Welcome to CUSU

AS Level petition update

Today we have sent an open letter to Elizabeth Truss MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education, condemning the Government's ignorance, and further challenging the Government's basis for decision-making in the light of considerable pressure from the academic community, as it proceeds with its plans for removing the AS level qualification.

Our letter frames a response to the Department for Education from a student body who are not content with being told by the Government that their policies are well informed and in the best interests of students. As students, we disagree that their proposed AS/A level reforms are beneficial and our reasons are clearly outlined in the letter.

We want the Government to listen to those who have been through and are involved in education, to accept that they do not have support in their reforms, and to recognise that these changes would be detrimental to a generation.

We delivered a petition which was signed by 1663 students, with over 230 student testimonies attached, to the Department in March; we received an inadequate response and hope that this letter will prompt a thorough reconsideration of their damaging policy. The National Union of Students yesterday launched a campaign against the damaging proposals Mr Gove intends to pursue, further demonstrating the lack of support students have, as recent beneficiaries of the current system, for his Department's proposals.

CUSU Access Officer, Vicky Hudson said: "After handing in a petition which 1663 students signed we received an appalling response from the Department for Education.

"It has been assumed that as we are students from the University of Cambridge our main concern must be the administrative impact on Cambridge's admissions process – in fact our primary concern is the effect this reform will have on sixth form students and their fair access to higher education.

"We are writing this letter as we will not let our concerns be brushed under the carpet and we implore the Government to listen to students' views."

See the full campaign information here.

Regional Access Groups

Want to find out more about access initiatives going on in your home town? Want to talk to others from your area about the access problems you perceive? Why not join the CUSU Access Team's Regional Access Facebook Groups? You can find the group that fits you here.

If you're not on Facebook but want to get involved then email the CUSU Target Schools Officer, Fred, on target@cusu.cam.ac.uk.

CUSU Student Awards 2013

This year CUSU is launching a new Student Awards programme to recognise the brilliant work by students across our Colleges and Faculties, and celebrate our achievements as a student body in improving the student experience in Cambridge.

Any student can nominate a student or students for the categories of: JCR Committee of the Year, MCR Committee of the Year, Campaign of the Year & Student Officer of the Year. A panel of students will decide the winners, and awards will be presented at the CUSU Garden Party on the 17th June.

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Sunday 9th June. Category details and nomination form here!

Students Deserve Better Campaign

Click here to take the STUDENTS DESERVE BETTER survey

We've put together this survey because we're trying to get students views on the college welfare system in Cambridge. As matters stand, the University delegates "welfare" to the colleges, primarily through the tutor system, and we want to get a better understanding of YOUR personal experiences of the Cambridge welfare system.

To find out more about the campaign, click here.

Got a question for the Vice-Chancellor?

If there's one person in charge of Cambridge University; it's the Vice-Chancellor.
On Wednesday 24th April you'll have the chance to hear Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz answer your questions to him in person at CUSU's student question and answer session with the V-C. You can send your questions to president@cusu.cam.ac.uk now, or come along to the Graduate Union (Silver Street) at 6pm to hear the range of questions answered!

Date: Wednesday 24th April, 6pm
Venue: www.gradunion.cam.ac.uk/ facilities/visit/location/
Venue is fully accessible, please let us know in advance if you need step-free access.
Open to all Cambridge University students.
This is a free event.

Cambridge University Disability Resource Centre Annual Lecture 18th April, 5.30pm, Palmerston Room, St. John's College

The 10th Annual Disability Lecture: 'Two steps forward, one step back: challenges to disabled people in 2013' will be given by Dame Anne Begg MP on 18 April at 5.30pm in the Palmerston Room at St John's College. It is open to all and will be followed by a drinks reception. Fully wheelchair accessible, there will be a sign language interpreter present. Booking is optional but helps with planning; to book a place please visit http://www.training.cam.ac.uk/ event/604516

For information on DRC training please see: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/ univ/disability/about/ training.html

NUS National Conference

See here for updates and reports from the CUSU delegation!

