Green drive supported

DURHAM Students' Union is backing a nationwide "green electricity" campaign. The campaign aims to persuade energy users, including universities, who spend millions of pounds a year on electricity, heat and light, to switch to renewable forms of energy. Students' Union representatives have already lobbied the Vice-Chancellor of Durham to ensure that the energy contracts that are currently out to tender will take renewable energy issues into account. If Durham is prepared to make this commitment to the environment, it will join other universities, such as Edinburgh, in a 100 per cent commitment to renewable energy.

DIVERSITY CHALLENGE: In its commitment to equality, the University of Durham is introducing a Diversity Strategy to promote an atmosphere that emphasises good relations between people of all races, disabilities and abilities, sexuality, religion, ethnicity and gender. The Students' Union has been involved with formulating the direction of the plan, which involves promoting the university to all sections of the community, especially those where Durham students and staff may be under-represented. The project sees Durham looking forward to exciting changes, which will see a new community of students and staff emerge.

GETTING INVOLVED: As part of his commitment to the City of Durham, the incoming Durham Students' Union president, Ben Wood, has written to local community associations to express support for their work and to offer input to the work that they do. Although he does not officially take over his role until July, he is keen to emphasise his commitment to the role of students in the community and felt this was a good way to start. "As all of our students live in the community of Durham, I value the importance of the student body putting something back into the place where they live, and this seemed like a good way to demonstrate that."

MAJOR HITCH: Exams may soon be over, but it seems Durham students will still be keeping busy. As part of many of the activities that Duck (Durham University Charities Kommittee) is involved in, large numbers of students are expected to take part in hitchhikes from Durham to Bristol and Newquay to raise money for charity. In addition, students will travel to venues such as Manchester and Leeds to complete the year's "rag-raid tour" where volunteers will raise money for charities and local and national causes.