Freshers' Edition 2020

MEET THE 2020-21 COMMITTEE

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FAITH PRING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JAMIE MORRIS DEPUTY-EDITOR

SAM PHILLIPS HEAD OF MARKETING

LOLLIE HANCOCK FASHION EDITOR

MEG CHADDERTON HEAD OF DESIGN

SOPHIE PUFFET DEPUTY DESIGN

KATIE GREEN CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

JESSICA GODDARD TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE

ALEX MACE MUSIC EDITOR

EMILY MENDHAM CREATIVE CORNER EDITOR

OLIMPIA ZAGNAT NEWS EDITOR

ALEX BRINTON SPORTS EDITOR

Can you spot us on the cover?

GEORGE COWELL SOCIAL SECRETARY

EMILY BRAEGER TREASURER

COVER DESIGNED BY MEG CHADDERTON

CONTENTS EDITOR’S NOTE - A letter from our Editor-inChief and the President of the SU AN OPEN LETTER from Platform Magazine

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MUSIC Nottingham’s Music Scene - Everything you 6 will ever need to know about Nottingham’s biggest and most successful musicians and the venues here that made them.

Attending Your First Gig - Wondering how to 8 attend your first gig in Notts? Here is what you need to know.

The Struggle of Studying with Music - One 10 student details how she struggled to use music to help her study at university Blues Heritage - One of our writers tells us all 12 about the Blues and how all music has been impacted by it.

FASHION AND BEAUTY Body Positivity - Feeling body-positive in the 14 gym can be hard, but here’s how to do it.

Nottingham’s Charity Shops - We have some 16 great charity shops here in Notts, but which ones should you head to? One writer tells all.

NEWS Online Teaching - It’s the new normal, and one student fills us in on everything you need to know about attending university from the comfort of your bedroom.

Where are they now? - Ever wondered where our Platform alumni end up? We caught up with some of them to find out!

What to do after Undergraduate study - If you’re already looking ahead, here are a few ideas of what you could do post-graduation.

Looking back at Freshers’ Week - It’s not always fun for everyone, but there’s a very important lesson you can learn from it.

Transferring to Trent - Broderick has attended four different universities all across the world, and he told us why.

CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT

Secrets of Nottingham - Some of the city’s most loved places are hidden away, but don’t worry, we’ve detailed them all here.

Movie-inspired Ocean Outfits - Wondering what to wear to your first Ocean night-out?

We’ve got a few ideas...

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An Alternative Freshers Week - If you’re looking for something fun and unexpected to do this Freshers week, look no further than this handy list.

Board Game Cafes - Nottingham is home to several, here is our rundown of the very best!

Theatre Scene in Nottingham - Our city is home to an amazing theatre industry, here is everything you need to know.

CREATIVE Hope - A poem to remind you that all is not lost in the midst of your first-year stresses.

SPORT Sports Map of Nottingham - This useful guide will show you all the ins and outs of the sport scene in Nottingham.

NTU Women’s Football - NTU’s Women’s football team have had some great success recently and we found out who’s behind it.

Nottingham Sport in Lockdown - Wondering what sport in Notts looked like during the height of the pandemic? Look no further than this handy run-down of everything that happened.

TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE Easy Student Recipes - If you’re looking for something to eat, we’ve got a great list of ideas that are cheap and easy to make!

First Year on a Budget - We know money can be tight, so one of our writers has put together a great guide on saving money during your first year here at NTU. Freshers’ Top Tips - You’ll only regret the things you didn’t do - here’s a handy list of how to make the most of your first year at uni.

You Might Not Love Your First Year of Uni….

One of our writers has detailed why your first year might not be the easiest, but why you should persevere regardless. Hang in there!

Ten Things you Need at Uni - Wondering whether you really need that saucepan?

Here are all the things you need that you might not have thought about.

A Freshers’ Week Conversation - You’ll probably have a similar conversation at some point this week.

The First Year Effect / Join Platform - A short poem about joining university and

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Hello, If you are a new student, congratulations on securing your place at Nottingham Trent University. You’re about to begin one of the most exciting chapters of your life. If you are a returning student, welcome back, I hope you had a great summer.

