Aidan's JCR

• 30 November
• Michael Lehan Services Officer

Well done to everyone who has submitted a table for the Christmas formals. Because there are two formals this time there are still spaces left, so if you thought you missed it by not getting in on Saturday then don't worry! If you're not on a table yet, or if you've not made it to a formal yet this year, then this is the perfect chance to get a nice meal (for a stupidly low price!) in nice clothes and make creative use of mistletoe.

As an added incentive the first table to submit after I send this email will get a place on the covetted Table 5. For freshers who don't get this, keep in mind that we have 12 tables and may link this in to the singing of a popular Christmas song, of which a certain verse is clearly the most attention grabbing...

Submission Information

Submissions will open 28th November 2009 at 12:00pm and close 2nd December 2009 at 12:00pm

You can submit tables of 4, 8 or 16 on the submissions page.

• 30 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Hello peeps,

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everone for having a great SHAG week, and thanks to everyone who got involved!

It is World Aids Day tomorrow, and just so you know the shop is selling ribbons for anyone who wants some.  These ribbons are a great way to visibly support AIDS charities and help provide treatment and search for a cure for AIDS victims around the world.

There have been 7,734 new HIV diagnoses in the UK reported for 2007, which was just about double the number reported for 2000 (3,875).

Approximately 3,160 men who have sex with men were diagnosed in 2007, the highest number since the epidemic began. Eighty two percent of these men probably acquired HIV in the UK.

But the majority of people actually diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2007 (55%) had been infected through heterosexual sex, and many were of African origin.

For people living with HIV in the UK, the development of effective anti-HIV drugs means they can stay healthier for longer, but there is still no cure and there are cases where the drugs are not effective.

If you want more information the following websites are useful-

www.tht.org.uk

www.avert.org

www.nat.org.uk

So remember, buy ribbons and always use a condom!

Love Welfare Com xxx

• 30 November
• Thomas Hall President

Hi Aidan's!

A brief reminder about the ski trip, the deadline to sign up is on the 11th of December, so get going on it now! It really is a antastic week, ask anyone who went last year, and this year is going to be even better! sign up at www.studentskiing.com, and the club code is staidans.

Happy skiing!

Thomas

• 29 November
• Pinski JCR Chair

Last reminder, last JCR meeting of term, 7pm in the JCR tonight.

You might as well come its not like anyones going anywhere this evening.

• 29 November
• Thomas Hall President

Hi Guys

Just a quick e-mail to remind you all about the housing talk - This Tuesday at 7.30 in the hall. It's being run by Anna, the livers-out rep, in conjunction with the DSU accomodation office, and will contain lots of useful/important information about what to do regarding living-out next year. Please come along, and ask any questions you might have, it won't last too long!

Thomas

• 28 November
• Pinski JCR Chair

Hey guys,

Here's a reminder of what is going on at the JCR meeting tomorrow, hust for something yourself or come along and support people husting.

Hustings for - Senior Freshers' and Open Day Rep (STV)

The election for this will be on www.st-aidans.com/voting. It will open on Wednesday 2nd December at Midday and close on Sunday 6th December at Midday.

Elections for:

Bar Com - Resident Rep (requires interview)

Finance Com - Part I Rep (requires interview)

Finance Com - Part III Rep (requires interview)

IT Com - IT Assistant

IT Com - Web Assistant

Soc Com - Sponsorship Rep x2

Soc Com - Arts Rep

Sports Com - Ordinary Member x2

Welfare Com - LGBTa Rep

Environment Rep.

And a Motion For:

Creation of a Disabilities Rep on Welfare Com.

Get involved.

Pinski x

• 28 November
• Chris Waddell Shop Chair

Hey, just a quick reminder that the shop is selling toasties during the afternoon shifts at the weekends. This means that between 1:30 and 3:30 you can grab yourself a College Classic or a Spicy One on Saturday or Sunday up until the end of term. Remember that it is a trial only though so the only way we can make it permanent is if its popular enough.

Chris

• 28 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Dear Aidan's,

I really did not want to moan at you but can whoever took the word SHAG that was on the board please return it, I spent a lot of time sorting this out and now it doesn't even make sense. 

On a different note it is World Aids Day on Tuesday 1st Dec and the shop are selling ribbons in aid of this.  Please support this cause.

Todays STI is Trichomoniasis:

This is more usual in women, it can cause pain during sex, and/or a discharge.

It can be mistaken for a yeast infection so get treated!

