Yes, this blog is about Chris Brown. But also about the wider problem he has created for a lot of women.

We all know what happened between Chris Brown and Rihanna in 2009, here’s the police report to know just how horrible the incident was http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/05/brown.warrant.pdf

Yet how can just a couple of years after putting his girlfriend in hospital, can Chris Brown be accepted by society and invited back to the Grammy’s on the anniversary of that very incident as if magically nothing ever happened?

He tweeted after the event stating: ‘HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now!’ 

After all of this I get the impression that Hollywood believe as long as you can sing, it’s fine to beat a woman.

No. It’s never fine.

The thing that saddened me the most was his fans tweeted that they would welcome a punch in the face in return for some ‘Chris Brown lovin’.

Not only did this trivialise domestic violence, it also creates a culture of misunderstanding of domestic violence and how it can ruin a lot of women’s lives.

In my role I hear about the cuts to local domestic abuse and rape services for women, about women being undermined by people not taking them seriously and I talk to a lot of women who think they are not good enough to do things and take on certain roles. I can’t help but think its part of a vicious cycle.  

It really saddens me that we have become a society of accepting.

I for one do not accept the trivialisation of domestic violence, I do not accept that 2 women die a week from domestic violence, that one in every four calls to the police is about domestic violence.

I will continue to hold my faith in women to stand up and let it be known, that actually, WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH.

Sarah x x

So I was talking to some friends about how amazing the women’s minibus is, but how it sucks we don’t have the facility to help students get home from across the city, and not just the Students’ Union. One of my friends (another student) talked about how it would be great if we could use our Ucard like a debit card, and pay for taxis with them if we ran out of cash, and this got me thinking.

After I was elected, I heard about safety initiatives running across the country from student unions to keep their members safe. I kept thinking back to paying with a Ucard, and how it could be done. Other universities had deals set up with taxi schemes, so it was only logical to set something similar up here in Sheffield.

If you haven’t heard about the safe taxi scheme, here is how it works:

1) You feel unsafe and are without cash. Walking home might not be the safest option, but you need a way home

2) You call City Taxis on 0114 2 39 39 39, and quote ‘safe taxi scheme’ along with the details they will ask you for

3) A taxi will come and pick you up, just jump in and hand over your Ucard. The driver will provide you with a receipt.

4) In the morning, come along to the Students’ Union welcome desk and buy back your card for the cost of the taxi journey.

I am confident that this can help make students even safer in our city. Just make sure you have the number in your phone, because you never know when you might need it.

If you have any questions or comments on the scheme, just drop me an email at welfare.officer@sheffield.ac.uk

Stay safe!

Mat Denton

Welfare Officer

(small print legal bit) Most Ucards will be back at the welcome desk within 24 hours, though in some cases it could take 48. Journeys are also only within Sheffield City limits, up to a maximum fare of £10. 

Yes, that is DAYS. And no, I can't quite believe it either. 

It almost seems like yesterday that I was bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to spend the Summer hopping between the Students' Union and NUS training courses across the country, eagerly anticipating the arrival of many of our students in September and expecting to have pretty much finished my objectives by December. 

224 days on, a shadow of my former self, with a haggered appearance which doesn't resemble my original Officer photo and wearing clothes that now feel two sizes too big, I look back and think....

I'M SO GLAD I DID IT! AND I'M SO HAPPY I'VE GOT 140 DAYS TO GO!

I'd be lying if I didn't say I was majorly sad about the countdown to the end though... Imagine I'm Lord Voldemort, and each day we have left is one of my horcruxes. Yes, that's how it honestly feels. The opportunity to work here, with an amazing bunch of people, and to be working with a student community as diverse and interesting as Sheffield's is simply amazing. 

The sadness that is the upcoming Officer elections, and the impending realisation that I will be replaced, is totally overcome by the sense of optimism that I, and my fellow Officers feel. I've got a clear handle on what I'll be achieving by the end of my time as an Officer, and I'm enjoying powering through with all my ideas. I didn't realise how long it would take to truly settle, but now I know where I'm heading, and how to do it!