See the NUS Conference website for additional information.

Why not go back into school in the Easter Vacation?

Have you thought about visiting your old school during the holidays to give keen students the facts about Cambridge?

Our uni is good. It's fun, it's interesting, and most of the people are quite nice. Sadly this isn't the impression that many get from the press, teachers, family and friends. Particularly if you don't know anyone who's gone to Oxbridge (or uni in general), the vocab and traditions can reinforce the unfortunate stereotypes.

That's why we want you to make a visit to your school during the holidays to talk to interested students about the reality of Cambridge. Your job is not to sell the university or recruit - it's simply to tell the truth. A lot of the time this is phenomenally effective in getting more students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply to our university. We want everyone with academic potential to have the confidence to apply to elite universities, including Cambridge.

To this end CUSU Access team provides a whole selection of resources and guidance for students who want to take up this task. Have a look at the website or email target@cusu.cam.ac.uk.

That's all. Now go visit your school and let them know about real life in Cambridge - and when you've done that, let us know how it went by filling in this quick feedback form.

CUSU Green Impact Gold Award

Cambridge University Students' Union (CUSU) have achieved Gold Accreditation in the national Green Impact initiative.

The initiative was established and is run by the National Union of Students (NUS), and is a scheme both directed at students' unions and universities. The University of Cambridge have signed up to the scheme meaning CUSU is the first institution in the University and Collegiate community to achieve the award.

CUSU were awarded Gold in their first attempt at the award, and achieved more than double the number of points than the average students' union score.

CUSU's Ethical Affairs Team were the driving force behind the accreditation result. The Team were recognised for their strong representation within the University on ethical and environmental matters, as well as their successful campaigns (Go Greener, Ethical Consumerism, and Socially Responsible Investment).

CUSU President, Rosalyn Old, said: "It is fantastic to see students leading the way on sustainability within the University. Undertaking the Green Impact scheme has been a brilliant project for the students' union, and we are delighted to be able to show our commitment to environmental sustainability within our organisation, by achieving the Gold Award in our first year".

CUSU's Ethical Affairs Chair, Harrison Bowers, said: "CUSU Ethical Affairs are really proud to have received a Gold Award. We worked hard on 49 different issues, including procurement, waste, environmental policy and campaigns, and were pleased to see that effort pay off: we earned twice the amount of points compared with other non-commercial unions.

We are very pleased to be working closely with the University Environment Office on the University Green Impact scheme, which we are confident will have similar successes to that which CUSU has accomplished".

CUSU External Trustee Vacancies

We are seeking applications from experienced professionals to be non-student, external members of our Board of Trustees in a voluntary capacity. Please see details of the role and the application pack.

Deadline for applications: Monday 15th April 2013.

CUSU AS-levels petition presentation

Today Vicky and some Access volunteers will be delivering the CUSU AS-levels petition with 1,600 signatures to the Department for Education, urging Education Secretary Michael Gove to rethink his plans to reform the AS exam.

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert will be meeting the CUSU group, who are taking a large banner made up of over 230 postcards, each bearing a student testimony about how their AS results gave them the confidence to see Cambridge as a realistic ambition.

CUSU Part-time Executive Lent Election Results:

University Sports and Societies Officer - Harry McNeill Adams

Chair – Mark Chonofsky (re-elected)

Graduate Union Development Officer- Kenzie Bok

Faculty Academic Officer – Nailya Shamgunova

Graduate Faculty Academic Officer - Mona AlQazzaz (re-elected)

HE Funding Campaigns Officer - Ani Brooker (re-elected)

Target Schools Officer - Fred Cotterill

BME Access Officer - Precious Oyelade

Ethical Affairs Chair - Poppy Damon & Suyin Chalmin-Pui

Environmental Officer - James White & Rogelio Luque Lora

Ethical Consumerism Officer - Katharine Howell & Isobel Rimmer (re-elected)

