Caroline Brooker Vice President (Activities) 08/09

what's your opinion?GENERAL MEETING

11th November 20086pm Darwin Conference SuiteOur priority is you, come tell us yours

www.kentunion.co.uk

I believe: Kent Union should de-ratify smaller societies in favour of larger societies

The mouthpiecea Kent Union publicationoctober 2008 issue 1

Your newly elected officers.....1300 students voted in this year’s bye-elections, which included elections for Course Reps, Department Reps and Faculty Reps as well as Part-time Officers. You can find a complete list of those elected at www.kentunion.co.uk/elections.

These students are elected to represent you and are accountable for the decisions they make. If you feel that they could help you with any aspect of your University life, then please contact them directly using the details on www.kentunion.co.uk/representation.

Register with Kent Union to receive The Mouthpiece, offers and other news directly to your inbox. Go to www.kentunion.co.uk/mouthpiece

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Rob Spencer

dob: 22/05/86

University of Bath Students' Unionexp: 08/09

YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR NUS EXTRA CARD...

...which can save you loads when buying presents and frocks for the party season!

Get yours now from the mandela building

Contact Details: Telephone (to make an appointment)01227 824824 Telephone advice line – 01227 827724Email - advice@kent.ac.uk

Money that you spend in Kent Union bars, shops and cafes goes back into providing you with services such as a free advice centre, jobshop, societies and sports teams

We j this planet so we've printed this on recycled paper.

Access to learning fund...

Please make sure that you bring the correct documentation with you to the interview.

In order to be eligible you must have been financially assessed by your Local Education Authority and you must have received your first instalment of student loan into your bank account. Your bank statements need to be for three months and should run from the date of your interview back for three months. Students should ensure that any items going in or out of their account which are for £100 or more have an explanation beside them saying what the money was for.

The Student Advice Centre is very busy at present!

The waiting time for Visa applications is in excess of 2 weeks and for ALF applications it's more than 3!

If you need to see an adviser regarding either of these issues, please follow our guide as to how to move the process along quickly.

Visa interviewsStudents attending visa interviews need to make sure that they have correctly completed their FLR(S) form and have got all of the required evidence. We will not be able to make further appointments for you to come back and see us if you do not have all of the required information and therefore those students whose Visas expire on 31st October will have to send their application to the Home Office themselves. It is essential that students do not make any travel plans before they have had their passport returned by the Home Office.

Just to remind students, our Saturday workshops begin on

Saturday November 1st. If you wishto attend please book a place online at www.kentunion.co.uk/standout

Writing a CV?Having a strong CV or being prepared for an interview could make all the difference when you’re looking for a job. If you would like some tips in either of these areas – or both – then you may want to book a place on the workshops jobshop@kent will be running in November.

These will be held on campus in Canterbury on Saturday 15th November, with places limited. To book a place you must first be registered with jobshop@kent; you can do this on-line at www.kentunionjobshop.ac.uk or in person at the office, in the Student Activities Centre, Monday-Friday 9am - 6pm

Once registered, you will have full access to the jobshop@kent website and receive email alerts when new vacancies are advertised. You will also be notified about booking a place on the CV and Interview Skills workshops in November. Bookings are taken on a first-come, first-served basis but jobshop@kent will try to meet demand and run more sessions to accommodate as many of you as possible throughout the year.

Part time Officer Kim Perry

Mature Student Officer Tanya Leadbeater

Students with Dependents Officer Katie Clark

Ethnic Minorities Officer Zayed Zaheer

Union Council Representative Dan Curran

Neil CoxJames Harwood

Katherine MarsdenFaith Victoria

Claire WardJasmin Raisanen

Tobias Brownrigg WoodsHelen Ellis

Louise Graham

NUS Conference Delegates Tom Page

Katherine MarsdenIain Kiy

Mariam IqbalSamantha Kennedy

Helen PalmerAlice Maskell

James Harwood

University Senate Representatives Graham Todd

Funmi Ademosu

University Council Representative Iain Kiy

RAG week25th-31st October

Help do your bit for charity and get involved with the various fundraising activities running during RAG week.

