1.2 This week I have mostly....

Friday 16th November 2007

This week I have mostly.... been on Facebook! And not out of choice either! I had this bright idea to cheat at our 'Go Out And Talk', which is an initiative the Exec have committed themselves to. Basically it means each week we 'GOAT' to a certain number of students to see how they feel about the Union and the services which it offers. Then we can try and make things better. Sarah (the president,) suggested that we should aim for at least ten people a week but, because I've been so extremely, extremely busy I thought I'd set up a Facebook group into which I'd ask ten new people each week from the Hallam network, plus all my friends at Hallam to get more responses - genius! Or so I thought!

This has back-fired somewhat and the group has turned into a bit of a slanging match with plenty of stick being fired at the Union. That's not to say that 'we' as the Union don't deserve it because I - the Union's strictest critic in years gone by - know that the Union is far from perfect. However now I'm in post I've been able to find out why certain things happen and I can't help thinking that when someone wants to point the finger then they might want to firstly check out the basis of their accusations. But I will hold up my hands as someone who didn't do that when I was swinging my abuse at the Union!

On a different note - In my role I would love to support every initiative, campaign and charity which comes my way but unfortunately I don't have the time or money. Right now I've spent nearly £800of my campaign budget on materials for one project concerning housing and I'm deliberating whether I could have spent it differently so I could have covered more topics or dealt with more issues. However, on reflection I know I'm doing the right thing and sticking by my guns. I know that if I'd have followed the advice I want to spread to the students through my campaign that my days living in student accommodation would have been a lot more pleasant!

Apart from spending money my days at work are so jam-packed that I feel I cannot do my full role justice and instead am having to concentrate on certain elements which means delays in areas, for which I apologise. This is, in a way, a good thing as it shows that the Exec needs to change its format (at least in my opinion!) and I'm hoping with the help of URC that we can this year, put the work in place to allow reform. But more on that nearer the time when URC begins the review.

I'm starting to feel as if I may have taken too much up so far and there are still, everyday, new problems, issues and situations which require my attention. I know why I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed though. It's mainly due to the amount of time which has been taken up this week with the graduation ceremonies which the Exec are asked to sit through, plus we have a another week of them left to do. Although it's lovely to see all your friends graduate it can be boring once you've heard the same thing over and over again and your hands hurt from clapping so much!!! My own graduation was a fiasco this week, as everything always is with me! I managed to loose my hat (or mortarboard,) on stage which was hilarious for everyone apart from me!

Right, I've spent enough time really on this for one week! Back to the graduations....

ps. If you want to get in contact with me my email is j.green@shu.ac.uk