Arc Board Blog

11 May 2012

April Board Meeting

Last night, the Board met and discussed the following issues of relevance to members:

•   The Chair outlined the outcomes of her meeting with the Vice Chancellor on issues regarding the refurbishment of The Roundhouse and strengthening the relationship between Arc and University Council;

•   The Board discussed its approach on providing a written submission pertaining to the Student Services & Amenities Fee to the University;

•   The Board approved co-options of office bearers onto the PGC, SRC and SDC; and

•   The Board appointed the Returning Officer for the SRC and PGC elections.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions in relation to the meeting.

Natalie Karam
Chair of the Board

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3 April 2012

International Festival

The International Beer Festival held in Week 4 was a fantastic afternoon. Despite a sky that looked like it was preparing to fall like a jug of pale, from about noon students trickled down to the Beergarden to join in an afternoon dedicated to the refined appreciation of one our most beloved beverages… er, well close enough anyway.

In the Beergarden stalls were set up representing the great brewing regions across the world, from Australia to Europe and even New Zealand. In fact, the most difficult part of the afternoon was choosing which four beers to use your card on- Pale and fruity? Dark and creamy? Or hang with those of a sweeter disposition at the cider tent.

2012 04 03_Fest Pic

One of the more unusual parts of the afternoon was the trivia competition run by our own Exotic Beer Society. With questions testing our knowledge of everything beer-related from the taste of the beers themselves to a range of obscure beer-related questions like questions about beer art or the year the first can of beer was poured. Oddly… or perhaps unsurprisingly, more than a few attendees seemed to know the answers to these questions, which led some to wonder if they'd be better off studying a diploma in brewing instead of accounting.

Alex Peck

Director, Arc Board

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1 April 2012

March Board Meeting

Last week, the Board met and discussed the following issues of interest to members:

Our Auditors spoke to the Board about Arc's annual accounts and approved the Annual Report with minor changes;

A presentation was delivered surrounding new Workplace Health and Safety Laws which highlighted new responsibilities for Directors under the legislation; and

University Council student representatives were coopted onto the Membership & Services Subcommittee as non-voting, ex officio members in order to further strengthen communication channels between Arc and UNSW.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Natalie Karam

Chair of the Board

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8 March 2012

NSW International Festival

On a warm and sunny Sunday, I attended the NSW International Student Festival that was being held at Victoria Park.

The aims of the festival are to offer a variety of information and support services to help new and continuing NSW based international students with issues facing them and to introduce international students to Australian culture. It was great to participate in activities like the "slang tree", posing with people dressed as giant kangaroos and find out information about services offered to international students. Some of Arc's most active members are international students and over 25% of our membership comprises international students.

There were a number of UNSW students in attendance, including last year's NSW International Student of the Year winner, Stephen Chikazaza and Ashraf Alfian from the Council of International Students Australia. The NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli presented the 2012 NSW International Student of the Year Awards. It was really exciting to see that Andrea Wechsler, a UNSW student, was nominated as a finalist in the 2012 International Student of the Year awards in the Higher Education category.

UNSW Student Development International and the Council of International Students Australia should be commended on the strong UNSW presence at the festival.

Natalie Karam

Chair of the Board

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