BACARDI cuba libre the original cuba libre In 1862, in Santiago de Cuba, Don Facundo Bacardi Mass贸 revolutionised cocktail making with the creation of the first premium, aged white rum. Why not try BACARDI Superior rum, Cola and fresh lime over ice. This drink was first created during the Spanish-American War in Cuba and has become the most sought after spirit and mixer in the world.
Enjoy BACARDI rum responsibly www.bacardi.com BACARDI and the Bat Device are registered trademarks of Bacardi & Company Limited. Photography is for visual representation purposes only
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Fresh.
Fresh. DVD 001 A TASTE OF YOUR UNION 002 FOCUS ON SPORT 003 UNION FILMS (CINEMA) 004 TOUR OF THE UNION 005 THE TRAVEL CENTRE 006 SUSU.TV FEATURETTE
In your lovely pack: Freshers’ DVD Your inflatable friend
4 to collect!
3D Glasses Events Pre-order Form Tasty Stuff
2008-2009
www.susu.org
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Most of this information is available online at fresh.susu.org This publication is available in other formats. E-mail: vpcomms@susu.org
Fresh magazine was brought to you by SUSU’s IT, Media & Marketing Department. Edited and Designed by Joel Overton
Southampton University Students’ Union www.susu.org
Conceived and Directed by Peter Wood
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the uk’s number 1 mag for new students
Many thanks to contributors Alex Doak, Edd Sowden, Lizzie Gross, Daz Low, Peter Wood, James Howells, Luke Shearing, Jamie Ings, Asha Jadunundun, Jacob Deane, Robert McCann, Allan Steynor, Rebecca Hall, and Michael Rinaldi.
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
Fresh. Ingredients
006
018
037
006 FRESHERS’ WEEK
018 HATCH A NEW YOU
037 PICK ‘N’ MIX
An intro to what may be the most memorable week of your life.
Take the quiz to find out what sort of student you’ll become.
Five ways to grab your new life by the naughty bits and get stuck in.
023 BRING ON THE PERKS
044 THE ATHLETIC UNION
Find out about the discounts you can get as a Southampton student.
Browse our range of eighty sports clubs for people of all abilities.
024 THE GUIDE
048 THE DIRECTORY
Get into Southampton night life and grab your Freshers’ tickets.
A handy quick reference guide of local contacts you might need.
030 THE THINGS WE MAKE
050 FOR YOUR SAFETY
We showcase our awesome media departments and invite you to join.
Some very wise advice from Hampshire Constabulary.
008 FRESHERS’ TIMETABLE Find out what’s happening after moving in weekend.
010 WHO ARE YOU? Who’s coming to the uni? Where are they from? We found out.
012 DON’T PANIC Every question you could ever think of asking, answered.
PLUS: Look out for the Freshers’ Week events invite that we’ve lovingly inserted into the mag. You’ll need the unique code printed on it to buy tickets online.
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Fresh.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? Alex Doak invites you into a fresh new world FRESHER (NOUN) Well, that’d be you. The humble origins of the word ‘fresher’ (derived from the American ‘freshman’, suggesting an ‘innocent, wet-behind-the-ears first-year’), seem now to have become synonymous with states of near permanent inebriation and excessive promiscuity. That’s a stereotype, though. Don’t feel the need to conform to it.
WHAT’S ON? Freshers’ Week is a bit of a misnomer— the sense of disorientation lasts a few weeks... Find out everything we’ve packed into it on page 8.
Freshers’ Week. It basically boils down to the fact that after eighteen years of living a relatively monk-like existence, a new student arriving at University is suddenly freed from the constraints of home. Most choose to catch up on lost time by doing everything in their first week, resulting in an effect commonly known as ‘carnage’. Despite a fairly hefty grain of truth in this, Freshers’ Week is mainly taken as a great opportunity to meet your new flatmates, explore your surroundings and adjust to a dramatically alternative lifestyle. After all, it’s the only time you’ll ever swap a cosy semi with mum-service for a sixties concrete monstrosity in a strange town. Almost anyone would find themselves overwhelmed by all this, but most survive by plunging themselves amidst the whirl of activity that is the Students’ Union; the body that represents you as a student and offers the best of the University experience. Your Union is the main instigator of all Freshers’ Week shenanigans, with an endless events program filling day and night with all manner of entertainments, club nights, clubs and societies’ recruitment fairs, and— an infamous rite of passage— the Freshers’ Ball. In fact, there’s
so much to do, so many clubs to join, so many people to meet and so many freebies to get your hands on that we can barely fit it all in. It’s easy to go crazy, but with this craziness comes a cost: your wealth, health and dignity. But mostly your wealth. Students tend to spend a fat proportion of their hard-earned in this one week, ignoring every bit of advice ever dispensed. In your second week, you’ll find it very hard to break the habit of hitting the town hard every night. Most manage it, but if you think you’re the type for financial weakness, just try to bear in mind what a huge investment higher education is these days. A beer gut is no substitute for a degree. Despite all this chaos and trepidation, most freshers soon calm down and settle into some sort of routine and lifestyle, which inevitably evolves as you lose friends, gain new ones and move from one mouseridden, damp-infested hole to another. Students often hark back to their own Freshers’ Week with a mix of nostalgia and bewilderment, recalling how naive and innocent they once were. Be prepared to embrace it in all its confusing goodness.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Don’t let Alex scare you. Freshers’ Week is a unique experience to be enjoyed, and offers many opportunities to grasp. Don’t think you have to fit everything into one week— save some energy and money for the rest of term. Of course, the point about being a Fresher is to ignore all advice. Nonetheless, we’ve packed the mag with more info than ever. We hope you’ll take some of it in... If there’s anything else you want to know, you’ll find it on our awesome website:
» fresh.susu.org » See you in a few weeks!
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
IN PHOTOS A taste of Freshers’ Weeks from years past
The Bunfight
Student Survival Day The Cube
The Bunfight
Freshers’ Welcome Party
Freshers’ Fayre
Freshers’ Fayre
Freshers’ Fayre
SEP
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Tuesday Ticket Collection
11am–3pm Box Office
Monday er h Septemb t 28 nday until Mo ber 5th Octo .org
Postgraduate Welcome 11am–2pm Marquee
Student Survival Day
10am–3pm Students’ Union
su fresh.su
The Laughter Lounge 8pm The Bridge
SEP
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Monday
Free Films at Union Films 6pm Twilight 9pm Wolverine
Ticket Collection
10am–4pm Box Office
‘Private Rented’ Meet-up 11am The Bridge
SEP
30
Bunfight
Charity RagFest’09
10am–3pm Students’ Union
12pm–4pm Marquee
Mature Students Welcome 10am The Uniplex
Wednesday
P
Poster Sale
10am–5pm SU Level 3
Freshers’ Welcome Party
Free Films at Union Films
Live Gig - Tinchy Stryder
Bandwagon Student Night
9pm The Cube
7:30pm The Stag’s Head
6pm Wolverine 9pm Twilight 10pm Oceana
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
OCT
01
Thursday
OCT
03
Environment & Ethics Stalls
Sports Tasters
Community Volunteering Fayre
Boogaloo
10am–3pm Outside SU
10am–6pm Sports Facilities
10am–3pm Marquee
P
Saturday
10pm The Cube
Poster Sale
10am–5pm Marquee
Live Band Karaoke 9pm The Stag’s Head
OCT
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Sunday Sports Tasters
10am-6pm Sports Facilities
OCT
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Friday
Quiz & Curry
Freshers Fayre
Live Gig - Boys Like Girls
8pm The Bridge
10am–3pm Students’ Union
P
7:30pm The Stag’s Head
Poster Sale
10am–5pm Marquee
Kinki
10pm The Cube
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Monday Jazz Lounge
8pm The Bridge
Freshers’ Ball
9pm Southampton Guildhall
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WHO ARE YOU? Find out about the people you’ll meet when you arrive UNDERGRADUATES 74%
24,735
POSTGRADUATES 26%
Approx # of students
55%
45%
52%
7,900
48%
Approx # of freshers
22.6
Average age of freshers avg 21.2 yrs
avg 20.3 yrs
avg 27.6 yrs
avg 27.2 yrs
Most common name:
Most common name:
Most common name:
Most common name:
Sarah
James
Emma
Andrew
Lemon
Favourite cheesecake flavour
WHERE WILL YOU LIVE? Meet the guys who’ll make sure you love it JCRs make life in halls awesome
you’re having a great time at home in your uni accommodation, you can bet someone at your JCR has had a hand in it.
