Thursday, 17 April 2008
*Big fat blog full of self pity to follow*
I dislocated my knee yesterday and it really hurts :( I can't believe I did it just from standing up on the sofa! Am now on crutches and have to haul myself back across the whole of Sheffield to go to the fracture clinic by myself as les flatmates are all busy. The crutches feel like they're breaking my shoulders, and I can't hobble as far as the history department, let alone the uni proper. Plus the nearest bus stop is up hill, and I have no idea how I'm going to get around! Factor in 2,500 words in on wednesday which I haven't even started yet, and you have the reasons for my current sitting on the sofa with my leg up, wallowing in self pity. Yarg
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Sorry for the gap!!
I've had a crazy easter break, been up to Scotland to help get my parent's house ready for letting (we live in church acocmodation but they just bought my granny's house from her when she went into care, unfortunately she hasn't redecorated since the sixties!!) Meant to do loads of work but didn't because I caught a bug, so it'll no doubt be a mental month and a half up until exams!
I never did a post on the equality officer properly, basically we got a majority but not of 2/3 so the changes didn't pass. Good news is that there's loads of supporters of an equality officer running in round 2 of the elections which is great, especially Beth running for women's with loads of policies to act as a defacto women's officer. I guess that proves that the saying about God opening windows is true!! (as the right wing christian fascist which I was accused of being during the elections :S)
In other news, I wish I could get to London to protest at the olympic torch being carried, but will be packing ready for my return to Shef on Monday morning. I would go tomorrow, but don't want to be put on busses and have the trains all messed up! I was just watching the news about it, got really angry at some stupid silver medallist from athens going " I'm a sportswoman, not a politician. All I want to do is play sport, and it's a huge shame when politics get in the way of that." I'm sorry mrs. Let's not let the human rights abuses perpetrated against thousands of chinese citizens stop you swimming for a living. Yearg.
I never did a post on the equality officer properly, basically we got a majority but not of 2/3 so the changes didn't pass. Good news is that there's loads of supporters of an equality officer running in round 2 of the elections which is great, especially Beth running for women's with loads of policies to act as a defacto women's officer. I guess that proves that the saying about God opening windows is true!! (as the right wing christian fascist which I was accused of being during the elections :S)
In other news, I wish I could get to London to protest at the olympic torch being carried, but will be packing ready for my return to Shef on Monday morning. I would go tomorrow, but don't want to be put on busses and have the trains all messed up! I was just watching the news about it, got really angry at some stupid silver medallist from athens going " I'm a sportswoman, not a politician. All I want to do is play sport, and it's a huge shame when politics get in the way of that." I'm sorry mrs. Let's not let the human rights abuses perpetrated against thousands of chinese citizens stop you swimming for a living. Yearg.
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Where I've been for the past 2 weeks:
Promoting this around campus, voting started today:
Union Council (on which I am disabled students councillor) propose OPTION 1- A president, education officer and international officer (getting elected at the moment), plus the following:
-An Equality Officer: When we did the consultation (which was emailed out to all students), they consistently (both men and women) put equality above 'womens issues'. Women currently are one of 4 representative groups in the union, yet the only one with dedicated officer support. LGBT, Black Students and Disabled Students (the committee which I am chair of) get moved around different officers every year depending on who 'fancies' looking after them- a totally unacceptable situation in my eyes. Therefore we propose an officer for all 4 groups, who would be held accountable by all 4 committees, therefore preventing 'favouritism'. I also DO NOT believe that removing the women's officer means we can't guarantee a women sabbatical officer- Reading Uni have just elected an all female sabb team despite having no women's officer. Lastly, just because we have had one for however long does not mean we can continue to discriminate against other groups!
