UNIfied May 2013

... story continues on page 8 ...

26 CANDIDATES, 11 days of campaigning, 8 days of voting, 4 postions - this is the short version of what Leadership Elections 2013 looked like! The Students’ Union elections are always a hot topic of discussion and debate, all adding to the vibrant feel of the entire event.

A record number of votes saw Phil Mooney elected as President, Sammi Wright winning the Vice-President (Welfare & Education) position, Darcy Anderson voted in for Vice-President (Student Activities) and Charlotte Moore for Vice-President (Sport). The results’ night was a great event,

so thank you to everyone for being there.

They will take their positions from the 1st July 2013 so congratulations to them, and also well done to all those who took part. It was a great night at the ‘Elections Results’ night and thank you for coming and supporting your Students’ Union.

But let’s not forget about the current sabbatical officers and all the hard work they have put throughout the year, ensuring that the Students’ Union is striving to be the best that it can in all areas. They are: Stacey

Hawes [President], Jo Bartson-Umuliisa [Vice-President (Welfare & Education)], Anca Popescu [Vice- President (Student Activities)] and Aidan Ainsley [Vice-President (Sport)].The outgoing team is definitely a strong

The current sabbs are getting ready to handover to the newly elected officers

one, statement which can be easily backed up by the campaigns and changes we’ve all seen take place this year, both internally and externally. There is no doubt that each of them will surely be missed, but the question on everyone’s

mind: will the incoming team have the skills and will-power to fill in their shoes? Will we see the Union keep growing or are we in for a big dissapointment? This is what the 8 officers have to say ...

Get updated on events and what’s going on

... pages 6 & 7

Updates from the NUS International Conference

... page 15

CSR FM - National Champions

... page 5

Have you paid your respects?

... page 16

THE Summer Ball line-up was announced live in the lounge and was broadcasted over CSR FM. We had tweets flooding in with great support for the acts

we have playing, some even suggested we have done better than Kent. After announcing our headliner, ticket sales soared to their highest ever, so get

yourself online now if you don’t want to miss out (we still have a few left).

This year’s ball is set to be the best yet, with a couple of changes to the layout; the biggest is probably the fact that we are building a HUGE outdoor main stage so that everyone can see the main acts on the bill.

For those who fancy something a little different, there are 4 stages at the ball: the main stage with all of the big acts on, the 2nd stage with a whole variety of entertainment, including bands, the world famous Fairport Convention and several DJ’s. We have the CSR DJ stage along with a fancy cocktail bar, casino tables and a silent disco. What’s more, we are setting up

Summer Ball Line-Up Announced!

Out With The Old, In With The New

... story continues inside (middle spread) ...

a fantastic intimate outdoor stage by the pond to be taken over by Student Republic and their DJ’s.

Of course the dodgems will be back this year, along with some fun fair stalls, the all-important photographer (so you can look back on a special night with your friends). Despite what people may say, it really is best to get there early, go on a few rides (including the dodgems) whilst it’s still a little quieter, grab a drink, something to eat and get to know your way around for when all of the big acts are on stage.

Make sure you take a flyer at the door with a map, stage times and your fun money for the casino.

News & Current Affairsfollow us online:

www.ccsu.co.uk/unified

3

The Christ Church canines would like to thank all involved in the NSS and USS!

Sustainability plays an important part at Christ Church- drawing by Lucy Brown -

SEARCH for all the information you need from books, e-books, DVDs, journals, theses and much more in one easy step.

It is simple, straightforward and fast. Simply enter the details into one search box and you can search the book catalogue, e-Library databases and CReaTE research documents simultaneously.

You will also be able to conduct advanced searches using individual databases.

This easy one-stop solution, LibrarySearch, will replace the current e-Library and library catalogue in September, but will be available for use from the end of May onwards. Look out for the LibrarySearch logo and start making your life easier.

Contributors:

Andrew Cameron

Ellie Martin

Melissa Cleary

Ginette Casey

Gill Perkins

Lucy Brown

Aidan Ainsley

Silvia Rasca

Adem Djemil

Chris Hawksey

Mel Lewis

Lee Soden

Bex Ward

Jo Bartson-Umuliisa

Sammi Wright

Phil Mooney

Stacey Hawes

Darcy Anderson

Charlotte Moore

Elina Smyrniou

Shola Dayo

Angela Dimitrova

Alecia Crayford

Abigail James

Rob Vassie

Adam Parsons

Kirsty Patrick

Oliver Fawcett

THE University would like to thank everyone who took part in the National Student Survey (NSS) and University Student Survey (USS) this year. The University’s response rate targets were achieved, and around 7,500 of you gave feedback about your learning experiences which is a fantastic result!

In partnership with the Students’ Union, the University uses the feedback you give to help enhance the student experience year on year. Look

out for the messages about how we’re using your feedback

The dogs say ‘Thank You’

to make enhancements now and in the future.

Editors:

Adam Beadle(Comment)

Kate Lismore(Entertainment)

Natalie Keeler(News & Current Affairs)

Claire Miller (Features & Lifestyle)

Sam Eskenazi(Sports & Societies)

Anca Popescu(UNIfied editor-in-chief)

The Survey Unit

THE University is awarded PLATINUM for EcoCampus which means that our CCCU Environmental Management System is fully compliant with the requirements of the internationally recognised ISO14001 standard.

Hundreds of staff - across the whole campus network -

Lucy Brown have been working hard for over 3 years to reach this goal. It is really great news that we passed the external audit ‘test’ back in February, so a massive CONGRATULATIONS to all those who helped out! A truly fantastic team effort.

The University now has a functioning system that enables us to manage all of the activities taking place day-to-day that have an impact on

The University is awarded Platinum for EcoCampus

the environment. These can be negative impacts, such as the waste of water or the misuse of energy, or positive impacts such as engagement with various pro-environmental and sustainability projects.

In order to maintain the prestigious accreditation, we need to keep a close eye on our Environmental Management System. If you are interested in getting trained to be one of our internal auditors, email sustainabi l i [email protected] for more information.

Finally, thanks are in order to each and every person who does their bit to make our University the most sustainable it can be. You know who you are!

The 1 stop Library

I’M SURE I won’t be alone when I say it’s been a fantastic year to be a Christ Church student. As News & Current Affairs editor, I’m lucky enough to be one of the first to read all about the amazing and diverse range of activities which you have been participating in over the last nine months, and there’s certainly been a very broad selection.

At the start of this academic year, we saw the opening of the new Student Union in St. George’s Centre, which has definitely been put to good use with a number of events taking place in The Lounge bar and Thanks-A-Latte café, including

follow us on twitter:www.twitter.com/christchurchsu

News & Current Affairs 4

UNIfied editor, Natalie Keeler, runs through her highlights from this year

EVER fancied travelling the world, but never had the money to do so? Well, Escape 2013 are offering you your own free ticket! Escape 2013 are giving Christ Church students the opportunity to travel far or wide around the globe absolutely free, whilst raising money for a good cause.

Participants will travel in groups of three or four, then using a range of methods to escape as far from St George’s Centre as they possible can and back, all within 24 hours.

The groups will be given the necessary training and tools in order to get themselves as far

away as possible.

Those taking part will need some top notch blagging skills to make their way onto planes, trains, buses or even hitchhike their way across the world. Whilst on their travels, groups will be expected to initially rely on the goodwill of people they know. But the further they go, it’s likely they’ll find it’s those whom they have never met before whom they’ll have to rely upon the most.

The money raised will be going to Kent Association

Escape and Evade 2013 - a lifetime opportunity for Christ Church students

US Election Night, Ladies Day, Canterbury’s Got Talent and Elections Result Night.

RaG (Raise & Give) have had their hands full this year and have been doing an outstanding job raising money for a vast collection of charities in their Light Up the City Fun Run and for Children in Need. Other students have also been working hard to raise cash for charities such as Diabetes UK and Cancer Research UK, taking part in everything from abseiling to growing horrific facial hair for Movember.

It’s been a brilliant year for Student Media too, as Canterbury’s student radio station CSRFM won the Charity Champion title for their fundraising event Going Live for

Catching Lives - #AwakeFor48 at the I Love Student Radio Awards. The station was also nominated for two National Student Radio Awards back in October, so all in all, have had a very successful few months.

I have loved working with the

newspaper team this year and would like to congratulate them all, particularly our editor-in-chief Anca Popescu, for putting in so much hard work to make this a great year for UNIfied!

Aidan Ainsley

for the Blind (KAB), a charitywhich supports

sight impaired people to live independent lives. Many of the people KAB fundraise for rely on the support of people they have never seen before, so using something most of us take for granted (sight), we can help support those that are less fortunate than ourselves.

If you would like to get involved, look out for the application form which will be be available on the Union’s website very soon. In the

meantime, it might be wise to start thinking about where you would go, how you’ll get there and who to go with. There will be prizes for the team that get the furthest!

Canterbury Christ Church has entered into a contractual agreement to sell its Salomons campus in Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells. The University has owned the site since 1996 and has, over the last 16 years, delivered a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as operating a well-established conference and events business.

The main mansion, along with the conferencing and events activity, is being sold to Bishops UK Ltd which is part of the Markerstudy Group and is based in Tunbridge Wells. The new owners will continue to run the event and wedding business that is already associated with the Salomons estate as well as using the facilities as a training centre for their staff.

The rest of the estate will be

owned by Browncape Estates Ltd and the University will be leasing back the Stable Block and Gate Lodges in order to continue to provide a base for its Applied Psychology programmes and consultancy work for the next 3 - 5 years, allowing it to undertake a strategic review of its future West Kent campus needs.

Meanwhile, current students and courses at University Centre Folkestone will transfer over to Canterbury from August (except Early Years) as the University closes its campus in Folkestone.

Salomons Campus

Have you seen the new menus launched @the lounge?

What a year it’s been! Campus changes over the summer

Travelling with a twist...

Natalie Keeler

follow us on facebook:www.facebook.com/christchurchsu


THE U NIVERSITY’s Facilities and Estates Team has been shortlisted in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards.

The shortlisted award nomination recognises the team’s partnership work with Christ Church students to deliver an enhanced experience for all students who study at the University.

Between 2009 and 2012, the University has invested nearly £54 million in new buildings, significantly improving student study and leisure facilities.

Lee Soden, Director of Facilities Management, said: “Throughout all of our developments we have worked in partnership with our students. We have used student focus groups and encouraged them to be involved in all decisions, design, furniture, colour schemes and even awarding the services contract for the new St George’s centre.

Last year was the University’s

Jubilee and what a perfect year for these exciting movements to have taken place. It really brought everybody in the University together creating an even stronger community feel.”

Augustine House was the first to be created and is a state-of-the-art library and student service centre. The building offers students flexible learning space and inspiring learning environments in which they can read, study or relax with mobile technology to support their student needs.

