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The Onion

30 April 2007
Published by the
USSU Comms. Office. read
Issue Number 3 me
FREE
www.ussu.co.uk The University of Surrey Students’ Union Newsletter

In this 8
page edition Individual Achievement Awards
UPDATES FROM THE Nominations are in!
SABBATICAL OFFICERS
INDIVIDUAL Bringing Excellence to Student Senior Resident of
| PAGE 2 & 3 ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Led Liaison in Academia the Year Award
Elisabeth Simon Panos Georgiou (International House)
WHAT’S GOING ON? Best Newcomer Laleh Mohabbat Frances McGonigle (Hazel Farm)
Matt Cheetham Hong Phuc Vu (Surrey Court)
GRAPEVINE Yash Agarwal International Student Award
| PAGES 4 & 5 Tony Hanson Olivier Rey Part Time Staff Award
Laleh Mohabbat Brett Hosking Owen Ellender
Michael Anton Lauren McCabe
KNOW YOURSELF REVIEW James Bristow
Laleh Mohabbat
| PAGE 7 Outstanding Contribution Madiha Latif Best USSU Welfare Amenity
to Student Democracy Zhongyu Zhang LGBT Society
ELECTION REVIEW Gareth Giles PostGraduate Association
Paul Follows Outstanding Contribution to the St. John Ambulance LINKS
| PAGE 8 Greg Scott Student Community
Luke Jeffries
NIGHTLINE RETURNS Student Media Award Laleh Mohabbat
| PAGE 6 Sarah Horsley Farquan Khan Student Awards ‘07
James Bristow
Owen Hindley
Joshua Bates
James Bristow
Thursday May 10th
VOLUNTEERING Joshua Bates Darryl Tott Seasons Restaurant
| PAGE 8 Tony Hanson 7pm
Matt Cheetham

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Your Officers
The Onion
2 30 April - 25 May 2007

Updates from the Sabbs • Boris Johnson event was coordinated with the University usage of the facilities. this has been complimented by sitting
Union President: Greg Scott
and the assistance of the Conservative Society. on the design board for the new Surrey Centre for Sport,
the £35 million sports complex the University is building
• New website gone live! Check it out at www.ussu.co.uk.
• NUS Southeast regional campaign for greater loans for on Manor Park, helping to ensure that we can get the most
Minor works still needed to update all pages, but overall it’s a
students in the SE of England. possible use out of this new facility.
significant improvement to before.
•Worked to streamline Sabb roles and responsibilities to
allow each sabb to better do their job for next year and to
VP Sport & Recreation: When not sitting on University boards, I have been
ensure all initiatives of the Union were covered by an elected
Nick ‘Manakin’ Short endeavouring to find sponsors for the sports clubs. Rather
than chase curry houses and my Dad’s mates, I have,
representative.This lead to an increase from 4 to 5 sabbaticals
Starting any job where your with the help of the USSU marketing Dept., been putting
for next year.
goal is as vague as “To make together mail-outs and presentations in order to chase
Sport and the Union better high level corporate sponsors. This has been supplemented
• Working with University Marketing on launch of the new
than when you started” by negotiating a cross University clothing contract with
University Brand.
gives you fantastic scope for Airosport in order to create one cross club look and brand.
developing ideas, but can be My idea has been to have every club rolling out each week
• Involved in University restructuring efforts to ensure that
daunting, as the magnitude of in identical, tracksuits and kit so the Surrey can turn up at
students are not negatively affected in the shift from 8 Schools
manifesto promises dawns. The fixtures and tournaments looking like one big team, and use
to 4 Faculties.
first three months were spent sponsorship to make them as cheap as possible.
rapidly learning the ropes, with
• Working group for National Student Survey. Currently
issues as diverse as national Despite the long hours and hard work, I have thoroughly
43.5% of final year students have filled it out. That’s good, but
representation at the British enjoyed this year, and despite the end being in sight, with my
not good enough. The Union’s goal is 80%, and we hope to
Universities Sports Association successor having already being elected, there is still lots to
achieve that in the next 3 weeks.
in Cardiff, attending N.U.S. training in Hertfordshire, sitting do to continue pushing the boundaries of sport here at the
on the executive boards for the Surrey Centre for Sport, University of Surrey.
• Working group to improve freshers induction to University
the Students’ Union and UniSport, preparing for September,
upon arrival in September.
the Freshers and the start of the BUSA leagues.
• Working group for under 18s to ensure appropriate
Since September, I have concentrated on rationalising and
attention given to these students.
the practices of sports clubs in order to make running the
clubs less arduous and give committees more time to work
•Working group for a new campus card to improve the
within the club rather than get caught up in red tape. This
capabilities of what the current card can do.
required the Activities Office to have more information
about the clubs, their members and their needs and led to
• Updating rules for granting funding requests to clubs and
the coaching audit, the membership forms and an activity
societies.
review. Much of my time this year has been spent representing
student sporting interests to the University, sitting on the
• Event calendar - first time non-traded activity included in
bi-weekly UniSport managers meetings, negotiating student
this printing.