Common Room Support Officer – Kassra Rashidian

Open Portfolio - Chris Kerr (Digital Freedoms Officer)

Be a part of the CUSU Executive:

Lots of part-time positions on the CUSU Executive are up for election at the next CUSU Council (Monday 11th, 7.15pm, Small Exams Hall on the New Museums Site). It's your chance to get involved in shaping your union for the next year alongside your studies, and there's a huge variety of areas to choose from, from Access target Schools to Anti-racism. See this page for all of the details and links to the relevant Team pages which describe the individual roles. If you've got a friend who you think would be good, why not encourage them to go for it?

Election Results now in!

CUSU President - Flick Osborn
CUSU Education Officer - Jia Hui Lee
CUSU Access and Funding - Sam Ruiz
CUSU Women's Officer - Lauren Steele
CUSU Coordinator - Dom Weldon
CUSU and GU Welfare and Rights Officer - Helen Hoogewerf-McComb

GU President - Richard Jones

University Councillor - Rosalyn Old

NUS Delegates - George Bangham, Fred Cotterill, Greg Hill, Flick Osborn, James White

Sky TV for Common Rooms

The Cambridge University Students' Union is pleased to announce that following work on the CUSU Policy on "Sky TV: subscription fees", CUSU has arranged with Sky to set up a system whereby JCRs and MCRs who wish to have Sky TV can do so at the charity (rather than business) rate - giving savings to Common Rooms of up to £4000!

Contact your JCR or MCR officers to find out about getting your Common Room signed up.

CUSU Congratulates Homerton College on paying the Living Wage

Cambridge University Students' Union supports the Living Wage, and has created a student team to campaign for at least the minimum wage necessary to live in the UK to be paid to all staff across the Collegiate Cambridge University.

A Freedom of Information request from 2011 revealed that Homerton College was paying 65 of its staff below the Living Wage – making Homerton one of the worst offending Colleges. Through the hard work of the Homerton Union of Students JCR, and support of students involved in CUSU's Living Wage campaign, the College has now resolved to pay its entire staff at least the Living Wage.

This is a fantastic result and we are delighted to see this as an indicator of real progress in the Living Wage campaign. We're very glad to see that this CUSU policy is having a real effect on the Colleges, and look forward to working further with the Living Wage campaign team to expand this success throughout the whole Collegiate University.

NOMINATIONS FOR CUSU AND GU ELECTIONS CLOSE ON MONDAY AT 12.00 NOON

Nominations for people wanting to run for positions in CUSU and the GU close on Monday at 12.00 noon. The positions that are up for election are:

CUSU President
CUSU Education Officer
CUSU Access and Funding Officer
CUSU Welfare Officer
CUSU Women's Officer
CUSU Coordinator
CUSU Ethical affairs Chair (part-time)

GU President

NUS Delegate (5 positions)
A seat on University Council.

Follow us on facebook and twitter (@CUSUonline) for updates.

Keep checking back here for updates or visit the elections portal, which contains all you need to know about how to stand in the elecitons.

If you're thinking of running, email the relevant officer and ask them about their job!

Become a student trustee of the Cambridge University Students' Union!

This is a golden opportunity for anyone wanting to make a valuable contribution to Cambridge student life and to CUSU, and for anyone who wants the experience and skills which come from being a trustee of a large and dynamic charity and students' union.

Applications are now OPEN and will close at 5pm on Thursday, 7th March. You may need to be available for a short interview on Friday 8th or Saturday 9th March.

For more information including all the details of the position and its responsibilities, follow the link to the section of the CUSU website.

