May 2012 3

Issue 3contents

Autumn

September -

5

October -

5

Winter

December -

6

January -

8

February -

9

Spring

March -

10

April

- 12

Summer

May

- 18

Writers

Rebecca Smith Katie Connor Jeanette Kadia Alex Close Abby Boden Calum Wilson

Comms OfficerKatie Connor

EditorsNikki Lawrence

Front CoverLenette Vlasman

DesignLenette Vlasman

Other ContributionMatt Tams

www.issuu.com/thesaintysj

Get in touch! Twitter @The SaintYSJ Facebook The Saint

A hello from your Communications Officer

Well, what a year it’s been! We wanted to compile this special edition of The Saint to celebrate the year we’ve had and the fact that we’re here to stay. With a new, bigger team on board for next year The Saint is only going to get bigger and better – so watch out!

Hope you all have a fantastic summer and get the grades you were hoping for – you deserve it!

Lots of love,

Katie May 2012

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september 2011

halloween concert

freshers fairby Calum Wilson

A new academic year marked the start of Fresher’s week, where all of the new students were given a proper welcome to the university. Fresher’s fair saw the sports hall come alive with all different manners of stalls, set up by local businesses and University sports and societies, looking to promote themselves and give free things away to students. Fresher’s fair is always an action packed and exciting event, so let’s hope next years is just as good as the last! Don't forget to look out for 'The Saint' team in there September as well!

monster mash halloween concertphoto by lenette vlasman

May 2012

October 2011

The Saint Launch Partyby katie connor

Early December saw the launch of the first issue of ‘The Saint’ online. There were over 200 views overnight and we were all really proud! ‘The Dreamboats’ performed for guests at the party and Matthew McDonald was the DJ. The Volleyball club hands down won their place on the front cover of the second issue of the magazine at the party and SPARK scholarship students came to the party as well.

december 2011

Winter Ball 2011by REBECCA SMITH

Friday 9th December 2011, saw York St. John’s first ever winter ball took place. The entertainment involved live music from Absolute Buble, The Alistair Griffin Band, Montego Bay and Yorkulele. There were also unique Christmas experiences such as snow, meeting real reindeer, rodeo reindeer and snowboarding, mulled wine, roast chestnuts and cupcakes. By all accounts, everybody involved had a very enjoyable evening.

december 2011

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Winter Archiesby jeanette kadia

The story at the bar says “The Archbishop of York always used to donate a keg of beer to the students at the end of term… so we kept the tradition going!!” We had our annual Christmas Archie’s Day on the 16th Dec 2011, which as per was a great success! YSJSU was filled with students “drinking the bar dry” with their friends to celebrate the end of term!

december 2011

Refreshers fairby REBECCA SMITH

After all the turkey and chocolates over the Christmas holidays, the Student’s Union hosted a refreshers fair where we could all join sports clubs and societies in order to work off all the extra pounds! There were two events similar to the fresher’s fair at the beginning of semester one. January 30th saw the opportunity to become a member of a club or society and get involved with volunteering across the University. There was also the opportunity to become involved with outside businesses and charities with a fair on the 5th February. There was a big intake of students becoming members of clubs and societies especially from our international students joining us for an exchange semester. This also saw a big boost in members for those small and newer societies that were founded after the fresher’s fair at the beginning of semester one.

january 2012

Due to the uproar caused by some of of the Rev’d and Dr.Sentamu's comments on gay marriage in an interview for The Telegraph, a protest was held outside the York Minster on 1st February. In response to these comments, our Students' Union sup-ported this peaceful protest. Our Vice-President of Edu-cation & Welfare at YSJ Students’ Union, Dan Rids-dale, commented "For a man who has fought for a prog-ressive society, I can see none of this from his recent re-marks.The chancellor upset a number of students who believe that gay marriage is the next step in becoming an equal society."

A new year, a new campus. The Campus stopped smo-king.

1st January 2012 saw York St. John University become smoke free. Well, during the day to be precise, as smoking on campus is still allowed outside the Student’s Union after 6pm. The smoking shelter beside Skell has been removed being replaced by notices and cigarette bins at all entrances announcing the new habits of the campus. This has been a hotly debated topic amongst many of our campus community, so much so that there was an article written in the first edition of ‘The Saint’ last November.

smoke-free campusby REBECCA SMITH

gay marriage protestsby jeanette kadia

january 2012 february 2012

8 May 2012 9

Funding and first printed issueby katie connor

In March 2012, Communications Officer Katie Connor secured funding from international company Homesense. This meant that the magazine could be printed for future issues! The first printed issue came out on the 5th May and we celebrated by giving balloons out around campus to our readers.

Programme Representatives by calum wilson

There is a severe underplay of the role of programme reps at York St. John, with positions and elections being under publicised. However, programme representatives play a key role in portraying student feelings and opinions on key course and university matters. There are two programme representatives per subject per year and anyone can become one, so why don’t you look into it for next year and be the voice of your colleagues?   

march 2012

February 2012

Electionsby calum wilson

Late February to early March saw the election season at YSJSU. After a week of campaigning, publicity stunts and free goodies for the voters, the six positions up for grabs were filled by the voter’s choice. They were as follows:

President: Adam McSkimming

Vice President Education: Dan Ridsdale

Vice President Welfare & Diversity: Kevin Jones

Faculty Chair Education & Theology: Harrison Rimmer

Faculty Chair Arts: Harry Geoghegan

Faculty Chair: Health & Life sciences: Samantha Tunney 

march 2012

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21 May 2012 13

Sports society dinnerby alex close

This year’s sports & societies dinner was held at York Racecourse and what a night it turned out to be. It was a chance for everyone involved to get together before the end of term and celebrate.

