If you’re new at LSE and wondering what ‘UGM’ or ‘Union General Meeting’ means, wonder no more! We asked the LSESU Democracy Committee to explain it all.
Have you ever look at something on campus and think it could be improved? The Union General Meeting (abbreviated to UGM) is the perfect opportunity to do something about it! Whether it’s about education, welfare, halls, mental health or anything else, the UGM is an open space where students can raise issues that really matter. Getting involved will allow you to literally change LSE from the bottom up, getting the most out of your time here!
This year, they are held
every Thursday from 1 - 2pm in the First Floor Cafe of the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre.
At these meetings, the Union gathers together and discusses issues affecting it. As a student body, we use the time to hold our Elected Officers to account, to
discuss/debate current issues on campus, and generally to give you a platform
to make your LSE experience the absolute best it can be.
UGM Motions
Motions are proposed before the meetings, debated at them and then voted on (lsesu.com/vote). If a motion is passed, it becomes the Union’s policy for the next three years.
UGMs have been responsible for ensuring that the Union lobbies the School to divest from fossil fuels, for establishing the new elected Officer position of BME Students’ Officer and bringing a wider variety of non-meat options to campus catering outlets through the Meat-Free Mondays campaign The
variety of motions brought to UGMs by students is as wide and diverse as our
student body. If you have a motion which could improve student life then we’d
love to hear it.
Democracy Committee
UGMs are facilitated by Democracy Committee - that’s us - five students elected to make sure that democracy procedures run smoothly and are open to everyone.
We’ll have a stall at the Welcome Fair to talk to new students in person, and we’ll be contactable via our Facebook page throughout the year. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions!
UGMs are your chance to make real, tangible changes during your time at university, and also a great place to be sociable and meet like minded people! So what are you waiting for?
Submitting a motion
To submit a motion, you use the form at lsesu.com/yourunion or email su.democracycommittee@lse.ac.uk. More details on how to submit the motion are downloadable in the UGM guide.
Details of previous motions and voting results are on our website too at lsesu.com/yourunion.
Get in touch with us: su.democracycommittee@lse.ac.uk
Forget Fresh Meat or Cops With Cameras - the RAG Welcome Week nights don’t have to be drink riddled. But they are a lot of fun, and they’re definitely one of the best ways to get to know the people you’ll be living with this year.
But if you’re a new student in London, partying in the UK capital can take some getting used to.
After thinking about my experience as a fresher last year, here are my top five tips to help you enjoy these nights - they might be the best you’ll have at LSE!
Packing is almost as dull a blog post about packing, so I won’t keep you for too long on what could be a lovely weekend.
In fact, as I write this, I am in bed in my hot and cloying room because it is full of things to take with me to my new house for second year. I move in just eleven days!
Piled high are large cumbersome Paperchase plastic bags full of ringbinders, assorted lined paper and little coloured pens. Behind that in a sturdy box is the printer, which is immovable and sits there like the last guest at a party full of relatives. Then there’s the trophy of my online shopping haul: a large wicker log basket, currently packed with “essentials” including a huge rolled up blanket, a bunch of student cookbooks, a lamp, two Harry Potter books and a sizeable stock of comfort food.
So if you want to know how (and why) I cram all this, each term, into my mum’s Toyota Yaris and get it into one small student room, read on. I promise I’ll be quick.
After completing my A-Levels and taking a gap year, I thought I had it sussed - I knew how to study effectively and manage my time, I felt more worldly, and I definitely thought freshers’ flu was a student definition of a hangover. But having spent a year at LSE now, there’s more to learn. These are my top tips for when you start at LSE.
Trying to sum up all there is to do in London is like introducing yourself in thirty seconds flat: however hard you try, you’re always going to forget the important little details.
Living in the city could be one of the best times in your life, if you get to know it properly. There’s so much to do - something for every taste and interest. I gathered tips from current London-based students - including myself - on how to start out right.
What handles 24 million journeys a day, has 19,500 bus stops and oversees 535 underground trains at any one moment during peak hours? It has to be London’s public transport network, which runs the third busiest metro system in the world, and carries over a billion passengers each year.
This blog post will get you clued up on the basics: how to use it, when you can use it and where you can go, as well as a few tips and tricks.
The Welcome Fair could be considered more chaotic than Battle of the Halls with 2,000 students walking round the SU building and countless stalls representing everything from the Grimshaw Club to Nando’s.
There’s a reason it’s so busy. Joining a club or society could completely transform your uni years, as the vast majority of LSE students know (in fact 75% of students enrol in a club/society). And it all starts at the Fair.
Here are my top tips about clubs and societies at LSE.
A-Level results are out, which means we’re nearly ready to release the RAG Pack 2015! This will will get you into 4 official and exclusive LSESU Welcome Week club nights (excluding Friday night, alcohol-free events and postgrad-only events) and provide you with a ton of freebies to make the most of your Week.
Read on for the low-down on what LSESU RAG is and how they’ll be bringing you the best nights of the year.
Moving into halls can be a nerve-inducing experience and often involves a long trip to London, saying good bye to parents, and the pressure to make new friends.
For anyone who’s moving up on Sunday, or has just got themselves settled, I’ve put together a few tips with a little help from LSE friends and parents.
You’re finally coming to LSE! Despite all the obstacles that 2020 has
put in your way, you’ve made it. To a new city (perhaps), to a new university
(probably), and ready for the next exciting new chapter of your life (hopefully).
But for those of you who are moving to London, you’re now faced with the
mammoth task of decorating your new home, possibly for the first time.
Unsure where to start? Worry not!
