Reducing your student travel costs: Infographic

We spotted this infographic when we were looking for ways to reduce your travel costs. There's some great tips in there, regarding booking ahead, cheap tickets and what to take.

We're not entirely sure what the fake blood is about though...

via Visual.ly

How do you keep travelling costs down?

Alex Slater: The Faculty of life

So, it is more than obvious that I tried to come up with a clever name here (I watched Sherlock at the weekend and thought that I was more than qualified for this task, with a clever yet witty name. More fool me) but somehow failed miserably. None the less, we move on and are better for the experience.

It’s that very magical time of year that we all look forward to the bestest and brightest of our students getting the chance to put themselves forward to be a ‘Faculty Rep’. They're in one of the most influential roles that a student can be in within the University, with the power and responsibility to change just about anything that they see fit. Powerful, right? 

So, I bet I know what you’re thinking (or at least you will be thinking in a second or so) HOW DO THEY DO THIS?!?! (Ok, you weren't...but you are now, MAGIC). They are in a position to sit on the most senior boards within the university, giving them the perfect chance to“create change”. These boards feed directly into UBTL (the University Board for Teaching and Learning) where all the big decisions are made with concerns to teaching and learning, AKA your courses.

Why should you become a Faculty Rep?

All in all, why would you want to be one? What could you possibly get out of it? I’m sure when you leave university you'll want a job. Well, why wouldn’t you? None of us want to worry about security and money, which is often a problem for many unemployed graduates these days. However, what if this is something that didn’t have to apply to you? Employers these days are looking for graduates who stand out more than others, with skills that are gained from outside of your degree programme. As a faculty rep you will be leading a group of course reps (approximately 50+), using their feedback within some of the highest decision making processes (Senate) and working very closely with myself and the VP Academic Affairs (HOW LUCKY ARE YOU, that should be reason enough to run on its own).

Other benefits

Other than getting to represent your fellow students (a benefit in itself) you'll also get a couple of other benefits. These can vary depending on the VP AA but I will tell you a few that I've put in place. I try to keep the meetings as fun and informal as possible where we can share information and ideas, but yet have a laugh. At the beginning training sessions we ordered pizza (on RUSU of course) with dessert of Phish Food ice-cream. In addition to this I have put them on the Union guest list so that they don’t have to pay entry to Wednesday and Saturday nights out (which is a SICK new benefit I've put in place).

The long and short of it is, if you want to stand out from your fellow students in securing that job you always wanted, and feel you have what it takes to represent your fellow students in committees that can have tangible affects across the whole University,  then go nominate yourself! 

Much love.

Alex

VP Academic Affairs

Mojo's: The place where X Factor and Football live happily together!

Image via Wikipedia

Whether you're eXcited about the popstar hopefuls on X Factor or desperate to catch the latest football game on the big screen, Mojo's has something for everyone.

X Factor

Those that want to catch the show on Saturday can watch it from the comfort of Mojo's, complete with a drink and snack. It kicks off at 8pm, and if you get there before 9pm, you don't have to pay to get into 3sixty!

Football

We've got one big screen for this, and four smaller screens!

Games include

Friday 25 November - 19:45 Scotland v England - Sky Sports Victory Shield

Saturday 26 November - 17:00 Arsenal v Fulham Barclays Premier League

Which will you be watching?

Ben Haines: The AGM, NUS Referendum and behind the scenes at RUSU

Hi.

Firstly, I realise that I’ve left it an extended period of time since I did my last little bit of writing. You might be thinking that I’ve done this to create the illusion of suspense and heightened excitement. That’s a bit true but also, us RUSU lot have just been really busy.  Lots of meetings and talking to students, campaigning and representing, combined with other more functional stuff like occasionally sleeping and having a square meal.

However, I’ve not started writing to you all to talk about the busy life of being a sabbatical officer (which is just swell by the way I would encourage you all to run to do it one day!). What I wanted to do is have a little bit of confabulation and a chit chat about some stuff that I reckon is pretty important, the NUS Referendum and the AGM.  I actually chuckled to myself when I wrote this. What must students think of this extra keen RUSU bloke banging on about referendums and AGMs and all other things that promise grandeur, but have a tendency to be in practice a little bit plain? This is the part where I should make it sound genuinely exciting, edge of your seat, anything could happen stuff. You’ll be pleased to know, that really is what I’m going to do on your computer screens.

Firstly, this NUS Referendum stuff…what’s that all about?  Well in short we as a Student Union are currently affiliated to the National Union of Students (NUS).  They’re a really pleasant bunch of ladies and gents who bring SU’s like ours around the country together.  They train people like me right up nice, so that we’re ready for sabbatical life. They issue the NUS Extra cards we use to get discounts in Topshop along with those rascal Mcflurrys you can get for free! They also provide us with an affiliation to their group of people who sell us cheap food and drink, which some of you take advantage of every Wednesday and Saturday night.  What we have to decide as a group of students is whether to remain affiliated with them or not. We pay £40,000 to be a part of the NUS and lots of people will tell you the financial incentives that a Students’ Union receives back, far outweigh the original fee we pay.  You can vote whether to remain affiliated to the NUS at www.rusu.co.uk.  PLEASE PLEASE do log on and vote, it is ever so important.

