1

STUDENT MAGMKC

NEW SU EXECA NOTE FROM MATT STANLEY - SU PRESIDENT

FRESHERS’ FAIR FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR COLLEGE

2

EDITORIAL

Hey, over here! It’s me, your Media, Publicity and Communications Officer, at your service. I have the honour of being the editor of the Student Magazine, i.e. this booklet-thing you’re holding right now, or screen you’re looking at. It’s been a record-breaking year for the Students’ Union, with huge steps having been taken on our campaigns, such as travel, and further establishing MidKent’s student body on a national footing, with our current SU President, Matt Stanley, being on the NUS National Executive Council, and the staggering award we received. (See page 8)

If you are a new MidKent College student, it is very possible you have absolutely no idea what I’m going on about, and if so, I strongly advise you to continue reading, as the following pages explain all. If you have been at MidKent for some time, we’ve also included some surprises inside these pages.

Without further ado, I proudly present: This issue...

contributors

IF you WOULD LIKE TO VOLUN-TEER TO HELP SHAPE THE NEXT ISSUE, SEND AN EMAIL TO magazine@mkcsu.co.uk

Editor: Mdhamiri a NkemiMedia Officer

Matt StanleyStudentS’ Union President

George langridgeCREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION STUDENT

barry withamCREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION STUDENT

newMKCSU.co.uk is the new online

headquarters for the Student Union.

Head over here for latest news and more.

Mdhamiri

3

EDITORIAL contents4

meet the team

5anote from the president

6studentfeatures

7clubsand societies

8yearinreview

9upcom-ingevents

4

The Executive Committee represents students at both the Medway and Maidstone campuses and use your feedback to set the direction of the Students' Union for the year. You should approach this team if you want to feedback anything to the col-lege, ask for help in organising an event, ask for financial support for an event you want to run or a vast number of other things. Below is a list of the officers for the year:

Matt Stanley

President of the Students’ Union, NUS National Executive Council, NUS LGBT Com-mittee

Tracy Blackley

Vice President for Medway, Music Student

Mdhamiri á Nkemi

Media Officer, Media Student

Dan Crosland

Activities Officer, Engineering Student

Tom Colgan

Clubs Officer, Sports Student, Peer Mentor

meet the team

Open positionsWelfare Officer

LGBT Students’ Officer

Vice President Maidstone

Sustainability Officer

HE Students’ Officer

Campus Officer for UCA

MATT STANLEY TRACY BLACKLEYMDHAMIRIA NKEMI DAN CROSLAND TOM COLGAN

5

meet the teamHI,

MY NAME IS MATT STANLEY, I’M PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION AND I’D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO

MIDKENT COLLEGE!Every student at the college is automatically a part of MidKent College Students’

Union (MKCSU) – our award-winning Students’ Union - and can access the wide range of services and activities the Union runs, from our popular Glee Club and sport-ing events to our LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) student support

group. The Students’ Union is there to promote YOUR interests and welfare and there will always be a member of the Union who you can approach with any issues, suggestions or comments.

The Union is STUDENT LED, with elected officers who are there to represent you and your views. Through the elected student officers and professional staff the Union’s main purpose is to make your experience at College the best it can be. We do this through representation on the College Governing body, through running the

Student rep system and campaigning on the issues that affect you. We want YOUR voice to be at the heart of your education.

As a Students’ Union we are also affiliated to the National Union of Students (NUS) - which gives you the additional benefits of advice on student issues, representation and campaigns on a national level and discounts in many high street stores. You can

buy your NUS card through the Students’ Union, or via our new website MKCSU.co.uk.

Our education system faces many threats; from the slashing of EMA to rising fees and government cuts. This year the NUS is calling a National Demo in London, and we will be supporting students to take part in demanding an end to fees and cuts, and for the Government to invest in education. We’ll be holding discussions and pro-

moting the Demo throughout the first term, so WATCH THIS SPACE for more information!

However you decide to get involved, we look forward to working with YOU and hope you have a great year at MidKent College!

Matt

6

student featureI spend a lot of time on YouTube, through it I have discovered a lot of people/chan-nels that are awesome. This little segment is my way of sharing them with you. With it being the start of a new academic year I thought it was only fitting that I showcase two of my favourite educational Youtube channels.

Crash Course: http://www.youtube.com/crashcourse

Crash Course is a channel created by brothers John and Hank Green. The channel focuses on teaching you about two different subjects; John teaches you about world history and Hank teaches you biology. The videos are of a high quality mixed with superb animation. The time flies by and knowledge pours in.