JCRs are like mini Students’ Unions for your halls of residence. They’re a group of students elected by last year’s residents, and their job is to look after your welfare and ensure your views are represented to the halls management. They also do a fine job of providing you with social facilities, like your JCR common room and the events run in the halls bars. Whenever
Private Rented Accommodation
Most of you won’t have to worry about moving into a house until your second year of uni, but for a lucky few this adventure has already arrived, since there aren’t quite enough rooms in halls to go around.
Don’t worry about missing out, though. If you’re in this situation, you’ll have access to all the same events as everyone else. There’s also an opportunity to meet other students in private rented accommodation in The Bridge at 11am on Monday. You can also join the Private Rented society, which is like a JCR for freshers who aren’t in halls.
Montefiore Portion of Freshers
Glen Eyre Chamberlain
20%
inc. Hartley Grove & South Hill
Erasmus Park 10%
Winchester School of Art
Archers Road Connaught
Bencraft Highfield
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Absolutely everywhere by the looks of it We’ve got freshers arriving from every part of the country, and from 120 different nations worldwide. The heat map (left) shows visually which areas of the UK send the most students to Southampton. No matter where you come from, be it 10 or 10,000 miles away, the Students’ Union Travel Centre can help you get back there by rail, coach, sea or flight.
HOME STUDENTS 75% By postcode area
INTERNATIONAL 25% By nationality
Aberdeen 0.1%
China 20%
Belfast 0.1%
India 7.1%
Greater Manchester 1.5%
Pakistan 4.4%
Cardiff 1.0%
France 4.0%
North London 6.5%
Malaysia 3.8%
South London 9.8%
Cyprus 3.6%
Portsmouth 6.8%
Germany 3.4%
Southampton 11.3%
Taiwan 3.1%
Exeter 1.6%
Spain 3.0%
All statistics are estimates based on preliminary data. They are for illustrative purposes only.
HOW WILL YOU GET BACK HOME? Introducing The Travel Centre Nothing beats your dad’s hot chocolate— except perhaps your mother’s newfound penchant for interior design. Some things never change while you’re away from home. Some things do. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never make a steaming beverage quite like your dad. Try to cling on to this fact as you ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over the garish mess your mother has made of her kitchen walls. Whoever’s waiting for you at home, it’s good to get back there and relax from time to time. The Travel Centre will always be here on campus to help you get there—by rail, by coach, or by plane— as conveniently as possible. Come and find us above the SUSU Shop, or visit travel.susu.org for more information.
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The most reassuring words you’ll read all day. We rounded up forty-two anxious, nervous and excited students and answered all their questions
MEETING PEOPLE Will I make good friends easily?
Almost everyone we surveyed asked a question like this, so if you’re worried about making friends, you’re obviously not alone. If you’re concerned your flatmates won’t be “your sort of people”, you might be right— after all, the accommodation service isn’t psychic. Just remember that first impressions are almost always wrong and give everybody a chance to grow on you. With 25,000 people to choose from, you will find people you get on with.
What if I don’t get on with my flatmates?
Six down, six thousand still to meet– and that’s just counting freshers. It’s really easy to make friends at uni. Between the course you take and the clubs you join, you’ll spend all your time surrounded by people who share your interests. You’ll probably find that friends have a habit of just— sort of— falling into your lap. Figuratively speaking, of course, unless you’re particularly lucky.
Where can I get help if it all goes wrong?
Your Students’ Union runs the Students Union Advice and Information Centre (see right) if you fancy visiting somebody face-to-face during the day. If you’d prefer to speak to someone over the phone, specially trained anonymous students run the confidential Nightline service between 8pm and 8am (see right). You might also like to get in touch with our Vice President (Welfare & Societies) Sophie (welfare@susu.org).
I have a partner back home. Will it last?
No chance. Just kidding, you really have to answer this one yourself. Coming to university is all about gaining independence and making new friends. You’ll need to trust your partner and yourself. Talk to them about whether the emotional stress of a long distance relationship might harm your studies. Remember: if you have serious concerns, it may be better to break up now rather than halfway through your first semester exams.
WHO CAN HELP ME? The really good news is that even if something doesn’t work out properly, there are loads of people who you can turn to.
NIGHTLINE A confidential listening and information service for members of the University of Southampton. The service is staffed by volunteer students, who have all undergone a period of intensive training. They also have a wide range of resources and further contacts. You can call Nightline from 8pm-8am on 023 8059 5236 or from halls on (78)25236.
SUAIC One of the Students’ Union’s most important reasons for existing is to represent the welfare and academic needs of students. SUAIC are the heros who make this possible, providing you with free, confidential, independent advice and support. They’re open Monday to Friday 10 til 4 (Wednesday 11 til 4). Just drop by to make an appointment. Whatever you need, be it legal advice, academic support, housing help or information, the SUAIC team are here to assist. 023 8059 2085 suaic@susu.org
LEARNING STUFF What’s the workload like in the first year?
The workload will be whatever you choose to make of it. At University you’re expected to take responsibility for your own education, so balancing your work and your social life is really down to you. Your first year doesn’t count towards your degree so you only need to pass, but you may struggle later if you don’t work hard enough this year. Use your course mates as a benchmark for how hard you’re working— it’s usually easy to figure out where you fall between the whizzkids and the wasters.
What if I don’t like my course, or have some other academic issue? Your first port of call should be your tutor. Tutors are there to guide you throughout your time at uni, and are usually really good at helping you out. If your tutor lets you down, come to us for independant advice. Bring your issues to SUAIC and they may be able to offer you advice on how to move forward.
You can also bring any educational issues you have to our Vice President (Education & Representation), Becky Maclean (education@susu.org). Her job is to make sure you’re getting the education you pay for, and to look after your course representatives and school presidents. They’re students whose job it is to make sure your needs and opinions are put forward to your school, so if you have a problem they’re able to help you out.
Why is everyone so anxious— I’m not?
If you’re one hoopy frood and you know where your towel is, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. (Sorry, I promise that’s the last hitch-hiker reference.) Anyway, if that’s the case, it sounds like you’d make a perfect course rep or school president. It gives you the opportunity to help out your course mates, and looks great on your CV. You can find out more online at education.susu.org.
The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
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ARRIVING AT UNI What do I need to do before arriving?
The university should mail you everything you need to know, but here are our top tips: Get a student account now. The banks on campus will be heaving in Freshers’ Week, so go and get your bank account arranged before you get to university. Get passport photos. You’ll need these for your ID card, your halls of residence card, and other exciting stuff. The queue for SUSU’s photo booth isn’t a great way to spend an hour of your time, so do it now. Create your university computing account online. Dig out your Student ID number and head to www.subscribe.iss.soton. ac.uk to get your username. You’ll need it. Register at SUSU.org. Everything you need to know about your students’ union is on SUSU.org. Register using your new university computing account to get access to our sexiest features, and hop onto our forums to see what other freshers are saying. Buy your Freshers’ Week tickets. These sell out in advance every year, so buy them online before you arrive. To find out how, read the letter that our elves kindly inserted into the middle pages.
What should I do once I’ve arrived?