Dear Reader, Welcome to NTU! Whether you are a returning student or a Fresher, we want to welcome you back to Nottingham Trent University and its Students’ Union. All the staff have been busy preparing for your arrival and we couldn’t be more excited to kickstart the new academic year.

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Allow me to introduce myself - my name is Faith Pring, I am the current Editor-in-Chief and President of Platform Magazine society here at Nottingham Trent Students’ Union. I am currently an MA News Journalism student, but ‘graduated’ this summer from my BA Spanish and Linguistics degree here at Trent. I first joined Platform way back in October 2017, before being voted in as News Editor and then President!

Last year was a huge year for us here at Platform magazine. We received two national Student Publication award nominations (fingers crossed!), a nomination for our graphic design team at the Nottingham Young Creative Awards, and we also won a regional Student Publication Award for being the best developed new publication. We also had some great success internally, breaking our record for monthly and daily viewing figures on our website, and we received two nominations at the NTSU Awards, and we won NTSU Society of the Year!

To make settling back into university life easier for all our students, we’ve prepared a jam-packed Freshers edition of our magazine fit to burst with everything you could ever need. Check out page 6 for our guide to the music scene around Nottingham, page 18 for everything you need to know about online teaching and remote learning, and in case you might be concerned about finance, give page 48 a read for some great budgeting tips.

May this year be the best of your life so far, stay safe, study hard and have fun!

Until next time, Faith x

My name is Conor Naughton and I am President of Nottingham Trent Students’ Union (NTSU).

Whether you are a new student about to start, or returning, I wanted to a share a few of the things that NTU and NTSU have to offer this year, as well as inform you of our response to COVID-19 that willcreate an enjoyable and safe place for the new academic year.

COVID-19 To ensure your health and safety, changes have been made to the facilities on campus. These include adapting spaces to ensure social distancing is in place, increased cleaning, more hand sanitiser stations, and a new one way system for all our buildings. We will be running events and activities on-campus and online, though events on campus may look a little different for the time being.

Try something new, explore and get involved Nottingham is an amazing student city with everything from historic attractions to world class sport right on your doorstep. No matter which campus you’re studying at, make sure you explore it all and try something new while you’re here. No matter what year of study you are in, attending an event or joining a society at your Students’ Union is a fantastic way to make new friends and meet like-minded people at university, and we have over 100 societies to choose from!

Talk to your Exec Officers My final and most important piece of advice is to not be afraid to ask questions. If you see your Exec Officers on campus in our purple tops, please don’t be shy in saying hello and asking us any burning questions you have.

If you want to know more about Nottingham, making friends, NTSU or anything in between, let one of us know. Our contact details are on our website www.trentstudents.org/yourreps.

On behalf of myself and all the Exec team at NTSU, I look forward to welcoming you to your Students’ Union this September.

Conor Naughton (NTSU President)

An Open Letter to the Trent Army, Here at Platform Magazine, and indeed at NTU, we pride ourselves on being inclusive. We support and strive to include and represent voices from all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, races and sexual orientations.

NTU is home to what is known as the ‘Trent Army’. We are an army of students who support one another and celebrate each other’s differences.

This army does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation. This is the army you are joining as you enrol at NTU. As the official Students’ Union magazine, we aim to represent you, no matter your background. We are always open to your views, opinions, constructive criticisms and needs. If there is something you think we should be covering, then do not hesitate to get in touch with us. If you need our help getting your voice heard, we will be your platform for change. If you wish to give your voice to someone else who needs it more, we will hand our platform to you. This is your student magazine.

Our Platform is your Platform, throughout your time at NTU.

Sincerely, Platform Magazine 1

Facebook: Platform Magazine Instagram: @platformmagazine Twitter: @PlatformOnline Email: platformonlinenotts@gmail.com

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ILLUSTRATED BY MEG CHADDERTON

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MUSIC

ATTENDING YOUR FIRST GIG “Let’s face the facts, 2020 hasn’t been that fantastic for students.”

