Features

Last Thursday the annual ‘semi-formal' Club Awards dinner took place and with the introduction of free alcohol, things got a little friendlier and rowdier than previous years. This awards dinner was a night put on by AuSM to recognise and thank those that have put in a huge amount of effort in organising and running clubs on campus throughout the year. The dinner was held at Dynasty Chinese Restaurant on Wakefield Street and like previous years, the food and atmosphere did not disappoint. There were eight awards in total up for grabs between the thirty odd active clubs on campus with three nominations for each award. Clubs were nominated on how active in running events/activities for its members on and off campus, continually promoting and recruiting to AUT students and generally giving students an opportunity to enjoy themselves in whatever that might be. This year two new awards were created to encourage our smaller clubs on campus (under 15 members) and our ever increasing number of new clubs on campus. These awards were presented as the Best New Club of the Year and the Best Small Club of the Year with the eventual winners being the AUTs Toastmasters and Akoranga 4 Christ Clubs respectively.

Since 2001, AUT has exhibited a collection of artworks on loan from the James Wallace Arts Trust. They can be seen on walls around both Campuses, the largest collection being in the Business School building. The artworks are mainly paintings, though the collection also includes a sculptural piece which is actually made of paint - more on that coming up. The Trust Collection was recently the focus of UBVJ@AUT, which involved interviews for Juice TV around the artworks. Undergraduate students Nick Boyd from the School of Communication and Clare Keegan and Nick Berry from the School of Art and Design took to their task with enthusiasm. 

It seems like it was just yesterday that I arrived in Jacksonville at 3am, amidst some of the most atrocious weather I'd ever experienced - which is saying something coming from a Kiwi. Luckily, the conditions have gotten decidedly better and it's a pleasure to wake up each day and venture out into the University of North Florida's serene campus. Below are some final tips I've picked up along my travels, as well as the costs of my exchange for those interested in taking part.

Study abroad tips  Cash is king: As early as in March this year, I was salivating at the prospect of heading over to the US with $NZ1 buying a massive US80c. Four months later, the Reserve Bank governor decides to give exporters a break and cuts interest rates. To my horror, it was a catalyst for the dollar's subsequent plummet from its previously heady heights, down to the pathetic depths of US58c as I write this (granted, there were other factors contributing, but it's just easier to blame one person). Insulate yourself against fluctuations in the exchange rate by buying cash when the $NZ is high.

The 2008 Majestic Awards, celebrating all that was great and crap about debate in the past year.It wasn't easy to pick random people and make up awards to give to them, but that's why I get the big bucks. That's right, I get paid in deer. Clearly these awards are highly regarded, which is why the only prize is the pride you get from being slightly better at something than someone else. Feel free to put it on your CV. To those who contributed and are not on this list, perhaps you should try a little harder.  Seriously though, every single contributor to debate this year should be thanked and given a platter of cheese and bottle of moderately priced wine. I could never have done a single issue if it weren't for you guys. You kick ass. All those hours you put in without pay make me want to hug you until you can't breathe, but after the "incident" last time, I am not allowed to do that anymore. So to all of you, I platonically love you. Respect.