Moving in day: Get rid of your parents as quickly as possible and find your flatmates. If you can’t find yours, don’t be picky— someone else’s will do for now. However you’re feeling when you turn up, getting stuck in and meeting new people is the best way to get comfortable, so don’t hesitate. If your folks do insist on sticking around, get them to take you to the supermarket. They won’t want you starving in your first week will they? Monday: Pick up your Freshers’ Week tickets from the Box Office in the main Students’ Union building. Wednesday: Hand-pick your new social life by joining a few of our clubs and societies at the ‘bunfight’. Nobody knows why it’s called the bunfight, but you can find out more on page 41. Friday: From 10am to 3pm, we invite loads of local and national companies to shower you with tonnes of gloriously free goodies. Skip breakfast and arrive early— Dominos will be giving away free pizza! Check out the freshers’ timetable on page 8 to find out what else is going on during Freshers’ Week. There are events specifically for mature students and postgraduates, plus volunteering, charity and environmental fayres.
What should I bring with me?
Here’s a collection of handy things people always forget. You also need to know what not to bring. Don’t bother lugging a kettle, toaster, or sandwich maker with you. If nobody else in your flat brings one, you can always pop out together and buy them.
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GOING OUT Can I have friends from home to stay?
Each hall has their own rules about this, but generally the answer is yes, have whoever you want round, so long as nobody’s living in your room permanently.
What’s the dress code for the Freshers’ Ball?
The Freshers’ Ball is a posh event at Southampton Guildhall, and most people turn up wearing black-tie, a suit, or a ballgown. You won’t be turned away if you don’t meet the dress code, though.
What’s the dress code for the Freshers’ Welcome Party?
The welcome party is an awesome event held in The Cube. There’s no real dress code. It’s a good chance to meet lots of people though, so dress to impress!
What’s the nightlife like in Southampton?
Southampton is dislocated into several very different areas, each offering a unique experience. Most popular with Students are: Portswood, with its “infamous student clubs” (dives) and Bedford Place, which is more upmarket but still student-friendly. Home camp for everyone, though, is right in the middle of Highfield campus. The Stag’s Head is perfect for a few pints after lectures, while our cocktail bar, The Bridge, hosts live music and comedy events every week. Cream of the crop is our 1,700 capacity nightclub, The Cube, which opens its doors on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Find out more on pages 24-27.
Can I bring friends from home to The Cube?
You can sign up to two guests in at the entrance to The Cube (or any of the bars). Just make sure they have ID with them. If it’s a ticketed event, they will need a ticket too.
STAYING ALIVE What’s all this about freshers’ flu?
6,000 people from across the world come together in one place and bring all their local flu strains with them. You’re not going to be immune to all of them, so you might get sick in the first term. There’s swine flu to worry about as well, so be especially vigilant this year. Register with a uni health service doctor, bring your favourite flu meds with you, and for god’s sake don’t sneeze before shaking hands with your new friends.
How can I stay safe in Southampton?
It’s no more dangerous than the average city, but do think about your safety at night.Try not to travel alone after dark, and stick to well-lit main roads. Don’t take shortcuts through quiet areas. If you’re on your way home from the library, the Students’ Union, our bars or the nightclub, you can make use of the Safety Bus service. For £1.50 one of our qualified minibus drivers will take you home, wherever home happens to be. It has even been known to make trips to Winchester and Basingstoke.
Am I going to have to feed myself?
Check your halls information pack to find out what form of catering your accommodation provides. Most halls are selfcatered, so you’ll be sharing a kitchen with the other people in your flat and fending for yourself. If you don’t know an eggplant from an aubergine, two Southampton students have just launched a great new service to help you out. You can buy (or convince your parents to buy) a subscription to receive five ‘cookits’ a week. Each cookit combines a fun and easy recipe and the ingredients you’ll need in one handy package, and you can pick them up on campus. Brilliant!
Excellent — I’ve read your guide to life, the university and everything, and now I can’t wait to arrive. What can I get involved in?
THE GUIDE Get your head around Southampton’s Nightlife — p.24–27 THE THINGS WE MAKE Be creative with SUSU Media — p.30–35 PICK ‘n’ MIX Get into Volunteering, Charity & Societies — p.37-43 ATHLETIC UNION Join one of 80 awesome sports clubs — p.44-47
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Hatch a New You. Arriving in a new city and making new friends can be daunting for some. Whether you’re feeling confident or not, follow this handy list and you’ll be a halls hero. Do get to know as many people as
Do ask open-ended questions. People
possible. Don’t just limit yourself to your immediate flatmates. Freshers’ Week is a rare chance to talk to anyone you like.
love talking about themselves, so let them talk and they’ll love you for it.
Don’t expect to get along with
for evening events and club nights on campus. It sucks to be left out if everyone else is having a good time.
everyone. The point of getting to know so many people isn’t so you can be the world’s most popular person. It’s so you can find the ones you really gel with.
Do join some clubs and societies. It’s great fun and a good way to meet new people with similar interests.
Don’t judge a book by its cover (unless you’re in the library where this approach can prove essential). Your new housemate might seem a nightmare at first, but give him a chance.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets now
Do cook for your housemates. The quickest way to the heart is through the stomach. If you can’t cook, learn— fast. At the very least, share your jaffa cakes.
experience you can share and gives you lasting memories and lots to talk about. There’s something going on every day, so keep an eye on the timetable.
Don’t leave the house without a condom. The boys, the girls, the good, the bad and the ugly; everyone should be prepared. You can get completely free condoms from the VP Welfare (above Stag’s Head) or from behind the bars.
Do keep your door open. They close
won’t just be the cleaners who hate you if you ignore it.
automatically, so get a wedge, because it’s easier to make friends if people can see you. Lock it when you leave the room, though.
Do come down to as many on-campus
Finally, do have an awesome time.
events as possible, day and night. It’s an
It’s impossible not to!
Don’t forget to do your washing up. It
The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
DO: SCRAP THE LABELS. I think my housemate Simon had a gambling problem. He used to take the labels off his food tins, so even dinner became a game of chance. He called it Ravioli Roulette, and after watching Simon and his mate Mark endure ‘tuna with tinned peaches’ several times, neither I nor any of the other girls were too keen on taking part. But as disgusting as it seemed, everyone’s unique, so we didn’t interfere. After all, he’s not the only one who has an issue with labels. Put a bottle in my hand, and within minutes I’ve covered the table in foil and paper scraps. I often become so intent on getting every last bit of paper off my drink that I go into a trance, revived only by the arrival of another bottle. If you’ve ever drunk from a bottle in the company of several undersexed, tipsy dullards, you’ll have heard what my habit supposedly means. They reckon it indicates sexual frustration; it’s all about pulling the covers off a phallic object. Fortunately, as a habitual peeler, I have a reply to this pointless pub-lore: “I’m a lesbian. I don’t have a penis, and I don’t want one. So there. Besides, there are dozens of ways of spotting a sexstarved person in a pub before you resort to freudian theories. Take Simon. Every time that girl he likes goes near the bar, suddenly it’s his round. If it weren’t for his tuna breath, it might actually work.” You should have seen their faces when I came out with this at uni. What I’d said about Simon’s breath was hardly a revelation; their shock was about my sexuality. How could I possibly be gay,
they asked? I’m just one of the girls. I don’t wear men’s clothes or drink beer, and the closest I get to sport is chasing the safety bus down the road at 2am. I was bemused. Had they all got their idea of homsexuality from Little Britain? Of course, they soon learnt. I may have been the first person to challenge the way they labelled the world, but I wasn’t the last. Southampton Uni is a diverse community. We’ve come together from all over the world and all walks of life. Our 163 societies are a good indicator of this; they cover all sorts of interests, from nationality and religion (NordicSoc, IslamSoc), to sexuality (LGBSoc) and moral crusades (Stop AIDS). But not every girl in the LGB is butch, and not every guy in NordicSoc has a long... boat. Every society has a group of passionate people behind it, and you won’t know what they’re like until you meet them. So cast away those prejudices before you arrive. Labelling people will get you nowhere. Labelling things, on the other hand, can be quite a handy thing to do. Unless you particularly like the idea of a game of Ravioli Roulette –in which case please do us all a favour and buy yourself a good bottle of mouthwash.
If you ever experience discrimination, your Students’ Union is here to help. Talk to our VP Welfare, Sophie (welfare@susu.org) or our Equal Opportunities Officer Emily (eo@susu.org).
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Fresh.
