After a series of very busy and varied sessions during the first semester, here are the dates for the second semester's open surgeries:

                              Wednesday 10th February
                              Wednesday 24th February
                              Wednesday 10th March
                              Wednesday 14th April
                              Tuesday 27th April

All surgeries take place from 2pm-3.30pm in the Union Main Bar. Click here for more information.

Came across one of the less well-regarded St Andrews traditions today, which is students having to queue up outside property letting agencies in the hope of getting accommodation for the next academic year. This queue is on Argyle Street; the snow and ice of last week has largely gone to be replaced by a bitterly cold easterly wind.

Spoke with Toby Marsh (Classics), Celeste Sloman (Art History) and Freddie Edmunds (Neurosciences) - all First Years living in Sallies who seemed to be stoically resigned to the fact that this is what you have to do to get a place, although it was hardly the best preparation for the Biology exam Freddie had that afternoon.

If you're organising an event next semester, campaigning on an issue in the new year or need some advice in the last week of term, remember that the Rector is here to help.

The University Rector, Kevin Dunion, will be in the Main Bar of the Union from 2pm on Wednesday 16th December, so feel free to come and have a chat.

This week's topics included:
- Setting up a student ambulance service
- Chairing a high profile Energy Debate
- Potential charity events for RAG Week
- NGO work in Tanzania
- Oxfam society - to give KD his raffle prize!
- Scarlet Gown Society
- SRC International Students Representative re. semester reform

Check the Events page in the New Year for details of next semester's surgeries.

The Rector, Kevin Dunion, will on Monday be helping students mark the launch of a new community-led initiative to promote the transition to a low-carbon university. Transition Universities is a national student campaign based on the success of the Transition Town movement.

The launch of Transition: St Andrews will be taking place on Monday 7th December at 7pm in Venue 2, on the top floor of the Students' Association, and is being organised by the OneWorld Society. OneWorld would like to invite all students to attend and find out more about this exciting new project.

The Transition Universities initiative has already been successful elsewhere in Scotland - it was announced yesterday that students at Edinburgh University have been awarded £340,000 of government funding to reduce their carbon footprint - so it would be excellent to see similar success in St Andrews.

Full details of the launch event can be found below or at http://tinyurl.com/yzkltre.

Stayed well away from St Andrews on Sunday evening -  Raisin Sunday revelry should be Rector-free. Raisin Monday was raw but bright as I watched a succession of bejants/bejantines in colourful Raisin receipts outfits somewhat self consciously heading to St Salvators Quad. After the foam fight a bedraggled procession, foam covered and frozen cold, beat a retreat home - including this group of DRA residents:-

Front row, left to right: Karina Pawloff (Economics), Rosie Al-Adwani (Geography), Harriet Paterson (Russian/Spanish), Kelly Laws (Social Anthropology); Back row: Craig Graham (Chemistry/Physics), Rebecca Butcher (Philosophy), Peter Gowler (Neuroscience).

As the G20 Finance Ministers gathered in St Andrews an alternative People's Summit was organised by a wide range of voluntary bodies including two of my former organisations Oxfam, and Friends of the Earth. After a media photo-call on the West Sands which included bowler hatted 'Ministers' complete with red briefcases, over 300 people gathered in Venue 1 in the Students' Union. I was pleased to welcome the participants to St Andrews and to introduce the keynote speakers: Colin Hines, Director of Finance for the Future; Judith Robertson, Head of Oxfam in Scotland; Sr. Rosemary Nyirumbe, Ugandan development campaigner; and Alex Cobham, Policy Manager at Christian Aid.

Mermaids are celebrating their 90th - at least - birthday. They say that the student theatrical society started with a group of female undergraduates reciting poetry on the Castle Sands - hence the name. A good enough reason to revive the occasion - so various members recited from a rocky perch above the beach whilst the appreciative audience below were gradually engulfed by the rising high tide.

Good Meet the Rector event in the Union Bar - but I really need to get a sign or something otherwise students tentatively come up and ask if I am free to speak when in fact that is what I am there for. A variety of issues which people want advice on or support for - Clare Riley and Didi Wambugu have a great idea for a skills exchange - I will post more about it once they are ready to launch but in the meantime happy to do what I can to support.

Toured the Barron Theatre with its administrator, Julie Amphlett, along with Sam Fowles, President of Mermaids, and Phil Pass, Director of Events and Services, Students' Association. The Barron is a great asset for student drama - a dedicated 60 seat 'black box' space. It is much used but like so many of the student facilities would benefit from fresh investment especially to upgrade the retractable seating and the technical box. Sam and Phil embarrassed Julie for this photo taken in the props room.

Whether you're organising a society event, campaigning on an issue or just need some advice, the Rector is here to help.

Kevin will be in the Main Bar of the Union from 2pm on Wednesday 21st October, so come and have a chat!