Happy New Year!

New year, new plans......well work in progress...back to work to start planning at least. More to follow.

I am 1/2 way through my sabb year, the time has flown by. When reflecting on last term i am pleased to say i enjoyed it even though tough at times...!


My personal highlights of the term include: The National Demo, training more course reps then ever before, Freshers week and seeing so many students support and help with the Save Physics Campaign - it was good to see students actively campaigning on what they felt so strongly about.

The term seen some great student activism with the demo and the physics campaign, i would certainly say the education portfolio at RUSU has been keeping educational matters high on the agenda - and rightly so - as i regularly get quoted in the office:


'We are all here for an education'


Some of the lower points for me: Walking out of the University Council meeting alone, to see physics students waiting outside for the result - having to tell them that despite a strong campaign physics would be no longer at Reading was pretty tough. But having said that i was so impressed with their passion and belief in the subject, they really are a great bunch. I still struggle to understand why such a fundamental and important science can be axed in such a way. I guess also the 60-70+ hour weeks (which i always said i would never do) mid term were also hard, people sometimes think student officers have it easy, well as much as the job is great it is certainly something that becomes your life! But i would recommend it to anyone - so much to gain to learn and to enjoy!


Despite the low points, the Autumn term has been great....with each and every day so different, bring on the spring term.


So after my short reflection thoughts - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to a great term, lots of laughs and more great work for students!

Ryan

r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk

Last Wednesday Night @ the union....

Last Wednesday of term = packed union = amazing night = another reason why i love my job!

Who said being a sabbatical officer was easy.....?

This evening i sat down after a hectic week of training, and reflected on the last two months. Its been alot busier and harder than i ever thought it would be, with in-house training, Action through Advocacy course in Chester for education and welfare officers, and my most recent course NSLP - National Student Learning Programme through which i was trained to be a trainer! These courses have been 3 or 4 days long and very intense, 'networking' with other student officers in the evening over a beer or two results in late nights followed by very early mornings, but they have all been worth it and i have learnt alot.

Around these courses, i have been been meeting the many many University staff that i need to get to know, along with preperations for this years campaigns, course reps, the MASIV scheme, the years training programme with emily, regional events, plans to improve representation the list goes on.....

Only being in role for a year, means soooooo much to learn in such little time, and with four out of five of my fellow sabbatical officers in there second term i have found myself feeling a little lost and 'new' at times, but there wealth of knowledge and experience provides me with great support and when out and about talking to other unions i realise what a brilliant team we have at RUSU.

The year ahead is an exciting one and i am looking forward to term starting, so as i prepare for the marathon from freshers to christmas i do with much excitment.... the year ahead is going to be a good one.

Ryan
r.j.e.bird@reading.ac.uk