Thank you -- to Aston alumni

Thank you ... for sharing your stories, adventures and advice with our student callers. Your enthuisasm for Aston was wonderful to see in the faces of our students. You have inspired them in their school work and their future careers.

Thank you ... for giving so generously to our campaign. Your support will help us fund projects which will improve the student experience here at Aston.

You help us challenge thinking and create opportunities.

Thank you.

Thank you -- to Aston student callers

Thank you ... it's been a privilege working with all of you. Your enthusiasm helped to ensure that the campaign was a success.

Thank you to:
Ahmed
Ali
Anastazja
Anna
Gareth
Hafiza
Jessica
Joseph
Kevin
Lily
Metta
Mike (alias: Lizzie)
Mizan
Moe
Na
Nazmeen
Pardeep
Pooja
Rihan
Robert
Sajida
Sana
Shan
Shaun
Shil
Sonny
Sukhveer
Sumrah
Yemi
Zardusht
Zebi

Thank you.

Final tally -- Sunday 23 April 2005

What can I say? You guys rock!

The final tally for the campaign is £126,603.

Marvellous new high for the student calling campaign.

Funniest comment from caller notes: "Alum looked at the blog while I was on the phone and commented that, no, I didn't have a pretty face!!!!"

Medically extraordinary statement: "He's got a baby on the way so he has no spare cash." [We should alert the media].

Biggest oops moment: "He is quite angry because I woke him up. I apologised to him, I called him on Sunday afternoon on his U.S. mobile. However, he is actually on a trip to Shang Hai where it is 3am in the morning."

Gender-bending moment: "Very nice guy. Wonderful accent. I am positive he is a man, and the old address was his parents. He was definitely alumni..... " [Note: name on our records is female!]

Best line of the night: "Said he had a fantastic time at uni and that he had to get back to his stella!!"

Odds and ends ...

Visitors - Saturday 22 April 2006

Asim Mir, incoming Guild President, and Nathan Shane, continuing Guild Vice-President Finance and Advancement (pictured here with caller Anastazja), come to encourage the students.

Sunny days ... ah, sunny, sunny, sunny days ... Saturday 22 April 2006

Ain't nothing better in the world you know ... than chatting with Aston alumni on a Saturday.

Ok. The song doesn't quite go like that, but as the student callers could tell you, sunny days makes for lots of alumni out enjoying the weather. Plus, a football game between Chelsea and Liverpool. And waiting to get into the call centre (here's Becky who has been waiting in the corridor for over 1/2 an hour). All conspired to put us a little behind at first.

But there were lots of people in other countries who were apparently not enjoying this lovely British weather. Alumni in places like Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Greece, Thailand, Oman, Indonesia, China and Canada were obviously just waiting for our students to chat with them.

So our final tally took the calling campaign over the £118,000 mark.

There was a flurry of activity on the blog ... mostly between students trying to one-up each other.

And I'm not going to mention which student set off the alarm in the toilet, but her initials are ...

Funniest commentary from caller notes: "I asked him how he liked his course, which was followed by around 15 seconds of complete silence, and you coul hear insects and stuff like in the movies!! Finally he got around to saying that it was ok...said it was a hard degree and it was good."

Visitors - Thursday 20 April 2006

Here comes trouble: Nathan Shane, Aston Students' Guild Vice-President Finance and Advancement, and our favorite call centre visitor, Prof John Saunders, Pro-Vice Chancellor Alumni and Head of the Aston Business School.

Pool Plc. -- Thursday 20 April 2006

Another day, another dollar ... err, pound.

Or rather, quite a number of pounds.

Almost £4900 raised tonight, bringing the campaign total over £110,000.

Also, lots of pool played. "Scoucers Delight" vs. "Give Me Your Wallet". (Note: Names chosen by the students themselves). Congrats to the "Give Me Your Wallet" team for winning at pool -- Na, Sajida, Pooja, Sonny, Sukhveer, Zardusht, Nazmeen, Sana, Anastazja and Ali.

Here's Mike concentrating on his shot.

That takes the cake story (from caller notes): Lived first year at Stafford Tower and said that it was really good. Told me that he was asleep on the toilet floor while drunk and a fire bell went off at 3am. A fireman had to rescue him because he was asleep and his friends left him!

