The Salfordian - Issue 1

17 SEPT 2012/

ISSUE 01 FREE

THIS WEEK Pull-out wallplanner

WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

SALFORD’S ONLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Welcome!

Your essential guide to everything happening at Salford in the next few months

Photograph: Richard Meftah

Meet the SABBS

Who are the sabbatical officers?

What is their role in the students’ union?

Find out on page 30 Hello first years!

Cassandra Ward News Editor WELCOME to The Salfordian; the weekly newspaper of The University of Salford’s Students’ Union.

On behalf of The Salfordian and the Students’ Union, we would like to welcome all of you who are joining us this year.

We hope you’re settling into your new homes, getting to know your new surroundings, meeting lots of new people, and are enjoying your first week.

For all of you returning to university life, we hope you have had a fun and productive summer and are feeling enthusiastic and positive about this semester and the forthcoming academic year.

The Students Union exists to ‘enhance students lives’ and we at The Salfordian

hope to bring you all the news, reviews, information and events to really help you get the most out of university life.

Salfords Students’ Union is led by four sabbatical officers; Christina Kennedy is this years’ Students Union President. Joining Christina is Vice President Health and Social Care, Mishal Saeed; Tom Doyle, Vice President Science and Technology; and Eli Prodromova, Vice President Arts and Social Sciences.

The officers are there to represent the student voice, offering you advice, support and a range of social, sporting and enhancement activities to engage you in all aspects of the university experience. They ensure that your interests are placed firmly at the heart of the services and activities the University of Salford Students’ Union delivers. Feel free to contact them at any

time or make yourself known at one of the welcome events.

Welcome 2012 is already underway and last week saw a range of workshops, activities and events to engage international students, including tea parties, social mixers, pamper sessions, sports activities, as well as tours of Salford and the university.

For those of you who have left your country to study in Salford, the International Society is designed to connect and support international students and make your time in the UK an enjoyable experience. If you didn’t make it to the Party and Quiz on Friday 14 September, look out for the many forthcoming events and social activities.

This week holds a host of welcome events to help all new students settle in, including campus tours, study skills workshops, activity and employability fairs.

There are many social events such as Open Mic Night, Comedy Night, the ‘Mature Students Mixer’ and the Students’ Union’s Showcase and Pizza Party, to name a few.

There are lots of opportunities to try some new sports or get back into sports you used to play in ‘Give Sport a Go’, which is great if you don’t have the time to join a club or society.

Salfords Students’ Union is led by students, for students and there are many ways that you can get involved, whether it’s taking part in groups or activities, contributing to The Salfordian or even just popping along to the many events organised by the Students Union.

Welcome once again to the University of Salford. We hope you have a great week and a fantastic year.

Read Desi Bozukova’s guide to your first few weeks at university on page 4

02 : NEWS

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDIAN.COM

Welcome Contents Pages 1-3 News Page 4-5 Features Pages 6 and 27 Pull-out wallplanner Page 28 Arts Page 29 Careers Page 30 Your Union Page 31 Sports and Activities

from the president

Christina Kennedy President Hi to all of our new and returning students.

I just wanted to say a warm welcome from everyone here at the Students’ Union. I am your President this year and with the help of the three Vice Presidents Tom Doyle, Elisaveta Prodromova and Mishal Saeed we will be leading your Union and representing your views to the University on many issues throughout the year.

So what is a Students’ Union? And what do we actually do? Well, we run over 80 sports and activity groups, run the Student Rep system, provide social opportunities for students through various events, run campaigns, run an independent academic Advice Centre, and to quote our tagline we are here to “enhance

students’ lives” during your time at Salford. We are here to ensure that students are getting the best deal academically from the University and have representatives on every decision making body at every level of the institution.

I would encourage every student to get involved in the Union and take advantage of the opportunities that are provided for you, something I wish I had done a lot more myself as an undergraduate, be that working in one of our commercial outlets, volunteering as a student rep, being on an activity or sports group committee, running in our elections, running events for students or helping us run campaigns. I hope you make the most of your time either way and please come to visit us at any time. We hope to see you all at our welcome events this week and if you see me around campus stop me for a chat!

Editorial Amanda Mace Editor To all the new students, I’d like to offer a very warm welcome.

To returning students, welcome back! I hope everyone has a wonderful year. There’s tons of information in this issue to help you get the best out of your student experience. I’m Amanda Mace, and I’m the editor of The Salfordian for the 12/13 academic year. As a former journalism student here at The University of Salford, I’m so pleased to be hanging around campus for another year and looking after a newspaper I’m so fond of! Along with a lovely team of section editors, photographers, and graphic designers, I’d like to make this the best year for the newspaper yet. And you can get involved too.

If you have something to say, The Salfordian is a great place to air your views. From budding journalists to mathematicians with a penchant for writing Batman reviews on scraps of graph paper, we’re open to submissions from every sort of writer. We’re also looking for students to help design the newspaper, so get in touch if you specialise in graphic design.

Once you’ve had a good read of this issue, tell us what you think! If there’s something you loved, hated, or would like to see more of, let us know on our Facebook page . Just search for ‘Salfordian’. Until next week, Salfordians!

Summer round-up Cassandra Ward News Editor Summer 2012 was an eventful one at that; with the Diamond Jubilee, Olympic fever and frantic weather, there was something for everyone and Salford, in fact the whole of Britain, were united.

May 2012 saw the appointment of Salford’s first elected Mayor, Ian Stewart. Whilst his immediate selection of 13 ‘Deputy Mayors’ along with his self-awarded £69,000 annual salary, was widely criticised, the launch of ‘Salford Futures’ in July saw a positive approach on incentivising Salford businesses to recruit from the pool of unemployed young people in Salford.

Salford’s City Mayor, Ian Stewart, said: “Getting the young people of Salford into meaningful employment is so important to boost the city’s economic growth. This scheme gives local businesses an extra incentive to give our young people their first step on the career ladder, which could make a huge difference to their lives.

In June, in spite of the downpour, grey skies and strong winds, Salford showed their support for the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations and street parties, club nights and overall jubilation

Have you been affected by the timetabling errors?

Jon Burgess Many students received incomplete or blank schedules on 3 September.

This has caused a great deal of difficulty for new members of the University, not to mention those returning for their second or penultimate years.

Student Life has dealt with hundreds of complaints from those affected, unable to plan their jobs, placements or child care around their studies. At the time of writing no academic school has admitted responsibility for the delays in scheduling, preferring to pass your grievances up to the higher echelons of management. We’ll have a feature on the full extent of the timetabling problems in Issue 2, which is out on 24 September.

were seen across the city as everyone embraced the merriment and enjoyed the four-day bank holiday weekend.

