STAMPEDE IN THE LIBRARY

DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES

Nobody likes deadlines and nobody likes doing work, apart from the guy that's always in the corner of the library on the silent floor, with a blue brio, lined paper, a 10stack pile of books, and eyes fixated on the computer screen. It does worry me that I am able to describe him so well, but anyway... what I'm basically saying is that we all like to procrastinate. Deadline are set as a guideline but we all choose to see them as some sort of finishing line. What's the point of finishing before the finishing line? There isn't, so lets all leave it til the very last minute.

This was clearly the case at 5.59pm last week when I was minding my own business, strolling through the aisles of books trying to find 'Music Marketing for Dumbies' when i was literally shoved across the room by a stampede of girls running to summit there work for 6.00pm. After I recovered from the state of shock. Round Two. This time a group of big guys who were clearly unaware that their work was late because it was 6.01pm by my watch... or maybe they were aware and thats why the were sprinting up to the same speed of the zebras below.



Running is tiring and annoying and we don't really want to have to do it in the library, especially if there's a cute guy nearby so submit your work a tad bit earlier! This way you don't suffer from embarrassment because you run like a twat and you don't get stuck in a queue outside the hand in box, identical to the image below. So don't leave it til the last minute you lazy bunch of animals!!



CHLOE.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. SO TAKE ADVANTAGE

The University of Westminster harrow campus is for Media, Arts and Design subjects... also known as MAD, not only because of the abbreviation but because everyone here is actually a little MAD. The quirkier the better I say

I study Public Relations as you know, but I think you've gotten to know a bit about what I'm like so it's time to meet a few of my lovely PR classmates.. who you will see drifting around Uni next year when you come.

Emily Church
MUSIC PR

Want to know anything about music, come to Emily. She writes reviews on single and album releases, which means she gets loads of freebies. Yeah makes me jealous but life's a bitch. She also knows how to enjoy a good drink and seeing as her 21st is only round the corner all i have to say is DRINK UP OLD LADY!



Linda Gunmoyero
CORPORATE PR

Until this day I've never met anyone who projects such truth and enthusiasm, regardless of what she's talking about. Honestly, Linda could stand at the front of the class and promote proven research behind eating your own feces as being part of a healthy diet and you WOULD run home sit on the toilet and do the business for dinner, after giving her a standing ovation that is. Great characteristics for putting forward pitches in the future.



Faab Mack
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PR

Quite frankly I avoid the topic of football around Faab because I like to leave promptly after a lecture, not 2 hours later. Having a passion about a subject is an attribute when working for an in-house company in the PR industry though... just as long as you leave you little cocoon enough to keep up to date with general news too.


Sarah Yang
INTERNATIONAL PR

Sarah is FULL OR LIFE even on her worst days. Currently she is relaxing on the sunny side in Morocco, again jealousy is far too familiar when I'm around the people on my course. A little jealously is healthy though, it makes me feel better if I tell myself that. This young lady has the power to turn a frown to a smile, and therefore I'm certain she has the skills to turn a PR disaster into PR genius!



This campus is also home to Music, Fashion, Illustration, Film, Photography and Journalism (as well as many more creative course) students. So take advantage! PR gives you the oppurtunity to go into almost every job sector... so make contacts now! Obviously they can be your friends whilst at University but the trick is to keep them close when you're older too... that sounds awfully using! but it'll help you in the future.

CHLOE.

SMALL BUT BIG

To Halls or not to Halls?

The rooms on any University campus are pretty much teeny and I'm sorry to say that the standard room size in halls at the University of Westminster is no different, unless you wanna be a bit of a snob and pay extra for premium... the offer is there for you to decide. So your bedroom space is small, your wardbrobe is small and the bathroom is ridiculously small. I suppose if you wake up at 9.45 and your lecture starts at 10 you know you can pee, shower and brush your teeth at the same time, although that takes a lot of talent so you're probably just going to have to face being late.

Size leads to multiple problems including MESS. You have to be able to keep ontop of a routine when you move out of your family home and into your own pad (or box in this case) because living in mess can effect your mood and concentration on all of that coursework your doing the day before the deadline. I know we're students and we're allowed to be messy at this stage of life but it's still a pain.. and we don't want additional pains ontop of having to get up for 10o'clock lectures after getting in at 5. So never let your bedroom reach this level of mess. Ever. It's for the best




Lack of space also means communal kitchens! I suppose this isn't too bad though because they are pretty big at the University of Westminster so that means you can have halls party's in your kitchens.. which is always fun.. but then that means cleaning up the next day. This is where the problems start. NOONE WANTS TO CLEAN. You would think that when someone eats off of a plate they would clean their own mess up after, instead they dont and one plate becomes 5. Then theres a halls party and stinky drinks get spilt, a few plates smashed which is good I guess because then you don't have to wash that one up, but crap goes all over the floor. This pills up and up until it looks like this:



...so take my advie and clean up after yourself!!