CUSU Statement condemning the EDL demonstration

The English Defence League have planned a protest in Cambridge on the 23rd February. The EDL is an organisation espousing xenophobic and racist ideology, and past demonstrations have made students afraid of venturing out in the city. At the first CUSU Council meeting of term a motion was passed which shows CUSU's condemnation of the EDL's demonstration in Cambridge, and restates our belief that students should be able to pursue their studies and daily activities without fear of harassment or racial targeting, and that we must stand together against those who advocate such divisive, discriminatory views. CUSU supports the counter-protest on the 23rd, and is liaising with the police and relevant authorities to keep students well-informed and safe.

HELP CUSU TO DEFEND AS LEVELS!

The Government's latest reforms to sixth form education propose revamping the A level system to remove end of year twelve exams: A levels will become 2 year courses which are examined at the end, with AS levels no longer a stepping stone but a separate qualification.

There is substantial opposition to these reforms, with critics including the University of Cambridge and the National Union of Teachers.

We believe that fair admissions to university will be jeopardised by the loss of AS levels as they currently stand, that end of year twelve exams often give students (particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds) the confidence to aim higher, and that the loss of flexibility in the new system would be devastating to many students.

We need your help to make sure that Michael Gove listens to students about the importance of end of year 12 exams and to highlight that these reforms would be detrimental to a generation.

Please make your voice heard and sign our petition now!

STATEMENT FROM CUSU ABOUT UNION'S INVITATION TO MARINE LEPEN

CUSU President Rosalyn Old has pulled out of speaking at a debate tonight after the Union Society announced their invitation to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to speak next week. She said: "Given the imminent demonstration planned by the EDL in Cambridge on the 23rd February, the invitation by the Union Society to Marine LePen is more than just insensitive, it will have a direct effect on the safety of many of our students.

It disregards the realities of fascism and the current context of Cambridge, failing to recognise that her speaking on Tuesday will only give the EDL more confidence in their march, and resultantly make the 23rd February even more threatening for many Cambridge students.

With the invitation to Kevin Scott last term, and with this pending invitation to Marine LePen, I have decided to refuse the invitation extended to me by the Union to speak this evening based on the discussion that happened at Lent 1 CUSU Council when the motion mandating CUSU to support the anti-EDL rally was passed unanimously and as a demonstration of CUSU's commitment to maintaining a safe environment for our diverse community of students."

The President has the full support of the five CUSU Autonomous Campaigns in this decision. They commented:

BME Campaign: "One of our main aims as the BME SC is to fight racism, reduce xenophobia and create a cultural environment in which students from minority backgrounds thrive and feel valued. Whilst we recognise the value of free speech, we feel it is a retrogressive step for the Cambridge Union to provide platforms to speakers, like Marine Le Pen, who promotes hatred and discord between communities. Ms Le Pen is the leader of a party that seeks to legitimise racist views and Islamaphobia. She represents a politics that we have generally been free from in our country. The Cambridge Union, of which many BME students are members, should consider the message it sends to all member of Britain's Black and Minority Ethnic communities when it affords unapologetic racists an opportunity to promote their hatred in our communities. In the context of the upcoming EDL march/rally in Cambridge, the Union's decision further isolates the City's minority communities.

We are all members of our community, even if the Union fails to recognise this. Any individual who seeks to exclude others in the name of politics simply due to their colour, faith, sexual orientation or other protected characteristic should not be aided in destroying the social cohesion of our community. CUSU needs to send a clear signal that it does not support or condone the Union's decision. We encourage you not to participate in any Union activity until it stops making divisive choices.

In unity, CUSU's BME Students' Campaign."

Disabled Students Campaign: "The Disabled Students campaign welcomes the decision by President Old to decline to speak at the Union. Front National, and other far right groups, belong to a political ideology which actively discriminates against disabled people, be it through violence or ableist political program. The DSC is disappointed with the Union Society's decision to invite Le Pen, and call on disabled students to attend the anti-Le Pen demonstration."