Subscribers: 250,000+Recommended video: The Agricultural Revolution: Crash Course World History #1

Vsauce: http://www.youtube.com/vsauce

Have you ever wondered what colour a mirror is? Well that is just one of many top-ics that Vsauce cover. Vsauce is a mixture of fun science videos and a showcase of what the internet can offer us. They will show you fun stuff you can do online for free, so that’s always nice.

Subscribers: 1,000,000+

Recommended video: You Don’t Type Alone.

CONTRIBUTOR:

BARRY WITHAM

EXTENDED DIPLOMA IN CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION

7

student feature clubs & societies

FILM CLUB COMEDY CLUB

SPECTRUM PEOPLE & PLANET

GLEE CLUB MUSIC WORKSHOP

AMATEUR DRAMA CLUB ANIME CLUB

FOR MORE INFO VISIT MKCSU.CO.UK/GROUPS

8

YEAR IN REVIEW

AWARDS

Last year, the Students’ Union used the feedback your course reps had given to them to develop four different aims for the year, trying to work with what students had said to the best of their abilities. These aims included making travel better for students; students had consistently complained about the local bus and rail services for years, and last year, MKCSU decided it was time to do something about it. After collecting data from students about how they travelled, MKCSU hosted a debate with local MPs, Arriva and Southeastern to tell them what you had said. The result? More buses are now running through the Medway Campus.

MKCSU also focused their efforts on improving IT services for students – as Student Governors, MKCSU ensured that the Governing Body were aware that stu-dents were not happy with the IT services and as a result, an agreement was made that more computers would be available in the LRCs, notebooks would be upgraded to laptops and Apple Macs would be available in the LRCs.

Students were also dissatisfied that the student planner had been moved online due to large wastage. As a result, over the Summer, the SU has been working on a more SU-based planner to replace the planner to sell for £1.99 as a compromise to ensure there is no wastage.

Finally the SU have just launched their brand new website at www.MKCSU.co.uk, allowing students more access to information and the work of the SU.

MKCSU has won a ‘Be a Champion’ accreditation

for its work in celebrating

London 2012.

9

Circus Boy PaulJudo Trials with British Judo

Maidstone Leisure CentreSwitch Café

Hair and BeautyMaidstone Football Club

College BandJobShop

Buckmore Park

Come along to Fresher’s Fayre at Medway and Maidstone and meet the new SU Exec Team, tell us what you want for the year, take part in some great activities and have a look at what else the college has to offer!Here are some of the things that will be going on:

FREE SU merchandiseNUS Extra Discount Cards for £12

SU information and ideas for clubs and eventsKenward TrustAMF BowlingKenyan Adventure OpportunitiesMedway ParkPaintballing InformationPlayFootball.netThe Travel PlaceSubwayJobShop

...and much more!

YEAR IN REVIEW

AWARDS

EVENTS

#DEMO2012

FRESHERS’ FAIR

MEDWAY 10-14th SEP MAIDSTONE 17-21ST SEP

The National Union of Students (NUS) has voted to call a national demonstration against fees, cuts and youth unemployment. This demonstration will take place on the 21st of November 2012 in London, under the banner of ‘Educate, Employ, Em-power’ and will bring together students from Universities and Colleges across the country. With youth unemployment at over 1 million, and the cost of going to Col-lege or University spiralling, it is time we stood up to the government to defend education. To find out more or to reserve your space on the coach, email Matt Stanley, Stu-dent Union President on su.president@midkent.ac.uk and make sure to check our website at www.MKCSU.co.uk for updates.

10

SUBMISSIONSThe Students’ Union helps contrib-ute to the cross-campus student magazine, which is published termly. There is room for news, events and clubs advertisement, reviews and puzzles, and we are open to as much contribution from students as pos-sible.

Students are also welcome to sub-mit anything from designs, photog-raphy, artwork, etc, to be featured on this page in the next issue.Theme: ‘New year’

If this interests you, get in touch with our Media officer, Mdhamiri á Nkemi at magazine@mkcsu.co.uk

submissions

THEME: SUMMER HOLIDAYSphoto: george langridge

11

SEPTEMBER 2012

MONDAY

TUESDAYW

EDNESDAYTHURSDAY

FRIDAYSATURDAY

SUNDAY

12

34

56

78

9

1011

1213

1415

16

1718

1920

2122

23

2425

2627

2829

30

FRESHERS’ WEEK M

EDWAY

FRESHERS’ WEEK M

AIDSTONE

submissions

THEME: SUMMER HOLIDAYSphoto: george langridge

12

NEXT ISSUE JANUARY 2013