-A Community Officer: As you've probably seen over the past year, there have been huge issues relating to hall food problems. Were you also aware that there has been a 200% rise in burglaries recently in Crookes? The women's safety bus would also be covered by this officer role, as we believe safety is not just a women's issue. Also, a weird anomaly of our consitution means that the President is the public face of the Union but the Welfare Officer deals currently with housing issues. So which one talks to the police, sits on the council and deals with community forums? In our proposal- the community officer would. They could also run more campaigns relating to keeping yourself and your belongings and house safe along the lines of Shhh and Love Where You Live.
-A Welfare Officer: Currently, the Welfare officer is responsible for: disabled, lgbt, part time, local and mature students, student parents, all the community issues highlighted above, mental health and sexual health and financial hardship. Under our proposals, due to the creation of the equality and community officers, this would be reduced to: part time, local and mature students, student parents, mental and sexual health (INCLUDING eating disorders, bizarrely currently under the women's officer, despite affecting men too) and financial hardship. Clearly all 3 officers will have more time for their respective groups than currently.
-A Finance and Services Officer: Has explicit responsibility for environmental issues. The environment is a big deal- so vote for a proposal which couples environmental responisibility with real change.
-A Sports and Activities Officer- pooling 2 jobs, but with 2 guaranteed admin assistants therefore a net increase in staff for both clubs and societies, plus guarunteed funding in a year in which the Union is facing huge budget cuts. Option 1 is the only option to guaruntee this funding.
The campaigning has got incredibly petty and personal, some of my friends have been taking some real abuse just because they are the Sabbs, so are easy targets for groups like socialist students, who seem militant in defending their right to speech, whilst constantly challenging that of the Sabbatical officers. Its all still a bit too fresh to talk about now, I'll let you know more after I know how it's gone- I'm knackered from all the campaigning!
Sarah x x
Union Council (on which I am disabled students councillor) propose OPTION 1- A president, education officer and international officer (getting elected at the moment), plus the following:
-An Equality Officer: When we did the consultation (which was emailed out to all students), they consistently (both men and women) put equality above 'womens issues'. Women currently are one of 4 representative groups in the union, yet the only one with dedicated officer support. LGBT, Black Students and Disabled Students (the committee which I am chair of) get moved around different officers every year depending on who 'fancies' looking after them- a totally unacceptable situation in my eyes. Therefore we propose an officer for all 4 groups, who would be held accountable by all 4 committees, therefore preventing 'favouritism'. I also DO NOT believe that removing the women's officer means we can't guarantee a women sabbatical officer- Reading Uni have just elected an all female sabb team despite having no women's officer. Lastly, just because we have had one for however long does not mean we can continue to discriminate against other groups!
-A Community Officer: As you've probably seen over the past year, there have been huge issues relating to hall food problems. Were you also aware that there has been a 200% rise in burglaries recently in Crookes? The women's safety bus would also be covered by this officer role, as we believe safety is not just a women's issue. Also, a weird anomaly of our consitution means that the President is the public face of the Union but the Welfare Officer deals currently with housing issues. So which one talks to the police, sits on the council and deals with community forums? In our proposal- the community officer would. They could also run more campaigns relating to keeping yourself and your belongings and house safe along the lines of Shhh and Love Where You Live.
-A Welfare Officer: Currently, the Welfare officer is responsible for: disabled, lgbt, part time, local and mature students, student parents, all the community issues highlighted above, mental health and sexual health and financial hardship. Under our proposals, due to the creation of the equality and community officers, this would be reduced to: part time, local and mature students, student parents, mental and sexual health (INCLUDING eating disorders, bizarrely currently under the women's officer, despite affecting men too) and financial hardship. Clearly all 3 officers will have more time for their respective groups than currently.
-A Finance and Services Officer: Has explicit responsibility for environmental issues. The environment is a big deal- so vote for a proposal which couples environmental responisibility with real change.
-A Sports and Activities Officer- pooling 2 jobs, but with 2 guaranteed admin assistants therefore a net increase in staff for both clubs and societies, plus guarunteed funding in a year in which the Union is facing huge budget cuts. Option 1 is the only option to guaruntee this funding.