Right, now onto the AGM.  This event provides a very unique opportunity to have your voice heard. It focuses on lots of things and we’ll be talking about all sorts, but I’d like to draw your attention to three things:

1. Scrutinising the accounts. You can genuinely find out where your Student Union’s money is going and kick us up the bum if we’re spending it in places we shouldn’t be.
2. Hold your trustees to account. Come and tell us what we’re doing well and what we’re doing badly.  We need to hear this stuff so we can get it right!!
3. Free lunchtime buffet. Who doesn’t like free food? There will be samosas and chicken satays, these things alone could drag me to the ends of the earth.

So do take thirty seconds out of your day to vote this week in the referendum and take an hour out of your schedule this coming Tuesday at 1 o’clock to come to 3sixty for the AGM for some fun, frolics and free lunch. Beautiful.

See you all soon.

*slightly tired and weathered yet smiley embrace with full eye contact for sincerety.*

Ben
x

Hello from our VP Welfare & Representation, Steph Johnson

Salutations!

Welcome to the first of (hopefully) many blogs which will contain my musings on all things RUSU, some wonderful welfare-y tips and advice and updates on what I have been doing for students studying in Reading.

I’m writing this sat in my office after a very long day of Freshers’ Fayre Take Two: Attack of the Sporto’s. And my goodness I am fried! Over this past week the other four officers and I have been out and about meeting and greeting as many of the charming new students as we can get our hands on, while saying a cheery “Welcome back!” to all of our returning students. I cannot stress enough how glad I am to have you all back on campus (despite the fact that I feel like I am about to die – the dreaded Freshers’ Flu has struck)! It was mighty lonely when you were away!

I spent a good deal of my summer (when not having a great time playing at festivals on my weekends off) planning a lot of very exciting things for the coming year. Now when I say exciting things, normally I would mean exciting as in the type of thing that RUSU/welfare keenos like myself would find exciting, but genuinely I think there are some things coming up that will excite (or at least help) the masses.

Let’s kick off with my fave - the Student Safety Net smartphone application. Now hold on to your socks because what you are about to read is pretty special!

We at RUSU care about your safety, so we have signed up to trial a new smartphone app launched by the NUS which allows students to interact with each other, the Students’ Union and the NUS about all things safety (this includes personal safety when out and about and securing your home). If being able to sleep soundly in your bed at night, safe in the knowledge that you will be alerted to any nasty business going down in your area isn’t enough we have added a cheeky little incentive for Reading students to get them downloading and using this app. On the 30^th November we will select one lucky person from those that have downloaded the app to win…

*drum roll*

A FREE WEEKEND IN PARIS including travel, accommodation and breakfast!!!!

Now that you have got off of the floor and returned to your seat, I’ll let you know how to get in on this. Simply search ‘Student Safety Net’ in your app store and click download, or click on this link to the iTunes store. It is free and simple. So go. Now. Do it!

While we are on an international theme, I think I’ll bring up another shiny new project that has been launched this term. Together with members of staff from both the University and the Union I have been working on a fabulous new three-pronged project which aims to aid the exchanging of cultures on our campus. 

Connect Project

From the University’s side of things comes the ‘Connect Project.’ One aspect of this project will be a number of social events at which UK and international students get together to learn about and experience different cultures and meet new friends from across the globe (for more information visit the Reading University website). 

The Buddy Project

From the Union comes ‘The Buddy Project’ which aims to partner up new international students with current home and international students in order to provide the ‘student experience’ side of advice – things like where to go for a budget shopping trip, the best places to go/eat out, things to do and places to visit in and around Reading. 

Day trips

Finally – day trips. We want to show off the area, what there is to do here and what Brits enjoy. So – Thorpe Park, Kew Gardens, Reading FC and London Irish rugby will play host to a huge group of visiting students. If you are interested in any of these – either taking part or volunteering – do get in touch!

Well, I think that is just about enough excitement for one blog. Make sure you check out my ‘Welfare Wednesdays’ blogs every Wednesday straight from my laptop to your screen for more news on what I have been kicking about doing! (Yes I realise this has not been released on a Wednesday, but hey – give me a break! We've just had Freshers’ Week for goodness’ sake!).

With oodles and oodles of Welfare love (the safest kind don’t you know!),

Steph x

Ben's guide for students

Morning all,

Skipping all the pleasantries because I’m sure you are all beautifully bronzed after holidays in sunny places, relaxed after too many mornings spent lying in bed with an episode or two of Homes Under The Hammer and all excited to get back to being students.