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Locked down for weeks doing uni work, not being able to see friends and not being able to go out. But do not despair, for many of you reading this you will have just arrived at NTU as a fresher ready to embark on a new chapter in your life. University is not an easy step for all of us and settling in can sometimes be a challenge, but as weeks go by, you’ll soon find new friends and friends with similar interests and for many people that interest can be the wonderful world of music. Nottingham has a fantastic live music scene that has been growing over the past few years with artists such as Jake Bugg and London Grammar all originating from the city. With all this great music on offer, how does one enjoy it live? How do I go about attending my first gig?

The Venues: Where To Go and Why. There are numerous venues across the city that host various gigs, each of which offering a different style of music.

Nottingham is of course home to the famous Rock City and is a fantastic venue for a gig. The lower rooms of Rock City host more intimate gigs with upcoming artists whereas the main room upstairs hosts more well-known musicians. In the past year Lewis Capaldi, Krept and Konan, Mabel, GIGGS (would recommend) and many other big names have all performed at the venue. The gig guide on their website breaks down all of their upcoming events with a huge variety of genres from rap to indie rock. There really is something for everyone here. A gig at Rock City is a must for any NTU student and whether you are seeing a famous artist or a smaller band you’ve followed for many years, to experience them live at an intimate venue like this is unforgettable.

Rock City is not the only best place for a gig, however. The Bodega and Rescue Rooms often feature some great artists and have more of an intimate feel. I watched an Icelandic rock band called The Vintage Caravan at Rescue Rooms and I can honestly say it was one of the best gigs I have attended. The smaller venue and the less ominous crowd of people made for an excellent experience so do not be afraid to try a smaller venue.

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Words of Gig-Going Wisdom.

If indie music is your thing and you want a more chilled atmosphere, then The Chameleon is an excellent setting for a bit of live music. Here you will experience younger, upcoming bands and artists that may one day find themselves in the main room of Rock City.

Money, Money, Money.

Ticket prices vary depending on the artist, but do not worry about destroying your student bank account. Rock City is often very good value, for example, I watched GIGGS for £25 and Australian rock band Airbourne for £16 and both gigs were superb. For smaller venues such as The Bodega, Rescue Rooms and Alberts, ticket prices are cheaper as they are smaller events.

Some venues offer you the opportunity to purchase ticket protection. This is a form of insurance that covers the cost of your ticket if you are unable to attend for various reasons and adds only a few extra pounds to the cost of your ticket. I would suggest opting to purchase ticket protection if you spend £20- £30 on a ticket, do not worry too much about this for smaller gigs as it probably isn’t necessary.

“The opportunity to experience live music in Nottingham is endless”

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to a gig. Queues to get into venues can often be pretty big due to security checks on doors and ticket scanning so arrive early. If you do arrive early this will give you the opportunity to choose where you want to stand. If you are attending your first gig, do not feel under pressure to go right to the front where the potential for mosh pits can occur. From my own personal experience, it really is dependent on who you are going to watch, but mix things up. If you are feeling confident then head straight to the front, here you will get the best view possible, although have some earplugs on hand as it can be hellishly loud. If you want to test the waters, then stand at the side or back then move forward if you feel up to it. Most artists who perform will often be selling merchandise so be sure to take a bit more cash.

The opportunity to experience live music in Nottingham is endless. With gigs popping up almost every night at various venues across the city centre you will be spoilt for choice. Whether you are watching a big name in the main room at Rock City or an upcoming band at The Bodega, live gigs are seriously enjoyable. So what are you waiting for? Book yourself some tickets and head off on a night of infectious musical joy.

Writer : Sam Phillips Designer : Jezzie Hill

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Welcome to NTSU, from your Exec your welfare to your studies. They make mportant changes on your behalf so if you have a problem, question or any ideas for change, let them know.