On 1 June the University of Salford was proud to support social work student Andy Tutte when he ran with the torch in Birkenhead.

Andy was chosen because he overcame his drug addiction to establish a career rehabilitating others with similar problems. He works at a clinic in Bradford whilst also competing in triathlon events in his spare time.

Physical Theatre and Dance graduate Phil Minns also ran with the torch in Sheffield on 25 June. Phil was chosen for his charity work raising thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

But it wasn’t all about partying when the University of Salford delivered a great environmental message when the gardening team

Get your NUS Extra card discount now Samantha Atherton THE National Union of Students are offering a student discount and lifestyle card which can save you stacks of money on your favourite online and high street retailers such as Topshop, House of Fraser and ASOS. With an NUS Extra card you can save on anything to travel, fashion, entertainment, and food - including 20 per cent off your food bill at Frankie and Benny’s.

All of the discounts are 100 per cent exclusive to NUS Extra and you cannot get them with any other form of student ID. On average students are saving

planted 420 trees across the campus as part of the Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods project. In addition they were given a Royal Oak sapling from The Queen’s estate, which comes with a special certificate to say that it was grown there from an acorn, to plant in the Memorial Garden.

17 August marked the start of Manchester Pride festival; Manchester Pride is Manchester’s

£500 a year by using their NUS Extra card.

A short quiz is included on the website to help you see for yourself how much you could save.

The price to pay is a small £12 and it will be delivered to the University in just seven days.

The card can be collected from various locations across campus.

The website supplies you with an option where you specify where you would like to collect it.

You will need a photo of yourself, your debit card and you can then purchase the card online by following a sequence of instructions.

There is no upper age limit, NUS Extra is available to students studying full time or part time, however your course must have

Editor: Amanda Mace Email: editor-ussu@salford.ac.uk

Visit Our Website www.salfordstudents.com

News Editor: Cassandra Ward

A night to remember

begun to purchase a card.

You can upgrade your NUS Extra to NUS Extra ISIC this will give you access to over 40,000 discounts in over 120 countries from Brazil to the USA. For £2.99 extra an ISIC will save you 50 per cent off tickets to EuroDisney, Paris, France and Up to 90 per cent off – Microsoft software products To purchase a NUS Extra card and for all discount details visit www.nus.org.uk

Features Editor: Lowri Williams

Postal address: Univerity of Salford Students’ Union, University House, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WT C.Ward4@edu.salford.ac.uk

Comment Editor: Jonathon Norrey

J.Norrey@edu.salford.ac.uk

Arts Editor: Sally Leibovici

sally.leibovici@yahoo.com

annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) festival, held over the August bank holiday weekend. aimed at raising awareness of Manchester’s LGBT community, raising funding for over 100 LGBT and HIV groups and allowing everyone to have a lot of fun celebrating Greater Manchester’s diverse community.

The end of the summer saw Salford’s own Heather Frederiksen and Louise Watkin, excel in the 2012 Paralympics. Gold medal winner Heather took home the medal for 100m backstroke whilst Silver medal winner Louise Watkin shone in the 50m freestyle.

Heather said: “I have been swimming in Salford since I was 10 years old and would encourage all young people in Salford to make the most of the fantastic pools the city has”.

Also amongst the Paralympic winners was Salford Graduate Niki Birrell who won a bronze for sailing in the skud.

There’s still time to get your hands on tickets for what is set to be the Welcome Week event of the year!

If you’re aching to put on your dancing shoes and hit Manchester this week, we have the perfect solution.

This year Salford has teamed up with The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University to create an amazing nine-day event taking place across the city. It’s ‘the big one’ on Monday at The Printworks, followed by a night of house and dance at Sankeys on Tuesday. Not your thing? The Dot to Dot festival on Wednesday will be hosting music to suit all tastes. Check out student favourite RehabBirdcage on Thursday for chart and electro, or TigerTiger on Friday for a mix of R&B and classic tunes. Also on Friday will be Dirtybeat at Venus, followed by a night on Canal Street on Saturday.

Finally, deansgate locks will be hosting a closing party on Sunday. Tickets are £5 advance per event or £25 for a week-long wristband. Get yours at http://www.welcomeweekevents.com

lowrix@hotmail.co.uk

Sports & Activities Editor: Bryony Pearce B.Pearce@edu.salford.ac.uk Careers: Amanda Mace Advertising : Stefan Redfern Stefanredfern@manchester.ac.uk Tel 0161 275 2930

News: 03

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

University set for dramatic change this year The University of Salford will continue a period of reorganisation, rebuilding and redundancies as ambitious plans to improve efficiency of its activities, increase academic performance and upgrade buildings and facilities, known as the ‘Transformation Programme,’ continue to be implemented.

‘The university sector has had a turbulent year as a new funding system and government cuts have reduced the opportunities for higher education and social mobility in the UK. Job cuts in academic and support staff at Salford continued as the ‘Transformation Programme’ was implemented, but this restructuring aims to deliver improved services for students, and there has been significant spending on campus development.

‘We have completed planned changes to the ways our professional and administrative services support our Schools and connect to our central departments,’ says Salford Vice Chancellor, Professor Martin Hall; ‘This is already resulting in significant improvements in the way that we do things, and we’ll see continuing steady improvement through the year.’

The Vice Chancellor Martin Hall had a positive sign of success this year, with Salford rising 19 places in The Complete University Guide 2013. Salford is committed to reaching the top 25% of UK universities for both teaching and research by 2017. With staff cuts continuing and government funding under further threat, the academic year 2012-13 will be crucial for determining whether last year’s grade and rises in the league tables are sustainable.

Part of the changes that the University are less keen to publicise is the series of job losses that have been made over the last few years to try to save money to spend on buildings and other areas prioritised by senior management.

The University has implemented seven rounds of staff cuts including compulsory redundancies in the last year.

In April 144 redundancies were announced, and 78 jobs are also threatened in the Business School, despite the University giving assurances to staff that no jobs were at risk there just before the Christmas break at the end of 2011.

These job cuts are apparently required to help cut costs while the University pays for expensive new buildings and renovations, although the Vice Chancellor has spoken of the: “unfortunate inevitability of staff redundancies in the light of the governments cuts to funding.”

One change which returning students will welcome is the move to a three week period

Photo Credit: Name of photographer

Ben Clay

for marking and feedback after assignments, enabling students to get the benefits of this in time to modify their methods and performance to improve their marks for other assignments.

