PGNews!

14th March 07

Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to SUSU’s first ever newsletter dedicated to its postgraduate students. Here you will find a number of different links to help you get involved with the facilities and services that the Union provides. We also outline a number of recent events and initiatives focused upon postgraduate students such as yourself. In particular, you have an opportunity to input to the University’s plans for a Graduate Centre.

So have a look around and hopefully you’ll find plenty of useful information. At SUSU, we always appreciate feedback, as well as ideas for future content, so feel free to email me via postgrad@susu.org

Nigel Dexter (SUSU Postgraduate Officer)

Meet Nigel

Your Postgraduate Officer, Nigel Dexter, answers a few questions...

Describe yourself in 3 words. Far too logical! What are you studying? MA in Urban Economy & Culture, based in the School of Geography. How long have you been at Southampton? I’m halfway through my 4th year here (I studied BA Geography in my undergraduate days). What is the best thing about Southampton University? The overall friendly atmosphere. I’m pushed to achieve but also given space to have fun. You have a magic wand, what would you change about the University? Wearing my Union hat, a Postgraduate Space! From a personal perspective, I’d like to shift Highfield campus a bit nearer to the city centre. What is the best thing about the city? There’s plenty to do but nothing is really that far away. The city is not so big that you become overwhelmed by it. Complete this sentence: "I wish I had known as a fresher that..." ‘…a lot of fun can be had without my liver threatening to disown me.’ What are you most likely to be over heard saying? In a Union context, ‘Can we do this?’. In my personal life, I have this strange quirk of yelling ‘Hell, yeah!’ whenever I agree with something! What makes you angry? People not putting their full effort into a task. What single thing would most improve postgraduate study? I’m starting to sound like a stuck record, but a Postgraduate Space would be useful… Why did you want to be SUSU’s Postgraduate Officer? I wanted to stay involved with the Union and felt the post gave me an opportunity to combine my own experiences with the chance to improve provision and representation for all postgraduate students. What is the best thing that has happened since your time I post? After a difficult few months, the massive turnout for the Interschool Challenge in February was amazing. It restored a huge amount of my faith in my role. As Postgraduate Officer, what would you like your legacy to be? That I helped kick start the efforts to improve facilities and representation for all postgraduate students at the University. What is the best thing about the Union? That it provides facilities and services for every single student, whether you want a cheap night out, support in pastoral and academic problems, or almost anything else in between.

Role of the PG Officer

So Nige, what does being the Postgraduate Officer actually mean?

My main role as Postgraduate Officer is one of representation. I’m the voice that should be an outlet for all 6000+ postgraduates studying at the University. This representation takes place at several levels, including within the Union, towards the University and at a national, or even international, level.

Formally, this representation occurs mainly through committees. At a Union level, I chair the Postgraduate Committee and also sit on Education Committee, the Communications Forum and the Union Management Board. At a University level, I attend the Education Policy Committee, Academic Quality and Standards Committee, the Student Residences Review Group and the Graduate Schools Network Group. Informally, I have the ear of a number of high level University academics who support the causes of postgraduate students.

However, I am also trying to introduce a more social side to the role and be the driving force behind the establishment of a wider postgraduate community. This is the reasons why events such as the Interschool Challenge have been arranged.

So basically, my role involves a seemingly endless list of meetings in which I shout on behalf of all of you. It also brings an ongoing and perhaps slightly unhealthy pattern of thoughts along the lines of ‘what should I be doing next for postgraduate students?’…I love it really!

Social Events

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the Postgraduate & Mature Student Interschool Challenge Quiz night. The numbers of you who attended, not to mention the high intellectual calibre displayed, were tip top. Both elements ensured the evening went with a swing.

The questions tackled by our University’s intellectual elite ranged from Dr. Who trivia through to University Challenge level brainteasers. The evening also enabled us to identify 20 super intelligent beings to go on and fight it out for a chance to appear on University Challenge. Winning teams were: Third place: E = MC3, Second place: Mature Uno, First Place: I've got the Pen, a Postgraduate team from Maths.

The next Interschool challenge will take place on Monday 23^rd April. To enter a team please e-mail thechallenge@susu.org

We would also like to encourage comments on the last quiz, and to hear any suggestions on future socials you would like.

Keeping in Touch

Want to hear about everything that the Union is providing for postgraduate students? Then sign up to our email list and receive updates on the dates of the Postgraduate Committee, forthcoming events, any campaigns we are involved in and much more. Just email postgrad@susu.org to be put on this list.

Alternatively, SUSU’s newly re-launched postgraduate website has loads of information and advice related to life as a postgraduate student. Check it out at postgrad.susu.org

Postgraduate Forum

Want to debate issues and problems or just chat generally with postgraduate students from across the University? Well, SUSU provides an on-line forum dedicated to doing exactly that! Just follow the link below and get chatting!

> PG Forums >

WIN £20!

A chance to have your say on a future Graduate Centre

The University currently has a set of plans for the provision of a Graduate Centre within the main Highfield campus. However, these plans are currently very loose and open to input as to what the centre should contain and provide. The University envisages it being a centre for skills training for all postgraduate students, but it has the potential to be so much more.

And that is where you come in. SUSU is of the opinion that you, as representatives of the people who will actually use this centre in the future, should have a major say in deciding what is contained within it. Do you want a coffee bar? Or a ‘proper’ bar? Perhaps computing facilities and meetings rooms would be of use to you, or maybe you just want a common room facility where you can relax with other postgraduate students.

If you want to have your say, just follow the link below. Alternatively, keep an eye out for opportunities to complete a paper copy. The survey should only take a couple of minutes to complete, but its impact could be huge. The more postgraduates who complete it, the more attention the University will pay us and hopefully prioritise the centre’s construction.

And if improving the lives of postgraduate students for years to come isn’t enough of an incentive, everyone who completes the survey can enter a prize draw to potentially win SUSU vouchers valid at all of the Union’s outlets. Can it get any better?

> Take the survey >

Pub Review

Tired of watching 18 year olds being sick in Jesters? We can provide you with a guide to more sophisticated watering holes for the more discerning tippler.

Venue: The Dolphin

Landlords: Chris & Sandy

Location: Next to St Denys station.

Drinks: Eight hand pumps serving a range of real ales. A wide variety of soft drinks are also on offer.

Highlights: Live music. A real fire. Home cooked food.

General: If this pub was a person it would be Ian Dury. It’s a combination of down to earth charm and bohemian swagger, making it a perfect venue for the postgraduate community. Enjoy.