The campaigning has got incredibly petty and personal, some of my friends have been taking some real abuse just because they are the Sabbs, so are easy targets for groups like socialist students, who seem militant in defending their right to speech, whilst constantly challenging that of the Sabbatical officers. Its all still a bit too fresh to talk about now, I'll let you know more after I know how it's gone- I'm knackered from all the campaigning!
Sarah x x
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Busy Busy Busy
Who would have thought Uni was so much work! I can't believe the workload of my seminars compared to how little I did all last semester, and this is before the essays all hit enmasse. I know that if I start on some of them now then I might get further, but I'm really reluctant to for most of my subjects because I want to have had the seminar on the essay before I write it. Luckily, for Fascism that should be in 2 weeks, and I can get going on the German essay as soon as I have decided what it will be on.
I have another cold. I hate this time of year, it feels like the entire world is grey and sniffly. I also haven't been to visit granny (who moved into a home just down the road from me a few weeks ago, can't remember if I blogged on it) since Saturday, I know I should but I've just been so busy!
I had a great lot of meetings yesterday (my 'day off!') and am now really involved in a project called developing inclusive curricula which is interesting- trying to improve communication between staff and students to discuss their needs. (Quite possibly more interesting than it sounds!!)
Really looking forward to the weekend :D excited excited excitedd
x
I have another cold. I hate this time of year, it feels like the entire world is grey and sniffly. I also haven't been to visit granny (who moved into a home just down the road from me a few weeks ago, can't remember if I blogged on it) since Saturday, I know I should but I've just been so busy!
I had a great lot of meetings yesterday (my 'day off!') and am now really involved in a project called developing inclusive curricula which is interesting- trying to improve communication between staff and students to discuss their needs. (Quite possibly more interesting than it sounds!!)
Really looking forward to the weekend :D excited excited excitedd
x
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Sorry for the delay...
Exams got into full swing so as you can probably imagine, blogging didn't take first priority! Also, I've been thinking a lot lot LOT about the upcoming officer roles reviews but as I was a returning officer, I was pretty much silenced as wasn't allowed to voice a public opinion on the situation. On thursday I stood down, so expect a big ol' blog on that in the next couple of days.
I started all my new modules this week. I love the first lectures of a new module, my mum described a degree to me as 'islands of knowledge' in the cafe at tesco this morning, its so true! There is so much German and History I will never know, and yet these little bits which I know in so so much detail. Odd but cool. Just in case you were wondering this semester I'll be doing; Austria Today (current affairs), history and dialectology of the german language, Fascism (which I still try and leave the first s out of) and Britsh colonialism 1814-1904. I'm excited! (but its fine that you're not, honest, just fake smile at your screen).
I'm off for noodles for tea, I'm worryingly excited!!!!
xx
I started all my new modules this week. I love the first lectures of a new module, my mum described a degree to me as 'islands of knowledge' in the cafe at tesco this morning, its so true! There is so much German and History I will never know, and yet these little bits which I know in so so much detail. Odd but cool. Just in case you were wondering this semester I'll be doing; Austria Today (current affairs), history and dialectology of the german language, Fascism (which I still try and leave the first s out of) and Britsh colonialism 1814-1904. I'm excited! (but its fine that you're not, honest, just fake smile at your screen).
I'm off for noodles for tea, I'm worryingly excited!!!!
xx
Friday, 1 February 2008
One more week...
And exams are completely over! I can't WAIT! I had a meeting today about a widening participation project which I am helping coordinate- introducing dyslexic teenagers to the idea of Uni and helping them to prepare, showing them round building personal relationships etc. I'm really excited about it! Plus, its paid which is a nice change to all the voluntary stuff, so with that and the buzz team work promoting the officer elections hopefully money won't be too tight this semester!! I'm home alone tonight so am sitting watching american idol and trying to decide if I want friery. hmmmmmmm, tricky.
Sarah x x
Sarah x x
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Nestle, Swimming and Family Trees.