We’re here to reassure you that you can make your new dwelling more than
just a place to rest your head at night. You can make it a place that feels like
home. Your home. And all of this is achievable on a student budget.
Before we continue…
All students have a part to play in keeping
themselves and the rest of the LSE community safe. This isn’t just applicable
when you are on campus or in LSE spaces, it also applies for when you are off
campus as well. This is why the recommended guidance and advice should be
followed at all times, including but not limited to: adhering to a safe
distance, wearing recommended protective equipment and practising good hygiene
and sanitation.
We strongly advise all students to check for the
most up-to-date advice and government guidelines and follow them when sourcing items
for your new homes. Many retailers and outlets have
put in place practices to support the safe visits of its customers, so we
recommend looking on their websites before visiting. There will
most likely be safety precautions that you will need to take prior to your
visit and practices that you’ll need to follow during your visit, so make sure
you are aware of these and follow them when visiting shops, retailers and
outlets.
It’s important for all of our
students to keep safe, especially those at a high risk. To find out if you
fall into a high risk category and for more information about the precautions
you should take, please click here.
Here are some of our top tips!:
Second hand needn’t mean second best!
Student accommodation often comes furnished
or part-furnished, so check your halls or tenancy agreement to find out. If you
do need to buy some furniture, why not buy second hand? Not only is it more
affordable but it’s sustainable too! And you’ll be surprised at how good the condition
is of some second hand items – it really is true what they say, one person’s
junk is another person’s treasure!
Finding second hand items has never
been easier - buy from fellow LSE students on our exclusive LSESU marketplace
on Paperclip or check out Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace to find items in
your area.
Plus, you could set yourself up with a little Upcycling project! Grab some paint, varnish and sandpaper and you could turn an old unit into a stylish work of art! Read more here about how to get started with Upcycling.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Why not organise a group trip to Ikea? For any of you who
don’t know, Ikea is the go-to place for furniture and homewares. Get lost with
your new flatmates in Ikea’s infamous in-store maze and test who has the best flat
pack assembly skills! Trust us, with Ikea products, these skills will come in
handy…(everything needs to be assembled!)
Of course, you will need to ensure you
are only organising trips with people that the government guidance allows you
to go with, such as those within your household or bubble. It’s also important
to remember to follow the recommended advice, including keeping a safe distance
from other customers and to practice good hygiene and sanitation when in-store.
Check out Ikea’s website for their
safety practices.
Bring your walls to life
No money for Monet? No problem. You
don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy art in your new home.
Prints can be expensive. So why not try making your own? From floral to geometric to motivational quotes, you’ll find loads of fancy wrapping paper or postcards in shops like Paperchase. If you’re more of a music fan, search your local charity shop or record store to find record covers from your favourite artists. Find a few that you like, slot them into a frame (Ikea, Amazon , Wilko or charity shops are great places to look for frames) and voila! – an expensive looking piece of art for a fraction of the price.
Small independent businesses sometimes offer affordable prints through sites like etsy or look out for poster sales at the Saw Swee Hock building (Your Students’ Union – that’s us!
Create your own art! We have the best way to get started with this. Visit the LSESU website and make sure you attend the Virtual Welcome Fair to find art-based societies and events!
You’ll of course need a way to hang your art. Most tenancy agreements don’t permit you to stick blue tack on your walls, so here’s some alternative ideas:
If you don’t already have hooks, you may be able to negotiate with your landlord or agent for them to put some up, so try to start this conversation if you feel comfortable.
Command picture hanging strips claim to leave no damage on walls! But definitely do your research and read some user reviews to make up your mind before purchasing.
Magnetic poster bars allow you to hang posters without blue tack – this is another one to research into!
Cover yourself in comfort
Rugs, duvet covers,
cushions and throws – all of these are great investments that can add a splash
of colour and personality to your room with minimal effort. Better still, you
can use them to wrap yourself warm on those cold winter nights. Brrrrr!
And if you like them
– and why wouldn’t you? They’re to your taste… AND. THEY’RE. COSY! – there’s no
reason for them to not accompany you in your next move. Ikea, Wilko, Primark
and Amazon are some good places to start!
Bring the outside in
Not only do plants look great, but
research suggests that indoor plants can improve wellbeing and productivity
too. You could consider a cactus for a low maintenance option that’s likely to
survive university holidays, or herbs for the added benefit of being edible
(think basil for Italian recipes, mint for mint tea and mojitos, or a chilli
plant if you like to live life on the wild side!).
Shine a light on it
Whether you need to study or relax, the
right lighting can set the mood. Invest in fairy lights and a bedside lamp to create
a low-lit, relaxing environment, or a desk light for when you need to focus on
your studies.
Changing the lampshade on your main
light can change how bright your room is but also lets you stamp your
personality on your space!
Home is where the heart is
It goes without saying that decorating
your new home with photos of your friends and family and personal mementos can
help make you feel more at home. Stuck for where to put them? If frames aren’t
really your thing, you could try sticking them on a pinboard or pegging them to
a piece of string or ribbon
Switch it up
Rearranging your furniture is a zero-cost
way to make a space work for you. Whether you’ve decided to adopt the
principles of feng shui or simply want to be able to access that awkwardly
placed plug, moving things arounds periodically can have the added effect of completely
rejuvenating your room… for free!
Got other suggestions? Better still, got pictures of how you’ve
made your new home more you?
We’d love to see them!
Tag us on Instagram @lsesu with your top tips
and pics under the hashtag #MyNewLSEHome.
Come on, We’ve shared our ideas, now it’s your turn!
