Activity for Nsikan Edung, hosted on UoN eLearning Community site.

• If Nsikan, they can...

  

  Hey everybody, It’s that time of year again when people ask – why should I vote for this notorious campus joker as President?  

  Are their policies realistic or are they just looking to spin anything to get into office. The easy option is obviously to make your policies slightly vague and well-meaning but this makes accountability more difficult. 

  I made a high number of promises in my manifesto in comparison to my opponents which I have strived to implement so far this year with varying degrees of success. I’ll let you decide whether it’s been worthwhile or not. 

  I also broke ranks with convention on the experience front. I came from a different background from most of my opponents and decided to reflect this on my manifesto by only stating my experience of student-led, grass roots activism in Bring Home the Bacon and the Library Card Campaign. 

  Here's how it looked:

  

  Better financial transparency from Nottingham Hospitality, JCRs and the SU. Find out where your money is going…

  I have to admit, I haven’t put as much emphasis on this as I originally intended to. I have negotiated there to be no additional increase in hall fees above the level of the retail price index in late 2008, the JCRs are completely under  the Students' Union and now has a full-time support worker to manage their finances.

  Working on tuition fee rises for home and international students

  The government review on tuition fees hasn’t come to the fore as of yet. Nevertheless, we will be engaging in ongoing lobbying attempts through the NUS to ensure that level is retained. I have not received any further comments regarding increasing tuition fees for international students. 

  I will establish a new SU 2^nd hand bookshop. Blackwells takes the mick.

  This one has probably been the most contentious of all my manifesto pledges. I found out pretty early on that Blackwells have written into their contract with the University that there was to be no other vendor of books especially 2^nd hand books anywhere on campus. UNBELIEVABLE! So I worked around this and took it online and we now have an online marketplace at su.nottingham.ac.uk/marketplace where any of you can buy or sell anything – not just textbooks! 

  NUTJOBS – Nottingham University Temporary Jobs . I will create more jobs on campus for you.

  After my experiences of being a university guide researcher, I felt that there was an opportunity for more student employment on campus rather than the University using external temps and it's even more relevant now given the troubles in the financial world. The University felt that this was also a good idea especially within the current economic climate and will be launching a new “Unitemps” agency in May. The Students’ Union will be working with the Centre for Career Development to promote this nearer the date. 

  Annoyed about an issue? Start a petition from the comfort of your room with online e-petitions. 

  This was my favourite pledge. It works for Downing Street so why not at the University of Nottingham? The e-petition plan is currently in the development stage at the present moment but because of the need for systems to support this. A work in progress!

  I will bring in a system to make sure your efforts and dedication to SU activities are recognised by the University when you graduate. 

  Well it made sense to me. The SU and the University are currently looking into a similar scheme which will be called the “Nottingham Advantage” award. However, it’s not quite in the same format as I expected it to be but nonetheless, we are currently feeding into the development process. 

  An off-campus network for all students living off campus to belong to. 

  The Community Officer has been working on a community network to ensure student issues on the ground are the community are addressed. This is set to take off next year and the potential for increasing the scope of the network will be assessed once it gets off the ground. 

  More deals in Venue and most importantly, regular karaoke sessions for all! 

  The new SU Venue has seen a number of deals and promotions to boost its popularity from new burger menus to the Friday Club. Monthly Karaoke in the Venue took off at the start of the year and ran for the whole of the 1^st semester. 

  -

  When you run for election, you don’t realise how when you come into office, there’s already 20 things you need to take on from your predecessor as well as initiating new projects with the rest of your team (not that I’m making excuses!!) 

  Feel free to comment below and remember to see through the perceived popularity of candidates and ask those tough questions either at hustings or on Facebook about their policies! 

  Much love, 

  Nsikan 

• National Student Survey is LIVE.

  The National Student Survey is now live and I am currently featured on the University of Nottingham Podcast page promoting this.

   

   Be Heard!

   Nsikan

• What's been occupying my time?

