PRESIDENT

This last month has been very busy in the UMSU offices. We have a lot more information in respect to the Student Precinct, we are actively looking at a wide number of ammended University policies and how they impact students, we have been working with the University on developing better strategies in response to sexual violence in our community and great coordination in respect to training. In that vein, in September a significant number of students will be asked to contribute to a Universities Australia survey on sexual assault and harassment. Distributed by the University, this information will be crucial in both understanding the issues at hand and holding our wider community to account. On a different note, the former UniStore space has been allocated to UMSU and we intend on making that space a dedicated volunteering office. Keep your eyes peeled for the changes coming hopefully through September.

GENERAL SECRETARY

It’s election time at UMSU, so let’s talk about democracy for a moment. Elections can be annoying, sure, but they are vital component of ensuring the transparency and accountability of our Union. The point of an election is it should be you, the students, not a small and insular clique that determines the direction of our Union. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that elections are a bad thing or something to be avoided. Elections are the ultimate meritocracy. The “merits” of those vying to be our student representatives shouldn’t be determined by a self-appointed elite, but by those we represent: you. So read the candidate statements in Farrago, compare the pitches of the different groups and candidates, engage in election week and do it all with a critical eye. Make an informed choice and don’t let the spin and buzzwords throw you. Bring it on.

ACTIVITIES

Morning! Hope you’ve all been hanging out for more Activities news! We’ve been super busy working hard to bring you more! We guess the one everyone has been looking forward to the mostest is Oktoberfest! Coming up soon your humble Activities Officers will be bringing to your campus the biggest and best event of the entire year! Unlimited German alcohol, fancy dress, German food, live music and endless fun! Make sure you keep an eye out for tickets to this one because they will go fast! Check the Activities Facebook. Hope to see more of you at the events! Also Trivia. Bands. BBQs. Comedy. Pub Nights.

Email: activities@union.unimelb.edu.au

Facebook: Facebook.com/UMSUActivities

BURNLEY

The growing season is just around the corner and it’s time to start planning your veggie patches and feeding your pot plants! Hot tip for this month; when a plant is in a pot, it doesn’t have access to the nutrients it would normally have in the soil so get some good controlled release fertiliser to feed your favourite leafy friends.  In campus news, to celebrate the Olympics and multiculturalism we teamed up with ASRC catering, staff and students to have an international food day where every crumb was gobbled up for a good cause. Our campus is currently under review and the BSA has been representing students to make sure our feedback is heard and fighting for better services and amenities on campus. With elections upon us we will also be making sure that we have continued student representation for the years to come.

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

If you wanna be my Clubster, you gotta fill in them grants (gotta fill in them grants)

Make it all compliant, don’t be a smart ass,

If you wanna be my Clubster, you have got to give

All of the receipts, cause that’s the way it is…

What do you think about that now you know how I feel,

Say you can handle the application, are you for real?

Committee won’t be hasty, they’ll take their time,

If you really bug them; then they’ll say goodbye.

Email: clubs@union.unimelb.edu.au

CREATIVE ARTS

Art art art art art art art BOTANIC DRAWING art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art CREATIVE ARTS COLLECTIVE THURS 1-3PM art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art LIFE DRAWING art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art MUFFEST art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art art THEATRE AWARDS CELEBRATION art art art art art art art CHECK OUR WEBSITE art art art art art

Facebook: facebook.com/umsuartsdepartment/

Email: arts@union.unimelb.edu.au

DISABILITIES

We had our talk with sculptor and VCA student Sam Petersen two days ago and that went well. There was a bigger than expected turnout and students got to play with plasticine and jars at the end. Our stall at the winter festival was successful as all of our USBs were given away and lots of students talked to us about department activities in general. We have a joint panel event coming up next Wednesday as part of Environment Week 2016, which will be about the cross-over between sustainable and accessible housing. Our Auslan classes have started and Anxiety Support Group is still running every Monday at 2pm with solid attendance each week.

Facebook: facebook.com/umsu.disabilities/

Email: disabilities@union.unimelb.edu.au

EDU (ACADEMIC)

Hey all. We’ve recently rolled out our Flex-Ap Student Survey in partnership with the GSA and Chancellery. We’re aiming to gauge students’ feelings in relation to an array of issues that have arisen in the various Flex-Ap work streams. By understanding how you feel towards these changes, we’ll be able to better represent students’ interests when discussing the changes with the University. To complete the survey, head to the UMSU Education Facebook page and click on the SurveyMonkey link. We’ll be presenting the results of the Survey at a Flex-Ap forum scheduled for the first week of September, which will be investigating the role of technology in University teaching and learning. All students are invited to the forum, details of which will also be posted on our Facebook page.