Image by meophammanilow via FlickrRound about this sort of times, things just keep appearing everywhere saying things like “Remember this” or “oh, fill in this form.” Lots of this stuff is directed at freshers’ in particular. The most common of this literature being a 'Things to bring' list that first years would receive stretching perhaps 3-4 A4 sides going from the most blissfully dull such as “Bring pens to write with” to the slightly more practical “Bring a TV aerial if you’re planning on catching up with Jeremy Kyle on the days where getting out of bed seems like an awful lot of effort.”

However hopefully I’m going to provide a slightly fresh bit of advice that is more relevant to you all. Firstly by offering a few hi-coos, what-nots and pointers for 2nd and 3rd years (as well as freshers), and secondly by suggesting things that others may overlook!


First Years

Image via Wikipedia

If you are anything like I was, you’ll arrive with enough bags for a family of six, full of things you may never us. Quite why your mum thought you would need 200 dividers for your first term, or why she’s decided you will definitely need 30 pencils when you’re studying an English course or perhaps that its absolutely fundamental you take a few hundred spare staples just in case you need to staple A LOT, is beyond you!

Here are a few tips for getting by in your first year…

• Technically, I can't tell you to keep your door open (fire hazards and that), but make the effort to get out there, meet people and interact! People won't make the effort if you sit behind a closed door.
• Alcohol can lead to an array of amusing incidents however not only is it best to enjoy it responsibly, but also avoid drinking too much on your first night evenings. People just in general love to remind you of that time “You woz hammered.” Perhaps it’s a good idea to make sure it wasn’t on your first night that you woke up outside shirtless, with one shoe, covered in permanent marker…
• If you have a place in halls have a wander around and introduce yourself to people - knock on doors and have a chat. Don’t be embarrassed, everyone is in the same boat as you.

Second Years

• Make sure you enjoy yourself. Don’t take this to mean “yeah don’t do any studying or anything” Obviously make time for study and that, it’s important you get good grades, and aren’t completely lost in June when you’re sitting at a desk in sports park writing an exam answer you have completely made up.
• Get involved with plenty of things that will be good for your CV! Employers take very little interest in that time you beat your housemate at Fifa, or the time you watched Gilmore girls for 5 hours straight. Sit on committees and join societies. Employers want sociable people who will represent a company well and be a good team member.
• Finally on a very similar note, spread your wings a little bit, go out of your comfort zone and try things you haven’t yet tried. Once you move into a house with all your best pals from first year it can become increasingly easy to get isolated, go out and try new things like sports, societies or media!

Third Years

                          via Wikipedia
• Right you lot have got to take things more serious than you ‘ave done, you’re all getting on a bit and starting to settle down. If you need to let your hair down get it out of the way early. Have some fun at the beginning of the term then knuckle down, I bloomin’ love Christmas and would have been gutted to miss out on any clowning around that takes place in December because you haven’t been up to speed on your dissertation etc.
• Surround yourself with people who are pro-active, fun but also hard-working. These sorta’ people are the key to being motivated.
• Choose your nights that will be your chilled out/going out evenings. DON’T CHOOSE a night out where you’ve got a horribly early start to the next day where you’ll be getting up for a lecture in your finest baggy hoody, Ugg boots and those comfy old school Nike grey tracksuit bottoms that you’ve had since you were 15.

Your time at uni goes ever so quickly so make the most of it, a lot of this stuff seems basic but it can genuinely make a difference if you try it.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon, campus is all kinds of quiet at the mo.


Attempted Urban cool guy handshake

Ben

Hello from your VP Academic Affairs - Alex Slater

From everyone within RUSU I would like to give you a massive warm welcome. I'm your VP Academic Affairs, so responsible for making sure that all your concerns are heard within your courses and what-not.
Another concern of ours as a team is making sure that you have the best possible time during freshers week, involving everything with your new halls and the experiences you have during the day. Make sure you keep an eye out because I know that it has become our own personal missions to make sure that we talk to as many of you as physically possible, getting to know you, and more importantly, you getting to know what we have on offer for you.

So, now we have the introductions out the way, lets move onto business... 4 DAYS until all you lovely new students first make an appearance as part of the University of Reading, or if you are a returning student we are SOO excited about having you back (more than you can imagine...campus has been a ghost town). 


Here are some of the projects your sabbatical team have prepared for you:


COURSE REPS! We have made them nice and new with a couple of changes within the ways in which they are run. They are smoother, better looking, and most importantly...WILL HELP YOU GET A JOB WHEN YOU DO (eventually) LEAVE UNI!

RUSU Registration! Don't forget to register on our website so that you can buy your union tickets from the comfort of your rooms (this may not seem like much now with the sun shinning, however on those cold, winter days when it is pouring with rain you will be grateful). This also gives you the chance to get involved in everything that we do. Easy as pie to do, however, we left a card in your hall rooms/ your JCR gave you one just to make it that bit easier.

Well that's all I am going to tell you about for now, simply to make sure that you don't get bored. Keep an eye out for us night and day (as we will be somewhere) and we hope to talk to you all.

Lots of love

Alex Slater