  Hey everybody again,

  It's been a while since I blogged you. Here's an update from me. As you may or may not know, last week saw the occupation of a lecture theatre on University Park by protestors demanding the University respond to the situation in Gaza. This was part of a wider spate of occupations on campuses across the country. 

   

   

   

  To cut a long story short, it ended in stalemate with the Uni refusing to negotiate and the protestors refusing to back down and with the protestors being forcefully removed on Sunday, which made the national press.

  
   

   

  For me, I was placed in a difficult situation being placed under pressure from all sides and having media scrutiny on the events on campus too with daily updates from ITV Central News. The eviction itself was concerning for me as well as I was hoping for a peaceful resolution and I received complaints over the force used.

  There is a statement from the Vice Chancellor on the Portal, The protestors have released their statement here.

  The Students' Union will be putting forth our view on Monday afternoon.

  In other news, its ELECTION SEASON! My last blog post detailed my ‘journey’ to becoming President of the Students’ Union and you all have until Friday to place your nominations to be on the Exec. As I said before, you don’t need to be from Karni or Week One or have had much involvement in the SU to run. All you need is a desire to make things better for your fellow students! Get in contact with me if you’re thinking about it and I can give you the low down on what’s needed.

  Finally, the Executive established its priorities for the rest of the year in light of achieving our previous goal of the passing the biggest Exec reforms for years. Amongst these are: Improving Sutton Bonington, important changes to the way the Union operates to comply with Charity legislation, taking the fight over ID cards forward and ensuring we retain our proud record of having the biggest student elections in the country (Hoping we hit the magic 7,000 votes barrier!)

  If you feel the Students’ Union should be campaigning on a particular issue, or you want to stand for election, let me know. Drop me a line: supresident@nottingham.ac.uk

  Or leave a comment below!

  Much love,

  Nsikan Edung

  Students’ Union President 08/09

   

   

• My Journey...

  Hey everybody again,

  As I promised myself that my next blog post would have some pictures... and after a few people have mentioned to me that they want to go for President and asking for advice, I felt nostalgic and wanted to tell my journey.

  I came here to Nottingham back in 2005, when I arrived at Newark Hall as a fresher. I enjoyed my Week One and I still remember my Freshers Address with then President, Mike Baxter telling me how much I was going to love my time here. He wasn't wrong. Although I took Politics as a degree, I was never a keeno for party politics and so I hardly joined any of those societies.

  My first foray into running for election however was as Newark Hall JCR Welfare Rep. I was very naive and didn't run the best of campaigns and my mate Steve cleaned up. I learnt lots of lessons however which I took on. Meanwhile, I got involved in the Students' Union by joining the Equal Opportunities Commitee as a 1st year, going on Rag Raids with Karni, contributing for Impact doing publicity, writing and photography. I also did a stint reporting for URN (including 'interviewing' Nikki from Big Brother at Oceana - memories.) and joining lots of societies.

  By the 2nd year, I wasn't that into the SU, I attended a few Union Councils just to see what happens and I took a passing interest in the activities of the Exec.

  Things changed dramatically when it came to the end of my 2nd year. My mate, Shaun Slator and I, one day decided to start a campaign after the price went up for a replacement library cards from £10 to £20 (missing a big night out was the final straw), we discussed our plans at a pub quiz on the Sunday and decided we were going to make things happen. A Facebook group was set up and we invited all our friends. 

  Once it started, it couldn't be stopped. More and more people joined until it reached a peak of nearly 2,500 Nottingham students who sympathised with our cause. As the group was growing, we set the next step of the plan which was to investigate why it costs so much here - I researched the costs of replacement cards at other Universities and Shaun set about finding what the breakdown of costs for the card and we posted these facts on the group. We were getting attention from the University and the Students' Union and we all the information about the costs to hand, we decided to implement our next plan which was to set up a table outside Hallward Library on University Park with a petition calling for a cheaper card. 

  

  We annouced this to the Facebook group and set up the table the next day. Students flooded to sign the petition and we even had staff signing the petition as they had to pay as well as students.

