Meetings never go to plan, do they? You never stick to schedule, and the agenda begins to lose all meaning. It’s just a document that encourages people to think that there’s something in mind when the meeting is organised. More often than not you end up incredibly off topic, discussing something that is in no way related to the meeting whatsoever…
(yes, I have thrown in a picture of penguins because they’re my favourite animal)
…and when you finally get back on topic, you’re at least twenty minutes behind schedule… and then the process starts again, so inevitably, you end up finishing at least forty minutes late. This is true of the Students’ Union meetings. No matter how much contingency time I stick into that agenda, we will always end up staying later than usual -- and yet they all complain! Perhaps, I should just add a ‘general chat’ item to the agenda, but I doubt that would deal with the problem.
So, having had our elections last month, the Students’ Union has now successfully filled 17 places, and now these officers are being put through the horrifying tasks of having their mugshot plastered around College and sitting through the comprehensive safeguarding training. I don’t think I’ll hear the end of their complaints…
…but I suppose that’s what the Students’ Union is for… complaining.
Wait! No we’re not. We’re for making change happen. We are the change, you see. (Sneaking in a bit of NUS advertising there).
And right now, with the help of our very active and passionate students, we are attempting to combat the difficulties faced by students in travelling to College via their own means or public transport. It is an issue that everyone faces, but with the cuts to EMA and ALG and Care to Learn, it’s getting more and more difficult for our students. So, what are we doing? Well we’re involving ourselves with the Get on the Bus Campaign (I’m doing it again…) and speaking to the local Kent Students’ Unions to see how we can all work together to tackle a problem that affects a large number of students.
So, the new officers’ inductions, and their grimace worthy icebreakers, out of the way, it’s time to get everyone involved in the action. With the travel campaign, the wheels are in motion (no pun intended) and everyone starts after Christmas. Our students have voices, you see, and it’s high time that everyone listened.
But for now… Merry Christmas!
James… and a bit of Shakin’ Stevens.