Halls is small but the sense of being part of a community is super BIG and it doesn't get any better than that. Living in dirt and mess wouldn't bother you at all because you have all of your friends around you and that's whats most important. This is starting to sound all soopy and lovey dovey but it's true! Friends make everything seem alright, especially the friends that you have the chance to make at the Univeristy of Westminster... I'm pretty certain the harrow campus has the nicest people of them all aswell. They're all arty, creative freaks, but the loveliest friends ever.

CHLOE.

GENERAL ELECTION 2010

Who Wins?

You Decide.

and whilst you're deciding every political party will be forcing PR tactics into the media every left, right and centre... just like Labour, The Conservatives and The Liberal Democrats are. Gordon Brown begins the battle by declaring that the general election will take place on 6th May, urging British citizens not to put their country 'at risk' as it is currently on the 'road to recovery'. What he really means by this is 'VOTE LABOUR, PICK ME'. This is just a teeny example of spin though... twisting the truth so that it sounds more appealing to it's audiences. Well Gordon, we didn't fall for that one!

On 3 April the Labour party's PR team continued to demonstrate some tactics used to help gain votes, or in this case try and stop the Conservatives from pinching any from them! Their first political poster was unveiled and was created by a member of the public. It shows David Cameron as Gene Hunt (a politically incorrect TV star)quoting 'Don't let him take Britain back to the 80's'. Clever idea. This tricks us, the general public, into thinking that Labour has our best interests at heart by involving one of us in this stunt and by protecting us from the HORROR of Thatcherism!! And I think that it's safe to say most of us want protecting from that!




Never fear, The Conservatives fight back throwing a pretty lame punch with their 'wonkish manifesto'. Even those in favour of the party criticised it for trying to give the public too much control. I don't wan to run my own public services or airlines, or phone company thanks! I've got enough stuff to do, like making this deadline! and I'm pretty sure no one else can be arsed to do all of these things themselves either... stop trying to suck up to the public and be realistic please. At this point I'd just like to take a minute to reflect and ask what exactly the Conservative party's PR team were busy doing?? Other than portraying Sam Cam positively in the media... nothing, yeah that's what it seems like with all of this this negative coverage.




But anyway, the race between the three main political parties is the tightest we've seen in a long time. The public showed huge favour towards the Liberal Democrats after the TV debates and Nick Clegg's head has noticeably expanded. 70% of people said they feel more engaged with politics because of the TV debates and I'm sure Clegg's PR team are pretty chuffed about that.

One of my personal favourites among all the campaigns that are running over the election period has to be Pizza Express' pizza portraits of the party leader's.
Gordon Brown's toppings are: Fiery chilli and ground beef
David Cameron's toppings are: Rocket and Rocket
Nick Clegg's toppings are: Fresh tomatoes and spicy sausage
Seems to me that the toppings are deliberately chosen and Pizza Express think that The Conservatives are boring and plain, that Labour's thick and their plans are harder to digest, and The Lib Dems would be a nice fresh start, that's just my interpretation.. it's pretty obvious they mean that though.

So, whoever you decide to vote for... let's have a laugh at all three of them anyways because some of these vandalised campaign posters are hilarious!! Here's some of my favs:
















CHLOE.

ACCEPTABLE IN THE 80's

Wanna take part in a bit of fancy dress?

Fancy a bit of 80's music?

If you answered YES to either question then 80's Night at Area 51 (Student Club) and after party in Halls is where you should be at. It's past now though so you won't be able to go. I can just tell you about it instead and you can just pretend that you came. You're not even a Uni student yet so you can let this be you're first real experience of a student party. Students partys are THE partys of all partys and this is because of four short, sweet and simple reasons.


1. YOU GET TRASHED

Drinks are cheap at the SU and the Student Club so you might as well keep them coming, non stop, for the whole night. Everyone else will be and you don't want to look like the sensible one sipping slowly, enjoying the flavour... JUST DOWN IT. Of course it's not always about getting drunk, you get to be around all of your friends as well as meet new people. But they do say alcohol is an ice breaker.. so yeah just get drunk.


2. ITS OKAY TO MAKE A FOOL OF YOUSELF. EVERYONES TRASHED


You know when you go to a club up West and you have a few or a lot of drinks before you leave, and then you get there and you're really drunk and theres loads of pretentious people there all looking down on you because you're fooling around, and being stupid, and just looking like an "immature student". Well you don't need to worry about that at University at the halls parties, because everyones "students" and everyones too drunk to notice or even remember what they were doing let alone what you were doing. So drink up, it's fine.