Secondly, the team developed a new Students’ Union building in St George’s Place, Canterbury. The building contains a coffee shop, chill out study areas, welfare facilities, and student accommodation with 200 superior ensuite rooms, ten three-bedroom family student housing and quiet landscaped courtyards.

This allowed space for the former Students’ Union building, situated on the North Holmes Road Campus, to

CANTERBURY has long been thought of as one of the safest University cities in the UK, but this year’s Sabbatical team have had the safety of Christ Church students at the top of their agenda throughout the year with their priority campaign ‘SAFE’.

One of the strands of the SAFE campaign this year was CSI (Common Sense Innit), which was a crime prevention campaign aimed at increasing awareness on how easy it is to become a victim of theft and how best to protect yourselves as students.

Another strand was S.H.A.G. (Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance) which educated students as to how to ‘protect’ themselves correctly whilst engaging in ‘extra-curricular’ activities.

We have two final strands left for this year, with the first

being Safe Ed, a plagiarism awareness campaign aimed at making sure students know how to avoid becoming embroiled in a plagiarism accusation. Lined-up we also have DrinkNotDrunk which is aimed at helping students be more careful with their consumption levels in order to avoid some serious incidences which can happen after having more than your fill of alcohol.

Keep your eyes peeled for these campaigns over this final term, and hopefully this year will continue to see Canterbury ranked so highly for safety!

The University’s Facilities and Estates Team become potential prize winners

The Christ Church SU’s SAFE campaign continues

be transformed into a multi-purpose music and performing arts facility. At the same time, St Gregory’s Church was re-developed as a new performance venue for the city of Canterbury.

Throughout these developments the current buildings have not been forgotten. The teaching rooms at the Canterbury and Broadstairs campuses have been refurbished to become sustainable areas that give the students and academics a comfortable and effective environment for teaching and learning.

This is the second year in a row we have been recognised at the Student Radio Conference, last year winning Community Spirit.

#awakefor48 is one of our most successful outside broadcast events to date, raising over £1500 for local homeless charity Catching Lives. The event itself was a media collaboration with KTV and InQuire; a live 48 hour stream and broadcast involving over 60 volunteers from student media across Canterbury, and required two presenters Jessie Martin and Ryan Bartrop (from whom the idea originated) staying awake for the shows entire duration.

In Canterbury, the event’s hashtag #awakefor48 was

trending on Twitter for the entire duration, and for 6 hours – @csrfm was the top trending topic ahead of Valentines Day! Across the 48 hours, the team broadcasted live DJ sets, Japanese drumming lessons, belly dancing, inline hockey competitions, netball wet sponge throwing, quidditch competitions and a personal highlight – live Take Me Out, featuring over 50 contestants.

We also contacted a large number of local businesses and gave away over £700 worth of competition prizes with big companies such as LUSH

and Wagamamas, and smaller chains. Good luck messages were recorded and played out across the two days to spur the presenters on.

The team went down to the charity ahead of the event, and produced a series of plea videos to encourage listeners/watchers to donate. Separate on air imaging was also created for the event.

In total – the teams raised £1500 from online donations, and RAG buckets, with 100% going to the charity. The charity were present when the final

total was announced in the last hour, and the local press ran the story front page. The hashtag #awakefor48 was used over 1060 times, and the live stream itself had over 700 unique viewers.

Station Manager Ryan Bartrop said: “We are thrilled to have been recognised nationally for one of my proudest moments as the station manager of CSR FM. This event was well supported on and off campus and would not have happened without the hard work and dedication of both staff and volunteers involved.

Estates Team shortlisted for a national award!

How to be SAFE in Canterbury!

Aidan Ainsley

The radio station was awarded the Charity Champion title at the I Love Student Radio Awards for #awakefor48

CSR FM - National Charity Champions

Mel Lewis

follow us on vimeo:www.vimeo.com/christchurchsu


Professor Roderick Watkins, the Dean of Arts and Humanities at Canterbury Christ Church University, commented: “I am delighted that Canterbury Christ Church University is able to host this extraordinary installation on the first stop of its tour outside of London, and look forward to welcoming audiences of all ages to what promises to be a memorable journey around one of the world’s leading orchestras.”

Applications for Freshers Crew are now open so go to www.ccsu.co.uk/crew to apply. This year we are looking for two types of crew for Freshers Week: a social crew to make sure the new students settle in, make friends and enjoy themselves; and a team who can show off the Union, what we do, and help guide students towards advice and what they need. Apply now at www.ccsu.co.uk/crew!

follow us online:www.ccsu.co.uk/unified


Why trysport? * there are loads of sports

and activities on offer across all campuses

* you can join in with friends and meet new people

* introduce yourself back into a sport and brush up on your skills

* learn new skills if you’re a beginner

* bite size sessions (one hour per week for five weeks) guided by a friendly coach

* informal environment where you can relax and have fun

(up - activities on offer in Broadstairs) * there’s no pressure to perform(right - activities on offer in Canterbury) * only £1 per session

Trysport is a great way to get fit, healthy and active (improve self esteem, relieve stress, aid sleep and relaxation and maintain a healthy weight). Places can fill up fast so don’t miss out trying something different; visit www.canterbury.ac.uk/trysport now!

Combining expertise, supporting excellence in education

PermanentConsultancy Teachsafe

By CapitaTop 10 RecruitmentAgency

WINNER

NQTs – looking for a great permanent position?

We know that as an NQT, your first and foremost aim is to secure yourself a permanent position and Capita Education Resourcing is the market leader for helping newly qualified teachers find their first teaching role.

With our new, dedicated NQT website www.nqtcareers.co.uk the concept is simple:

1) You create a profile for yourself

2) Our extensive database of schools looking to hire NQTs can search for you

3) If they like you, we receive an email stating when they would like to interview you

4) We then arrange your interview

5) You get to impress away and showcase your great enthusiasm for teaching

It couldn’t be easier.

For more information and to speak to our dedicated NQT Consultants, contact us now on

[email protected]

0800 151 3557


Comment 8

So…this is my final UNIfied article. 4 years ago I wrote my very first article investigating the surge in Mephadrone (Meow Meow) usage within Universities. I was in my second year and had always wanted to get involved in Journalism from a young age. It just so happened that I lived with a Journalism student who

Jo Bartson-Umuliisa - VP (Welfare & Education)

Sammi Wright - VP (Welfare & Education) elect

had written for UNIfied from the very beginning of her degree, which encouraged me to go a little further outside my comfort zone and write for the paper. 4 years later, I’m so glad that I grabbed that first SU based opportunity.

I don’t just want to end with writing out a list of my achievements in bullet point form, I want to use this as a way of speaking to those who every so often get an urge to try something different or something that pushes you that makes you go that extra mile. I was never really interested in joining a sport team because I didn’t think I was cool enough plus I was pretty unfit.

I didn’t really know what the difference between a society and a sports team was, so didn’t really bother finding out more information. It didn’t even cross my mind that Raise and Give literally meant the SU would fundraise for other charities and I vaguely understood that it (the SU) was the first port of

Meet your elected Sabbatical Officers and bid your farewell to those finishing Meet next year’s sabbatical team to find out what their plans are, and find out what the outgoing officers have to say about their time in post

call for advice. Obviously, the more I asked questions, the more I found out! I just want to say to anyone that answered my questions (as weird as they were), a massive thank you! I would not be writing this article from our shiny new building representing close to 20,000 students spread out across Kent had it not been for staff, ex-sabbaticals and lecturers embracing my inquisitiveness. It may be daunting, but I’m proof it’s worth finding out more! The SU is your hub, and it’s here for you to go beyond your studies.

I would like to in particular, thank the unsung heroes of the SU, our staff members and our dedicated volunteers. The enthusiasm and support they show me and other sabbaticals makes me love this job that little more…especially on days where I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall and crying at my desk. This job is a lifestyle which means having people around that can sense when you need that tea and a

biscuit or just a chat.

I would also like to thank Christ Church University. Seems obvious, but over the last two years, I can’t think of representing students views in a greater environment. So even though it took me a while to get used to the millions of acronyms (slight exaggeration), and gain some much needed confidence. I wouldn’t be as committed if I were not given plenty of opportunities. More notably, I would like to thank individuals within the University that helped me along the way.

These are the people that may not realise how much of a positive influence they have been in my time as Vice President (Welfare & Education) as I have worked closely with them and found them to have the same passion as me for student life! They are; Prof Sue Piotrowski Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), the whole team at Student Support and Guidance (including the now retired Geoff Haworth),

Dr. Moira Helm, Phil Poole and the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit and Moira Mitchell and the rest of Equality and Diversity. If you’ve read my annual report or caught up on my many Facebook updates about what I’ve done, then I hope in some way I have improved your student experience! It was emotional and I’ve worked hours that no man will experience BUT I thoroughly enjoyed every second representing you.

My successor, Sammi Wright is a great example of a student that embodies enthusiasm. When she came to me at the beginning of my 1st term, asking lots of questions and just wanting to get involved, I knew then that she was already 10 steps ahead of me before I started. I’d like to wish her all the luck in the world for the next year. I’m sure she’ll leave an amazing legacy!

So…that’s it from me! Thanks for a great 5 years Christ Church.

Guilty Pleasure Song: Spice Girls - Mama

Celebrity Crush: I don’t tend to fancy celebrities but if I had to choose, I’d pick Travie Mccoy (when he has short hair)

Earliest Memory: My great nan’s 90th birthday

Superhero You’d Like To Be: A Power Ranger

Hey everyone! I’m Sammi I’m 21years young, currently studying Religious studies and I am your VP (Welfare & Education) for next year!

Firstly, I would like to start by saying a massive thank you to everyone who voted for me, it is safe to say I was on cloud 9 when I heard how many votes I got, not to mention being elected!

For the year commencing, the Students’ Union has got another brilliant team of sabbaticals who I cannot wait to start working with. Together we will strive to enhance YOUR student experience to the best it could possibly be.

The main reason I went for the Welfare & Education position

was because I see myself as quite a caring person, I love the idea of being able to help people and run campaigns which helps the students to become academically, culturally and self-aware.

I am going to create more awareness campaigns that will involve the entire student body by reaching out to all campuses.

These will include volunteering opportunities, encouraging people to recycle more and help YOU, students, get a better understanding of health related issues. Whether it’s encouraging the men and women to check their delicate parts or to promote mindfulness with regards to students with physical and

mental disabilities, I will make sure to cover it!

When considering the education side of the role, I will make it my duty to represent every different individual that studies at Christ Church, aiming to cater for the different perspectives of the students and their needs. I want Student Reps to become more pro-active with regards to how much responsibility their departments give them. For example, I believe that module

evaluations should be done by Student Reps.

More responsibility will help them engage even more, ensuring that their cohort receive the best education, and helping them become more empowered at the same time.

As my three years of study are coming to an end, the number of things I would like to see changed are slowly growing. I want to be the person that helps create the positive change.


