Blog
"Weekly Info": So Long, and Thanks for Everything
Posted by YUSU President on 1st Jul 2009On Tuesday, I released two new ruddy shelducks onto the campus lake to replace Trevor, the much-loved golden duck who died last year. It's going to be one of my final acts as president of the Students' Union. For the first years who don't remember Trevor, this will have very little impact; but I've had a couple of comments from final year students saying that, surprisingly, it's made them a little bit emotional. That really sums up something about this university - it's a lovely place to live and work. We're not an anonymous city campus, made of lookalike buildings …
"Weekly Info", Summer Week 9: Ladies and Gentlemen, Ducks Are On Their Way
Posted by YUSU President on 25th Jun 2009I have just finished a phone call with a wonderful duck breeder, and I’m proud to announce that the lake’s two new ruddy shelducks will be released onto the lake this Tuesday afternoon. The exact details are still to be decided - and I’m afraid that, much as I wanted to turn this into a big ceremony, it’ll be a small and quiet event for the sake of the ducks’ welfare. But nevertheless, one final piece of Union General Meeting policy will be fulfilled, and Trevor II and his as-yet-unnamed companion will be floating about in time for Summer Ball, …
Student Action Officer's Report, UGM Week 8
Posted by YUSU President on 22nd Jun 2009Transcribed from the Week 8 UGM: We went to York Carnival and did all the stewarding for that and face-painted over 100 people which was amazing and we raised over £200 which we split equally RAG and York Carnival, which is really good too. We face-painted at Alcuin fate and James Quad Dash, we’ve also been having all of our college challenges. Derwent helped out at Read International’s book loading, Alcuin helped Tang Hall primary school with their allotment with the work that the kids were too small to do, Goodricke worked on their allotment, Vanbrugh cleaned the beach in …
Campaigns Officers' Report, UGM Week 8
Posted by YUSU President on 22nd Jun 2009Transcribed from Week 8 UGM: We have held meetings with various campaigns or campus officials rather regarding next term’s campaigns, including debt on student housing. We have campaigns committee posters advertising elections, thank you to everyone who voted. We have attended Union Council and have looked at making amendments to voting within the campaigns committee. We have also looked at starting our security and lighting campaign with equality, welfare and diversity committee this week; you’ll see more of that coming forward as well. We have started our questionnaire on off-campus accommodation, you’re going to be seeing that on the website …
Sport President Officer Report, UGM Week 8
Posted by YUSU President on 22nd Jun 2009Transcribed from the UGM: As we are getting towards the end of this year I have just been laying the foundations for Emily so that she can hit the ground running. Emily has been doing the timetabling for the clubs, while Roz, who is the new treasurer, Stash and I have been doing the new budgeting system which has been largely hassle free so hopefully that will be done pretty soon. We have also been doing the new club ratification system which is now all online, as well as having a colours meeting tomorrow to allocate colours as well as …
Officer report - 18th June 2009
Posted by YUSU LGBT Officers on 18th Jun 2009Since our last blog, we’ve been finalising our plans for Welcome Week, working closely with JCRC Reps to make sure there is LGBT information in new and returning student information packs, contacting people around the University to make sure there is plenty of information about LGBT available next term and making sure that we get plenty of awareness about what we're up to amongst new and returning students at the beginning of next term. We’ve nearly finished our website. It should be finalised in the next couple of weeks and we’ll be able to publicise it over the summer break. …
"Weekly Info", Summer Week 8: The Last UGM
Posted by YUSU President on 18th Jun 2009There are many, many "last" things happening over the next couple of weeks: my final meetings of various committees, the end-of-term issues of the campus papers, and - in a couple of hours, as I write this - my last Union General Meeting. Three Environment and Ethics motions and a constitutional amendment seem like a good and - I'd hope - relatively uncontroversial end to a year that's included some rather divisive debates. I never thought I'd be calling an Extraordinary General Meeting in my time in office - let alone one about whether to use campus for Summer Ball. …
I can't think of an original or exciting subject line...
Posted by YUSU Communications Officer on 18th Jun 2009Right... well our final UGM is coming, and Matt informs me that it's blog time. So, what have I been up to? Well, it's been quite a busy term. The Big Idea Week, the YUM Awards, Society Budgets and the Student Activities Office are to name a few things I've been working on over the past few weeks. Starting with the Big Idea, we ran this week-long campaign in Week 7 and have attracted 100s of ideas across campus on a whole range of issues. The ideas vary from getting Firefox installed on the campus computers, creating more provision to …
Please tidy your desk before you leave
Posted by YUSU Services & Finance Officer on 18th Jun 2009When I received an email asking me to make sure I cleared my desk and area of any clutter, old files, mess, etc, before I left, the reality that I'm leaving what has been my home for the last two years (not counting the time I spent in student politics as an undergrad), in just over two weeks set in. I'll write a little piece before I leave, and when I have my tissues ready. Since the last UGM I've been working on lots of little things as well as undertaking some exciting projects and trying to make sure there …
RAG update!
Posted by YUSU RAG Officers on 18th Jun 2009What have we been doing these past few weeks in RAG? We have nearly completed York’s Got Talent 2009! RAG has taken the colleges by storm, with the individual college heats of the amazing York’s Got Talent. They have been heaps of fun, with plenty of talent - be it impressive guitar skills, drama, or some lovely boy-band dance moves... Lots of people took part and we have raised £701.05 so far from York’s got talent alone! The York’s Got Talent final will be held at Woodstock, where one winner from each college has a chance to perform live on …