Hope everyone has had a good first week of term. 

There's loads going on in Week 2, including Refreshers' Fair; your chance to join a new activity group for the new year.

Refreshers' Fair

Was there an activity group you wish you’d joined last term? Do you fancy trying out something new for 2012?

Come to the Refreshers’ Fair on 24th January from 4pm until 7pm. It's a great second chance to find out about and sign up to a selection of our societies.

I Will Lead the Way

Estelle Hart, National Womens’ Officer for NUS is running a workshop called “I WILL Lead The Way” on the 7th February 17:00-18:30 (Bowland North SR 6).

This session is designed to empower women to run for and be confident in leadership positions within Students' Unions. Every year less women than men run for Full Time Officer positions within LUSU. With FTO elections and JCR/CCO by-elections coming up this term, this session will allow you to explore “What’s stopping us?”. If you are interested in attending, please email Matt Saint

Have your say and help others!

This week the National Student Survey (NSS) has been launched. The survey is aimed at final year undergraduates and offers a national platform for you to not only give your feedback about your course and your university, but also your Union. That means you can have your say on LUSU’s: Jobshop, Events, Societies, Education & Support, Campaigns, Shops, Department Reps, The Sugarhouse, Involve, JCRs, Officers and Much Much More!

As a thank you to you for donating your time, this year the University is going to fund Oxfam goats, water supplies, toilet facilities, teacher training and health checks to the poorest countries in the world. The more students who fill out the survey, they more the University will donate (keep an eye out on the e-campus screens for progress updates). If you are a final year undergraduate, fill out the survey online now. 

Sugarhouse

This Wednesday it’s free entry to Jinxed! with a Sugarhouse T shirt on! Hurry though, get there before midnight!  Friday night will be big, bad and Old’s Cool, and Saturday is another Purple Privilege – just £1 entry before 12 with your Purple cards.  Let’s have it!

LUSU involve

New Year. New Start. New Volunteering opportunities.

Find LUSU involve at Refreshers fair or come to our Intro talk on Thursday Week 2 in Frankland LT at 6pm to find out how you can get involved in our fantastic volunteering opportunities this year.

Business Ideas Generation

6pm - 1st Feb Wednesday Week 3 Bowland North SR 17.
Have the ambition to start your own business but lack an idea?
Already have an idea but not certain if it's viable?
This session is for you.
To book a place email Joe or for more information go to the involve website. 

Get out there and volunteer with GreenLancaster!

On the 3rd and 4th March, GreenLancaster is visiting the Middle Wood Trust in the Forest of Bowland, offering volunteers the opportunity to learn various sustainable skills whilst staying in the harmonious ecological study centre complete with a ‘living roof’ and composting toilets!  This two day trip costs £25.

From April 13th – 21st, we are viting the Isle of Eigg in Scotland where volunteers will have the opportunity to explore the unique heritage of the island and find out how the residents have built a sustainable community in recent years! The 9 day visit costs £226 for ‘16-25 Railcard’ holders or £269 without.

To find out more about the trips (and other volunteering opportunities), please come along to the GreenLancaster Introductory talk on Tuesday Week 2 at 18:00 in Furness LT1. To apply for a place on one of the trips, please e-mail GreenLancaster  briefly stating why you would like to join one or both of our residential volunteering teams!

LUSU Language Exchange

Interested in developing your language skills? LUSU can offer you the chance to learn Mandarin or English with your peers. In groups or one to one you will be able to improve your English skills, learn Mandarin or both! This is both a volunteering opportunity and a support network run by LUSU involve and LUSU Education & Support. Our first introductory talk will be on Wednesday Week 3 at 6pm in Cavendish LT so come down and find out more.

If you are interested in other languages then watch this space as we hope to be delivering more soon.

Chinese New Year

The CSSA will be putting on a fantastic display of music, dance and performance to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Monday Week 2 from 7pm in the Great Hall. The celebrations are open for students and staff of all nationalities to come down and experience an amazing night of festivities. Tickets are £4 and can be arranged through contacting the CSSA, for more info please check out the Facebook event.

LUSU Education & Support Thursday Drop-ins have moved

You can now visit LUSU Education & Support in the Management School on a Thursday Afternoon. We offer academic advice, accommodation support, complaints assistance, Postgraduate support and welfare and health advice. Our advisor will be available between 1pm and 3pm every Thursday during term-time in Meeting Room 5 on the ground floor of the Management School, to answer all your questions and provide free, confidential advice to all students. This is a drop-in-session so no appointment is needed. For help with all your academic and welfare needs, drop in and see us!

Burns Night

Join us at Barker House Farm for a traditional Burns Night Supper to celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s most famous poet.
At 6pm our piper will pipe the Haggis into the room and we invite you to toast it with a wee dram.

Supper to be served from 5-8pm. £7.95

Sports Makers

Do you want to be a part of the Olympic legacy and gain some excellent skills? Then put your passions to the test by becoming a Sports Maker and getting others involved in sport around campus. There will be a sports maker convention held at the sports centre from 10.30am-1pm on Saturday 4th February, with this time counting towards your 10 small hours needed to complete your programme! To find out more and sign up for this fantastic opportunity then please check out www.sportmakers.co.uk or contact Jeannine or Carol on 01772 299831.

Holocaust Memorial Day

There will be events around Lancaster to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. These are opne to all who wich to remember:

26th Jan, 6.30pm, Lancaster Town Hall, Candlelight Commemoration and Celebration with NCBI, More Music and the Dukes.

28th Jan, 2.00pm, Lancaster Priory, Dialoguing about Antisemitism.

28th Jan, 7.00pm, Lancaster Priory, A service of commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day with speaker Margie Tolstoy.

Music and dance at Live at LICA

Live at LICA’s international concerts series re-launches next week  with the Manchester Camerata Ensemble directed by the dynamic Venezuelan violinist, Giovanni Guzzo and the same evening the Turn Prize 2011 winners, Maelstrom Dance will be presenting their new dance theatre work, Ballast - a morality tale of women pitted against each other who are observed and ‘tweeted’ by a modern day Greek chorus. For more information, see the website or call 01524 594151

Concert | MANCHESTER CAMERATA ENSEMBLE | Thur 26 Jan 2012 at 7.30pm | Great Hall | Pre-concert talk 6.45pm

Dance | MAELSTROM: Ballast | Thursday 26 January 2012 at 8.00pm | Nuffield Theatre

Blackwells to open on campus

Following the departure of Waterstones book shop in November 2011, Blackwell’s has won the contract to provide a book shop on campus from next week.

Blackwell’s book shop will open week commencing 23rd January 2012, the exact day is currently being confirmed.