Conor Naughton President

Zoë Mallett

VP Community & Welfare

Zoe Clifton VP Sport

NTSUPresident

NTSUvpCOMMUNITY

NTSUvpSPORT

NTSUPresident

NTSUvpCOMMUNITY

NTSUvpSPORT

Troy Brocklebank VP Education

Cameron Sutton VP Opportunities

NTSUvpEDUCATION

NTSUvpOPPS

NTSUvpEDUCATION

NTSUvpOPPS

Chloe Philpott BrackStudents

FASHION AND BEAUTY At its core, body positivity is all about having a positive body image and trying not to concern yourself with Society’s view of what the perfect ideal body type is. Understandably this is difficult when the hourglass female body and males with bulging biceps and a six-pack are plastered all over social media.

But with many people wanting to work on the physique for themselves and their own mental well-being, they will more than likely encounter the gym, which can come with its own set of body positivity hurdles.

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Simply put, gyms do promote ideal body types for males and females that are all over social platforms and in magazines, and so it can be difficult to feel as body-positive as you could when you are trying to work up a sweat and reach your personal fitness goals.

And because of this, gyms can be one of the most daunting environments to be in. With tons of strong-looking people in every direction, squatting, benching and lifting super heavy weights, it is not surprising that ‘gymtimidation’ is an actual thing and it gets in the way of many people from being as confident as they can be whilst working out.

Therefore it is really important to not lose sight of what you joined the gym for and how you are going to achieve your personal fitness goals, rather than associating the gym environment as somewhere that you don’t fit in. This is sometimes easier said than done, especially when the encouraging posters and personal trainers

about the place are typical representations of the ‘body goals’ that you are attempting to ignore.

Avoiding making any comparisons between you and others in the gym will make a substantial difference to your own body confidence when you are doing your workout. As tempting as it is, not checking yourself to other people’s physiques, routines or techniques will have a massive positive impact on your body confidence as you can focus on your own progress.

HOW TO FEEL BODY PO This can be considerably difficult to do as a beginner at the gym. No matter what your gym goals are, as a beginner you are only just starting out and will not see results overnight. Therefore being bombarded with ‘perfect’ bodies all over the gym can be very disheartening and, from experience, set you back.

A good way to keep your body positivity up whilst you are on your fitness journey is keeping a picture log of you progress. No this doesn’t mean taking a dreaded gym selfie. By keeping a personal log of your progress it will help you to understand

“Dropping the pressur put on yourself will rea confidence yo

You should also tailor your workout routine to what best suits you and what you enjoy.

I personally have found that lifting weights makes me feel masculine and makes me have a negative feeling about my body.

Therefore I stick to HIT training and spin classes because it works best for me and my confidence.

how far you have come and also help you to understand what you need to do to get where you want to be.

Dropping the pressure and judgment you put on yourself will really improve the body confidence you have too. It is important to remember that just because you don’t look the same way as the others working out around you, it doesn’t mean that they are better than you or that you aren’t making any progress.

POSITIVE IN THE GYM This is something that you should do outside of the gym too. By doing this when you go to the gym to do your workout you will have a positive mindset from the off and will have a more productive session.

Combining this with wearing gym wear that you really like and feel comfortable in will do wonders for your body positivity. Even though the gym isn’t a fashion show, wearing sportswear that makes you feel good will help you want to work out.

Investing in something that you can’t wait to put and workout in will significantly improve how you think and feel about your body.

ure and judgment you eally improve the body you have too...”

This is all a process of trial and error so you’ll need to try different ways of working out in the gym to find out what makes you feel good. This could be anything between practicing yoga to lifting heavy weights to swimming to group classes - it is all about finding what makes you feel body confident.

But most importantly, maintaining your body positivity in the gym will come from remembering why you started. No matter where you are in your workout journey and how much farther you want to push yourself, you have to remind yourself of the reason you began going and paying for the membership in the first place.

Whilst you might hit a wall, focusing on your long-term goal will help you push through and you will get there no matter how long it takes.

All in all, you shouldn’t discredit the progress that you have made and you will thank yourself for it when you get to be where you want to be. So don’t give up with your fitness goals and keep pushing through, ignoring everything you ever heard about the ‘perfect body’.

WRITTEN BY SHANNON MOUNTFORD DESIGNED BY GAYATRI RANA

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FASHION AND BEAUTY Fashion used to be expensive and designer clothes in which only the wealthiest could afford to look good. In recent years, this has changed, and sustainable fashion has become popular meaning that affordable clothes are no longer a faux pas.