Men can catch it but normally have no symptoms.

And Speech difficulties:

Stammering is a difficulty with the normal flow of speech.  It can differ depending or many things including people and surroundings, and it can be helped by a speech therapist.

Love Welfare Com xxx

• 27 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Hello all,

The time has nearly come when you will not see a message from me everyday. I'm sure your all chanting thank goodness!! But for today....

Herpes:

This is a viral infection, and is associated with sores.

Herpes can spread with skin to skin contact.

You can get drugs but the virus can not be cured.

And disabilities is medical conditions:

ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, this is when a person is constantly tired and finds it hard to pursue everyday normal tasks.

Diabetes is a hormone disorder that can cause problems with kidneys, legs, and more, but it can be controlled with insulin injections.

Crohn's disease is the inflamation of the gut, but it can be treated.

Love Welfare Com xxx

P.S Don't forget to vote in the referendum!

• 26 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Today's STI is Gonorrhoea:

This is and infection caused by bacteria.

It can cause a discharge in men and women.

Sometimes there are no symptoms but it can cause infertility in women.

Mental Health:

One in four people will experience mental health.

Mental health can be anything from panic attacks, stress and fear to depression, self harm and eating disorders.

The way to prevent these are eating correctly, maintaining friendships and relationships, sleep, laugh, exercise and cry!

See you at the formal,

Love Welfare Com xxx

• 26 November
• Jack Caswell Sports Captain

• Lottie Ellicott drank 8 trebles in less than 20 seconds
• Carla Glass spent over £500
• Nick Bailey-Wood was caught setting up a cock fighting ring in the toilets
• Pinski put a hole in the dance floor when stamping his feet to 'Mr Brightside'
• Peachy visited every A & E department in the North-East
• Hugo Bizzle was later found in the pipe-works

• 25 November
• Michael Lehan Services Officer

Its the time of year to get a little bit jolly again as we near the end of term and what better way to get in the mood than to come to one of our festive formals! That's right there are a whole two formals this time, on Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th December respectively. Both will be formal wear with a Christmas twist and we can promise excellent food, crackers, the Twelve Days of Christmas and maybe an appearance from the big man himself! All you need to bring is yourselves, so get those tables submitted!

Submissions

• Subs open 12pm Saturday 28th November
• Subs close 12pm Wednesday 2nd December - no changes to wine after this date

You can submit tables of 4, 8 or 16 on the submissions page. When submitting a table you will have the option to set a preference for which day you want to be on. If your table can make both days then select "No preference".

Payments

• £3 Livers-in
• £4 Livers-out
• £5.50 Wine

Payment must be in by midnight Sunday 6th (last pigeon hole check at midnight). Tables not paying by this time will get coal in their stockings (and no formal) unless you've contacted me explaining why you haven't paid.

Payment can be made:

• Cash or chqeue: Dinner 5:30pm - 6:30pm Thurs 3rd, Fri 4th, Sat 5th, Sun 6th
• Cheque to the "JCR Exec" pigeon hole, your name and the name of the person who submitted your table on the cheque or the envelope marked "FAO Services". Please do not leave cash in the pigeon hole as we cannot be responsible if it is stolen.

Cheques must be written to "SAC JCR Account".

Get ready to jingle your bells and kick off the Christmas festivities at Aidan's!

Mike "planning his sleigh repair" Services

• 25 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Hello again,

Today's STI comes in the form of Aids:

- HIV is the retrovirus that can cause Aids. Aids is the final stage of the
HIV infection and remains incurable. However, through antiretroviral medication
the progression from HIV to Aids can be massively slowed down.
- Although quite an easy STI to catch sexually or through needle sharing, its
very difficult to contract casually (i.e. you can't get it through saliva or
touch)
- Thanks to medical advancements, not everyone who is HIV positive will
develop Aids, but everyone who has Aids will be HIV positive. 

And Visual Impairments:

Albinism & Nystagmus is an inherited condition where there is a lack of colour in the eyes and normally skin as well.

Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the blood vessels in the eye, it can cause slight loss.

Glaucoma is where the optic nerve in the eye is damaged and can lead to blindness.]

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary eye disease where the ability to respond to light is affected.

That's all for today, hang on for tomorrow!!

Welfare Com xxx

P.S http://vote.dsu.org.uk for NUS referendum

• 25 November
• Jack Caswell Sports Captain

Bonjourno,

One final reminder about tonight!!