Editorial Team
INFORMATION CO-ORDINATOR | LAURAN CARTER
| l.carter@surrey.ac.uk
WELFARE SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR | KATHY JONES
DAVE Review
This has been a record breaking year for the DAVE Thursday 10th May to be presented with a certificate.
| katherine.jones@surrey.ac.uk Project; 53 sessions, 605 participations and an overall
ACADEMIC SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR | PAUL COWARD satisfaction rating of 87%! DAVE is taking a break now – but will be back in October
| p.coward@surrey.ac.uk with new sessions, revamped resources and a new
STUDENT ACTIVITIES MANAGER | AMY FAWCETT DAVE Extra was launched with an Advanced Negotiations training team! Keep checking www.thedaveproject.co.uk
| a.fawcett@surrey.ac.uk Skills Course delivered by Mac Derwig, University for details.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR | HELEN JACKSON Treasurer, followed by Enterprise with sessions on
| h.jackson@surrey.ac.uk Delegation Skills and Sales Skills. If you are interested in joining the DAVE Training
Team contact a.fawcett@surrey.ac.uk for more
UNION PRESIDENT | GREG SCOTT The DAVE Training team of Alex Ushamirskya, Daniel information.
| ussu.president@surrey.ac.uk Jones, Natacha Thomas, Nadine Lorenz, Tom Knight
VP EDUCATION & WELFARE | GABBY SHOLK and Nicola Ewens delivered over 95 hours of training
| ussu.edwelfare@surrey.ac.uk between them and received a satisfaction rating of 93%
VP SOCIETIES & CULTURE | THAYANA DE PAULA for their support and help during the sessions - another
| ussu.societies@surrey.ac.uk record for DAVE!
VP SPORTS & RECREATION | NICK ‘MANKIN’ SHORT
| ussu.sports@surrey.ac.uk Any student who has achieved a Bronze, Silver or Gold
ID Award will be invited to the Annual Student Awards on
Your Union
The Onion
30 April - 25 May 2007 3

