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...... ................... . Your Official Union Newsletter
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...... ................... . February 2009
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View TopLeft online at www.birminghamcitysu.com

Extraordinary DAY OUT

..............................................................................................

Extrodinary Conference soveriegn document structures into the 21st

Are you a final year undergraduate? Do you want your as seen through the around which the NUS Century.’
opinions on your student experience to be heard? eyes of Oz Hetherington operates. The 2nd EC
(Union President)... took place on Tuesday 20 Birmingham City
Take part in the National Student Survey. It’s quick to January 2009 and was to Students’ Union has
complete and you’ll be helping prospective students NUS has been attempting be a historic day beyond consistently committed
make the right choices of where and what to study. to reform its democratic it simply being the to support NUS reform
structures for as long inauguration of Barack and 9 of our students set
as I can remember. A Obama as US President.
new constitution was For this was the day of Continues inside.
debated last year at an the second and final NUS
extraordinary conference Extraordinary Conference.
but needs to be ratified ‘The Conference at which
at a second to pass the students would finally
whole document as the choose to bring NUS’s

Continued from front.
Extraordinary DAY OUT
..............................................................................................
off to Wolverhampton’s
Civic Hall, anticipating a
fun-filled day of debating.
NUS conferences are
renowned for bringing
out a wide array of
political activists and
so on arrival we were
greeted by the usual
barrage of socialist
leaflets and flyers slating
our national leaders
and government and
including other issues
which we should be
aware of. Nevertheless
we made it through
unscathed and without
any papercuts.
The morning commenced
with an empowering
speech by Wes Streeting,
Top of the Class
.......................................
Every month the Union
celebrates the hard work of one
of our casual staff emplyees.
Well done to Harriet King!
‘‘
I am a fourth
year Marketing,
Advertising and PR
student and I work for
the Union in my (limited!)
spare time. Working as
student staff member
for the Union involves
manning the Reception
on Level 2 of the Union
Building, City North
Campus where I sell
university merchandise
and NUS cards amongst
other things. My other
NUS President and as
usual he was greeted by
a great eruption of noise
from the conference
floor. The whole day went
swimmingly until just
after lunch, debates on
Israel and Gaza started
coming through all of the
discussions. While I think
that this is a debate worth
having, this was not the
time or the place. This
came to a pinnacle when
members of socialist
workers and the socialist
movement occupied the
stage. They continued to
protest about the issue
which for some was
intimidating, I felt some
of the comments to be
anti-Semitic which, from
role is working on the
reception in the ARC
(Activities & Resource
Centre), this is where
students come to join
societies and sports. I
love working at the Union
as it’s very easy to fit in
around my University ‘‘
work and it’s a good
laugh. I can’t believe I
am Employee of the
month, thanks guys!
my understanding, is not
what the faction is about.
So what happened to
reform? Well once the
interruption was cleared,
I am pleased to say we
did manage to discuss
the NUS constitution
and pass it with just the
majority needed. I am
personally delighted that
NUS has finally made
these changes and in
advance of the main
conference. It gives the
national union a clear
chance to now get on
with better representing
students. For more
information and to see
what NUS says visit our
website www.nus.org.uk.
Grad Ball
..........................
Acting on your
suggestions this year
we will be holding a
Graduate Ball. This
will be a great chance
to celebrate in style
and see your friends
once again before the
summer break. We’d
like to make this a truly
memorable event, so we
welcome all students’
opinions on what the
Grad Ball should look
and feel like. To have
your say please contact
Dave Solloway at union.
commercial@bcu.ac.uk
or 0121 331 6813.
It’s decision time…
.............................................................................................
Exec Elections 2009
Nominations: MON 9th
- FRI 27th FebRUARY
Voting: Monday 9th
– Friday 13th Mar
Every spring, students
vote in elections for the
people who will run their
Union the following year,
and one of them could be
you!
Executive Officers are in
charge of every aspect
of the Students’ Union;
from organising sports
teams and events at Bar
42 to leading campaigns
against higher top-up
fees. Any student can
stand in the elections: all
you need are the ideas
to make the university
a better place and the
determination to put
them into action.
Involvement Week!
.............................................................................................
Ever thought you weren’t
getting good enough
value for your money?
Well, now you can!
Boost your university
experience by getting
involved. From 23rd
February, we have a
week full of fayres at
different campuses
showcasing loads of
different volunteering
opportunities, a large
range of our societies
Being an Exec is an
exciting and rewarding
job that also looks
great on your CV: not
many graduates can say
they’ve been company
directors when they
apply for jobs!
If you think you have
what it takes to run
your Union and you
want to find out more,
come to one of our
Executive Drop Ins in
February. Anyone who
wants to help you with
your campaign can also
come along. You’ll be
able to meet current
Officers and Staff and
get answers to all your
questions about elections
and life as an Exec.
If you don’t think the
Executive is for you but
you would still like to
and many more ways
you could get involved to
make the most of being
here at Birmingham City
University.
The fayres are run in
conjunction with National
Student Volunteering
Week; encouraging
students around the
world to be inspired, get
involved, gain new skills
and give something back
to your community.
get involved with the
Students’ Union, there are
many other opportunities.
We will also be holding
elections for NUS
National Conference in
March, so if you would
like to represent your
fellow students on a
national stage and help
shape decisions about
the future of the student
movement then we would
love to hear from you.
Whatever you are
interested in, go to www.
birminghamcitysu.com/
elections or email union.
comms@bcu.ac.uk for
more information.
So, whether you want
to volunteer with the
youth offending team,
become a member of
the Hindu society, or just
understand more about
how to get involved with
the Students’ Union, be
sure to come down to
your local fayre! You can
find out more about the
involvement fayre on
your campus at www.
birminghamcitysu.com or
call 0121 331 6804.

