News

The Union opens in Southend

A new social space for students, The Union, has opened at the Southend Campus.

Run by the Students' Union, it is located on Elmer Approach, next to the main University building.

The Union provides the University's Southend-based students with a gateway to all of the Students’ Union’s services and activities including representation, advice, entertainments and clubs and societies. The Union is also a fully functioning social space, complete with a coffee shop serving hot drinks and snacks, plasma screens showing satellite TV, and an American pool table.

Phil Pearson, Vice President (Finance and Services) for the Students’ Union, said: 'The Union will serve an incredibly important role in enabling students to easily access all of our services. We’re already incorporating student feedback to make sure that the facility accurately reflects students’ needs as it continues to develop.'

For information about The Union, visit: www.essexstudent.com/southend.

 The new Students' Union venue at Southend

1,000 donors support students

Almost 1,000 individuals have pledged their charitable support to the University, with donations totalling over £100,000.

Support from alumni and staff for the Annual Fund is increasing, helping the University to provide students with greater opportunities, facilities and financial support.

Last month the Annual Fund Disbursement Group awarded more than £55,000 to a range of projects.

There will be investment in career development, with a series of work experience placements designed to equip students for the workplace. A student business hatchery will be established, for entrepreneurial students to develop business ideas in a risk free environment.

Nightline will receive funding to refurbish its facilities, and the Students’ Union has been awarded funds to further develop its volunteer activities, and provide new equipment to the American Football team and the rowing club.

There will also be a Chinese arts festival, accessioning of 3,000 books in the Department of Art History and Theory and a collaborative exhibition of Latin American art between four University departments. Bursaries and scholarships have also been established in Sports Science.

This autumn's fundraising campaign received a further £28,000 in pledges, which will enable future initiatives to be funded.

Support from staff is increasingly important and over the past year many have supported the Annual Fund, particularly the Thomas Puttfarken Prize; established in memory of Professor Puttfarken of Art History and Theory. For further information, or to make a gift to the Annual Fund, contact the Development and Alumni Relations office, telephone: 01206 874185, e-mail: alumni@essex.ac.uk. Donations can be made online, click here.

Also in the printed January edition of Wyvern:

• Connected by books
• Recycling initiatives
• Curating first