EDU (PUBLIC)

Keep the Quality! #keepthequality KEEP THE QUALITY! What is Keep the Quality? Well, it’s the new campaign we’ve started in the Education Public department to fight the changes the University of Melbourne is trying to implement. Basically, we want to raise awareness amongst students of previous changes that have gone on around the University, as well as the potential new changes. Some of which are really concerning. There was even an article in The Age (12/8) which outlined how the University tracks your movement around campus. It’s really messed up and the University Administration think they can get away with it. We’re out and about talking to students, so come and find out more information.We also have an upcoming National Day of Action to protest the Federal Government attacks on 24 August. To find out more visit the UMSU Education Public website.

Also, like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com.au/keepthequality

ENVIRONMENT

There is lots happening in the Environment space on campus as Environment Week is upon us. Whether you are an aspiring climate scientist, an activist and bit of both, or someone that loves great food – we guarantee there will be something for you. Workshops, forums, parties and more, we would love to see you at one of our events! We will also be launching a short climate themed film competition very soon, so if filmmaking’s your thing or something you would like to try out, keep on our Facebook page! As always, please get in touch for all things Enviro!

Facebook: facebook.com/umsuenviro/

Email: environment@union.unimelb.edu.au

INDIGENOUS

The Indigenous Department is full steam ahead this semester. We’ve already had three social events so far, including Welcome Back Dinner and Drinks, Ten Pin Bowling and a Movie Night. The Biggest Blackest Radio Show is cruising along after a slow start. If you’d like to be involved, please get in touch, we’re always looking to talk to exciting people on air. In addition to this, all of our Under Bunjil editors are coming out of hibernation and keen to return to being stressed and staring at our computer screen while Volume Four comes together. Submissions for Under Bunjil close in Week Six and we’re really excited to read and take a look at all our submissions. So far we’ve received an amazing collection of poetry, artwork and essays. As always follow us on our social media platforms to stay informed!

Facebook and Instagram: @Umsu_Indigenous

Email: Indigenous@union.unimelb.edu.au

QUEER

There’s a lot to be excited for this semester at the Queer Department. Besides our new Queer People of Colour Collective (Thursdays 1-2 pm, Training Room 2), Pride Ball is happening on the 22nd of September! Pride Ball is open to all LGBT+ people plus allies to celebrate their queerness. You can find out more on our FB page at UMSU Queer.

Facebook: facebook.com/UMSUQueer/

Email: queer@union.unimelb.edu.au

VCA

We at the VCA are gearing up for another student protest on August 24th against the Turnbull government’s attacks on higher education. There’ll be a musical act and some free food for students. The annual VCA Proud visual art exhibition is also starting August 25th with VCASA’s contribution to a Social Justice and Gender and Sexual Equality prize. And planning is under way for the VCA Spoken Word event occurring in October for VCA and Melbourne Uni students.

WELFARE

Semester Two has been a fantastic time for the UMSU Welfare Department! We’ve continued our free breakfasts and our new free Zumba sessions are running weekly on Mondays. It’s been lovely to see lots of new and returning faces to our regular events in Semester 2. We’ve had a really rewarding year as your Welfare Officers and we look forward to collaborating with other UMSU Departments later this semester. Please feel free to join our Facebook group for the People of Colour Collective and ‘like’ UMSU Welfare on Facebook!

People of Colour Collective: https://www.facebook.com/groups/umsupoc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UMSUwelfare

Email: welfare@union.unimelb.edu.au

WOMEN’S

Hey everyone! We’re having a wonderful time here in the Women’s department. Women in Higher Education Week was a lot of fun and thanks to everyone who came along. Now we’re looking ahead to the release of Judy’s Punch which is set for week 10, we have a fantastic team of subeditors and graphic designers and we’re just so damn excited. We are also going ahead with the Safety on Campus campaign, alongside the work on sexual assault guide. The Women of Colour Collective and the People of Colour Collective are hosting Anti-Racism Workshops which will start in week 6. Our regular events are continuing as usual, with Women of Colour Collective, Women’s Collective and Queer Girl Movie Night. See you all in the Women’s Room!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umsuwomens/

Email: womens@union.unimelb.edu.au