With this advent, the use of vintage clothing has become trendier and it’s no longer embarrassing to be seen in your local charity shop getting fashionable bargains. You can now buy cheap vintage clothes and support an amazing cause whilst doing so.

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Here is a list of five of the best charity shops in Nottingham for students on a budget: My Sight shops Three located in Nottingham, based in the City Centre, Mapperley and Stapleford. They have a wide range of stock from bric-a-brac to books, but do extremely affordable clothes and you could easily craft an outfit for under a tenner. The stores are clean and have a great collection of clothing to choose from.

It’s affordable fashion that helps children and adults in Nottinghamshire that are living with vision loss. So, if you’re bored of your wardrobe and struggling to pay high street prices, you’ll be able to find a cheap outfit at this charity shop to fulfil your fashion needs.

Sue Ryder Vintage and Retro Situated in Nottingham’s creative quarter in Goose Gate. Specialising in vintage stock that varies from nostalgic furniture to retro clothes. With fashion constantly changing,

Written by Charlie Vogelsang Designed and Illustrated by Meg Chadderton

there is bound to something for everyone here. From clothes styled from the 1940s to 90s fashion, all at bargain prices that’ll come in handy if you’re looking for a new outfit and little student loan left.

White Rose shops There are many different White Rose Charity shops in Nottingham, but the original one opened in 2009 by Trent alumni. Shopaholics can pick up designer labels from leading names or high street shops such as Topshop or Zara at one of their many stores at an affordable price. It doesn’t look like a charity shop, and the store itself has a modern décor.

The proceeds go to Aegis, a charity that works to build long-term peace and help survivors in difficult circumstances to rebuild. The shops can be found around Nottingham but primarily in Hockley and Newark. Discounted designer clothes, helping support a trusted cause and helping the environment with green fashion.

The British Heart Foundation There are many British Heart Foundation shops in Nottingham, but the one that has the best clothing is hidden away at the back of Broadmarsh. Like many charity shops, they sell a range of good quality second-hand items but also sell new goods. All the clothes that they sell are in excellent quality and arranged so it’s easy to find specific items.

You’ll be supporting a great cause by buying from here all at a low-cost price as the income from the shop goes to supporting the British Heart Foundation. The charity funds life-saving research that is attempting to cure heart and circulatory diseases.

Cancer Research Like the British Heart Foundation, there are many Cancer Research charity shops in Nottingham but the one with the most fashionable clothing is the one at Friar Lane. The store is small, but they have an incredible variety of clothing at a modest price. From shoes, to accessories, to leather jackets, this charity shop as everything you need as a student on a spending limit.

Funding research for Cancer, buying clothes from here not only saves you money but helps to save other people. Their displays in the window often don’t do justice of the unbelievable bargains that are hidden inside the shop and won’t have to worry about scrimping your left-over student loan.

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Like most university students in the

craziness of March, I had to hit the ground running with the transition to online learning. Not only did I have an exam and an essay due the week lockdown started, but my parents had just moved house so I didn’t have any Wi-Fi for the first few weeks, which made an already stressful period pretty disastrous! However, I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the concept of online learning.

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Even though I am only a first year, I am pretty confident in navigating the online resources on the NOW website, largely due to the fact that two of my modules this year were online based. Now that we are all faced with the prospect of a new way of learning, with an emphasis on online resources, I think it’s pretty important to consider both the positives and negatives of this.

PROS: 1. You can learn at your own pace. I personally struggle to keep up in lectures - they have a lot of information to share in a short period of time, and I am REALLY slow at handwriting. With online lectures, you can pause at any point, take a break, and pick up where you left off, which allows for a much more relaxed experience than frantically jotting things down for an hour or more.

2. No travel needed. Being able to sit in bed, in your nice comfy pyjamas, watching your lecture, is a much more appealing option than a potential commute, and then sitting in the cold lecture rooms (especially if it’s raining!). Arguably, lack of travel is the biggest positive of working from home. Anything for a bit more time in bed.