Quirky Story (from caller notes): Enoch Powell [right-wing British politician and Conservative Party MP between 1950 and February 1974] was invited to speak to Aston's Tory Society. This guy was kind of racist (against immigration/for National Front, etc) back then, so there were student protests against him coming here. Anyhow, the guy on the phone was a student rep and so he was required to speak to the students and help to calm the situation down. On the day of the speech, Enoch Powell was snatched into a lift from behind. The lift went to the ground floor where he was put into the back of a minibus and dumped in the middle of the M1 motorway.

Visitors - Wednesday 19 April 2006

Stephanie Meek, Alumni Relations Executive, speaks to the callers about the new MSc and MBA alumni programme here at Aston.

Professor John Saunders, Head of the Aston Business School and Pro-Vice Chancellor Alumni, reads the over 700 names listed on the recognition honour roll.

We made it: £100,000 campaign goal passed with flying colours!

Another double shift.

Another long day.

And another stellar moment in the 2-year history of Aston's student calling campaign.

Our target of £100,000 was reached ... and then some ... £106,658 is the total so far for the campaign! Over £13,000 raised today, which is a new daily high.

Here pictured above at right are student callers, Shil and Na, who brought in the alumni donations which put us over the top. Shil will be celebrating later with a bottle of champagne, Na with a box of chocolates ... both well-deserved little gifts to celebrate their achievement for the student calling team.

Congrats to the entire team!

Students chatted to alumni from Far East to Far West, from China to America, and from Argentina to Switzerland.

Great conversations ensued between our enthusiastic calling team and interested alumni, such as possibly entering as a candidate for the Tories in the next election, being a grad from 5 UK universities, the IRA bombing in Birmingham, the belief that being at Aston was "one of the best times of my life", embarking on a round-the-world trip, working as an artist for 15-years, Maggie Thatcher's legacy at Aston, former Aston University Vice-Chancellor Frederick Compton, meeting Aston professors at international conferences, the Aston theatre group, writing for the Birmingham Sun, being a proud owner of a 1976 Volkswagon Beetle, stealing the Guild flag from the 9th floor, Wild Katz and much more.

Best quote of the night (from student notes): "This guy has really strong views about the government and the British economy -- there were quite a few censored words during the conversation."

Best alumni fundraising idea: Sell off the bricks from the residence towers when they are demolished and/or ask alumni to sponsor bricks for the new building.

Quirky stories

Every campaign has its stories ... the funny side of university life ... the ups and downs of living in residence ... and all the tall drinking stories. This campaign is no different.

Here is a selection of what the students have heard on the phones to date:

• Trying to toast a slice of bread, but burnt an entire loaf because he was distracted each time.
• One graduate was told that one time in the Guild (he couldn't remember the time himself) he was really drunk, dancing like a loon, and trying to chat up various women. He was described as a "dog in heat" and ever since has had the nickname of Hotdog.
• Students would jump into the fountain outside the university after exams ... some people even got busted by security.
• Spending most of a placement year drinking and smoking ... in the process losing 1 1/2 stone.
• Arranging a sit-in at the library when the university was considering changing the opening times.
• Being known throughout the Pharmacy department as the man who broke the bottle ... a 4-foot long glass vial (chemist bottle), which was full of some chemical and was smashed by hitting it with a hinged blackboard.
• Guild events, such as "Drink the Pub Dry", which meant drinking all the alcohol in Sacks of Potatoes, or the bed race, where 4 male students pushed a bed on wheels (with 1 woman student aboard) around the outer ring road and stopping at pubs along the way to drink.
• Einstein's -- the former rugby changing room and launderette.
• German students had a party in Uwe Shutte (history lectures) room for his birthday drinking Bacardi breezers and listening to loud heavy metal.
• A whole class that decided not to go to a lecture, but instead headed off to Warwick Castle (which used to be a pub), getting totally smashed and then ending up at the Odean to watch the first showing of Psycho.
• A couple of students getting drunk and deciding to race up a tree outside Stafford Tower. When they wanted to race back down, a tree branch broke and one of the students fell down.
• Sex education lecture in the Great Hall in 1967.
• The Hare Krishna conference in 1992 ... incense, drums and all.
• The Winnie-the-Pooh Society which met up and ate honey.

Well deserved break!

The calling team will be breaking for the Easter long weekend.

Back on the phones Wednesday 19 April!

Happy Easter everyone.

Double shift -- Thursday 13 April 2006

The morning session with 11 enthusiastic students brought the calling campaign over the £90,000 mark.

Due to time zone differences, morning sessions allow callers to chat with alumni in places like Australia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Although far away and sometimes from a long time ago, Aston graduates enjoy reconnecting with their old university through the enthusiastic phone calls of the student campaign team.

