Think you know the Union?

If so, you'll know that not only do we have over 100 Clubs and Societies, but we also have an award winning volunteering team; an Ethics, Equality and Diversity Committee making sure that your Union is relevant to the diverse range of students that we have here; a Campaign Coalition, fighting for your student rights; a team of students taking part in RAG, raising loads of money for some great charities; training programmes so that you have the opportunity to build your CVs; a number of Executive Committees, run by students, for students, holding regular meetings so that you have your opportunity to have a say in how the Union is run; and much much more.

This is the REAL Union.  It is not a bar, it is not a nightclub, and it is not owned by the University.  It is owned by YOU, the Students.  Students are the Union.  Without students, there would be no Union.

Since coming to Study at Portsmouth, I've been involved in all the aspects of the Union mentioned above, and more.  Last year, I received an award for my voluntary work in the Union, and this year, I have continued to make sure that the Union stays relevant to the students body.  I hope to continue my efforts by becoming your Student Support Officer, who facilitates Raising and Giving, helps students to run campaigns that they are passionate about, and increases the diversity of the Union by making sure there is something there for everyone, including YOU.

Next week, from Wednesday to Friday, you have a choice to make - there are 6 Sabbatical Officers who make all of this possible, and you will need to choose a team for next that you believe is worthy of your money.  Almost £100,000 of your money will be used to pay their salaries, so make a wise choice.  On top of this, they will decide how the rest of the money that the Union receives from you will be used.  Make sure you are informed about these candidates, so that you elect a team that will ensure you get the most out of the Union while you are here.

Two of the positions are uncontested, but the other four have a total of 12 candidates running.  Four of these candidates have been working hard to make sure that your voice is listened to, and between them, have been heavily involved in all aspects of the Union.  If you elect them, they will give you the Union that you deserve. 

They are: Myself - Sarah Blatchford, running for Student Support Officer; Ben Norman, your current Student Activities and Development Officer (SADO), running for President; Jenny Leggott, running for SADO; and Steve Topazio, running for Education and Representation Officer.

We only ask that you judge us by our achievements, and our obvious dedication to making the Union a better place for you.  A better Union is possible, so make an informed choice and vote for us all next week.

So I was up pretty early yesterday - and in the Union by 9am, setting up for Refreshers'!  Once I'd got my society's stall set up, it was a question of getting the Union's publicity boards assembled with Elle.  And boy, are they a nightmare!  I've been told that they cost a rather large amount of money, a sum that you could quite easily go out and buy a reasonable car with, and so on the basis of that, you'd think that they'd go together quite well!  But no, I was wrong - I'd put up the smaller ones before, with relative ease, but the large one that you'd have seen at the right of the stage is one that I won't be volunteering to help put up again in a hurry!!

Anywho, after some re-jigging of tables and a few extension leads later, I went off to my seminar to go and learn about 'Management Futures'.  And I was very happy to learn that my seminar tutor is our lecturer for the unit, and she's extremely knowledgeable on the subject, which always helps!  After that hour, it was a jog (okay, I didn't jog, it was a walk) back to the Union and saw our fantastic new Wall Art Society (of the University of Portsmouth - WASUP) having a few problems with finding something that they could show off their talent with.  So I went and dropped my bag off up in Lux and went out to the yard to raid the bins (ooh the things I have do for this Union!); the society seemed to be pretty happy with my liberation, so I went back upstairs to join the rest of the societies.

Steph and Simon on the 101 Things Stall had been busy making plenty of balloon models, and in the short hour I'd been gone, lux was packed, with said balloon models being found all over the club!  One of my first stops was at the Islamic Society's stall, where I was plied with toffee eclairs (yum) and told about all the things that have been organised for Islamic Awareness Week, including talks by converts to the faith, the purpose of life, and the history and science of Islam.  It looks to be a packed week for them all, and I hope that some of you can find some time to go and have a listen - details of all the events happening can be found on isop.co.uk

Just a few stalls down, Devinder Singh, of the Sikh society was finishing setting up their projecter and next to him, Nick of the Student Respect Society was inviting all students along to a Stop the War Demonstration, which, if you want to take part in, will be taking place tomorrow (Friday 15th Feb), starting out the front of Eldon Building at midday - bring banners and placards!

Opposite all that business, Harri at the Feminist Society was promoting a discussion that will be held in the Union next Monday (18th February) at 4pm: Is sexy always sexist?  As with all these events, all are welcome, so get yourself along there and discover for yourself what the answer to this question is!  Harri is also our Womens' Officer on the Ethics, Equality and Diversity Committee and is part of the International Women's Day Committee, who have organised a rally on Saturday 8th March in Guildhall Square at 1.30pm, with speakers talking about Equal Pay and Abortion Rights, amongst others.

Round the corner from them, we had the Gaming Society, who are organising a 96 player gaming day and further up the stalls, Sean Baker at our all new Politics Society was giving away free cake and taking new sign-ups for "A relaxed, informal umbrella society that promotes free thinking political discussion amongst the student body and the wider University community".  Check out their group on facebook.

And then back round to the other side, where the Campaign Coalition were starting to build the wall of debt - a collage of photos of individual students and how much debt they are in due to the rising top-up fees of Universities.  And next to the Campaign Coalition were the Socialist Students, who championed the recent lobbying of John Denham...

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?!

Hey There!!  You wouldn't think it would have taken me until my final year to write my first blog entry on here, would you?!  Well it has - but better late than never!!

I trust you all took advantage of the free goodies available at Freshers' this year and joined up to lots of Societies and Clubs?  Well if you didn't, it's never too late!  You can contact any of them through upsu.net and I'm sure they'll be overjoyed to hear from you!  And if it's freebies you missed out on, then you'll have to take the initiative to find out what companies love students and are willing to give you a free lunch! (or a cut price haircut!)  Failing that, it's less than 5 months to go until Refreshers' Fayre!! (and so even less time until you're all sitting exams and stressing about coursework)(sorry to point that out!)

But back to the here and now...

As your Societies Executive Chair I thought I'd take this opportunity to remind you all about Societies Council next Wednesday, 10th October, at 3pm in Co2 (upstairs in the Union) where elections will be held for the Ethics, Equality and Diversity Committee.  You don't need to be a member of a society to stand, but you do need to let the sabbs know, so get in touch with Ben Norman (SADO) and he can give you all the info you need.  Also please note that all Societies are required to send representatives to this meeting, so we look forward to seeing you all there.

I also sit on the committee for VIP (Volunteering In Portsmouth), so if you're interested in giving up a couple of hours of your time this year (or maybe even a couple of hours a week?!), then get yourself along to function suite 2 in the Union on 17th October at 1pm.

And finally... I was the very proud winner of 2 tickets to Bestival this year, by hassling everyone I know (and some I don't) for sponsorship money for the 2007 RAG Hitchhike to Amsterdam.  If you want to get involved, the first RAG meeting is on Monday (8th October) at 1pm in Function suite 2, and the meeting for the first RAG event (a 10 mile walk around Portsmouth) will take place on the 11th October, also at 1pm in Function suite 2.

There's loads of other things going on in the Union too - from Sports to Media - so keep your eyes out on the website for meetings that are coming up and come along and GET INVOLVED!!