Queen's Students' Union

Feeling a bit like Galileo and looking for something to do over the summer break? ☀️

Check out our list of low cost things to do here: blogs.qub.ac.uk/studentsunion/2024/07/02/five-low-cost-summer-activities-in-belfast/

What did we miss? Tell us your favourite thing to do during the summer in Belfast in the comment below! ✍🤔

SU Holiday Closure Information:

The SU and it's service, including the Pantry will be closed from 5pm today. We’ll then reopen as normal at 8am, Tues 16 July.

The Union Bar has now closed for Summer Break! It will be back from Mon 22 July, serving up tasty food, pints and free entry events!

Congratulations to everyone who has celebrated their graduation at Queen's University Belfast over the past two weeks! We hope you've enjoyed your ceremonies and got your shot at the iconic Lanyon Gates 📸

We wish you all the luck for whatever your future brings! 🎓

Please see below revised Pantry opening hours:

🌿 Tues: 3:30-5:30pm
🌿 Thurs: 3:30-5:30pm

*Subject to change depending on stock availability.

More details about the Pantry can be found at q-su.org/costofliving/ThePantryFreeRefillStation/

Our free Sexual Health Clinic will be closed for summer break from today at 3pm. It will reopen in the new academic year.

For more information on how you can look after your sexual health, including details of other services, have a look at:

SH:24
Free, discreet, confidential service providing STI test kits by post: sh24.org.uk/

Common Youth
Free and confidential sexual health and wellbeing drop-in service to those under 25: commonyouth.com/

Applications for the Parents’ & Carers’ Support Fund is now open.

The Parents’ and Carers’ Support Fund is a small fund created to help student parents and carers who experience financial difficulty which is impacting their educational attainment at Queen's University.

It is recognised that student parents and carers face a range of additional challenges and responsibilities which can lead to financial difficulties, place large time constraints on them and cause stress.

Find out more, including criteria and how to apply at https://home.q-su.org/voice/projects/parentsandcarerssupportfund/

Apply by 9am, Mon 8 July.

CLOSING SOON!

We are looking for Queen's students to come work for us in three part-time, paid positions:

x1 QUB RAG (Raise & Give) Chair
Lead the QUB RAG committee in organising and delivering a range of activities to raise funds for Nexus NI and Carers NI.

x2 Mind Your Mood Coordinators
Passionate about student mental health and wellbeing? Co-develop your own projects and events with a budget to support this.

Find out more about these roles and apply now at q-su.org/jobs

Applications close 10am, Fri 21 Jun 2024.

To capture your big day, we have an extensive range of Graduation Photography options available.

The Photography studios will be located in Mandela Hall, Queen's Students' Union and will be open:

🎓 Wed 26 June: 5pm – 7pm
🎓 Thur 27 June – Sat 29 June: 8.30am – 7pm
🎓 Mon 1 July – Thur 4 July: 8.30am – 7pm

Packages start at £33+p&p. Find out more at q-su.org/media/Summer_Grad_2024_Digi.pdf

We hope you enjoy your ceremony and good luck for whatever your future brings!

Queen's University Belfast

W H A T S O N

Here's what we have in store for you this week:
Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Mon: Free Sexual Health Clinic
Mon: Trash Bingo
Wed: The Mid-Week Music Quiz
Thurs: SU Nature Hour
Sat/Sun: Society Event: QUBLAN2024

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

We're Hiring!!!

We are looking for Queen's students to come work for us in three part-time, paid positions:

x1 QUB RAG (Raise & Give) Chair
Lead the QUB RAG committee in organising and delivering a range of activities to raise funds for Nexus NI and Carers NI.

x2 Mind Your Mood Coordinators
Passionate about student mental health and wellbeing? Co-develop your own projects and events with a budget to support this.

Find out more about these roles and apply now at q-su.org/jobs/

Applications close 10am, Fri 21 Jun 2024.

W H A T S O N

Here's what we have in store for you this week:
Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Mon: Free Sexual Health Clinic
Mon: Trash Bingo
Wed: The Mid-Week Music Quiz
Wed: SU Creative Hour

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

Our recently ratified QUB Women's Cricket Club had their first ever game against CSNI's Women's Cricket Club this week! 🏏

This was a friendly match, allowing students to meet other players and have fun! This clubs is just getting started and we can't wait to see what they have in store. 👏

Want to find out more about Clubs and Societies? Check them out here: home.q-su.org/club-socs/

Moving out or just in the mood for a spring clean? You can donate items from clothes to kitchenware, accessories to books and help raise funds for the British Heart Foundation in the process 💛

Link in bio for full details about everything you can donate. Donation stations are available until Sun 7 July 🧦🍽️ 📚

Upcoming Events!

