By Matthew Symmons: Students at universities in Staffordshire have suffered a rise in bike thefts – after being encouraged to cycle to their lectures.

Keele and Staffordshire University have recorded an increase in thefts for two weeks while the Stoke-on-Trent City Council scheme CycleStoke has been running.

By Emma Glanfield: Around 300 students from Keele University are set to join the tuition fee protests in London.

Tomorrow’s demonstration will see six coachloads travel to the capital – and high demand has meant that some students will have to travel down on buses from Staffordshire University.

By Sam Morris: Students from Staffordshire University are set to tackle Keele University in a futsal match, before leading out Stoke City and Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium to celebrate the ‘Kick it Out’ campaign.

By Leah Cassady: The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery is hosting a free classical music event.

Amy Keenan and Samantha Ware : Two groups of geography students have been left stranded by the volcanic ash disaster.
Twenty-one students from Keele University are stranded in Singapore, while 35 students from Staffordshire University are still trying to make their way back from Barcelona.
Both groups are geography students on field trips.
The Keele students in Singapore were due back Friday 16th April, the second day of the air ban.
The students and two lecturers were  told on Thursday afternoon that all flights to England had been cancelled.
The group are currently staying in back packers’ accommodation whilst waiting …

By Mickey Kitt: An art exhibition is being held to explore the ice age origins of North Staffordshire.
“Know this Place for the First Time” opened at Newcastle Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 13 March and runs until May 9.
The exhibition, showcases new artworks by artist Miriam Burke, inspired by the creation of the local landscape and its history under ice, snow and glaciers during the ice age 18000 years ago.
Miriam has been working with glacier scientist at Keele Univerisity for 18 months in conjunction with an “Inspirational Landscape’ module …

By Alyssa Harrison: Britain’s Poet Laureate is set to perform her work at Keele University.
Carol Ann Duffy will give the reading of her work at the university’s Westminster Theatre on March 16.
The title of Poet Laureate dates back to the 16th Century and involves the chosen poet writing verses for national and government occasions, such as the Queen’s birthday.
A spokesman for Keele University said: “We anticipate a terrific audience. She is the Poet Laureate, a poetry superstar and one of the best known of our modern time.”
Duffy was born in …

By Sara Bazeley: Staffordshire University’s female fencing team really showed how to work their Foils, Epees and Sabres at the Varsity clash.
The scores were up and down throughout their games so nobody could guess who would win until the end. The final score was a close 130 to 135 to Staffs.
The male team, although just as enthusiastic as the girls, did not perform so well.
With only four members they were struggling from the beginning and had to admit defeat at the beginning of the third round.
The team struggled with discipline …

By Shelly Elcock: Staffordshire University’s Netball side succumbed to a 42-28 defeat at Varsity, despite producing a sterling effort against Keele.
Months of hard training for the big game was evident from the start, in which Staffs scored goal after goal, constantly bypassing and blocking Keele to end the first quarter with a 12 – 7 lead.
It seemed Team Staffs could do no wrong. Sophie Cross and Jess Parkin were on top form together as Goal Shooter and Goal Attack respectively, working seamlessly with Centre player Nikki Lowe to keep Staffs …

By Jack Phillips: Staffordshire University’s rugby union side added the Doji Shield to their Midlands 3B league title with a comprehensive 41-13 victory at Varsity.
And they are now just one game away from an unprecedented treble with the Midlands Cup Final up next.
Keele were first on the board with a penalty inside two minutes but Staffs hit straight back in the best way possible.
A short restart meant a Keele scrum on halfway, the Staffs pack out-scrummaged their opponents allowing the backs to spread the ball wide. Fly-half Rich Hope …