GUIDE 2012 www.warwicksu.com
welcome to
warwick
Congratulations on securing a place at the University of Warwick and welcome to the UK! You are about to begin an amazing chapter in your life and all the team here at the Students’ Union is here to help you through your time at Warwick. We understand you may feel a bit homesick at first, that the most basic things can seem complicated or confusing and the language and different accents are a bit daunting. Please do not worry, you will get lots of support and understanding and you should be very proud of having taken the huge step to come to a new country to learn. We at the Students’ Union will do all we can to help you. Warwick University is a respected International institution and almost 40% of students here are from outside the UK, so you won’t be alone. This new adventure will see you meet and make new friends, have new experiences, try new food and drink, travel to new places and get involved in lots of fun and exciting new activities outside of your academic life. Just remember to take advantage of the opportunities available to you, don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help and come and use all the facilities and services the Students’ Union has to offer you. We are here for you so, you will never be alone and we look forward to welcoming you in person into the Students’ Union and helping make a difference to your time at University.
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what isnioan
students’ u
Every university in the UK has one, so what’s the big deal? Well, a Students’ Union is a representative organisation that seeks to represent and advocate the needs and wants of students to their respective universities. SU’s are independent of universities but work with them to enhance the student experience and equip students with transferable skills to go into the wider world. Students’ Unions are run by full-time elected student representatives who have individual mandates and responsibilities. These are referred to as Sabbatical Officers. They sit in high-level meetings with the university and run everything the Students’ Union does.
who runs it?
Every year, Warwick students elect seven students to work full-time and run the Union, representing your interests. These seven individuals direct Warwick Students’ Union, campaigning for change in the local area and lobbying the university to improve the lives of all Warwick Students. Every student has a vote and any student is able to run for an elected position. Look out for elections in February. (Also be sure to check out your seven Sabbatical Officers for the 2012-2013 year on the next page).
These are student-run extra-curricular groups that all students can join, depending on their individual interests. If you love Football, Hockey or Rugby or if there is a sport you would love to try but have never had the opportunity, then you can do so while here at Warwick. Societies are groups set up by people who share the same interests – whether that is academic (Economics Society for example), cultural (Chinese Society), musical (Revelation Gospel Choir) or just something fun (Cheese & Chocolate Society). There is also a society called World@Warwick which has been set up to celebrate all things international, including culture and language. You can join one or more societies or sports clubs to make your time at Warwick an experience to remember. Check out www.warwicksu.com/societies
The ma jority of courses at Warwick University have their own Student-Staff Liaison Committees (SSLC), which is made up of both students and staff members within your department. SSLCs work to discuss important issues relating to the lives of students within respective departments. Any student can run to be elected onto an SSLC. Look out for elections announcements at the beginning of term! It is also a great way to meet people, great for personal development and great for your CV. If you have any questions, email samantha.sandilands@warwicksu.com
your team for this year... As your elected representatives, the Sabbatical Officers, together with the Union Management staff, are responsible for helping you get the most out of your Warwick experience. Based in the SUHQ building, they are available for advice and support on a whole range of issues, so please come and see them anytime about anything you want to talk about while at Warwick. Each has their own area, so check out who’s who below:
Nick
During the last few years I have been involved in a wide variety of sports clubs and societies, trying new things that have made my time at Warwick absolutely brilliant and led to my involvement in the running of the Students’ Union. As President of Warwick SU, I am here to represent every student and their interests to the University and wider community. As a team of Sabbatical Officers, we run the Students’ Union with the primary goal of enhancing the experience of students at Warwick, providing both support for club and society activities and independent advice for all students when they need it. We also operate great services, including several bars and restaurants, a nightclub and even a traditional British pub, The Dirty Duck!
PRESIDENT
president@warwicksu.com My role this year will be looking at academic quality, with the aim to make sure you get more from your study. As well as issues on feedback and contact hours, I’ll be working on advice and guidance on good scholarly practice, which is crucial when studying for the first time in the UK. I’m also your go-to-guy if you need advice or support on all academic issues, so feel free to visit my office, phone or email me.
James
EDUCATION OFFICER
education@warwicksu.com
Although not officially an international student, I grew up in Germany, went to Munich International School and did the IB. My job at the Union has two parts. One aspect is overseeing and facilitating democratic processes. The other is responsibility for the Union’s £7 million turnover. That means ensuring that spending is solely geared towards benefiting students. It also includes making sure that the Union’s outlets are delivering the services that students want and expect at a price you agree with.
Cosmo
DEMOCRACY & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER ddo@warwicksu.com
It is my job to represent all Postgraduate students. I meet regularly with the University to improve the quality of Postgraduate education. Postgraduate life is very different from Undergraduate study. Postgrads have distinct needs and lifestyles, and we are here to support you in all aspects of your time at Warwick.
