Hello everyone,

Do you have a bicycle? Did it cost you a lot of money? Did you buy a lock that only cost a fiver? Then please buy a good lock. On Sunday the Campus Security stopped two professional thieves from stealing two very expensive bicycles on campus, it didn’t take them long to get through the cheap lock and they wouldn’t have been caught if they hadn’t tried to cut through the expensive lock on one of the bicycles. You can get a good lock from any bicycle store in town. I mean, you wouldn’t leave your phone in a park with no password or security, so if it’s worth money why make it easy to steal? We are working on a joint project for bicycle safety on campus with Security andTransition Heriot-Watt (with a video on how easy locks are to cut though) so keep your eyes peeled!

In other news, the Staff Credit Union is going to be offering new cheap loans to students very soon but we need students to help run it so we are looking to start a new Credit Union Society, where students could join and volunteer for a few hours and learn how to market a business, book-keeping, loan assessment, risk management, auditing and so much more. This society would be the first of its kind in the UK and is on the cutting edge of Ethical Finance. If you want to get involved then just email me at: union.president@hw.ac.uk.

The Learning and Teaching Oscars are still open and we have boxes and paper forms available for you all in the Learning Commons, Library, Student Union Reception, the Student Union shop, and the James Nasmyth submission area. You can also fill it in at: www.hwunion.com/ltoscars 

Election nominations are also open and you could be the next President! If you fancy it then check out the website for more information: www.hwunion.com/elections

The National Student Survey (NSS) is open for final year students and you can have your say about the university and your course. By the way, if you don’t fill it in they will give you a ring (many times until you do!) The data from the survey is used by the university to work on the things you say, to improve the student experience for the students that follow you.

For those of you in Halls of Residence, deliveries from Amazonhas been terrible for the last wee while, but did you know that if you don’t sign for it then the contract isn’t fulfilled and you can get a replacement straight away if your parcel doesn’t arrive? We are currently working on somewhere for all parcel companies to deliver to but in the meantime be careful what you put as your address and if you don’t get it then chase up Amazon, etc. ASAP. We also have the Amazon Lockers in the Student Union if you need somewhere safe for those socks from Amazon to be delivered to.

The National Union of Students Scotland are running a one-day event to discuss the range of housing issues, and ideas to solve them: from high rents and low standards, to guarantor schemes and co-ops. It’s this Saturday in Stirling University Student Union (only a wee train ride away). If you want to register for it then go to: www.nusconnect.org.uk/events/student-housing-summit

Cheers,

Diarmuid
Student President