Comment 9

and student participation is a massive part of my life. As the President of Men’s Rugby, Chair of the Sports Exec Committee and the South East Universities representative for the RFU I’ve been able to witness the amazing achievements of student sportsmen and women and student volunteers not only here at Christ Church but all across the South East. Working with next year’s VP Sports and VP Student Activities I’m looking forward to using my experience and contacts to push sport, student activities and volunteering at Christ Church to a whole new level.

This is an incredibly exciting

time for Christ Church University and I am very much looking forward to starting my role as your new Students’ Union President on the 1st July.

Being President is all about representing the voice of the students and that is something that I put at the very heart of

Phil Mooney - President electHi I’m Phil and I’m currently

studying for a PGCE at Christ Church but many of you may recognise me as the Duty Manager of The Lounge bar in the new St George’s Students’ Union building.

First and foremost I’d like to say a massive thank you to all the wonderful people who voted for me and supported me during the elections, it was an amazing experience and I am very grateful for all the incredible support I received. I’d also like to thank all the other candidates for running such professional and hard fought campaigns. Anyone that knows me will know that sport

Stacey Hawes - President

Guilty Pleasure Song: Anything by Taylor Swift (I actually cannot believe I just admitted that!)

Celebrity Crush: Scarlett Johansson

Earliest Memory: I’m pretty old, I think I remember dinosaurs roaming about!

Superhero You’d Like To Be: Batman (a billionaire with a sweet car - what’s not to love?)


my manifesto, I want every student at Christ Church to feel that their opinions really matter and that they can have a direct influence on the decisions that are made, even at the highest level.

I look forward to representing you all next year.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started my role as student union President. I knew it would an exciting time as we had to move to the new building but anticipation of the year head was always on the cards but it is a real honour to be the first president of the new St Georges centre. I never knew how this year was going to go as we had nothing to base it on so it was always part of the excitement.

Not going to lie, Canterbury is a totally different place in the summer, no students and

everywhere seems less busy and quiet. I didn’t like it and I was excited for freshers’ fortnight and the students returning. I knew this was when the hard work would begin.

September came and went in a flash. It was a lot of fun and a lot of laughs.it was great to see students enjoy events that had been in the planning over the summer and of course to have my friends back in the city. I would say the highlight of the fortnight was meeting the Loveable Rouges. They are a great bunch of lads who was up for a prank and a few shots. The majority of my role is being a member of over 45 different university committees where I am the student voice to the university. I go and give the views of students so that the university are always having the student ideas at the forefront of their thinking. This has been a complete eye opening exercise. CCCU students are so lucky on a national level on how the university response to student’s needs. This is something that is really apparent when we compare with other student unions.

I have really enjoyed making

change for the better here at CCCU. From being part of the change of the iborrows, getting even more computers in the library to creating a common room on campus. Students need to be more aware of the common room to get greater use of it.

I would have to say the overall highlight of my time in post is when I get to go out and talk to students. I try to do this as much as possible. Some people would see this as ground work but I think that any sabbatical that wants to keep their feet grounded need to speak to students on a regular basic. This is highly effective way of finding out what the students want from their time at university and any issues that they might have. Students have enjoyed the face to face contact compared to an email.

I have really enjoyed my time as CCSU president; it’s a year that I will always remember for loads of reasons. I have had the chance to meet and work with so many amazing people over the year. It was a brilliant end to amazing 3 years doing my degree. Thanks to everyone who has been part of it.

... in the council working, and discuss some of the Liberal Democrats’ views on student politics. He also questioned the audience on being a student in Canterbury, in order to find out what we, students, a large proportion of the Canterbury residency, want from our Prospective local MP.

So what else can this new society do? Well, on the 9th May in OF42 at 4pm we’ll be hosting a debate on Thatcherism: For or Against? This is an opportunity for the Politics Society, as well as the Labour and Conservative societies’ members to discuss the topic and have a joint social afterwards. Everyone is welcome! If you wish to know more about this debate or how to get involved, please contact Oliver Fawcett at [email protected]. On the 24th May, The Politics Society will

The Politics Society

...story continues from page 24 also be visiting the Houses of Parliament in London, followed by an end of year/end of exams/ end of term social in Canterbury, which is going to be HUGE!

So what else is the society organising? We are currently looking into organising trips to Holyrood, in Scotland, following the Scottish Independence Referendum, and a trip to the EU in Brussels or the European Parliament in Strasbourg. We are also looking at some potential re-structuring to expand the society and get more people involved and interested in Politics.

So, if you want to know more information, or to get involved, simply contact Oliver at [email protected] and you’ll be guaranteed an experience like no other!

Where you find out the updates

Comment 10follow us on twitter:www.twitter.com/christchurchsu

Anca Popescu - VP (Student Activities)

Darcy Anderson - VP (Student Activities) elect


Guilty Pleasure Song: Fairground, Simply Red

Celebrity Crush: Ryan Reynolds

Earliest Memory: Sitting on a swing in Germany

Superhero You’d Like To Be: The female version of Spiderman

Hello! As your new VP Student Activities I would just like to start off by saying thank you so much to everyone that voted, not just for me but for the other candidates and also in all the other categories. You helped achieved the highest number of voters in Canterbury Christ Church University’s history. That’s absolutely amazing.

Christ Church has given me the best 3 years of my life, so I though it was time to give something back! This is going to sound cliché, but I went for the role because I believe I can

make a difference and I had a million and one ideas which I now cannot wait to get started on. If anyone out there has any other ideas to add to my endless list, then please send me a message or leave a note for me in the office, I would love to hear all of them!

I have big plans for the year to come and am very excited to take advantage of the opportunity to be your next Vice-President (Student Activities) and to represent each and everyone of you! I’m looking forward to working alongside you.

So here I am … once again working in the SU office at ridiculous time in the morning (3.26am on a Sunday morning) and loving every single minute of it! It may sound strange to some, and completely normal to others, but I bloody love my job! So I’d like to kick start this final article with a ‘thank you’ to all of you for giving me the opportunity to be your Vice-President (Student Activities) for 2 years and not even

questioning it.

I never thought I’d be capable of doing what I am now: representing you guys and being the student voice in university committees, editing a newspaper (journalism is definitely not one of my strongest features), putting motions forward at national conferences and becoming very political and opinionated when talking about Demo 2012 – as a matter of fact, I had no clue what a sabbatical officer is or does before I found myself already in the role. And I owe it to Ellie Martin, our Student Representation Co-ordinator and Advice Caseworker, for suggesting it to me when I went into her office to get a signature on my volunteering passport – gosh, that seems so long ago.

I never took a step back to think what the sabbatical team does and how it influences so many aspects of the overall student experience, until I found myself trying to explain it all to my mother, over Skype. As silly as it sounds, it got me thinking about how many changes we

get to do as individuals and as a team – and trust me, we do plenty! But more importantly, it got me thinking about how many changes students and staff members have made to my life during the past couple of years.

There is no greater feeling than knowing that your efforts are being appreciated by any one person, and that is why I enjoy being a VP (Student Activities); because I get to interact with so many people on so many different projects, from fundraising through RaG, to helping societies elect their committees or putting on

events, to editing UNIfied or working on how to make the NSS and USS more appealing to students. It’s so diverse, I frickin’ love it. I sometimes still cannot get over the fact

that I was a shy international student, who was scared to speak up during a meeting or make a point in an article. I’m taking a lot away with me from this experience, and I’m leaving a completely changed person (for the better, one would hope). What’s more, I’m taking away all the moments when I met someone inspirational, the ones when someone’s changed bits of my life or even thanked me for changing bits in theirs … I’m taking away friendships and ‘lollipop moments’.

It’s been an absolute pleasure working with each and every one of you, but rest assured...

I still have 2 months left and I’m planning to make the most out of them. Before I end on an emotional note, I would like to thank YOU for taking the time to read the paper and this article … I hope you’re enjoing it.

And as I finish writing my last ever article for UNIfied, I also finish editing my last ever edition and a BIG chapter in my life. I’m in no fit state to say I’ll miss it after working on it for 61 hours straight, but I’ll say this … I put all my faith in Darcy, my successor, and I’m sure she’ll do a brilliant job!

Cool monkeys xxx

Working on national campaigns with Kent Union and Canterbury College SUFrom left to right: Colum McGuire, VP (Welfare) elect for NUS and VP (Welfare) for Kent Union, Josh

Rowlands, President Canterbury College SU, Anca Popescu, VP (student Activities)


Comment 11

Charlotte Moore - VP (Sport) elect

Aidan Ainsley - VP (Sport)


Hi, my name is Charlotte and I chose to run for VP (Sport) to enhance our students’ opportunities in sport across all campuses.

I plan on promoting those sports that may not be very well known, and I want to promote the elite sports to their full potential.

GET ACTIVE!! One of my aims is to build clubs for those who are more involved with Trysport! I also want to link eligible sports members so that they are able to gain coaching qualifications and develop.

Guilty Pleasure Song: Wheatus, Teenage Dirtbag

Celebrity Crush: Jonathon Rhys Meyers

Earliest Memory: Singing Jungle Book’s ‘Bare Necessities’ whilst bathing in my Grandmas kitchen sink!

Superhero You’d Like To Be: Batman. Cars, gadgets, beautiful house and protects family and friends ... what more would

you want?!

So it’s almost the end of my year as your Vice President (Sport) and what a year it has been! To be part of the first sabbatical team to work in the new St George’s Centre building is such a huge honour and of course plaudits have to go to the previous teams over a number of years who have made this project into reality.

It has been without a doubt the longest year of my time at Christ Church, and it feels like I’ve actually been VP (Sport) for three years not 10 months, so it’s very difficult to sum up all that has happened in a brief article like this, but I’ll try!

One of my highlights of this year would have to be witnessing all of the hard work and dedication that went into competing in Varsity. Now as a project itself, getting everything ready is a nightmare, but seeing the commitment and

determination that was put in by everybody on the pitch was a real buzz for me, and made me a very proud VP indeed! Months and months of preparation reached its climax seeing particularly the Rugby and Football at Parkwood on the Wednesday absolutely crammed with supporters was fantastic and shows how much it means to Christ Church.

Hopefully this year I’ve set the wheels in motion for Christ Church to really kick on with sport over the next few years! This year saw the return of sponsorship for the sports clubs which, with added finances, should see increased success with the ability to purchase even more equipment. I’m in the middle of a process to rebrand Christ Church Sport to make us look more appealing to prospective students, and a more unified body whilst bringing in extra

funding from the marketing potential. I submitted a 5,000 word document to the University’s Senior Management Team, detailing how the Students’ Union need another member of staff sport at the union, seeing as the amount of people engaging in this area is growing at a pace faster than we can handle - which is great news! On that note, sports’ memberships are at a record high.

