Be a shaper!

Good evening,

I hope you are all enjoying the second Intro weekend of 2007 and as I get ready for a Saturday night out I thought I would let you know what I had been up to on this manic Freshers week.

Well it's been exactly that and more. From the Intro talks on Monday to the Activities Fair on Thursday with various Intro talks in between it has been non-stop. Throughout all this however it is easy to forget that next week will being new challenges and opportunities and I continue to get on with representing you on loads of different issues.

The highlight of my week however hasn't been welcoming students in talks or helping students move in over the weekend but spending my Wednesday evening with the men and women who protect the city centre- the police. Yes on Wednesday Mark Willoughby and I headed out with the bobbies on the beat checking out what they do for safety in Sheffield. It was amazing to see everyone in their blue, red, orange and yellow t-shirts wander down West St moving from bar to bar.

The amount of cameras and patrols they have on a regular night out in Sheffield is really impressive and we are quite literally in the safest city in the UK. This said however we all need to use our common sense by not walking home alone and keeping to well lit areas. Enjoy your night out and stay safe in shef.

Even though this stands out in my week there are many more things I could mention. For those who made it the Advice Centre tea party was fantastic and really well done. Even without tea however its a great place to go into for advice on housing, academic, international and money issues. Hopefully you won't need it, one the police in your time at Sheffield but it's worth knowing where to go when things don't go right.

For most students there is alot which you can have in common, We are all studying (to a greater or lesser extent), we are all at this University and we are all members of Sheffield Students' Union. This said however there are many options open to help you move away from the crowd. To stand out not just on paper but in person. On Thursday and Friday there was fairs helping students to do just do that, but your opportunities don't just stop there.

The best way to separate yourself out from the crowd is to become a Departmental Councillor. The Students Union Council this year will be elected from all Departments and Representative groups and we are looking for passionate people to shape your Union. So be a shaper, not just shaped. Be a leader, not just a follower. Nominations open on Monday and it couldn't be easier but have your say and represent your peers.

Stand out from the crowd.