3. More flexible timetable. Whereas a scheduled lecture at 9am is nonnegotiable (resulting in much lower attendance, particularly after Ocean), online

lectures are usually uploaded at the beginning of the week, and you are given a period within which to watch them. This means that you can choose when to sit down and do the work, and can arrange to do this when it suits you.

4. Less time fussing around. As lectures are prerecorded, you won’t have to sit through the inevitable technical difficulties experienced by every lecturer (they have pHDs but sometimes struggle using PowerPoint), or even the bustle as everyone arrives. You won’t run out of time, as the lecture will not be delayed by everyone chatting whilst arriving, and so once you sit down you will be able to start learning.

5. More space and comfort. Everyone has experienced the cramped settings of a lecture hall; particularly in the beginning of term (when everyone has good, studious intentions) the rooms are filled to capacity, meaning a lack of personal space for everyone involved. Of course, this is wildly impractical following social distancing guidelines, but even beyond this, a solid perk of working at home is that you don’t have to keep your bag right by your feet, or worry about turning the page of your notebook in case it pulls the hair of the girl in front of you.

MOVING THE L

INTO MY B

MY EXPERIENCE WIT T

“...you can choose when to sit down and do the work...”

NEWS CONS: 1. Limited resources. As university students with diverse backgrounds, many of us are limited by what we can access when at home. Particularly for those studying practical degrees, such as animation, art, or costume design, there is a reliance on the equipment provided by the university. How are students without a sewing machine supposed to complete their costume projects? After all, we aren’t all paying 9K for just books and paper. With some courses, online learning just isn’t a practical option.

2. Technical difficulties. As I mentioned before, in the midst of exam prep and assessment panic, disaster struck, and I was left without Wi-Fi for 3 weeks! Had I been on campus, I would have been able to complete the work at the library, but instead I was forced to break lockdown rules and travel to my dad’s (whilst he was at work) to get everything done.

Despite advice from my tutor, I was unable even to fill out an NEC due to the lack of signal in my area. And I wasn’t the only one that struggled with connectivity issues in the online format of exams… sometimes good old-fashioned pen and paper is the most reliable option!

LECTURE HALL

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3. Communication. It is harder to get help from lecturers in an online module, particularly in contrast to the more hands on approach of workshops and seminars. Being a Psychology student, trying to navigate the Statistics online workshops without help on hand was incredibly stressful, and contributed to my lack of engagement with this module as a whole. Although most lecturers were quick to respond to emails and helpful on the discussion forums, sometimes it just didn’t cut it. Face to face communication really can make all of the difference.

“... we aren’t all paying 9k for just books and paper” 4. Requires more time management skills. Whilst the flexibility of online lectures can be great, it comes with more personal responsibility. Of course, university already involves a large amount of independent learning, but online modules can really test your ability to motivate yourself.

Knowing that there are technically no immediate consequences to not watching a lecture (no detentions or penalties), or that you could just watch it “later on” can lead to putting it off, and forgetting about it.

5. Harder to focus. It’s not only me that watches an online lecture whilst entirely on my phone, right? Not only this, but in a home environment, it can be so much more difficult to get into a studying mindset than in lecture halls or the library. With online lectures there are so many more dangerous distractions, like phones, chatty friends or family members, which you wouldn’t have to deal with if you were sat in an actual lecture. I recommend a no screens rule, and if struggling with the environment, then try to start a routine of doing your online work in the library, where you’ll naturally (hopefully) develop more of a focus.

WRITTEN BY FRANKIE GALTON DESIGNED BY GAYATRI RANA

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r u o y f o t s o

m e h t Make U T N t a e m i t

Your time at University is sure to be one of the most memorable of your life. Here are some of the ways you can make the most of it through your Students’ Union during term one.

Join a Society There are over 140 societies at NTSU which cater to a range of different interests. If you’re keen to meet new people and try new things when you arrive, joining one is a great way to do that. Keep an eye out for them at the Freshers’ Fairs during Welcome Week where you’ll be able to find out more about the societies on offer and sign up.

Attend Events As well as our GIAG activities, we have a diverse entertainments programme which runs all year round. It features everything from bingo and games nights to quizzes and comedy. Make sure you follow @NTSUents on social media for all the latest.