VP Education & Welfare: Schools/Department to allow the issues within schools to faced a lot of bureaucracies that no one knows that exists.
Gabriella Scholk be solved as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you are However it got much better during the year. Apart from
interested please e-mail me, however there are a limited that I worked as much as I cold to get some of my targets
• The ‘Know Yourself’ campaign number of available. done! I loved to be able to be involved with so many different
has finally come to an end, students, to be able to get involved with the different cultures
and hopefully has touched a • Welfare Standing is now up and running (Thanks to the that we have on our campus. Further more one of my big
few people and made some Ethics & Equal Opportunities Officer!) and we are currently achievements it was the International week, Gala night we
re-evaluate themselves. The trying to piece together all the welfare amenities different were extremely busy we sold out, also organising Chinese
Extending Opportunities Art needs, in order to really stream line any issues that might New Year it was very interesting. Bringing back RAG to our
Display was a huge success, come up or work together to create events that some might campus after two year, the feeling of helping was fantastic,
as was the Laughter Hour want to. however it was hard to organise because we haven’t got in
that was hosted by the Health the USSU the mentality of charity as we should so I had jus
Centre. The art can still be seen on our web page along • Nightline is going to be re-launched next year, so if anyone a small number of people helping me!! And finally feeling that
with the information of the past events (www.ussu.co.uk/ is interested please contact me. Everyone has to undergo this Students union has lots of potential I am organising a
knowyourself) If you have any feedback about the campaign training. Next year Nightline promises to be a well managed RAG evening in conjunction with Brunel on the 4th of May
– positive or negative, please let us know. More campaigns and well established group with a real presence on campus. on the Pirates evening lots of surprises the students will love
are in the planning stage – if anyone has any ideas, opinions, it!!!
thoughts or genius groundbreaking creative ways to engage • The University is currently writing a Gender Equality Thank you for the opportunity that the all of you gave me to
the student population, please contact me. Scheme and are looking for student input – there is currently tray and fight for all the students, thank you Zoë Riding, Amy
a questionnaire on www.survey.surrey.ac.uk/ges2/ Fawcett, Debora Cody, Helen Jackson, for all the support on
• Along with the Postgraduate Students’ Officer and the my journey in the union. I did tray a lot to change things; I
Student Experience Exec member, I am trying to create a VP Societies & Culture: hope the new VP Societies and individual development will
‘ad hoc’ group of dedicated students to tale the place what Thayana De Paula carry on fighting for all the students.
is intended to be the UG and PG CSRCs ( Cross School
Representation Committees ). The CSRCs are meant to be a My Year has been very busy with louts of ups and downs!!! Thank you very much
direct line from the VP Education & Welfare and the different When I arrived in the union I had lots of plans, however I Thay

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Remember to sign up to the Students’ Union Newsletter, Grapevine, at
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Remember to sign up to the Students’ Union Newsletter, Grapevine, at
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Nightline & By-election
The Onion
6 30 April - 25 May 2007

Nightline:The Big Comeback


without judgement? Nightline is a listening and information
service run by students, for students. In order for it to be a
success, then, we need you.

So, what could Nightline do for you? If you became a


Following a review of the service, the USSU is resurrecting Nightliner, you’d be fully trained in skills essential to your
Nightline. And we’re looking for people like you. university career. You’d grow in confidence and your listening
skills would be second to none. You’d also be part of a group of
John spends most evenings in his room, alone. He talks to likeminded individuals who actually care about how students
his friends back home on MSN, and rarely ventures from his are feeling on campus. Not only will the word ‘nightline’ look
halls. He sees his fellow students, going out, returning late at excellent on your CV, but it will make a lasting impression on
night, loud and happy. He wishes he could join in but he just your future.
can’t seem to start a conversation. Everyone else seems so
together, working and playing hard. He just wishes there was Following a review of the service provided, and the
someone he could talk to. recommendations of the University care services, we can now
proudly announce that the USSU will now play a far more
That’s where you come in. Could you be the person who active role in the care and support of volunteers, recruitment If you’re interested in hearing more about becoming
stands between John and a spiral of isolation and depression? and training. Nightline undoubtedly belongs to (and is run a Nightliner, please register your interest by emailing
Do you think you could listen to his problems, no matter what by) the student volunteers, but will now be overseen and katherine.jones@surrey.ac.uk
the circumstance? Most importantly, would you do all this guided by the Representation and Welfare Unit.
Know Yourself
The Onion
30 April - 25 May 2007 7