Photo of Shona and Vikki (taken by Sana). There, Sana. I promised I would post it!

Had a bit of a problem with a phone set for Sana ... one seemed to have disappeared between yesterday and today. Had Patrick (pictured above) crawling under the desks to help solve the issue. But sorted when Mike (doing research) switched stations with Sana.

Evening session went very well, bringing the total for the day to over £93,000!

Yet more stuffing ...

Thanks to Sajida, Gareth and Metta who came in to sort the letters out before the Easter break. Despite looking at a seemingly never-ending stack, the letters were finally stuffed and taken to the post room for delivery to alumni all over the world.

Great work all!

Nazmeen's page

Nazmeen
Aston Business School
Accounting for Management

What are at least three best things about your Aston University educational experience?

1). At Aston University, as everything and everyone is based on one campus, I feel I, as well as, all students can make friends with a lot more people rather than having to mix with people from the faculty that I belong to only. Hence, I feel this gives me the opportunity of mix and share my experiences with a lot of people and learn about other peoples experiences which may not be the same as mine.

2). Being part of a multicultural society is a bonus of Aston University, Aston University brings a lot of people form different cultures and backgrounds including myself together and united, Aston University give a true representation of what society is like today in the Midlands and what society should be like.

3). At Aston University, I find there is something for everyone to do, a club or society to match everyone’s needs. This brings enjoyment for all, and has made my experience of Aston so far as pleasant as possible.

Visitors - Wednesday 13 April 2006

Helen Higson, Director of Undergraduate Studies for Aston Business School, listens to a student chatting to an Aston graduate.

Our highest total to date! -- Wednesday 13 April 2006

Amazing night.

Total from the Autumn campaign: £86,627
Total as of last night: £88,697

Congrats! A new high for the student caller campaign.

Atmosphere in the room could be summed up by one caller's notes: "Very nice guy, had another great chat!! (Gosh I'm enjoying it today!). Very happy about what we are doing and loved Aston. Gave him blog link so he could see my ugly mug."

Best quote of the night: "I came to Aston as an immature mature student."

Most romantic quote of the night (from caller notes): "Meet his wife at Aston and that very day was his best day of his life."

Funniest notes of the night: "He is the greatest guy I have spoken to so far. He is just wonderful. Huge sense of humour! He said that his child will not be eating for 3 weeks because he is giving us the last £50 ;) "

Students spoke to alumni all over the UK, Norway, U.S.A., Germany, Switzerland, and Greece.

Lots of great chats about the Guild (many of those related to drinking and partying on Broad Street -- or as one graduate said, "drinking, drinking, drinking"), APEX magazine, friends made at university, the importance of student bursaries, hiring Aston conference facilities for company functions, and much, much more.

Lily's page

Lily
Aston Business School
MAS

"This was a very reluctant pose -- I thought it was better to smile rather than frown.

The campaign has been really interesting -- I have spoken to an array of people from different backgrounds and countries. I have also received lots of stories and career advice, so thanks!"

Visitors - Tuesday 12 April 2006

Prof John Saunders, Head of the Aston Business School and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Alumni, chats with student caller, Jessica.

Welcome to the Office of Advancement -- Pool Hall and Student Calling Programme -- Tuesday 12 April 2006

There was a lot of action on the pool table tonight. With several of the women showing the guys how to do it properly, and with style. Sana (pictured at left) demonstrates her prowess with the cue.

Cutest quote of the night: Little girl answered the phone and said ''I'm afraid she's having a rest'' .... awwww!!!!

Most usual response for the night:
Call Notes: answerphone
Call Notes: answerphone
Call Notes: answerphone
Call Notes: answerphone

Total for the campaign now just under £83,000 ... just £3,000 off from the Autumn campaign.

Go Team Advancement go!

Zebi's page

Zebi
Engineering and Applied Science
Electrical Electronic Engineering

What are at least three best things about your Aston University educational experience?

The knowledge gained related to the engineering world, the laboratory work experience and the assistance provided in the labs, and the way our studies are related to their practical application in the real world.

More stuffing ... thanks Anna, Gareth and Zardusht

Sana's page

Sana
2nd Year
Aston Business School
Business and Management

"This is my second campaign and I'm really enjoying it! It's great here to talk to different people with different backgrounds.

The only problem I've had is not having a phone to make calls! Who's the thief?"

Gareth's page

Gareth
Health and Life Sciences
Psychology

What are at least three best things about your Aston University educational experience?