3. IT'S A MESS ANYWAY

Sometimes I really hate having partys in my own home because the house gets messy and dirty which means it has to be cleaned up, and it's all just a pain. Well the SU has workers so theres no need to worry about that... and people's bedrooms in halls are just filthy anyways so a couple more spilt drinks isn't going to make that much of a difference. Some people must like living in dirt because some rooms I've seen are really quite disturbing... so aslong as the partys are being thrown there then making mess is not a problem!


4. NO EXPENSIVE CAB JOURNEYS HOME


After you've spent loads of money, technically not that much but you're a student so you're always broke, the last thing you want to have to do is get a cab home. Partys in halls solve this problem in an instant. Even if you don't personally know someone with a room, someone you know will know someone else who's rooms is just down the corridoor and round the corner. And it's fine the more the merrier so don't fuss about it being a teeny, single bed... be grateful that you're not paying more money you don't have to travel home.

The University of Westminster has 2 Student Union Bars and a Student Club, plus lots of accommodation room for you to stay in, so come and study here!

CHLOE.

FAMILY AFFAIRS

Ok so I didn't get into halls because they're oh so popular but it's fine, I live in a lovely house that's in walking distance from Uni and loads of our friends live nearby. It's quite good this way because I get the best of both worlds, near Uni but far way enough to escape when I need too. Perfect. Everyone was saying crap like "Oh it's going to be scary living alone" and "You're going to miss having everything done for you", but if I'm honest i was excited! As much as I love my family I was looking forward to having a fresh start and I thought that when I moved away from home I'd leave the 'family household structure' behind, instead I've just dumped myself into another. Once we'd all settled down (4 girls) and no longer classed one another as strangers,I started to see each of them portray three of the stereotypical family members.

THE MOTHER

I didn't have a lot of practice in cooking for myself so at first 'The Mother' was pretty amazing, always cooking meals for the two of us to share, and only demanding that I cut the garlic.. which after a while became extremely frustrating as it made my hands stink for days, but she's pretty much obessesed with it so I had to do my part. I smelt for the first 4 weeks.

So far she sounds a treat, but we haven't discussed the nagging that mothers feel the need to do about cleaning. Back at home my real mum always went on about "noone ever helping with the cleaning" and unfortunaely this sentence still resounds through my new house. I entered the door one day too no hello's just "I'm the only one who cleans in this house, I've cleaned the floor three times this week, I'm going to make a cleaning rota... Can you put the bin out now please" I responded with "Oh ok 2 minutes".... 4 minutes passed and "Fine I'll do everything myself" was shouted my way! Not cool.

She's still 'The Mother' though because no matter what, arguements or annoyance, 7am or midnight, I can waltz into her bedroom, get into her bed, and talk about my troubles and she's there to listen... just like all the best mums out there are! Couldn't have asked for a better second Mother.


THE OLDER BROTHER

Now back home I don't have an older brother which used to upset me abit when I was younger, I've always wanted one, until moving to harrow and discovering what living with one would be like. 'The Older Brother' is of course not male, because we're all girls in the house, but I'm pretty sure that men behave similarly to her. When any bills get posted through the letterbox it's usually time to run and hide, preferably under my bed, as it provides the best protection from any possibile angry outlashes. "WHAT THE FOOK IS THIS!! I'M NOT PAYING COUNCIL TAX, GET THE BILL OUT OF MY NAME!" is just an example of a situation that was easy rectified yet blown thousands of miles out of proportion - typical male behaviour when it comes to money business.

As a younger sister you get to witness the stage of your older brothers life when they lock themselves away for hours on end in their bedroom because they have discovered the wonders of porn, well I have witnessed this with 'The Older Brother', but minus the porn... she just likes to lock herself away.

Don't get me wrong though older brothers aren't all that bad they just choose to keep themselves to themselves, and it's those rare moments when they open up and cook you the most amazing veggie burger out of nothing but generousity at 2am, that you know you still have love for them. Oh and not forgetting that 'The Older Brother' is like a human encyclopedia, always useful!


THE SISTER

In whatever country and whichever household 'The Sister' is always the supplier or clothes that are better than your own, and 'The Sister' in my new house fulfils this role beyond expectations! I'm not sure a wardrobe can get any better than the one which lives in the downstairs bedroom of number 57, and like all younger sister's I find myself dreaming of one day looking as good at that age as 'The Sister' does now.

My two real sisters are pretty much the bees knees, but 'The Sister' I live with now has managed to fill the position of "the sister that's you're best friend". It's gotten to the point where it only takes 1 day to pass without communication and that theme tune for the TV programme "Sister! Sister! Never knew how much I missed ya!" is on repeat in my head! Constantly filling rooms with laughter... about absolutely nothing let me point out... and grooving to much loved old school tunes "CHECK OUT MY GRAVEL PIT" (yes we do run simultaneously to any dancefloor if this comes on)... and occassionally catching a cab because we don't want to take a 5 minute walk in the rain, is pretty much all we do.

