A Little Meeting for BIG Changes

We saw 162 of you turn up to the Little Student Meeting. Now 162 students out of 17,000 that attend Bournemouth University doesn't seem a lot, but this is the most of you we have had at a General Meeting in over 9 years! This is also the first year in a while we have had more than one quorate meeting in a year! So thank you!

8 motions were put forward by you and out of those 7 were approved. The only one that wasn't was regarding changing semesterisation so there's only one set of exams in a year instead of having exams in the first week back after Christmas. This didn't sit well with you, so it's not being changed!

Now I did a survey involving all members that attended the Student Meeting and pizza wasn't the top of the list regarding the reasons you came! Even though we gave out free pizza during the meeting, the biggest reason why you came was to voice your opinion and because you were interested. One lady at the end even admitted she came because of the pizza, but in the end she was glad she came as she found out more about what SUBU does and had the chance to voice her opinion and vote on things that mattered.



Since the last Student Meeting in October a lot has changed. There has been a few tried solutions to the cancelled 'A' bus and there is now a bus running round Westbourne, The Triangle and Town in the mornings and evenings to transport students. I am still working on the sexual health clinic, which closed down in December, but with participation and co-operation from a few organisations, this is looking hopeful!

So you can see things do change and they will change providing you continue to tell us what you want us to change!

You did your bit in January, so now we will deliver on ours. Expect to see campaigns, protests and news of lobbies to get make your changes to YOUR University experience.



Here is a quick low down of the issues you raised and passed for us to work on, or you can go online to download the motions in full and the minutes of the meeting:
http://subu.org.uk/content/26725/your_union/annual__general_meetings/


1/ Coninuity in Teaching - for BU to consult with students more when redunancies are forecast

2/ Hidden Course Costs
BU should make it clear from the outset if there are expenditures students will have to pay that are separate from fees and get the budgets back to the courses that need them most.

3/ Student Personal Advertising via e-mail
To work with BU to provide an online space where students can advertise accommodation and personal items.

4/ The Union that Supports No2ID
To oppose the introduction of ID cards, compulsory registration and the national identity register and affiliate with the No2ID campaign.

5/ The Union Opposes Government furthering the Rise in Student Debt
To oppose the removal of the cap on tuition fees and the £900m cuts in university funding being imposed by the government

6/ Library Computer Usage
To change the booking system on library computers where the time limit is set to 2.5 hours by proposing the sessions to be renewed every hour.

7/ CitygateChurch
BU to find a suitable, accessible location for lectures currently delivered at Citygate without incurring additional costs to students.

Join some of the debates and leave your comments on the Facebook groups:

Hidden Course Costs - http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=451311855477&ref=ts
Citygate Protest - http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=263921762998&ref=ts

Any feedback is more than welcome, just email Hannah: suvpcomms@bournemouth.ac.uk

We've got the Nerve*!

Last week was a very exciting week for the Communications team in SUBU!

We had the arrival of Tony our new Technician and Vicky, our new Designer. They are both very skilled in what the do and Vicky can do interactive emails, so my communication to students is going to start getting even more colourful and exciting!

We also had a student on placement for a week; James Trosh and he sorted out Nerve* Radio for us. He fixed the stream to the internet so students can listen in 24/7 again. He also updated, redesigned and organised the website so it's more accessible and easy to use. James also got a webcam up in the radio studio so as well as listening to student's shows you can also watch them...AND...it's snowing!!!! That got me very excited :) Take a look, it's awesome - http://www.subu.org.uk/nervemedia/content/32595/nerve_radio/

After a student requested to bring his friend in to play his guitar live on air on his show we have now started Nerve* Lounge! There is now a permanent slot 3-4pm every Thursday. If you tuned in last week you will know how amazing Zoe Mead was singing and playing the guitar! Jacqui put in a request for her to do an up-to-date chart song, so Zoe got the chords and did it! She sang Rhianna live on Nerve* Radio and she did it amazingly!

James has also set up a Twitter account for Nerve* Radio so students can tweet in shout outs and comments as and when the shows are on. Tweet to @NerveRadio. Thanks James for all your help, you're amazing!

Anyway too much excitment for one week. As for this week tomorrow Scott and I are going to buy Bournemouth House a Christmas present; we are going to Argos to buy a microwave and put it in the shop in BH so students can heat food for free!