When I began at Christ Church five years ago as a wide-eyed 18 year old who just liked playing sport, I could never have envisioned the journey I was about to go on. Missing out on the initial football trials due to a horrendous fresher’s week hangover, sport almost missed me completely. Going along to a random training session in late October, not knowing anyone was not the most conventional start to a

University sport career. Yet I wouldn’t go back and change how I ended up in sport at all as it has been the best five years and best experience I could have asked for. It’s at this point I encourage anybody who is reading this and isn’t involved

with a sports team, PLEASE DO IT! Even if you are not a super athlete it literally makes such a difference to your experience here. It has been without a doubt the best decision I’ve made since coming to Christ Church. Maybe second only to that time I left Baabars after being in there for 10minutes. That was wise considering what happened after, which is something former sabbatical Kal Sajad will remember vividly.

Receiving an award at Sports Fed for Exceptional Commitment to Sport was pretty emotional too, and although there will have been times this year when I haven’t managed to respond to your email as quickly as you’d have liked, or I haven’t been able to order your equipment yet or book you the minibus, I’ve always remained committed to Christ Church sport, so thank you to those that organised that award, it is much appreciated indeed!

However, none of this year’s successes could have been possible without a number of people. Firstly the help of the three other sabbaticals that have shown support in various ways. Secondly the hard work of the Students’ Union staff who always strive to please the student body and

in particular the delight that is Antonia Dyson. Pen-ultimately the tireless efforts of the Sports Executive Committee who have given up so much time to develop sport here, and were rightly presented the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award. Finally my housemate Sam Crawford who has put up with many a lonely night at home whilst I’m still in the office working away! However I’d like to thank you the most, for giving me the opportunity in the first place to represent, defend and promote you all.

It’s been an absolute pleasure and best of luck to next year’s VP (Sport), Charlotte Moore, and the rest of next year’s team.

Christ Church supporters at this year’s Varsity event


Entertainment 12

Christ Church Students’ Union presents: THE SUMMER BALLTickets are selling like hotcakes ... everyone is excited about the line-up ... what more could you wish for??? UNIfied interviews Andrew Cameron, the man behind the scenes, to find out the juicy bits behind this year’s greatest event!

There’s no question that last year’s Jubilee Summer Ball was out of this world – what do you think made it such a great event?

Thank you, we really worked hard to get a great line-up to help the University celebrate its Jubilee year. We were also, for one year only, able to expand the funfair area and we finally had a stage on the pond area on campus. With the line-up and all the people involved, we

managed to make the event happen and make it what it was. But mainly it was all the lovely students who came that created the best atmosphere ever seen anywhere on campus and really made the event come alive.

The line-up was only announced last week and already the tickets are selling out – what did you think of the launch of the event?

CSR have always done a great job at announcing the line-up, building up the tension and putting on a great show. They managed to get some interviews with some of the acts playing the ball, which really added to the announcement.

What made you change the whole vibe of the event in terms of the acts booked? Have you had any feedback yet?

I wouldn’t say we have changed any vibe of the event; if you look at the Ball over the past few years we have always tried to book a few acts so that there is something for everyone. This year again is no different, hopefully there is an act on the line-up that everyone likes. I’m speaking to you before the

actual launch so we haven’t had any student feedback as of yet, but when we were looking into booking the acts, we got loads of suggestions through social media and in person; we really try our best to speak to most of those acts’ agents, but we can’t always make some of them happen. We were close to booking one headliner this year (I won’t say who) but then seemed to get some negative responses, so we made sure we didn’t book them.

What about the whole concept of the event? Are you keeping the same layout in terms of rides, stages, bars and design?

Well with last year being the Jubilee Ball, it was a one off for

all of those rides sadly, but we have again changed the layout. Previously, not everyone could see the main acts in the old hall so we are bringing in a huge outdoor main stage for everyone at the event to be able to see the main acts, fingers crossed it doesn’t rain. We will have 6 bars, including a cocktail bar and shots bars, we have added fun casino tables this year and have made sure we still have the cloak room, a photographer, and the chill-out areain the Chapel.

There seems to be a general consensus that the Summer Ball is an exclusive event for 3rd year students. Is this true or just a myth?

Very simply, not this event - it’s for all students. But a lot of final year students do attend as it’s their last year at uni.

Last year’s ball was opened to University staff members too. Is that still the case?

University Staff have always been able to attend if they wished to do so, but as long as they don’t outnumber the students I don’t think many people mind.

You’ve organised quite a few balls for Christ Church SU. Since UNIfied loves a bit of gossip, which acts have been nightmares to work with? Any outrageous demands?

Most years we, do get some

Andrew managed to book some of the hottest acts for the Ball

Anca Popescu

Pendulum are one of the biggest names in UK drum’n’bass and will be

rocking the Summer Ball with a wall-shaking display of beats

& basslines. If you’ve never caught one of Pendulum‘s

legendary DJ sets then you’re in for an absolute treat as

they effortlessly lash together the likes of Metallica, The

Prodigy and their own massive anthems “Slam”, “Granite” and

“Propane Nightmares” with some of the fattest, loudest

DnB beats around!

The Summer Ball isn’t just about big headliners and we pride ourselves on having a wide variety of entertainment to suit all students. We can

announce that the Dodgems will be back this year!

Remember these rides are free

to all attendees at the Summer Ball and don’t cost a penny

extra as it’s all included in your ticket price!

The Student Republic Stage ... Student

Republic is the largest

events company in the South East - you will most

likely know them for

their Student Nights on

Wednesdays.Get ready for a mixture of music to suite all tastes as the Student

Republic DJs takeover.

Huw Stephens is a Radio1 DJ; he presents weekend afternoons and also hosts his show BBC ‘Introducing

in England’ on Radio 1 which concentrates on

the finest new music and unpredictable emerging

talent. Huw also regularly deputises for Zane Lowe,

Greg James and Scott Mills.He also works hard at

gigs, clubs and festivals, including Reading,

Glastonburyand Bestival.

If you need an introduction

then Wiley is an English rapper, MC, songwriter,

record producer and recording artist with

Caribbean roots from Trinidad and Antigua,

who first rose to fame as a grime MC

and continiously produces grime

music while releasing such hits “Wearing My Rolex“, “Never

Be Your Woman” and his UK number-one

“Heatwave“.

Entertainment 13follow us online:

www.ccsu.co.uk/unified

Christ Church Students’ Union presents: THE SUMMER BALLTickets are selling like hotcakes ... everyone is excited about the line-up ... what more could you wish for??? UNIfied interviews Andrew Cameron, the man behind the scenes, to find out the juicy bits behind this year’s greatest event!

acts which ask for a whole load of things. Sometimes, depending on how famous they are, we get them everything they want, or we just make sure we keep them all well fed and watered and most acts are happy. Most of the time it’s the acts’ manager who makes up the list of demands and the bands/artists never know what they are getting anyway. We have had some crazy lists before including, leather sofa’s, marshmallows, batteries, boxer shorts, very expensive champagne, tonnes of pizza for the journey home, and loads more too. Not many of the acts have been hard to work with, one unknown singer was a total diva once, a couple

of big bands’ tour managers have been very particular about how the stage looked, how the backstage looked, how much ice they got, if a specific beer had been chilled at a certain time, wanting keys and security for backstage areas which were already secure, but we usually have to please them.

The question on everyone’s mind: what do you think about Ball organised by the University Up-The-Hill (that’s Kent University for everyone). Do you think they have a better line-up than us?

We never try to compare the events to each other as we have different students, number of tickets and tastes in

music. They have a great line-up this year and a whole new feel to their event which should be great. But we do have to say that we had Labrinth last year anyway so clearly we have beaten them (if it was a competition) already.

What do you think is the key of making the Summer Ball the place to be at? What’s the best part within the event … the one that attracts most students?

Students go to the ball because their friends are going. It’s one of their last chances to have a really good night out with their mates and for many it’s the end of an era, no matter who makes the line-up, what fun fair rides there are or if it rains, the students on the night make it the place to be, one last big blow out to end your uni year.

Any advice for anyone attending the event?

Eat before you arrive and at the event, don’t drink too much before you get there - plenty of cheap drinks on the night; it’s a long night so pace yourself, bring cash so you don’t have to queue at the cash machine. And most of all enjoy it.

If you need an introduction

then Wiley is an English rapper, MC, songwriter,

record producer and recording artist with

Caribbean roots from Trinidad and Antigua,

who first rose to fame as a grime MC

and continiously produces grime

music while releasing such hits “Wearing My Rolex“, “Never

Be Your Woman” and his UK number-one

“Heatwave“.

Wiley is considered a pioneer in the UK underground music scene, and a versatile music artist with many

crossover hits and his consistency and influence within the grime scene; he is the “Godfather of Grime”.

The Hoosiers are Irwin Sparkes, Martin Skarendahl and Alfonso

Sharland, a triumverate of marauding intent hailing from

Exeter, Reading and Stockholm creating a sound that they call

‘music’.

You’ll remember them best for their hits ‘Worried About Ray‘, ‘Goodbye Mr A‘, ‘Choices‘, and ‘Cops and Robbers‘ and they’re

sure to bring some high jinx to the Summer Ball.

Tich is a 19 year old singer songwriter from the UK and 2012 has seen her become an online sensation. As well as picking up fans the world

over, Tich has also caught the ears of the world’s biggest

pop-group, One Direction, who have shown massive support for this rapidly growing, and talented artist. ‘Breathe in

Breathe Out’, co-written with Nick Jonas (from The Jonas Brothers), is just one of the

songs that has propelled Tich to such an incredible online

position.

Tich’s fanbase continues to grow rapidly while she co-

writes her debut album with world-renowned songwriters.

When she’s a global superstar just remember when you saw

Comment 14follow us on twitter:www.twitter.com/christchurchsu

Women at Christ Church make up 70% of the student population, and have made up the majority of the student population for a number of years. Here at Christ Church Students’ Union, we want to celebrate our female population but we also want to make women AND men aware of the issues that women have faced. Over the few days leading up to International Women’s day, we have published personal accounts of women at Christ Church as well as women in the local community and Alumni

who have all managed to ‘break through the glass ceiling’, We have heard of successes and issues that have influenced these women to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

With many of you almost at the end of your student experience, and with high unemployment rates hitting graduates hardest, we want you to take some inspiration from these stories and use them to influence your next steps! Don’t be afraid to go above and beyond, because the chances are that someone else has done it before you, PLUS, it’s the one thing that will make you stand out as an

individual.

So, although it was International Women’s day and yes, women do still indeed struggle to get to where they want to be, we must celebrate where women have come from in the past, and where women are now. The possibilities are endless and now it’s time to start shaping the future and actually fulfil your very own potential. Christ Church embodies this mantra and this is why we wanted to embrace the day, because in years to come, I’m sure there will not be just ONE day to honour us women. I hope you find these

The day was celebrated globally on 8th March 2013, and here at Christ Church we did it in style! #CCSULetsPlayFair #IWD2013

stories as empowering and as warm as we did!

