Sabbatical

Ever wondered what happened to all the milkmen? 

We know that Red Bull gives you wiiings to get out of bed and get the most out of your day.   So we've kidnapped all the old milkmen and have replaced them with the Bull Man!

Throughout 2010 he will be cruising around 42 universities nationwide in the Red Bull milk float, giving students wiiings and leaving milky drinks like tea and coffee at the curb. 

So how does it work?

The Bull Man delivers an envelope containing a flat-packed milk crates through the letter boxes of student houses.

The next day students can leave the constructed milk crate on their door step and the Bull Man will come back and deliver the house some wiiings.

Will you be lucky enough to receive a visit???

My year is slowly coming to an end.....and what a year it has been!!

I can say confidently that the main issue students in Cheshire have been talking about this year is car parking. All year students have fed me case studies and filled in questionnaires about how its effecting your experience. I can say, here at MMUnion, we haven't just sat back and listened.....

You can now find the report that consolidates all of this information, to inform the University of the damage it has done to your experience. We have also made suggestions at the end to ensure imrovement are made.

I am now in consultation with the travel team to make sure these suggestions are met. Currently we are looking at the criteria to ensure it is fair to all students. AND, we have insured you wont have to pay and display again this year as a day student.

Please read and give any feedback you may have.

Rhiannion Sears, my successor will be ensuring this topic stays at the forefront of the Universities agenda until Cheshire students are satisfied!

Happy reading

http://www.mmunion.co.uk/pageassets/talktous/campaigns/intersite/cheshire_travel_plan.pdf

Leanne

s.u.vpcheshire@mmu.ac.uk

Well where to start...it's been busy busy busy in the Activities Department.

The Easter Holidays saw a few trips organised by students going abroad.  Most of the sports teams competed in their respective sports on the Spanish coast on their annual Sports Tour.  It was one of the most sucessful trips of recent times with everyone having a really good time on the pitches, on the beach and in the clubs. The mountaineering club took a group away to France to do some extreme sports off mountains and caves. Much fun was had by all who attended.

Other activities which have been happening are the Hiking Club took a group away for the weekend to try and complete the 3 peaks challenge in 24 hours.  9 people took part and only 4 managed all three peaks!  That shows just how blooming difficult it was! Ben Neviws looked like a ski slope, Scafell Pike was climed in the dark and by the time Snowdon came rund, well everyone's legs were giving way!

Team Photos are now in, everyone looks super representing their teams and clubs!

Tickets for Activities Ball on 22nd May are now on sale online  Nominations for awards are being taken until Friday 30th May.

Hi Guys

OOOO' whats occuring........well

Nus Conference, Voting, Travel Plan, Student Parents, Catering, Masquerade Ball, Inter-Faculty Cup, Student Forum and MP debates & SSF

NUS Conference:

I attended NUS Conference last week, as your elected delegate to debate and vote on national policy and your national representatives. Have a look at the different reports and results online http://www.officeronline.co.uk

Higher Education fees were top of the agenda, highlighting the importance that every student should register to vote on May 6th. Which party will you be voting for?? Well especially for conference the three party leaders gave a 5minute speech specifically on how they would support students in government. Take a look via this link: http://www.nus.org.uk/en/News/News/Party-Leaders/

Remember, you need to register by 20th April. We have been lobbying local candidates to make sure they are signing the pledge to vote down a rise to fees.....

The Union are hosting you your very own Crewe and Nantwich MP Candidate debate…..ask them what they are going to do for you locally as a student…jobs, transport, community practice? Make sure your vote counts!

 This will be held along side a student forum, where you can hold your officers accountable and ask them what they have been doing for you! All happening 29^th April, 4pm Delaney 0-01!

http://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/crewe-news/local-crewe-news/2010/03/31/labour-s-mp-hopeful-opposes-rising-university-fees-96135-26140799

****

Your travel plan

Yes thats right!!! the report is done and it will be available online very very soon.

