Welcome to CUSU

CUSU Shadowing Scheme - your shadows

If you've signed up to be a volunteer mentor in the CUSU Shadowing Scheme 2012, you can now find out whether you've been assigned a shadow.

• Email the CUSU Access Officer to receive the spreadsheet of shadows and mentors.

If you don't appear on the spreadsheet then you haven't been assigned a shadow. You'll be on the back-up list so that if any more shadow places are made available, you may be assigned a shadow. If you're at a college that is operating the room-share system, then you could be matched with a shadow if you offer your own room (email the CUSU Access Officer for details).

Watch the CUSU website and your email inbox for more details in the new few days.

Holiday Opening Hours

The office will be closed from 23rd December 2011 until 2nd January 2012.

The Student Advice Service will remain open (apart from weekends and public holidays) via phone (01223 746999) and email (advice@studentadvice.cam.ac.uk).

Support our Lecturers Rally

On 30th November, Cambridge UCU (University and College Union) will be taking industrial action, alongside two million public sector workers across the country.

This action is being taken over the appalling deal academics are getting on pensions. A better deal on pensions is not just in academics' interests, but in ours as well: if we want to retain the best minds in the profession, we have to offer them a deal that reflects their worth.

CUSU is in support of UCU's industrial action, and we would encourage all students to come to this rally to show their support. We will be congregating at 11:30, before marching in support of our lecturers to Parkers' Piece, where the Cambridge wide rally will be happening.

Support Our Lecturers - see you all on Wednesday!

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=256739311047593

CUSU Statement on the disruption of David Willetts' Talk

Gerard Tully, CUSU President said: "David Willetts is the architect of higher education policy which is actively damaging to the quality of education that Cambridge (and other universities) offer and creates an unfair financial barrier to students from the broadest backgrounds aspiring to University. It is entirely right that students and academics protest these policies, as over 100 did today before Mr Willetts' talk. Tonight students had the opportunity and choice to hear and question Mr Willetts, in the 800-year old tradition of academic enquiry and freedom of speech that Cambridge has pioneered. Students have now been denied that opportunity, and CUSU cannot support this.

Freedom of expression is one of the founding principles of University education - no matter how objectionable the views being espoused are. Students believe in this principle and so does CUSU, so we cannot support any protest that violates it - which the disruption of David Willetts' talk tonight clearly did."

CUSU Part-Time Exec Results

Congratulations to the following, who have been elected by CUSU Council to the Part-Time Executive:

Elections Committee: Ruth Graham, Morgan Wild, Tom Towers, Charlie Bell, Elena Han
CUSU Secretary: Chris Halcrow
Undergraduate Development Officer: Dan Green
Undergraduate Academic Officer: Thom Kirkwood
Sexual Health Officer: Dan West
Anti-Racism Officer: Rishi Sharma
Eating Disorders Support Officer: Maddie Skipsey
Bursaries & Funding Officer: Ben Jones
BME Access Officer: Ifey Frederick
Socially Responsible Investment Officer: Chris Kerr
Open Portfolio: Ashley Smith

CUSU Part-Time Exec Elections!

On Monday 21 November at CUSU Council, we have the first round of part-time executive elections for the following positions:

Secretary, Undergraduate Development Officer, Undergraduate Academic Officer, Sexual Health Officer, Transport &, Student Safety Officer, Eating Disorders Support Officer, Anti-Racism Officer, Bursaries and Funding Officer, Black Minority Ethnic Access Officer, Rents Officer, Communications Officer, College Facilities Officer, Socially Responsible Investment Officer, Community & Volunteering Officer - and one Open Portfolio position.

For more information, please see our Elections page

Cambridge Goes to the National Demo!

Last year, a coalition of students, pupils, academics and ordinary people united in its opposition to Government's higher education policies – the biggest protest movement in a generation. Government policy will leave a generation in debt and have a devastating impact on access: and our opposition is not going away.

On Wednesday 9th November, there will be a national demonstration in London and thousands will be taking to the streets, to continue the fight against Government's sustained attack on our education system.

