Epigram Freshers Guide 2018/19

Fresher’s Edition The University of Bristol’s Independent Student Newspaper 24th September 2018

WELCOME TO BRISTOL!

...from Bristol Uni’s only student-run, independent and award winning student newspaper INSIDE: Freshers Guide, tips and tricks from our editorial team, who we are, what we do, and how you can get involved!

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Epigram 24.09.2018

Who are we?

INTRODUCING: Epigram’s new Senior Team

The freshers of two years ago...

From left to right: Nikki Peach, Kate Hutchison, Cameron Scheijde, Ed Southgate, Oliver Cohen, Hannah Worthington (Epigram / Alex Boulton)

Ed Southgate

co-Editor-in-Chief Third Year, English • •

Previous role: Comment Editor First Epigram article: ‘Political correctness has no place at university’ Comment

Cameron Scheijde

Hannah Worthington

Third Year, Politics & IR

Third Year, English & Theatre

co-Editor-in-Chief • •

Previous role: Online Comment Editor First Epigram article: ‘The street preachers on Woodland Road are very annoying’ - Comment

Online Editor • •

Previous role: Online Style Editor First Epigram article: A collation of gym wear pieces to have for the new year - Style

Nikki Peach

Oliver Cohen

Kate Hutchison

Third Year, English

Third Year, Theoretical Physics

Third Year, Philosophy

Deputy Editor

• •

Previous role : News Editor First Epigram article: ‘Charities are not just for Christmas’ - Features

Deputy Online Editor • •

Previous role: Deputy Science & Tech Editor First Epigram article: ‘What Trump means for Climate Change’ - Science

Deputy Online Editor • •

Previous role: Deputy Music Editor First Epigram article: ‘Review: Factory Floor @ Bristol Aquarium’ - Music

Epigram 24.09.2018

Who are we?

3

Epigram: Bristol’s independent student publication • •

Winner of SPA Best Publication 2017 Over 300 editions, with a many stories being picked up by national media

Ed Southgate

E

is

halls reform, and mental health

provision

at

the

University.

In

co-Editor-in-Chief pigram

pensions - the controversial

2017,

launched

Epigram its

14

the

conversations, which sought

of

to break down the stigma

Bristol’s award-

against mental health. A

winning student newspaper,

number of prominent MPs,

founded in 1988 by James

such as Nicky Morgan,

Landale. We provide high-

voiced their support of this.

University

quality journalism, achieved

Amongst our 48 page

precisely because we are not

publication, you will find

affiliated with either the

fourteen dedicated sections:

University or Bristol SU.

News, Features, Comment,

This allows us to hold both

Science & Tech, Living,

institutions to account on

Wellbeing,

the issues that concern and

Travel, Arts, Music, Film

matter to you.

& TV, Puzzles, & Sport.

In the past 12 months

Whether

Food,

you

Style.

want

contribute for us, or simply

extensively

UCU

just read our pages to keep

which saw our

up to date with what is

lecturers walk out due to

going on, we have got you

a nationwide dispute over

covered.

strikes -

(Twitter / @BBCJLandale)

1990

(Twitter / @susannareid100)

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid becomes Editor in Chief, during which Epigram is shortlisted for Best Student Publication in The Guardian/ NUS Student Journalism

1997

Epigram reports on the introduction of tuition fees.

The publication has sice seen a stream of reports on this hotlydebated topic, with comment and features evaluating the pros and cons.

2006

to

alone, we have covered the

1988

Epigram is founded by James Landale, now a Senior BBC journalist. In his mission statement, Landale says: ‘It’s your paper. Read it, write for it, eat your fish and chips out of it’.

2017

Epigram reports appeals from History students against a new teaching system. The story was picked up by the BBC, The Times and The Telegraph, setting a precedent for Epigram’s journalism making national headlines.

Former Online Editor, Hannah Price, launches her campaign Revolt Sexual Assault with Epigram. The campaign has now gone national.

(Revolt Sexual Assault)

2018

Epigram celebrates its 30th anniversary of delivering top quality journalism to Bristol students

4

How to get involved

Epigram 24.09.2018

Get involved with the words...

•

•

Epigram has a team of over 100 editors, writers and business team Anyone can get involved with Epigram

(though basic literacy might be of service). You could be an engineer wanting to review your favourite Bristolian pizza restaurant or a linguist weighing in

Nikki Peach

on culture and diversity in

Deputy Editor

G

student halls; essentially,

etting involved with

anything goes.

