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Packing for University

Written by Shanai Momi, English Graduate from University of Nottingham. 

Preparing for the big move to University can be daunting and difficult, especially when it comes to knowing which items to take and which to leave behind! To help you, we’ve drawn up a handy university packing list of the top 12 things you should consider bringing.

Ethernet cable 

An essential piece of kit that makes sure your internet connection is more reliable. It connects your laptop to a modem or router to provide a solid internet link – so you’re not just relying on Wi-Fi. If there comes a time when the Wi-Fi drops you’ll be very glad to have your Ethernet cable! 

Extension lead

University rooms often have two or three sockets but you’ll probably need a few more. An extension lead is a great investment, and it may only cost around £5 from Wilkos. It’s so worth it as you’ll save so much time. 

Just remember to stay safe and not add too many plugs!

External hardrive

As someone whose laptop stopped working in their final year (nightmare!), I would recommend purchasing a portable hardrive to back up your work. Although pricey (mine was £50), they can store all of your degree work, family photos, and more. Definitely a worthwhile investment!

Door stop

Probably one of the most important things you can bring to uni! Use it during Welcome Week to help you meet new people; others are likely to pop in to say hello if your door is open. They’re probably slightly relieved to not have to pluck up the courage and knock on your door – you already seem warm and welcoming!

Smart Clothing

Perhaps you want to get a part-time job during University. Or maybe you’re preparing for potential summer jobs. Either way, it’s best to take one formal outfit that can be used in interviews. It’s never too early to be thinking about life beyond University!

Mugs 

Your bedroom may be the place to get some respite from University life but once you settle in, you’ll want to invite friends over. Having a few spare mugs (and maybe a handful of biscuits) ready will come in handy.

Cushions

You’ll be spending a lot of time at your desk studying, so you should be as comfortable as possible. Your favourite cushions will not only make you super comfy, they’ll also brighten the room and make you feel more at home.

Photos

Displaying photos of your loved ones will help you feel at ease and settle in. You’ll be reminded of the support you have back home during lonelier times and it’s a great talking point. 

Tupperware

Buy a Boots meal deal? Fancy a quick Starbucks? These daily treats will soon break your student loan balance. Invest in some Tupperware and pre-prepare some snacks for lectures and seminars. Trust me – this will save you a small fortune that can be better used for socials. 

Letter or document with your address

On your first day you’ll register with your local GP. A letter with your home address on it is essential so be sure to pack this one! 

Flip-flops/slides

Unless you’re extremely lucky to get an en suite bathroom, you’re likely to share these facilities with several other students. If you’re concerned about cleanliness, flip-flops or slides will be your new best friend. Taking them to the bathroom and showers will save you a lot of pain. You can thank me later.

Drying rack

University accommodation often provide washing machines and dryers at a small cost for each load. By bringing a small drying rack, you can dry your clothes in your room – and save yourself some cash. And it doesn’t have to take up too much space.

If you’ve forgotten to pack anything – don’t worry! You can buy most things from nearby shops or collected from home another time. Write a list of the things you need to take and get packing!

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Homesickness: How to cope

Written by Athena Potsos, a fourth year MEng Chemical Engineering student at the University of Nottingham.

University is an exciting place: you get to meet new people, learn new things… But these happy feelings are almost always found with homesickness lurking in the dark. As an international student, when I’m in the lecture hall, sitting with my friends, smiling, having a good time, I’m still 3,700 miles (6,000 km) away from home. Away from my friends, my parents, my brother, my baby sister, my dogs and my home. It’s tough, seeing my sister grow up when I’m on the other side of the Atlantic. But that homesickness doesn’t bother me anymore, and it shouldn’t bother you.

What to do when you feel homesick

Accept it

The first step in overcoming homesickness isn’t ignoring it, or thinking that it’s wrong. It’s accepting the fact that it’s a completely normal response. Whether you’re from Nottingham or from New Zealand, or anywhere in between, your homesickness is valid. It’s a normal human response, so don’t hide it: understand and accept it. Accept the fact that a lot has just changed. That the life you were used to has just been thrown upside down. The feelings you are experiencing are to be expected. 

Stay in touch 

The next step is to find a way to connect back home. Today we have loads of options: Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and plenty more. All of these services let us talk to the ones we love and miss back home.

Home doesn’t seem so far away when I’m chatting with my family on Thanksgiving, or saying hello to all my relatives when Easter rolls around. Staying connected is super important, so don’t forget it!