Other developments this year include the roll out of Blackboard version 9 across all subjects and schools, which had been pioneered by the Law School last year. The University computer network has also been extensively upgraded over the year, although the massive spending had failed to deliver much improved performance for students, although this was blamed upon teething problems and is supposed to be much improved now.

Professor Hall is very excited about the pace of improvements to the buildings and campus of the University: ‘Work has now been finished on the Chapman lecture theatres, and these will come back into use steadily through the first semester,’ he said: ‘We have also refurbished teaching facilities in the Allerton Building, and in other places across the campus.

Before the start of the new academic year, I inspect every

teaching room in the university, and I am confident we are in a good place for the new term.’

‘This year you will see building work starting for our new Arts facility, next to the Chapman building, which we are currently calling the Gateway Project.

This building will eventually replace the Adelphi Building and the Allerton Studios as the new home of Art, Design, Music and Performance,’ he said.

The University of Salford agreed a £45 million credit facility from Lloyds bank to cover the costs of campus redevelopment, including the new Arts facility, to replace the Adelphi Building.

Last year the MediaCityUK development cost £29.1 million to equip and will cost £2.1 million per year in rent under the contract with Peel Holdings.

There is controversy over this continued spending on new buildings while jobs are being cut: According to University Vice Chancellor Martin Hall the MediaCityUK development is value for money for Salford, because of the unique opportunity to place students on relevant courses in the heart

of a creative industry hub: “Our undergraduate students are now learning in the most advanced media technology environment in Europe. Our total outlay in fitting out the building was £29.1m, of which £8m was provided as a grant

by HEFCE, leaving us with a net outlay of £21m,” says Prof Hall.

Salford has also received a cut of over 400 Higher Education Funding Council for England student places in the academic year, 2012-13. These are the places available to British and EU citizens. This is combined with government changes to immigration policies and work Visa restrictions which University of Salford Vice Chancellor, Professor Martin Hall said was; ‘making potential international students feel unwelcome in this country,’ leaving Britain less attractive as a choice for their higher education.

These factors combined with Salford’s spending commitments mean that there may be further savings required from other areas to balance the University’s budget: ‘We will have a shortfall of student enrolments, both of British

students, and particularly of international students as a result of immigration policies,’ said Professor Hall; ‘we are currently looking closely at the adjustments we will need to make to deal with this.’

Nationally, there is contradictory evidence about the effects of the new funding system. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, England’s tuition fee reforms of 2006 produced the most ‘advanced’ student support amongst developed nations, and have not deterred poorer students, while low-fee nations such as France, Spain and Italy are performing worse.

Andreas Schleicher, OECD deputy director for education told a press briefing in London on the 10 September that the UK scores well on educational mobility: ‘Some in the UK have argued that asking people to pay tuition in higher education will frighten people from disadvantaged backgrounds, will pose a barrier. We don’t find any relationship between the share of private resources in higher education and educational mobility.’

You can shine at Salford!

Amanda Mace Editor Did you know that getting involved with your students’ union can have an incredibly positive effect on your time at university and improve employability in your future? USSUnique is the new campaign designed to highlight the range of great opportunities the union has to offer and how they will benefit your student life. At the University of Salford, the union believes every student is unique, and should be recognised as such. Joining a society or sports team is a brilliant way to make the most of your time as a student. Not only will you make lots of new friends and learn new skills, being an active member of a group means you’ll really stand out to

future employers. From boxing to belly dancing, there are far more societies than you think! Do you dream of being a journalist or radio DJ? You could be presenting your own show on Salford’s Shock Radio or writing for these very pages! If you’re passionate about the student issues that really matter, there are exciting opportunities to get elected into the student council or as a NUS conference delegate every year. You will also have the chance to become a student rep, which means you will represent your fellow course-mates should an issue arise. So, what are you waiting for? Now is your chance to prove you are truly unique.

04 : Features

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Hello new students!

Our guide to settling in during your first week at the Univeristy of Salford

Dear first years...

Desi Bozukova

An international student studying at Salford offers their advice for newcomers So, how are you? Do you feel excited? Ready? Worried? Lost?

Depressed? Alone? Wet? Do not worry about that! It is perfectly normal to feel some or all of those things.

When I first came to Salford a year ago, I felt totally disoriented.

The only thing I knew was that someone was going to pick me up from the airport and this someone was also going to leave me at university. And that was pretty much it. And nothing more. I did not know where or how I was going to pick up this ‘key’ for my accommodation (and I was very far from knowing where the accommodation was), I did not know where I could buy food, drinks, blankets, hangers, soap, a frying pan… and, believe me, that last item is one of the most important tools in the life of a student! One can use it as … nearly everything – in the kitchen, I mean. Frankly, I do not suggest that you use it as a weapon against your house/flat mates – it could cost you … the pan!

Anyway, I simply prefer to think that you will not have the time to be irritated by your house/flat mates in your first weeks. It will be so much fun at University. The first few weeks at University are the coolest. Why, I hear you ask?

Because they are made for you new students! The introductory

period at University is tailored for your amusement, comfort and adjustment to the student life in the UK. The University and the students’ union knows how difficult, different and unfamiliar it is for you, and this is why the welcoming weeks are created. You can find out how to get involved in your union by visiting www.salfordstudents. com Believe it or not, some of the people who are managing these events were once students at the University of Salford, so they know exactly what you are going through.

So, what to search for when you come? First, you will need to check-in. You can do that at Clifford Whitworth Library which is in the heart of the campus (it is building number 13 on campus map). There your arrival will be recorded and you will be provided with a student ID card.

This student ID card will be your new pass to everything to do with the university (the libraries across campus and any facilities you might need to use for your course, for example), so keep it safe and make room for it in your pocket.

Then, the buildings around University campus will be divided into zones – there will be a Chillout Zone, a Welcome Zone, a Bank Zone and so on. In these

zones you will find all the information that you need. Just in case, be smart and check the Get Ready web site, it is very helpful.

On arrival, you can find the timetable for the events that will take place during the first few weeks of University. No matter what your interests are, there’s plenty for everyone! You will even be able to sign up for a cool trip somewhere in England. Sadly, though, Hogwarts is not included.

You will be also provided with maps of the Campus, so you can feel like a real tourist! You will have the chance to attend a variety of workshops, which are designed to provide advice that will prove very valuable throughout your time at university. There will be a Welcome Expo from Monday 17th – Wednesday 19th. There you will find five zones (the International Zone, the Student Support Zone, the Sport, Health and Wellbeing Zone, the Get Involved Zone and the Community Zone) offering various information, activities

and services. On Thursday 20th, there will be an Activities Fair from 10am to 4pm and on Friday 21st, there will be a Trade Fair from 10am to 4pm.

