People

National recognition for Essex SU officers

Essex Sabbatical Officers Hannah Essex and Darren Jones have been elected onto the National Union of Students National Executive Committee 2003/4.

Delegates from across the nation elected Hannah and Darren in two close elections. Hannah, who currently holds the post of Vice President Academic & Welfare on the Students' Union executive committee, is the new National Women's Officer and Darren is a member of the NUS Block of 12 Committee which oversees the running of NUS.

Hannah ran as an independent candidate in an election that has traditionally been won by one of the large number of NUS 'factions' or political parties. Hannah's achievement represents the first time a University of Essex student has been elected to a full-time national post within the NUS.

Hannah said: 'I still can't quite believe I've been elected - I'm over the moon! I went in as the underdog but when we got to Women's Conference it was a lot closer than anyone thought it could be. Nobody knew which way it would go until the count.'

She added that she was looking forward to her final few months at Essex and that she would continue to work hard and achieve for Essex students.

Hannah will take up office in July and hopes to make the Women's campaign more relevant to all female students during her year as National Women's Officer.

Current Students' Union President, Darren Jones, was elected to the NUS Block of 12 against 23 other candidates. His specific role on the Block of 12 is still to be decided but will be part-time so he can continue as President at Essex next year.

Darren ran to improve the accountability of NUS and to push for greater Student Activity support.

SU election results

The Students' Union Sabbatical Elections came to a dramatic closure recently with on of the biggest turnouts of in the election history.

Darren Jones was re-elected as President in the closest election Essex has seen for a number of years. Elected alongside him were Ria West, Student Development, Rachael Blannin, Academic and Welfare from SCUK, Hassan Karim, Sports and Societies from Students Aloud and Chia Shamsaddini, Finance and Services who ran as an Independent candidate. Chia was also the biggest winner of the elections achieving over 660 votes and was the first Independent candidate to be elected to sabbatical office at the University for a number of years.

Student's successful snapshot

Study Abroad student Rose Raymond has received a runner-up award in the British Council United States Photography Competition.

Rose, from North Central College, Illinois, is studying at the University and Colchester Institute for a year.

While following academic courses in Sociology at the University, she is taking Introduction to Lens Media and Development of Lens Media modules at Colchester Institute.

With her photo submission, she explained: 'Whilst living in the UK I have had the unique experience of learning about British tongue-in-cheek humour. This photograph captures a bit of that humour in modern London surroundings.'

Advancing human rights in Serbia and Montenegro

Professor of Law Sir Nigel Rodley travelled to Belgrade last term to discuss a draft human rights charter for the new State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Professor Rodley was a lead speaker at a meeting organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The meeting brought together parliamentarians from Serbia and Montenegro and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) responsible for drafting the Charter.

Professor Rodley was asked to address the question of how to give effect to the rights contained in the proposed Charter on Human and Minority Rights and Civil Liberties.

The Constitution of the new State Union required the Charter to be adopted.

Also in the printed May edition of Wyvern:

• A week in the life of Cassandra Binmore
• Academic visit to Vietnam
• Spanish teacher nominated for national award