Village Inn Improvements
.............................................................................................
Village Inn now has
a new entertainment
programme; from
Karaoke on a Monday
through to live bands
on a Friday with a Pool
Competition, Cocktail
Night and Quiz night
thrown in too! There
are drinks offers every
day with a 2 pint jug of
beer for £3 or a double
spirit (selected lines)
and mixer for £2.50.
Weekends at Village Inn
have also changed; it is
now open from 12pm on
Saturday and Sunday so
that you can settle in for
the afternoon to watch
the live sporting events
or just keep up-to-date
with the football scores.
A questionnaire is being
sent around Hamstead
Campus for your
opinion on the current
entertainment at the
The Big ‘Wild
West’ Squeeze
.............................
Monday 9th February
sees the 2nd Birmingham
City Students’ Union bar
crawl of the year. The
theme is the Wild Wild
West - Boots, chaps and
cowboy hats... nothing
else matters!! T-shirt
prices are £6 and only £5
with an NUS Extra Card.
T-shirts will be on sale as
of Monday 2nd February
from all union outlets.
New Menu at
Bar 42
.............................
This term sees a new
menu at Bar 42. Along
with the baguettes,
Jacket Potatoes and
Burgers, we have
now added some old
favourites including;
Sausages & Mash, Chilli &
Rice and Fish & Chips. At
just £3 each, it’s too good
an opportunity to miss!
Village Inn and what you
think should be added
to the programme; if you
haven’t yet received your
questionnaire, just ask for
one at the bar.
Get £200 for
your Talent!
...........................
Birmingham City’s Go
Talent will take place
during Term 2 with
heats at Union bars on
Thursdays throughout
February. The grand
final is scheduled for
the 19th March. If you
can sing, juggle or
have a dancing pet,
get your application
in now! All talents
are welcome to apply.
You can download an
application form from
www.birminghamcitysu.
com/talent or pick
one up from any Union
reception. The prize for
this competition is a
paid performance slot -
with a payment of £200
- at the End of Year Ball
as well as some great
prizes! Closing date for
Entrants: Friday 6th
February 2009.
Need a Laugh?
...........................
Laugh out loud
Paramount Comedy at
Bar 42! Tuesday 3rd Feb
plays host to our forth
amazing Comedy night.
Doors open at 8pm
and it is a night not to
be missed; at just £4 a
ticket it’s a real bargain!
This time the laughter
will come from Sean
Percival, Sean Walsh
and Maff Brown. Arrive
early to ensure you get
a seat!
Live Lounge...
..............................................................
Lounge… has some new mug of coffee. There is
and exciting offers for also a new entertainment
you. Monday is ‘Healthy programme at Lounge…;
Day’ where you can Karaoke on a Monday
buy a smoothie for night, Cocktails on a
Half Price! That’s only Wednesday night and a
£1.25 to get your week Quiz on Thursday night
off to a healthy start! – if you needed an excuse
Wednesday sees 2-4-1 to visit Lounge…, there
offers on Drinks; whether are 3 for you!
you would prefer tea for
two or a cheeky glass
of wine after a long day,
Lounge… is the place to
go. Friday is ‘Indulgence
Day’ and what better way
to indulge than with a
nice piece of cake and a
Fairtrade Week
.............................................................
Monday 2nd to Friday the poorest, weakest
6th March is Fairtrade producers. It enables
Week; during this week them to improve their
you will be able to get position and have more
half price hot drinks at control over their lives.
Café Direct and Lounge… For more information,
visit www.fairtrade.org.uk.
Fairtrade is about
better prices, decent
working conditions,
local sustainability, and
fair terms of trade for
farmers and workers in
the developing world.
By requiring companies
to pay sustainable
prices (which must
never fall lower than the
market price), Fairtrade
addresses the injustices
of conventional trade,
which traditionally
discriminates against
Student Council -
We still need you!
.............................................................
Care about your Union?
Want to get involved
in a body that makes a
difference? Then join
Student Council.
There are 69 Student
Council positions in total,
but we still have a few
outstanding we’d like you
to fill. These are:
Societies position
LGBT student
Be Inspired, Get Involved!
..............................................................................................
Birmingham City