Here's what we have in store for you this week:
Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Mon: Free Sexual Health Clinic
Tues: RAG Coffee Morning
Wed: Mid-Week Music Quiz
Thurs: SU Games Hour
Fri: Demand Less

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

Applications for our next paid Content Creator Intern closes this Monday!

This opportunity is open to students currently studying at Queen's, find out more at q-su.org/jobs/

Apply by Midnight, Mon 3 June.

Please see below revised Pantry opening hours:

Mon: 3-5pm
Tues: 3-5:30pm
Wed: 3-5:30pm
Thurs: 3-5pm
Fri: 3-5pm

*Subject to change depending on stock availability.

More details about the Pantry can be found at q-su.org/costofliving/ThePantryFreeRefillStation/

In 2021, we collaborated with the Student Wellbeing Service at Queen's to pilot free period products in select bathrooms across campus, including One Elmwood, the McClay Library and the Graduate School.

Following the success of this pilot, the University has announced the installment of 43 free vending units across the campus supplying free pads and tampons to those in need, including accessible bathrooms.

You can find the full list of their locations at www.qub.ac.uk/sites/QueensGenderInitiative/PeriodDignityQueens/

Upcoming Events!

Here's what we have in store for you this week:
Mon/Tues: Community Gardening
Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Wed: SU Sensory Hour
Thurs: Acoustic Session
Fri: Demand Less

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

The recent sunny weather was the perfect opportunity for our newly ratified Hiking Club's first outing!

They hiked to Giants Ring, a low difficulty medium length hike so that members could come along, get to know everyone and enjoy exploring the local area.

Interested in learning more about the Hiking Club? You can check them out, alongside more of our Clubs & Societies at home.q-su.org/club-socs/

We’re looking for our next Content Creator Intern ✨🥳

If you love scrolling through socials, keeping up with the latest trends and creating fun, engaging content, then this could be the role for you! This opportunity is open to students currently studying at Queen's, you can find out more about this paid role at q-su.org/jobs/

Applications close Midnight, Mon 3 June.

W H A T S O N

Here's what we have in store for you this week:
Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Mon: Free Sexual Health Clinic
Mon: Society Event: Qulture Night 2024
Wed: The Mid-Week Music Quiz
Thurs: SU Self Care Hour
Fri: Society Event: Women in STEM Conference

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

Recently, Queen's students alongside our Student Officers, embarked on a fully funded retreat to Derry/Londonderry to learn more about volunteering, wellbeing and sustainability.

The two-day retreat included workshops and interactive sessions on good mood foods, volunteering, team building and sustainability. Participants also had the opportunity to explore the city with a guided walking tour. 🚶‍♀️🍃

And yes they did meet the Derry Girls 📸🤩

Thank you to all students who signed up, attended and made this retreat as special as it was. Also huge thanks to the Renew Retreat staff team within the SU, QUB Accommodation and QUB Sustainability who worked hard to make this retreat a possibility!

W H A T S O N

Here's what we have in store for you this week:
Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Mon: Free Sexual Health Clinic
Tues/Thurs: Free Dinner
Wed: SU Nature Hour
Thurs: Acoustic Sessions

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

STUDENT OFFICER STATEMENT

We want to share our position on the recent student-led protests, here and around the world, in support of the people of Gaza, and update on the discussions between the Students’ Union and the University on the All Student Vote.

THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PROTEST BY STUDENTS

Students have resorted to taking direct action to challenge their universities, local leaders, and governments on their failure to meaningfully respond to the situation in Gaza.

There is power in collective action, and we congratulate students in Trinity College Dublin who have engaged in effective protest and negotiations to achieve meaningful change.

Queen’s Students’ Union continues to extend its solidarity to fellow students everywhere who use their fundamental right of freedom of expression to protest.

QUEEN’S STUDENTS’ UNION PROGRESS FOLLOWING THE ALL-STUDENT VOTE

Queen’s Students’ Union has been in the fortunate position that our university has willingly engaged in meaningful dialogue following the all-student vote in December 2023 to ‘Decolonise, Demilitarise and Democratise Queen’s University Belfast’ contextualised by a worsening situation in Gaza.