WHO WILL YOU BE?
Write your answers in the eggs and add up the totals. Then visit fresh.susu.org to find out which stereotype fits your personality— and how to avoid conforming to it. One. You’re in the library and you spot a cute guy or girl
Six. It’s time for your first lecture and you’ve got to decide
(your choice) looking for a book. Do you... 1. Convince them to forget the book, ask them out. 2. Help them find the book and hope to see them around. 3. Shrug and move on. 4. Run home, shower six times and cry.
where to sit. Would you prefer to be... 1. Right at the front— you don’t want to miss anything. 2. Somewhere in the middle, with your mates. 3. Somewhere near the back, in case you nod off. 4. At home or in the café. Lectures are for nerds.
Two. It’s your best friend’s birthday but you’ve got a class
Seven. The lecture’s dragging on a bit. Are you...
test tomorrow. Would you... 1. Stay at the library. You’ve gotta ace this test. 2. Leave the party early to get your work done. 3. Party til late, but get up in the morning and cram. 4. Forget the test, friends come first. Party all night!
1. Passing notes or bugging the people around you. 2. Texting people on your phone. 3. Doodling. 4. Retreating into your imagination, where you ride a unicorn.
Three. You’re at the bunfight. What’s your approach?
kitchen. Do you... 1. Do it yourself, nobody else is capable anyway. 2. Leave a note in angry CAPITAL LETTERS. 3. Shrug it off— your own washing up can wait. 4. Add another plate— most of it’s yours anyway!
1. Talk to everyone and sign up to lots of clubs. 2. Ask a few questions and decide on one or two clubs to join. 3. Collect flyers from the stalls and take them home to decide. 4. Don’t go. You don’t have time to join clubs and societies.
Four. Turns out you did badly in that class test. Do you... 1. Go straight to your tutor to ask where you went wrong 2. Plan ways to work harder or smarter next time. 3. Don’t worry about it. Hope to do better next time. 4. Unsurprised. You didn’t quite manage to sober up for it.
Five. Trying to forget the test grade and wanting to cheer yourself up, Which of these activities would you prefer? 1. Have a party or go out with some friends. 2. Go shopping with a friend and buy something nice. 3. Relax on your own in your room. 4. Play some hardcore World of Warcraft. For a week.
1
3
5
7
total
2
4
6
8
total
Now visit fresh.susu.org for your result!
Eight. You get home to a huge pile of washing up in the
unionfilms It’s a no-brainer. uf.susu.org
Union films is here on campus
April 2007 Š Cartographic Unit (Southampton University)
Tickets are only two pounds
ink you'd All the food and dr at much expect from a cinema chceaper prices You can even have a beer!
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THE GUIDE A slice of entertainment from across Southampton. We Are Klang Interview \ The Latest From Oceana \ New Nights at SUSU \ The Topsy Turvy Guide to Night Time \ We interview our favourite DJ, Chris Stark, and Britain’s favourite DJ, Scott Mills
events.susu.org
WE AREN'T KLANG ...but we did meet Marek— Southampton graduate and bug-eyed star of BBC Three comedy We are Klang. His advice for you? “Drop out and get a job”. Nice... How did We Are Klang come about? Greg, Steve and I were all performing stand up on the circuit and I asked them if they wanted to do some sketch comedy. It’s that exciting. My very first bit of comedy was actually at Southampton, when we did an awful comedy revue called ‘The Truimphant Sausage’. We took it to the Edinburgh Festival and got one star in the Scotsman, then spent the next month giving out flyers in the rain. Paradise.
As a Southampton graduate, which part of the city would you recommend to new students? It’s changed a lot since I was there. There used to be a great pub called ‘Talking Heads’ in Portswood. Mainly everyone used to go down the Hobbit, then say how much they hated Jesters and all the rugby lot, before ending up there two hours later looking really ashamed.
You did your first ‘live’ show outside of Edinburgh at Southampton’s Laughter Lounge. Was it an honour for you or them? It was an honour for us. The crowd were really up for it, and supportive, however when we went back two years later we died on our asses, and everyone looked at us like they wanted us dead.
What do you recall of your first day at Southampton University? I remember unpacking and looking out of my window at Montefiore House and being overwhelmed with a feeling of depression that I had to spend a year living in what was basically a poorly disguised Prisoner of War camp.
What was it like performing at SUSU? Very strange. I remember going to watch comedy there during Freshers’ week, so it was weird going back and performing. Also I couldn’t get over the shock that they’d invested millions on doing up the Students’ Union and the surrounding area when it used to look like a tramp’s arsehole. I did notice they’ve put the disabled toilets at the bottom of a flight of stairs, though...
You get a bit of abuse from Greg on-stage. Is he really that mean? In real life, Greg is my bitch. We Are Klang’s first live show outside of Edinburgh was at SUSU’s Laughter Lounge comedy night. The Laughter Lounge is still going strong, fortnightly Tuesdays in The Bridge bar on Highfield Campus.
LAH BLAH AB H H A L L B BLAH B
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A swift and filthy tour of what happens in Southampton after the lights go out... NEW AT SUSU
W AT SUSU NE NEW IN TOWN:
BANDWAGON
Once in a while, something groundbreaking happens. Not just new... ground breaking. Boogaloo is a brand new Saturday night at THE CUBE, and it looks set to start a craze or two...
Did you know that as a Southampton student, one of the biggest clubs in the UK is right on your doorstep? And did you know that on Wednesdays it opens its doors exclusively to students? Well, you do now.
The full details are yet to be revealed, but every Saturday night promises to be a variation on a theme. The mastermind behind it goes by the name of ‘Doc. Boogaloo’, and all he’s told us is that dancing is paramount, dressing up is a must, and the dress code is bright... very bright. Interesting.
Oceana opened its doors in summer 2008, and ever since, 5000 of us have been heading there every Wednesday night. It’s their student-only night, it’s called Bandwagon, and it has something for everyone.
By the looks of it, this is flashmob mentality at its very best— blink and you’ll miss something incredible, but get in there from start and you’ll reap the rewards. It sounds that way too. The promoters have lined up some brilliant guest DJ’s, but as yet their lips are sealed. They’ve tapped into Annie Mac, Mylo, Mr Scruff, Zane Lowe and Groove Armada in the past, so we know we’ll be in for a treat. Don’t just take our word for it, though— awesome club nights can’t be described in words. Online at boogaloo.susu.org you’ll find Doc. Boogaloo’s mix-tape, onto which The Professors of Boogaloo Beat DJ’s have thrown the coolest, weirdest mash-up ever for your listening pleasure. While you’re online, head to facebook and befriend Doc. Boogaloo so you can be sure you won’t miss a revolution in action. Like all the best events in Southampton, tickets are available from the SUSU box office. Head to boxoffice.susu.org to get yours along with the rest of your Freshers’ Week tickets.
That’s the thing about Oceana. It’s massive, yet it feels so intimate. There are plenty of bars to explore, loads of places to hide away and get cosy, and several dance floors to throw shapes on. Whatever your taste in music, decor, or people, you’ll find a corner of this enormous nightclub that you can call home. You might find yourself dancing on a 70’s retro dancefloor, admiring the brilliance of the Ice House, or chilling in one of the bars and playing the bongos— whatever you’re into. Being a student night, the atmosphere is relaxed, with students from Southampton and Southampton Solent mingling. There are even swanky VIP suites. They cost an arm and a leg, but thanks to your lovely SUSU friends the VIP suites will be given away FREE every Wednesday at one of your Halls Bars. Yep, really. Come along to your JCR bar for an evening drink, win a VIP suite and then hop on the bandwagon. See what we did there? Tickets are available from the SUSU box office and on the door at Oceana.
THE FIRST RULE OF NIGHT CLUB Perks, perks, perks. We know you love them, and as Southampton students you get your fair share of discounts and freebies. How’s this for a perk? Your very own 1700-capacity night club, slap bang in the middle of campus, solely for Southampton students and your guests. Yep, it’s a bit good.