We’ve got the chance to win a Mini One and also gunge some Sabbs!!

see www.kentunion.co.uk./rag for more information

The Venue!The Lighthouse is now available every Monday and Tuesday for society and sports club bookings. Both Asian society and LGBT have hosted sell out events already so if you’re looking for somewhere to hold your event then contact us at kentunion@kent.ac.uk

Do you like a laugh? The Venue is launching a brand new comedy night from October 27th featuring Rob Deering as our first headliner.

If you have an NUS card you can get a £1 discount off of Venue entry just show it at the door!

Suggestions and complaintsIf you have any comments, questions or complaints regarding any Kent Union services, then you can let us know by emailing us at kentunion@kent.ac.uk

We welcome your suggestions as they enable us to improve our services so that you may relax and enjoy your time at University.

DO SOMETHING

DIFFERENT

2 courses for £5.95 in Rutherford Bar!*choose from a salad, panini or tapas item then a dessert!

Is this you enjoying a night at The Venue?

If it is then you've won a £10 Kent Union voucher - hooray! Come and collect your prize from the Mandela Building!

Did you know... that Kent Union hire patrols on the footpath and surrouding areas to keep anti-social behaviour at a minimum and ensure a safe journey home for you.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

Every Thursday from 8pm you could take centre stage and wow the crowd. Just turn up for your chance to be a star.

Wednesday 5th November 7.00pmFireworks, live music, djs, funfair and food

Kent Hospitality and Kent Union present...

FireWorksnightfree event - open to all

Fireworks & Funding 7:00pm – 11:30pm

On the evening of Wednesday 5th November 2008, Kent Union will be standing shoulder to shoulder with the National Union of Students and other students’ unions across the country demanding a new debate on the way Higher Education in England is funded.

We will be hosting a massive Fireworks display including a fun fayre, stalls, bars and more. Entrance is free and all are welcome regardless of whether you are a Kent student or not, for an evening of fun and excitement, with a serious message attached.

The National Union of Students has produced a comprehensive critique of the Higher Education Funding system for undergraduate provision in England, called ‘Broke & Broken’. It calls on the Government for an open review that looks holistically at the funding system and not just focuses on the issue of top-up fees. The aim is to develop a credible and fair alternative funding model.

So come along, show your support and have a great evening out!

Police on campusMyck Beddall, the Police Community Support Officer will be holding drop in surgeries around campus. On Mondays he will be in Parkwood Reception from 1pm to 3pm and on Fridays he will be at Campus Watch from 4.30pm to 6.30pm

If you would like to contact Myck any other time, please email him on 56637@kent.pnn.police.uk

HIRE A BIKE

£5 per day see our website for more informationwww.kentunion.co.uk/bikehire

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HIRE THIS BIKEwww.kentunion.co.uk/bikehire

raise and give

kent

Christmas Shopping in Bluewater and London, Reiki and much more!

Fancy Volunteering?!

Interested in boosting your cv and gaining valuable skills whilst doing your bit for the community and local groups?

Why not sign up as a volunteer at www.kentunionvolunteering.co.uk

You are invited to...Kent Union’s General Meeting11th November 2008from 6pm in Darwin Conference Suite

Kent Union would like to invite you to its General Meeting on Tuesday 11th November 2008 in Darwin Conference Suite from 6pm. The meeting will give you the opportunity to find out what your elected officers have achieved from their time in office and what their plans are for the next part of the year.

You will also be given the opportunity to feed into the development of Kent Union’s five year strategy by telling us what is really important to you and what you think we should focus on for the next 5 years.

Refreshments will be available and all those who attend will receive free entry to The Venue.

Kent Union will be holding another General Meeting in January where you will have the chance to submit a motion.