A few examples of what we did to celebrate: this ethos featured at various Varsity fixtures; for example, on the 7th March, the Men’s Basketball team held a raffle and sold pizza at their Varsity match. ALL proceeds were in aid of a domestic violence project for the Rising Sun Charity (based in Kent). Our part-time Welfare Officer, Sammi Wright and our part-time IPL officer, Emma Barker, fundraised over £250 throughout the day and at the Boxing Fight Night, selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts for

the ‘Oxfam’ women’s campaign and ‘Stop The Traffik’.

Jo Bartson-UmuliisaVP (Welfare & Education)

... story continues online at ccsu.co.uk/international-womens-day





Although I am sure I must have experienced it, I have no clear recollections of active discrimination in my educational pathway (apart from not being allowed to do woodwork at school instead of needlework) until I hit doing my PhD. Then I remember it vividly. It is best summed up in a comment made at a lunch table of doctorate students, early after my arrival by a then senior lecturer, who went on to be the Head of Department – he announced ‘social psychology is only fit for women’. I was aghast; this comment was so appalling on so many fronts. Hoping it was said in jest I questioned him further, and after a tirade of equally misogynist views realised he was not joking. Looking around the table I started to notice I was indeed the only female PhD student at this time, and the only one doing work in a more social/clinical area, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as opposed to all my male colleagues engaged in ergonomic and cognitive science projects funded by places such as the Ministry of Defence. So this felt like quite a personal attack, not just a ...

My Inspiration for wanting to achieve my goals and dreams is down to one person and that is my mother. Not only did she raise me by herself but she is the hardest working, independent woman I know. It wasn’t easy and, of course, like any loving mum, she wanted the best for me. That’s when at the age of 26 she decided to go to University and study to become a teacher. At times it was a struggle and I went with her to University as there was no-one else to look after me. To put it quite simply my mother is triumphant. She saw no obstacles. For the past 20 years she has been a Primary and Secondary English teacher. She’s the best teacher I have ever had.

My drive to be the best I can be, is solely down to her. I too see no obstacles. From a young age I’ve always wanted to be involved in the making videos, whether I was behind the camera, or in front of it. Yes, the field I am in is dominated by males, white males but I did not see this as an obstacle. In fact I think this goes in my favour. I am a black female; I show diversity before I even speak. However I do not believe the ...

In this second decade of the 21st Century, there has never been a better time for women in Universities in the entire history of the University system.

Although we have had Universities in Britain since the 12th century, it was not until as relatively recently as 1870 with the setting up of Girton College, Cambridge that women were first allowed to attend a University, and not until 1878 that the University of London paved the way for the first women to be able to gain a degree.

Even, as relatively recently as 1970, men still made up 70% of the student population. But since then, women’s representation has continued to rise until in the early 1990s, women’s participation exceeded that of men for the first time. Today, women make up the majority of the entire student population, 56% in 2011/12, and it was truly breath-taking when the Telegraph reported on 1 April 2010 ( and not as an April Fool’s joke!) that the majority of all young women (aged 18-30) are now going to University (51%). Thanks to the courage ...

I first started my career in local government back in 1982 against the background of increasing interest in gender and equality issues following a couple of decades of new legislation and the emergence of campaigning groups. Public sector bodies, then and now, were expected to be leaders in equal opportunities promotion and practice. I was entering an enlightened sector that I was sure would help me fulfil my potential. I worked hard and was soon promoted taking my first tentative steps towards the glass ceiling. Did I break through? I did more than once and am now Deputy Chief Executive of an ambitious council and enjoy other important decision making roles such as that of lay trustee on the board of Canterbury Christ Church Students’ Union. The breakthrough did not happen without setbacks and two experiences, related to pregnancy and motherhood, are painful reminders of gender bias I encountered along the way.

My rise through the ranks of local government was stalled in 1989 when I became pregnant with my first child. I was hot ...

I grew up in a family with traditional values; my mother did the cooking and kept a tidy house, my father went out to work and washed the car every Sunday. As a young child in the 1950s and early 1960s, I adored my father and readily accepted his role as head of the family.

My father seemed pleased when I was offered a place at grammar school but he later made clear that in his view ‘education is wasted on girls. They should be taught how to be good wives and mothers’. My mother thought differently. Trapped in what was clearly an unhappy marriage, she urged me to ‘…get an education so you can support yourself. That way you can choose whether or not to stay in a relationship.’

That I could one day choose to live on my own was not seen as an option – this was the early 1970s after all. In fact, while my teenage years were spent in rebellion – I paraded my ‘ban the bomb’ badges with pride - I was married at the age of 20. (Putting this in some context, it was virtually impossible for a couple to rent a property unless they were married and until ...

International Women’s Day - The Stories

Jo Bartson-Umuliisa

Prof Jan Burns Amie Parker-Williams Prof. Susan Piotrowski Velia Coffey Anonymous


Comment 15

NUS: We went, we saw, we conquered!Elina Smyrniou and Anca Popescu have made the Students’ Union proud at the latest NUS International Student Conference in April 2013

Elina Smyrniou

From left to right: Dennis Esch - International Students Committee member for the NUS, Anca Popescu - VP (Student Activities) for

Christ Church Students’ Union, Elina Smyrniou - International Officer for Christ Church Students’ Union, Sebastian Chowdhury, FE Committee member for the NUS Black Students’ Campaign

On Wednesday 24th April the Students’ Union’s Vp (Student Activities), Anca Popescu and myself, Elina Smyrniou - the Union’s International Officer, attended the sixth NUS International Student Conference. Prepared to represent our Christ Church Students’ Union, we arrived at Milton Keynes to a very welcoming NUS environment.

For those of you who don’t know, the NUS is the National Union of Students, which represents the interests of students across the nation. This particular conference was focused on International Students which means that part-time and full-time International Officers can attend in order to make their voices heard and pass new policy which can then be implemented in Students Bodies around the UK.

The conference started with a welcoming speech by the current NUS International Students’ Officer, Daniel Corradi Stevens, who mentioned that this was the largest International Student

Conference so far and that that alone was a great success.

Following Daniel’s introduction, we received an extremely interesting talk from Professor Chandran Kukathas who noted that ‘To restrict migration is to restrict freedom’ and further explained that all individuals have the right to move from one country to another, which, in many cases, can be beneficial to the countries in question. When touching on employment issues, he highlighted that with the increase of population comes the increase of demand, and therefore unemployment is not entirely caused by migration.

The conference continued with the active participation of the delegates, when they were asked to talk about any experience they have had so far during their stay in the UK. Many officers mentioned difficulties with visas or adapting to an independent lifestyle, away from their families.

Instead of focusing on the negatives, I decided to talk about CCCU’s Golden Jubilee event, which took place last year and invited all alumni

to attend and celebrate. I explained how all of the initial graduates were British and how I had the chance to talk to some of the first ever graduates of the university during the Alumni Day and therefore compare the changes that have taken place during the past decades, which have led to a more diverse student population.

The conference continued with the participants getting more and more involved in heated discussions. Soon enough the time had come when the election process would begin and we had to vote for the NUS International Students’ Officer position.

The debate between the three candidates running started as they all tried to gain our votes through their manifestos. The atmosphere was very tense and the delegates remained very sceptical at the end of the first conference day.

On the second day, the voting took place and everyone was eagerly waiting for the new officer and committee to be announced. Meanwhile, the delegates would discuss and vote on motions, such as the one proposed by Anca, CCSU’s VP (Student Activities), in relation to the barriers International students

face whilst volunteering. She proposed that a research is conducted, in order to tackle these issues in a working partnership between the

‘I see that delegate over there’ - Elina Smyrniou proudly representing Christ Church Students’ Union at the NUS 6th

International Students’ Conference

NUS, local unions, individual institutions, local councils and the local community.

Whilst voting and debating on these motions, the delegates’ anticipation grew as they all waited to find out the election results. Daniel Stevens was re-elected and congratulations were given to all candidates and the new international committee. The delegates congratulated each other for a great conference and began their return journey to their unions and universities in order to feed back on the information gathered during the conference and continue representing International Students with pride.

To find out what the delegates thought and discussed during the event, have a look for the following hashtag on Twitter: #NUSISC13.

Motion proposed at NUS International Students’ Conference 2013

IS31: Barriers to International Student VolunteeringOwner: Christ Church Students’ Union - Anca Popescu

Conference Believes: 1. That international students who want to volunteer are

sometimes prevented from doing so due to the nature of the volunteering programme.

2. That international students have the right to opt for any volunteering programmes available.

3. That we are unaware of what extent this is a problem for international students across the UK.

Conference Resolves:1. To conduct research into the extent that this is a problem for

international students in the UK.2. Where problems are identified, to work with the local union,

institution and local council and community to resolve them.


Comment 16

When someone dies, even if they have been disliked by a large number of people you find that at least they treat the death with respect but this seems to have changed in the last few weeks.

I bring this up because on the 8th April 2013, Margaret Thatcher died at the age of 87 from a stroke, leaving behind a massive legacy thanks to an 11 year term, emulsifiers for soft-serve ice cream, some surprisingly good ‘Yes Minister’ fan fiction and, judging by my Facebook news feed, a delighted nation.

In case you don’t know for whatever reason yet, Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s first female Prime Minister, running the country from 1979 until her resignation in 1990. She was therefore the British political figure of the 1980s, creating a political and social legacy that, I think it’s safe to say, deeply defines British society.

Either you think that she was a very clever, witty, and strong-willed Prime Minster that did many great things like win the Falkland Islands back after Argentina decided to invade. Or you think that she was an out-of-touch, cold hearted, power-hungry (even by her supporters’ admission) politician that succeed only in mucking up the country and became so enamoured with her own power that she started using the Royal We.

So was it any surprise that Facebook, Twitter, etc. erupted with remarks that ended with people making “Ding ding, the witch is dead” simultaneously a massive hit and a massive problem for the BBC? It was how overly

Whatever happened to paying respect?UNIfied editor, Adam Beadle, takes a stance on the ‘Thatcher Situation’!

Adam Beadle brutal and disrespectful these remarks were that surprised me. In-between the chants of “Ding ding, the witch is dead” (Unless you’re broadcasting on the BBC) I think a lot of people forgot something: Respect.

Now I’ll admit, I was born the year after she resigned, therefore I can’t claim to be some great expert on Margaret Thatcher and probably have a feeling of indifference to her because I didn’t grow up with her. I’m more of a child of Tony Blair’s Britain than of Thatcher’s. I think she did a lot of good things as well as a lot of bad things. But honestly, when you really think about it, that’s what all Prime Ministers ultimately end up doing, even the almost universally beloved ones like Winston Churchill.