Women's Campaign: "The Women's Campaign is made up of a very diverse group of women. The growing popularity of xenophobic and racist far right and fascist political groups is, therefore, a direct threat to many women in this university. Allowing LePen to speak on Tuesday, will help to build local fascist's confidence and will make the EDL protest on 23rd February even more dangerous for many Cambridge Students. We are happy to see the CUSU President taking this strong stance against fascism within Cambridge and on a national level."

iCUSU: "Inviting Marine Le Pen to speak is to provide a platform for a fascist to spread hate. Perhaps a more suitable platform would be to organise a debate involving Ms Le Pen as opposed to a keynote speech."

LGBT Campaign: "We think it's appropriate for the CUSU President to show CUSU's commitment to the defence of minorities, and fully support her decision not to speak at the union."

CUSU MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2013 - 14TH-21ST FEBRUARY!

CUSU WELFARE & RIGHTS AND CAMBRIDGE MENTAL WEALTH PRESENTS: MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2013!
"This doesn't concern me." Think again.

Starting on Thursday 14th February, CUSU's Welfare & Right officer and Cambridge Mental Wealth launching this year's "Cambridge Mental Health Week". Look out for music entertainment, lectures on psychology and medical research, guest speakers. It's a great opportunity to find out more about us and to get involved, and of course, to come along for a feel-good evening.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL PROGRAM OF EVENTS!

For more details on events, like "Cambridge Mental Wealth" and "CUSU Welfare & Rights" on Facebook.

CUSU statement on Government's GCSE/'EBacc' U-turn:

"We're delighted that Michael Gove has seen the wisdom of the near-universal condemnation of his backward plan to abolish GCSEs. Cambridge students look forward to his next u-turn on his even more harmful plan to scrap AS-Levels, which the University of Cambridge has formally warned him would destroy a decade of progress in widening participation overnight."

- Rosalyn Old, CUSU President

CUSU statement on AS/A-level reforms:

"Michael Gove has united schools, private schools, exam boards, universities and business leaders against his attack on fair access to higher education. Cambridge's usual caution about challenging Government policy makes the University's categorical statement of opposition all the stronger."

" Government spin-doctors are pretending that the Russell Group - of which Cambridge is a leading member - has agreed to go along with his plan. This is false, but they are considering doing so. Students will not stand for the University allowing the Russell Group to undermine our access work in this way, and we look forward to confirmation that Cambridge has vetoed it."

- Rosalyn Old, CUSU President

Want better WiFi across Cambridge?

Fill in this quick survey to help CUSU campaign for better WiFi provision for students in Cambridge.

We're looking for students to suggest areas where they can't currently get university WiFi cover (outside of your College or Faculty), but would benefit from it.

www.surveymonkey.com/s/cusuWiFi

Have you recently been back to your old school to talk about Cambridge?

CUSU Access would love to hear how it went! Please take a minute to fill in our feedback form here. It's really useful for us to have an idea about the schools that have been visited and how helpful you found our resources (or if you didn't use them!).

Also, please feel free to contact Vicky, the CUSU Access Officer (access@cusu.cam.ac.uk) or Flick, the Target Schools Officer (target@cusu.cam.ac.uk) at any time to share ideas on how you think our Target Schools scheme can be developed/improved.

CUSU Cross-campus Elections 2013

Thinking of running in the CUSU cross-campus elections this year? Sabbatical Officer posts will be up for election near the end of Lent Term. The CUSU Elections Committee are putting together the final plans for this year at present – look out for more information shortly. In the meantime, why not have a look at last year's elections page to see what sort of thing to expect:

www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/ elections/2012

Questions? Email elections_at_cusu.cam.ac.uk

CUSU Part-time Executive Election Results:

Secretary - Emma Zaman

Undergraduate Union development Officer - Laura Yang

Sexual Health Officer - Laila Ezz

Eating Disorders Support Officer - Jean Redmond

Higher Education Funding Campaigns Officer - Marianne Brooker

Socially Responsible Investment Officer - Jiahui Lee & Daniel Macmillen

Rents Officer - Elia Juarez-Sirvent

Living Wage Officer (Open Portfolio) - Michael Black

New ways to get involved with CUSU Access!

