Many of you may know that when I tried to return to uni a few weeks ago I arrived to find my house gutted without any floors or ceilings. For the past few weeks I have been homeless, staying at a friend's because my parents don't live in the country anymore. Frankly, I was scared. I have never felt so hopeless or alone. Whilst my housemates were willing to just sit around and take it, I was the one who went to my union and sought help. This week I realised just how important our union is and I feel privileged to work in it and for it. The manager of my ARC held my hand and made me say aloud 'I am not alone'. For any of you who are working on tasks they feel they just can't finish or like me haven't had access to emails on a regulr basis and disseratations to focus on and maybe interfaith forums to set up (not enough of you!) and feel overwhelmed by it all, just remember that there are student unions there to help. I only wish we could be more focused in our work and think about what it's like to be a student on a grass-root's level. We have debated the Middle East on campuses more times than we can count and there is still a conflict. Meanwhile, third year students like myself, who know the system, who know where to go for help are still being discriminated against because a landlord feels he doesn't have to honour your legal agreements because you're young and a girl and wear ripped jeans most days of the week. Just something to think about.

JHK

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