URN

It has recently been announced that New College Nottingham (NCN) is offering a foundation degree in heavy metal. Course convenor, Liam Maloy has set up the degree in response to demands from students. URN spoke to Liam Maloy and he explained what prospective students can expect to get from the degree.

With many students concerned with the debt they are going to rack up from university we asked Liam to inform us of the cost of the degree and what students can hope to receive for their money.

Students have expressed views about the degree and one said “the only people who may take it seriously are people signing heavy metal bands but the nature of music is that you don't need a degree in it to be any better than someone busking on the street so it won't really help them with employability in that respect.” Liam disagrees with this and explains what employability prospects he expects from future graduates.

NCN have not only received criticism from students but from the Campaign for Real Education who has deemed it a ‘waste of time’ and an ‘easy option’.

On Wednesday 8 May, Sutton Bonington Rugby Teams faced an uncertain future.

Following a meeting with AU reps and the Assistant Director of Sport, the removal of the Sutton Bonington rugby team from the British University and College League (BUCS) was deemed likely.

As Nottingham University strive to become one of the top five teams in the League, the men’s and women’s teams were told that the separation of Sutton Bonington and University Park players was unlikely to continue. A proposal was put forth for the two teams to merge and compete together; a suggestion that Sutton Bonington say is unrealistic and impractical.

The rugby teams from the campus have therefore launched a petition to insist that, if they do not compete in the BUCS, they ultimately face a lack of funding and teams to play against. In essence, the teams would cease to exist.

We spoke to some of Sutton Bonington’s rugby players to ask them how long they’ve been fighting to keep their teams going:

Considering that BUCS ranks teams on their merit which the university then use to allocate their funding, we asked the players how well they’re doing in the league:

Last night The Den played host to the Students' Union Elections 2013, where the results of the week long voting period were announced to a sharply dressed crowd of candidates, their teams and the student media organisations.

This year was a record breaking year with over 10,000 votes cast!

Without further ado, the new SU exec in order of elected:

• Sports Officer: Tom Hicks
• Activities Officer: Will Knapp
• Education Officer: Dasha Karzunina
• Community Officer: Dave 'DMC' Cordell
• Equal Ops & Welfare Officer: Mike Dore
• President: Ellie McWilliam

URN secured the first interview with Ellie McWilliam, our first female Students' Union president in 15 years, a position so tightly contested that only 30 votes separated her from Will Clempner in the final round of counting:

To hear more from the night head to the SU election page of our website.

Student Stories: My Anorexia

We're in the middle of eating disorder awareness week. All across the UK and The University of Nottingham campus there are events going on to raise awareness of just how prominent eating disorders are.

Eating Disorders affect 1.6 million people living in the UK and only one charity provides services for them. B-eat stands for beating eating disorders and they run a 24 hour helpline, online forums and invaluable self help groups for anyone affected. They aim to challenge the taboos of eating disorders and get people talking about the illness.

Two students here at the university of Nottingham who have both suffered from eating disorders spoke to us about their experiences. Jessica Moore has had anorexia for 7 years and Mel daggett has been suffering with anorexia which transformed into bulimia for 4 years.

Through their years here at university they have had to cope with deadlines, love lives and friendship dramas. All while having an eating disorder. They spoke to us honestly about juggling an illness that consumes their identity and trying to enjoy the university experience.

The 2013 Students' Union elections kick off today, with 45 candidates (up from 37 last year) in the running for the various full-time positions, paid to represent your views.

Here is the list of candidates in the running.

President

• Anil Parmar (Students' Union Finance & Services Officer)
• Ellie McWilliam (Week One Exec)
• Gurneet Singh (Ex-NUS Delgate)
• Johnny Lawrence (Week One Rep)
• Luke Mitchell (Students' Union Democracy & Communications Officer)
• Shehroze Khan (NUS Delegate)
• The Dark Knight (Batman)
• Tom van Wesseldine (NUFC)
• Will Clempner (Karni Exec)

Education Officer

• Dasha Karzunina (Ex-Faculty Coordinator)
• Fady Atia
• Jack Law
• James Ince (7Legged Exec)
• Niralini Thayaparan
• Tien Dung Nguyen (DofE society)
• Tyler O'Sullivan (School Education Rep)

Activities Officer

• Anoushka Nayee
• Ben Malone (Head of Music at URN)
• Emma-Louise Amanshia (New Theatre Exec)
• Ryan Holmes (President of Politics Soc)
• Will Knapp (Karni Exec)

Sports Officer (previously Athletic Union Officer)

• Jamie Sims (Rugby President)
• Tom Hicks (IMS Tennis)