When I was a student, I wanted to be run in the Officer elections.

When I ran in the elections, I wanted to make change.

Now that I'm your Activities Officer, I'm making change. And I've never been prouder.

:)

p.s. http://cuteroulette.com/#/

A year ago I was frantically trying to plan my election campaign and hand in my nomination. In less than a month I’ll know who my successor is; a scary thought, particularly given that I’ve still got almost 5 months left in office!

To describe the election period in one word I’d probably choose either ‘tiring’ or ‘stressful’, but I’d do so with a glint in my eye and follow it up with ‘magical’. It’s an incredibly enjoyable time, and an experience you don’t forget quickly. The atmosphere, certainly last year, was great, and it was easy to forget at times that you’re competing against each other! 

Standing in the elections is most certainly a personal challenge, but equally, an opportunity to develop. Having done dozens of lecture shouts, spoken to numerous clubs and societies, and nocked on doors until knuckles bled, former candidates were left with a level of confidence which made it clear who had stood in the elections.

With campaigning due to start on the 20th February, I’m looking forward to the concourse being transformed with banners and placards and seeing how candidates approach their campaigns. Of course, more importantly than whether a candidate chooses a gimmicky or serious campaign, it’ll be interesting to see the manifestos and what the big issues of the election are.

Excitingly, we have a new way for you to engage with candidates this year in the form of ‘Vote Match’. Vote Match gives you the chance to agree or disagree with a number of statements and then see how your opinions match up against the candidates. Alongside reading manifestos, the hustings and importantly, talking to candidates, hopefully, the differences between candidates, their opinions and where they stand on issues will be clear.

thom

Hello there,

As you may know, as part of my campaign I collected various pieces of feedback from students and I promised to update you on what actions have been taken as a result of student feedback by me and others since starting my job.  Here is my latest update on what’s been going on in early 2012!

Bike equipment in the shop

I chaired the first ‘Students Union Ideas Forum’, held in November.  We discussed a range of ideas submitted by students, from ways to save energy to sandwich prices in the shop.  One student came along with the idea of introducing more facilities for bikes around central campus, as the nearest place to get a puncture repair kit is currently decathlon!  As a result of this idea, the Students’ Union Shop will very shortly start selling bike equipment, and we’ll also have a bike pump available to hire (for short periods!) from the main reception!  There’ll be a report on everything we discussed at all three Ideas Forums on the Students’ Union Website soon.  The next Ideas Forum will be on Thursday 16^th February at 6pm in the Gallery presentation area of the Students’ Union building and you can submit an idea by visiting: www.shef.ac.uk/union/you-run-us/change/forums.php

Lockers in the SU building

For many years now students have asked for some sort of locker provision around the Students’ Union building.  Last year, a student’s ideas was granted some funding after being submitted to the innovation fund (2012 applications now open at www.shef.ac.uk/union/ifund). ; After a long, long, long time spent finding a location within the building to place the lockers we’ve finally decided to locate them just outside the security office at the top of the staircase into Bar One.  We’re currently working through the logistics of how the lockers will work, but we’ve ordered some and they should be appearing in the near future!

Shop at Endcliffe Village

One of the comments I received frequently during my campaign was regarding having some sort of shop in the Endcliffe Village.  When I started my job I was pleased to hear that the University Accommodation and Commercial Services department already had plans to open a ‘Village Store’ at the Endcliffe site in time for September 2012.  I’ve been involved in some of the initial stages of planning for the shop, and ACS will be consulting with students at some point in regards to what range of products should be sold in the shop.

If you’ve got any questions on anything raised in this blog, or any ideas for things the Students’ Union can do, please get in touch by emailing me at harry.horton@shef.ac.uk!

Oh, and by the way, Officer Election nominations are now open!  See here for more info: http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/you-run-us/elections

Harry