A city welcome for the new Vice Chancellor

The view from the
Students’ Union
A contingent of over 75 York
St John students took part in
the National Debt Day march
organised by the National Union
of Students on 10 November
in London.
They travelled down to the capital with
representatives from the University of York.
“This was the first time I’d taken part in
a peaceful protest like this,” says Leigh
Hankinson, Union President, “but I thought
it was an important opportunity for us to
get our views across as the event attracted
a lot of media coverage – unfortunately,
not all of it for the right reasons.”
Leigh has been engaging students in
discussions about what the government
cuts could mean for them, the Union and
the University. “We’ve been using different
methods such as the weekly Soap Box
events to make people aware that funding
cuts can affect all aspects of student life.
It’s sparked a lot of people’s emotions.
The majority of courses at York St John
are arts based and that’s where the cuts
could make a big impact. We are working
alongside the University to plan ahead and
this is obviously going to be an important
feature of our work this year.”
Freshers’ Fortnight proved to be very
popular at the beginning of term.
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Leigh Hankinson in his role as Mace
Bearer during the Vice Chancellor’s
inauguration ceremony.
For the first time the Fresher’s Fair took
place in a marquee in the quad and turned
into a big event with more people than
ever getting involved. “Our students
absolutely love the new open space
created in front of the Students’ Union
building,” says Leigh. “We are already
starting to get a feel of what it will look
like in the summer with people sitting out
there. We’ve also noticed that the Union
is attracting more of our mature and
international students to use the facilities,
including the new computer points. We
are getting more of a feeling of a diverse
community inside the building.”
The Union is making sure that students
are considerate towards their neighbours
when they return to their accommodation
late at night.
A Good Community Guide has been
distributed and the Community
Coordinators (students who take on this
role) are making regular contact with the
wards that contain student residences.
The Night Marshals’ scheme is working well
in cooperation with North Yorkshire Police.
The number of complaints about noise has
considerably reduced this year.
Many students turned up to watch the
inauguration of the Vice Chancellor on
2 November as the procession made its
way through the city centre. Leigh was
the Mace Bearer: “It was a fabulous event.
the Chamber Choir and the Gospel Choir
and our music students made fantastic
contributions to the ceremony. It was great
to see the VC and the Archbishop taking
part in the African drumming.”
A view of the redeveloped area outside
the Students’ Union.
“We are getting more
of a feeling of a diverse
community inside
the Union.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student
Ambassadors
The Schools & Colleges
Liaison team have recently
recruited and trained over
30 additional Student
Ambassadors, bringing the
total number of ambassadors
working to promote York St
John to over 60.
The new recruits are representative
of the University’s student population
across all faculties and include a number
of international and mature students.
All ambassadors have to attend a full
day of training: they are shown how
to give a campus tour, take part in
aspiration-raising workshops, and learn
more about the range of activities and
opportunities available through the
Students’ Union. They also benefit from
a session on working with visitors with
disabilities and care leavers. The new
ambassadors will start their first shifts for
the Marketing Office over the coming
weeks. They will be working during
Interview Days, and will also be giving
tours of the campus and assisting with
on-site University taster days for regional
schools and colleges.
The University’s Student Ambassadors
York Cares’ volunteer teams were
challenged to a ‘Ground Force’
transformation event at the York
Environment Centre and St Nicholas Fields
in October. The volunteers, including newly
recruited members from York St John,
created steps, planted an orchard and built
picnic tables. Martell Linsdell, Widening
Participation Co-ordinator, said, “We had
to deal with sticky mud, lashing rain, heavy
equipment, cutting timber and digging in
the steps but the determination and sense
of pride at seeing your small part in the
transformation of the site was immense.”
The next campaign for York Cares is the
Biggest Christmas Party in Town, happening
each lunchtime from 6-10 December.
Can you be part of the York St John team
to brighten up an elderly person’s day by
chatting to them over a mince pie, singing
carols or playing games?
The past few years have seen a dramatic
increase in the number of concerts
organised by the Music Department;
Head of Programme David Lancaster has
headed an initiative to present them to a
wider audience through the publication
of a Concert Series booklet, available from
Reception or the Arts Reception desk.
Lunchtime Concerts take place weekly
during term, from 12.30-1.00pm in the
Chapel. They are quite informal occasions
featuring two or three different ensembles
or soloists each week. Admission is free but
come early to get a good seat!
York Cares: making steps
to increase access
Music concert series
There is also the York Cares Christmas
Collection; volunteers are needed to
collect and deliver gifts to local homeless
hostels. This is an opportunity to make a
real difference to someone’s experience
at Christmas. Please contact Martell if you
would like to get involved,
E: m.linsdell@yorksj.ac.uk, T: 6258.
www.yorkcares.co.uk/events/2010/12/
york_cares_christmas_campaign
Martell Linsdell (front right) with members
of the ‘Ground Force’ team.
Reverb is a group of music students
promoting rock gigs in Temple Hall,
featuring home grown bands alongside
those from outside the University.
Music has ranged from a ‘Kings of Leon’
cover band from Sheffield to Pantheon,
a heavy metal band from York. The next
Reverb event will take place on
9 December. Evening Concerts take place
monthly in the Chapel and are more
formal occasions.
Details of all concerts are on the website
www.yorksj.ac.uk/concerts
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