The Cube boasts three bars across three levels, some great drinks deals, and its eponymous dance floor, the, err... cube. We fling open the doors on Thursday for special weekly events, for our notoriously sexy Friday night Kinki, and on Saturdays for the brand new taste explosion that is Boogaloo (above). Make sure you check them all out and find out which night at The Cube suits you best.
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Fresh. GETTING
T
WITH SCOT
Scott Mills and Chris Stark have a lot in common. They’ve both been behind the decks at Kinki, for a start. Oh, and they both appreciate a good sausage. How did you start your student DJ career?
SM: I started doing student gigs about 5 years ago. I got asked to do a few during Freshers week, and then it escalated! I was nervous at first but now I love them. I never went to Uni, so I get a slice of the student life that I missed out on. CS: I got my big break after DJing pretty much everywhere in Southampton for free for the whole of my first year! The more gigs I did the more opportunities I got until I got my big break at Kinki as their new warm up DJ. I learnt a lot as the warm up DJ for two years, before becoming the main kinki DJ myself. I now DJ a lot of the UK’s biggest student nights around the UK, and work with some brilliant acts, including Scott.
Do you have any advice for any fresh DJ’s out there?
SM: It’s a cliché, but keep trying. It’s a hard industry to get into, and you have to be prepared to take knock backs. I was turned down by Radio 1 four times. CS: Anyone who wants to DJ at the University can join the fantastic DJ SOC, it’s full of very talented DJ’s and you’ll learn a lot from them. Or you can always come and chat to me in the DJ box at Kinki!
Microphone work is obviously important. Do you make any notes before a gig?
SM: I make no notes at all. I don’t really even make notes for the radio show either. It’s mostly ad-lib. Can you tell? CS: To put on a good night you’ve got to enjoy what you are doing so that’s exactly what we do... enjoy it and see where the night takes us!
You looked like you had a really good time when you came to Kinki. How was it?
SM: Loved it. Really good crowd – it’s quite special for me to able to play in my hometown. Everyone is always up for it at Kinki; it’s one of the best student nights I’ve DJ’d. CS: Yeah, it’s a quality night and I’ve had so many good times there.
Scott, how difficult is it to come up with ideas for the radio show?
SM: It’s the hardest bit, by far. My show eats ideas on a daily basis, and the difficult part is keeping it fresh. We have so many ideas that don’t make it on air because they aren’t quite good enough. If you saw the work that goes on behind the scenes you’d be amazed. Despite what it sounds like, it’s actually very carefully planned.
It’s your first day at University... what would you do?
SM: Not wash my hair for a week and make no effort to look nice— just because I can. CS: Make sure you enjoy Freshers’ Week, and don’t miss out on Kinki – because I can’t wait to see you there. Drop the bags, get rid of the parents as quickly as possible and go out and meet some people in the halls bars. See you all on Friday night!
In case Starkie hasn’t said it enough times already, Southampton’s sexiest student night, Kinki, opens its doors every Friday at The Cube and looks set to be as popular as ever this year. Photo: Adam Lawrence — BBC.
Find out more about these events at events.susu.org
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Fresh.
The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
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THE THINGS
WE MAKE If you’re hoping to strengthen your educational experience through the deconstruction of popular cultural media forms, the way forward is a Media Studies course. If you’d rather do a proper degree, but still want to get your hands dirty and have some real fun, get involved in SUSU Media.
Many leading journalists on major tabloids, broadsheets and at the BBC had their first gig at SUSU. Every month we spend thousands on churning out all sorts of media, from news print to television— and it wouldn’t be possible without you lot getting involved. Perhaps you’ve always wanted a column in The Times or OK! Magazine; maybe you fancy yourself as the country’s next Trevor McDonald or Kerry Katona. Even if you don’t want a career in the media, you’re welcome to come and fiddle with our equipment. You could broadcast your music tastes, rant about something in the paper, film your dog— whatever takes your fancy. In the process you’re bound to meet great people and have a lot of fun. SUSU’s media departments attract all sorts of people. We’ve got a few budding Alfred Hitchcocks and Rupert Murdochs here, but really they’re the exception to the rule. Most of us don’t have a clue what we’re doing, but we muddle through and try to produce bigger and better stuff year on year. And that’s the point: all you need is some creative juices, or something you want to tell the world. We’ll help you to learn the rest. Down in the bowels of the main SUSU building you’ll find IT, Media & Marketing; full time staff whose job it is to produce sexy stuff like Fresh Magazine. We’re also here to help out all the media departments. We give you the technical support and encouragement you need to do whatever you have in mind. Meanwhile you get support and leadership from Jamie Ings, your Vice President Media and Communications. He was elected last year to look after everything that Southampton students read, watch, listen to and shout about. So if you fancy creating something sexy, peruse the pages of this section and choose your weapon. If the pen is mightier than the sword, think what you could do with a mixing desk, an editing suite or an army of cameramen...
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THE WESSEX SCENE YOUR VERY OWN NEWSPAPER The Wessex Scene is a wild, subversive and irresponsible student publication. Sticking at least two fingers up to the establishment, the arrest of its editor has become a beloved annual tradition.
Sadly the above quote isn’t strictly true. In fact, realistically speaking it’s an out-andout lie. Its only real purpose is to worry your parents, which is an important thing to do before you head to uni (it ensures they don’t forget about you— you can thank us for this later, when your loan runs out). If you’re disappointed that your student newspaper is actually a responsible, welldesigned and informative broadsheet instead of the troublesome rag we made it out to be, we’re sorry, but you’re welcome to change that. Send us some articles, or better still, join the Wessex Scene team, climb its ranks and subvert its stylistic course. It’s your newspaper, after all. Well, 1/25,000th of it is yours. That’s one word per issue, but if you choose that word really carefully, who knows what you’ll achieve. If, on the other hand, you’re appalled to see us encouraging the destruction
of years of traditional student-led news coverage in favour of bumptious anarchistic ramblings, don’t worry. There’s something you can do about it, too. In fact it’s the very same thing. Join the Wessex Scene team, climb its ranks and make sure none of these idiots get a chance to publish their incendiary nonsense. Fight fire with fire. Can you see what we’re getting at? The Wessex Scene, much like that cardboard box you played in for a month in 1994, can be whatever you want it to be. Without a group of students at its helm, it’s literally nothing. If you stop writing it, we stop printing it. Your involvement can ensure the healthy continuation of a rich journalistic heritage dating back to 1936. Of course, that’s not to say we’re going to sit you down in front of a typewriter— no, far from it. Every three weeks, the Wessex Scene team fills the Media Resources room and assembles our beloved paper on the latest industry-standard desktop publishing software. If you’d like to join us, we’d love to hear from you. As well as writers, we are in need of photographers, designers, cartoonists and anyone with some spare time and a good idea.
Spray us with your journalist juices The only thing you need to do if you want to get an article into the paper is send it to us. You can email the editor on editor@ wessexscene.co.uk or get in touch with Jamie, the editor-in-chief by writing to vpcomms@susu.org.
If you want to talk to us about getting involved, then like all the media departments we’ll be waiting for you at the bunfight on Wednesday.
How Bizarre
Famous journalists who cut their teeth at the Wessex Scene include Domonic Mohan, Bristol-born Deputy Editor of The Sun. He’s also been an award-winning Virgin Radio DJ and was credited with coming up with the idea to re-record Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 2004. What a guy. Several of Domonic’s first forays into journalism eeriely foreshadowed his recent fame as the face of The Sun’s Bizarre column. His Wessex Scene headlines included “UFO spotted above Southampton” and “Aeroplane dug up on campus”...
www.wessexscene.co.uk
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SURGE RADIO GIVE US A WAVE
If video killed the radio star, then these are some some seriously funky zombies. Listen on 1287AM, online, or 87.7FM in Freshers’ Week.