Make friends

Another great way to curb your homesickness is to find others in your situation. One of my best friends is also an international student and we’ve bonded over it many times. Just remember that anyone could be in this situation, not just those far from home. Just find someone who may also be struggling and say hi.

If you’re still finding it hard, go out and find a sports group or society to join. It’s often said that a good way to deal with homesickness is to keep busy. By engaging in positive activities, you may begin to see that the homesickness gets easier and easier. There are loads of opportunities at Nottingham, and a lot of the people you'll interact with have been in your shoes before and understand how you feel.

Give yourself time

Finally, if you've done all those things and still have trouble, just give it time. It will get better. Take time to get used to the changes in your life and you'll soon make friends and get into the routine of lectures. I know it may sound impossible and the homesickness feels like it'll never go away, but I promise you it will.

I still remember my first night here in Nottingham on my own. I felt scared, regretful, like I should just pack everything up and go home. To be honest though, I'm so glad I stayed. I've had one of the best experiences of my life, being here at Uni. I've learnt so many new things and have found friends with whom I can truly be myself. You should be so proud that you've made it this far, so get out there and make your mark! If you need a helping hand you can find support here.

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Ten great places to eat in Nottingham

In the build-up to your arrival at Nottingham, your SU Officer team wanted to give you some tips on places to go in the city, to help make it home as easily as possible; starting with some of our favourite cafés and restaurants.

From BBQ and burgers, to vegetarian and vegan hideaways, Nottingham has a thriving food culture to satisfy your inner foody. So tuck in and of course, if you stumble across your own favourites let us know!

Annie’s Burger Shack

Annie was born and raised in Rhode Island and the food here shows it, it’s authentic American in the middle of Nottingham. With a whole host of different burgers, you can top yours with practically anything – from peanut butter and jelly, to beef brisket, or just a traditional cheese burger. If meat isn’t your thing, they’ll switch your burger to veggie or vegan, and there are lots of gluten-free options too.

There’s also 10% student discount, and a quiz in the downstairs tavern every Tuesday from 7pm.

Warsaw Diner

This Polish and American diner on Derby Road is frequented the morning after Ocean. You can build your own breakfast and it’s cheap, with bottomless coffee available. You can’t go wrong if you’re in need of a fry up.

Sexy Mamma Love Spaghetti

An Italian restaurant in Hockley, Sexy Mamma Love Spaghetti is without a doubt one of Nottingham’s best kept secrets. It has no social media presence and you have to ring to book a table (there are only around 20 seats in the entire restaurant so book early). It’s all things Italian from the décor and music, to the phenomenal food.

Mod Pizza

Mod is a quick and cheap pizza restaurant that doesn’t compromise on flavour. It’s on Market Square so in the perfect location for a quick bite after a day in the city. Unlike other pizza places, you pay a flat price for the pizza regardless of how many toppings you have, and they boast a 4-minute cooking time.

Bunk

2 Venues, half-price cocktails and half-price chicken wings Sunday-Thursday.

Need I say more?

George’s Great British Kitchen

The British classic of fish and chips at its finest. Nottingham was the first site for George’s growing reputation, and while we may be far from the seaside, you can enjoy both Fish and Chips and a gin bar in your very own beach hut.

Zaap Thai

Can’t afford a trip to Thailand? No problem. This Thai restaurant makes you feel like you’re in the middle of Bangkok. Its 2 courses and a drink for £10 before 6pm Monday so if you’re into street food give it a go.

Ugly Bread Bakery

In the heart of Hockley, this bakery come café is far from ugly. Grab a focaccia and watch the world go by from the balcony upstairs, or if you’re in a rush you can get something to take away. They have regular offers like two-for-one on pizzas so keep an eye out for their latest deals.

Red’s True Barbecue

The meat here is smoked on-site every day by the restaurants award-winning pit masters and has more cuts of meat on offer than you could imagine. Red’s liken the food to a miracle – you’ve got to see it to believe it.

Alley Café

Alley Café mixes fun and food with a European vibe. It regularly hosts live music and exhibits the art of local artists monthly. Combine this artistic space with its all-vegetarian menu and it’s a winner for not just vegetarian and vegans, but for anyone wanting some entertainment while they’re eating.

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Spotlight on...BlowSoc

The University of Nottingham Brass Band may not be the most well-known musical ensemble, but we're certainly growing to be one of the biggest! Starting not too many years ago, we're now a group of 40 keen players (almost double the size of a regular brass band). We feature in many concerts and contests throughout the year, including a joint concert with one of the UK's best bands, Thoresby Colliery, and Blowsoc's infamous Christmas Extravaganza, but our highlight definitely has to be UniBrass. UniBrass is the University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, held annually every February. This year, twenty bands from up and down the country competed in two sections of the competition. This was our third year of competing, and after coming 3rd place last year behind Manchester and Birmingham Conservatoire, it's fair to say we were all pretty excited to return again! Many of our players play for other bands in the area such as Foresters Brass, Thoresby Colliery, and the Reg Vardy Band so to have the chance to be involved in something similar at university was a great opportunity to show off our talents.

