“The Students’ Union this academic year is running a campaign asking LSE to ensure that all students pay the same tuition fees for the entirety of their degree.  International students at LSE have long struggled with their tuition fees increasing from year to year of their study and the SU has campaigned against this. But, recent changes to Higher Education means that LSE can now also increase tuition fees each year for home and EU students.

Education should always be seen as a right, not a privilege. At a time of rising fees and increasing costs associated with education, the direction our country is taking with respect to education is agonizing. The implementation of the Teaching Excellence Framework also clearly demonstrates the UK government’s unapologetic approach to marketising what should be a critical part of all our lives.

Universities continue to treat students more and more like consumers involved in a business transaction, and less like partners in the process of education and development. Despite the access difficulty for some, or the multiple thousands of pounds of debt students are riddled with after education, universities continue to exploit the demand for a degree and quietly increase fees. LSE has followed a number of universities around the country and opted to increase its fees for home students.

At a time of incredibly low student satisfaction at LSE, it is unjustifiable to further increase fees for students. An institution that stands proud in its belief of educating people and being founded for the betterment of society, should be leading the HE sector and publicly rejecing any fee increases for continuing Home and EU students, as well as committing to fix fees for international students.

Say no to the increase in student fees by signing the following form”

London Fashion Week has flown by, but there’s still loads of opportunities to get your fashion fix in the capital – especially as LSE is literally ROUND THE CORNER from The Shore Studios on The Strand, where the infamous London Fashion Week takes place. 

If you walk through The Strand looking even remotely #fashion, prepare to be jumped on by photographers! 

(I’m really not joking when I say it’s literally around the corner!) 

London Fashion Festival

London Fashion festival is taking place at The Shore Studios (literally 2 mins away from the Garrick Café) from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th September.

Tickets range from £20 to £145, depending on how much you want to see. Click here to see ticket prices and info.

They have a jam-packed schedule, including catwalks (both designer and trend) as well as talks like ‘Meet the Designer’ and, ‘Careers in Fashion’.

PLUS, the shopping is basically what all your fashion dreams are made of, with 150 men and women’s fashion brands to shop from, and with exclusive industry insider prices, you can grab yourself a bargain!

LSESU Fashion Society

Whether you’re completely fashion obsessed, are interested in the business side of fashion, or simply want to get dressed up a bit, the LSESU fashion society is the place to start!

Throughout the year they will be running a host of careers events, trips to thrift shops in East London, regular gallery trips and much more.

On top of all this, you’ll have the chance to take part in their famous annual charity fashion show, which features collections from London-based designers.

*PLUS* The Fashion Society is running a competition to win tickets to London Fashion Festival – you can either enter by renewing your membership, or by popping by their Freshers fair stall at the Basement Balcony on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd September.  

Check out their website here and give them a like on Facebook here.

V&A Exhibitions

The V&A regularly hosts all kinds of incredible exhibitions. I highly recommend checking out their current exhibition, Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, which examines the work and legacy of the influential Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga.

The exhibition runs until Sunday the 18th of February, and costs £10 if you are a student. Just a warning though – you will come away with about 300 Instagram photos, and a strong desire to wear a beautiful ball gown every day from now on…

Freshers is over, and just as you’re feeling ready to start making it to those 9am lectures, or get through that rather hefty reading list, you find yourself wrapped up in your duvet looking like a human burrito, your head is pounding and you’ve lost your voice…

Yes, my friend, you have been struck by the force of the infamous Freshers’ Flu. You’d heard the stories and the rumours, and it turns out they’re all true.

In fact, even if you didn’t go to any freshers events, freshers’ flu has probably caught you anyway; it shows no mercy for second or third year students, nor does it skip postgrads or PhD students; everyone and anyone is a target.

I experienced freshers’ flu last year and lived to tell the tale, so thought I’d give you the lowdown on how to get back on top form, because it really isn’t convienient being tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle when you have so many new people to meet and so many things to do!

