UCS Student News 2 WEB

MODEL
STUDENTS
STUDENT
NEWS
Issue 2
2015/16
THE UNIVERSITY CENTRE SHREWSBURY
STUDENT MAGAZINE
A new courtyard
p3
Historical sites
p9
Harry Potter and
the city of London
p4
6
p2
Events at UCS in April
8
News from Energize
More sense
than money
p7 and p12
10
stop. @ ucs update
STUDENT Putting you
in the picture
NEWS
Student News is an official
University Centre Shrewsbury
(UCS) publication, produced
to keep students informed of
University Centre news.
Any students who would like to write
for the publication are invited to get
in touch with Communications Officer
Felicity Roberts on the email address
below.
CONTACT
communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk
CONTRIBUTORS
Felicity Roberts
Holly-Elizabeth Smith
Jess Grocutt
Jamela Dad
Energize Shropshire, Telford and
Wrekin
Mike and Nicola Dalton, stop. @ ucs
To obtain this information
in an alternative format
– large print, audio,
electronic or other
alternative format – please
e-mail communications@
ucshrewsbury.ac.uk
UNIVERSITY Centre Shrewsbury students have been
bringing what the institution has to offer into focus.
Undergraduates from across the University Centre are the stars of the
2017 undergraduate prospectus and course leaflets, after stepping forward
to model for the publications.
The prospectus provides details of more than 20 courses, support available, the town and how
to apply.
Zazel Baker, Marketing and Recruitment Co-ordinator, said: “We set up photo shoots at
Guildhall, including in the labs.
“We also photographed the students in different locations across town including at Rowley’s House.
“The students were fantastic and have played an important part in showing what it’s like to
study and live in Shrewsbury.
“I’d like to say a big ‘thankyou’ to the students for your help and patience on the shoots, and
hope you enjoy being in the spotlight.”
STUDENT NEWS
3
Designs on a new courtyard
IDEAS that students have pitched for the transformation of the
Guildhall courtyard are set to come to life from this summer.
TWO teams presented their proposals for
the heart of the learning and research base
at a special S:PEAR (Skills: Professional,
Entrepreneurial, Academic, Research) session on
Wednesday January 20.
Faye Wiggins and Bethany Maddock were
the first to put forward their suggestions, before
Lewis Hamer, Jessica Eades, Jamela Dad and
Molly-Jane Watkins-Fruen took to the floor.
Assessing the presentations was a panel of
judges comprising of: Craig Lang, a well-known
regional architect; Brendan Molloy, Buildings
Surveyor at UCS; Laura Greenwood-Pearsons,
General Manager, Chester Students’ Union and
Professor Tim Jenkins, Programme Manager for
Shropshire Council and History and Heritage
Lecturer at UCS.
Both teams shared ideas on how the area could
be used as an entertainment and recreational
space by students, staff and the wider community.
The panel agreed that both teams had come
up with well thought-out and researched schemes
which would significantly enhance the courtyard.
With common aspects in both proposals, a
joint scheme will now be made reality, bringing
together elements of both team’s designs.
A stage for UCS and community events,
artwork, flowers and plants will be among the
new features in the courtyard.
The proposals included stakeholder
analysis, consultation with local businesses as
well as ball-park figures for each stage of the
transformation project.
Jon Britten, Head of Academic Support, said:
“As well as being part of an interesting hands-on
project, students are gaining experience in project
management and a ‘real life’ opportunity to apply
the S:PEAR skills they have learned so far.
“They are also shaping the development of
Guildhall, making additions and enhancements
that will be part of their legacy, to be enjoyed for
years to come.
“The presentations and the work that had
been put into the proposals were very impressive
and it will be exciting to see the finished scheme.”
The pioneering S:PEAR programme has been
integrated into students’ timetables to provide
a valuable range of opportunities to enhance
professional skills and working life knowledge.
Along with support and career advice to help
prepare for a successful future, including CV work
and interview practice, there are exciting live
projects, guest speakers and field trips scheduled
throughout 2016.
The S:PEAR programme takes place every
Wednesday in a two hour session, bringing
together students from across all courses.
If you would like to find out more about the
S:PEAR programme please email Jon Britten at
j.britten@chester.ac.uk.
“The presentations and the
work that had been put into
the proposals were very
impressive and it will be
exciting to see the finished
scheme.”
4
STUDENT NEWS
A spellbinding
London weekend
THE Students’ Union organised a magical trip to the Harry Potter Studios and the city of
London in December. Student Holly-Elizabeth Smith shares her highlights from the visit,
including a few birthday celebrations.
“WITH a Boots meal deal and one oversized
backpack we were ready. One by one, our group of
teens and tweens arrived at stop. @ ucs coffee shop.