After a seriously intense rehearsal schedule following the January exams, with 12 hours of rehearsals per week, we were finally ready for the big day on the 18th of February. An early morning coach trip transported us to the year's venue: the prestigious Harrogate International Centre. A quick warm up to blow away our nerves, and we were ready to prove our worth to the adjudicators once again. Our set was called "Prometheus Unbound", themed around Greek Gods. We had our very own Titan on stage (complete with a toga and gold leaf crown!) to tell our story and inspire the imaginations of the audience. Our performance went very well and the relief of all our hard work meant time for a celebration! We stopped to support our friends playing for Nottingham Trent, then hit the local 'Spoons. The results came later in the evening. This year we were placed 7th out of a tough field of 9, but we weren't too disheartened because we knew we'd played our very best on stage. After a bit more celebrating, we retired to our luxury overnight accommodation. An extremely cold sports hall floor... Not the most pleasant night of my life, I can tell you! The Band have much more to look forward to for the rest of the year. We're taking part in the Whit Friday Marches in June, shortly followed by a special guest concert with the awesome Geneva Artist, Ben Godfrey. If you play an instrument, or would like to learn, then get in touch! Blowsoc is the society not just for brass, but woodwind and percussion too. With ensembles ranging from Concert Band to Percussion Ensemble, there really is something for everyone. Membership for Blowsoc, including access to all the ensembles, is only £6 a year. For more information, like our Facebook pages 'Blowsoc' and 'University of Nottingham Brass Band' or visit our website at www.blowsoc.com. You can also watch our 2017 Unibrass performance here: 

https://www.la1tv.co.uk/playlist/176 playing in the Trophy section at 1 hour in.

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Engage, Inspire, Excel Clubs of the Month

We’ve had an explosive start to the Summer term when it comes to sport. Our return to the 2nd half of the Varsity Series has seen the mighty Green and Gold have winning big, basketball was huge, and we welcome Loughborough to Nottingham for the first IMS Varsity in the David Ross Sports Village. But whilst many of you were away from Notts over the month of April, our Sports Clubs were still going above and beyond to train, compete and engage many of you in sport. So here are your Engage, Inspire, Excel Clubs of the month as chosen by your Sports Exec-

Engage- UoN Equestrian

Across this year the Equestrian club has been pushing engagement. The club runs weekly lessons for all abilities from complete beginners through to BUCS standard with the space for 60 riders per week. On top of this, the club run weekly horseball sessions for both beginners and more advanced players. A further area where the club aims to engage more students is their inclusive riding sessions, with the club recently running their first Inclusive Dressage event. Last month the Club also completed a campaign to raise awareness for the RDA along with £1000 to buy a new wheelchair ramp.

Well done to the entire committee for driving these successes amongst many others. The club also wanted to give a special shout out to club Vice President Amanda Pearson who has “worked tirelessly on many of the endless admin tasks required for a running a club that turns over in the region of £40,000, as well running the club engage sessions all year”.

Inspire- UoN Snowsports

On the 7th April the UoN Snowsports Ski trip departed from East Midland Conference Centre to Tignes! The club were successful in inspiring 972 students to put on their ski’s and head for the slopes in the largest Ski Trip in Nottingham's history and now the 4th largest student ski trip in the country.

The trip involved students from all years, and all abilities. The trip also welcomed the largest number of beginners ever, following on from the success of the club Tuesday lessons which had taught more people to ski and snowboard than ever before.

The club faced some challenges such as late University term times, and an increase in trip cost but due to the hard work of the Committee and in particular trip secretary Alex Bradbury, the tireless work on promotion and organisation lead to a very successful trip.

The club said ‘It was a fantastic way to meet new people, progress in skiing or snowboarding and we hope everyone has fond memories of the biggest week in snowsports history!’

Excel- UoN Taekwondo

This year UoN Taekwondo took 29 students to compete in the British Student Taekwondo Federation Competition. This was not only the club highest ever number of entrants but the club also had its most successful medal haul yet. The club excelled by bringing home 24 medals, 5 Gold, 9 Silver and 10 Bronze and finished 2nd Place in Kukkiwon Patterns, and 3rd Place in the overall competition in which 50 universities, and 440 students competed.