Want to get involved in access but don't have much time? Why not join the CUSU Ask-A-Student team?

We're looking for keen volunteers to join the email team to help respond to prospective students' questions. You don't have to have an extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of admissions processes, but general enthusiasm for your subject and a willingness to research answers to questions you may not know the answers to. The team will have a joint mail box and you will be asked to login once or twice a week and answer a few of the questions. If you're involved you'll get a free CRB check from CUSU and be given basic training on how best to answer questions. You will also be able to make use of the Cambridge Ask-A-Student facebook page to ask other current students their views.

This is a not too demanding but really rewarding way of getting involved in CUSU access – sign up here by midnight on Monday 26th November if you want to get involved: https://docs.google. com/spreadsheet/viewform? formkey= dDNaOWZsS0ZkV3BmenpCX3BpeTJDRU E6MQ#gid=0

Join the applytocambridge.com team

The CUSU online alternative prospectus, www.applytocambridge.com, has scope for development to make it more exciting and relevant to prospective students. CUSU access is looking for people with ideas on how to make it great, and people who are keen to work on those ideas, by creating videos, blogs etc. The team will meet as and when needed, probably no more than twice a term, to discuss ideas and make sure the website is as good as it can be! If you're interested in getting involved then please email Vicky, the CUSU Access Officer, at access@cusu.cam.ac.uk to register your interest.

CUSU's Statement on #DEMO2012

Posted at 10.30 am, Wednesday 21 November 2012

Rosalyn Old, CUSU President says "Of course the student movement is still angry about £9000 fees, but the protest today is about so much more. We are seeing a wholehearted shift in the way in which education is treated in this country. Where other countries are investing in their futures via education, in the UK students are facing prohibitive fees, no EMA, a lack of state postgraduate funding and changes to visas which mean that international students no longer have a right to stay in the UK after graduation. These all add up to an attempt to market education as a private good, despite the obvious and widespread public benefits. Education offers life-changing opportunities; this government is closing those doors on the next generation. Cambridge students are at #Demo2012 today to campaign for a better education system now and into the future, to allow young people the chance to experience the education which we have all benefited from.

"The NUS #Demo2012 today is important, but it does not end tomorrow – it has to be part of a longer-term vision, and CUSU already has plans in place for follow-up events and campaigns. Most of all, the art of peaceful protest and campaigning is about empowering people. It is about having our voices heard and fighting for the positive changes that we believe in.

"We are protesting because we can see the public value of education to our country. We are campaigning because we value the space for diverse, academically-driven universities. We are marching because we care about future generations."

Book your place on the coach to the #DEMO2012

On the 21st November coaches will be going to Central London for the NUS National Demo against the Government.

CUSU believes that education should be free. We are going to the demo to remind the Government of this but we want to remind you that the Government has failed us in other areas apart from raising tuition fees.

With the threats to international student visas, the lack of post-graduate funding and the continuing absence of EMA, now's the time to fight for the education that we want for future generations.

Click here to book your place on the coach.

CUSU Part-time Executive Election Results:

Graduate Union Development Officer - Tom Towers

College Academic Officer – Leonardo Kellaway

Faculty Academic Officer (UG) – Nick Worsnop

Graduate Faculty Academic Officer – Mona Alqazzaz

Libraries and Learning Resources Officer – Richard Jones

Student Parent Representative – Megan Goldman-Roberts

Bursaries and Funding/Finance Officer – Amy Bradley

Environmental Officer – Ellie Adams & Claire Mohamed

Ethical Consumerism Officer – Isabel Rimmer & Katharine Howell

Community and Volunteering Officer – Gareth Cottiss

Communications Officer – Jon Booth

College Facilities Officer – David Moody

Open Portfolio Position – Suyin Chalmin-Pui & Rogelio Luque Lora as "Ethical Affairs Co-ordinator"

Elections Committee:

Charles Bell

Vicky Hudson

Susy Langsdale

Vincent Scully

Dom Weldon

Congratulations all!

