I've not met any mature students and only two other postgrads (although I don't go to that many events or coffee hours). pretty bad considering how many there are at the university but postgrads at least don't start till after freshers week and a lot take on demonstrating hours so don't want to go to socials with people they might end upteaching or whose work they might have to mark. research students also don't get anything from the union when they start and most don't stay in halls so they only way they could find out if the society even exists is if they search the union website for a list of societies etc.
It seems that Mature students are sort of the 'forgotten' LGBT members.
Much like they/we are the 'forgotten' union members.
I completely see that with the vast majority of students falling into the 18 -22 age range, most stuff is geared towards the 18 -22 years olds, and I don't have a problem with that. But I and many other mature students, find the University a bewildering and alienating place. Multiply that alienation by a factor of queer and really, it can be a very weird place to be.
Should there be a mature/post-grad group? Would there be enough people interested? I know the LGBT is supposed to be 'inclusive' but doesn't the lack of mature students showing up suggest otherwise? Sigh! I dunno. I'm in a funny mood.
Very true, i know for my halls social comittee we have a postgrad/maturestudent representative, who regularly is making suggestions for making improvements to their involvement.
I don't know if the lgbt is uninclusive that sounds as though people are actively excluded. But being in the minority of mature students, is probably quite uninviting in itself. I reccomend you come to coffee for a chat, do you know any other mature lgbt at uni?
Okay, but I agree with Jacob: mature students are not at all visible in the community, and I think the first step for bringing about changes like having mature student representatives ought to be engaging the mature student contingent with the existing community, otherwise even if you propose this position at the next EGM then you may not find enough support within the community to affect the changes you want. Come to coffee hour!
I've been to coffee hour a couple of times and been roundly ignored. Age was a factor and comments such as 'you're only here to get fresh meat' were heard. Which, given the fact Im happily in a monogamous relationship of 12 years is insulting, ageist and homophobic. On a men's cinema trip last year the arrangement was to meet on Parky steps, I turned up and was pointedly ignored with the exception of some choice verbal abuse and ostricised to the point where I didn't even get as far as the cinema.
Age IS an issue, but have to be honest and say that I'm not really fond of putting myself in such an openly hostile place again - I'm shy enough as it is.
Now, I really don't know how things are this year, and I'm not accusing anyone of anything, just stating facts, but my experience with the LGBT last year was horrendous beyond belief.
But, having something of a history with the LGBT in general (not specifically Leeds) it's embarrassing and exasperating that a 'movement' that was set up to be inclusive appears to have lost that imperative.
I've been to a some events and a handful of coffee hours this year and experienced nothing but friendlyness (Is that a word????), I haven't felt any hostility or exclusion at all and have only had good experiences of the society so far.
However I would support there being a postgrad/mature representative on the committee as I think this is the best way of enouraging more members from this minority.
Deary me shogg. I know we've chatted on it before, but really that's scruffy behaviour of whoever concearned.
These regular meet-ups aren't compulsary for lgbt membership, there's no reason you should have to come back inspite of fear of harassment, even if not founded. But you've obviously remained a member for motives more important to you than mere socialising (if not, i doubt you'd be around these parts at all); It's unfair not to offer a hand with that. As great as it'd be if you could come to coffee, if still uncomfortable I'd actively like to come see you - bring coffee to mohamed as it were, and invite anyone else mature-friendly.
Would have to be next term, but I'm up for that.
As per a rep I think it'd be as important as an International officer; definitely comparable... and a potential disabled one too.
I'm glad ya say that loooooopy... I know sometimes (especially on a hangover day) coffee can be very non-inclusive, I brought a friend in once, and he was hardly spoken to, hasn't come back... yet I guess I was more lucky when I came, very friendly and i've stuck, despite feeling out of the loop at later visits (it's far less offensive when the company is familiar)... lesson: first impressions are important. Just goes to show it can be awesome too though loopeh.
Having conversed with you previously, I think you are aware of why these groups are important to me and you are right that the social aspect isn't the most important thing for me.....although it is important.....
I got a bit lost with the coffee to Mohammed thing....but if there's a coffee and a chat going, I'm always up for that (starbucks whore)
Am sorry 2 hear u had such a bad experience last year. Don't give up on the LGBT tho, there's been an AGM recently and a new committee have been elected in, as with every year a new committee brings along new changes & the people who've been elected this year are a really nice bunch so I'd give them a shot :o)
Rather than making loads and loads of committee positions, the international officer could change to minorities officer, as there are a small amount of international students in & around the society... say a black british person was experiencing racial problems in the LGBT they wouldn't fall under the category of international student or want to put themselves in that category to get help. So maybe its better to have one person dealing with minority within minority issues and cover such things as postgrad & mature students, students with disabilities and race.
