certainly do it again. You used to see a badge saying ‘lose weight now, ask me how’ and the wearer would want you to buy into some exorbitantly expensive meals package. I won’t be wearing any such badge, but do feel free to drop past the Chaplaincy desk at N1.11 and …’ask me how’! To get you creative with your cooking we’ve got a recipe from Jenny for you to try out… so whether you’re a budding chef or new to the kitchen, try a recipe and try one of our cooking classes!

Beetroot Hummus: 1 packet cooked beetroot (74p) 2 x 400g tins chickpeas (80p) 2 garlic cloves (5p) 2 tablespoons tahini (20p) 2 lemons – juice and rind (70p) Handful of mint roughly chopped (35p) 100g low fat Greek yoghurt (35p) Salt and pepper To serve: Flatbreads (£1.00 for 6 - optional) Crumbled feta cheese (optional) Blend the beetroot using a food processor or hand blender. (you can also make a chunky version by mashing the ingredients with a potato masher) Drain the chick peas, reserving the liquid. Add chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lemon and mint to beetroot. Blend until smooth, adding reserved liquid if mixture becomes too dry. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add yoghurt and blend again. Serve with flatbreads and crumbled feta (if desired) Variations – try adding different spices such as ground cumin for a Middle eastern flavour or chilli for an extra kick. Instead of flatbread, try breadsticks, pitta or chapatti. Enjoy with carrot and celery sticks. Total cost: About £3.00 giving >750g hummus = 60p/150g portion (around 350 cals) 1x 150g portion + 2 flatbreads = 93p (approx 550cals)

HOT STUFF This month I got myself a slow cooker and it’s honestly the best purchase I’ve made for my kitchen. It’s so convenient to be able to chuck things in the slow cooker in the morning and have it ready when I get home, no matter what time it is. So this month I thought I’d share with you one of my favourite recipes that I’ve tried with it already… Campfire stew. Named as such because it tastes so smoky!

Campfire Stew: This recipe makes around four portions.

What you need to have:

What you need to do:

−−Small Gammon Joint (I prefer smoked

1. Put everything except for

for the extra smoky flavour)

−−2 tins of baked beans −−1 chopped onion −−1 chopped pepper −−1 tbsp. paprika −−2 crushed cloves of garlic −−4 tbsp. tomato puree −−1 tin of sweetcorn −−100g peas

your peas and sweetcorn into the slow cooker in the morning and leave on a low heat setting for at least six hours (I usually put it on in the morning and leave it all day while I’m out). 2. An hour before you want to eat take the gammon joint out of the cooker and put it on a separate plate or chopping board. 3. Using two forks pull apart the meat so that it is in small shredded bits. Put it back into the slow cooker and stir it into the mixture. 4. At this point also add the peas and sweetcorn and turn the heat up to high. 5. Leave for an hour and then serve with your choice of accompaniment. My favourites are sweet potato wedges or a bread roll.

This recipe will make enough for at least four meals and keeps well in the fridge for a few days. It can also be frozen. When reheating, make sure that it is piping hot all the way through before eating as pork can be dangerous if reheated incorrectly.

February Issue

By Jessica Baldock

Student kitchen.

26 February Issue

Uxbridge update.

UXBRIDGE

By Rhona Noel

HAVE FUN. GET FIT.

THE PARK ROOM MONDAYS | 6.10 - 7.10 PM

Uxbridge Welcome and Opportunities Now that Christmas and what seemed like the longest January ever is over; we’re ready for another term packed out with recreational activities and certified skills training courses over in Uxbridge! We’re also really excited to be welcoming a brand new intake of students as part of this year’s February Cohort and also saying hello once again to our returning 2nd and 3rd year February Cohort students. Here’s just a snippet of everything you can get involved with over the next couple of weeks! Best of all, everything run by us, is completely FREE so you don’t have to pay a single penny.

focuses on making commuters and students SMILE on those dreaded Monday mornings. This is taking place on Monday 19 February from 9am and the campaign is in support of Fairtrade and kicks off Student Volunteer Week. Volunteers will hand out balloons and Fairtrade flapjacks, bananas and refreshments whilst counting the smiles we receive! To take part please sign up in advance by either coming into the Uxbridge Students’ Union office and putting your name down on the sign-up sheet or by emailing your interest to rhona.noel@bucks.ac.uk.

We also run theatre trips which are always extremely popular. For this term, we’re really excited to announce that we will be taking our students to see the masterpiece that is Aladdin and more information about this trip will be available soon.

