Okay, well not really, but I've made it onto TV twice this week - how's about that eh?!

My debut was on Wednesday, on ITV's Meridian News, where I was interviewed on Tuesday night before the Sleep-out in Ravelin Park.  This was to raise awareness for the homeless sleeping rough in Portsmouth, and raising money for the charity Central Point, who provide advice and support for them.   We've probably all seen them around, but take differing views on their presence: some will say a quick hello, or good morning (I think these may be few and far between), while others choose to pass them by and ignore their very being.  It was really interesting to talk to those that had been homeless and had managed to get themselves off the street - for many this meant overcoming a drug addiction; one of the guys admitted that his income for his habit came from selling the Big Issue:  I reflected on all the times that I'd bought a copy and wandered whether I had inadvertently been feeding someones addiction?  I've since decided that I'm not going to let this stop me buying it, as it's a bloody good read!

A number of years ago, I befriended a homeless couple, who once invited me spend the night with with them in their mocked-up tipi in Shalford Park in Guildford.  It was really interesting to see how they'd adapted to living there, and I had a good nights sleep on a bed fashioned out of a couple of wooden pallettes found nearby and plenty of blankets given to them by their local homeless shelter - but this was in the middle of summer; they said it was certainly a bit different and not nearly so cosy in winter.  And I discovered this myself on Tuesday: With the rain lashing down and the wind ripping the tarpaulin in the middle of the night, I managed to get about 2 hours sleep:  Something I don't want to be doing again in a hurry.  But we're the lucky ones:  We have a choice.  So next time you're walking along and see a homeless person ahead of you; at least give them the courtesy of acknowledging they're there.

My second TV appearance came today, on BBC South Today, which, although I knew was being filmed, I didn't expect to be seeing only a couple of hours later while sitting in the very packed Union between the afternoons Rugby games.  This time, was only a minor screen appearance in the crowd of students from Portsmouth, Southampton and Oxford gathered in Bitterne to lobby John Denham on top-up fees, while Elle Gray and Alex Kimber shone in their interviews.  Alex had the opportunity to speak directly to Denham, who evaded our student's questions on the subject of fees.  During the demonstration, Ben Norman was in his element, with his hard-hitting speech on the state of today's education, as was Adam Sunman with the rallying cry of 'Don't Spend the money on Occupation, Spend it on Education!'.  As Denham walked off much to our disappointment, we continued our protest, then gathered for a meeting, chaired by Toby, a Socialist Student from Oxford University.  We really hope now that Denham will take on board what we presented as a real argument against rising fees - but believe us: This isn't the last he's heard from us!!!

Thanks goes out to all those that signed the petitions for free education - well done for letting Mr Denham know what he can do with his top-up fees!! (by the way; the answer's GET RID OF THEM!)

Okay, I'm not talking fraud or anything like that.  I'm talking about that little part of it that we like to call 'getting involved'!

Last year I decided to explore what else the SU has to offer me other than a place to drink Snakebite, and boy was I surprised!  We have around 100 clubs and societies here, which I think a lot of people are aware of (if you've seen a freshers fayre).  But there's so much more going on than that.  Just go into the Sabbaticals office (next to the Union, behind Via Lattea) and you'll see a hive of activity with people chatting about campaigning, volunteering, free training courses (which those less fortunate non-students have to pay a lot of money for), fun activities to raise money for charity (yes, we're talking RAG here guys), academic course issues, journalism and general student banter (to name just a few!!!!).

I was overwhelmed by it all, especially to realise that all of these things came about because it's the students that make these things happen.  I was inspired, to say the least.  So what did I do?  I got in on anything and everything that took my fancy to enhance my 'student experience'.  That's why I'm here, isn't it?  It's not just about getting a bit of paper that says 'yes, Sarah can write five thousand words on the subject of native English badgers' (which I might be able to do, except that I'm on a business degree).

A few months down the line and I'm at it again, trying to get students to realise what their Union has to offer.  And lo, what is this?  An offer to meet students from other Universities and find out how I'm going to get more people excited about the Union?  Hell yeah!  So they sent me off in my little car with Ben Norman to Worthing for the NUS' Activists Academy (which sounded a little scary by the title - I don't want to be an activist, I just want students to enjoy themselves and have as much fun as me).  It was an eye opener.  I'm not entirely sure what I expected, but 2 days later, I have come back from meeting a load of great students and Sabbs from across the south of England, who are just like me - they want to show others what University is REALLY all about.

I've rambled on for a while already, so I won't go on about everything I learnt except this... you people reading this are obviously already taking an interest in your Union on some scale (or else why have you clicked on my blog), so get out and talk to your friends and your course mates, and find out what they like and dislike about their University and their Union.  Get them to understand that if there's something they don't like, they CAN do something about it: if the issue is widely felt by others then why don't we CHANGE it?!