Beth shares some of her experiences through her first term in office.
And so 2012 is coming to an end, cold living rooms will be covered in cheap tinsel and deadlines are coming to a close.
This semester has flown by; it’s started at welcome week and the fantastic purple people. I met many people that week, from the international student meal and leading them to the cocktails of the newly fitted Ember Lounge. I lost my voice and managed to get sun burnt that first Saturday in Stoke, helping students move in to an oddly sunny stoke. There were many activities on campus for students try and zorbing was one that caught my eye. Rich and I had a go in Stafford and of course raced, I may have lost but at least I didn’t throw up at the end of it... The week flew by from Hadouken to commercial fair to halls wars Mukky Duck in Stafford.
Next thing you know the sports teams have started Wednesday matches, in their swish new kit. We had a few teething problems to start with students needing there lucky number shirt but it being too big or small but these small issues soon passed and they are all looking beautiful on Wednesday afternoons. We had our first CAMPUS CLASH in October; this is where our Stafford team face a Stoke team in the league. The first one was basketball. Stoke Steelers triumphed and the atmosphere within the crowd was electric. This was followed by the rugby teams meeting in November in Stafford. Stoke men’s seconds were victorious with both teams putting there all into the game.
I would just like to thank Staffordshire sports therapy students who have been putting on sessions on Wednesday afternoons helping athletes strap up, post match sport massage and even being pitch side helping with injuries.
The first gobble I attended, I went with ladies hockey and I was dressed as a chav. I may not have been too many due to working Thursdays, but from word of mouth and Eds beautiful pictures of yourselves he posts every week on the Gobble facebook page shows that you guys are having great fun!
This year we have a newly appointed volunteer intern who coordinated our first Volunteer week in October. We have over 400 signed up volunteers and still counting!
If like me and have been around for a few years you would have seen the construction of the new science centre on Leek Road go up and finally open this semester! We had a big opening with fireworks during the day making social media explode with confusion and an early breakfast where I tried beans on toast ice cream. It was disgusting. We also had an ex student and gold Olympian, Andrew Triggs-Hodge cut the ribbon! I was so excited that a Gold Olympian was on campus I was buzzing all morning and re telling everyone about how I was a games maker in London 2012. I finally got to meet him after all the press had done there bits and he thanked ME!! For being a games maker, I almost fainted. This is one of the best days in office by far.
I finally had the chance to be creative, on the 21st of November as we took students down to London to march against education cuts and lack of employability. So Rochelle and I stayed late Tuesday making some plac cards in the student space, trying ever so hard not to drop paint anywhere. I wondered round the sports teams on the Wednesday to get their support for the march as they couldn’t make it due to fixtures.
We are officially a charity after the student trustees signed us off! Yay! We have been raising money in our masses with a grand total of £1441.63! From ladies hockey doing their annual bingo night to LGBT sleep out, our clubs and societies have been fab. OMG have really been our key fundraisers this term raising £269.79 for Movember from outdoor shaves to a 5 a-side OMG male Movember cup. During this month they succeeded in a 24 hour broadcast and cake sale, with RAG doing a sleep over in LRV raising a whopping £643.32 for children in need.
For children in need it was put forward that we should have an officer vs staff sports day, we raised over £100 and we had such a laugh doing so. I padded up and was the hockey goal keeper making blinding saves. My favourite was making an amazing save from our president and Arron Dunn who runs active uni project (as he also works at Keele – boo) we had issues in the netball match, in terms of people not understanding it’s a non contact sport. I was floored by marketing. I even managed to hit the cross bar, in the cross bar challenge.
In December we had a ‘copy cat week’ in aid of plagiarism. We had signs in the shops and even a video made by our fantastic film and animation society, here is the link, please check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY07TYa8frs
We rounded off the semester nicely with the Diversity fashion show, where myself and Rochelle attended a few evening sessions (Rochelle more so, as I held activities forums that clashed!) this is where I found out how extensive Rochelle’s wardrobe really is, coming with endless vintage clothing for the models to use. It was a fabulous night, with the ACS really stealing the show with their energetic catwalk. A big thank you to all the models, organisers, LRV management and everyone who took part who made this event truly wonderful.
I know this isn’t everything that happened over this semester and nowhere near half the stuff I have been up too but I thought it would be nice to share some high lights of the term.
As I write this we have no heating in the office as the builders cut through the wire, so I have my woolly hat and faux fur coat on drinking stupid amounts of tea.
We have lots going on next semester from national volunteer week commencing February 14th followed by employability week, so be prepared to knowledge up about CVs and how to get the best job possible!
Varsity and Versus will be taking place, so keep your eyes peeled and teams be prepared for the hardest months of your lives preparing for that home win.
The biggest event happening next semester will be elections, for student councillors, trustees and of course, officers. If you feel you can be in my place next year or know someone who would be fab then nominations open 21st of January!! We will be holding workshops and all sorts for you guys to find out what we really do and helping you prepare if you fancy it.
Stay safe, have a fabulous Christmas and New Year and enjoy the break.