Providing the weather is kind, there will also be a barbeque day, a day full of games, a tour day when you will get to know some of the buildings around the university and also a trip to the centre of Manchester.

In Salford, on the other hand, there are lots of shops where you could buy food, drinks, or

10 ways...to survive new accommodation Adam Hart

Recipe of the week: Cheese scones Amy Hughes Bored of leftover pizza for breakfast already? Why not make yourself a batch of cheese scones for you and your housemates. Follow Amy’s recipe to create a scrumptious treat for breakfast!

You will need: 225g self raising flour pinch of salt 55g cold butter (block not marg) 25g cheddar cheese 150ml milk Instructions: 1.

Heat oven to 220C 2.

Rub together butter and flour until the mixture

resembles bread crumbs 3.

Stir in the cheese 4.

Add the milk in 2 portions and mix until a soft dough is formed 5.

Turn onto a floured surface and knead lightly and then roll out until around 2cm thick 6.

Cut out rounds with a small glass until no more dough can be used 7.

Brush the tops with milk and add some cheese 8.

Bake for 12-15 mins until golden brown Best eaten warm, with lashings of butter!

Be sure to catch Amy’s delightful weekly recipes right here in The Salfordian!

Just moved into new University accommodation?

Is it a depressing, sordid gulag blighted with an accumulation of strange matter? Then follow these ten tips to turn your squalid study-hole into an academic oasis.

1. The wallpaper looks rather questionable, doesn’t it? There are a number of mysterious stains, and openings to what appears to be a small network of tunnels. Never mind - go out and catch a few gigs, or dance the night away at a discotheque. You’ll soon have a formidable collection of flyers to cover the worst patches.

In fact, if you look closely, you’ll see evidence of blu-tak from the previous inhabitant’s similar coping mechanism.

2. Don’t rest until you’ve assigned a place for everything.

It starts off innocently enough with your socks left on the swivel chair for now, or your lever-arch files stacked behind the door until you can find somewhere for them. A month

later, when they have to break through your door to rescue you from your bizarre nest of clutter, you’ll wish you’d been tidier.

3. Check that you have adequate means of ventilation.

It’s conceivable that the previous occupant has allowed your window to fuse shut, and

while you may grow accustomed to the odour of a small, poorly ventilated living space, your guests won’t stay long enough to acquire a similar disposition.

4. Still, you can’t have your window open constantly, and assuming you’re equipped with a standard human respiratory system, you’ll need to process oxygen. No need to raid the labs over at the school of chemistry - just buy a plant. They’ll be happy to decarbonise all that

even clothes. If you need to use a cash machine, buy a box of lightbulbs or a bottle of shampoo, or just fancy a wander around the shops, remember you can find most of what you need at Salford Shopping City, which is only ten minutes away from the University.

If you feel lost you will have the opportunity to get to know the student hosts, who can be found all around campus. They should be able to answer your questions, however difficult – but do not be too harsh on them – they are

people too!

After your first few days as a student, you will feel more confident. You will make some friends, you will soon get to know the surroundings and the prospect of your studies starting very soon will suddenly not feel that scary. Because in the big hall where your first lesson will take place, you will see some familiar faces and some new friends people who are just like you!

Try everything, and, most importantly, have fun!

Co2 you’ve been producing for you, free of charge.

5. Awesome! The previous occupant left their hammock!

But look closely - it’s some sort of web. Yes, it seems your eightlegged subtenants have made themselves quite at home, and even if you had any glassware, you’re not sure anything smaller than a punch bowl would suffice.

Well the good news is that Autumn is here, and that means conkers! They actually repel spiders, so just keep a handful in each corner of your room.

6. But with all the spiders gone, there certainly are a lot of flies buzzing around. And you never did get around to buying that plant. Why not kill two birds with one stone and get a Venus Flytrap.

They’re a bit of a challenge to grow in this climate, but they are rather fascinating.

7. Quite a good deal you got on discount beer. Remember the importance of recycling though, and the main advantage is that it prevents you from arranging your empty beer bottles along your window sill to gather cigarette ends and dead insects, as so many students are wont to do.

8. Be vigilant for the sound of centrifugal suction - someone in this building has a Dyson!

They’re your first priority for friendship, regardless of any distasteful personal attributes, so call round with some sort of gift as soon as possible. A Venus Flytrap perhaps.

9. Maintain a strict door policy to ensure that no greater than three people are in your room at any one time. You want to prevent at all costs a group of fellow students becoming comfortable to the point of taking liberties in your room, or even, God forbid, crashing there. Have excuses ready as to why your room is unfit for parties - infestations, hauntings etc. To reinforce your excuse, ask a trusted acquaintance to occasionally call round dressed as a fumigator, an exorcist, or any other garb which, when seen, will dispel the doubts of your insistent co-habitants.

10. In the UK, every student room is required by law to contain an acoustic guitar. It is therefore important that you choose one that complements the decor of your room. After all, if it looks nice, your guests will judge you less harshly after being subjected to your attempts to play it.

Follow these simple steps, and you’ll soon be the envy of the halls. Good luck and be comfortable.

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Features : 05

My summer in America Helen Vaudrey

Lowri Loves...

Lowri Williams Features Editor

The Bigger the Better…

For Autumn 2012 the Cocoon coat will dominate.

Yes, it is the rise of the oversize. A few of my favourite looks from the fall collections on the runway are pieces from Chloe, Jil Sander, Proenza Schouler, Daks, Balenciaga and Stella McCartney. They presented a mixture of low crotches, cocoon sleeves and long lengths. Big is most certainly beautiful this season, oversize is the message and it is a great look. I recently bought a pair of slouchy silk trousers from Zara, which I will pair with a silk shirt, or a loose oversized knit.

The key to this seasons signature look is to keep things simple and streamlined. The oversize trend is perfect for the confident tomboy, which admittedly I am gradually turning in to!

Pairing opposites is key. The easiest way to oversize would be to contrast the volume, wear streamlined trousers underneath a large cocooned coat and you will look naturally chic. Or alternatively pair your coat with a tailored shift dress underneath, and heeled ankle boots for a modish look. With this trend your silhouette is the focus.

As the coats are loose fitting, you can get away with layering silk or a chunky knit underneath depending on the weather and the occasion. Zara have some beautiful coats this autumn, as have Topshop and H&M so I suggest if you are on the hunt for a statement coat these high-street shops are your best bet, offering classic, elegant and timeless pieces.

Now summer is over (if we can call it that) bring on autumn. I am ready to cocoon.