“One movie, lunch, chocolate, the odd nap
for some and we were there, Harry Potter Studios
- the place that literally brought magic to life.
“The fanatics began teaching those less
educated in JK Rowling’s magical world of
witches and wizards and we quickly became
mesmerised by the self-stitching knitting and
potions that stirred themselves. By the time we
had reached Weasley’s car and the brooms of
a few friends, we all appeared to have turned
into children and no longer had the IQ levels
of our former selves. We even got to go on the
Hogwarts Express.
“Swapping a Nimbus 2000 for a confusing
tube ride into London, we found our hostel, that
wasn’t really a hostel, it smelt clean… we even
had our own bathroom.
“After a quick change we made our way to
Imperial College, London. Food, drinks, dancing,
a few more drinks. It was a great way to bond
with our new UCS family.
“A stumble, laugh, followed by losing a shoe
or two and gracefully falling up the stairs… yes
that’s right, I said ‘up the stairs’… it was time
to battle Mount Everest, aka, my bunk bed, I’m
glad I made my room-mates laugh, you’re all
very welcome.
“The next morning I found the best way
to clear the cobwebs was opening birthday
presents from my best friend, and a walk around
Hyde Park with jazz music in my ears. Whilst
some went to shop and meet the Mad Hatter
in Camden (still jealous), pizza on South Bank
STUDENT NEWS
whilst watching the Thames River go by with
family was my perfect day.
“Some will probably not return for a while
or maybe never return, as the city seemed
too big, but for me, it was good to be in my
second home.
“Milkshakes and burgers consumed,
we were reunited with everyone after their
adventures of the day. It was train time
again, but this time, no problems. A few more
miles on the motorway, another nap and we
were home.
“On a more personal note, I would like to
say thank you to everyone for making it the
perfect birthday. Thank you for the drinks and
dancing, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to
see my birthday in and out with such beautiful
human beings. Finally a special thankyou to
Jess (Grocutt) for arranging all of this for us and
the shout out from the DJ as it became midnight
on my birthday. You are the best Students’
Union (SU) Rep we could ask for.”
5
STUDENT NEWS
EVENTS AT UNIVERSITY CENTRE SHREWSBURY IN APRIL
6
Saturday April 2 from 1.30pm
Book Launch Event - Leaving Britain:
Emigration and Literature in the
Age of Empire
Dr Jude Piesse and Dr Simon Grennan
Rowley’s House, Barker Street
Free - to book email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk
Wednesday April 20 from 7pm
A New Future for Heritage
Dr Loyd Grossman, CBE
Rowley’s House, Barker Street
Free - to book email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk
Thursday April 21 from 5pm
Events and Festivals Partnership Event
Tim Brown
Guildhall, Frankwell Quay
Free - to book email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk
Saturday April 23 from 10am
Textile Stories Study Day:
The Story of Wool
Professor Deborah Wynne
Guildhall, Frankwell Quay
£15 including lunch and refreshments,
book via http://shopfront.chester.ac.uk
Wednesday April 27 from 7pm
Whose Museums, Whose Heritage,
Who Pays?
Sir Neil Cossons
Rowley’s House, Barker Street
Free - to book email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk
STUDENT NEWS
More sense
than money
THE Students’ Union Shrewsbury has been focusing on how we
can be smart with the cash we have. SU Co-ordinator Jess Grocutt
explains some of the activities which have been running this year to
help you make your money go further.
“With the Christmas period leaving the best of us with not even a coin
for the supermarket shopping trolley, yet heaps of enthusiasm to start a newyear-new-me lifestyle, the Students’ Union thought it would be the perfect
time to run the #MoreSenseThanMoney campaign.
“To kick off the campaign, and with ‘National Student Money Week’
just around the corner, we launched BRAND v BASIC taste testing. Students
were first asked which local supermarket they would usually shop at, and
what branded food products they would usually buy over basic.
“Jonno (Jonathan Harper, Chester Students’ Union President) and I then
went out to ASDA and bought both the branded items, and the equivalent in
ASDA’s Smart Price range. Students were given anonymous samples of both
products and asked to record which ones they preferred.
“Results caused shock reactions, as many of the samples they believed to
be their favourite brand turned out to be ASDA’s own, cheaper item.
• 75% of the students preferred ASDA’s hand-cooked crisps over
Kettle Chips.
• 66.7% of students preferred ASDA’s own cheese in comparison
to Cathedral City.
• 50% of students could not tell the difference between ASDA’s
Smart Price chocolate digestive biscuits and McVities.
“Afterwards, we conducted a BRAND v BASIC price difference test.
Students were presented with two bags full of shopping, one with branded
items, the other containing basic items of the equivalent product. Students
were tasked to estimate the difference in price. The student who guessed the
closest won the whole lot.