Know Yourself Review Brennan, works with people


who are at risk of mental
illness and homelessness,
building their confidence
through art and a sense
of community. The art on
display ranged from large
framed landscapes to works
This year’s Know Yourself mental health awareness campaign such as ‘whisper in the
brought some unusual sights and sounds to the campus. wind’, by James, which was a raw expression
Kathy Jones, in the Representation and Welfare Unit, looks of the isolation he feels. Rachel could see the
over the events on offer and asks ... ‘how well do we really change in the artists as they interacted with
know ourselves?’ students in the lecture theatre concourse.
The display had really brought them out of
You might have been having your twisty fries in Chancellors their usual routine, and their confidence, as a
when you were interrupted by 40 singers doing a sea-shanty. result, is on the up.
You could have been on your way to a lecture when you came The art is still on display (and for sale! In
across 60 pictures in an art display. So, what was it all about? support of the group) via our website
It was the Know Yourself campaign – and you know it makes www.ussu.co.uk/knowyourself - so if
sense. The Know Yourself campaign aimed to reach out to the you didn’t come across the display,
mental wellbeing of the student population through activities check it out.
and events which students wouldn’t normally experience on
campus. From edgy film nights to acoustic covers of Gnarls Other smaller events hosted on
Barkley, this was the campaign not to be missed. behalf of the Know Yourself campaign
included the ‘Why Have Faith?’
Things kicked off in style when the Guildford Vox Community focus group, which was a lunchtime
Choir launched into their set in the middle of Chancellors on packed with interesting discussion. Hosted by Sarah Talcott, -Always…especially after a few Ciders! Is that bad?
a busy Monday evening. Students put down their pints and the University’s multi-faith worker, the subject stationed on
took notice as the large and diverse group of local people, what it was like to be religious, and whether we need religion -If I met myself in the street I hope I would.
conducted by folk singer Anna Tabbush, entertained the in our lives, or on the campus.
enthusiastic crowd with a wide range of lively music, ranging
-I most certainly do, but it took me a while to get there!
from lively African chants, to songs by Abba and Elvis. The The health centre then joined the Know Yourself cause by
concert was a great success, and although it’s not something hosting their very own ‘Laughter Hour’. This was quite an -More than you do. Use what you learn and pass it on.
Chancellors have hosted before, the Vox now plan to return experience, hosted by a laughter facilitator, who told us we
at Christmas. Guildford Vox meet every Monday evening, would be put through our laughter paces, and that 100 laughs, -When I’m sober, perhaps s this question hints at the wrong
7-9pm at the Guildford Institute, and they welcome new (even if they are fake), are worth 10 minutes on a rowing direction I’m travelling in… Note to self: Drink less from now
members. To learn more visit www.guildfordvox.org.uk machine. We did many laughter exercises, including laughter on…
yoga, and laughter meditation. None of which are easily
Concert over, and it was time to turn our attention to the described, but all of which are worth doing if ever you get -I think so, It’s has taken 23 years but I reckon there’s still
Extending Opportunity Art Display, which was on in the the chance. The laughter hour was a very popular addition to some surprises in store!
main lecture theatre concourse for three days. Extending the campaign, and we hope to host another in the future.
Opportunity are based in Ludlow Road and linked with the
-I wish I knew myself like I know what I want in life.
Farnham Road Hospital. Occupational Therapist, Rachel Our final big Union event for the campaign
was our Know Yourself acoustic night, -I know myself, only person who would!
which took the place of ‘Channies Live’ on
the Sunday night. We were graced by the -Course! I’m arrogant and vain!
presence of several strong local talents, and
our headline acts – Rob Fisher, Manu and -I’ll never finish knowing myself! There is some left for
Ben Fawson – all played some great tunes tomorrow.
and some well received covers, then joined
forces at the end for a fabulous rendition of -There is still more to find out as life goes on, more facets
Billie Jean. The gig was very well received by to discover.
everyone there, and gave us an opportunity
to ask some people ‘exactly how well do So, how about you? How well do you know yourself? We
you know yourself?’ hope you enjoyed the Know Yourself campaign. Watch this
space for the results of our Draw Yourself competition, soon
A few of the most interesting responses to be announced. Until then, visit our website www.ussu.
are below: co.uk/knowyourself for more. Open your mind. Know
Yourself.
-I don’t know my own strengths.
Volunteering & New Officers
The Onion
8 30 April - 25 May 2007

Student Volunteering Week


The V Project (Student & Staff volunteering scheme) marked USSU held a volunteering fayre, inviting on to campus a along with a group of students who regularly volunteer at
National Student Volunteering Week from 26 Feb- 3 March wide variety of local organisations who are recruiting new Brooklands on the Concorde restoration project. The day
with a Volunteering Fayre & a one-off Volunteering day at volunteers. The fayre showcased many different community was a great opportunity for the students participating on
Brooklands Museum. volunteering opportunities appealing to the diverse range of the Concorde project to showcase their progress on the
Universities around the country celebrated student skills & interests of students & staff. supersonic aircraft to other students & for both to help out
volunteering activity & promoted volunteering projects. 25 Students also took part on a one-day volunteering at the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation.
Volunteering is increasingly becoming a popular activity for activity at Brooklands Museum on Saturday 3 March, assisting The events held in order to mark National Student
students at University & is recognised by employers as one of with various maintenance tasks across the 30 acre Museum Volunteering Week introduced staff & students to volunteering
the main means by which students can develop & demonstrate site. Tasks included cleaning museum vehicles and aircraft & allowed some of those already volunteering to share their
key skills for employment. Student volunteering has also exhibits as well as repainting the Museum’s hands-on gallery experiences.
had a significant impact on community organisations, with Discovery@Brooklands and parts of the Museum’s Jackson
many organisations increasingly looking to recruit student Shed Grand Prix Exhibition building. If you are interested in hearing about Voluntary opportunities
volunteers for more in-depth, student led projects. Student volunteers were recruited for the one-day tasks contact Helen Jackson: h.jackson@surrey.ac.uk