I hope you enjoy reading my weekly fashion fix up, please check out my blog too if you enjoy my column! www.lowriwyn.blogspot.co.uk

After the endless torrents of rain, dreary grey skies and intermittent sunny days, I think we all asked ourselves the same question at some point; where was this “Great British Summer” we had been promised?

Thankfully, I was not left to ponder this question for too long as I had already ordered a ticket to the sunny west coast of the USA! Trek America is a tour company that specialises in hiring allAmerican tour leaders to show young unassuming foreigners around their remarkable country by the most action packed, allguns-blazing means possible.

After a 13 hour flight, I found myself sitting around a cramped table in a hotel lobby with ten or so other excitable travellers.

As everyone introduced themselves a peculiar looking man sporting a moustache, neon green shorts and a Spice Girls tee shirt wandered over to us.

Believing him to be a strange eavesdropping man off the street, I first ignored his attempts at grabbing our attention. That is until he introduced himself as Devon; our tour leader.

Our mode of transport for the duration of the trek was a white minivan dubbed “Vandolph the White” after the previous vehicle “Vandolph the Grey” had overturned on the road and essentially exploded on Devon’s last tour. This revelation was far from encouraging. However one of the great things about being stuffed into a tiny van with a group of strangers is that you can’t help but become bona fide buddies by the end of your first eight hour stint on the road.

Looking back on the trip, it’s hard to pinpoint one place or moment in time that I enjoyed above the rest. Yosemite offered breathtaking surroundings, bear spotting, and rendezvous in an industrial sized hot tub.

Helicopter rides and sunset

The Round-Up Carl Spurling

Carl casts a caustic eye over current affairs There really has been too much news since the last issue, but the biggest story of all is of course the Olympics. I really thought it was a great idea to have a selection of models and fashion designers at the closing ceremony to ease us all back into praising people with no talent. To go straight from Olympians as role models to X-Factor contestants would have been such a drastic culture shock it would have ripped a hole in the fabric of reality (probably).

Apparently we have experienced the wettest summer in sixty years…mainly because of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. Think of the amount of middle-aged housewives who have tired a ham fisted (coincidentally the name of a position featured in the book)

Amazon order and ended up with a Dulux colour chart.

It seems the economy has underperformed too. I put this down to economists predicting a boost due to the mass sale of Prince Philip memorabilia and a rush to buy widescreen televisions to watch the funeral. Of course this was completely scuppered (ruining it for everyone) when he pulled through. Why can’t he just do the decent thing?

Sticking with the royals, Prince Harry was (as we all know) pictured naked; his dad must be so disappointed in him…whoever he is. To be honest I don’t care much for scandalous celebrity gossip.

The tabloids also picked up on a story that Prince William was involved with rescuing a man at sea. Not sure if they went with the headline ‘Man Dose Job’ or not. Also, he’s been doing it for ages and only just saved someone?

There has also been a call for a shake up in the way honours

are handed out. I agree, Lady GaGa for example got her title before even becoming famous.

For those of you who remember Robot Wars, Sire Kill-la-lot is another prime example of an undeserved knighthood and how Sargent Bash rose through the military ranks is beyond me.

In lesser news, the Dandy is closing down.

Problem one, it doesn’t appeal to dandies (Russell Brand and so on). Problem two, Desperate Dan isn’t desperate enough.

Make him homeless (hit hard by the financial crash), maybe the wife and kids have abandoned him and the addictions have become uncontrollable, sorted.

picnics over the Grand Canyon were also extraordinary. Boat parties in Lake Havasu and rollercoaster rides in LA’s Universal Studios top the list as well; although the highlight of my whole summer resides in Sin City.

Las Vegas, for those who have not visited, is everything you’ve already heard about it. Days and nights merge together, and even if you have never so much as shouted out “Bingo!” in your life, you will suddenly fancy yourself as quite the James Bond of the gambling world.

Forget flashy casinos and Prince-spotting at exclusive pool parties, if you’re a student short of cash you’ll be heading for the raucous dives on the edge of town and the superbly awful live shows lined up on almost every street corner. The Pirate Pornography show was certainly the most memorable, especially

for the innocent by-passing families at the 6pm showing.

Although you have to be over 21 to drink in America, there are ways and means to circumnavigate the legislation which I can’t record here, or I may never be allowed back in.

For anyone thinking of visiting

the USA, I would definitely recommend Trek America.

Lifelong friends were made and even though the recollections become hazy in places, I still think I know what I did last summer!

28 : Arts

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Summer 2012: Sally’s Arts Round-up Sally Leibovici Arts Editor

So the summer days have finished and now everything is either memorabilia somewhere in desks and drawers, Facebook mementos or maybe just sunburnt skin. Uni’s starting either for the first time or all over again (yay? Or nay? I won’t tell you which school of thought I prescribe to) and this is The Salfordian’s first ever issue for this 2012-2013 academic year.

Seeing how it’s the first issue, I decided to take a look at what we’ve missed criticising or praising (yeah right) over the summer. Although there isn’t really much to go on about, there are few things that either really need shooting down or kissing in what some might consider erogenous areas.

If you were sleeping on the 12 of June, you shouldn’t have been. Because “Clockwork Angels” was released by the legendary Rush and it is possibly the highlight of the year. Still sleeping?

Get your behind to some respectable record store and buy it. With songs like ‘Caravan’, ‘The Anarchist’ and ‘Carnies’ one has to wonder what it is exactly that these guys are made of: pure godly creational fibre is my bet. It’s a concept album with some of the finest lyrics and instrumentals in ages.

June also gave us The Hives, Amy Macdonald, Metric, and Justin Bieber.

While ‘Lex Hives’ is possibly the renaissance of garage rock we’ve been waiting for, Bieber’s ‘Believe’ is the demise of the human intellect.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Bieber-hater, but jeez, producers sure don’t care what they release as long as it adds to the bling of their dollar sign irises. Amy Macdonald’s third studio album ‘Life in a Beautiful Light’ is largely the same as what she has comforted us with before. It’s a tad folksy, combined with a bit of electronica and her fine voice. It’s not the best, but it’s a good listen when nothing else will satisfy your desire for melancholia. Metric’s ‘Synthetica’ will remind you of the good old revolt against humanity that Emily Haines made a name out of, but it will leave you dangling. It’s definitely not all that it should be, leaving frayed ends unattended with songs like ‘Lost Kitten’ and ‘Clone’, but it’s still bordering on fairly decent with ‘Artificial Nocturne’ and ‘Youth without Youth’ (not even close to “Monster Hospital” or “Dead Disco” though). You might find some

extra memory on your iPod, but if not, don’t worry; a YouTube listen once every blue moon will serve the album justice.