“The tasks have hopefully raised awareness of how avoiding the ‘it’s
just 80p more’ line of thought, can soon equate to quite a healthy saving.
Students assured themselves they’ll think twice next time they go shopping,
and not always choose an item because of its brand, as evidently it’s not
always the best.”
Students Ellie King (left) and Georgia Ferriday (right).
Chalking up
a new society
THE University Centre Shrewsbury Art Society was launched
in February.
The first focus theme is ‘women’ with International Women’s Day
taking place in March.
For further information email SU Shrewsbury Co-ordinator Jess
Grocutt at j.grocutt@chester.ac.uk or drop into the SU office next to
the common room at Guildhall.
Reading group brings
regional and international
institutions together
A READING group at Guildhall brought together students and
academics from Shrewsbury, Chester, Keele and Tokyo institutions.
Postgraduate students and academics from the University of Chester
and Keele University have been meeting twice a year since 2009 to
discuss a ‘neo-Victorian’ novel. The group has recently grown to include
colleagues from University Centre Shrewsbury.
They were joined via Skype by Professor Chitose Ikawa from
Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, during January’s meeting in Shrewsbury,
to discuss Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus.
The next meeting will take place in the summer at Keele University,
Staffordshire, when they will discuss John Fowles’s The French
Lieutenant’s Woman.
7
8
STUDENT NEWS
News from Energize
Shropshire, Telford
& Wrekin
Table Tennis @ UCS
THE table tennis table, located in the Business Lounge at UCS, now
has a Ladder Board for some friendly competition.
Join in by writing your name on the board, along with contact details. The
rules are simple, challenge someone above you to take their place (but you
must also accept challenges from those further down wanting to take your
place.) Equipment is already down by the table, play until the first one to
score 21 (or the first who is two points clear after this mark).
Any questions, contact Energize, based at the top of the red block D, or
email Helen White at helen.white@energizestw.org.uk.
Volunteering
opportunities
Become a Local Leader
DO you want to volunteer in your local community to make a
real difference to people’s lives? Interested in helping sports
clubs thrive?
If so, you may be a perfect fit for the Local Leader positions
available from Join In, an organisation aiming to get more volunteers in
to sports clubs.
Energize STW is working with Join In to ensure local sports clubs
can thrive as a result of a solid volunteer base. The Local Leader
position entails you recruiting volunteers to help out at sports clubs,
events or with anything they need, from making the tea after games to
painting a wall in preparation for the new season.
If you would like more information about the role, visit the Energize
website at http://energizestw.org.uk/lead/volunteering/join-in-3/
or contact Elliot Pottinger for an informal chat by emailing
elliot.pottinger@energizestw.org.uk.
Inclusive Buddy
Programme
Want to help people and learn new skills?
Staff v Students Old
Skool Sports Day
STUDENTS and staff are being urged to
don fancy dress for a sporty fundraising
afternoon.
The Staff v Students Old Skool Sports Day
will take place to raise money for Sports Relief
on Wednesday March 16, from 2pm to 5pm at
Shrewsbury Sports Village.
Student Voice Representatives for Activities,
Amber Webb and Mabo Matysik, are working
closely with Jessica Lightwood from Energize
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to organise the
afternoon.
To find out more chat to Amber, Mabo or Students’ Union
Co-ordinator, Jess Grocutt.
The Inclusively Fit Project is committed to getting more disabled
people involved in sport and physical activity as participants
and volunteers.
What will I be doing?
Supporting and motivating disabled people in accessing
opportunities. On a personal level you will need to be understanding,
patient, motivated and open minded.
Do I need to have experience working with disabled people?
Full training is given in disability awareness within the programme
induction, along with safeguarding information. You will also undertake
a DBS check before undertaking any voluntary role on the programme.
Are there any incentives involved?
Lots…including free kit, training and day out excursions.
How do I find out more?
Email inclusivelyfit@energizestw.org.uk or call/text 07958 318915.
STUDENT NEWS
VISIT GETS STUDENTS
THINKING ABOUT
PRESERVATION OF
HISTORIC SITES
STUDENTS were transported back in time
this term with a field trip to two Welsh castle
sites. Here, Holly-Elizabeth Smith describes
the thought-provoking day.
“On this very rainy, extremely wet, somewhat
muddy and shall we say typically British January
day, a small group of History undergraduates
and their charming professor decided to make a
trip into Wales as part of their ‘Public History and
Heritage’ module. I was one of those students.
“After catching our breath at the top of the
hideously vertical mount that Castle Dolforwyn
stood upon, it was our chance to get hands-on
with our course. This is a great way to bring the
course alive. The importance of preservation and
the problems faced by companies such as Cadw,
the Welsh Government’s historic environment
service, only have a proper impact outside of the
lecture hall, when you face the questions yourself:
• ‘How would I preserve this place?’