Following discussions, the University has, to date, agreed to:

• Call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the urgent allocation of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
• Provide funding for scholarships for Palestinian students.
• Fund University Fellowships for academic staff at risk around the world.
• Put plans in place to become a formal University of Sanctuary.
• Divest from investments in companies recognised by the UN Human Rights Council as carrying out listed activities in Occupied Palestinian Territory.
• Commit to support the reconstruction of the higher education system in Palestine.
• Develop a new Responsible Investment Policy with greater commitment to ethical investment, including fossil fuel divestment and (for the first time) limitations on defence industry investments.
• Commit long-term to regular ongoing meetings with the Students’ Union to discuss the University’s investment portfolio.
• Increase student representation on key University committees which oversee University finances and investments, and the appointment of the University Chancellor.
• Develop a Chancellor’s Charter which commits the University Chancellor to certain standards.

The Student Officer Team will continue to use our influence and the strength of student voice to ensure that Queen’s lives up to its reputation as a university of peace and reconciliation.

STUDENT WELLBEING

As a students’ union our primary concern is the well-being of our students.

We know that those affected directly and indirectly by the situation in Israel and Gaza are finding the current period exceptionally difficult.

We are also mindful of the physical and mental impact of protest on student activists. There are supports and resources in place to help all our students.

The Students’ Union and University has zero-tolerance for antisemitism and islamophobia in our community. If any student experiences concerning behaviours, we encourage them to report them immediately to the University. Our campus should be a safe place for all students.

PALESTINE NEEDS PEACE

The appalling events of October 7 in Israel created needless trauma, loss, and suffering, which cemented further division in a region beset by tragedy.

In Gaza, the devastating response to that attack has continued now for over seven months, resulting in the targeted destruction of public service institutions such as hospitals and universities.

There has been imposed movement of entire populations, and near blanket destruction of homes, communities, and towns. Access to food and water has been deliberately restricted.

All twenty-six higher education institutions in Gaza have been bombed. Over 35,000 men, women and children have died, and many, many more severely injured. The death toll is 1.5 times greater than the entire student population of Queen’s University Belfast.

We strongly urge the Israeli government to accept and honour a ceasefire deal which enables the return of the hostages to their families, the urgent supply and distribution of live-saving humanitarian aid in Gaza, and an end to genocidal acts of destruction.

In solidarity with students across the globe,
Your Student Officer team.

We may be closed today for the bank holiday, but don't worry we will back tomorrow with a host of events for the week:

Tues/Wed/Fri: SU Advice Drop in Clinic
Tues/Wed/Thurs: Free Lunch
Thurs: Roots of Entrepreneurship: The Journey of Act + Acre
Fri: Demand Less
Sun: Acoustic Session

Find out more about these events at q-su.org/Events

The SU and its services will be closed for the May Day Bank Holiday on Mon 6 May. The Union Bar and Union Shop will also be closed on Mon 6 May.

We will reopen on Tues 7 April from 8am.

The only way is up for QUB Trampoline Club! 🙌 They recently competed at the Irish Student Trampoline Open, the largest student-led trampolining competition in Europe!

Congrats to Sophie Lemon, who in her first competition with QUB Trampoline Club placed:
🥇 1st in Lower Level 2 Trick
🥈 2nd for Intermediate Ladies
🥉 3rd in Synchro Roulette

Big Congrats also to Chloe Patterson who placed 1st in Double Mini Trampoline Level 4! 🏆

Want to profile your Club or Society's events or achievements? Fill in the form:
tinyurl.com/ProfileYourCluborSociety

QUB Trampoline Club

As part of our campaign to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our students, we’ve partnered with Queen's University Belfast to offer our students FREE MEALS on the following dates:

7, 8, 9 May, 11.30am - 2pm - Free Lunch in SU Foyer
14 & 16 May, 5.30 - 7.30pm - Free Dinner in Hope Café, McClay Library

Come along and pick up your free meal, so you can focus on your studies.

Food available until stocks last. Vegan and Gluten Free options will be available. Presentation of a valid student card will be required.

From the charming canals of Amsterdam to the sandy shores of Barcelona, where will the SU Survey take you? ✈️⛱️🧉

Take 7 minutes to fill in the survey and you could be in with the chance of winning a £500 voucher* toward a city break of your choosing!

👉 www.surveymonkey.com/r/FH6FQNW

Queen's University Belfast *T&Cs Apply