On Monday 19 October we are lucky to have punk poet legend (and University of Kent alumnus) Attila the Stockbroker performing at the Gulbenkian café.

Attila will be in-conversation with Oliver Double, talking about his career, politics, and his new book. This will be followed by a live poetry set and book reading from his new autobiography ‘Arguments Yard’. The event will take place in the Gulbenkian Cafe on Monday 19 October at 19.30. Get your ticket for £5 from the Gulbenkian website.

These events are for the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive, which was launched at the University in 2013. The Archive received additional funding this year from the University’s 50th anniversary Beacon Projects.

Two American academics whose research explores what some are calling the new ‘post-civil rights’ protest movement will be giving an open lecture at the University of Kent on Thursday, 29th October at 18.00 in Keynes Lecture Theatre 6.

Entitled, ‘The Hate that an anti-hate Movement Produced: Subversion, Backlash and Misunderstanding in of/the Movement for Black Lives’ all are welcome at this lecture, and there will be an opportunity for further discussion with the speakers at a reception afterwards.

Dr Monica Miller and Dr James Peterson (Lehigh University, Pennsylvania) will discuss the current Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S. exploring how mainstream American media has often misportrayed and misunderstood this social protest movement. In particular, the speakers will examine how social media has transformed strategies of social protest amongst marginalised communities of colour, giving rise to both possibilities and misuses in its adoption as a protest platform.

About the speakers:
Monica R. Miller is Assistant Professor of Religion & Africana Studies and Director of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Lehigh University. Miller is the author of Religion and Hip Hop (Routledge) and co-editor of The Hip and Religion Reader (Routledge) and Religion in Hip Hop: Mapping the New Terrain in the US (Bloomsbury. Miller currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Humanist Studies, contributing editor at Marginalia, and is a member of the Culture on the Edge international scholarly collaborative.

James Braxton Peterson is the Director of Africana Studies and Associate Professor of English at Lehigh University. His first book, ‘The Hip Hop Underground and African American Culture’ was published on Palgrave Macmillan press (2014). Peterson hosts ‘The Remix’ – a podcast that engages issues at the intersection of race, politics, and popular culture. He writes for the Huffington Post and The Guardian.

The University is pleased to welcome applications for scholarships from enthusiastic students who are interested in providing opportunities within Medway’s local and campus communities in 2015/16.

The Medway Community Scholarship offers students a great way to demonstrate leadership, enthusiasm and organisational skills – essential to future employers.

Application is open to all Kent students enrolled at Medway from all stages, disciplines and modes of study. Projects can be run in sport, arts, music, culture or any other discipline.

What’s included in the Scholarship?

• £1,000 financial support to cover personal expenses and project running costs
• Advice, training and project management support from the Student Activities and Scholarships Officer in delivering your project
• Personal and employability skills development
• Access to additional project funding dependent on the nature and quality of the individual scholarship project

Successful applications will demonstrate the following;

• A project brief which exhibits careful thought and planning
• An inclusive project which benefits the local or campus community
• Demonstrable benefits and outcomes for participants
• Evidence of commitment to past projects completed will also be considered.
• Each application is considered on its individual merits by the scholarships board.

Great, how do I apply?

Download an application form and return to medwayscholarships@kent.ac.uk

For more information contact Jack McDonnell, Student Activities and Scholarships officer, based in Medway Building M2-12.

Please note: the award of a scholarship does not confirm an offer to study at the University of Kent. Scholarships can only be awarded for extra-curricular projects for which the applicant is not receiving academic credit or payment. Recipients of other scholarships may still be eligible for a Medway community scholarship if they meet the award criteria.

This week is Mental Health Week. Join Kent Union’s campus conversations about mental health, where they will be challenging the stereotypes, highlighting the myths and bringing you wellbeing sessions.

Can you make a difference? Sometimes just by doing the little things, like asking someone how they are, is all it takes to let someone know you’re still thinking about them and this can make a big difference to their day.

Throughout this week, there will be a number of events taking place.

Monday 12 October
Check out Kent Union’s social media channels where they will be shedding light on myths that surround mental health.

Tuesday 13 October
Time to Change Fair: Head to the Plaza and pledge a change in exchange for a free ride on the tea cups and have a photo with your friends.

Wednesday 14 October
Mindfulness Sessions: An integrative, mind-body based approach that helps people manage their thoughts and feelings. Book your place at: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mindfulness-session-tickets-19014651334

Thursday 15 October
Mindfulness Sessions: UKC Mental Health Group are bringing therapy dogs to campus! You can book a 10 minute at: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/therapy-dogs-tickets-19015008402

Friday 16 October
The therapy dogs will be on campus again so if you are unable to attend on the Thursday, book at: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/therapy-dogs-tickets-19015008402. Also, buy a friend a tea in the Library Cafe and get one free for yourself.