   

  Things were looking good - we managed to gather just under 1,000 signatures by the end of the first day - way beyond our expectations. We took this opportunity to explain what the petition was for and most people agreed that our cause was a worthy one.

  
   

   

  The 2nd day came along and we got more of the same - even more students coming to sign the petition.

  

  

  We did interviews with URN, then SU President - Dave Willey, came down to sign it, Sanctuary Newspaper were asking for our story as did Impact and we were all too ready to spread the news about the injustice of the charge as well as other issues raised throughout the campaign centred around costs.

  After those 2 days, we managed to gather 1,800 signatures, we had over 2000 people in the Facebook group, status as the most popular in the Nottingham network, we managed to secure an URN interview with the University person responsible for the charge.

  The best was yet to come. Things were going very very slowly so we decided to take it to the big time and we organised a protest on the roof of the Portland Building and invited the Nottingham Evening Post and BBC East Midlands Today to highlight our story.

  The call went out and we met the protestors at the front of the Portland Building. As soon as the Trent clock struck one, we led the campaigners, with placards, banners and posters to the roof of the Portland Building and began our protest!! Shouts of "We'll come down when the cost comes down" alongside posters of "Wheres the Money Gone" and "Stop Mugging Us Off!". It was an fun affair which culminated with a free BBQ.

   

  

  We watched the report, which to be honest, was a bit of a joke but nevertheless, we managed to put the University on the defensive.

  

  The result of our campaigning was that the cost of a lost card went down to £15 and a stolen card, which used to be £20, was now FREE with a crime reference number in line with most universities.

  Bring Home The Bacon

  After our rooftop escapades, these two campus campaigners thought our work was over. That was not going to be the case. As I moved back into Cripps Hall as a 3rd year, on the first morning, I was shocked to find out that Nottingham Hospitality had stopped the option of a cooked breakfast in the morning. Unbelievable. Gave my mate a bell to tell him about this and we both agreed that we were going to get it back.

  We brainstormed names in Mooch with my "Bring Home The Bacon" winning hands-down. We drew up our campaign strategy finding out that Hall fees had increased by a signficant amount and that services had been cut such as cleaners and porters and of course, the hot breakfast. Throughout October, we travelled to every hall on University Park and Jubilee during dinnertime with a petition, explaining the story to freshers who were none the wiser about what they were getting for their money.

  Whilst the petition was on the go, we arranged meetings with the Students' Union and with Nottingham Hospitality to demand explanations. The Facebook group, like the first time, was rife with discussion over money, fees and mutters of agreement over cooked breakfast.

  After an unsavoury encounter with the warden at our stop-off at Cavendish Hall, we picked up fines of £150 each (Do not pass Go...). That didn't break our spirit as the campaign marched on to every hall collecting just over 2,400 signatures in the end.

  With negotiations in full swing with the Students' Union, NH and us two, we managed to secure a hot breakfast with porridge and eggs... but no full hot breakfast except at exam times which I gladly took up. We also managed to get victories on the side such as pastries, greater transparency from NH and the establishment of Catering and Hall management forums for students to give feedback on their hall experience. As with "Wheres the Money gone?", our campaign got the attention of the Students' Union, University Management, Impact and URN who regularly communicated updates to students on our cause. 

  Sweet. So what was next? The Students' Union seemed like the most obvious destination. As I said before, I hadn't had that much Students' Union experience. I wasn't a President of a society or club captain, I hadn't been on a JCR (cheers Steve!), I wasn't on the Karni or Week One Exec or had been a Karni or Week One Rep either. Bearing in mind that the last 4 or so SU Presidents had come from Karni, I felt that the Students' Union needed an activist which is why I ran.

  Whether you are thinking of running for a position on the Exec or not, think about how YOU can change the Union, think about how you can improve your time here at University, big or small, and don't be afraid to stand up and be counted and take the fight onwards. Chances are that you'll find a loyal support base amongst Nottingham students.

  We, at the Students' Union, can provide you with the resources you need to run a campaign and give advice about tactics and how to achieve a result. 