CUSU is organising coaches to go to the demonstration – EMAIL nationaldemo@cusu.cam.ac.uk TO BOOK A COACH PLACE.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265380770173640

Apply for the CUSU Shadowing Scheme 2012

That time has come again when you can sign up to be a part of the CUSU Shadowing Scheme. Run annually, these three weekend residentials in January and February see about three hundred bright young students from non-university backgrounds 'shadow' a current Cambridge undergraduate from a Thursday in January/February until the following Saturday.

Click here to find out more about the Shadowing Scheme, including how you could get yourself, or your society, involved.

Cambridge blasts Higher Education White Paper

Cambridge University has savaged the higher education White Paper, in its response to the Government's consultation. CUSU had put sustained pressure on the University throughout the summer to make the submission as damning as possible.

In a sustained attack on the White Paper, Cambridge expressed that it is "dismayed by the Government's overall vision and strategy for higher education" and that Government had pursued a strategy of "alienation rather than one of inclusion" in higher education policy.

Cambridge also argued that a liberalised higher education market will not operate successfully, and that higher education "should not be reduced to a utilitarian analysis of cost and personal financial benefit". It reiterated its commitment to the public funding of higher education.

Morgan Wild, CUSU Education Officer, said: "The White Paper will continue the Government's failed and flawed attempt to introduce a market into higher education, and we commend Cambridge for condemning it outright, as we strongly encouraged it to do.

The White Paper will be a disaster for widening participation, for the quality of education and for the very ethos of our public university system. If even an institution as traditionally cautious as Cambridge is slamming your policy in the strongest terms, you know you have got your policy badly wrong. This White Paper should not be allowed to get out of Parliament."

The University's full response can be read here: http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/notices/council-white-paper-response.pdf.

Coming to Cambridge in 2012?

Don't forget to join the Official Cambridge Freshers 2012 Facebook group by clicking on the logo below:

You can also follow the Official Cambridge Freshers Twitter feed here: http://twitter.com/CamUniFreshers

The Cambridge Bursary

All UK students who quality for a government maintenance grant are also eligible for the Cambridge Bursary, worth thousands of pounds per year. The University has an unlimited number of these, so as long as you fulfil the means-related criteria then you can get one! You may also also be able to get a Cambridge Bursary if you are an EU student.

The application period begins on 1 October and ends on 21 October - more information about the process on the Cambridge Bursary page.

CUSU fought really hard with students last year to Save Our Bursaries so students who need the financial assistance can still get it. Don't miss the deadline!

Result of the Cambridge no-confidence Grace

Cambridge academics have today voted a dead heat in whether they have confidence in the government's higher education policies. Regardless of the result of the vote, there is no doubt that on the broader issues students and academics oppose the disastrous tripling of tuition fees and are against the government's further incoherent and damaging proposals contained within the higher education White Paper.

CUSU President Gerard Tully commented: "Students, both in Cambridge and across the country, have had no confidence in this government's approach to higher education since day one: the reality of £9,000 tuition fees is simply that students from the least advantaged backgrounds will be deterred from applying to university by fear of debt. The White Paper promises new chaos – universities and students deserve and demand better.

Publicly funded higher education is of great benefit to students, to the economy and to society at large: it's time the government recognised this and stop breaking a system that they don't understand."

Handover at CUSU

As of Saturday 16 July, the Sabbatical Team for 2011/12 have taken office.

• CUSU President: Gerard Tully
• CUSU Education Officer: Morgan Wild
• CUSU Coordinator: Harriet Flower
• CUSU Access Officer: Taz Rasul
• CUSU Women's Officer: Ruth Graham
• CUSU/GU Welfare and Rights Officer: Rosie O'Neill

Your gateway to Cambridge University student marketing...

2012 and 2013 Advertising Opportunities:

We are currently taking bookings for the following:

• Newspaper advertising (Print and Online advertising)
• Poster Distribution
• Promotional Leaflet/Flyer Delivery Services

In addition, we will shortly be taking bookings for the following additional media at the University of Cambridge:

• The 2012 Cambridge University Societies Fair (Freshers' Fair)
• The Freshers' Guide 2012
• The International Freshers' Guide 2012
• The 2012/2013 Cambridge Guide
• The Cambridge University Wallplanner 2012/2013
• The 2012/2013 Freshers' 'Survival' Pack

Further Information

Or download further information here:

Newspaper & Online Advertising Rate Card

Flyer & Poster Distribution Service

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