So today union councillors got the chance to sit in on a meeting between our working group who are considering the issue or whether or not we continue with our current union boycott of Nestle products or not, and Nestle represenatives who came to persuade us not too. As students with disabilities councillor I made the decision at the start of the year not to get involved with any groups that didn't directly impact on the disabled students of the union as I know my tendencies to get involved with everything and already had enough on, so was pleasantly surprised to be invited to the meeting. My mum and dad decided we were going to boycott nestle as a family when I was in reception (I remember stropping about no kitkats on the way home from school) and my mum worked as a breastfeeding counsellor and was heavily involved in baby milk action so I have to say I went in there ready for some serious Nestle bashing. However, I was actually surprised, and a little freaked out by my feelings in the meeting. These people (as you would expect) were seriously well prepared. Nestle sent representatives from the developing world, (S. Africa and Sri Lanka) who now work in the UK. They basically said that in the developing world Nestle was a trusted brand and its only in Europe and the US that these problems exist. (Well maybe because we have better access to education and resources?) They bombarded us with articles and facts and figures and said how they were the best industry practice, had been removed from loads of black lists, even the Methodist Church have decided to invest in them. They made the (fair) point that in all the shouting about Nestle, other companies who are breaking the codes to a far worse extent are being ignored (SMA, Cow and Gate) by the general public. They raised a recent guardian article which had Nestle in the title but only talked about other companies as proof of this, they also had a pet midwife who had 'switched camps' from bma to Nestle talk to us.
I really don't know what I think- Baby Milk Action can't be sure they can get to the Union before the working group needs to bring it's recommendations to council, and I'd hate for them to only hear the Nestle perspective. But it makes me wonder if we should be boycotting all the other companies too? But that referendum may well be defeated, therefore undoing even a Nestle boycott. I'm glad glad glad that it's now in the working group's court, and not mine. An interesting afternoon though.
In other news- I haven't been swimming since the summer because it makes my eczema flare really badly, but in the space of a week I have found this pool pratically next to my house, which has lower chlorine than the Uni pool, and have finally found a ethical and organic eczema body wash (I HATE the emollients I get on prescription, they're overly greasy and make me smell like an oil refinery) which is suitable for the shower, as I hate baths. They also make a shampoo and conditioner- a bit on the pricey side but I got the shower wash and the shampoo and my eczema on my head is the best it's been in ages, plus I didn't flare up at all after my swim (25 lengths! go me). Their website is here and their stuff is yummy.
Lastly, I did a google search for the origins of my surname just for my own personal amusement in front of ER this evening, and found out my family motto is esse quam videri which means to be, rather than to seem. I quite like it!
Well, if you made it this far, thanks for reading!
S x x x
I really don't know what I think- Baby Milk Action can't be sure they can get to the Union before the working group needs to bring it's recommendations to council, and I'd hate for them to only hear the Nestle perspective. But it makes me wonder if we should be boycotting all the other companies too? But that referendum may well be defeated, therefore undoing even a Nestle boycott. I'm glad glad glad that it's now in the working group's court, and not mine. An interesting afternoon though.
In other news- I haven't been swimming since the summer because it makes my eczema flare really badly, but in the space of a week I have found this pool pratically next to my house, which has lower chlorine than the Uni pool, and have finally found a ethical and organic eczema body wash (I HATE the emollients I get on prescription, they're overly greasy and make me smell like an oil refinery) which is suitable for the shower, as I hate baths. They also make a shampoo and conditioner- a bit on the pricey side but I got the shower wash and the shampoo and my eczema on my head is the best it's been in ages, plus I didn't flare up at all after my swim (25 lengths! go me). Their website is here and their stuff is yummy.
Lastly, I did a google search for the origins of my surname just for my own personal amusement in front of ER this evening, and found out my family motto is esse quam videri which means to be, rather than to seem. I quite like it!
Well, if you made it this far, thanks for reading!
S x x x
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