In which a satisfied Nickers reports

This week’s been Sparkling. Spark training, Spark publishing and meetings about the newspaper – so I’ll be working extra hard on the other volunteer groups next week so they all feel loved :) If you’re from Junction11, Nightline or RAGs and feel neglected just come and ask me for a hug.

The “RU Ready… for Spark in a day?” event on Wednesday went fantastically. Fran, Gav, Nathania, Caz, Nick, Kat, Vid, Ellie, Karen and all the other Editors who I’ve forgotten (sorry) did a brilliant job at introducing the paper to Freshers and keeping the energy levels high. In all about 45 students attended the event – if each person writes just one article a week that means 15 pages (about half) of the paper will be produced by Wednesday’s trainees. This week’s Spark includes 8 whole pages written by Freshers for Freshers. Student activities – indeed the Students’ Union as a whole – is about involvement and having a go. The pullout looks brilliant and rewards the hard work put in by both journalists and editors. The feedback was very positive too - It’s this stuff which gets me excited about my job!

I’m also doing lots of work on the By-election which is coming very soon. Week 3 will see Hustings, talks for and against NUS affiliation and the publicity for candidates kicking off. For Freshers especially this will be an exciting time – a chance to elect Officers and see the democratic foundations of the Union in affect.

I’ve been out and about a fair bit this week – Monday with the LGBT, Wednesday and Thursday at the Union and so I think sitting in with a cocoa this weekend sounds really rather nice! I must be getting old (23 next week…)