It’s Elul, and we’re back after a brief hiatus. Here’s what’s going on this week in Givat Shmuel.

• Our BIU Student Reps Program is baaaack!!! The program creates point-people in each department who can offer basic direction to perspective and first-year students, such as sending old class notes, providing course and teacher suggestions, sharing bureaucratic loopholes, etc. To sign up to be a Student Rep, just fill out the form!
• This Thursday is Givat Shmuel’s first Beer Festival! Entry is free, but you can buy drinks in advance at a discount.
• Registration for after-school chugim is live on the Matnas website, and if you register by August 30th, you get a 10% discount.
• All BIU offices and libraries are closed this week, and campus gates are following a different schedule.
• The municipality is organizing a ton of events for the last week of August, including concerts, sports tournaments, plays for children, and more!
• Approval has finally been given for Givat Shmuel’s first Pinui Binui. The project will get started in H2 2018, and replace Ben Gurion 2, 4 and 6 with two 15-story buildings and 144 new apartments. After this project is complete, the next phase will target Ben Gurion 10-16.
• Amazon has resumed offering free shipping to Israel. The new offer only applies to purchases over 75$ – coincidentally the price at which you need to pay VAT and customs.
• Two new Mayoral candidates have joined the race: Ronit Lev and Naomi Feldman. They join Gal Lenchner and incumbent mayor Yossi Brudni. We’re working on getting their platforms translated into English, and will let you know once we do.
• The On-Campus Dormitories have announced private suites for families, and rooms for secular and non-Jewish students. For prices and more info, click here. Registration officially closes August 31st.
• Continuing its campaign to upgrade all the parks in the city, the municipality just finished renovating the park on Hatzionut Street.
• ICYMI: Boutique HaGivah – the local second-hand clothing shop – is moving to Ha’Avodah 1. The charity will reopen August 26th.
• OFO – the Chinese company who supplies bikes to BIU – is suspending all activities in Israel. The Student Union is currently working on an alternative solution.
• We are still looking for a Communication Chair – if you think you have what it takes, let us know!