2 December 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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WIT H SA M ANT H A B OOT H
confusing one. The National Union of Students is more often known mainly for the NUS discount card, which gives students a reduced price at hundreds of retailers over the country. They represent students on a national level. Every year, students are asked to vote in the SU Elections whether the union will be affiliated to the NUS. The NUS actively campaigns inline with current student issues, such as opposing changes to A-Levels, advertisement of payday lenders and international student immigration. Any student of any degree type or course can get involved with the students’ union. Held once a month, the student forum allows any student to raise ‘ideas’ to change the way the students’ union is run. In addition, it offers the chance for students to ask the officers, full time and part time, anonymous questions. To submit an idea or question, visit www.swansea-union.co.uk/ union/forums. Societies and sports forums are also held by the respective officers to discuss issues clubs and teams are facing as well as workshops including how to work better as a team and how to deal with conflict.
Students can join as many societies as they like. Each society has their own membership fee which can be paid for at www.swansea-union.co.uk/societies. Any student can form a new society if there isn’t one existing. Email the societies and services officer, Ceinwen Cloney, at societiesandservices@swanseaunion.co.uk Sport Swansea works closely with the students’ union and is the professional sporting brand for Swansea University. To become a member of any sports club, you must first become a member of Sport Swansea. There are many benefits including a discounted Varsity ticket. Visit www.swansea-union. co.uk/sports for more information.
•Have you found it difficult to become involved with the students’ union or on the website? Email waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union. co.uk.
MAP 4
Swansea University Campus
Key
“Is it near Fulton House somewhere?” Buildings
Visitors Car Park (Pay and Display)
Singleton Hospital
36
14
Bus, Cycle & Pedestrian Access
To Sports Village (pedestrian access)
11.3 33
P
P
16
Taxis Public Telephones
25
26 19.1
Catering Facilities Baby Changing Facilities
19.2 22
18
30
11.1
Bus Stops
27
15
13
P
Staff Car Parks
21.3 20
P
11.2
21.2
21
P
Singleton Park
23
12
P
17
9.4 9
1 2 2.1 3 4 5 6 7 8.1 8.2 8.3 9 9.4 11.1 11.2 11.3 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19.2 24 31 32 32.1 33 34 36
24 31
P
34
32 32.1
8.2
3.1
3
8.1
P 7
T an o S d po M rt um s bl Villa es g /G e ow
5
4
Porters’ Traffic Control Lodge
2.1
8.3
40
6
2
1
P
P1
er
Traffic Control Barriers
P
Abbey Meadow
P T Ce o C nt ity re
P Singleton Park
Finance Building Singleton Abbey Singleton Abbey, Stable Block Keir Hardie Building James Callaghan Building Law Library Mosque Library and Information Centre Faraday Building Faraday Tower Talbot Building Wallace Building Margam Building Glyndw ˆ r Building Vivian Tower Sports Science Motion Laboratory Grove Building Grove Building Extension Richard Price Building Amy Dillwyn Building Haldane Building Fulton House Union House Energy Centre Digital Technium Taliesin Annexe Taliesin Arts Centre Egypt Centre Institute of Life Science 1 Llyˆr Building Institute of Life Science 2 / Centre for NanoHealth Porters’ Traffic Control Lodge
3 4 3 14 8.3 3 12, 33 11.2 4 11.2 11.2 11.2, 11.3 4
Hispanic Studies History Italian Law Mathematics Media and Communication Studies Medicine Physics Politics and International Relations Psychology Social Policy / Work Sports Science War and Society
We asked 60 students ‘where is the students’ union?’; only 30% knew where it was exactly located on a campus map and the Services / Facilities remaining 70% were unsure with oneAcademic student 2.1 Registry Admissions Office commenting “not enough stuff22happens there Alumni Office 32 Art Gallery to know where it is”. 32 Bank 17, 18, 32 Bars Some students, mainly first years have 32 Bookshop never heard of the students’ union building. 17, 18, 32 Cash Points 17 Catering Office However, third year students and those 7 Careers and Employability 2 Central Administration involved in societies or sports were aware 17 Chaplaincyof Centre 17 Conference Office how to find Union House, number 18 on/ Nursery the 30 Crèche 23 Dental Surgery map (left). 3.1 Disability/Special Requirements Office Fulton Outfitters, the Langland13Terrace and Disability Office - Assessment and Training Centre student village Spar and the Travel Shop in 40 17 Discovery - Student Volunteering 32.1 Egypt Centre Fulton House all come under the students’ Student Residences 18 Estates Department 19.1 Kilvey Finance Department union’s ownership. Costcutter is12 half owned by 20 Preseli Human Resources 21 Cefn Bryn 2.1 International Development Office the 21.2, SU 21.3 andRhossili the university and is3.1operated by International Student Advisory Service the 22 union.Penmaen 23 Horton 5 Law Library 25 to Tuesday Oxwich 7 Tooters, Library and Information Centre Home I’m in Flux and Divas 26 Langland 2 Marketing 27 on-campus Caswell 3 Resources is the nightclub located inMedia Union 17 Health Centre Academic 3.1 for Money Advice & Support Office House, whichAreas can also be booked society 6 Mosque 11.1 Adult Continuing Education events. JC’sAmerican is located in Fulton22HouseOccupational serving Health & 4 Studies Emergency Centre 34 AquaCulture reduced drinks prices and food.17Sin City is Post Office 9, 9.4, 11.2 Biological Sciences 2.1 Postgraduate Office 16 Business owned operated by the students’ union, 17 Refectory 11.2 and Childhood Studies 8.2 Department of Research and Innovation 3 Classics, Ancient History & Egyptology which many students are unaware of,ResidentialServices and 22 8.1, 8.2 Computer Science Shops 17, 18 11.2 Criminology likewise for the Wonky Sheep on 13 the student Staff Development Unit 3 Cymraeg/Welsh 23 Student Counselling Service 14 Economics village. 3.1 Student Support Services 8.1, 8.2 Engineering 18 Students’ Union 3 English For support services, the SU offers the advice 32 Theatre (Taliesin) 3 French 15 Transcription 9 Geography centre and the nursery, which are located inCentre 17 Travel Shop 3 German Wellbeing Services 11.1 House Health Science Fulton and next to Grove23 respectively.
•TheSwansea next student forum atSwansea, 6pm SA2 8PP University Singletonis Park, +44 (0)1792 205678 info@swansea.ac.uk www.swansea.ac.uk on Friday, December 6 in the council chamber at Singleton Abbey (no 2 on the map).
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way connected with, or arising out of the publication of this information. Published by the Marketing Department, Swansea University. Copyright February 2012.
Designed by The Info Group
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HE students’ union. What is it? Alarmingly, few students can answer the question in a way that covers all of the services and operations the union undertakes, writes Samantha Booth. A students’ union caters for all of the needs that are outside of your degree such as nightlife, housing, travel and support. Without it your student life would be a very different one. We took to campus to ask students about the SU to find out how much they knew. Katie Williamson, a third year Zoology student and active society member, is aware of the operations of the SU but thinks she is one of few: “They run all the services and societies that are designed to help students. They could have a better outreach by letting more students know who they are and make them see why it’s important.” Sophie Wiggins, a second year English and Media student says that being involved with the student media has enabled her to begin to understand the dynamics of the SU: “I don’t feel I would have any idea about the students’ union and the elections if it wasn’t for being an active member in the media. Once you are involved, it’s great fun and I enjoy learning about how the union can help me.” Often students find the line between Swansea University Students’ Union and the NUS a
M En ain tr an ce
features
Your students’ union explained