I understand completely why people were dancing merrily in the street over her death, many feel that she caused a lot of harm to a lot of people and created a lot of problems that are still affecting this country today. I completely agree that she created a legacy that a bunch of rich Eton kids have

strive to copy her without putting in the hard work the daughter of a grocery store owner did. I completely understand the absolute pure hate that even the nicest of people can feel because of her.But, here’s the thing, and maybe it is the opinion of a dumb or naive 1990s kid raised in Blair’s Britain, but come on people, show some respect. She might have been a figure that inspires vengeful hatred, but Thatcher (as far as I’m aware) wasn’t some unrepentant murderer or kiddly fiddler. In the end, Thatcher was just a very old and very ill woman who just happened to once have one of the most influential and powerful positions in the world.

Ultimately, the whole thing about whether you liked

Thatcher or were one of the people who personally wanted to aim a 21 gun salute at her coffin “just to make sure” really doesn’t matter. In the end, she is dead and people should respect the fact that another human being has died and will be leaving behind people that are mourning for her.

Sure, she may have been a cause of anal discomfort, but still, she was a human being.

I was at home a few weeks ago for Mother’s Day and after being asked for about the fifteenth time by friends and family ‘So what are your plans now that you’ve finished?’ I felt like yelling back, ‘There’s still time! I don’t have to think about it yet!’ The thing is, I really do, considering I had my last seminar this week.

I’m in the final weeks of my degree and I feel excited about graduating…but also terrified of what’s next. Moving back home, leaving my University bubble for the wider world, no more 11am starts…it’s a change that I’m not sure I’m ready for. Time seems precious but non-existent. No, seriously where did those three

The end-my last weeks as a CCCU StudentKate Lismore years go?!?! Easter is going

to be a whirlwind of revision, assignment writing and in my case interviews for Masters courses. So I’ve decided to compile a brief list of some of the things I’ve managed to experience as a Christ Church Student:

1) Freshers Week: A blur of nervousness and drinking games…learning your Halls’ set of rules to Ring of Fire and then spending the next three years telling people that they’re playing it wrong.

2) Making friends: some may only last as long as a bout of Fresher’s Flu…others will become one of the best parts of coming to Uni.

3) Spending more than 10 hours in the Library…I am now

a firm advocate for Augustine House offering complimentary pillows and sleeping bags to save exhausted students going home to sleep.

4) Student prices: This is definitely something that I will miss when I graduate. Paying more than £1.50 for a vodka mixer seems beyond criminal.

5) Paying bills: Boring yes, but it is something that is going to be important in the future if I want central heating…and lights.

6) Pub Golf: Possibly one of

the best nights out as a student so far. Get competitive and embrace the Argyll checked jumper!

7) The last minute assignment dash: You’ve woken up with a

fuzzy head, there’s something you can’t remember but you’re pretty sure it was important…BLIND PANIC ENSUES as you race to hand in that forgotten assignment before your 5 o’clock deadline.

8) The Penny Theatre: Of all the pubs in Canterbury…and you know there are many, the Penny has to be a student institution. Fit to bursting with sports socials and Quids on a Thursday, it’s been the constant drinking destination over the course of my degree.

9) Theme Nights: Animals, Celebrities, Disney, Pokemon characters, Toga, Mime artists...yep that box of dressing up bits and pieces has come in handy.

10) Education! Can’t mention

University without talking about

my degree…some module choices may have been less than interesting…but overall I’ve really enjoyed it.

It may have gone by in a flash but I’ve loved my Canterbury experience. I’ve made friends for life, had some pretty hilarious nights out and even learned how to cook. It’s been fun Christ Church, keep in touch.

Entertainment 17

On March 5th the CCCU record label C3U Records (which is based on the Broadstairs campus) celebrated the launch of the 4 singles by this year’s roster of artists with a show held at the Quarterhouse in Folkestone. As one of the label organizers I was lucky enough to see and hear the talents of David Ellis, Silver Holmes, Vivid Nation and The Nevertones who, although all varied in style and approach, delivered memorable performances and were well received by an enthusiastic audience of students and fans.

The two highlights for me were the energy and unique retro-sound of The Nevertones and the catchy hooks of David

Ellis’s song-writing coupled with his growing maturity as a performer. In addition to the four label artists the line up featured a performance by Mechanical Elephant who has just signed to the electronic-focussed Oscillate label, an off-shoot from the more mainstream C3U, which had launched only a week before the show.

What really stood out for me over the entire evening was the quality of the material and the performing skills of the artists who incidentally are all studying at the University on various campuses. The Second Year Record Label Management group of students run C3U as part of their Degree and take on all the roles associated with a full commercial release which provides a great hands-

on experience for those of us intending to work in the Music Business; the label is run in tandem with students on the Venue And Tour module with the label website tasks taken on by the Third Year Digital Music Management students.

The 2013 Launch gig was the culmination of a great deal of hard work from everyone

C3U Records - Gig at the Quarterhouse

From left to right: Silver Holmes, David Ellis, Luke Welch of Vivid Nation, The Nevertones (bottom)

Saturday 23rd February. I am awake at 7.30…two hours before B-Day starts. As I eat my breakfast I listen to my Beyoncé / Destiny’s Child back-catalogue, confident that in a couple of hours I will possess my tickets to see her Bootylisciousness in person at the O2 arena in May.

With fifteen minutes to go

I become slightly paranoid. Unwilling to trust my laptop clock I steal my housemates Mac and double my ticket buying potential. I text Mum who is diligently standing by at home with the iPad and the family laptop, we are at technological capacity.

As ‘Countdown’ plays through my speakers 9.30 arrives. As I manically enter my details into both laptops … I feel almost sick with excitement, like when

I was little and found out we were going to Disneyland.

My phone beeps and it’s Mum telling me she’s in ‘the waiting room’. I reply saying so am I and that if she gets any further to call as we don’t want two sets of tickets. This ticket buying purgatory is where we both languish for a full forty-five minutes…credit card details entered, waiting for our slot to come up.

Having re-watched her Super Bowl performance and her Glastonbury ‘11 highlights I was slightly at a loss of what to do. We had agreed on a price limit of £75 and that, since we were taking my younger sister along, we weren’t getting standing tickets. However, none of this mattered in the end. After watching both screens reload over and over a message flashed up telling me that tickets for the event had sold out.

Sold out? I hadn’t even got the chance to select my seats! Ringing Mum I brought up other ticket sites to see how much

I so would’ve liked those Beyoncé ticketsKate Lismore

The Broadstairs record label celebrates launch of 4 singles with a gig

Shola Dayo Pictures taken by Andrada

Mihailescu

involved and was filmed with a video of each artist’s performance of their respective singles posted on Youtube.

Tickets to see Beyoncé in the UK sold out in twelve minutes

they were going for, but the prices were extortionate. £200 for a seat in the rafters…don’t get me wrong I would love to see Beyoncé live but that’s crazy. I get through to Mum and tell her to call off the search and, although disappointed she agreed.

I understand Mrs Carter is running a business, but having such high prices to see her live (although she is certainly not the only artist to exploit her fan-base in this way) is

disappointing and to many fans a deterrent. With download sales taking over from high-street music stores such as HMV, live music must remain accessible to the masses.

Switching off ‘Queen Bey’ mid

note, my housemate entered my room and offered me a conciliatory cup of tea. He smiled at me and said, ‘Who run the world?’ Laughing as I took his peace offering I did my fiercest Beyoncé face and said, ‘Me’.

What are the officials saying?

The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour starring Beyoncé promises to be the entertainer’s most ambitious undertaking to date and expected to be bigger in scope than any of her previous shows.

It has come to the official’s attention that www.ticket.org is selling unofficial tickets for shows at The O2. Buying from unauthorised agents or touts, where unfair practice is likely to be involved, could well lead to disappointment and is strongly discouraged by us. Please only buy from recommended ticket outlets.

Beyoncé is one of the most widely recognised and highly respected women in pop culture. A solo recording artist, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman, she has released four #1 solo albums and has sold over 75 million albums worldwide. Her work has earned her numerous awards, including 16 Grammy Awards. Billboard named her the Top Female Artist of the 2000s decade.



Entertainment 18

Angela Dimitrova

You’ve probably heard the phrase “Enjoy university, it’s the best time of your life” so many times that you’re sick to death of it. But have you actually taken the advice?

When I first started in 2011, I thought about how long I had ahead of me; three years is ages! However, now that I am coming to the end of my second year I’m worrying about what to do once I’ve finished my degree. I’ve realised how fast the time flies by and how the university experience really does matter.

Since starting in September I’ve matured so much, becoming a lot more independent and confident. You take for granted just how much of an impact living away from home has on you, but it shapes the person you become. Balancing studying and socialising can be really tricky sometimes, but the skills you gain while doing so will be so beneficial once you enter the work place.

I’ve made some best friends at uni and have many memories I’ll never forget. So my advice to you is to embrace uni life to its fullest: join societies, sports clubs and turn up to

parties where you don’t know anyone! I’m still meeting new people all the time, so the social fun never really stops! Don’t take for granted this great experience you’ve got ahead of you because you’ll never get another one like it again. I’m looking forward to the rest of my time at Christ Church, knowing that a lot of possibilities are just around the corner.

I cannot wait for the journey to continue and I hope you can’t either. Head over to the Students’ Union and get involved! It seems that everyone was right, as I really am having the time of my life.

The N-Audio Custom Guitar Electronics Signature sounds: from music to unique engineering. Who knew the two could work so well hand in hand?

We all know how musicians, and especially guitarists, have always pursued their signature sound. That hasn’t changed today. The only difference is that now they have a much wider range of choices. Most musicians, if not all of them, use different types of effects. It gives them that unique sound they want. After doing some research, I found something which I think would be of interest to the musicians at CCCU.

Everyone has been to a concert and has enjoyed their favourite band or artist’s

performance. But how many of us have actually asked the question ‘’Why do they sound so good?’’? Well, let’s not forget the people ‘’behind’’ the sound. Personally, I wanted to speak with such people, so I got in touch with Nikolay Hristov. ‘’Who is he?’’ you may ask. Nikolay, also known as Nick, has been making guitar effects for more than 10 years now.

The reason I decided to speak with him was that apart from building effects, he has been playing in different bands for more than 15 years now. I thought to myself that it would be great to talk to someone who can explain everything to

me from two different points of view - a musician’s and an engineer’s.

As a musician he thinks that you really must love what you do in order to do it properly. ‘’It has to be something that you need and love, like with young bands.’’ he said. Well, yes, it’s a well-known fact that you have to love music to be a musician because music is not like any other art - it has its own soul. Nick is one of those people who can make a pretty good mixture of music and electronics. What inspired him to become an engineer? ‘’I’ve been into electronics ever since I turned 10. I just found it fascinating. I started playing bass guitar after that, and all of that was enough to make me want to pursue an engineering degree.’’ Nikolay said.

Nick looks at his job as a hobby. ‘’I think it’s the fact that I look at my job as a hobby and not as something I have to do. That’s probably one of the reasons it’s going so well.’’ What really amazed me was

the fact that he makes all of his pedals with his own design concepts which contributes to their uniqueness. What exactly is the process of making a pedal from scratch? ‘’Well, first, you need to have an idea. If such a pedal already exists on the market, I try to improve it by making it better and adding more options to it. After I have made the prototype, I start making different modifications. I use 3D software to generate the entire pedal because it’s more convenient if a problem occurs. The next step is to make the first prototype with the final enclosure for the unit, and finally, I make the entire project.’’