On move-in day, as you’re approaching your new halls of residence, tune the car radio to 87.7FM, because Surge will be dishing out the latest travel, letting your folks know where they can park, and informing you of all the events that you need to be at over the coming weeks. We’ll be covering everything you need to know with daily updates in Freshers’ Week. Meanwhile, whenever we’re not on air, Total Request is. It’s our online robot DJ, meaning you can head to the website and choose from our entire music catalogue. You’ll hear your selected tune within minutes live on air — but that’s not the only way you can take control of the airwaves. Get involved in SURGE and you could play a part in an award-winning student radio station.
www.surgeradio.co.uk
Whether you want to present, produce, manage, choose the music or fiddle with all our technical stuff, we’ll give you the training you need and make sure you have a good time doing it. Come and talk to us at the bunfight to find out about joining us in the studio.
THE SUSU.ORG WEBSITE
JOIN 1000s OF SOUTHAMPTON STUDENTS ONLINE scrapbook.susu.org
events.susu.org
SIGN UP AND GET
ORGANISE YOUR
BLOGGING
NIGHTLIFE
fresh.susu.org
forum.susu.org
GET STUCK INTO
TALK TO OTHER
FRESHERS’ WEEK
FRESHERS
ask.susu.org
suggest.susu.org
YOUR QUESTIONS
SEND SUSU A
ANSWERED
SUGGESTION
For anything you need to know about life at uni, SUSU.org should be your first port of call. Everything you can read about in this mag has its own section on the website, with up-to-date info about events, all the info you need, and loads of cool interactive features. Even Fresh has its own website! Head to fresh.susu.org to check the latest freshers’ timetable, read exclusive online articles, and get all your questions about Freshers’ Week answered.
Join the club
Anyone can visit SUSU.org, but if you sign in, you’ll have access to Scrapbook (our profile, blog and gallery system), the forums (where you can chat to other freshers before you arrive) and loads of other handy stuff. Registering is as simple as entering your university computing account username and password on the registration screen. Head to www.soton.ac.uk/enrol to get your university computing account.
What are you waiting for?
Head to SUSU.org and sign up now to be sure you never miss out on anything going on at your students’ union.
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SUSU.TV
TELLY, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT SUSU.TV is your local all-new student TV station. Launched in 2007 and run by students, it sets out to document anything and everything that goes on at the university.
www.susu.tv/512 SMURF WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
www.susu.tv/608 As people often say, you can put a million monkeys in front of a million typewriters and— given enough time— they’ll produce the complete works of Shakespeare. The SUSU.TV philosophy has brought that concept straight into the 21st century. For the last few years we’ve been putting dozens of monkeys in front of (and behind) a range of awesome camera equipment, and hoping they might eventually produce some Tarantino— or at the very least a PG Tips advert. You’d be surprised what they achieved this year. Once the editing team was done trawling through hours of flea-picking and poo-flinging, we were left with some pretty solid banana based slapstick, three unusually hairy episodes of ‘embarrassing teen bodies’, and a load of events coverage from around the university. The camerawork was fairly erratic, but it was all there: club nights, sports matches, gigs, celebrity interviews, performing arts, short films and even news features. If you’ve ever seen a chimp wearing a shirt and tie you’ll appreciate what a great year it’s been for SUSU.TV. The monkeys have got to go, though; it’s about time we let you lot do the planning, directing, producing, shooting and editing required to produce good telly. We do hope you’ll join us, and we’re confident you can outperform the monkeys. Plus you won’t chew the microphones. The philosophy won’t change, though. Join SUSU.TV and we’ll teach you to use the kit, but we won’t tell you what to do. Much like your simian predecessors, you’ll be free to shoot whatever you please. Assemble a crew and make a documentary, write a short film, or record a gig. It’s up to you. Whatever you create will find its way onto www.susu.tv, where everyone in the uni can watch it. If it’s really good, it might even end up on next year’s DVD, or be broadcast into your halls of residence. If this sounds like your cup of tea, find us at the bunfight on the Wednesday of Freshers’ Week.
www.susu.tv
GOOD FRESHER / BAD FRESHER
www.susu.tv/842 SOCIETIES FESTIVAL
2009
www.susu.tv/736 DESMOND TUTU TALKS TO SUSU
www.susu.tv/842 THE CHIMP TAKEOVER
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UNION FILMS 354 INCHES OF JOY
In the heart of the Students’ Union you’ll find a 300 seat cinema showing several films a week, from classics and cult movies to recent hits. The team of Students who make it possible call themselves Union Films, which is fairly modest of them, given they could have called themselves “overlords of the uniplex”, “protectors of the nine metre shiny screen”, or “kings of awesome”. Thankfully for you they didn’t, so you if you’re interested in getting involved, you can do so without feeling too embarrassed.
uf.susu.org
Union Films needs publicity officers, projectionists, front of house staff, and your input to help them decide which films to show next term. So if you’d like to get involved, you know where to find them. Yes, you guessed it— at the bunfight in Freshers’ Week.
SUSU Media departments won’t be your only creative outlet. There are loads of creative and performing arts societies at SUSU. Keep on reading to find out about them.
WESSEX FILMS
DON’T JUST WATCH THEM It would be criminal to talk about creativity at SUSU without mentioning Wessex Films, SUSU’s filmmaking society. Founded in 1953 (as the Southampton University Film Unit), its earliest known work is a 16mm black and white cine film of the 1954 RAG (charity) procession. Like many of the crudely-edited creations of that time, it was held together with rapidly-degrading sellotape, so viewing proved hazardous. The novelty of the RAG procession took a while to wear off, as the next eleven years saw eleven more films of eleven more processions. 54 years on, Wessex Films is still going strong — and these days its catalogue of creative output is far more varied. Members of the society have produced a lot of very high quality films in the last few years, many of which are proudly displayed on susu.tv and wessexfilms.co.uk. If you’re interested in making or acting in student film, Wessex Films is the best place to start talking about your ideas. They meet regularly in the Stag’s Head and you can find out more about them on their website.
wessexfilms.co.uk
MEDIA RESOURCES What’s that you say? You’d love to make TV, films, newspaper pages and radio shows, but you don’t have an expensive editing suite, any equipment or one of those fancy chairs with wheels on the bottom? Fear not, because down in the main Students’ Union building, you’ll find the Media Resources room. We’ve got a suite of Macs and PCs with the latest industry-standard software, and next door in the IT, Media & Marketing department you’ll find IT and Design people happy to help you out.
The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
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PICK ‘N’ MIX Hand-pick your new lifestyle with our guide to all you can get involved in at your Students’ Union
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Fresh.
Ready to get a life? Dip into our selection box of 165 ways to spend your time at university
ONE: EARN SOME BEANS FOR CHARITY Charities supported by Raise and Give for 2009/2010
Meet ‘Raise and Give’, the SUSU fundraising department. We raise money and give it away— to charity obviously, not just anyone.
Save the Children
We’re always busy raising money; 2009/10 is going to see our first ever freshers’ festival (RAGFest09), plus our usual trip to Amsterdam and a huge Christmas Ball. With any luck we’ll also throw in a little skydiving.
savethechildren.org
Macmillan Cancer Trust macmillan.org.uk
Naomi House Children’s Hospice naomihouse.org.uk
Looks like the committee must have been feeling maternal on voting day. We’ll do some one-off events for other charities, but most RAG fundraisers will benefit these three charities.
rag.susu.org rag@susu.org Facebook: ‘SUSU Rag’
Every student is automatically a member of RAG; you can help with as much or as little as you like depending on how good you want to feel. For a quick and easy karma boost, join the RAG email list so you know what we’re up to. Drop us an email and we’ll put you on there. If you’re willing to work a little harder for that feelgood feeling, RAG can also help you to organise your own events. There might be a particular charity you care about, or you might have an outrageous idea that we haven’t already thought of. If you can get your club or society involved, that’s even better. If organising one event isn’t enough to offset all the naughty things you’ve done this year, then join the RAG committee and help us run the whole show. Getting involved in RAG is an awesome way to meet new people, learn new skills, and boost your CV.