Recreational Activities:

Skills Training Sessions:

A few of the recreational activities we have in store this term include; Play more cards day! On Monday Keeping Fit: 26 February join us in Pulse café where we will be From Monday 12 February we have our fantastic fun embracing the card games many of us grew up playing. fitness class; BEATCAMP beginning. An upbeat fitness In a time where electronic games are at an all-time high session which will run from 6.10-7.10pm on Mondays it is important to keep our minds stimulated and take a in The Park Room. We also have Yoga and Meditation step back from the technological aids that are so easily sessions and these will run on Tuesdays from 13-27 available to us. Join us from 11am and; remember, February, 5.10-6.10pm in The Park Room. These are both reminisce, learn and teach games such as; Go Fish, drop in sessions with no sign up required beforehand. Crazy Eights, Rummy, Solitaire and more! For more information please contact our Student With many of nursing students having child dependants Experience Assistant, Rhona Noel on we also try our best to offer child tickets for events rhona.noel@bucks.ac.uk or just pop into the Uxbridge wherever possible. Saturday 3 March sees us run a trip Students’ Union office for a chat. to the London Sea Life Aquarium. Places for this trip Volunteering: are inclusive of one adult and one child ticket. Please The Smile Campaign is back! We’re currently looking visit the Students’ Union website to book a space for for volunteers to get involved with this campaign which yourself and one child to attend this trip.

To keep up to date with all of the recreational activities we have on this term please keep an eye out on the Uxbridge ‘Whats On’ page on the Students' Union website bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson.

Here at Bucks we also run additional skills training sessions to help boost your employability and give you transferable skills. Skills sessions running this term include: British Sign Language taking place on Wednesday 21 February. This is an interactive course which is designed to teach you the basics when communicating using sign language. We also have Emergency First Aid taking place on Wednesday 28 February. Finally, we also have Professional Cooking Classes on offer so if you’ve just moved away from home for the first time and want to learn how to cook or just want to fine tune your cooking skills then this course is for you! For more information on any of the above courses please visit the Student’ Union website. If you have any particular skills training courses, rec. activities or sports in mind that you would like to take part in, please email rhona.noel@bucks.ac.uk.

19-25 FEBRUARY Each year Bucks Students’ Union takes part in a national week called Student Volunteering Week. Student volunteering week takes place from 19-25 February 2018. This is the 17th year that Student Volunteering Week is taking place. In 2017 students and staff from 60 Higher and Further Education Institutions led 298 events. Getting involved offers a great chance for students to develop their skills while forming key social action partnerships in local communities.

come and speak to the volunteering department. This could be fundraising for a charity close to your heart, getting your classmates some experience or maybe even trying something new.

As well as all the activities we have planned, do remember that we offer volunteering opportunities all year round. Have you ever visited our portal to see what we have got to offer? Head to the website, follow student activities, and then on to Here at Bucks we are extremely for what we have the volunteering portal. You will have to register as planned this year! a volunteer which takes just 2 minutes to but once We want you to get involved and try something new, done so you are good to go. Have a browse through have a great fun filled week helping others and enjoy the opportunities we advertise on behalf of our that warm fuzzy feeling you will get.. community projects and see if there is one right for you. If there is nothing that takes your fancy We have around 13 events organised with maybe then please let us know. We want to help you find more to come but we also want to help you find something which is perfect. something to get involved with or even take the lead on. If you have any ideas of a volunteering/ The first time I got involved with volunteering was fundraising activity’s you would like to take the by taking part in Student Volunteering Week! The SMILE campaign was my favourite event and now I lead on during student volunteering week please ALL WEEK

have started I don’t want to stop. I enjoyed helping others and seeing them smile, the warm fuzzy feeling is like a bug you can’t shake off. Trust me you will love it once you start. Lauren O’Shea our current VPEW was a platinum volunteer reaching a whopping 438 hours. “Whilst studying I had the opportunity to volunteer with children from the local community in a special educational needs school. We entertained to students of the school by acting out their favourite story books. Interacting with the children and seeing the smiles on their faces made spending a morning dressed as John from Peter Pan worth it!” If you don’t fancy taking part in a volunteering activity why not do a handful of good deeds. Check the flyers around campus during Student Volunteering Week and see if you can complete the full list! Let us know what you get up to by hashtagging #BucksgoodDeed.

