Currently there is a huge amount going on at the RGU Students’ Association! Recently your Student Officers took the initiative to get involved with the Officers of Aberdeen University Students’ Association, Aberdeen College and the Scottish Agricultural College. We formed the Aberdeen Students Forum (ASF) to tackle the issues that affect students in Aberdeen. We have already tackled First Bus to re-instate the Day Ticket at the same price as last year and right now we are concentrating on HMO Licenses.

COST OF ACCOMMODATION

To give some quick background, HMO licenses were introduced as the result of the death of 2 students in a flat fire in Glasgow because there were bars on the windows, preventing them from escaping. There needed to be a standard of safety and so these HMO Licenses were introduced. The cost for the landlord was never meant to be more than the administration fee by the council, however Aberdeen City Council have decided to price an HMO license at a whopping £1000 with the intention of increasing it to £1500 within the year. This has 2 impacts, either landlords dont bother with it, or students burden the extra cost.

We all know accommodation in Aberdeen is a huge problem for students, and this adds to the issue – so this is one thing the ASF, in partnership with the National Union of Students, hopes to rectify!

Secondly – and this is EXTREMELY Important! THE STUDENT ELECTIONS START 24TH FEBRUARY! Reckon you can do my job??

RGU STUDENT ELECTIONS
Get involved and make RGU all it can be!

Boost your CV! Don’t be fooled – you don’t need to have experience to go for these positions, all you need is some initiative!

There are 2 types of Officers – Sabbatical Officers(This is a full time 12 month job where you are paid) and Part-time Officers(you do this alongside your studies as a volunteer). The experience you can get from Officer roles is invaluable – I got elected President with no prior experience with the Union and now I have experience in most job roles as I have been involved in so much since becoming President. Even if you are a part time Officer – the opportunities and personal development available to you are huge.

So take a risk, get involved in something you haven’t done before and I guarantee you wont look back. For more information go to www.rguunion.co.uk to find all the information you need in the candidates pack. As yet there are no candidates for the Vice-Presidents or President Roles, so start thinking about it now!

Election Timetable

Wednesday 24^th February
Nominations Open (you need 30 signatures of RGU students and then hand in your nomination form).

Wednesday 10th March
Nominations Close at 2pm

Wednesday 24^th March
Online Polling Opens. Vote at www.rgu.ac.uk/vote

Friday 31^st March
Online Polling Closes and winners are announced!

For more information email president@rguunion.co.uk

STUDENT AWARDS BALL

The newly entitled Student Achievement Awards Ball (changed from Scarlet & Gold Award Ball) – a chance for RGU students to celebrate all the hard work they have contributed, such as significant involvement in a society, volunteering or being a class rep!

This Ball is on the 26th February and all RGU students are welcome! You never know, YOU might be up for an award!

Purchase your tickets from the RGU:Union shop on Schoolhill which includes a 3 course meal, drinks, transport and of course a Ceilidh!

Tickets cost £26.50 or you can reserve a table for 10-12 people. For more information, Contact Rachel Watson on union@rguunion.co.uk