Issue 25 | Retrospect Journal | Celebrations and Commemorations
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A Note from your Societies... History Society
End of the semester already? Normally this time of year evokes sentiments of dismay at just how little of your dissertation you actually got done, and all the other unfulfilled ambitions that you promised yourself you would achieve when you started anew in September. Alas, the History Society can’t relate. Not to be smug, but we have had a very successful, albeit hectic first semester (perhaps to the detriment of all the committee’s personal ambitions). Nevertheless, as President, the History Society has been my main source of pride this semester, and so I think it’s only right that I brag a little, and give thanks to my wonderful committee, whose dedication, hard-work and imagination never cease to amaze me. Our Social Secretaries, as ever, have been worked to the bone, organising countless events from our colossal pub-crawl to our magnificent Winter Ball. They’ve even thrown some curve-balls in there, with a joint social with the History Society of the University of Turku in Finland, a karaoke night, a potluck, and a ‘Sustainable Self-Care’ evening in collaboration with HC Peer Support. Similarly, our Academic Secretaries have been diligent, creative, and innovative (we expect nothing less). We were lucky enough to have been guided around the city by them on ‘Edinburgh’s Hidden Pioneers’ tour, learning about the lesser known sites and people in Edinburgh’s history, as well as ‘A Journey Through Ancient Egypt’ in which we learned of the research of expert Dr Judith Blair. Watch this space for events next semester celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month and Black History Month (which we’ll be celebrating
with the US in February). Our Student Experience Officers have been equally busy – running a ‘Life as a Postgrad’ panel event, where students interested in further study were given the opportunity to talk directly to HCA postgraduate students. We also ran a LinkedIn workshop in collaboration with the Careers Service, in which we provided members with FREE headshots for their profiles! Finally, our Trip Officers have moved full steam ahead in organising our trip to Prague during Flexible Learning Week, which we are SO excited for (for educational purposes, of course). And they’ve been keeping themselves busy elsewhere by running trips to Edinburgh Castle, as well as a visit to Stirling Castle – for free! On a final, but important note, after the recent vote by EUSA to support the UCU industrial action, I just wanted to stress the importance of students explicitly expressing their solidarity with striking staff. With Peer Support and Retrospect, we ran an event in which we heard the personal experiences of some of our striking staff within HCA, which was very impactful. We encourage you to send emails and letters in support to the university’s upper management – as their “customers”, we have the power to make a change – use it! We love hearing from our members about events ideas you have, topics you’re interested in, or places you would like to visit – so get in touch! Enjoy your well-deserved Winter Break, and we’ll see you next semester! Rachel Irwin, History Society President.