Anna
If you have any problems with your course or department, feel free to send me an email or pop into my office so that I can do my best to help you out!
POSTGRADUATE OFFICER postgrads@warwicksu.com
If there is anything that doesn’t go quite to plan while you are here, I’m always here to chat and help out with any problems you may encounter at University – whether it be accommodation, buses, mental and sexual health or if you want to get involved in any of our campaigns and community projects. I met many new International Students at the Latin Night last year, back when I was running the Salsa Society, and we had a lot of fun! I’d love to see you all there this year!
Ben
WELFARE & CAMPAIGNS OFFICER welfare@warwicksu.com
At Warwick we have over 230 societies, which are groups of students interested in a particular activity or cause. Many societies have a great international vibe – particularly World@Warwick and our annual One World Week, which celebrates Warwick’s cultural diversity. You can come and find me in SUHQ any time - I studied abroad in my third year, so have first-hand knowledge of the highs and lows of being far from home and adapting to new academic settings. You can email me via societies@warwicksu.com, or add me on Facebook - just search for ‘Silkie Cragg Societies Officer’.
Si l K i e
SOCIETIES OFFICER
societies@warwicksu.com
Having been involved in sport at University since my Freshers Week, it has been a huge chapter of my last three years. As your Sports Officer, it is my role to encourage you to participate in the variety of sporting opportunities Warwick can offer all students. With the ma jority of our sports clubs catering for all abilities with competitive, recreational and development teams, (as well as a number of intramural leagues, fitness classes and Varsity events), there is undoubtedly something for you!
Bam
SPORTS OFFICER
sports@warwicksu.com
or popping aigns Officer, anytime by email, phone You can talk to Ben, your Welfare & Camp dential confi and free a Students’ Union also has into his office in the SUHQ building. The ors advis the and SUHQ of floor top the on e. It is service called the Student Advice Centr tion, moda accom es, immigration, academic worri are there to help you with issues such as and ul helpf and ly friend really are They welfare. discrimination, and all aspects of your They are so nothing will shock or surprise them. they deal with over 7000 queries a year, ! there to support you, so please use them
The University runs an invaluable confidential counselling service, together with a faithbased alternative (if you feel it is more appropriate to speak to someone of faith). The University Counselling Service provides an opportunity for all Warwick students to access professional counselling so that they may better develop and fulfil their personal, academic and professional potential. Go to go.warwick.ac.uk/supportservices for more information.
Disability Services work to help address barriers to study for students with hearing and visual impairments, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, mobility impairments, dysgraphia, ‘unseen’ disabilities such as asthma, epilepsy and diabetes, plus any other conditions. Find out more at go.warwick.ac.uk/disability
Socialising and having fun are essential parts of your university experience. There is no better place to meet new people and lifelong friends than The Copper Rooms and The Terrace Bar, where all tastes and styles are catered for. The Terrace Bar is a sleek, modern bar with a fantastic range of drinks and beers from around the globe. Here you can grab a coffee, log on to WiFi and watch campus go by from the huge balcony overlooking the Piazza. Meanwhile in The Copper Rooms, you’ll find the craziest parties, best PA system and highest-profile artists in the area! Previous live acts and DJs have included Mark Ronson, Tinie Tempah, Eric Prydz, The Killers, DJ Fresh and many more! For students who speak English as a second language, World@Warwick run a Language Café in The Terrace Bar on fortnightly Thursdays, which is a great way to practice your language skills in a social environment! On alternate Thursdays, W@W also present Global, an event that showcases music, art and dance from the many cultures that are represented here at Warwick. In addition, be sure to try Mixology, which plays brand new Tech House and Electro every other Thursday. On Fridays, it gets a little ‘old skool’ with Get Funked’s sound track of Funk, Soul and Hip-Hop. Idioteque delivers a highly eclectic range of new Indie and Electronica every other Wednesday, and YOU can be the DJ on alternate Saturdays at our brand new miTunes event where you can bring in your own music to play to the masses! Those looking for more of a party should head straight to The Copper Rooms! You’ll find events from Ministry of Sound, the biggest Dance music brand in the world, to high-profile live gigs and our fun, regular club events like POP!, Top Banana, Skool Dayz and Pressure. Whether you love chart music, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Dubstep or Bhangra, you’ll be sure to find something to get your party started! Look out too for special one-off events throughout the year, such as the massive Summer Party at the end of term, the decadent Christmas Ball, the Bavarian Bierkeller event, paint parties, foam parties and the biggest festival of its kind: One World Week! Check www.warwicksu.com/events for tickets and more details, and follow @warwicksuents on Twitter to be the first in the know! See you down the front!
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