Get excited, stashed up and head down to Loft for an awesome night- Aidan's only with £2 trebles!!

Sh-wiing

See you there Spartans,

Caswell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYyJL6N4EA

• 24 November
• Chris Waddell Shop Chair

Evening Aidans,

I bring you exciting news of new opening times at weekend for the shop. From this weekend the shop will open from 8:00pm in the evenings. This is just at weekends and is a trial only at the moment with a view to making this permanent across the week from next term if enough interest is generated.

Also, getting hungry during the weekend afternoons?? Well no longer as the shop will also be selling toasties in the afternoon 1:30 to 3:30. Again this is just a trial so if you want to make it permanent then make sure you come along.

Finally, with the end of term approaching (eeeek!!), it means that it is almost time for all of your tabs to be paid back. The shop will be closing for the last time this term after the evening shift on Sunday 13th December and with this in mind all Tabs MUST be paid off by the 6th December at the latest (or some generic large exec member will hunt you down!!). The last time that tabs can be used is this Sunday 29th November. Tabs can only be paid during the evening shifts and if you had one this term then don't worry you'll still have one next term.

Last quick note, Brownies will be back in stock tomorrow for all of you looking for your chocolaty fix.

Chris

p.s Don't forget to vote in the DSU NUS affiliation referendum at http://vote.dsu.org.uk/index.cgi/election/24

p.p.s Christmas Toastie!! Coming Soon!!

• 24 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Good Morning Adian's,

Today's STI is Syphilis:

You can contract Syphilis with sores that appear, they could be internal or external.

If Syphilis is left untreated it will progress through 3 stages, the final stage can cause numbness, gradual blindness and dementia.

Syphilis is most common in 20-24 year old women and 30-39 year old men.

Hearing Disabilities:

Acoustic Neuroma is a benign tumor in the brain that causes loss of hearing.

Meniere Disease is a disorder of the inner ear and is a common cause of losing hearing.

Tinnitus is the sensation of sound (eg buzzing, hissing) in one or both ears.

Lastly Deafness is loss of hearing but the severity differs in every individual.

That's all today, see you tomorrow.

Welfare Com xxx

• 23 November
• Pinski JCR Chair

 Hey guys,

A couple more things to add to the agenda for this Sunday. There will be two more positions going up this weekend. These are:

IT Committee - IT Assistant

IT Committee - Web Assistant

So if your interested, get in touch with the IT Officer Rich Hall and unleash the nerd within!

Also interviews are required for the following:

Finance Com - Part I Rep

Finance Com - Part III Rep

These are conducted by the JCR Treasurer, Jonathon Viccary so get in touch with him if you are interested. An interview is also required for:

Bar Committee - Resident Rep

Dickie will be holding these at 2-3:30 PM on tuesday. Just turn up sometime in that slot. If this is a problem, get in touch with Dickie to arrange an alternative time.

There will also be a motion to create the position of Disabilities Rep on Welfare Com.

As ever, if you have any questions about running for any of the positions being elected this weekend then email me at chair@st-aidans.com or get in touch with the relevant head of committee.

Thanks for reading this far, I'll leave you with this topical FML.

"Today, my girlfriend dumped me proclaiming she wanted someone more like her "Edward". I asked her who Edward was. She held up a copy her "Twilight" book. She was talking about a fictional vampire. FML"

Pinski x

• 23 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Hello Aidan's,

As most of you will know it is SHAG (Sexual Health and Guidance) week, along with disabilities week, this means you will get an email from me every day about a different STI and disability. 

There is a board up outside the dining hall with info, and a Post Secret Board.  There are postcards beside it, and you can write anything related to Sex, Disabilities completely annoymously and I will pin the postcards up.  Please do not take advantage or made rude cards, it is not smart or funny, and many people find this as a great outlet for something they are uncomfortable talking about.

On to today: Chlamydia!!

It is the most common STI, 1 in 10 people are affected.

Can make men and women infertile.

Symptoms are often mild or absent so it is better to get checked! Three quarters of women show no symptoms at all.

Now onto Disabilities! 1 in 7 people are disabled, and 70% of disabilities cannot be seen! This includes physical, mental, hearing etc.

Here are some Physical Disabilities:

Motor Neurone Disease is damage to the nervous system that leaves muscles weak.

Muscular Dystrophy is the degeneration of muscles.

Spina Bifida is when the spine does not form correctly.

Cerebral Palsy is a condition that affects movement.