WED 21 FEB

FRI 23 FEB

Library Fine Donations

Volunteer To Boost Your Career: 1.30-2.30pm, N4.03

One Can Trust: noon-3pm, Students’ Union Offices

Be sure to pay your library fines during Student Volunteering Week

A workshop to help you find out exactly what employers think of volunteering,

One Can Trust a local foodbank are looking for volunteers to

for them to be donated to our two RAG charities.

how to talk about the volunteering you have done in interviews and on your CV.

help collect donations outside of Tesco supermarket.

Charity Shop Volunteering

RAG Takeover: 8-10pm, The Venue

Volunteering Social: 5-7pm, The Lounge

Ever wanted to help a local charity shop? All our charity shops

RAG are taking over Frat House to raise money for Wycombe Mind and Wycombe

Celebrate all your hard work and let your hair down.

in High Wycombe are in need of volunteers!

Rape Crisis. Dress up like it’s the 90s for this party; featuring performances, games

MON 19 FEB SMILE Campaign: 7.30-10am, Concourse

and music from your childhood!

THUR 22 FEB

Help us make everyone smile and start their day off right.

Green Thursdays 10am-1pm, Wycombe Rye Lido Car Park

We will be handing out Fairtrade bananas and flapjacks for a smile in return.

Chiltern Rangers run a volunteer conservation group every Thursday, which is open

Good Deed Day: noon-5pm, Students’ Union Offices Head out onto campus or into town and give a helping hand!

TUE 20 FEB Volley4RAG: 6-10pm, Events Hall Annual intermural volleyball tournament to raise money for Wycombe Mind and Wycombe Rape Crisis.

to all and we want you to get involved.

Wiggly Bags: 11am-2.30pm, Back of Beats Cafe Help us make Wiggly Bags (small fabric bags to hold the medical tubes from a Hickman line) for children and teenagers in the UK.

SAT 24 FEB BNU Dance Comp: Events Hall Help with the smooth running of BNU Dance Clubs annual competition.

February Issue

By Rebecca Hamer

Student Volunteer Week.

28 February Issue

Volley4RAG // Handball Society.

By Giulio Magliano

VOLLEY4RAG Volley4RAG has been one of the biggest RAG events hosted by Bucks Students’ Union over the last few years.

Rules: • Each team must have a maximum of three individual touches once it passed to the other half of the court. If you make three or more touches, you lose the point. It is a recreational sporting event where all societies and sport clubs come together and have a friendly competition of volleyball. There will be two courts set up, one for men and one for women, so that means groups cannot be mixed unfortunately. That does not mean you have to be a society to play, you can even make your own individual group and take part. Being men’s volleyball captain and also ambassador for this sport, I consider this to be one of my highlights this year because it unifies the whole university to play a sport that is not as recognised as others and seeing everyone participating and actually enjoying the sport is heart-warming (even though volleyball lost…). Each group has to have a number of 8-10 players and there will be 6 players on court.

• No player is allowed to touch the net during play, otherwise it is a point for the opposition

Each group must pay £10 for entry and all the money will be donated to our RAG charities and this year’s two charities that have been chosen are Wycombe Mind and Wycombe Rape Crisis. The event takes place on Tue 20 Feb 6pm-10pm. You can wear whatever you want to the charity event, you could wear casual sports clothes or even think of a group theme. Fancy dress is encouraged and there will be a prize to the best dressed team. Deadline for team entries is Fri 16 Feb at 4pm at the Union Reception.

• Once the ball hits the ground on the opposite side of the court, you get a point. If your team member hits a ball that is out of bounds, then you lose the point. I will keep everyone up to date and informed in the next couple of weeks and hope that you spread the word If you are still struggling to understand the rules or have around the whole University. any questions about volleyball in general, then you are more than welcome to join our recreational sessions on Last year’s Volley4RAG was a great success with up to Saturdays from 2-4pm. We will do some drills, play a £300 pounds being donated, let’s make this year’s event game and most of all, have fun!!! even bigger and even better!!! We all want you to get involved to play for a good cause. Not just me as captain and ambassador, but the whole University.

Feel free to contact me: giulio.magliano@hotmail.com or pop into the Students’ Union offices and see one of the Student Activities team.

By Hufriya Mehta

LOOKING FOR A BREAK FROM STUDYING? Are you looking to take a break from the relentless hours of reading or whatever it is that you put long hours into? Tired of drinking caffeinated drinks and pulling those all-nighters and coming into Uni the next day looking like someone from the Walking Dead?