Bristol’s

Our paper is distributed

s t u d e n t

once a fortnight and we online

Email us at getinvolved.epigram@gmail.com with any further questions

newspaper is not as difficult

operate

or intimidating as it may

so make sure you like our

everyday have, ranging from news,

concerns answered. Once

seem. Firstly, you do not

Facebook page to keep

features and comment to

you have written one or two

have to be doing any

up to date with student

arts, music and sport.

you will see how easy and

specific degree or have any

journalism. Facebook is also

There is a list online of

rewarding it is to have your

experience writing articles

where you can find links to

our editorial team and they

work published and digested

all the different sections we

are the people to get in

by the student body. Please

touch with if you want to

get in touch if you want to

be commissioned an article

know anything else, we look

idea, share one of your own

forward to working with

or just have any queries or

you!

Contact an editor

To write for a particular section, contact the editor via Facebook, or join the writers group by searching ‘Epigram [section name] contributors 2018/19’ News Imogen Horton Features Ollie Smith Comment Jake Porter Science & Technology Bethany Harris Living Hope Riley Wellbeing Jasmine Burke Food Laila Freeman

Travel Amelia Edgell-Cole Style India Harrison-Pepe Puzzles Ruby Rosenthal Arts Alina Young Film & TV Patrick Sullivan Music Alexia Kirov Sport Henry Edwards

How to get involved 5

Epigram 24.09.2018

... or with the numbers!

Contrary to popular belief and folk legend, Epigram is not all about writing and editing. To ensure we even exist, we have a sterling business team who want your help!

Team,

Frances McNab Managing Director

W

e

and

ensures

joining the Epigram team.

and marketing perspective.

Bristol, and have taken up

decisions about the content The

Business

Team

university life.

Director

and

Communications.

of

These

Business Team allows you

roles

to build your confidence

three teams: Ads and Sales;

and

Marketing;

as

part

of

are

Head

supported and

by

Finance.

small-

and

large-scale

Within these teams we

teams,

while

providing

have roles as Assistants,

you

recommend

We are looking for applicants for the following roles:

and distribution of Epigram. is led by the Managing

work

develop new ones. I would thoroughly

the Editorial Team, making

the

of my course, as well as

in my second year at

enthusiastic

with

to build on skills outside

university.

succeeds from a financial

and make a contribution to Working

The experience enabled me

is distributed across the

Ads and Sales Assistant

looking for

who want to be a part of,

Director in my final year.

key to ensuring Epigram

Epigram

We also collaborate with

people,

the position of Managing

of Head of Distribution is

I joined Epigram as an

are

committed

Team. Additionally, the role

with

real

business

as well as opportunities

experience.

The

Business

for promotion to Head of

•

Ads and Sales Assistant

•

Marketing Assistant

•

Finance Assistant

•

Head of Distribution Head to epigram.org.uk for more details, or contact our Managing Director, Frances McNab, at

fm16462@my.bristol.ac.uk with any further questions

NO EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED!

Epigram 24.09.2018

6 Freshers’ Guide

Beautiful Bristol Top tips to get the best out of the best city in the world Cameron Scheijde

at the years that are yet

co-Editor-in-Chief

W

to come. Though no one

elcome

to

pretends that Uni is in any

most

way easy, here are my tips to

difficult,

getting the best out of your

interesting,

time here in Bristol.

the

exciting,

challenging and exhilirating years

of

your

1. Explore

life.

You’d be surpised at how

Congratualtions on getting

few students escape the

your grades and choosing

confines of their halls or

societies and opporunities

you can do is engage with

Bristol; it truly is one of the

flats in Cotham, Clifton and

at Bristol you literally don’t

other

most beautiful, colourful and

Stoke Bishop and actually

have the time to do all the

course mates, lecturers and

vibrant cities in the world,

get to know the city more.

things you actually want

Bristolians. Find out what

and whether you’re here for

Wander into Stokes Croft

to

wanted

events are happening in

three, four or five years, you

for an open mic night, go

to try pottery? Now you

the city and go along, it’s a

will be proud to call this city

for a gander around the

can. Fancy yourself the

great opportunity to escape

home.

Cathedral and soak in the

next Matt Lucas? Contact

the student bubble.

I remember when I was in

surroundings, walk up to

DramSoc. Want to be an

your position two years ago;

the suspension bridge and

award-winning journalist?

wishing the M4 would last

into Leigh Woods, explore

Write for us.

forever as the car thundered

what makes Bristol such an

3. Engage

towards the West country.

incredible city.

This was the hardest one

degree - but Uni is about so

do.

Always

people;

flatmates,

4. Don’t take yourself too seriously Yes, you’re here to get a

2. Get involved

for me as I hate talking

much more than that. Don’t

feel nervous, terrified and

And I’m not just wanting

to people (great start to

get too focussed on grades -

aprehensive about starting

you to write for us (though

a

I

focus instead on your own

Uni - but you should

I definitely want you to do

know). However, one of

wellbeing and everything

definitely feel excitement

that). There are so many

the most rewarding things

else will fall into place.