Love Welfare Com xxxxx

P.S NUS affiliation coming soon.

• 23 November
• Jack Caswell Sports Captain

'Sup Familia:

Just a reminder about THIS WEDNESDAY!!

First L,G & S of the year at AIDAN'S ONLY LOFT - Bring that boom and tear up Durham for an awesome night out - all proceeds going to the Sportsman's Ball!!

Bring your campus cards so the goonies at the door let you enter into the unknown.

Entry = £2 - all proceeds going to the Sportsman's Ball!!

AAANNNNDDDD £2 trebles before Midnight!!

Caio,

Caswell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQIxn7s3ym8&feature=related

• 22 November
• Thomas Hall President

Dear Aidan's

Below is a message from Susan Frenk concerning the tragic passing of Tom Chantry last week. Please be sensitive to your fellow students in what is sure to be a difficult time for many.

Thank you all

Thomas

It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing to you all to announce the death of Thomas (Tom) Chantry, who graduated in Geography this summer. Those of you who knew Tom will remember his vibrant presence and warmth, his dazzling cycling prowess - both locally and nationally - and the impressive dedication behind it. This had been honed in the Doncaster Wheelers Cycling Club, for Tom was one of our proud Yorkshiremen. Tom had also graced the Rowing scene with his athleticism and humour before concentrating on his premier sport.

Tom's intellectual range is evident in the modules he chose in his final year - from philosophically challenging subjects to the technical precision of remote sensing. Together they evoke his deep love of Nature and the outdoors, both through physical  immersion in the landscape and through the ways we reconstruct them in the human imagination.

Tom's closest friends in College will place materials in the Chapel on Monday for friends and well-wishers to express their memories over the next few weeks, so that they can, in due course, collate these for Tom's family.  

Our thoughts are with his family and close friends. Together, let us all celebrate Tom, mourn his early passing and cherish his memory.

Susan Frenk

• 21 November
• Pinski JCR Chair

 Hey guys,

Just a quick note, as ever motions for the next JCR meeting need to be submitted to me by midnight on sunday 22nd november!

Thanks

Pinski

• 19 November
• Chris Waddell Shop Chair

Afternoon,

This is a quick email to remind everyone that Jazz Rock & Cocktails is tonight in the JCR. Doors open at 7pm as does the shop and Ducktails soon after. In addition to all the great acts expect to see from the shop: brownies, muffins, hot dogs, nachos and the club toastie. Tickets are £3.00 or £2.50 with a 69 card which are sold on the door.

See you there

chris

• 19 November
• Jack Caswell Sports Captain

Pre-mature seasons greetings,

A reminder about next Wednesday's Sport Social when we are all going to don our stash and dominate Loft for an awesome evening.

Feel the other Hill colleges tremble in their little fairy boots and the Bailey colleges cry when they hear Pinski roaring and Bailey-Wood farting

Entry is £2  -all proceeds going to the Sportsmans Ball. Bring your campus cards though so that the Bouncer Goons let you through without hurting you

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?? (and its entertained, not amused, like Greg the plank put on the man auction posters!!)

Sh-wiiing.

Caswell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvTT29cavKo

• 18 November
• Michael Lehan Services Officer

You can tell its that time of year again because somehow we still have one table left for the next formal. If the thought of a good meal and good(ish) wine isn't enough for you then Kerrie will be giving everyone who attends free condoms! So if the sexy posters our committee are busy painting get you a little hot under the collar, at least you'll be safe.

Because there's just one table we've opened submissions until mignight tonight and you can now submit tables of 4 as well as 8 or 16 on the submissions page. Remember for those who have already submitted tables you can still move your table around, change wine options and add dietary information until submissions close.

Food Rep

For those who weren't at the last JCR meeting (presumably you had some form of disfigurative illness and were afraid to leave your rooms) we elected Sam Stephenson as the Services Committee Food Rep. As well as joining the rest of the committee in massses of painting Sam is a go-to-guy for any feedback about college food. As with other Services reps he can't just wave a wand and fix things, nor should you go complain or get angry at him because that's not his job.

Rather if you have complaints, compliments, questions or queries with respect to food, meal times, staff or anything vaguely related to the catering here at college then bring them to Sam and he can share them with me as well as with the catering managers at meetings. His email address is samuel.stephenson@durham.ac.uk and this should be your first port of call, though I'm sure those who know him can give feedback to him in person - just remember that its harder to recall things people say to you in the bar than in an email.

