The students union had organised a Freshers’ Fair in the last week of September 2010 of autumn term. Those who missed this fair and even for others, the Refreshers’ Fair is organised tomorrow, i.e., Tuesday, 18th January 2011 for spring term. Nearly eighty stalls will be put up on the library square of the University campus. The fair creates awareness among the students and provides an opportunity to the freshers to get involved in the Sussex life by joining sports, societies, volunteering and the Students’ union. There are 30 sports clubs viz. Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Canoe, Cricket, Fencing, Football, Golf, Hockey, Horse riding, Mountaineering, Netball, Rugby, Squash, Surf & wind surf, Table tennis, Volleyball and so on. Just £ 20 gets one membership to all the clubs. Similarly there are nearly 150 societies under different categories- Academic, Arts & Performance, community Action, Cultural Identity, Social Action, Specialised Interest, Spiritual & Religion. During the Refreshers fair “Housing Talks” are arranged to help the present on campus students for the off campus accommodation next year. In the evening, “Tuesdays’ Best student Night” drinking and DJ have been organised. The Students union has also organised a spectacular evening of Art, Music and Performances called “Sussex Live” on Thursday and Friday in Brighton. Look for pictures in next blog.
The University of Sussex has “Students’ Union”. It is housed in Falmer House and has a website www.sussexstudent.com. The annual turnover of the students union is £ 3 million and has around 10,000 student memberships. I have found that this is the most vibrant and important body of the University. The union functions with the help of elected students’ representatives of different Schools and Departments. There are six elected full time union officers (President, Operations Officer, Communications Officer, Activities Officer, Education Officer and Welfare Officer). The election to the full time officers will be held in week 5 of spring term and the elected officer will join the office of the students’ union in the first week of summer vacation. The contestants are either presently studying students who take a year break in their studies or final year students who join the office of the students union following their graduation. The period of office is one academic year. The elected Students union officers are paid £ 16,199 per year for their services. In addition to the six elected students union officers, there are 20-30 full time staff appointed by the University to run the students union.
The refresher's fair seems to be a very good idea to involve students in as many sports and knowledge and skill oriented activities as possible. Do they really participate in large numbers in these activities?
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that students union is an important body on the campus. You had given some information earlier. But, what is it that they do which affects students on a regular basis?
I found large number of students participating in the organisation of the Refreshers'Fair. Most of these clubs and societies organise activities during summer term.
ReplyDeleteI did not mean participation in the fair. I meant participation in sports and other activities. Do the students participate earnestly and in large numbers in these activities throughout the year?
ReplyDeleteParticipation in sports is excellent. In football, Rugby, Hockey and others there are more than one University team like team 1, 2, 3.
ReplyDeleteOther activities/talks are organised late in the evening at 6/7pm and the students do attend in large numbers. Academic schedule is never disturbed. Sometimes entry is not free. The entry fee is £ 5 for the "Sussex Live" an entertainment programme of Art, Music and Performance which is a part of Refreshers’ Fair. More such activities are going to be held in summer term.