1). Joining the canoe club with its mix of both social sides and white water kayaking would definitely be my favourite.
2). Meeting friends in Rock soc and all the amazing nights out I have had with them.
3). Meeting such a wide variety of people from different countries and cultures and learning that people do things in very different ways with very different opinions to yours.

Scratchcard heaven -- Monday 10 April 2006

Was there something in the air? Or was it because John R-B was pacing the room?

Whatever the reason, it was another great night for the callers ... and the pool players. It does make one wonder if school is just a diversion from pool, seeing some of these students work the table.

Well, except for Na ... who provided a lighter moment when she bounced one of the balls off the table on her shot. Good thing she's a postgrad student who will make lots of money once she graduates ... she'd starve as a pool hustler.

Big winner of the night on scratchcards was Metta -- £4! (Don't spend it all in one go).

Total raised in the campaign so far just over £80,000!

Strangest conversation of the night had to be Moe's ... won't name any names, but I want to make it clear that donating money to Aston does NOT mean that we'll help launder money! Nor can we help you with visas or with frozen bank accounts or any other nefarious activities.

Best Aston memory of the night (from caller notes): Mountaineering society at Aston -- 'great way to drink in a lot of strange places.'

Best alumni e-mail received to date: "Best wishes for the continued success of Aston alumni. Aston-la vesta baby!"

Special thanks to Joseph, Hafiza and Metta (in her best Inuit disguise, pictured above) who had the most boring (but important) task of the night doing research.

Anna's page

Anna
1st Year
Aston Business School
International Business and German
(According to Anna "Best course ever!!!")

What are at least three best things about your Aston University educational experience?
Lots of opportunities, constant challenges, great fun!!!

Pooja's page

Pooja
3rd Year (on placement)
Life and Health Sciences
Human Psychology

What are at least three best things about your Aston University educational experience?
1). The student’s guild.
2). Location, near the city centre (and Bullring!).
3). Multicultural university.

Sonny's page

Sonny
2nd Year
Aston Business School
Accounting for Management

"I really don't like smiling.

I really enjoy the community feel of Aston. Miss Lawrence Tower -> had loads of fun there.

Looking for a placement in finance. Hire Me!"

Neither rain nor nor hail nor sleet ... Sunday 9 April 2006

... nor snow nor dark of night shall keep our callers from the swift completion of their appointed calls.

And indeed, rain and hail and sleet and snow greeted our callers when they ventured from their homes to head towards Aston University and the afternoon shift. Despite the dreadful weather here in Brum, students arrived at the call centre to begin their 5-hour shift.

Voices of competing barber shop groups drifted through the hallways. All the bright costumes were almost reminiscent of the Tolkien convention late last year. Except no hobbits or elves among this lot.

It was another around-the-world trip on the phones, as students rang alumni in the the UK, Greece, Turkey, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Cyprus, France, The Netherlands, and Germany.

Despite the number of answerphones encountered (there must have been better weather somewhere else!), it was an excellent session with more than £5,300 raised, bringing the campaign total to almost £77,000!

Best moves this afternoon were from the pool players ... Sasha pictured above.

Best quote from student notes: "This graduate visited Aston a while ago on a Saturday, but the security guards wouldn't let him in ... he said he even dug up his old Aston campus card just to show them that he was actually a student here..." Hmm, sounds like the same guys are still running the security booth downstairs, eh Rihan?

Zardusht's page

Zardusht
2nd Year
Life and Health Sciences
Pharmacy

"Another great campaign, hearing lots more unusual stories about Aston 'back in the day' like the night Blur played at the Guild. Also some interesting career changes -- a mechanical engineer who is now a nutritionist! Looks like we're going to reach our target (fingers crossed)."

Metta's page

Metta
Aston Business School
Business and Management

“Hmm, Shona actually put me on the website … I am not happy!!

Anyway, I’ve found the campaign really interesting and have especially enjoyed talking to previous Business School students. I’ve received loads of advice regarding my career and future which is great.

People can be very friendly and willing to give me stories about their own experiences and struggles regarding jobs and placements.”

Camera shy

For those of you hiding from the camera ... you have to come out sometime!

Sumrah's page

Sumrah
Final Year
Life and Health Sciences
Pharmacy

“Being part of the calling campaign has enabled me not only to gain a valuable skill set but also give something back to Aston University.

I feel privileged to be part of such a worthwhile cause!!

Speaking to the alumni reminds me why I chose Aston – the friendly environment, cultural diversity and its excellent teaching facilities.

I look forward to being called up in the future by future students!! One word of advice for them: remember Giftaid!!”