Mike "banned from most motorway" Services

• 17 November
• Michael Lehan Services Officer

There are just a few places left for next week's amazing Welfare formal. You can submit tables of 8 or 16 on the submissions page; remember we do record who submits and gets on each formal, so if you've not been to a formal yet then even submitting late should get you on. For those who are thinking they might not come this time because of the Christmas formals don't worry, we run two formals at Christmas so everyone can get on!

If you have already submitted a table you will have noticed that the option to add dietary info was not available. This has now been fixed, so please make sure that if you have dietary requirements they are noted on the website. Anyone can edit their own dietary requirements or change their wine option, it doesn't have to be the person who submitted the table. Make sure you do it before midday tomorrow as we have to give numbers to the servery on Thursday.

Get the leathers ready...

Mike "arrested for offering indecent" Services

• 16 November
• Chris Waddell Shop Chair

Hey guys, it's nearly here, the first Jazz Rock & Cocktails is coming this Thursday. A night of fabulous music, famous ducktails and fantastic home-made cakes (for charity) awaits. ShopComm will be filling out the JCR with fantastic decorations and of course some awesome acts, including:

• Matt Joyce
• Aidan's Barbershop Badgers
• Aidan's Voices
• 'Johannes Brandis and Friends'
• Will Webster
• Andy Moorwood, Hugo Davison, Simon Beer
• Grieve!?!
• Charlotte Allen
• Matty Brown
• Sarah-Jane Adlington, Becca Stansfield and Gemma Bowcock

and many more!!

In addition to the shop's traditional favourites we will also be offering nachos, hot dogs, muffins and the infamous club toastie (Ever wondered what its like to have one toastie on top of the other?)

Doors open at 7pm and the night starts at 7:30 through till midnight. Price is £3 or £2.50 with a 69 Card.

Looking forward to see you then

Chris

• 16 November
• Pinski JCR Chair

Time for the last JCR meeting of the term, and in many ways this is the most important one so far. We have our first STV vote of the year for starters.

STV, I hear you cry? No it's not some kind of sexually transmitted skin disease. It's the process by which we elect the most important positions in college. The STV (Single Transferable Vote) is online, and it gives people a chance to vote preferentially for who they want to win. So if your favourite candidate gets knocked out of the vote, your vote is transferred to your second favourite etc. Candidates also run against the phantom candidate RON (Re-Open Nominations). I'll explain more closer to the time.

So this meeting will see hustings for:

• Senior Freshers' and Open Day Rep (STV)

Elections for:

• Bar Com - Resident Rep
• Finance Com - Part I Rep
• Finance Com - Part III Rep
• Soc Com - Sponsorship Rep x2
• Soc Com - Arts Rep
• Sports Com - Ordinary Member x2
• Welfare Com - LGBTa Rep
• Environment Rep.

Anyone who wishes to run for Senior Freshers' Rep also needs to make a manifesto, handwritten and no bigger than A1 size, to be displayed outside the dining hall both before and after the JCR meeting. For guidelines on how to produce this manifesto please see the document I have uploaded to the website. I'm also going to put a couple of manifestos from last year outside the dining hall as examples. This needs to be submitted to me by midnight on the Sunday before the JCR meeting, so 22nd November. Any problems with this deadline please tell me.

Same as always, anyone who wants to know any more about these positions, either email me at chair@st-aidans.com or get in touch with the relevant committee head.

Cheers
Pinski

• 15 November
• Kerrie Gordon Welfare Officer

Hey peeps,

Well as we all know Helen Jones was elected to liver out rep on Welfare Com last week, and she will be starting contact hours this week... Wooooooo!!

She will be available to all years in the DSU cafe from 3.15-5.15 on Thursday afternoons! So feel free to go and have a chat.

Market Vaults (a club in town) are having a special night tomorrow, with all kinds of music and I have discounted entry for those of you interested.  I'm going to leave a pile of Condom holders (for the discount entry you need to present these) in the JCR so feel free to grab one or ten.

Get excited about S.H.A.G (Sexual Health and Guidelines) week coming next week, and of course the formal, don't forget to submit tables.

That's all,

Kerrie xxxxxx

• 15 November
• Jack Caswell Sports Captain

• 13 November
• Douglas Long Social Chair

oops, your silly social chair forgot to mention that you'll need to bring your campus cards to get free revolver tomorrow night - we don't want you getting stuck outside!

see you there x