It’s

perfectly

natrual

to

journalistic

career,

Epigram 24.09.2018

Freshers’ Guide

‘Your time at uni is worth a lot more than the first term’

If you are struggling, there are a number of services to help you...

Bristol nightline (8pm-8am): 01179 266 266 Student Health Service Big White Wall (register with Bristol email): bighwhitewall. org.uk Samartians: 116 116 Off The Record: 0808 808 9120

My advice for freshers and at times overwhelming

Nikki Peach

7

fits all.

flip flops in the shower and

experience. Interestingly, I

You are now living in a

how to make a non-bread-

think my indifference to it

new place with (potentially)

based meal, I can guarantee

I

served me well. That would

new people, which is really

someone, somewhere feels

am one of the

perhaps be the advice I

exciting! For some of you

exactly

few people I

wish I was given: have no

joining sports teams, art

Essentially, everything and

know who neither loved

expectations and hope for

societies and theatre groups

nothing matters in the early

nor hated freshers’ week.

the best. Do not worry what

comes without thought or

stages. If you sit next to

Most people either thrived

everyone else is doing, what

hesitation but for those less

someone nice in your first

in an atmosphere of 24/7

your friends from home are

outgoing and sure of their

lecture and promise to live

socialising or desperately

doing or what your teacher’s

interests, feeling comfortable

with them in a two-bed

sought

brother’s

did

in a new environment is

flat during second year, it is

repetitive listing of name,

when they were at Bristol in

not as straightforward. If at

likely that you never speak

course and where you’re

1995. I recommend getting

any point you are feeling

or make eye contact with

from. Only for it to be

involved with as many

lonely,

or

them again. And if you meet

followed by, ‘oh, that’s not

things as possible but by no

disappointed then make sure

an amazing person on the

in London? Where’s that?’.

means feel pressured to try

you reach out to someone

last bus home on your first

The whole first term of

everything. Freshers’ week

in

accommodation

night, it is equally likely

University can be an intense

is definitely not one size

whether that be a friend,

you could be friends with

flatmate or member of

them for the rest of your life.

staff. Alternatively, there

In want of a better cliché,

are hundreds of online

try and break out of your

communities at Bristol and

comfort

you can always talk to

yourself to people, join

people there.

societies that interest you

Deputy Editor

D

isclaimer:

to

avoid

the

neighbour

your

apprehensive

the

same

zone.

way.

Introduce

Whether you have been

and turn up to a few of

lucky in finding someone

your tutorials. But always

you get on well with in the

remember that your time

first few weeks or you are

at university is worth a lot

struggling to get used to

more than the first term.

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Epigram 24.09.2018

Freshers’ Guide

Bristol’s top spots 5 places you must visit this year Ed Southgate

co-Editor-in-Chief

A

s

you

will

you a nice intorduction to

of strangers you met at

provides the perfect place

the city.

the club - probably Lakota

for

- back round for afters

unwind and relax, either

because of how nice they are!

alone

1. Stokes Croft

those

wanting

or

with

to

friends.

hear time and

2. The Triangle

4. Gloucester Road

again,

With impressive graffiti

and probably say to others

and a skanky night out

at some point yourselves,

assured, Stokes Croft is

For a classic student

Bristol is great for the

perfect for you DnB fanatics.

night out, you will find

diversity of its city. When

Here you will find clubs

yourself

we say there is something

such as Blue Mountain and

to one of the Triangle’s

independent

for everyone, we really

Lakota - past headliners

cheesy but loveable clubs.

Bristol at its finest! In

mean it - in every possible

from

include

The best part about The

summer,

way.

Chris Lorenzo, DJ Zinc,

Triangle is probably the

annual

Macky Gee and Ed Solo.

or

Summer Street Party which

can

also mustn’t be missed.

time

Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert,

Stokes

which

Croft

is

favourite

going

down

Jason

Donnervan’s

a

Takka

Takka

you

of

treat

yourself

to

A

long,

long

road

with an array of brilliant

it

shops

-

hosts

Gloucester

the Road

looking for a sesh or some

personal

after!

quiet time, Bristol has got

mine. It is somewhere I

you covered. Below I list just

feel comfortable and know

five of the best things that

I will have a good time.

you can and should do with

You also meet some of

The clubbing scene is

theatres and music venues,

your time here. This list is

the friendliest people here;

not, and need not, be for

harbourside is yet another

in no way exhaustative - it

everyone is there for a good

everyone though. Clifton

place to go to relax and

would be impossible to tell

time and it is so easy to

Village, with its beautiful

just chill. Notorious down

you everything Bristol has

make friends. So easy that

architecture,

there

to offer as there is so much

I would not be surprised if

coffee

the

famous cider bar on a

- but hopefully it will give

you end up having a group

Clifton Suspension Bridge

boat which you must visit.

5. Harbourside 3. Clifton Village With beautiful pubs ,

shops,

independent and

is

The

Apple,

a