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Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
You're probably right. Too many committee members can lead to stagnation and/or bloated dinosaur-i-ness. Best to have a 'minister without portfolio' to take on the 'others'.
I may take some coaxing to come back, but I believe CrowJake has taken that task on
I really, really, really do look forward to being proved wrong, you know.....I'd hate last year to be only experience of the LGBT and I do have many tales to tell....
Yeah true. Glad Jake has taken it upon himself :o) If u fancy a drink or anything this week PM me and we can meet up... that way u at least know one person if u wanna go along to any LGBT events in the future :o)
__________________
Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
OK, as the new men's officer and a post grad myself i guess i should really say something, apparently "The strict definition of a mature student is someone who starts a degree aged 21 or over." And 26 puts me firmly into the group (depressing as i find that). I only started at Leeds this year so i was new to the LGBT but i found it very welcoming - i'm really sorry to hear that you didn't have the same experience Shogg. That said, it was strange at first - especially as obviously at that very start of the year there are a lot of people who have just left 6th form/college (trust me its odd to hear people discuss their recent A-level results on a LGBT meal when yours were about 7 years ago). Pretty soon though i got past it, even though it is something i'm still conscious of, it just isn't really a factor now. I think the points people have made about postgrads/mature students being 'forgotten' in general are true, and it is alot harder to get involved in things. Its actually something i would really like to change in the LGBT. I kind of know the head of the general Postgrad Society and i might have a word with him about it. Also in my department there is a Post Grad group that occasionally meets up for drink etc so again i will potentially look to contacting a few of those, or possibly departments directly and just asking the PG secretary to send out an email to all postgrads. I don't really know what i think at about the idea of a specific postgrad rep committee member, but i think you're right Shogg - could end up quite cluttered... though i may at some point try and propose a vote to change my own role from men's to 'minister without portfolio'. But i digress ;) I hope that having a somewhat older member on the committee encourages at least few more to come along, not least because i'd hope it shows that we can still be very much involved in the society. Shogg, i second Jakes offer (or if you like third Nic's) and if you'd like to meet up for coffee or something let me know. Also if you, or any indeed any one, want to meet up with me before a coffee hour so i can meet me and have someone do introductions etc just let me know. Xx - Sam, the soon to be 'minister without portfolio', current Men's Officer
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There is a beast in man that needs to be excersised, not exorcised.
Well, there's the annoying thing....the mature tag applies to those who start their degree aged 25 or over. In terms of student loans, those over 25 get a higher rate, if you apply for Access to Learning Fund, you are considered a mature student if 25 or over..... and in the non student world,if you are unemployed, you get a higher rate of benefit once you hit 25, too. So *I'm* firmly in you, whereas you are *barely* in it.....I envy you! Hehe.....I am VERY old. I think what makes it so obvious for me is that I'm of a similar age to most 18 year olds parents. Whether that causes some mistrust (y'know, most of you have just escaped you parents, the last thing you want is one of their contemporaries breathing down yer neck) I don't know, although suspect that might be part of it....and I do have some sympathy with that..... Certainly on my course, it's a major problem for a lot of my classmates. Thing is, I still feel about 22......incidentally, I'm not postgrad, I'm undergrad .....I just started late
As Nic knows, I'm always up for coffee and a chat, so yeah, contact me privately and we can do that....
I would like to be actively involved as I've had an awful lot to do with LGBT's (and their forerunners). I'm happy being a helper-outer and offer advice as and where I can...
Knackered. Gotta go to bed now....see y'all soon.....
You're lovely Shogg! (& an absolute legend for starting Climax!)
Just don't tell anyone ur proper age, tell them ur a well developed 22 year old :o) I've got a mate who was 21 for 2yrs until we moved in with him and found his I.D which revealed that he was a good few years older. Just keep ur I.D hidden :o)
We'll have to meet up soon and you'll have to come along to one of the LGBT events, I'll be around... in official capacity as Caz's sort of WAG/HAB.
__________________
Nic // LGBT Society Events Officer 05/06 // LGBT Assembly Chair 05/06 - NUS LGBT Society of the year 2006(winners) //
LUU honarary life member - Awarded 2006 // LGBT Assembly Mentor 2006 -Onwards.
Contact me at nicturner_85@hotmail.com
Well, okay, I didn't do Climax on my own. Three of us were the driving force after the disaster that was 'Cream'. Haven't been to Climax for something like 11 years, so it'd be nice to see how it's evolved.
We did set up an LGB (the T wasn't around than) Indie/Alternative night too, but I'd hazard a guess that went by the way side. We only used to get 100 or so people at that. Good fun, though. I also used to do pretty popular indie nights outside of the LGBT arena, too. You know, I really don't miss DJ-ing at all...heh. I think my tastes these days would make for a very confusing night out! I almost considered doing a night called 'Arch' last year, but decided against it. It would've ben too....um...arch.