  Don't settle for less. Make the most of your student experience!

  Nsikan Edung

  Where's The Money Gone Campaigner 2007, Bring Home the Bacon 2007/8 and Students' Union President 2008/9

• Visiting Nursing Students and National Student Politics

  It’s exam season and things are slightly quiet on my front. I remember how it used to be though so I know what you're all going through. Good luck to everybody – you’re nearly done.Here's what's been happening recently on the President's side.

  Last Friday, I went to visit the Division of Nursing and Midwifery at Lincoln and welcome Nottingham University's newest intake. We gave an introduction to the Students' Union, a bit like the Fresher’s’ address but without the TEC flashiness. They were still impressed with what the Union had to offer nonetheless and we encouraged them to get involved with the NAMA there and make use of Campus Connection, the SU website for students not based in Nottingham.

  Lincoln had a different feel to it - the centre was entirely within the hospital, including the communal and social areas. There was suprisingly no bar of any sort and the majority of students were drawn from the local area and in many cases, knew each other before they started their courses. Oh and it was situated bang opposite HMP Lincoln (comparisons are often drawn between the quality of food there and at the hospital).

  A Super Tuesday of sorts beckoned on Tuesday. The Battle for NUS Reform reached its conclusion and of course, that joker George W. Bush finally left the White House. Nottingham sent its delegation to Wolverhampton for the day to vote for reform – I was pretty annoyed, as were many others, at the decision to call an Extraordinary Conference during examination time. The NUS received its call of 25 Unions and were left with no choice. Nevertheless, we turned up and voted, as others voiced their opposition to the reform packages, on grounds of limiting Black representation and distorting the fundamental aims of the NUS as a campaigning organisation.

  It was not all straightforward however as soon after lunch, a contingent of student protesters stormed the stage in protest of the NUS Exec’s lack of recognition of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. After repeated attempts by security to remove them and calls by the chair for calm, the conference resumed after a lengthy break, with the protesters sitting in on the stage. This proved to be very unpopular with the vast majority of the Conference who jeered, shouted and turned their backs on the protestors. The reforms then passed unanimously, there were lots of back-slapping and speeches of “The biggest shake-up in NUS history” and everyone went back to their respective institutions.

  Finally, as everybody will ask, “Where were you when Barack Obama was inaugurated?” The answer for me is: The M6 Toll.

  Nsikan Edung

  Students’ Union President 2008/9

   

   

   

• 2009 - Happy New Year!

  I would just like to wish everybody a happy new year and hope everybody enjoyed their holidays.

  The Exec have been working on plans for Refreshers Week which we promise is going to be bigger and better than ever! 

  It starts on the 26th January but in the meantime, good luck to all those taking exams and we'll see you then! 

  Nsikan

• Review of Term One!

  Hello everybody and welcome to my first ever blog posting and what an apt time as the first term has finished and we are about to enter the new one. 

  I’ve never really bothered with a blog before because I felt my life was too dull to even warrant telling the world about it. Nevertheless, since becoming President of the Students’ Union, things are slightly more interesting, hectic and challenging for myself. 

  I suppose this is a good opportunity to give you a quick review of my first term in charge!  I started back in August in a blast of glory… well not really. I just came into my new office, received my log-in details and changed the email signature. 

  August and September is finding your feet time and University park is very… very… quiet. A lot of my time was spent at various training events which the NUS organises for Students’ Union officers. I enjoyed these on the whole because it helped me ease into my role and make connections with other fellow SU geeks and especially with the Presidents. There were a few outstanding tasks to undertake such as finding a new honorary president and deciding what my priorities would be for the year ahead.  

  September came along quicker than I thought and with that… the great unknown that was WEEK ONE and the influx of freshers. Freshers Address was also something I was thinking of. I had to decide what to say, how many bad jokes I could possibly fit into it and how the presentation was going to look like. Then I had to practice and I did. 