Stay Classy Bournemouth

Hannah :)

La la la la Lansdowne

I guess it's about time another blog came about! We have been working a lot in Lansdowne. There has been at least one sabbatical officer in Studland and Bournemouth Houses talking to students every Tuesday and finding out what they want and how we can better their University experience.

The students at Lansdowne get a bit of a raw deal as to facilities and things on offer; they don't get a bar, a gym or desks for writing on in some of their lecture theatres and they had their refectory taken away in the summer with no warning, leaving them with an expensive Costa Coffee.

After speaking to students Scott has been busy at work trying to make a few things happen:

• Provide a microwave for students to heat up food or hot food to sell in the Shop
• Provide recycling bins for students to use on a regular basis
• We are in talks with IT Services to either update or replace the 5 computers that are available in the space
• Improve and update the signage so students can be clear on what services and people are there to help them enjoy University Life
• In the long-term run more regular SUBU Leadership Programme sessions in the space opening up access to all Lansdowne students
• We are in the process of getting new seating with tablets in Wollstonecroft Lecture Theatre to allow students to take notes.

I am on the case of providing better signage for the Bournemouth House SUBU area and today Scott and I have been asking students what kinds of hot food they would like in the Shop, which we have passed on to our commercial manager.

After a comment from a 3rd year student that Lansdowne aren't really able to get involved in any sports as they don't get Wednesdays off and they aren't fully aware of the clubs and societies available, I am arranging a refreshers' fair in Lansdowne for March time. This will be for all years to attend to find out what's on offer for you and what you can get involved in.

Other things students have brought up are:

The Old Fire Station tickets aren't sold in the shop in BH, so students have to come to Talbot to buy them

To place a compost bin in BH as well as the recycling bin.

To have a fresh water tap available for use.

Costa are charging 55p just for hot water, which is rediculous. James has spoken to the Chartwells manager about this and has managed to reduce the price to 25p a cup. No, it's still not free, but more than halfing the price was a big result.

It is really hot in the Wollstonecroft and a few students find this unbareable.

We are taking on board all of your comments to do our best to help you out. If there is anything else you would like to bring up that is concerning you then please let us know. You can email me at suvpcomms@bournemouth.ac.uk or join us on www.facebook.com/sububournemouth

Stay Classy Bournemouth

Hannah x
VP Communications

SHAG week is not for shagging, but for safe shagging!

I am very excited right now! Last week I met with Body Positive, an organisation which looks into the ways we can feel good in the bodies we have, about the Sexual Health Clinic.

As you may know the Sexual Health Clinic in Talbot House has lost it's funding due to an overspend of the PCT (Primary Care Trust) and is due to reside all services and close at the end of 2009.

Body Positive are interested in working with SUBU to set up another clinic. I have just gotten off the phone with the Practice Manager of Talbot Medical Centre and she is also excited about this prospect and is eager to keep the clinic open.

I am also meeting with Counsellor Chris Wakefield tomorrow regarding ways in which we can keep the clinic open. It's all looking up for the clinic, but I won't speak too soon.

I will keep everyone up-to-date after all my meetings are done and something starts to materialise!

SHAG Week is coming up! Thursday 26th-Wednesday 2nd December brings Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance Week. There will be many things going on to promote sexual health and make students aware of the facts and importance of looking after yourself in that respect.

The line up so far -

30th November & 2nd December

- 10:30 - 2:30 - F-risky will be in the Atrium giving out free chlamydia self-testing kits and you will receive freebies when the test is completed!

1st December -

8pm - Dylan's Quiz SHAG special

1st December is also World Aids Day

There is to be a talk from the police on women's (and men's) safety...details yet to be confirmed.

Facts will be put around campus about sexual health for students to pick up, hopefully with some kind of freebie attached!

I did an interview with Youthnet in October and they have put together a video regarding opinions from students on alcohol and sexual health...

Here are some sexual health facts from F-risky to finish off...

As many as 1 in 10 young people in the UK have Chlamydia.

As many as 70% of women and 50% of men who have an STI, don't show any symptoms.

There are an estimated 20,000 HIV positive people in the UK who don't know they've got HIV.