Join a team and change Cambridge!

Being on a CUSU team is an exciting opportunity to make a difference within the University, Cambridge, and nationally. CUSU campaigns on a huge range of issues and part-time officers are right at the heart of developing and running CUSU's activities as a students' union representing 20 000 students.

CUSU has various teams which are made up of part-time executive members (students who are elected alongside their studies), led by a sabbatical officer. Each focuses on a different area from Access to Ethical Affairs, to student engagement. Teams meet weekly to enact policy created at CUSU Council, and create new ideas to take forward as proposals.

*The next set of elections are on Tuesday 6th November at 7.30pm in the Small Examinations Hall. Any graduate or undergraduate student can stand! Candidates make a short speech of up to 1 minute followed by a couple of questions from the CUSU Council. If you are unable to attend but would like to run for a position, email Mark (chair@cusu.cam.ac.uk). Details of all positions are available on the Team pages.

CUSU Michaelmas Training Programme

Your students' union is putting on a range of free, open to all training sessions this term. Sign up online here!

Campaigning in the Higher Education Sector

Thursday 25th October (7-9pm)

This training session gives an overview of the most pertinent issues currently facing the Higher Education sector, from international student visas, through core and margin to postgraduate funding, followed by techniques to build and run successful campaigns. After the main session, we will move on to a group planning session for the run up to the NUS National Demo in November.

You can be a leader

Tuesday 6th November (5-7pm)

In the run up to JCR, MCR and Faculty Rep elections, this session explores what it is to be a leader, how to overcome the types of barriers that might face candidates running for election and techniques for running successful campaigns. There will also be a section on public speaking.

How to make change in an 800 year old university

Thursday 22nd November (4-6pm)

This session looks at how students can navigate the complex and ancient Cambridge University system to make real change happen in our Colleges and Faculties, through looking at university structures, where decision-making processes take place and group discussion.

Volunteer as a mentor for the CUSU Shadowing Scheme 2013

Every January/February the CUSU Shadowing Scheme brings hundreds of year 12 students from non-traditional backgrounds to Cambridge on a 3 day residential to experience what university is really like - we pair them up with a current student mentor who takes them to lectures, social events and honestly answers their questions. The scheme is a really great opportunity to dispel the myths about Cambridge and is actually lots of fun!

The dates for the 2013 scheme are:

24th – 26th January
31st January – 2nd February
7th – 9th February

If you want to volunteer as a mentor for the scheme then you can sign up now and you'll get a free CRB check in November. Contact access@cusu.cam.ac.uk for more information.

Applications open now!

CUSU Big Cambridge Quiz

Tomorrow (Wednesday 10th) CUSU are holding our Big Cambridge Quiz at 8pm in the Graduate Union Lounge (off Silver Street). Come along with a team or meet people on the night to battle it out in a series of tricky rounds! The bar will be open and it's £1 each, with the winning team taking the money raised!

Join the Facebook event here. Hope to see you there!

CUSU Societies Fair

The CUSU Societies Fair is on today (Tuesday 2nd) and tomorrow! See the Societies Fair page for maps of the 300+ stalls of sports and societies for you to join. Opening hours are below:

Tuesday:

• 10am: Doors open to Students with Disabilities and Student Parents
• 11am: Doors open to all students.
• 6.30pm: Doors close. Note: the queue may be cut off before this time.

Wednesday:

• 10am: Doors open to all students.
• 3pm: Doors close. Note: the queue may be cut off before this time.

Looking forward to seeing you all there - come and say hello to the CUSU team at our stall on row N (row nearest the main hall exit) or running the fair!