Beyond the overall club success, a special mention should go to the 4 black belt student members who were successful in qualify to represent british university students at the European University Sports Association Championships in Portugal this year. A special mention too for Club President Vinotharan Annarasa, who has been instrumental in driving club cohesion and success. 

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Spotlight on Sport...Aikido

One fine Saturday afternoon, I found myself on the mat, in my pristine gi, ready to face a formidable opponent...or maybe not. A more accurate description was probably a tiny girl in her newly acquired oversized gi about to face an opponent miles beyond her league. I was not ready to compete with anyone, not ready at all. 

It was my first Shodohai competition, unplanned and unprepared. I came in thinking that it will be a normal Aikido session and at that time, I had been missing most of the lessons. So, you can imagine my utter shock when they put me down on the list to compete. What's even more revolting was that there were students from other universities who were also competing. I knew I should have googled the meaning of the term 'Shodohai' before leaving the comfort of my room that day. But oddly, I'm glad I did not. A 'Shodohai' is essentially a practice competition but it also means more than that and no search engine will tell you this. It is about challenging yourself, pushing yourself despite the odds. It was scary I admit, but it inspired me to train more so that I can improve and do better next time. It showed me that defeat is merely a stepping stone in mastering your fears. And that is exactly what Aikido is all about.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art and the particular style we learn in Nottingham is Shodokan Aikido. There are many techniques that we practice but most focus on grappling and softness. Hence, these moves do not necessarily require great amounts of force or strength but practice and precision. In fact, Aikido was first designed to be an art that enables practitioners to defend themselves while also minimising any injury to the attacker. It is also practiced by the Japanese Police Agency. 

Aikido is also not defined by gender or by size. Indeed, we have a 50:50 ratio of girls to boys; a ratio tipping currently to the favour of the girls. The abilities and experience people have also varied, which means that you can partner up with a complete beginner or a complete pro. It doesn't matter what colour your belt is either because, as our coaches always reminds us, having a black belt means to simply be "the master of all beginners".

There are lots of opportunities to improve in your abilities, various events that would test your skills and allow you to learn more from others. That means more shodohais in different parts of the country and training with other coaches who are the best in the field. Gradings are also very frequent so if you're itching to upgrade your belt, you certainly can. And it's not all about training either, we have social events like a trip to Planet Bounce and we go to Nando’s far too much. We also do a crazy 14-hour Aikido training marathon annually to raise money for charity.

Like other martial arts, Aikido teaches you not a way to beat up people on the streets and look badass. NO. It's about defence and confidence. Break-falls are probably the first thing you learn in Aikido. You learn how to safely fall in all the ways one can fall. It might sound amusing at first but it is usually what... 'breaks' students, especially beginners in martial arts. I for one, am still terrified of forward rolls. It takes a while to be comfortable with just letting yourself fall, trusting your body to protect itself. And so the best lesson Aikido has ever imparted me is that of bravery. The courage to believe in those you work with and most importantly, the courage to believe in yourself.

Coming to uni, there were many things I was terrified to do, many I avoided as much as possible, but there were a few fears that I chose to embrace. Aikido was one of them and I couldn't be any happier. It is a community of crazy but really loving members who are always eager to learn and work with others. There are no expectations, just come as you are and be ready to learn. So what are you waiting for? Come (forward) roll with us!

You can find out more about Aikido at UoNSU and get in touch with us by visiting su.nottingham.ac.uk/sports/sport/aikido/.

By Aprilyn Umel

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“Brace yourself, higher student debt is coming”

Over recent months we have seen attacks on the autonomy and academic freedom of universities, the initiation of a process that falsely claims to measure and rank teaching excellence and another fee rise that will turn into a potential year-on-year increased fee rise for future students. Yet in November, the most recent HM Treasury’s Autumn Statement was released with, unfortunately, more bad news for students.

There have been discussions for many years around the ‘Student Loan Book’ – a so-called national asset that is all of our student debt; it registers at over an enormous £76 billion currently. For at least the past six years, the government has discussed its intention to sell off a part of this income-contingent loan book yet, to date, it has not happened. The Autumn Statement however states:

“The government is continuing to pursue the sale of the pre-2012 income contingent repayment student loan book, and subject to market conditions intends to launch the first sale in early 2017.”

Why are the government doing this?