Well, there is a solution! Come join the Handball Society! Here, you get to throw and catch a ball and shoot into the net, or the goalie, your choice, but preferably the net. For those who do not know what Handball is, you need to watch more alternative sports. Anyway, Handball is a combination of football, basketball and netball with a full- on cardio workout! Woo! And yes, it really that easy! We may be a Sport for Fun, but we play like a Sports team. Your Chairman, Joshua, is a qualified Level 1 coach who plans each session in advance making sessions worthwhile! If you don’t know how to play, it’s ok, we make every week as fun and exciting as possible whilst teaching you the rules. We hope that by the end of the session, you know what the game is all about. And no, this sport is not ‘just for men’! We have an increase in female players too and is likely to double in the future because “This Girl Can” play Handball too!

In celebration of our growing popularity, we decided to go on our first ever Social! Well, we just went bowling. There was some serious competition by our members Bradley, Giulio, Karolina and Theo and the rest of us played for fun, as you do. Also, we did a Christmas Special, by playing in our Christmas jumpers. Photo credit goes to Sam. You know, you could be one of them too, just sign up and you might see your picture in the papers!

energetic session! Claim your hour and half of exercise and give yourself a break from staring at words in a book or on a screen.

Additionally, the Committee members are investing further in making our society as interesting as possible by buying glue to help you to catch, especially when it is thrown across the court and not hit your head, hopefully. We will continue to invest to ensure that all our players are getting the best from the sport!

Don’t forget to join our Facebook group: Bucks Handball Society 2017/2018! We hope to see you there! If you have any queries at all please email Joshua: joshuajames.kidby@outlook.com.

For the last year we have been saying, “we aim to get a friendly”, and well, we did! But unfortunately, we were not able to play because of University commitments and that Arsenal match in the Emirates Stadium. However, it is rescheduled in February, the date is not confirmed, but when it is, we shall let you know! Want to see this for yourself? Come down to the Events Hall at the High Wycombe campus every Tuesday between 7.00pm and 8.30 pm for an

Your committee members are Joshua Kidby as your Chairman, Theo Agginie as your Secretary, and Hufriya Mehta as your Treasurer. We are here to ensure that the society runs smoothly. We listen to our members if they have any concerns and ensure they enjoy every session.

THE PLAUSIBILITY OF SWORDS, DRESSES AND WONDER WOMAN: THE SCIENCE OF SWORDS

It was at breakfast, or rather, the breakfast of students *cough* *cough* lunch time, that the question arose of how plausible the scene from Wonder Woman, where Gal Gadot has the sword tucked down the back of her dress, was with an actual sword. Thus, we came to the decision to test whether it was possible or not. So, with the female collective of Bucks Blades, the testing began. With a collection of low backed dresses, and a handful of swords, obviously, we began our very accurate scientific experiment. With two main questions in mind. One, could the dress sustain the weight of the sword? And, two, was it possible to draw it? Then there was the question of whether one could move around and dance whilst still concealing said sword down the back of one’s dress. And, yes, we are aware that this is already a thing, see the aptly named #WWGotYourBackChallenge. We thought we would simply add to it…

The Bucks Blades Wonder Woman Experiment Equipment: • An Arming Sword • A Hand-and-a-Half Sword • A collection of low backed dresses Method: 1. Slide sword down back of dress, between your shoulder blades, to the point where the cross-guard is hung on the hem of your dress, and the base of the hilt and pommel is positioned in the middle to the top of the space between your shoulder blades. 2. Move about, dance and generally be a badass in your newly accessorised dress. 3. Attempt to draw the sword. 4. Repeat. Through various tests, we found that it was indeed possible to sustain the weight of the sword with the back of the dress. Moving was somewhat tedious, depending on the dress of which one was wearing. And, drawing the sword was possible, though for the length of the sword we were using, both were just a tad too long, and the arming sword was a tad too far down to properly grab when in need. In conclusion, if one had a shorter sword, with a long hilt and grip, the Wonder Woman sword down the back of your dress affair is entirely possible. So, get accessorising. - The Women of Bucks Blades

Here are some pictures from our experiment:

P.S. There was the question of, if Wonder Women’s sword is made of a metal that can cut through anything, material or otherwise, how did it not take slashes out of her dress. The only answer we could find for this was plot, and the writers amongst the group agreed.

February Issue

BUCKS BLADES By Morgan Outlaw, Jess Miles & Georgie Lucas

Bucks Blades.

30 February Issue

Cheer.