Students’ Union is here
to help each and every
one of you and also offer
ways for you to develop
yourself both personally
and professionally.
One of the ways you
can do this is by giving
up some of your time
to Volunteer. At the
Students’ Union we are
here to help you achieve
exactly this. We have
links with lots of external
volunteer projects all
ready and waiting for a
fresh, enthusiastic face
Disabled student
International student
Student studying at
Bournville, Vittoria
Street, Margaret Street.
Technology, innovation
and development, 5
places
Faculty of Health, 8
places
Business School, 1
place
Performance, Media &
English, 1 position at
MPt
to help them make a real
difference.
The projects range from
Age Concern, Friends
of the Earth, Youth
Offending Team, Witness
Service to Birmingham
Children’s Hospital, BUMP
and Volunteer Reading
Help.
Volunteering can give
you so much and most
opportunities only ask for
a few hours commitment
a week. You can have
the chance to try out
a potential career, gain
BIAD, 1 position at
Vittoria street, 1
position at Margaret
Street and 1 position at
Bournville
For more info visit www.
birminghamcitysu.com or
email union.comms@bcu.
ac.uk
valuable skills, enhance
your employability and
support a cause you are
really passionate about.
By volunteering you
are also making a real
difference in the local
community and to other
people’s lives.
So come in to any Union
office or visit www.
birminghamcitysu.com/
volunteering to find out
more about volunteering
and all the other amazing
ways your Union can help
you.
Acting on our
members’ voices...
.............................................................
Suggestion:
Communicate better with
students at TIC. Have the
Exec / full members go
and talk to students at
TIC at least once a week!
Tell students at TIC what
is going on and have
events during the day
at the TIC. Get results
out quicker (at the TIC).
Halal food at University
canteen.
Response:
I’m sure you’ll be happy
to know we now have a
Part Time Exec Officer for
the TIC campus. His name
is Lewis Read and he can
be contacted at union.
comp@bcu.ac.uk. We
have also assigned all Full
Time Sabbatical Officers
a campus they must visit
at least once a week; Oz
Hetherington (President)
has been assigned to TIC.
You can contact him at
union.president@bcu.
ac.uk. With regards to
Halal meat, the canteen
at TIC is run by the
University not the Union;
so this is something they
would have to deal with.
However, we shall pass
on your comments and
if you need any help to
get them to serve Halal
meat contact any of your
Executive Officers who
will be more than happy
to help.
Suggestion:
Why don’t you take
cards. Very annoying
to have to get cash out
every time.
Response:
Taking cards has been an
ongoing debate for some
time now and talking
with our commercial
department, there are
some implications with
taking cards at Union
outlets. However the
team have said they are
going to look into the
processes of taking cards
so watch this space for
updates.
Suggestion:
Photocopies too
expensive - should be
2p a sheet. Faxing very
expensive.
Response:
The photocopying prices
were set in line with
the University’s pricing
structure. As for the
faxing, your comment has
flagged up the pricing of
HOW CAN
YOUR STU WE MAKE
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aphic purpose ................................
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Name ................................ our feedbac ................k.................................
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your time. Pleas
Visit www.birming e pop me in the
hamcitysu.com/ha suggestion
Namebox.
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veyoursay to see ................................
ourCamp
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Thank you for
your time. Plea
Visit www.birming
hamcitysu.com
faxing and it is something
that we’re looking into.
Suggestion:
Opening hours are too
short, why not till 4pm.
Response:
Do not fear we have
reviewed reception
opening hours and this
year reception will be
open longer. To find out
what times what outlets
are open visit www.
birminghamcitysu.com.
If you’d like to make a
suggestion of your own
or read more of our
responses visit www.
birminghamcitysu.com/
haveyoursay and help us
make your Union better!
BIRMINGHAM
CITY STUDEN
TS’
UNION existS
to act on ou
r
members’ vo
ices
and cultivat
e
vibrant
and united
communitie
s
for better
student life
...