As the NUS Vice President for Higher Education, Sorana Vieru, nicely summarises:

“In short, to raise some money at a time when there’s a high national deficit. Of course, they could raise money by increasing taxes on the rich, or on corporations – but that isn’t their style. From a Treasury point of view, you can argue there are other benefits: in principle, it also reduces the national debt and reduces the risk to the public purse, because if you sell off the loan, and it turns out repayment is lower than forecast, the buyer is the one to lose out. Money now and less risk – what’s not to like, right?

Except, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t quite work like that.

In order to find a buyer for student loans, the government has to sell them for far lower than the face value. In part, this is because the government expects to lose money on the loans, because a certain proportion will never be repaid, either because earnings are too low or people die. The big investment companies that buy the loans want to make a profit – to receive more, in the end, in repayments, than they pay upfront – so will have a very conservative estimate of the likely repayment levels and will then want a profit margin built in.”

What does this mean for me?

This could mean interest rates rise for students as well as anyone who has graduated in the last 15 years. The government has ruled this out but, considering that an amendment to the Higher Education and Research Bill proposing a ban on retrospective loan agreement changes was voted down, it is not implausible. Higher interest rates would force students and graduates to pay back more despite a tougher economic climate and more difficult job prospects. However we are all likely to lose out in the long term, because of the terms and conditions of the expected sell off: clauses called “synthetics hedges” are introduced that mean that there is much less to the companies who buy the loans, whilst the public is forced to compensate the buyers of the loans if repayments are lower than expected as the government would have to fund any shortfall in expected profit for the companies.

What can I do?

If this is something you are interested in, there are a number of ways you can get involved: 

·       Sign the National Treasures petition hosted by We Own It

·       Get in contact with your local MP and share your views about the Student Loan Book sell off

·       Organise a campaign on campus or locally

If this blog has got you really angry at the government, you are not alone. There are a vast number of people who are furious about even more fee rises. If you would like to do something locally or on campus, come and speak to our Representation Development in the Students' Union or email them.

As always if you would like to ask any questions relating to this or anything else, you can email me at [email protected], ring me at 0115 846 8729 or come and see me in the Officers’ Office opposing the SU Box Office on B Floor in the Portland Building. Much love,

Beth Massey Education Officer 

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Wellbeing at University

Whether you’re a first year undergraduate just starting your University adventure, or furthering your academic career as a PhD student, everyone needs a little support from time to time.

From mental health issues and general wellbeing to academic support and night time safety, there’s loads of help available at your Students’ Union, no matter what stage of study you’re at.

That’s because you’re automatically a member of your Students’ Union from the day you arrive to the day you graduate, and we’re all here for one thing: to look out for each other’s welfare, health and wellbeing.

Here are a few of our support services and where you can find them:

Your Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer

Myles is your Equal Opps and Welfare Officer for 2019/20, and it’s his job to promote and advocate for your health, welfare and wellbeing. He’s working with your SU and the University to make sure we provide the best welfare support possible.

Make sure you say hello when you see him around campus, or pop in to see him in the Officers’ office on C Floor, Portland Building, University Park.

Email: [email protected] Twitter: UoNSU_Welfare Facebook: UoNSUWelfare

Welfare Network 

Headed up by Myles, your Equal Opps and Welfare Officer, the Welfare Network brings together staff, students and welfare service representatives, runs campaigns on welfare and wellbeing, and holds events like Wellbeing Cafés.

Look out for details online and on campus.

Visit: su.nottingham.ac.uk/societies/society/welfarenetwork/

Students’ Union Advice 

The place to go when you’re looking for help with housing, money or your course. It’s also a hate crime reporting centre.

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9am – 4.30pm; Wednesday 10.30am – 5pm Call: [phone] Email: [email protected] Visit: https://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/advice/

Nightline 

A student-run service that’s here to listen to you, whether you’re having problems with friends, exam stress, or if you just need someone to talk to.

Open: Every night during term time, 7pm – 8am Call: [phone] Email (open 365 days a year): [email protected]

Night Owls 

A team of students who make sure you’re safe on nights out. They’ll help you get home and provide you with water, first aid and food.

Look out for them on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12 midnight – 4am Call: [phone] Email: [email protected] Visit: nottinghamnightowls.co.uk

HealthyU

The University offers lots of support with your health and wellbeing. From mental health and sexual health to advice about alcohol, drugs, smoking and addiction, their HealthyU pages have plenty of information on who to contact when you need help.

Our Welfare Guide  has even more information about where to go when you need a helping hand, as well as other key information like where to register for a GP, what your other student Networks are and how to contact campus security, so make sure you keep it handy.

Remember, no matter what you need, there’s always someone here to help you. So reach out and talk to someone – you’re not alone.