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
TWO: TAKE OVER YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION From left to right:
In case you haven’t worked it out already, your Students’ Union is responsible for organising everything you’ve read about in the magazine, and next year, you could be in charge. We wouldn’t suggest staging a military coup, but then again you won’t need to. Your Students’ Union is run by —you guessed it— students. Your president and vice-presidents are sabbaticals; students who have taken a year out (often the year after they graduate) in order to run the place. Executive officers are students who work part-time alongside their degrees to support the sabbaticals. They sit on
a range of committees which have some degree of control over various aspects of your student life. Together they make up the motley crew you see above, and thankfully they’re a lot better at running this place than they are at jumping without looking silly. And so they should be. Every year dozens of students compete for these executive positions in the Students Union elections in February. Last year over 6,000 votes were cast, and the results extravaganza, live in the Stag’s Head, was also broadcast over the internet by SUSU.TV.
Societies Officer Sam Ling, Equal Opportunities Officer Emily Rees, VP Welfare & Societies Sophie Paterson, AU President Allan Steynor, AU Officer Will Harvey, SUSU President Steve O’Reilly, VP Media & Communications Jamie Ings, Environment & Ethics Officer Nick Beall, JCR President Max Hughes-Williams, RAG Officer Rebecca Hall, VP Education & Representation Becky Maclean, Schools Liason Officer Chris Pidgley. Next year, you could be one of these lucky people. Start practising your jumping now.
GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK We believe strongly that a few students can change the world. Captain Planet may have been in charge in 1985, but today he reports to SUSU’s Environmental & Ethics Committee. In recent years we’ve helped the university gain Fair Trade status, set up a Thursday farmers’ market on campus, and brought recycling facilities to many more students. It’s been a good year, but there’s always more that can be done to make Southampton a more environmentally friendly place. If you’d like to get involved, look out for our stand in Freshers’ Week, visit our website or drop us an email.
THREE: GO ENVIRONMENTAL
enviro@susu.org enviro.susu.org
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FOUR: COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING Feel good, meet people, win awards, boost your CV and have an awesome time. What’s not to like? VOLUNTEERING STATS
81% of employers
view employees with volunteering experience positively.
70% of employers believe
that those who have volunteered have higher earning potential and a better chance of promotion.
3/5 18-24 year olds say
volunteering has improved their fitness.
17% of volunteers say that
volunteering improved their sex life!
When most students think of ‘volunteering’, they think of digging holes and picking litter. When volunteering with CV, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Community Volunteering provides students with the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of volunteering activities in areas such as sports, arts, animal welfare, support and advice, translation, children and youth work, music and social welfare. As well as being a great way to have fun and meet new people, volunteering looks great on your CV and will not only put you one step ahead of other graduates, but will also make you stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re looking to build on your media and marketing experience, gain mentoring skills, work with children, invest time in a social enterprise or practice your language skills, just a couple of hours a week can really enhance your job prospects. It will enable you to gain valuable market place knowledge, help to plug any gaps in your work experience and give you the confidence you need. Should you choose to give your time to volunteering, your efforts will not go unnoticed. All volunteers have the option to work towards national volunteering accreditation and certificates, and
every year community Volunteering volunteers are rewarded in a range of categories at the SUSU Excellence in Volunteering Awards (EVAs). If internal and external accreditation wasn’t enough, it has been medically proven that ‘doing good’ can give you a heightened sense of well being, a stronger immune system and a speedier recovery from surgery ...what a reward! Whatever your level of interest, or however full your timetable, there is a volunteer opportunity for you. Whether you’d like to set up your own project, give up a few hours a week for an existing placement, or participate in a one-off event, we will be happy to hear from you. There are over 600 students already volunteering with Community Volunteering. Why not become one of them? Come and visit us in the Community Volunteering Office on level 1 of the main SUSU building next to the student activities office, email us or check out our website:
cv.susu.org volunteering@southampton.ac.uk
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
FIVE: JOIN ONE OF 160 SOCIETIES Check out the clubs & societies list for a sneaky taste of the people you’ll meet at the bunfight. There’s a beloved annual tradition at SUSU which sees everyone cramming themselves into the sweaty confines of the Union and shuffling around in a bemused fashion. Those who brave the crowds will find it impossible to fight off the relentless bombardment of flyers. Occasionally, one will actually interest you. That’s when you grab life by the dangly bits and sign up to a society. It sounds confusing, but you’ll soon get into the swing of it. Even more confusingly, it’s called the ‘bunfight’, for reasons completely unbeknown to this publication. Though sadly bereft of cake throwing, it is nonetheless a great opportunity to get a good taste of the many clubs on offer here, and to sign up on the spot. Each club is run by an elected committee of students, managing its own budget, which comes from the Union itself. Future employeres regard highly those students who have been heavily involved with running their club or soc, so make the most of one of the best aspects of the Union. In the unlikely event of you not being able eto find the club you want, you can always start your own. There are bound to be students who share your interest, however bizarre or embarrassing.
COURSE & DEPARTMENTAL SOCIETIES Actuarial Society
Management Society
Applied Social Science Society
Maths Society
Archaeology Society
Medical Society
Biological Science
National Oceanography Centre Society
Chemistry Society
Nursing and Midwifery Society
Economics Society
Philosophy Society
Electronics and Computer Science Society
Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Occupational Theraphy society
Engineering Society
Politics Association
English Society
Psychosoc
Environmental Science Society
Sociology and Social Policy
Film Studies Society
Spanish Society
Frensoc
Sportsoc
Geography Society Geological Society
POSTGRADUATE
German Society
Humanities Post Graduate Forum
History Society
Life Sciences Postgrad Society
Inns of Court Society
Mature Student Society
Law Society
Optical Society of America
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Fresh. INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES
POLITICAL
African and Caribbean Society
Middle Eastern Students’ Society
AIESEC
Algerian Society for Intellectual Liaison (ASIL)
Nordic Society
Amnesty International
Pakistani
Conservative Association
Persian Society
Engineers without borders
Polish Society
Green Action
Russian Speaking
Labour Club
Saudi Society
Liberal Democrats
Sikh Society
Medsin Southampton
Singapore Society
Model United Nations Society
Sri Lankan Society
No 2 NUS
Taiwanese Students Society
Socialist Students Society
Tamil Society
Stop AIDS
Thai Society
Student Action for Refugees
Turkish Society
Students Against War (SAW)
Vietnamese Society
Students for NUS
Asian Cultural Society Bangladesh Society Chinese Student Society (CSS) Chinese Students Association CymruSoc Greek and Cypriot Society Indonesian Society Irish Society Korean Student Society Kurdish Society Malaysian Students Association Mauritian Society Mexican Society
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PERFORMING ARTS UNION
SPOTLIGHT ON CONCERT BAND Southampton University Concert Band is one of the largest and most successful musical societies in the Students’ Union. The band is open to absolutely anyone who plays a brass, wind or percussion instrument. Without the stresses and headaches that come with auditioning for places there is a relaxed atmosphere. Visit soton.ac.uk/~band for more info!
Ballet Society
Magicians Order
Ballroom and Latin Dance Society
Medics Revue
Bel Canto
Salsa Society
Bollywood Dancing
Showstoppers
Brass Band
Sinfonietta
Break Dance Club
Stagesoc (Back Stage)
Circus Society
Street Dance
Comedy Society
SU Singers
Composition Society
SU Strings
Concert Band
Symphonic Wind Orchestra
Jazz Dance Society
Symphony Orchestra
Jazz Orchestra
Tap Dance Society
Jazzmanix
Theatre Group
Light Operatic Society
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The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
SOCIAL SOCIETIES
RELIGIOUS
Agricultural Society
Pottery Society
Abrahamic Monotheistic
Airsoft
Private Rented Society
African Caribbean Christian Fellowship
Alternative Indie Music (AIM)
Rock Society (Rocksoc)
Alpha Society
Anime and Manga Society (SAMS)
St John Ambulance LINKS
Atheist Society
Art Society
Scouts and Guides (SSAGO)
Buddhist Meditation Society
Astronomy Society (Astrosoc)
Wessex Films
Catholic Society
Backpacking Association
Wireless Society (SUWS)
Christian Union
Bridge Society
Yoga Society
Hare Krishna
Chess
Hindu Society
Computer Game Development
Islamic Society
Computer Gaming Society
Israel - Jewish Society (J-SOC)
Conservation Volunteers (SUVC)
Krishna Consciousness
Creative Writing Society
Student Christian Movement
Creativity & Innovation Culture Appreciation Darts Debating Society DJ Society Duke of Edinburgh Society Erasmus Society Fish on Toast Football Supporters Society
SPOTLIGHT ON ERASMUS SOCIETY Exchange your life! Study abroad as part of your degree, in another language or English. Discover new cultures and make friends from all over world. Check out our website at erasmus.susu.org to find out more about their fantastic socials and trips.