Date: Tuesday 20 October

Time: 13.00-14.30

Venue: Darwin Conference Suite

Who? All new international students (UG and PG) at Canterbury and Medway.

What?  Come along to the International Student Experience Fair and learn how you can enhance your studies and improve your wellbeing during your time at Kent. Enjoy an afternoon of cake and refreshments, and find out more about the support services available to international students.

Perhaps you need help with your studies, or you’d like to attend workshops to enhance your employability? Would you like to take part in wellbeing activities or attend one-to-one counselling? Find out more at the fair. They’ll be a prize draw and the opportunity to win Amazon vouchers. An event not to be missed!

**There is no need to book the event, just turn up on the day**

The Canterbury Street Marshal scheme was launched during arrivals weekend on Saturday 19^th September, and operated throughout fresher’s week. During the first two weeks of the schemes operation the Street Marshals have been very busy, with over 800 contacts with students and local residents, which ranges from providing advice and directions, to delivering first aid and on one occasion calling the emergency services and requesting an ambulance.

The contact and feedback to date has been very positive and all sectors of the local community have welcomed the Street Marshals patrols.

The primary aim of the scheme is to safeguard students and other residents as they transit through the designated patrol areas, ensuring they are safe, well and able to continue their journey home. It is intended the Street Marshals provide a reassuring presence to both students and local residents, so if you have any concerns whilst walking through the designated areas please approach the Street Marshals who will be pleased to assist.

The Street Marshals operate in male and female pairs, patrolling in the following residential areas during University term time:

St Michaels area – Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights – 23:00-04:00

Club Chemistry / Martyrs Field area – Wednesday and Friday nights – 23:00-05:00

Sturry Road / Northgate area – Wednesday and Friday nights – 23:00-05:00

All Street Marshals are Security Industry Authority accredited, have been vetted by Kent Police and undertaken training prescribed by the Association of Chief Police Officers under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. All have been selected for their professionalism, friendliness and communication skills in this unique role in Canterbury.

The scheme will operate as a trial for one academic year and is funded by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.

Further details on the scheme can be found at www.canterburystreetmarshals.org or if you would like to contact the Community Liaison Officer, Suzanne Ridley, for further information please email Contactus@kent.ac.uk.

The University’s dedicated incubator, Kent Enterprise Hub has moved and is being relaunched to enable the University to support its growing number of student and staff entrepreneurs.

The new Hub for Innovation and Enterprise (HIVE) situated at the Canterbury Innovation Centre (CIC) will act as the new base for student entrepreneurship, start-up support and a start-up incubation space at the University.

The new open plan office environment includes hot desks for budding entrepreneurs all situated conveniently just a short distance from central campus amongst a thriving business environment within CIC.

HIVE is supported by two key strands:  Student Enterprise to support students with their entrepreneurial ideas and Start Up for potential business owners looking to take their innovative ideas forward.

HIVE is able to support the growth of the company through a variety of additional services for up to three years providing a stable platform and base for the business.

Entrepreneurs will be able to:

• Develop their business idea
• Access to sector specific mentors
• Business advice sessions
• Seminars, exhibitions, monthly events and competitions

Marcus Wright, Enterprise Manager said: ‘After 11 years of dedicated incubation space and enterprise support for students, staff and alumni, it is fantastic to receive support from the University for the continuation and growth of these activities. Kent is recognised as leading the way in student enterprise and start-up creation.

‘In addition to Kent’s students, staff and recent alumni graduates from across the UK and world-wide will be able to access HIVE, firmly embracing the University’s European and international approach.’

If you are interested in launching your own start-up business or simply looking for professional advice to pursue your entrepreneurial dream, then contact the HIVE team at 01227 824641 or email hive@kent.ac.uk.

Follow us on Twitter: @UniKentHive

An innovative mobile art space, ROOM, will soon be sited outside the Pilkington building on the Medway campus as a main campus presence for fine art and music, with plans for a series of residencies, projects and events through the year, thanks to Tim Meacham, Lecturer in Fine Art & Partner College Liaison Officer at the School of Music & Fine Art.

ROOM is a studio and gallery inside a shipping container which transforms a familiar utilitarian object into a comfortable, mobile environment, moving regularly to new locations across the South East to create a flexible space for making and showing art.

Commissioned in 2010 by Art at the Centre Swale, architect/artist Simon Barker designed a series of window boxes in the container’s skin, each with a distinctive character, filling it with natural light and setting up visual connections between the space of the interior and the surroundings.

Says Tim, “ROOM will be a student bookable space helping to extend activities beyond the studio. It responds to and reflects the growing interest in engaged practice. ROOM will be managed by a cross school student group (fine art, EED and Music) overseen and supported by academics.”

For more information on ROOM go to https://roomnorthkent.wordpress.com
and https://www.kent.ac.uk/smfa/news.html?view=1709