Try Something New If you’re looking for something a little more casual, our Give it a Go (GIAG) programme means you can get involved in one-off events and activities throughout term one and beyond without any commitment. Craft workshops and film screenings are just a couple of the things we have planned for the first few weeks of term.

Join an Online Community Life might look a little different right now, but we have a number of digital communities that are designed to help you connect with likeminded students during your time at NTU. You can find a list of them at: www.trentstudents.org/socialmedia

Become a Representative NTSU’s representatives help to make important changes on behalf of students at NTU. Sound like something you’d be interested in? You can apply to become one yourself! There are various positions you can nominate yourself for including our Academic Reps who will be elected at the start of term one. They act as a voice for the students on their school or course. Find out more at www.trentstudents.org/academicreps.

For more information on the opportunities on offer at your Students’ Union, head to www.trentstudents.org

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FINISH AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE There’s only one thing more difficult than finishing an undergraduate degree - and that’s deciding what to do next. There are three main options that most people choose from, which include doing a postgraduate course, taking a gap year, or going straight into employment either by taking an internship or full-time job.

Laura McAdam, Alumni Relations Assistant, said: “Once you graduate from NTU you become part of the Alumni Community, a global network of over 200,000 graduates which helps keep graduates connected to NTU and gives them opportunities to stay involved.

“Last academic year, 979 Fellows volunteered their time to support more than 6,810 current students, by participating in careers events, offering work placements, mentoring and 24 much more.”

To help you start to think about what you want to do next, here are three NTU graduates who have all taken different paths once finishing their degree.

Chloe Cooper studied BA Fashion Knitwear Design and graduated in 2013. Immediately after graduation she undertook a short unpaid internship at Julien MacDonald, where she helped to produce knitwear for the Spring/Summer catwalk collection.

Chloe said: “There was a group of us from NTU there and the knitwear designer at the time was also an alumnus of the course, so in that respect it was a great experience.”

During her internship, Chloe applied for the job of Designer at John Smedley and was started the following autumn.

Chloe said: “During my degree I was particularly aware of the challenges of finding a job in the fashion industry, especially in design and at the higher end of the market, as there are few jobs and many applicants.

“I was keen to gain any experience possible and ‘get my foot in the door’ of the industry.”

Chloe still works for the same company now as Design manager and is responsible for all new product development as well as designing the womenswear collections.

“During my degree I was particularly aware of the challenges of finding a job...”

She said: “I honestly hadn’t expected to stay at the same company for so long, however working within a relatively small team the opportunities available to me are much more than I could have imagined.”

Barbie Nash studied BA Business Management with Entrepreneurship and graduated in 2015.

Barbie’s next step was to study a postgraduate course at NTU, and she completed a Master’s degree in Corporate and Insolvency Law (LLM) in 2016. She studied full time whilst working at Nottingham City Council as a Business and Finance Officer.

Barbie wanted to do a masters so she could further her knowledge and skills around the legal aspects of business, and it helped her gain more knowledge around safeguarding and Human Rights Law, which encouraged her to pursue the career path she is currently in,

NEWS

She said: “This benefited my career, as I was able to understand the policies affecting businesses, their pathways and how we operate today.

He said: “I would suggest to students to spend more time at Uni, and to make the most of the things to do in and around Nottingham.”

Bhavesh is now working in the Corporate property world and set up his own “I believe that if you have a positive approach, consultancy business a few years ago. no matter where you are, you will be able He said: “I am where I thought I’d be but to succeed in the position/job role that certainly not how and when I thought I would you are representing. be. It’s one thing planning for where you want to be but you also need to plan for both obstacles and opportunities along the way, “I encourage people to expand their and always have a Plan B.” network and always go the extra mile,

have a positive attitude, never give up and act with a spirit of excellence.”

Barbie is now a PhD researcher and student at NTU, where after years of planning she will be researching a specific topic to help people in my Community/Nation.

She said: “I have always dreamed of completing a PhD in something valuable that will make a difference. I did not expect to be returning to NTU but I am pleased to say that I will be completing my education pathway here.”