Nikolay believes that the looks

of his pedals is really important, and that’s why he doesn’t make any compromises when it comes to choosing parts. ‘’I’d like to make gear with a professional look. That’s why I choose each part myself. Whatever you can think of: screws, knobs, etc. Using quality parts is crucial and when it comes to that, I make

no compromises.’’ And what is your most popular pedal? ‘’It’s definitely my Firesound V3 because most musicians need an overdrive/boost pedal and that’s why it’s one of the most used pedals for guitar players.’’ Nick is the type of person that works closely with his customers. ‘’When someone wants me to build an effect for them, I usually ask questions such as what style they play and listen to, what their guitar is, what their amp is. I do it because that way, I can be of real use to them.’’

Nikolay has worked on

many different projects. His last one was Powerbox Mk2- stompbox power supply. If you’re interested or have any questions, you can have a look at his website: n-audio.net and contact him. I found out for myself that he is a person who’s open to all kinds of questions related to music and gear.

Make the most of your Uni Experience!!University is more than just a degree; it’s an entire experience and it’s up to each individual student to shape it and make the most out of itAlecia Crayford

Head over to www.ccsu.co.uk and find out what opportunities are available for you to get involved with whilst studying


Features and Lifestyle 19

sanity. The revision process will seem like a long, boring and endless slog, but fear not! There are a few ways you can make your dull and drab revision routine a bit more bearable, with these unique and effective methods to vamp up your study sessions.

1.Students are renowned for their big love of daytime

television, and shows like The Chase and Pointless have got to be up there with the best of them. So why not host your own game show with your classmates to revise?

You can choose to be in teams or play as individuals, with prizes to be won at the end of each round or at the end of the game. It might also be fun to create some crazy forfeits for any question that is answered incorrectly. Just make sure you don’t spend your entire afternoon writing the theme tune and choosing a suit to wear.

2.Gather your friends together and take it in turns to teach each other your revision notes. Divide the work up so each person has a specific module or area to teach, and then test each other at the end to see how much you’ve remembered. Upping the stakes is sure to make it more interesting, so

throw in a prize, e.g. everyone has to buy the best teacher and/or student a drink or meal.

3.Get creative and make up a song or dance about the topic you are revising. Nobody is expecting Ivor Novello award-winning lyrics – just enough to imprint those facts and figures in your memory. I’m pretty sure this one features in an episode of Hannah Montana, but if it worked for her, it’s certainly worth a shot.

4.Word nerds who enjoy making mnemonics to revise can have a look at www.spacefem.com/mnemonics. Simply type in a word and the website will create a mnemonic for you to remember.

5.Youtube is a brilliantly accessible way to revise, as there are plenty of revision videos online to provide a helping hand, regardless of the subject matter. And if you have

your own Youtube account, why not create your own and upload it?

6.And if all that hard work has given you an empty stomach, make yourself a cake or some biscuits, and then decorate them with your revision notes. You could pipe scientific formulas on with icing, or write out mathematical equations with chocolate chips. And when you eat them, you’ll be feeding yourself knowledge. (Pause for canned laughter). No? Just me then.

Exams - an alternative guide to revision

Sadly, the exam period is upon us and I’m sure most of you will be jumping for joy at the prospect of spending the next few weeks knee deep in mind-maps, flashcards and posters, with your loyal pack of highlighters and a truck load of energy drinks to maintain your

UNIfied pointers: beat the exam slog with an alternative guide to revision

Natalie Keeler

own lunch money, I realised I enjoyed physical activity too much to be sat behind a desk starring at a computer or pushing paper. I thought to myself I would much rather make people that do sit behind a desk push themselves around with me right behind them – and if they saw anything in their body change then they could pay me for it. And that’s how it all started, really.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend an academy that aimed to push gifted young basketball, football and rugby players, to name only a few of the school’s sports, to new heights. I managed to

represent the district, county and captain both my school and the southeast of England to national success Basketball. Alongside this, I was also studying to gain distinction in my physical studies and gain a Level 3 NVQ in Performance and Excellence.

I then had to choose whether Brunel, Loughborough or Bath Universities could make for the place that my family would have to deliver regular supplies to, as I chose my new educational home. However, Canterbury Christ Church University looked like the perfect place to begin so that I would be able to create my own business whilst

Successful student stories - starting out!

Not only am I new to the fitness industry as an instructor, trainer and nutritionist but I am also a novice to the journalism game – hopefully this isn’t as hard as trying to work out someone’s B.M.I.

Throughout my school career I was always the annoying kid that played every sport going and was the sore loser that never shut up as the teachers of St Anselms RC school would readily agree to. As I got older and realised that life actually continued after secondary school and you had to find your

Rob Vassie tells UNIfied his reasons for starting his own personaltraining business and how he is trying to grow in this busy environmentRob Vassie studying for a degree and

get the best out of both!

Since gaining my gym instructor and personal training (with advanced nutrition) qualifications I began working in a local gym aiming to grow the understanding of others through very simple teachings and techniques. This is how I’ve managed to help clients reach their goals and exceed their expectations.

Being physically fit allows me to take on the world and I feel my enthusiasm for life, physical activity and sense of fun is contagious, so get those trainers on and bring a friend because we’re making a change, TODAY! Don’t just leave it for later.

Rob decided to take matter into his own hands and kick start his career

whilst at University


Features & Lifestyle 20

Abigail James

Be careful before you rent student housingStudent accommodation has always been a big gossip topic in the 3rd term. Here are some tips to help you stay away from bad agencies and properties

First year students… listen up! The time for finding your second year accommodation has been underway for some time, and for many of you, it will be the first time you’ve ever had to go through this type of process.Once you’ve rounded up who you’re living with and started arranging your first house party, (because we’re students and it’s top priority), your house hunting venture can officially begin.

Firstly, you must think about price. The four bedroom house with a new kitchen, stylish furniture and an enormous garden might make you squeal like a banshee on helium but it’s only any good if you can afford it. Same goes for location – nobody in their right mind would take pleasure in having to wake up hours before their 9am lecture just because their journey into Uni takes so long. Student housing around each

campus is certainly a-plenty, so all it takes is a little time, effort and research.

When you finally find a place that you and your future housemates like, it’s a great feeling of excitement and relief; the property is reasonably priced, a stone-throw away from campus and has everything you’re looking for in a student house. But watch out! You might be studying an impressive undergraduate degree, but that won’t stop you being subject to exploitation from landlords who have been in the business long enough to know how to trap you.

1. Book a viewing to see the property for yourself. This is hugely important. The photos on the internet might look fantastic but you can never guarantee that these pictures are accurate. It is more than likely that you will spot things when looking around the property which you could not see online.

2. Ask the landlord or manager of the property plenty of questions. Is the house fully

furnished? When does the tenancy begin and end? Where is the nearest supermarket? What happens if a housemate leaves University? Will you be expected to pay full or half rent over the summer holidays?

It doesn’t matter how stupid you think your questions might be – you won’t know unless you ask. Moreover, if the tenants are present at the time of your viewing, make sure you ask them questions too – they might be more honest than the landlord.

3. Check the deposit. Ask what deposit scheme your landlord is using and check out the website when you get home. Some landlords ask for a large sum of money which will be returned at the end of the tenancy, providing the house has been well kept. Others, however, will require rent in advance.

4. Ask what the rent includes.Be 100% sure that you know

what you are paying for. The rent for some properties will include gas, electric, water and sometimes internet, while

others will not. It is extremely important that you check this before signing the tenancy agreement as it can cause problems further down the line.

5. What appliances are included? Does the house have a dishwasher, kettle, microwave, washing machine, shower, television? Is there a fridge and freezer and how big are they?

6. Study your contract. This is one of the most important steps. Read the contract thoroughly, and if there’s anything you are unsure of, ask Student Support or the Students’ Union to go through it with you. Allocate bedrooms before signing to ensure everyone is happy with the living arrangements. Finally, double check the rent with the landlord, and if you are happy with the property, go ahead and sign!

And just remember: keeping calm through this seemingly stressful process is key. Ask the Students’ Union or Student Support if you are in need of help, advice or support.

Good luck!

Sober-up pill: drunk to dignified in minutes

Club Chemistry, Wednesday night, “Bohemian Rhapsody” bellows from the cheese floor, the sounds of “Scaramouche, Scaramouche” muffle as you stumble into the toilets, you navigate the spinning room and squint at the mirror – ugh, you’ve had too much and you know it. More than anything you want to be sober, but without hugging the toilet and without being thrust infinitely large glasses of water – “take tiny sips, that’s it”. If only you could swallow a magical pill and sweet sobriety would be yours again.

Maybe someday you will, thanks to a team of Chinese researchers who have designed

a drug which mimics the body’s own alcohol-breakdown processes. In the cells of our good friend, the liver, enzymes are being used to disintegrate the alcohol we consume, but very slowly.

Yang Liu and his team have developed “nanocapsules” – tiny enzyme-containing shells which can be ingested to supplement this process. Liu likened the drug to “having millions of liver cell units inside your stomach or in your intestine, helping you digest the alcohol”.

Nanocapsules containing the alcohol enzyme (and another to destroy the toxic by-product) were injected into a number of drunk mice, who were found to have much lower blood-

alcohol levels than those who had not been given the enzymes – suggesting the possibility of its oral use in humans. So, no vomiting, no hangover; if this supplement was available as a pill, would you take it? Would it change your drinking behaviour? How would it affect your health? There is certainly potential for abuse here, but this method of encapsulation also has scope for other, more respectable applications – namely for alleviating the symptoms of enzyme-deficiency disorders.

These medicines and hallowed alcohol antidotes are not likely to be available for commercial use for many years, so until then: drink your water, eat your bread, and sleep it off.

Can a pill really soak up all the alcohol you have consumed?


Healthy cooking during the exams periodUNIfied brings you healty receipes for hearty foods you can cook during the exam period, when it’s really easy to rely on junk food and quick fixes

Adam Parsons

Hi there! I know how stressful this time of the year must be for some of you with so many exams and assignments to hand it, so I thought I’d write down a couple of receipes for you to try.

Don’t get scared by the fancy titles, they are both really easy to make, and what’s more important, they provide good nutrients which you need when revising. Without further ado, this edition’s dishes are ... homemade Tagliatelle with Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Sauce, AND Lemon Panna Cotta and Raspberry Coulis.

Tagliatelle with Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Sauce

For the tagliatelle, you’ll need: 400g plain flour, 4 eggs, a pinch of black pepper and a pinch of sea salt.

For the sauce, you’ll need: a drizzle of olive oil, one large onion, 3 chicken breasts (diced), 50g Shitake mushrooms (cleaned and chopped), 60g oyster mushrooms (cleaned and chopped), 500g double cream, salt and pepper as required to season.

