We didn’t just have fun, we made memories.
Here are some of our favourite memories from Term Two…
January
We started the New Year and term with Wishes by the Lakes.
You wrote down your hopes and resolutions for 2023. Taking a moment to set your intentions for the year ahead and preparing you for the year ahead.
We bought the 🔥, blankets and hot drinks!
SU Eat & Meet
In January, we launched SU Eat & Meet - a free weekly hot meal meet-up every Tuesday evening in The Atrium! Hosted by your sabbs to help support students through the cost of living crisis.
SU Bar Chef, Ben, worked his magic and put together a menu of yummy (& healthy) recipes with veggie and vegan options available.
The year of the Rabit 🐇
Led by your VP International and Asian Officer, we celebrated Lunar New Year with free gift bags, mixer, special K-Pop night at The In-Between, SU Makes Calligraphy, Charm Bracelets and Paper Lantern events in The Atrium, and of course - a traditional Lion Dance on the Squares.
student spotlight
student spotlight
Molly Rennie
In January we celebrated Mollie; third year Journalism and Human Rights student and the president and founder of the Hidden Disabilities Society.
In term one she created a podcast with the society called ‘Under The Surface’ - a platform where people can share their experiences with disability and chronic illness. Find out more about Mollie’s journey and the podcast by reading the full story here;
SHAG Week 🍆
VP Welfare, Dorothy, created a week of events and activities in aid of Sexual Health and Guidance. Including goodie bags, takeovers, yoga for better sex, biscuit decorating and a SHAG Week Quiz.
February
Love was definitely in the air 💕
Your sabbatical officers gave out FREE 3 bean chilli kits as part of The Big Plan launch, 100’s of you volunteered your time for SU Student Volunteering Week, we handed out 1000s of free love hearts and choccies for Valentines, and hosted a LOVE Day Party in Sub Zero and Valentines Desi night special at The In-Between.
SU Volunteering Week ✌
SVW23, completed it mate. You came out to support us in force for V-Team’s record breaking SU Student Volunteering Week, with 3,000+ volunteering hours clocked, including the 50 Hour Rebellion, brand new events like SU Volunteering Fair and SU Volunteering Cafe and the the big events;
🧹 The Big Community Clean Up
🖊️ Refugee Teaching Project
❤️ Love Yourself Day
🎟️ SU Volunteering Fair
🏖️ Southend Beach Clean
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ History Month 🏳️⚧️
We celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month with a month long schedule of events to educate and increase awareness of LGBTQ+ History, led by your Trans and LGBTQ+ Officers. Including Sip & Paint in The Atrium, a Community Self Care Afternoon, Queer POC Mixer at Top Bar and Tote Bag Decorating in The Atrium.
student spotlight
student spotlight
Noah Pantano
We celebrated Noah Pantano, first year PHD Theatre student in February as ‘Standing on a Nail’; the first ever queer horror theatre play, which he wrote and directed opened at the Lakeside Theatre.
“When I came to the UK, I got to see some of my favourite horror shows and that was when I realised that they lacked LGBTQ+ representation, so I wanted to create something that would fill that gap.”
March.
2,700+ of you voted in the SU Leadership Election to choose who leads your SU.
Through sun and snow, candidates for your next Sabbatical Officer team were out on the Squares talking about the issues that matter to you.
Your fave Queen was back at SU Bar 👑
Drag Bingo arrived at SU Bar and we enlisted the help of your favourite drag queen; Ruby Violet.
Because, who said that Bingo has to be cups of tea and old people?!
student spotlight
student spotlight
Antonio Ferreira
Antonio Ferreira, a second year Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience student, is an award-winning mental health activist and anti-racism campaigner. He was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Schizophrenia and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder as a teenager, and he has used his own lived experiences to make a difference by advising organisations and has even advised Eastenders on their Schizophrenia storyline.
One World Essex.
We hosted a series of events to celebrate One World Essex, a week dedicated to celebrating our international community at Essex. Our events included the annual Flag Parade, cultural performances on the Squares, a quiz, a fiesta and crafts.
April
Throughout the month of Ramadan, the SU worked alongside the Islamic Society to host Iftar events and a special Eid-al-Fitr celebration.
Whether you stopped by for henna in the day or joined us in your Eid outfits the evening, it was lovely to celebrate with so many of you.