Message from the President

First of all, best wishes to everyone on their mid-semester exams! I can only advise you with the immortal words of Ned Stark - ‘Brace Yourselves’ for results are coming. Outside of exams and studying the QUT Guild and our dedicated EPIC Executive has been working tirelessly to deliver on the promises that you voted for. EPIC is committed to transforming the Guild to one that does not only talk, but listens and does.

Already this year we have seen the biggest & best O-Week to date, culminating in QUT taking out the Guinness World Record for Largest Toga Party. We have fumigated the stale urine smell from the old Kelvin Grove Guild Bar and we have also given the joint a facelift, renovation and price makeover (dare I mention the budget beer and uncostly cocktails?). The Grove is now busier, cheaper and cleaner than ever before!

Clubs & Socs are once again starting to thrive under the new EPIC administration with a 20% increase in membership and 30 additional clubs affiliating this year alone. We will also soon be seeing a dedicated Clubs and Societies resource room and club funding is on track to double by the end of 2012. Clubs are very important to us as the life-blood of our vital campus life and we will continue to implement positive changes throughout the year. If you’re keen to join a club or society email clubs@qutguild.com

Our team is dedicated to growing our University spirit through sport development and participation. This year we have seen QUT Sport on steroids with five new sports added to our program: soccer, futsal, netball, volleyball, and basketball. We have had eight new sports clubs affiliate and sport participation is up 800%! Get keen for the biggest Northern University Games and the best Australian Uni Games QUT has ever seen. To get involved with uni sport email sport@qutguild.com

The Guild has pulled through as your Personal Uni Wingman and we have delivered a 24/7 academic hotline, a toll-free help line (1800WINGMAN) and our academic appeals are up 600%. We have just opened our centralised Student Rights Hub at Gardens Point (your one-stop shop for academic help), so email wingman@qutguild.com to make your booking now.

Further to this, we have a new website, new magazine, new services and more good times on campus. Further in the year EPIC is set on bringing new commercial outlets, starting KG markets and are pleased to announce a bodacious, brand new bar with the opening of the Sci-Tech Precinct. We are only a quarter-way through this year and we can all expect a lot more to come, so make sure to stay tuned! (Like us on www.facebook.com/qutguild)

In closing, it is important to note that this progress is directly attributed to the fundamental principle that QUT is not a place for rampant politics, it is a place of learning, diversity, fun, communication and a shared experience to all those committed to these pursuits. I hope we, as a student body, can continue to fortify this mantra and forever develop this University, its campuses and most importantly our Guild into places that every student ultimately deserves.

Keep keen and carry on,

Tasmin Trezise

QUT Guild President