Freshers Fayre 2011

Cut down your carbon footprint today.

Sunderland University is officially one of the greenest universities in the UK and was the first to be named in the North East as Carbon Trust Standard. As a result Sunderland has introduced ways on cutting down on the carbon and bulking up on the green.

The university stocks up on fairtrade products and students are buying it. One Water mineral water donates every 5p to African water wheels, which double up as children’s roundabouts. This clean, fresh water is then pumped into a tank that gives supply to a whole community. Its not just the water that’s helping communities, St Peters and Murray Library are selling reusable jute bags for 50p, which goes to charity. Back in 2009 money was donated to the local environment charity.

Different ways to travel has been introduced for students. Travelling on The Circular or Express minibus can be a pain at times so, a subsidized Metro travel ticket between Brockley Whins and South Hylton means less cars on the road and less carbon been produced. This is an ideal way of doing a little something to help the environment. It may not seem like you’ll be helping much but, its surprising what a little thing can help our environment.

The university also offers bike lockers on the main two campuses, Ashbrooke and at the Halls of Residence, for those who prefer and activate start to the uni day. Sunderland uni are looking into to purchasing more.

A student at the uni Sharon Kaur says, “I think it’s a brilliant idea to open up more options in which to travel. The Metro pass is a great idea and will really benefit me. I would rather use this way of transport rather than drive to uni and get stuck in traffic. I’m cutting down my carbon footprint.”

Hopefully more students will be willing to join in on cutting down your carbon footprint. The university is now looking at waste being useful with their easy to use successful recycling scheme. The more students carry on doing the ‘little things’ to help the environment, the bigger the impact will have. Give it a go, join in and notice a difference.

By Hayley Brown

Exhibitionists

A number of university students have bared all to raise money for local charity Pennywell Youth Project. The students, all studying glass and ceramics, have made a nude calendar, now on sale at www.glassandceramicscalendar.com, for £8, with some of the money going towards funding their end of year art exhibition as well.

The students, nine of which are female and three male, decided to get together to produce their 18-month calendar as part of a wider project to raise funds. Initially suggested as a joke by student Carla Murdoch, Miss February, the project quickly gained support from her fellow students and then with further support via a Facebook group.

Photography student Anna Liukas took the nude snaps for the group, she said: “The most challenging part was to get everyone to relax and stop panicking about being naked. It was an opportunity for me to do something totally different. I loved it!”

The students were also keen to show off the great equipment offered to glass and ceramics students. “We wanted to show the students at work and all the amazing equipment we have in the department.” Said Claire Turner, Miss August.

You can visit the students official facebook group HERE for more details on their project and for details on how to order your copy of the calendar.

Daniel Pharoah

Cage Fighting

By Hayley Brown

Jobcentre offer position for web cam performer

A recent advert that is accessible to job hunters across the UK has left some people in absolute disgrace due to its shocking sexual nature and explicit manner.

Jobcentre plus has posted details and information on the recruitment for female/male and couples to appear on webcam naked/semi naked and to use sexual dialogue for viewers over the internet. This is described as ‘webcam performers’ and according to Jobcentre plus, duties include “explicit sexual dialogue which may cause embarrassment to some people.”

Jobcentre plus continue to describe it as “A job with a difference.” With a wage of £100 a day with no set working pattern, this job can be tempting anybody. However, job posts such as these pose a threat to young people and students of exposure.

Many students would consider this job simply to pay off bills and to survive over the summer. I spoke with one student, who wished to stay anonymous “I admit that with a wage of £100 day, I would be tempted to take the job however, I understand that there is a risk of young people/teenagers applying for this job who would expose themselves. If I was in deep money problems, I would take the job without a second thought.”

The main problem comes down to how easy it is to apply. On the job advert it states ‘to apply for this job see a Jobcentre advisor.” It does not claim that you have to go through any interview process. This is easy for young people to get influenced into, as jobs elsewhere in the country are limited.

I spoke to parent, Beverley Mason, “This is disgusting. I’m shocked that the Jobcentre would consider even advertising this position. I would hate the thought of my teenage daughter to get easily tempted into applying for this job. The Jobcentre plus should take action and remove the post.”

Spokesman for the DWP (Department for work and pensions, Jobcentre plus), Amy Wardlaw, said: “If a vacancy is legal then Jobcentre Plus has to advertise it, however adult entertainment jobs are clearly marked that applicants must be aged 18 or over.

“Our staff do not actively promote these vacancies to our customers, it would be up to them to express an interest in applying and to ask for further information.”

After the shock this post has created I doubt the Jobcentre will post another explicit job like this again.

