The AUT, Freshers' Angels, a special woman called MAVIS and a call from a doctor.

The summer term’s a strange one for all students, and for student officers it’s no different. A good chunk of my work is responding to student requests and people just popping in to the office to chat. With the exams this happens increasingly rarely, which means that things have been slightly quieter and my days slightly shorter – which is nice. I’ve made it home for Simpsons several times this term.

On everyone’s mind on the Sabbatical Team is of course the AUT strike. This is a difficult time – I fundamentally believe that lecturers deserve better pay, but my responsibility is from and to the student body. When Top-up fees were introduced lecturers were promised more money, and this has been denied. Partly this is because HE funding has not increased as promised – government funding for institutions decreased when fees were introduced for example. Dave and Andrew have been engaging often with the University senior management, AUT representatives, local MPs and the NUS. In my capacity as SE Area Rep and Executive officer I’ve been chatting to people across the region about their views. For a full update keep checking www.rusu.co.uk/strike.

Although I’m out-going in my role as VP Development, my dedication to student activities remains as strong now as ever. I spent week 3 promoting Freshers Angels, NUS Activists and Web volunteer groups and several hundred people showed an interest in these new groups.

The most exciting development has been MAVIS. Mass Active Volunteering Involving Students is about getting people involved on a single day (Thursday 15th June) in a variety of community action projects, such as graffiti removal and fundraising. MAVIS is a great opportunity for people unable to commit to a regular volunteering slot. For more information e-mail MAVIS@reading.ac.uk or see www.rusu.co.uk/mavis, where you can download posters and a MAVIS ask.

In preparation for becoming VP Welfare I’ve been working on Freshers Angels, with about 40 people signing up so far. This new volunteer group will aim to make new students feel at home, meet new people and generally ease the first few days at University, including supporting JCRs on moving in day if they’d like an extra pair of hands.

I attended my first Welfare, Support and Guidance meeting the other week. This is the University’s big meeting on student services such as accommodation, the medical centre and the counselling service. This was a great chance to be introduced into some of the people I’ll be working alongside next year, as well as seeing some University staff I already collaborate with in a new guise.

The highlight of recent weeks was of course Dr Karl Kennedy, as good this year as he was the last; scourge of Sam Read, beloved of Dave Lewis and purveyor of excellent cheese. To the guy who was asking me about JCRs – do pop in and see me, and to the drunken bloke who I couldn’t hear, feel free to come and day hello as well.

Nickers x

In which the Spring Term starts with successes, Local Elections and Nickers making life complicated for himself. Again.

Two weeks into term then? And what have I been up to? Well from Friday 21st my diary looked something like this. What I’ve tried to do is show the breadth of work Sabbs tend to do, and show that it’s a 24 hour job!

21st – Away day with other Sabbs to plan upcoming term, discuss what we’ve been up to this year and have a chat about any concerns we have.

24th – A very ‘bitty’ day reacting to students getting back and the things they need. Good fun, very important, but not much to write about!

25th – Catching up on paperwork, including the website and posters for the Local Elections and some press releases ready for Spark. Attended a RAGs meeting in the afternoon. In the evening went to see ‘The Constant Gardener’ and chatted to the Campaigns Forum Student Stop AIDs stall that was there.

26th – Discussed the plans for Live11 with staff, went over the accounts for all the volunteer groups. Has a Junction11 meeting, which seemed to last longer than it did. Did some preparation for the No Platform Policy working group meeting and Development Committee. Checked some Spark pages in the evening.

27th – I checked the Bumper edition of Spark all day (9am – 4.30) and provided some impromptu quotes for them. Tidied up my office ready for moving after this. Later that evening I went to support the Remix Reading exhibition in the town, which was excellent.

28th – SEANUS Executive meeting in Farnham – away from the office all day, but had phone calls with Dave Lewis about the move and the Spark printers, as well as some texts with members of staff.

29th (Saturday) – My Mum and Dad came down, showed them the Union. They still have no idea what I do, but were impressed. Met Jenna for a drink in the afternoon and ended up chatting about work, then went clubbing in the evening and explained my role and the democratic structures of the Union with a second year I met.

30th - Did no work apart from a phone call from a Nightline volunteer about Publicity week.

1st (Bank Holiday Monday) – did some of the work for SEANUS from Friday and had a nice lunch with my housemates. Bought a new shirt using my NUS discount.

2nd – NSLP National Network day in Birmingham, networked with other trainers from around the UK and got my award for completing the training course. Got lots of ideas for future plans. The below picture is Steve Brown (NUS Executive) and myself in no way taking the piss.

3rd - Got in early to set up the new office, catch up on e-mails and paperwork. Popped out to look at a house for next year. Finished off agenda for Development Committee on Friday as well as my report. Re-read no Platform policy paperwork ready for Thursday. Got home and did some more SEANUS work.

4th – Voted in the local elections, came into work and had a meeting about Nightline Publicity, including the Publicity week. Attended Societies Convention on behalf of Sam Hibbs. Chaired the No Platform policy working group. Wrote and sent out the last bits of paperwork for Development Committee, including suggested new bye-laws. Went out for a social with Junction11. Had a text conversation with the student media and Mike Hance who were at the Local Election count.

5th – Had first Development Committee at noon. Talked to staff in the afternoon about doing the active community day on 15th June. Went home early (5pm) and chilled a bit.

6th (Saturday) – Went to London to see the Sultan’s Elephant

7th – Did some work on the SE Area Ethical guide, wrote my blog for SEANUS, prepared materials for the next week’s push on getting students involved in Freshers’ Angels, Web Volunteers, NUS Activists and Forum moderators. Wrote this blog.

And that’s that!

Nickers x