In the last 10 years, the number of people infected with chlamydia has increased by 206%

Stay Classy Bournemouth, but most importantly, stay safe!

Hannah x

Row row row your boat...

The Students' Union Boat Club are well on their way for the 100,000,000 metre row challenge to raise money for Children in Need. They started at 2pm today (Wed 18th) and they will be rowing for 3 days and 3 nights.

They have 2 rowing machines for use in the challenge to allow them to change location and ensure there is at least one person rowing at all times.

Tomorrow they are moving into Dylan's around 11am. They will some point also be around Asda and Lansdowne and then they will take the final leg in The Old Fire Station on Friday night.

The whole club will be involved from freshers to coaches.

The Boat Club is one of the oldest clubs in the Students' Union, setting up in 1993 and still going strong, being one of the most successful sports at BU. They have had great successes over the year and are also well known for their naked calendar!

There's also big news for James Lee. He has asked to act as Team Manager for Great Britain at the World University Rowing Championships in Szeged, Hungary on 13-15th August and in Amsterdam from 19-22nd August 2010, following his involvement with the Boat Club and his work placement at British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) last year.

Hannah Bananna in Pyjamas

My sister used to call me Hannah Bananna Pojama (yes, Bananna spelt with an extra n so it makes it ryhme with Hannah).

...and now, I'm going to be in pyjamas at work for the day!

No, It's not just because I'm lazy, I will be showering etc as well. It's actually for Children in Need. Staff in SUBU are coming into work on Friday 20th November in their pyjamas to raise money for Children In Need! You can join in too! Just donate some money to CIN in SUBU and stroll out of bed in your pj's!

I just want to point out to everyone that my friend in London has the best pj's ever. They are the same pj's that the boy in 'The Snowman' wears and also the same as this kid in the Colgate advert! He actually looks like the kid as well! I do hope he doesn't mind me using him as an example of great pyjamas! He even wore them last year on Christmas Eve whilst we watched The Snowman!

As for me...I'm going to have to buy some pj's...I don't want to be arrested for indecent exposure. If you are planning on coming in in your pyjamas, please make sure you actually have some!

Also for Children in Need the juggle Soc are doing a 24 hour juggle. Starting at 6pm on Thursday 19th and finishing on Friday 20th December in the Student Centre, Talbot Campus. They will be warming up with a fire show at 6:30 outside of Talbot House on Thursday!

The Boat Club are doing a million metre row...yep, ONE MILLION METRES! Starting off in Poole House Atrium, they will have 2 rowing machines meaning a rower will be in use by a member of the team at all times throughout 3 days and 3 nights! It will also enable them to move location of their rowing to finish off in The Old Fire Station at midnight on Friday night. Come and show your support for the start in Poole House at midday on Wednesday 18th!

Good luck to anyone raising money for Children in Need, it will be a fun and eventful week!

Hannah x

I want to ride my bicycle...

...I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like...

No this isn't a blog about Queen...

A Community Police Officer for Dorset Police came to see me the other day...no I haven't been naughty!

He came to inform me that 13 bikes have been stolen off both the BU and AUCB campuses over the last month and a half.

They are doing all they can to catch the guy that is doing this. In the meantime they are coming into University on 24th November to carry out bike tagging. If you want your bike tagged come to the compound behind Kimmeridge House on Talbot Campus on Tuesday 24th, between 14:00 and 15:30.

There will also be compound cards available to buy. In fact you don't buy them, it's a £5 deposit, which you get back once you return the card and it allows you access to the compound to keep your bike safe and also access to the showers!

The Shop in Poole House sells good sturdy bike locks at a subsidised price, so they will also be there on Tuesday with these for sale.

I have learnt from personal experience to always keep your belongings locked up and safe. My bike was down the alley at my back door and someone stole it from there. It was vintage! Well, not quite, but it was over 15 years old, handed down from my sister. Had very big personal value :( Bad times.

Anyway, it doesn't only go for bikes. Look after your posessions. Student houses are the most likely targets for burglars. Make sure your windows as well as doors are locked and make sure laptops, TV's and other expensive equipment is out of the view of windows. It wasn't that long ago that 5 laptops and TVs were taken from a student house in Winton. Unfortunately in this sad sad world it does happen!