My plans are to send it to University 'bigs' and consult on the raised issues, to ensure they same problems do not arise the coming academic year. We are looking for consultation with students, no extra costs to students, commitment to working with the Local Authority on public transport, greener methods and alternative parking fairer criteria in applying-modelled to the 'real student situation'

Student Staff Forum is being held on the 27th April in the overdraught @ The Student Zone. We have ensured staff members are there to directly answer your questions.

Following from the previous SSF, I have been following up the complaints concerning Catering. I now have a scheduled consultation meeting with University managers to make sure they are taking into account student feedback. (In my previous year I provided forum minutes, student complaints and 100's of student questionnaires regarding your feedback on catering....but yet to see the results of this) With more students in Crewe next year, we need to get this right.  What would you like to see? Do you have any complaints?

Please let me know, I already have a number of students comments and the previous SSF minutes to support our argument.

****

Are you a student parent? Do you know a student parent? Would you like to support student parents?

After looking at national research http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/NUS_SP_report_web.pdf (this is the national report in which MMU, inparticular our staff member Paul Norman, contributed a lot of the information)

and using our own research,student parents really do need their Union.

11% of students at MMU are parents (induction survey, 2009)

Would you like more support from your Union

*Events that you can bring your children too? *Campaigns that support timetabling do you can organise your childcare more effectively *National discounts that benefit you as a parent? *Advice and support? We can help. Please contact me.....we will be arranging an open coffee morning (all children welcome) so you can talk to other student parents, seek support and get your Union behind you. If your an artist, dancer, practitioner, coach.......etc etc...could you provide children with activities while their parents are studying? Could this help your course? Again, please contact me!

****

End of Year Masquerade Ball

Preperations have been made, the venue is amazing, the theme (even if I do say so myself) is awesome..........get your tickets! It promises to be the best night and we don’t have many left! http://mmu.ukmsl.net/whatson/cheshire/  (Buy tickets here) or in the shop!

****

Interfaculty Cup

This Wednesday sees another highly competitive, friendly competition between Manchester and Cheshire.....who will win. Come down and find out....games from 12.30, timetables available from Union shops! Results in the Wes, Party at Normas! See you there

s.u.vpcheshire@mmu.ac.uk

Leanne xx

A general election will be called this year, to be held on or before 3 June 2010. We are asking students to use their vote in the forthcoming general election to support candidates that would vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament – and would pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative.

Nationally students compose 15% of the electorate but are traditionally a low participation group in elections. As a result of low participation rates student issues are often neglected.

At present we don't know when the election is going to be held. Calling a General Election is the right of the sitting Prime Minister. The election needs to take place between now and 3 June 2010. However, the precise date is unknown.

What you can do ...

Register to Vote

You need to register to vote in the upcoming general election. Find out how ...

Sign the Pledge

Pledge to support candidates that will vote against an increase in fees in parliament. Sign the Pledge ...

Support the Campaign

Are you on twitter? Why not add a Vote For Students twibbon to your profile picture. Twibbon up here ...

Vote at the Election

When the election is called you should recieve a polling card with the details of your polling station. You don't need the card to vote. Go along to the polling station on election day and cast your vote.

JR

Your cast off's are another person's treasure!  Bring in your unwanted colthes and swap them something special! The event is on Thursday 25th February, 12-2pm, the Met, Students' Union as part of Go Green Week

MMUnion Community Carbon Ambassadors is being run in partnership with NUS , sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

As an alternative to Interfaculty (wednesday 20th January) which has been postponed due to the awful weather, MMU Netball club are hosting a fun, fancy dress tournament for anyone and everyone to enter.  It's £1 per person to enter, with teams of 7 players needed.  Half teams and individuals will be matched up. Boys and Girls are all welcome!

3.30-5.30pm, Sugden Centre, Courts C and D

On that day there is also going to be:

Touch Rugby 2-3pm and Football 3-4pm, Sugden 5aside pitch