ASIC cordially invites you all to the second AGORA of the semester. This joyous occasion will take place Monday, the 1st of December at 19:00, in the Auditorium, so please all grab your agendas and write down in capital letters AGORA! This time, the main focus lies on academics; needlessly to say the core business at UC. The topics will be: - Getting rid of the option of taking an internship instead of writing a research paper?- Masters information: how can the situation be improved? 

• So what is that AGORA-thing anyway?

          The AGORA is a platform wherein students can voice their concerns towards the student representative body ASIC and the UCU administration (College Hall). AGORA’s are organized around issues which are currently being discussed within College Hall and amongst the student body. The issues may be academic, residential or social in their nature and may feature anything from allowing the administration access to students living rooms to mandatory class participation. Besides discussing issues set on the agenda, the AGORA also has an agenda setting function. If you feel their the students are not aptly represented on certain issues, or feel that certain concerns are not high enough on ASIC’s priority list, the AGORA is the place for you to let us know!

• AGORA discussion point 1:  Getting Rid of Internships?

         Currently UCU students have the possibility of choosing whether they wish to do an internship or write a research thesis during their last year at UC. However the college administration is on the verge of deciding to abolish the Internship option as a viable alternative for the research project, thus making the writing of a thesis mandatory for each and every student who wishes to graduate at UCU. Are you not planning on a career in Academia or simply feel that abolishing the internship option is unjust? Do you feel implementing your skills in practice rather than in theory will be more fruitful to the career path you wish to follow? Come to the Agora and argue for your position.

• AGORA discussion point 2:  Information about Masters: too little too late? 

          During the second discussion round at the Agora, you can all voice your opinions on the information provided to them regarding potential master programs. As of now, a central information source is not visible or effective. The few masters evenings we have each semester are highly focused on UU programs, or simply too little too late. Why is there not a database of information for programs around the world? How come application due date periods for each country are not routinely posted for students to see? If we want our education to suffer, a great way of doing it is to stop thinking globally. As soon as UC students stop going to programs in the UK, the USA, France, etc. our small and humble reputation will break.

         So, care about the future of UC, your future at UC and afterwards, and the future of all the future UC-students. Drag yourself to the Auditorium, raise your voice, shout something random and let your opinion be heard at the AGORA! See you tomorrow!

Dear Students,

ASIC would like to call your attention to the following:

• Wireless Internet in Voltaire!
• Looking for the cheapest tickets to the US or Canada?
• Teacher of the Year Award: Send in your Nominee!
• AGORA: Monday next Week

Wireless Internet in Voltaire!

It’s fast, it’s furious, and completely devoid of any cables! After a long struggle, ASIC finally managed to install a powerful wireless network in the Voltaire study area, which reaches as far as the middle of the Quad! It does require a password, however, which you’ll be able to find in the email we sent around. In case you have problems connecting to the network, please notify us or the Student IT Helpdesk, which has office hours from 20:00 to 22:00 every Sunday to Thursday in the Voltaire study area.

If it turns out to be the great success we anticipated it to be, ASIC will definitely strive for more access points on campus so that next Spring semester, we’ll all be able to watch Youtube, check our Facebook and occasionally study on the grass, just like civilized students.

Looking for the cheapest tickets to the US or Canada?

Planning on travelling to the US or Canada during the break? Then one thing you should definitely do is checking out www.studentuniverse.com. They have great student deals for tickets from Europe to the US and Canada and vice versa, which can save you up to 30%. All full-time students in the Netherlands can benefit from these deals, so spread the word among your non-UC friends as well!

Teacher of the Year Award: Send in your Nominee!

Can’t wait to get up to go to that 8:45? Does your teacher manage to make every single lecture inspiring, entertaining, a source of valuable knowledge? If yes, then reward his or her effort by nominating your teacher for the “Utrecht University Outstanding Teacher Award”, the winner of which will receive a trophy and a cash price of 5.000 euro!
 
You can nominate one teacher for the above mentioned award, and one for the special “Young Teacher Award” (age 35 or below). Please send a short email to ASIC containing the name of your teacher and why you think he or she deserves this award.

AGORA: Monday next Week

ASIC cordially invites you all to come to the second AGORA of the semester. This joyous occasion will take place Monday next week, the 1st of December at 19:00, in the Auditorium, so please all grab your agendas and write down in capital letters AGORA! More information about the topics that will be discussed will follow soon.