Causes

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but freshers’ flu isn’t really a kind of flu at all - it’s more like a bad cold.

In fact, the term ‘freshers flu’ is pretty much a UK phrase…

Freshers’ flu can be caused by a number of things:

1.    Meeting new people

2.    Lack of sleep

3.    Eating junk food

4.    Drinking too much alcohol

5.    Stress

Symptoms

So how do you know if it’s freshers’ flu that’s keeping you glued to your duvet or something else?

Here’s a list of the most common symptoms of freshers’ flu – see if you tick any of the boxes, and be sure to visit a doctor if your symptoms get worse, or aren’t on this list!

Headache: Does it feel like a loud marching band has decided to take up residency between your temples?

Dry Cough: Do you sound like you’ve been smoking 20 a day since you were 13?

Sneezing: Are you being blessed way more than usual?

Shivering: Are you still shivering despite wearing 3 jumpers, being wrapped up in a blanket, and having the heating the central heating on full?

Fever: But at the same time you’d happily dunk yourself into an ice bath?

General grogginess: Do you feel exhausted at even the thought of getting up and making a cup of tea?

Although these symptoms will make you feel a bit like death warmed up for a few days, they won’t leave you destined for a hospital bed. All you can do is reassure yourself that you won’t feel like this forever, and will have to wait out the storm the best way you can.    

Cures

1. Eat healthily

Now, I’m the kind of person who would choose a chocolate bar over an apple any day of the week, so I understand that this is hard… however, eating lots of fruit and veg will ensure your body has the vitamins, minerals and strength it needs to fight the flu. Don’t waste your money on multivitamins – get yourself the real deal; make yourself a nice roast vegetable pasta bake, or drink lots of orange juice.

2. Stay hydrated     

Again, this seems obvious, but drinking lots of water will help your body flush out those freshers’ flu symptoms, and give you energy to battle through them.

3. Get lots of rest

Sleep is absolutely one of the best ways to get rid of freshers’ flu; if you’re tired, your body won’t have the energy to fight off the flu. Taking a night or two off socialising really isn’t a bad thing – you still have the rest of the year to make up for it! Plus, it means you won’t pass freshers’ flu onto some other unsuspecting victim, so not only will your body be thankful, but so will theirs!

4. Take the right kind of drugs

Paracetamol will help lower your temperature, whereas anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen will help with any sinus issues. Pharmacies sell all kinds of cold-cure tablets, but in my experience, wither paracetamol or caffeine-based products work best, but always read the dosage requirements carefully.

5. Wash your hands

Hand sanitizer will become your new best friend. Take them everywhere you go, and even introduce them to the rest of your friends if you like. This will stop your germs spreading, and will ensure any you may have picked upon the tube or at that grotty bar are kept at bay.

6. Clean your room

Very boring, but very essential. Clean your bedsheets regularly, hoover your room and keep your window open to let in lots of fresh air. This means any germs who may have been planning to room with you for a while get the message, pack their bags, and leave you be.

7. Exercise

Gentle exercise will help reboot your immune system and help you feel a lot better, even if it’s absolutely the last thing you want to do. There are tons of yoga videos on YouTube will flows specifically for when you’re not feeling 100%, or if that’s not your thing, go for a walk or gentle jog.

8. Gargle salt water

This is a trick treasured by singers and musicians. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water (boil the kettle and add cold water – don’t use water straight from the hot tap!) and gargle 3 – 4 times a day. It’s not the most enjoyable thing you’ll ever do in your life, but it’s very effective, will soothe your throat, and practically costs nothing.

9. Tea, glorious tea

Never underestimate the power of a hot drink. They are extremely soothing, and can help loosen all that gross stuff in your throat you keep coughing up. Chopped ginger and lemon in hot water works wonders, but if you’re a wimp/fusspot (delete as appropriate) like me, and can’t bear the thought of putting yourself through that torture, there’s nothing wrong with a nice cup of English Breakfast tea.