To cook it all, make sure you have: a mixer or a large plastic bowl, 2 standard saucepans,a wooden spoon, a sharp kitchen knife, a teaspoon, a

tablespoon, a rolling pin and a chopping board.

Now let’s get cooking:* Put all ingredients into a

bowl or mixer and blend well into bread-like dough.

* Knead the dough for around 10-15 minutes until it becomes elastic, like Stretch Armstrong.

* Lightly flour the ‘clean’ work surface and rolling pin.

* Roll very thinly (there is nothing worse than thick pasta), then fold the bottom part of the rolled dough into the halfway point and then the top down onto that. DO NOT roll this again merely fold lightly.

* Now cut into ribbons to the size you prefer.

* Get a saucepan and drizzle a little oil in; fry off your chopped

onions at a medium heat until they soften - it will only take a minute or so.

* Now add the chicken and cook it until it turns completely white (this is important - for god’s sake don’t give yourself food poisoning).

* Throw in the mushrooms and stir round for a short time and then add the cream, salt and pepper.

Lemon Panna Cotta and Raspberry Coulis

For the Panna Cotta, you’ll need: sunflower oil, 375ml full-fat milk, 375ml double cream, 1 lemon (zested and cut into thick strips), 100g caster sugar and 4 leaves soaked in cold water (if you are a vegetarian, you can use pectin).

For the coulis, you’ll need: 350g fresh raspberries, 3 tbsp. caster sugar, 2 tsp. orange fresh juice or lemon juice.

To make this dessert, you must have: pudding moulds (you can also use a teacup), 3 small plastic bowl, a standard saucepan, a wooden spoon, a sieve.

* Ok now turn it all down so that you don’t burn it, down to a simmer and keep stirring, testing for seasoning.

* Obviously you should now be cooking the fresh homemade tagliatelle in a separate pan (you will have plenty of pasta for later).

* Simply add the sauce to the tagliatelle and stir, then plate and garnish.

When you’re ready to start the dessert:

* Brush the pudding moulds with a little bit of sunflower oil.

* Put the milk and cream in a saucepan.

* Add the lemon zest and sugar, bring slowly to boil then remove from the heat.

* Add 150ml milk into a small bowl, then add the gelatin/ pectin and stir gently until it has completely dissolved.

* Leave the rest of the mixture to cool to room temperature in order to take in the flavour of the zest.

* Stir the 2 mixtures together and strain through a fine sieve into the moulds.

* Simply chill and there you go, set Panna Cotta... just serve with your raspberry coulis.

If you need something to preoccupy yourself with whilst the dessert is cooling and/or the tagliatelle is boiling, here’s a game of sudoku for you:




Visit the CCCU Student Art Exhibitionsupport your fellow students by visiting the Fine and Visual Art degree show

Claire Miller

Here are a few easy tips on how to save some money over and for the summer

Graduating students of the Fine & Applied Art and Visual Art & Design programmes at Canterbury Christ Church University will showcase their work with an exhibition opening later this month.

The show, which will celebrate the culmination of three years of hard work, will run between 25th May and 6th June and will be spread over four sites: the Sidney Cooper

Claire Miller

Painting by Louise Aldridge

Gallery, Augustine Arts Centre, Augustine House Library and Eastbridge Hospital.

The exhibition will include a variety of work from a range of disciplines including painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, film, photography and digital art. The range of subject, material, method and style within the show highlights the diversity of the art department, the students and the University itself, as well as the wide range of techniques and ideas that they have each explored.

The show will be a fantastic opportunity for you to support your fellow students by visiting the exhibitions and spreading the word to friends and family members who might be interested in seeing some fantastic art work from a range of talented young artists.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public to encourage everyone to come.

The Sidney Cooper Gallery opening times are: Tuesday to Friday 11am-5.30pm and Saturday 12.00pm-5.30pm.

Celebrate the £’s 30th anniversary by saving...

THIS April, the pound coin turned 30 years old and with that we thought it would be the perfect time to give you some tips on how you can save a pound or two whilst still enjoying the student lifestyle.

We all know that the summer can be costly with all the money going on Summer Ball tickets, snacks and energy drinks for late night revision sessions and celebratory drinks when the exams are all over ... it can be pretty tricky to keep a hold of that extra cash, so how can

we enjoy ourselves without breaking the bank?

By cutting costs in other areas we can save some pounds to get us through the summer. Here are a few ways to save a quid or two so you can build up that piggy bank over summer.

Rent an outfit: With Summer Ball coming up, it might be tempting to splurge on an expensive new dress, but you can avoid shelling out a fortune without sacrificing style! Check out sites such as girlmeetsdress.com and wishwantwear.com for gorgeous designer outfits without the designer price tag.

UNiDAYS: With up to 25% off at top retailers you can’t afford not to be signed up for Unidays deals. It’s free to join, all you need to do is log on via your student account to myunidays.com.

Sell some stuff: If you’ve collected a lot of clutter in your student house or back home have a clear out and sell some of the things you’re not using anymore to stores such as CeX or upload them on eBay.

Check out Elance: If you have a skill that’s worth selling Elance is a great place to find freelance work, whether it’s writing, photography, programming or designing something.

Check for Deals: If you’re thinking of going on holiday this summer, check sites like groupon.co.uk and lastminute.com to find a better deal.

So there you have it, five simple tips for saving (or even making) some money. For more tips check out back issues of UNIfied at issu.com/ccsu and always keep an eye out for new ways to save.The pound coin turned 30 in April 2013

. UN Earth Day .Did you go to the UN Earth Day Conference this year?

IF SO, we would love to hear from you! Please tweet us @CCCUSCN or drop a line to sustainabi l i [email protected] about your experience on the day. The Grapevine+ blog is a good place to add to your portfolio of reflective written pieces online… Check it

out at http://cccusustainability.wordpress.com. We are calling all budding writers, journalists and photographers. Your Sustainability Development team will share your stories and the sights you have seen IRL (in real life) on the blogosphere.


Sports & Societies 23

What an achievement: Basketball hidden star at Christ Church

Are you a student looking to improve your English or wanting to learn a new language? Simply bored and want something new to do? Look no further!

The Language Exchange Society

Kirsty Patrick

THE English Universities Basketball team successfully defended their Home Nations title in Edinburgh early on in April with three comprehensive victories over Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Disraeli Lufadeju, a first year Events Management student at Christ Church, stole the show averaging 22 points per game over the three days missing out narrowly on the tournament’s MVP award. The 21 year old originally from East Malling said, “It was a fantastic experience which I really enjoyed and I’m delighted to have been involved.”

England’s opening game saw them beat Northern Ireland who had eventual MVP, Jim Mower. The final score was 103-79.

Aidan Ainsley

The second game saw England get over the century mark again with a 101-47 thrashing of Wales. England’s most difficult game of the tournament came at the final hurdle against Scotland who up until that point were also unbeaten. Disraeli though racked up another 20

Christ Church Students’ Union is very proud of Disraeli (no. 10)

as England triumphed 87-64 to take the title.Christ Church’s Men’s Basketball team will be absolutely delighted to have Disraeli as a part of their club particularly as they have done so well themselves, winning their BUCS league without losing a game all season.

Swish performances from Disraeli, land England Universities the Home Nations Title ...

I believe it’s such a great achievement when any of Christ Church’s students are selected even for trials for National University representation, but to be selected and to perform at such a high level makes Disraeli a real credit to this University and himself!

HEY guys! My name is Kirsty Patrick and I am the President of a completely BRAND NEW society at Christ Church: The

Language Exchange Society (LangEx for short). We’re still a very young society and as such are still establishing ourselves, but we hope that more of you will wish to join after seeing what we have to offer.

So, what is the society about? Primarily, we are here for international students, helping them gain the confidence and skills to talk to native English speakers, as well as for home students wanting to learn a new language from the international students. We ultimately aim to bring together groups of different ethnicities and provide a ‘family’ unit for both home and international students, allowing

everyone to share their culture and language.

We have many plans for the society including socials, trips and weekly meetings. The meetings will bring a mix of games and activities as well as a social environment, all geared towards the exchange between home and international students. Some meetings will also involve food, so come along as you never know what you will be doing from week to week!

So far we also have plans for a variety of events, from picnics on the beach during the summer, to the Dickinson

Christmas Festival in Rochester. Plus, we have planned monthly socials including someting for Freshers, Halloween and Christmas, leading up to an end of year trip to non-other than our own capital LONDON, once of the most culturally diverse place in the world, not to mention one of the most ‘British’ places to visit.

So, if you think this is an opportunity not to be missed, you can join our facebook group - search for CCCU Language Exchange Society, or you can email me for more information: [email protected]

Come along, meet some new people, exchange languages and culture, but most of all, be YOURSELF!

Message from the University: Join our thriving international community: We have students from over 80 countries worldwide studying with us and contributing to our exciting and vibrant international student community.

Our international students are studying on undergraduate courses

in a wide range of subjects, including Business Studies, Tourism, Music, Journalism and Law. At postgraduate level, our students are getting a head start in their careers with Masters degrees in areas such as Business, Education and Health (e.g. MSc in Cardiology).

We offer support every step of the way - from help with Visas and language, to just making sure you feel safe and settled studying with us.

‘As an international student, I found everyone friendly and willing to help. The tutors are great and the timetable is flexible. I am really happy that I chose to study at CCCU.”

Ioana MaximBA (Hons)

Performing Arts


The Politics Society’s Updates

SO FAR this term, the Politics Society, althought only established in January, has achieved many different things. They have held a talk on the EU Referendum, due to be introduced in 2017, if the Conservatives get re-elected into national government.They had prospective Labour MEP Emily Westley, also a councillor for Hastings Borough Council, as well as local councillor Alan Baldock invited as guest

speakers to talk about the pros and cons of the EU Referendum, answering why the Referendum was introduced, and how it was a plan to quieten down single issue political parties like UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party), who believe that the UK is better off leaving the EU. The speakers also answered some questions from the audience and and hels a vote at the end of the talk, which turned out almost unanimous: 96% of the participants felt that it would be better to stay in the EU. The society also had Julian Brazier,

Sports & Societies 24

Oli Fawcett

Also in UNIfied this issue...

Page 22 ...

CCCU Student Art Exhibition

Page 23...

Christ Church student becomes basketball star

Page 19 ...

A guide to revision

MP for Canterbury, come in and give a talk about securing a safe seat in a largely pro-conservative area followed by a Q&A session regarding some of his policies. The following day, Mr. Brazier was followed by, John Flanagan, local councillor and parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats who come in to give his FIRST TALK, as the newly elected parliamentary candidate on the coalition in national government, about how he envisages local politics ...... story continues on page 9 ...

Page 20 ...

Student accommodation

UNIfied May 2013

Documents

Transcript of UNIfied May 2013