BNU SWANS By Keeley Hamilton

We haven’t just been shaking our Pom Poms! teams, who are now all working really hard on our competition routines! We held a super cute cat and mouse themed welcome games for the freshers and had a fox and hound social with Rugby, which was a lot of fun! We have had lots of brilliant socials Our first term consisted of moving freshers into their including Halloween and attended lots of other clubs halls, having a stall at Uxbridge and High takeovers. We also hosted our very own Glitter Fest Wycombe fresher fairs and holding Takeover, which was amazing! We had a great turn a welcome presentation out, raised lots of money for the club and everyone for all the new enjoyed themselves getting involved with the games Swans. We had and watching the performances! successful try We were very excited to order all of our new stash outs for and uniforms for this year and book ourselves our Pom, into two Legacy competitions –Just Believe, super Jazz and regional championship in London on 17-18 February Main and Dream Extreme, super regional championship Cheer in Birmingham on 24-25 March! Last year we were able to bring home three 1st place and two 2nd place trophies, and we are looking forward to bringing home even more amazing trophies this year! The BNU Swans have not stopped since the start of the year! As comp season approaches training is our main focus however we have been very busy doing so many interesting things so far!

We have been lucky enough to fit in lots of volunteering! Including the Macmillan Coffee Morning and Breast Cancer Now stalls, selling poppies around the high street and taking part in the Movember Fun

Run. We have also held our own bake sale in which was a great success, raising lots of money for RAG! Our term ended by visiting Ryeview Manor to put on a brilliant performance on our Christmas all-dayer before a lovely Chirstmas dinner all together! This term we are planning for a whole lot more excitement! We will be going to support even more different sports teams home games, and have lots of performance opportunities in store! We also ran a sponsored fun run on Saturday 27 January in order to raise money for our club, which will allow us to send our cheerleaders to open gyms in order to work on their tumbles for competition routines! However, as excited as we are for comps, we also cannot wait to support all of the other sports teams at varsity, attend AU dinner and host our end of year showcase! It’s been a fantastic year so far and the fun is sure to continue! Don’t forget to follow all of our social media accounts for all of our important updates! Like our Facebook page ‘BNU Swans Cheer Squad’ and join ‘BNU Swans Social Page 2017/18’, follow our Instagram @bnuswanscheersquad, twitter @BNUSwans and add our snapchat @swanscheersquad.

TAKEOVER AND THE NEW YEAR! Bucks Ladies FC had a very busy ending to the 2017 year so we wanted to update everyone on how 2017 ended for us, and how we look to spend 2018! WOW! What a night! Our first ever Takeover, and it didn’t go too badly! Bucks Ladies FC would like to thank all the clubs that supported our evening - We will be sure so support yours! We had so much fun, such a laugh and we hope you did too. The idea came about when we as female footballers decided it was about time our LGBTQ+ community was represented a little more within the sporting world. We know Stonewall did a big campaign for the Rainbow Laces a couple of years ago so we wanted to continue their great work by dedicating an entire evening to it. Our fabulous drag act Chrystal Enigma was amazing! She had us in stitches on the sidelines, we hope she did the same for you too! There were some great prizes and some great games, we hope that you enjoy spending them as much as you did winning them! A HUGE shout out to BNU Dance, helping us open the evening with

WE ARRIVED AT THE GAME EXPECTING A COMPLETE HAMMERING, AND LEFT THE GAME WITH A WIN!

their fabulous ‘Raining Men’ routine, Bucks Ladies FC absolutely love the Dancers and all their routines so we’re very thankful for their help. Lastly, but by no means least, we want to thank everyone that took part in the games, big or small, volunteering to get up on stage isn’t the easiest thing to do but we hope you had fun either way! Takeovers are completely new to Bucks Ladies FC, so hopefully next year we can top this one! Not much of the season is left but we’re looking forward to all the Takeovers that are coming up! It’s already 2018?! Bucks Ladies are back and ready to carry on tearing up the field. The last game of 2017 for Bucks Ladies FC was very exciting. Travelling to Herts ground, we expected to lose the game, not a single player had their head up, although Captain Sophie

Murphy talked the talk and tried to inspire the players, the atmosphere was low. A free kick was given, outside of the box by quite a few yards, Alix Todd lined it up and scored! We couldn’t believe it, within 10 minutes of the game, we were up, and then it didn't stop. 1st year Hayley Cruickshanks made her debut goal... and then another! We arrived at the game expecting a complete hammering, and left the game with a win. A very happy drive home, a very happy celebratory evening also. Now it’s the new year, a new page has been turned, but at Bucks Ladies FC we are very much still reading the same book. Determined to win the league, the second half of the season will be tough as only 1 game is a home. The players are pumped. We are ready for the road to Varsity. Bring on 2018.

February Issue

By Julie Botwood

Bucks Ladies' FC.

Quick break.

February Issue

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