Now leaving music aside, Prometheus was released in June. Receiving raving reviews I thought it was worth a look seeing how the Alien movies give me the heeby-jeebies and its IMDB rating was through the roof. Big MISTAKE! What the movie gained through storytelling (not much I might add) was shot down by the presence of Guy Pearce in the worst “old man” suit I’ve ever seen. No offence, but I’m sure his fees were larger than what any veritable old actor would have charged, excepting Kirk Douglas and the rest of the troupe. It dragged forever and ever and ever, leaving so much room for a sequel it burned any respect you might have had for it. Actors with bad accents, Charlize Theron doing the “I’m so bitter” act and great special effects, do not make a great movie people! Period!

July 20 marked the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, the finale of Nolan’s Batman trilogyand what a finale it was! Christian Bale really stepped it up a notch and Nolan’s soft spots (Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt) really brought more to the film than I was expecting. Anne Hathaway was a far more enticing Cat Woman than Michelle Pfeiffer and finally Bane got some justice through Tom Hardy’s portrayal ( just remember the line “Have you come here to die?”). If you haven’t seen it please do yourself a favour and do exactly that. Capisci? Enough of raving reviews let’s get on with the rest.

In terms of music, July was not spectacular.

Chris Brown released ‘Fortune’. It’s an album that’s not meant for listening, but rather jagerbombing to at some club, somewhere…

And as they say: “Nothing beats beautiful girls with beautiful voices…Except Chris Brown”.

My respect for him boils down to that, exactly: nada, nothing, niente, niets, jacksh*t (that’s slang). Serj Tankian released “Harakiri” a sad reminder of what he could compose if he felt like it, I guess. ‘Cornucopia’ is the “single” and nothing else on that album deserves to be mentioned. Jennifer Lopez was extremely lazy in July and released a “Best Of ”. Everyone knows what’s on that.

August came with a quiet bang. We’ve got Bloc Party, The Darkness, Whiz Kalifa and Snoop Dogg here. The motto “All for one, and one for all” is perfect for this month. They all came up with absolutely nothing new and none of these albums truly entices the listener. It’s like listening to the music from 2011, and 2010 and 2009 and 2008….should I go on?

Now haters gonna hate when I say this: Total Recall was GOOD. I think it made the original look bad. Collin Farell was good, Jessica Biel was good, and Kate Beckinsale was good. The effects were amazing and the story was “Total Recall”.

It’s one of those remakes that are really worth it.

The Expandables 2 on the other hand, was far less than what I was rooting for. With Arnold and Chuck Norris in the mix I was hoping for more

than what the first movie gave, but no. One lousy Chuck Norris joke and a few other slightly amusing lines were the movie’s highlights. And by the way they are all so old it hurts to watch!

The insanely unreal action was fun for the first two minutes. Penny for my thoughts? Ok. Sylvester Stallone has less inspiration than the creators of Madagascar 3.

So all in all, people, we have to wait and see what this year brings and I swear I have no idea what the Academy Awards will feature for this year’s nominations. Sucks to be Hollywood at a time when reboots and remakes are all the rage.

Music wise? Turn back to your old records, dust them off and listen to them again…you might find “new” in some chord or verse you missed… maybe even try Bach.

“Don’t get me wrong,

I’m not a Bieber-hater,

but jeez, producers sure don’t care what they release as long as it

adds to the bling of their dollar sign irises.”

Interview: That Sunday Feeling Rachael Fraser Five small town boys from Grantham came together in early 2010 to create pop/rock band That Sunday Feeling. The boys meant business from day one, and it wasn’t long before they were playing to thousands whilst on tour with McFly. “It was an amazing experience,” says Jay “Playing Wembley arena was one of the best times of my life.”

Since then, the band has gone from strength to strength. They have accumulated a large fan base and their music videos posted on you tube have become very popular.

One of them, titled ‘Hospital’ has had 20,157 views.

The band has recently finished their UK summer tour and I caught up with them whilst they were gigging Manchester to find out all about them.

Interviewing That Sunday feeling was really fun. Being old friends from school and college there was a lot of banter getting thrown about. With lead singer Jo bursting into song mid-interview and the others cracking jokes here and there, it was evident that the dynamic five have a lot of fun working together.

They took a huge risk on this tour as they performed some of their newest material. “Our new stuff is better than our old stuff because before, we had no direction but now we have a clear idea of where

we are going,” said Pete. ”Some people haven’t taken to it yet.” But they are still confident that their fans will get used to their new songs. “Also, I think we’re a lot more mature now,” says Jay.

The biggest change to their music is the introduction of the piano, Jo explains. “We started off really pop / punk with sort of heavy guitars and heavy drums all the way through. We were quite a loud kind of band, but we have done a few slow things now and introduced the piano.”

Jay adds “I really respect a lot of bands that use piano, I think it brings across that passionate side about music.”

I wondered where the bands’ songwriter Jo got his inspiration from for song writing. He responded passionately: “Well, the ones I have written have always

been about not being satisfied with life, always wanting to push further, always wanting to kinda reach a better place. They have always come from dark places but they always have a hint of hope.”

The band are working hard to achieve their dreams and they have really enjoyed their summer tour.

“The best part is seeing people enjoying what you are doing and singing along to all the songs. That really makes all the hard work worthwhile.” says Jay. After watching the band perform live, I can not wait to hear more from them. Their future is definitely looking bright!

Go ahead and check them out, the bands 5track EP is available to buy from itunes now!

That Sunday Feeling are: Joe Atkinson (vocals), Jay Imlach (bass), Pete Coppin (drums), Dave Stephens (guitar), and Andy Thomas (guitar / keyboard) Find out more: http://www.thatsundayfeeling.com or @TSF

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Careers : 29

The benefits of volunteering A University of Salford student tells how volunteering their time proved to be a rewarding and excting experience Craig Carroll Close to five million people, young and old make pilgrimages to Lourdes each year. Three years ago I was one of those people.

Situated near the Pyrenees, Lourdes was made famous by Saint Bernadette, who had several visions of the Virgin Mary, which led to Bernadette digging up a spring and a chapel to build near the spot. There are now a number of chapels and churches at Lourdes as well as a grotto dedicated to where Bernadette’s visions took place. In the 154 years since Bernadette’s visions, the Roman Catholic Church has recognised 68 healings as being miraculous.

We were to get a coach at 6 o’ clock from outside All Saints Catholic College (Dukinfield) who also arranged the trip, all the way down to Dover. From there we were to get a boat to Calais and go on a overnight train which would arrive at Lourdes around 11 o’ clock the next morning. The journey took around 27 hours. During our stay we were to stay in an all inclusive hotel, as did the pilgrims who did not require hospital assistance.