  Then came that Sunday and the sports hall was done up by TEC as they fantastically do every year and I caught sight of the first hundred or so keen-eyed freshers about to fill up the hall. It was time. 1,000 or so students filled the hall, the doors closed, the music blared, the videos played, strobes dazzled and the pyrotechnics did its business. My heart was pounding as I took to the stage and began to welcome everybody to Nottingham. 

  I repeated this 5 times, believe it or not, and I went through the same nervous emotions beforehand and every crowd gave me such a buzz. 

  Welcome to Week One - Freshers Address over and done with. Every night, every day, setting up Freshers Fayre, talking to as many students as possible, helping out with Easy Tiger, making sure freshers are safe. It definitely hit over 100 hrs work for that week but loved every minute of it. The online sign-up for societies and clubs worked well on the whole apart from a few teething problems which were not our fault. We have taken on feedback from freshers fayre and will be looking to improve next year!

  The start of term also saw the completion of the final phase of the Hallward Library re-development - levels 3 and 4. It is a fantastic development made possible by the work put in by the Students' Union to ensure the University provides first-class learning facilities. It really is something when you go to events and other Unions look to Nottingham for inspiration. 

  At the start of the year, I got to involve myself with the international campuses. We are the only university in the UK to have fully fledged campuses overseas, and there is a Students’ Union and Students’ Association at these campuses. They’re just like our one with the logo and everything but they represent students at a more local level. Very exciting! I made email contact between the Presidents in China and Malaysia before organising the very first trans-campus video-conference. It was an early start for me around 7:30am to co-ordinate with Malaysia and China time but it surprisingly well and we set down goals and plans for the year ahead and it looks like I will be visiting the campuses in the near future. 

  I also arranged to meet the manager at the Adult Education Centre on Shakespeare Street. It's based in an old building in the city centre right by Trent where the University was first established to discuss part-time students and their needs. 

  Being in the President role allows you to see which groups make up the 36,000 students of Nottingham. As part of the traditional home 18-21 undergraduate population, you don’t always understand what some students have to cope with, from Nurses and Physios to Postgraduates, to Mature to Part-Time students to International and those with caring responsibilities. For example, part-time students often don’t make use of the Students’ Union because most courses are in the evening and our services aren’t available or they don’t join societies because they aren’t aware of them and can’t join.  

  It was a real eye-opener which prompted me to investigate part-time students further which I am definitely going to build on in 2009.

   In between all of this, I managed to: 

  • Attend an awards dinner where Nottingham picked up Entrepreneurial University of the Year.
  • Meet Olympic Gold Medal Canoeing hero and Nottingham Alumnus – Tim Brabants
  • Go to LOTS of NUS training and conferences.
  • Help solve issues of milk in the SU shop.
  • Get brand new furniture in the Portland Atrium
  • Run for and get NUS delegate in the biggest ever NUS elections… ever!
  • Clean up the streets of Dunkirk
  • Give out stickers and condoms for Easy Tiger.
  • Work on proposals for improving the structures of the Students’ Union and the Executive.
  • Deliver the first ever JCR training sessions.
  • Protest to save Lenton Post Office and got my photo taken for the paper at the same time.
  • Sit through LOTS of important University committee meetings each time representing the student voice.
  • Deal with upset local MPs, initiations, members of the public, hall wardens and the national media looking for a salacious story.
  • Read a passage at the University Carol Service
  • Started campaigning against the introduction of biometric ID cards for international students.
  • Lay a wreath on behalf of Nottingham students at the City Council Remembrance Sunday service.
  • Find and bring in a new Honorary President for the Students' Union.
  • Receive a tankard and pig’s head from the Bell Inn pub in Nottingham.
  • Nearly go live on Radio 4 with just 2 hours notice to talk about student housing one morning.
  • Deliver a presentation to the ‘The Class of 1958’ on what it’s like to be a student in Nottingham today (they had a ‘karnival’ back then but without the ‘k’ – I saw the pictures!).

   So all in all, I’ve had a hectic first term but I have loved it. Who knows what next term will bring? 

  Nsikan Edung

  Students’ Union President 08/09