De Montfort University launches #DeStressU campaign

March 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

By Harry Rogers

De Montfort University (DMU) has today (March 6) launched its #DeStressU campaign to provide support for students who are feeling the strains of student life.

The campaign is a week-long series of events which are open to all students who need a break from revision and work.

Vice President of Welfare and Community and head of #DeStressU, Keira Rounsley said: “I’ve been a student myself, so we understand how stressed students get.

“With the library open 24/7, you can be studying all night, so I want to make sure that students take that me time even if they have got deadlines. I want them to understand how important it is to have that time.”

There will be a wishing tree throughout the week in the campus centre building where ten lucky students will have their wishes granted at the end of the week.

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Head of #DeStressU, Keira Rounsley, hands out free water and fruit to keep students energized

Free fruit and bottles of water will be handed out to students in the library at various times in the week and there will also be an opportunity to create their very own stress ball.

Miss Rounsley added: “We’ve got the big night in on Thursday where students can bring their duvets. We’ve got films, games and free popcorn to take that time away from a desk.”

A report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England found a rapid increase in the number of students who seek counselling due to stress and anxiety.

Miss Rounsley said: “I am hoping (by the end of the week) that there is more of an awareness around the support services but also things that students can do for themselves.

“People can feel really stressed and feel like they need counselling but maybe they just need to get a bit active and get those happy endorphins flowing.”

You can find out more about #DeStressU week at www.demontfortsu.com.

 

Filed Under: Digital, DMU News, Latest, News, Second Year, Video

Demon Media’s RAG event a “success” says Head of Live Events

March 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Demon Media’s 24-hour RAG (Raising and Giving) event was a huge success, the organisation’s Head of Live Events has said.

Dan Wildman described the event as “a great time” which helped raise money for “two fantastic causes”.

“Feedback so far has been really good. It’s been received really well,” he said.

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Demon Media held the 24-hour event on February 25, broadcasting mock TV shows in the style of Children in Need and streaming them via YouTube.

The event follows the student media team’s Demon’s In Space charity effort last year, a 48-hour fundraiser which locked members in a mock spaceship and allowed students to vote for the winners.

Mr Wildman said this year’s charity event, which supported both Mind and Coping with Cancer, was decided following numerous suggestions coming together as one.

“A few members of the organisation team had some really good ideas, so we held a vote to members for which they would like to see become a reality. They chose to combine the ideas together to form something completely new, and it grew from there,” he said.

The broadcast featured De Montfort Students’ Union President, Dan Winney, as well as other members of the student team in various sketches of popular TV shows.

Demon Media members also took part in “embarrassing” challenges, such as being bathed in beans and peas.

One member even dyed their hair pink as £479 was raised by the end of the event.

The success of some of the shows could result in them becoming regular productions, Mr Wildman said.

“A few of the shows are now in our talks to become regular shows on Demon TV, so I’d consider that a success,” he said.

Filed Under: charity, Demon Media, DMU News, Latest, News, Second Year

DMU students react to UKIP leader’s loss

March 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment
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Adam Hendrix said he was ‘afraid’ that UKIP could do well in Stoke

By Declan Lloyd

DMU students have reacted positively to UKIP’s loss in the recent Stoke-on-Trent by-election on February 23.

Labour held the seat with Gareth Snell beating UKIP leader Paul Nuttall by 2,600 votes, despite Nuttall at times being the favourite to win.

The by-election was called after the resignation of former Labour MP Tristram Hunt.

The prospect of UKIP winning their first seat since the defections of Mark Reckless and Douglas Carswell to UKIP from the Conservative Party led to nationwide attention on Stoke.

Days before the by-election took place #AskPaulNuttall was trending on twitter due to Nuttall’s false claims that he had lost a ‘close personal friend’ in the Hillsborough disaster.

Adam Hendrix, a Software Engineering student at DMU, said: “I am so relieved that UKIP didn’t win in Stoke.

“I have friends who live in Stoke and they told me that UKIP had made the political landscape toxic.

“If they had won in Stoke then I would be very afraid that they could one day also do well in places like Leicester and cause trouble.”

Aleena Hussein, a Psychology student at DMU, said: “I voted to remain in the EU because I don’t want people like Paul Nuttall to represent me.

“His poisonous brand of politics is not welcome here in Leicester and I’m very pleased to hear that it is also not welcome in Stoke.”

Filed Under: DMU News, Second Year

Changes to roads anger Leicester taxi drivers

March 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment

By Olivia Mumby

Leicester taxi drivers have expressed their annoyance at the changes to city roads put in place by Leicester City Council.

A driver from A&B taxis, who did not want to be named, said: “The new developments have been a complete waste of money.

“The council have spent millions of pounds on changes to the roads but have actually made the situation worse for taxi drivers.

“They have also removed a car park which made lots of money for the city every year. It just seems pointless to me.”

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Jubilee Square, Leicester.

The changes around Jubilee Square, which cost the council about £4 million, have reportedly caused the most problems.

“The new one-way system means we now have to go all the way around whereas before we could just turn straight onto the road,” added the taxi driver.

The addition of many cycle lanes has also reportedly come at a cost to many, with previously quick routes now taking longer.

This in turn pushes up costs for taxi customers.

However, some would argue that the addition of cycle lanes is necessary after the death of cyclist Sam Boulton outside Leicester railway station last year.

Filed Under: First Year, Latest, News

#DMUpride hosts its annual LGBT celebration for the third year running

March 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment

#DMUpride has kick-started its third consecutive year celebrating and raising awareness around the triumphs and issues within the LGBT(Q) community.

Throughout February until March, there will be a series of on-going events, including a talk by prominent religious figures Reverend Sally Hichiver and Rabbi Mark Solomon on the 16th February.

Third year student, Bradley Salu, 21, studying Sociology said: “The LGBT(Q) events going on is a good idea because we are in a multicultural environment and it’s good to put LGBT(Q) issues at the forefront because it shows we are here and we still have issues to solve.”

He added: “DMU is doing a great job at hosting these events as they show solidarity and representation. Things like this shows people are important.”

From a T-shirt give away to a Gay Comedy Night, there has been something for everyone included within the month’s itinerary.

The message from the events is that students are able to feel comfortable and live as they are without fear of judgement or persecution within university grounds.

The talks on mental health and religion whilst being Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender, Queer may enable students to represent their true self.

The next event will be on the 16th February, where religious figures talk about faith and sexuality, information can be found on the DMU.ac.uk website.

Filed Under: First Year Tagged With:
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