'The Sister' does have the tendancy to spray alcoholic drinks across bars from her mouth.. and stick nudity up on her bedroom walls.. but the random, pleasant texts and spontaneous trips to Junction for Brunch (the best pub in harrow, and thats saying something) is why I love her like I do my real sisters.

Basically don't bother research your housemates before you move in with them, because if you're as lucky as I am then there is no need whatsover!

CHLOE.

CONTENT IS KING!

"If you've got a strong story and good PR tactics then...
says Joe Wade.
Of course that's easier said than done but practice makes perfect!

When you come and study at the Univeristy of Westminster you can expect a lot of visits from cute guys like Joe Wade who works at Dont Panic the digital pr company.. (you might of seen some of their work they do a lot of free stuff for students with unique artwork, its cool).. And don't worry guys he puts together some decent presentations so that'll hold you're attention, because I know all the girls will be fully engrossed regardless.



CONTENT is KING is one of the rules he operates by when at work and it's true that it goes for the whole of the PR industry, because most of the time stories can't sell themselves. So, without amazing content who's going to care?? Noone will. Durex demonstrate this rule perfectly with one of their online campaigns. Yes we all know about chlamydia and STD's and how we're dirty students so it's most common amongst us so we should all use condoms, but rather than force feed us this message instead they made this video clip viral:

for a clear version visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqt3Zb7BItA


GREAT PR.
Not only does this promote Durex and boost sales it also promotes safe sex!

The University of Westminster was also clever enough to realise that CONTENT is KING and so instead of just teaching us everything they know about public relations they got in loads of successful experts from all different fields to tell us too, including music, politics, business and consumer public relations firms! What more could you want?? A bigger loan and free drinks at the SU obviously.. but the Uni don't care about us that much, so this will do just fine!

CHLOE.

UNIFORMS ARE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS

Who wants to wake up in the morning and put on the same items of clothing
day in day out, noone thats who. And thats exactly why Public Relations is the perfect course to study. Once you've studied for three, possibly even four, long years you get to continue choosing what you want to wear everyday!


So you don't have to be angry at life like the little lady above, or pretend to be really happy about it like the kids below... in particular the dude at the front...



because in reality everyday is NON UNIFORM DAY!! YAY!!
But wait it gets even better. Not only are you free from any strict dress codes you're also free from official, formal titles. You can't be labelled or shoved into a category like doctors, firemen and teachers, oooh no! The list of job titles in PR are endlessssssss...

You can call yourself a:

Public Relations Practionner

Director of Communications

Media Relations Officer

Internal Communicatoins Manager (if you like it on the inside)

External Communications Manager (if you prefer it on the outside)

Press Officer

or just simply a PR

So if you're fussy, like set dress codes, like boring job titles and like to carry out the same tasks on a daily basis
DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS COURSE





...but the rest of you cool kids I'm sure are filling out an application already! So I'll see you soon

CHLOE.

DO YOU SMOKE?

YES?





NO?



Whether you do or not I couldn't care less, but it's an example of a question. I've asked you a question just like you're probably asking loads before you decide which university you want to go to.
Well instead of answering your questions about Westminster University I'm going to tell you the questions they might ask you! So basically I'm helping you prepare the best answers so that when you come to your interviews here, because I'm certain you already want to come, you'll impress and get an unconditional offer.

My housemate studies Fashion Design and she was asked "WHICH MINOGUE SISTER DO YOU PREFER? DANNII OR KYLIE?", I personally don't see the relevance of this question but i guess it must mean something. Anyway she answered "KYLIE" - which I thought I agreed with but Dannii was successful a lot earlier and dresses a lot better than Kylie now but yeah - her interviewer whispered "GOOD CHOICE". So even though it's the wrong answer, make sure you say Kylie Minougue and you're in!



I study Public Relations and at my interview i was asked "IF IT WAS THE LAST JOB ON EARTH AND PAID 6 FIGURES, WOULD YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT PROMOTES SMOKING TO TEENAGERS AND CHILDREN?" Everyone was like "Hell yeah, it's just a job" and "Who cares work is work I need money". I was clearly in a room full of immoral dicks who only think about themselves, I would never encourage kids to smoke because I think that's disgusting and seriously wrong, but in reality there is NO right answer to that question (there obviously is, but the interviewers said that there wasn't).



But then that's part of what Public Relations is all about... do you incorporate your morals into your working life or not?

That's a question I'll leave you to answer for yourself

CHLOE.