On our first day there, we had a tour around Lourdes to show the key areas where we would be working in and it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, I honestly could not wait to get started.

For the rest of the trip, we were asked to start work early, we were to be at the hospitals at around 7’ o clock

if I recall. We were then split up into groups, some were in twos and some were in threes, depending on how the size of the wheelchair. We would then take the pilgrims wherever they wanted to go. We would get the chance to take them to cafe’s, to masses, one in the Rosary Basilica, to private prayer services, but most wonderful of all, a torchlight procession. The people we helped, who were not well off were nothing but grateful for the help. There was a mother and daughter from Birkenhead who spoke to us like they knew us for years, not mere hours.

One man and his wife had a profound effect on the entire group. He was severely disabled and needed help in getting in and out of his wheelchair. We took him and his wife to nearby river to spend some time there together. Despite the problems her husband had, the two of them had a special love for each other.

It just goes to show how much we take the small things for granted It wasn’t all work though, at night times we went to a bar down near a river and on our day off we actually went up the Pyrenees but it was helping the people in Lourdes that I enjoyed most, despite the problems they had, they were some of the most brilliant people I ever met and it was a pleasure to help them.

To find out more about careers and opportunities, or to apply for the volunteering or job openings below, visit www.careers.salford.ac.uk

JOB of the week

JOB

Organisation : Industry Casting / Industry People Location: Liverpool / Manchester Job title: TV Extras

Organisation : Kings Camp (Kings Foundation) Location: Manchester / nationwide Part-time, paid

Closing date: 26/03/2013 Part-time, paid between £70 - £230

Job description: Industry Casting are looking for people from all ethnic backgrounds for background TV extra work on productions such as EMMERDALE, CORONATION STREET, SHAMELESS, HOLLYOAKS & WATERLOO RD Candidate requirements: If you live in the North West, own and drive your own car, or are Liverpool based with no car, have an excellent attitude and lots of patience, and are available at least two FULL days Monday to Friday.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY

of the week

Organisation : RSPB Closing date: 21/09/2012 Location: Dove stone reservoir, Oldham Unpaid, part-time, temporary, expenses paid to those travelling within a 25 mile radius of location.

RSPB need volunteers to help the Date with Nature Assistant and People Engagement Assistant to deliver the Date with Nature project over the summer and if possible to continue to help to run activities and events throughout the year.

Opportunity description: Are you a people person who also loves nature and being outdoors?

Do you enjoy enthusing others – young and old – about the wildlife around them? Could you see yourself in the dramatic landscape at Dove Stone, stopping passers by to invite them to view nesting peregrines through our telescope? Or to stop and try their hand at sweep netting or pond dipping? Could you ask if they would like to support the RSPB and the work they do?

If your answer is ‘yes’ then your skills are exactly what they’re looking forPrevious knowledge of peregrines is not essential. Reliability, flexibility, friendliness , enthusiasm and the ability to work outside are.

vacancy Job title: Cricket coach Closing date: 05/11/2012

Job description: Michael Vaughan Cricket is an innovative cricket coaching camp for children aged 5-10 during the holidays. Michael Vaughan Cricket is part of King’s Camps the UK’s leading sport and activity camp provider for children and working with King’s Camps is a fantastic opportunity to earn money during the holidays while working in the outdoors, coaching cricket and having fun.

Candidate requirements: Ideal candidates will be ECB Level 1 qualified cricket coaches with experience of coaching cricket and other sports. Experience of working with children aged 5-10 years is essential along with good leadership and organisational skills, be vibrant, fun and have a confident personality.

Volunteering

opportunity

Organisation : NUS Job title: Student Switch Off Ambassador Closing date: 15/10/2012

Location: Greater Manchester / Salford Part-time, unpaid

Job description: Student Switch Off is an energy-saving campaign running in halls of residence. Ambassadors use social media and peer-to-peer communications to promote pro-environmental behaviour change.

NUS are looking for enthusiastic, environmentally-minded students to become Ambassadors for the campaign over the academic year 2012-13.

Getting others to pledge to save energy with the campaign in the first weeks of term. Helping with stalls, audits and events. Creating and sharing energy-saving photos or videos from your campus. Spreading the campaign message through halls using face-to-face visits Regularly updating the Facebook page and Twitter activity. Taking meter readings (if required). Shaping the course of the campaign throughout the year (new ideas strongly encouraged!)

Candidate requirements: Interested in environmental issues. Confident speaking to new people. Competent with social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter. Experience of photography or making/editing videos

30 : Your Union

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

The University of Salford Students’ Union: Everything you need to know What is a students’ union?

Students’ unions are charities that exist at universities across the country.

Each was founded with the aim of giving students a voice and supporting them throughout their studies. At Salford, the students’ union is led by four sabbatical officers. Every officer is a student here at the university who is taking a year out of their studies to represent their fellow students.

The sabbs work full time in University

House to improve the university experience for Salford students, who elected them in the last academic year. The University of Salford students’ union exists to ‘enhance students’ lives’. There are many other ways in which the students’ union can enrich your student experience; you can join a group or society, become a student representative, or discuss concerns about your course

with the sabbatical officers.

Should you or your coursemates encounter any problems at Salford or would like to raise an issue during your time at university, the union is here to help. If you are a new student at Salford, you automatically become a member of the students’ union and are most welcome to seek advice and assistance from day one.

Who are the Sabbactical Officers?

Christina Kennedy President Why I stood in the election: I worked on Bar Yours for four years as an undergraduate and I believed I could do a good job of representing my fellow students. I was Vice President Arts and Social Sciences last year and I stood for the position of President because I felt I had more to give and more ideas on how to get the best for our students What I want to achieve: This year I would like to achieve a fairer payment scheme for Postgraduate students who currently have to pay their fees upfront over five months. I would like to make Postgraduate study more affordable so that students can pay over the entire time they are being taught. My main aim is to get many more students involved in the Students’ Union as I didn’t realize the opportunities the Union offers when I was an undergraduate!

Why get involved in the SU? To meet new friends, represent your fellow students’ views, run campaigns, hold events and just generally have fun whilst making the most of your time here at Salford.

My advice to new students: Jump in with both feet!

Grab every opportunity you have because there is so much to get involved in during your time at Uni and you never know where it could lead you!

Line to live by: “If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always have what you always had and you’ll never get what you always wanted so have the courage to do things differently”

Mishal Saeed Vice President Health and Social Care

Tom Doyle Vice President Science and Technology

Eli Prodromova Vice President Arts and Social Sciences

Greetings Salfordians! I am here to raise any issues and concerns that affect you during your time here in the university. I wish you a very warm welcome to the University and I hope that you are settling in.