The Election Review


Believe it or not over the past month election fever has been Winston Churchill in his long robe like coat, brought a tear able to spend £25 on chocolate in One Stop and am now
rife on campus, although you may well have not been a victim to my eye, a tear of laughter it has to be said but he was the expecting a few bars back in return, you know who you are!
of this particular strain of the virus because all in all its impact last man standing on each day no matter what the weather The E Voting fell flat on its face on the first morning of
on the university as a whole came and went without leaving through at him he stood firm, hats off to ya boy! voting and was given the hook and sent to the scrap yard;
a trace, well maybe the odd ripped down poster rolling like a Alex Collins, towering over everyone preaching his mantra the system in fact was an E-Counting system not the online
tumbleweed outside of the library. to the flocks of students outside of his beloved management voting that we had all envisaged, the fact that I persuaded over
First there was a cast of 9 candidates this swiftly became school, fought a fair campaign and had a large gaggle of young a dozen students to come to a briefing in order to be able to
8 and then even more quickly became 7, due to a mixture ladies by his side at all times I must admit it was one of my use this new technology and then it failed so miserably was
of change of hearts and unfortunate illness the election more arduous tasks having to keep a close eye on them;-) a most amusing and the tale of the tape would read, paper 1
bandwagon hurtled along the windy road, we were going to Sophia, who has spent the best part of the last year as editor technology 0.
have this election no matter what. of barefacts, fought off the attentions of a RON campaign to In the end 1300 votes were cast around campus, last year
This year we had rumours of sleaze, whispers of corruption triumphantly cross the finish line in first place, I will have the the total was 1400 but that was with 3 more candidates so all
and the promise of E-voting, none of which proved to be true, pleasure of sharing an office with her next year and I am in all the number of active voters has stayed the same and the
but it all added to the general fun and excitement at least in confident she will inject some of her own brand of Sophie- question still remains how can we get more students involved
my own head if not in anyone else’s. ness into the RAWU. in the election process?
My own personal highlights and memories; Mad Mikey, as I like to call him was full of enthusiasm and So elections, do you care, do you heck and don’t stand
Posters oh the posters, ‘Vote for Gems’ one day and ‘Vote good ideas and I am sure he will go on to great things in the there and try and tell me you do care because I know you
for Smeg’ the next, whoever says students don’t have a sense future and even though he was saying to me that he was tired don’t, so don’t even waste my time or yours. In fact the only
of humour hey? I know he loved every minute of the election. way I am going to know that you do give a monkeys’ is if this
The guy with the guitar on Madiha’s team, I salute you mate, The police, my loyal troop of Metro Police, they were time next year we have twice as many candidates and double
excellent, maybe the only bit of lively campaigning over the fantastic and helped man the election booths and kept going the number of voters and the campus is actually buzzing
week and it certainly kept me entertained as I was running even though the there was often a lull in voting, special rather than just humming! I am not questioning the need for
around in circles checking up on my police and the candidates. mention goes out to Brianna and Vicki who worked with me an election, in fact I loved it and I would do it again without a
“Vote for Mad,Vote for Mad,Vote for Mad!” Classic! on one night in Rubix and had to fed off the drunken masses, doubt, it would just be cool if more students got involved.
The sight of Zeph, the newly elected VP Societies and but all in all everyone in the Police was fantastic and I hope
Individual Development, strutting around almost like a young they enjoyed the experience as much as I did somehow I was Peace Out - Police Chief Metro - Paul Coward

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