Following a top-notch 3 course meal, various societies and individuals were awarded for achievements and performances in their respective teams.

Becky Louise Manley attended the event joined by her MPS friends, who recently performed in the show Footloose. They picked up the award for best society of the year.

She said: “it’s an amazing experience to spend time outside of working with friends, just eating and drinking with them,” adding that “tonight’s win makes it all the more satisfying.”

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Floodsby alex close

Towards the end of April the city of York was saturated by non-stop rain. Trips to the nearby shop required a canoe as roads turned into rapids and pathways into pools. Not everyone was feeling the doom and gloom however. Various drivers could be seen abusing the waterlogged roadsides soaking passers-by for their own amusement. It was an awful time to be a pedestrian. Nightlife came to a near stand-still. Suddenly the notion of staying in to work became more appealing than 69p drinks at a popular Thursday night student hotspot (not that it stopped me of course). Thankfully the weather has improved somewhat recently. Typical England.

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april 2012

Fun RunBy Alex Close

On Wednesday 2nd May a group of around 89 congregated at a chilly York Racecourse to take part in the annual YSJ Fun Run in aid of the SPARK initiative. Set up in 2005 as a fundraising cause for scholarships and students in hardship, SPARK has raised close to £250,000 since it began: “a remarkable achievement for our university,” said organiser Brett Arnall. One runner narrowly missed out on the best costume prize with

her version of a Bananas in Pyjamas character.

“It’s really intimidating to be around all these sporty people,” she said. “As long as I finish the race and get home I’ll be al-right.”

A successful night was con-cluded by governor Gurdeep Chadha who presented prizes to the various winners.

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may 2012

summer ball preparationsBy abby boden

While many students have been busy slaving over their dis-sertations, spending hours with their heads in books, and gearing up for final exams, the Summer Ball committee have been wor-king hard to bring the dedicated students at York St. John the end of year celebration they deserve. With acts like X Factor hopeful and ex-S Club Junior Stacey McClean, DJ sets from the likes of Corrie heartthrob Chris Fountain, and indie festival favourites the Futureheads, York St John Summer Ball 2012 is shaping up to be the best yet.

On Friday 25th May 2012 York St. John campus will be trans-formed from a plain old university into a wonderland filled with fun activities like huge inflatable table football, laser quest, English tea parties, and our very own Las Vegas (to name a few). With surprises in store for students on the night, you really are getting your money’s worth at £35 a ticket.

However, the side that most students attending the ball don’t see is where the action is most exciting. Behind the scenes there is a team of committed students who have volun-teered their time and energy to making sure the academic year goes out with a bang. Made up of students across all years, the team has decided every detail, from which acts to book and the theme the ball will embody, to how to decorate campus to make it the most magical night possible.

The Summer Ball is run by students for students. Anyu Ro-mero, Entertainments Officer for the Students’ Union, and in charge of running events hosted by the SU, has organised the Summer Ball committee (made up of student peer groups, each taking care of decorating and running a stage) and ensures people are on task to get the Ball ready in time. She says,

“Summer Ball is the biggest event in the Students' Union calendar. It is a fun and great opportunity to get involved in, from making decorations and promoting, to being able to work the night.”

Not only is the Summer Ball a great chance for students to let off some steam at the end of the academic year; it is an excellent opportunity for them to get involved with the university whilst building their CV. Anyu continues,

“Students who are interested in events management, design, etc. have a great opportunity to acquire more experience in those fields. It is a great atmosphere to work in, which makes this place a fun place to work too.”

For third years, the Summer Ball is a last hurrah commemorating the time they have spent at York St. John. For first and second years alike, it’s just a perfect chance for a party. One thing’s for sure though, with tickets selling fast, the YSJ Summer Ball 2012 is an event not to be missed.

02 May 2012 21

summer 2012

The hottest season is heating up with new styles as summer is upon us, and we’re ready to wave goodbye to the fur.

get something hot this summer! by jeanette kadia

women

Appliqué florals –

The first obvious look every summer are florals; so a mix of some 3D applique florals is so Chanel. However, although flowers do give you the utmost feminine look, it is the type of print that can either subtract or add points to your fashion credentials.

My personal favourite: White shirt and jeans, collars and cut out dresses. Collars are a sweet, sixties Peter Pan look, used by Louis Vuitton, and they’re still here to stay. Cut-out dresses are debatable, if worn right with just a little skin on show, they can be sexy evening-wear; but if they’re too revealing they can be tasteless.

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summer 2012

TRENDS TO TRASH!

men

Easy tailoring –

I simply love a guy in formals. As much as jackets don’t feel like the perfect wear for the summer, loose soft-tailored jackets and crumpled fabrics are the most fashionable style of the sea-son. They look stylish and sop-histicated, yet quite laid-back if you wear them with a good pair of denim jeans or cropped trou-sers.

My personal favourites: White shirt and jeans, neutral cotton separates and the summer tar-tans. The neutral colours are a great companion to the Medit-erranean tan, and it looks cool yet sexy. The summer tartans and checks provide an alternative for the big tropical prints. The checks have to be worn well though, you don’t want to go out looking like Scottish souvenir shops after all… remember less is more!

women

Put away those suspender tights; it’s time to say “bye bye” to the mistress look.

Stars and astrological patterns are just childishly cute.

Punky tees/vintage rock tops – put them away, they are shabby.

men

When it comes to shorts, choose the right length. Anything from mid-thigh to just below the knee is certainly acceptable.

Tight sweaters, tight jeans, tight tees – all unsexy.

An overly-accessorized man looks like he’s trying too hard. Rosary beads, crosses, religious bracelets are all religious. Don’t try to make them a fashion statement.

P.S. I promise you, nobody is interested in seeing your G-strings or your Calvin Klein’s!