By Hayley Brown

University sets date for Student Village

Sunderland University has revealed plans for a multi-million pound student village, comprising of over 500 hundred new multi-functional rooms, state of the art facilities and an on site bar, café, shopping and social space.

The project co-insides with the universities plans to regenerate The Forge student accommodation with the help of student accommodation provider U-Student.com. Work has begun on phase one of the development, with the second phase due to commence in August.

The university hopes the launch of the green village will provide a unique safe and secure energy efficient space for students to relax and catch up with friends as well as providing all the essentials via an on site convenience store.

The news of the redevelopment comes after the university launched their new SU venue, North Shore. The venue took the place of Campus, which closed down last year. The university is positive the new student village will be a huge success and have assured students it will be well worth the wait.

The project is expected to cost £12million, similar to that of the new CitySpace building situated next to the university’s city campus. The village is set to open in September 2011 and will create hundreds of jobs for the North East’s construction industry.

Daniel Pharoah

Cage Fighting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMefKExsYH8

by Hayley Brown

Top blogger and online journalist gives advice to Sunderland University students

After 4,000 job cuts with in the media last year one of the countries top online journalists and bloggers advised Sunderland journalism students to be fearless.

Adam Westbrook told journalism students, “don’t be afraid of failure and do the unconventional, not the conventional.”

Adam Westbrook told Sunderland media student to "embrace failure."

His advice gave hope to thousands of media students across the country who are worried about the lack of jobs available when they graduate.

He advised them, “Don’t spend hours filling in application forms for jobs and work placements, do the unconventional and set up a website or become an expert in something and then sell your expertise.”

Adam highlighted the importance of the next generation journalist after spending the first three years of his career at a local radio station until he quit his job to become an infopreneur, as he describes himself.

A journalism student at Sunderland University, Kelly Dunn, said: “Adam was really inspiring. He was so enthusiastic about online journalism and becoming an entrepreneur. It made me realise the importance of imagination and determination.”

Adam pointed out that whilst media students may be concerned about the lack of jobs and the change within the industry at the moment. Students should be excited about the development within the media and embrace it.

“Older journalists will try and knock you down because you are a new and younger journalist trying to take their jobs. They will mock your unconventional methods.”

An example of Adam’s video journalism:

A journalism lecturer at Sunderland University, Julie Bradford, said: “I think he was very inspirational and thought provoking. Students really need to become experts in something even while they are at university and put themselves out there.

“I also think he ignored history a little bit because free lancers have been doing this for years. But that’s just a little quibble.”

Whilst Adam may have just been repeating and developing previous ideas he inspired and motivated Sunderland media students.

To see Adam’s top ten tips to becoming a new generation journalist visit his blog.

By Amy Brewster

Sunderland aims to raise thousands for charity with Great North 10k

The finish line of the Great North 10k in Sunderland. The rain managed to hold out for the 5, 000 runners.

Sunderland’s Great North 10k aims to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The run which takes place on Sunday 18th of July is an annual event in Sunderland and thousands of runners are expected to take part.

The run, which is 10 kilometres, will start at the Wearmouth Bridge and finish at Sunderland football ground, The Stadium of Light. The runners will head into the city centre and then onto the coast.

Sunderland City Council’s Head of Culture and Tourism, Chris Alexander, said: “We are delighted that the Great North 10k – Sunderland has captured the public’s imagination and become so popular with runners.

“This is the second year we have hosted this great sporting event which takes runners on a route which showcases what our city has to offer.”

Sunderland Chairman, Niall Quinn, said: “This is a fantastic event for Sunderland and Sunderland Football Club is delighted to be a part of it.

“Moving the start to the Wearmouth Bridge will provide some spectacular images of the city and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of runners to the Stadium of Light as they cross the finish line.”

Runners have to be over 15-years-old but there is a junior run suitable for boys and girls aged between 9 and 14-years-old, which is a distance of 2.4 kilometres.

BUPA Great North Run.  The race nears the 2k mark.

A participant in Sunderland’s Great North 10k, Charlotte Young, said: “I think it really brings the community together and gives you something to aim for. I’ve been training for the event so I don’t embarrass myself on the day.

“My friends and family are sponsoring me so as well as having a good day out I’ll be raising lots of money for charity.”

When entering the race, runners receive a race pack before the event with pre-information including their race number and timing chip.

Last year the event raised over £280, 000 and it is hoping to do just as well this year. To register and take part in the Bupa Great North 10k visit www.greatrun.org/Events

By Amy Brewster

City Space: Was it worth it?

We’ar students asked people around the university for thier opinions on City Space and whether or not it was worth £12 million.

By Hayley Brown