Apart from effectively representing your views on academic forums, some of my priorities this year include: offering better support to student groups and societies, help students in need and champion the achievements of students. I will also be leading on developing at least three policy stances on behalf of the student union on issues that matter to you – make sure you keep in touch with your sabbs!  I am also the Curator of TEDxSalford – an inspirational conference, bringing together some of the world’s leading intellectuals and luminaries right here in Salford. Our upcoming conference is on 21 October 2012. This non-for-profit project is licensed by TED and lead by Salford students. Be sure to check it out online.

No matter what your back ground, or where you’re from, remember there are plenty of opportunities for you to make the most of for your student life.

My advice is to put yourself out there and experience as much as possible (obviously without compromising your studies) – whether you’re a new or a returning student - this is the best time of your life. So make the most of it!

I stood in the elections because: I’d been involved in pretty much everything (snow sports then rep then school rep then trustee with a fair amount of bar in between) in the Union beforehand and though I would be good at it. I stood to be trustee first then.

I want to achieve: As many people as possible getting involved in the Union. Whether it’s home, international, mature, post grad or any of the other weird and wonderful titles we offer ourselves as students, there’s something for everyone within the Union. Don’t put up invisible barriers as to why you can’t get involved.

I’d love to see there being a much better use of student reps by staff members at the University, make sure there’s more people taking part in Sports and Activity groups - whether they’re playing or watching - and also improve the links between representation and the more social side of things.

In 20 words why get involved in the Union? It adds that extra element to the University experience which you don’t get from just a course on its own.

Favourite joke: A man attacked me with milk and cheese. How dairy.

Line to live by: The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of will.

A BIG WELCOME to all of you: either returning to your studies or just about to start your journey at the University of Salford. I remember being in the same boat as you new students and coming to Salford two years ago. Mixed emotions, lots of excitement, many questions – there aren’t enough words are to describe how I felt. Please do not forget there will always be positive people willing to help you with those all important first directions. Your journey starts here.

Make the most of it! My current role is to represent you at university level committee meetings and to ensure you have the best possible time at university.

To be able to do that effectively I need you. Your student experience is what really matters! One of my priorities this year will be developing the work experience opportunities. Getting on a placement will not only add extra credits to your degree, but also significantly increase your practical knowledge, thus improving employability skills. As part of our Sabbatical plan, I will be working on different projects to champion your voice by trying to engage you in direct discussions and find out what burning issues are. In order to achieve this, the SABB team will G.O.A.T (go out and talk) to you.

Final thought: “Life isn`t about waiting for the storm to pass, it`s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

Activties & Sports: 31

ISSUE 01 / 17 SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.SALFORDSTUDENTS.COM

Join a sports or activity group For more information about activities at Salford, visit www.salfordstudents.com

LGBT society Salford University’s LGBT Society may be relatively new but it’s done well for itself in the past few years to establish a presence within the union and at the university. Last year, the society was nominated for Best Student Activity Group and their previous chair was up for Personality of the Year at the Students’ Union Annual Awards ceremony.

Salford LGBT’s aim is to provide a safe environment for the university’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, as well as those who do not yet identify themselves as LGBT or are coming to terms with their own sexuality. The society also welcome LGBT-

friendly people to join in in their activities, but for everyone a strict ‘no-outing’ policy is enforced, meaning if you do not wish for your sexuality to be disclosed outside of the society, it won’t be.

The society gives help and advice to its members and also organize fun and informative events throughout the academic year, including: bar crawls, pub quizzes, debate nights, film nights, karaoke and themed parties, as well as talks from organisations and charities and about important issues such as coming out and safe sex.

You can find the society at the Activities Fair on Wednesday 19

and Thursday 20 September where you can speak to one of their friendly and helpful committee members. If you do not want to talk to them in public, you can either add or follow them on social networking sites, or email them.

After the fair on Thursday you can find them in Bar Yours from 7pm onwards to have a relaxed chat and a few drinks to break the ice and meet the rest of the committee and other members, both old and new. The first of their weekly meetings will take place on Tuesday 25 September from 7pm at University House in Boardroom One. For more information visit: www. salfordstudents.com/lgbt

Netball team The University of Salford Netball Club would like to invite you to join us! Our girls have a range of different skill levels so don’t feel any pressure. Even if you’re a total beginner we still want you! Joining a sports team is one of the best things you can do whilst studying at university. Just come to meet new people and enjoy a great social life.

We train Tuesdays 6.30-8pm in the sports hall in the sports centre, and Mondays 5-6pm in the main hall of the Allerton Building. All our matches are on Wednesday afternoons, and are followed up with drinks in the Students’ Union Bar Yours.

Still not sure? Here’s what some of our members have to say about why you should join:

“Saying you will make more friends at uni is a

Give Sport a Go this semester Bryony Pearce Sports Editor ‘GIVE SPORT A GO’ is a totally FREE weekly programme of sports sessions just for Salford students. It aims to give students who have very little time for sports the opportunity to keep fit by taking part around their studies and other commitments, as little and often as they like.

The scheme welcomes beginners and all abilities, offering a variety of sports to suit individual preferences. The organiser of Give Sport A Go, Jane Grantham, describes the scheme as: “perfect for meeting new friends, keeping fit, and having fun!”

Give Sport A Go strives to offer something for everyone and has doubled in size from last year, with a new mix of eleven sports to choose from; cricket, badminton, basketball, football, squash, table tennis, touch tennis, touch rugby, rounders, running and volleyball.

Weekly sessions will begin on Monday 24 September and continue through to Friday 23 November. They will then re-start again on 28 January, through to 22 March 2013.

As well as the weekly sports sessions, the programme also puts together student based leagues in Squash (Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons), at just £5 per semester, and 5-a-side football (Wednesday

afternoons), costing £30 for a maximum team of ten players.

The costs cover everything...no weekly fees or hidden charges!

There is also a loyalty scheme in place as an incentive for students to regularly get involved, attend ten sessions in a semester and get a free t-shirt! To pick up your loyalty card today drop into the Students’ Union Information Point in University House.

For more information on the Give Sport A Go scheme and Student Leagues, visit the Student Union website at: www.salfordstudents.com.

complete understatement! Once you join a sports team your circle of friends will be massive!” Katie Kelly “Join our club to meet quality girls, where you can have a laugh, party, drink, and play netball, and let’s not forget you can tour hard or you can go home!”

Coral Murphy “To make friends and to have fun” Hannah Galiszewski Why not come along and meet us on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20 September at the activities fair.

For more information visit: www.salfordstudents. com/netball