The CUSU Team

National Student Survey Q23 Results

As one of the most underfunded students' unions in the country, CUSU welcomes the exposure of our students' union satisfaction score in the National Student Survey. CUSU have long campaigned to the University for a better social space and greater funding to improve our services; to help us communicate and involve more students; and, to employ more staff to support and resource our active student groups.

The variety of student services available to students at Cambridge are offered across College common rooms as well as the central, federal union. As such, the Officers of CUSU are not surprised students have inconclusive views of their students' union. Our University provides us with literally no block grant with which to provide such services, however we are proud, confident and consistent in providing the most crucial elements of support, representation and campaigns with the money we're able to raise for the purpose.

CUSU Looks for New Volunteers

Often, throughout the year (and especially in the run up to Freshers' Week), CUSU needs student volunteers to help with logistics, organisation, administration and access work. We are currently looking for volunteers to assist with a number of projects, to find out visit our volunteering section.

CUSU advertises for new Access Scheme Assistant role

We are recruiting for an assistant role to support the union's annual Shadowing Scheme activity.

The Shadowing Scheme is a flagship project of our Access work, which aims to promote equal opportunity for access to our University and its affiliated institutions for all applicants, and furthermore to encourage access to the University for applicants from backgrounds under-represented in the University.

For more details on this exciting post, including application information, see our vacancies page.

Statement on UK Border Agency and London Metropolitan University

In response to the UK Border Agency's (UKBA) decision to revoke London Metropolitan University's license to accept international students:

Cambridge University Students' Union (CUSU) believes that the UKBA's unprecedented decision is entirely disproportionate, and must be challenged. Thousands of legitimate students, many of whom are half way through their degree courses, have been given 60 days notice of their deportation, through no fault of their own. This move follows the Government's recent abolition of international students' automatic right to stay in the UK for two years after graduation.

This most recent decision will not just affect London Metropolitan University, but rather every university in the UK, including the University of Cambridge. Rosalyn Old, President of the Cambridge University Students' Union said "It's time the Government stopped using international students to fiddle immigration statistics. The Border Agency's decision to revoke this licence and deport thousands of legitimate students, is just one part of a dangerous agenda to discourage international students from coming to study in the UK. At a time when universities and their students are suffering under serious budget cuts, the Border Agency's decision is a serious blow to the exceptionally diverse, international, academic community which makes UK Universities including Cambridge world class."

Cambridge University Students' Union joins the National Union of Students' in offering its support to the students and staff of London Metropolitan University, and calling for the UKBA to overturn its decision, which will damage the UK Universities sector.

Coming to Cambridge University in October?

Your new CUSU team is busy preparing for an exciting Freshers' Week!

In the mean time don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@CUSUonline) and join our Freshers' Group on Facebook:

'Official Cambridge Freshers 2012'

Any questions? Drop us an email at freshers@cusu.cam.ac.uk.

See you in October!

- Rosalyn, Dom, Vicky, Chris, Susy and Sam

Handover at CUSU!

The new CUSU Sabbatical Team have taken office for 2012-13. During July, the outgoing officers have been working alongside the newcomers, handing over all the knowledge and advice from the past year.

Your new team for 2012-13 are:

President: Rosalyn Old

Education: Sam Wakeford

Access: Vicky Hudson

Coordinator: Dom Weldon

Women's: Susy Langsdale

Welfare: Chris Page

Your gateway to Cambridge University student marketing...

2013 Advertising Opportunities:

We are currently taking bookings for the following:

• Newspaper advertising (Print and Online advertising)
• Poster Distribution
• Promotional Leaflet/Flyer Delivery Services
• Freshers' Guide
• International Freshers' Guide
• Student Handbook - The Cambridge (Survival) Guide
• The 2013/2014 Cambridge University Academic Year Planner
• Pre-University mailings
• International Pre-university mailings
• "The Survival Pack" - Freshers' mailing/Leaflet distribution on arrival at University
• The 2013 Cambridge University Societies Fair (Freshers Fair)

You can download our media pack for 2013/2014 here:

Media Pack

Further Information

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