SPOTLIGHT ON ATHEIST SOCIETY
Southampton’s Atheist society is one of its newest. Affiliated in 2007, the society invites atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists and skeptics to raise awareness of the value of non-religious viewpoints, to promote secular values and to provide information and support.
COMING SOON...
Games Society Good Food Society
Composition Society
Grape and Grain Society
Fancy Dress Society
Guild of Change Ringers
Feminist Society
Investment Society
Lithuanian Society
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Society Live Music Society Mac Soc Photographic Society Pimm’s O’Clock Society Poker Society
SPOTLIGHT ON COMEDY SOCIETY Comedy Society are SUSU’s only society dedicated solely to making you (and themselves) laugh. Whether you’re a skilled gagmaster or a complete novice they want to hear from you.
Physics Society Quacksoc Rotaract Society Student Works Vegetarian Society Winchester Nursing & Midwifery
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THE DIRECTORY We put together this list of handy info, ‘cause we love you. Hartley Library
Opening and loans desk hours are tailored at each site to suit the needs of the local users. The Library remains open throughout the year, however opening hours are often reduced during vacations to reflect the lower demand on services. 023 8059 2180 \ libenqs@soton.ac.uk
Students’ Union Advice and Information (SUAIC)
SUSU’s independent service providing confidential, face to face advice on anything from academic issues, to legal advice. Open Monday to Friday, from 10am-4.30pm (Except on Wednesday when opening times are 10.30am-3.30pm) suaic.susu.org \ 023 8059 2085 \ suaic@ soton.ac.uk
Nightline
A confidential listening and information service for students. Lines open 8pm-8am every day of the week (during term time) nightline.susu.org \ 023 8059 5236
iSolutions
Create and look after your personal email account, your filestore, and your general computer account. www.soton.ac.uk/isolutions \ serviceline@soton.ac.uk
Shine Hair Salon
The University’s on Campus Hair Salon for men and women. Located above the SUSU Shop on Highfield Campus. 023 8059 5060
Opening Times: Mon–Wed Thu Fri Sat
10am–6pm 10am–7pm 10am-6pm 9am-4pm
Student Resource Network
A gateway to all the help you’ll need as a student at Southampton. Log into SUSSED and click on the Resources tab. sussed.soton.ac.uk
Accommodation Services
Administers University residences and private rented sector accommodation. They offer a free and confidential advisory service covering general housing matters, tenancy law and other related issues. www.soton.ac.uk/accommodation \ 023 8059 5959
Chaplaincy
Exists to support all students. Providing friendship, care and spiritual guidance. www.chaplaincy.soton.ac.uk \ chaplain@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 3511
Highfield Health Centre
Surgery available for general appointments, as well as having special clinics including one asthma, travel, contraception, sports injury, diabetes and acupuncture.Open: 8.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm-5.30pm (weekdays www.highfieldhealth.nhs.uk \ health@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 5545
University Health Centre
Specialising in discount air, rail and coach travel. Located above the SUSU Shop (Building 57) and open 9.30am-4.30pm. travel.susu.org \ travel@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 5237 \ 023 8059 5259
Dyslexia Services
Provide support for dyslexic students and those who are dyspraxic or have other specific learning difficulties. dyslexia@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 2759
The Universities own general medical practice. Also houses clinics including travel, maternity, mental health, asthma, epilepsy, coronary heart disease, child immunisation, and diabetes. www.unidocs.co.uk \ queries@unidocs.co.uk \ 023 8055 7531 \ 023 8059 3539
Raise and Give
Wessex Needs Assessment Centre
Counselling Service
Travel Centre
SUSU’s fundraising department who raise money in fun and exciting ways to give to charity. They are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help out. rag.susu.org \ rag@susu.org \ 023 8059 5209
Student Services Centre
Central point for all student enquiries. Your port of call for information and advice about accommodation, finance, graduation, exams and much more. Open 9.00am-5.30pm (Wed 9.00am-3.30pm) www.sootn.ac.uk/studentservices \ ssc@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 9599
Career Destinations
Provide help to find work, volunteering and work experience. Located in building 37 and open 9.00am-5.30pm (Wed 9.00am-3.30pm) careers@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 3501
Provide specialist assessment for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties. wessexdsa@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 7233
Enabling Services
Specialist support for students with a wide range of disabilities, health conditions, mental health difficulties and serious trauma. Disability: Mentor:
Day Nursery
023 8059 7726 \ enable@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 7241 \ mentors@soton.ac.uk
Provide a high standard of care and education to meet the individual needs of both children and parents, enabling children to reach their full potential in a secure and stimulating environment. nursery@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 3465
Trained counsellors provide short term support for students and staff to help balance study and work with emotional wellbeing. counser@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 3719
Sport and Recreation
Promote sport at all levels from beginners through to elite athletes. Sport and Recreation have wide range of indoor and outdoor facilities. sportrec@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 2119
Uni-Link
The University bus service, which runs regularly throughout the year to all areas of Southampton, from the docks, to the airport www.unilink.soton.ac.uk \ uni-link@soton.ac.uk \ 023 8059 5974
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FOR YOUR SAFETY Useful information from Hampshire Constabulary HOME SECURITY
RESPONSIBLE DRINKING
Your laptop, I-pod and TV are all valuable and
The whole of Southampton is a drinking control
can be an attractive target for a thief. Keep them
zone which means if you are caught by the police
out of view from ground floor windows.
walking along the streets whilst drinking alcohol,
Be sure to lock doors and windows every time
it can be confiscated. If you refuse to hand it over
you leave the property – don’t rely on others
you will be committing an offence.
to do this for you. Most burglaries to student
If you are going to drink alcohol know your
properties are because someone didn’t shut
limits.
up properly.
Never leave your drink unattended.
If you are going to have a house party, think
PERSONAL SAFETY
about who you are letting in – would you have been happy to let a complete stranger into your family home?
LIVING IN HALLS
Southampton has plenty of lively clubs and bars, make sure you stick with a group of trusted friends and ensure you all get home safely. Try to avoid walking home late at night on
If you are in halls, don’t just assume that
your own. If it is unavoidable stick to busy,
the people on your floor or in your block are
well lit roads and never take short cuts trough
trustworthy. How well do you really know them?
alleys and parks.
Don’t take the risk and lock your room up every
Make sure you are aware of your surroundings.
time you leave it.
Always plan your route and remember that
Thieves can easily reach in through an open
alcohol will make you vulnerable.
ground floor window and take small portable
Avoid drawing attention to the property you
items such as laptops. Keep them out of view
are carrying. For example use a mobile phone
and always make sure your window is closed
discreetly.
when you leave the room. Be aware of who is following you into the block, it may not be a fellow resident.
HOW TO CONTACT THE POLICE
PROPERTY MARKING
999 (In an emergency)
Mark your property with your postcode and house number in a UV or marker pen. This can assist the Police to return stolen or lost items to the rightful owner. If you are in rented accommodation you could always use your parents’ postcode. Register your stuff for free at www.immobilise. com you have a far greater chance of getting the item back if it goes missing. Record the make, model and serial numbers of any electrical items and keep it safe.
0845 045 45 45 (Non-emergency) You can email your local Police Safer Neighbourhood Team: Portswood.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk If you would prefer to report a crime anonymously you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or for further information look on the website www.crimestoppers-uk.org
The UK’s #1 Magazine for New Students
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