• ‘Where does the money come from?’
• ‘What story should it tell?’
“Once making our way back down to the
mini bus in one piece, it was time to set off again,
Montgomery this time. These ruins still resembled
a very ghostly castle looking over, and protecting
its town. As the rain descended on us once more
it was time to get fish and chips, to dry off and
go home.
“These trips are key to our development as
young historians because in several years, it could
be one of us having to make those decisions.”
9
10
STUDENT NEWS
An update from
Mike and Nicola
Dalton, owners
of stop. @ ucs
BOOK
REVIEW
George Orwell
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story
Reviewed by English student Jamela Dad
“AS we draw near to the final term in this,
the historic first year for University Centre
Shrewsbury, we wanted to give you an
update on how things are going at the coffee
shop, and some of the plans we have for the
future.
“We recently met with Jess from the Students’
Union who gave us some invaluable feedback on
the coffee shop.
“From that meeting, we’ve taken several points
away, including reducing the price of our soup,
providing soft drinks in plastic bottles (easier for
taking into lectures) and allowing people to bring
their own food into the coffee shop as long as
they make at least one purchase.
“We’ve also taken on board the point about
opening hours. At the moment the footfall
doesn’t support opening beyond 9am to 2pm on
weekdays. However, we do constantly monitor
the situation and we certainly want to open
beyond this once the demand is there.
“We will continue to liaise with Jess and
get your feedback and of course, if you have a
comment, or suggestion, just pop in and talk to us.
“In terms of the future, we have a number of
things we will be introducing into the cafe area: a
large flat screen TV and games console; a ‘help
yourself’ CD player plus CDs (and we’re very
keen for you to donate CDs to the collection);
extending the range of food we do, including
boxed salads as the weather improves, and
making sure we always have brownies for sale
(we know you all love them).
“Finally, thanks for bearing with us as we have
got the coffee shop to the point we want it. It is
very much ‘your’ coffee shop and we want to see
you in there as much as possible.
“Good luck with the rest of the academic year.”
CAPTIONED ‘A Fairy Story’ it quickly becomes apparent it’s
anything but a fairytale. Sick and tired of maltreatment, the
animals of Manor Farm cultivate a scheme to overthrow the
current owner in order to live freely. There was only one rule:
All animals are equal...
This 1945 satire reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Cleverly
put together, it echoes events and people during the Russian Revolution and eventual rise of
the Soviet Union. So well thought out, from the very outset of the novel we are given hints of
what’s to come. Shown through a simple act of filing into a barn house - the pigs comfortably
nestle themselves in straw at the front of the platform, foreshadowing their eventual reign of
terror over Manor Farm.
Animal Farm is a thought-provoking piece full of lies and deceit. At roughly 120 pages, it
moves quickly with every line made to count. It’s not just about politics; it’s about economy,
technology and society all displayed through the animals and the running of this one
farm. The characters, despite being animals, are given realistic personalities, making you
sympathise with them. Their mistreatment becomes your frustration. It’s a chilling display of
human nature that will have you on the edge of your seat, hoping for that fairytale ending.
STUDENT NEWS
Tennis fever hits
University Centre
Shrewsbury
EXERCISE Medicine, Health and Exercise Science students enjoyed
the chance to get up close to the ‘World Cup of Tennis’ at University
Centre Shrewsbury’s learning and research base.
People were invited to see the Davis Cup and take photographs before
hearing from the President of the Lawn Tennis Association, Cathie Sabin, and
UCS’s tennis-playing Professor of Applied Exercise Science, John Buckley,
during the free event at Guildhall on Friday February 19.
The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the premier international team event
in tennis. The trophy was lifted by the Great Britain team – which includes
Andy and Jamie Murray – in November 2015. The win was Great Britain’s
first Davis Cup victory in 79 years.
11
Professor of Applied Exercise Science, John Buckley, with MSc Exercise Medicine
students Ben Clarke, Liz Parkes and Mark Davies.
BSc Health and Exercise Science students Lauren Richards and Kath Emanuel with
Prof John Buckley, specialist exercise tutor Andy Pritchard and Steph Mills from
Lifestyle Fitness, Shrewsbury.
Exercise Medicine postgraduates join UCS
THE first postgraduate Exercise
Medicine students started their
Master of Science course at
University Centre Shrewsbury
in January.
The course gives medical and
healthcare professionals the opportunity
to choose studies across a spectrum
of sports and exercise medicine
disciplines, including physical activity in
public and occupational health, disease
prevention and rehabilitation, and
sports injury management.
Professor Anna Sutton, Provost of
UCS said: “We’d like to say a big
welcome to our new students. We hope
you enjoy the course and your time
with us.”
MSc Exercise Medicine students in the new Active Living Lab assessing the validity of wearable activity trackers.