Bhavesh Shah studied BA Real Estate Management and graduated in 2006. His next step was to move onto full time employment, and he qualified as a chartered surveyor. He found the adjustment to working culture challenging, but manageable thanks to his experience working on his placement year.

Bhavesh said: “I would suggest to everyone to do a placement year or get some good work experience if you can, so that the transition to the ‘working world’ after graduating is a bit easier.

“It’s a big life change again, for many it’s a change of where you are living, routine, location, lifestyle, and can get a bit overwhelming but take it all in but by bit and enjoy it and enjoy learning.”

Bhavesh felt he didn’t really make the most of his time at NTU and the facilities until his second year, and spent his first year going home every weekend.

Having an idea about what you want to do next can help you during your degree, as it will give you motivation and a goal to reach.

But not everyone knows what they want to do next, especially at the start of a degree, but throughout your course and with the help of the amazing NTU staff you’ll soon realise what you want to do next.

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Written by Laycie Beck

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Illustrated by Mark Barrios

NEWS

LOOKING BACK AT MY FRESHERS’ EXPERIENCE

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acking up my car full of suitcases, bedding, and Ikea essentials; I could not wait to start the best week of my life. I imagined fresher’s week as a vibrant and exciting holiday. No responsibility and partying into the daylight with my new best friends.

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As someone who came from a small village and barely went on nights out, my aim for fresher’s week was to truly experience night life and re-invent myself.

With very little experience of going out at night, I had a lot coming for me.

The excitement and confusion before the first fresher’s night out is like no other. It’s 4pm.

Do I eat dinner? Do people even eat dinner? What time do I get ready? What do I wear?

Getting to know your new flatmates, whilst also getting to know how to dress, eat and drink for a night out – all in the space of 3 hours. My phone would buzz with endless messages from people in my hall’s group chat: “Party in Block 4B – “‘pres start at 6pm” “What’s the theme for tonight?”

“Does anyone have any glitter?”

“My flatmates don’t even drink!”

The confusion was overwhelming and after getting changed about five times, I learned from seasoned night-out-ers, that jeans, trainers and a nice top was the only way to dress for a uni night out.

The first pre-drinks was the most awkward experience. Tiny flats cramped with dull techno beats and people who either seem to have known each other for weeks,or been imported from different universes.

Shouting over each other about being from “NEAR LEEDS” or “THE FINAL PSYCHOLOGY A LEVEL EXAM WAS HARD, RIGHT?”.

THE ONLY WAY TO DROWN OUT THE AWKWARDNESS WAS TO DRINK.

The actual nights out became a blur. There were people vomiting and crying. Girls in heels have decided they want to ditch the organised freshers events, and bar crawl around a city they couldn’t even pronounce until five hours ago. The brightly coloured freshers reps t-shirts are a sign that there’s someone here who is in charge, they are safe – they will look after us and call us a taxi.

The night rolls into the next morning, into a hangover and into the feeling that something went very wrong last night – but tonight will be better.

WRITTEN BY HEATHER SHORE DESIGNED BY RUBY KERR

The cycle continues, the same pre drinks and the same chaotic energy between entering and leaving the nightclub. However, the energy slowly dies down.

THIS IS ME NOW

The people who flexed their alcohol tolerance at the start of the week are struggling to hang on. Whilst some people don’t stop partying for 10 days straight, miss their registration, introductory lectures and forget what university they’re even attending. Welcome to Freshers week. It’s a unique experience, which despite being massively chaotic and headache inducing, it might be the most fun week of your life – if you stick to your own grounds.

It’s been three years since I had freshers week. I no longer drink alcohol at all, and I’m probably more fun and more excitable without it, because I don’t have the fear of what booze might do to me.

It’s unpredictable. I remember being confused at how some people could drink three bottles of wine and still recite their A Level Spanish exam material, whereas others would have two shots of vodka and call their mum crying.

The most important thing is to not keep up with other people, as a previous fresher’s rep myself – I’ve seen non-drinkers trying to match the liver of a 21 year old who used to work in a bar. I’ve seen relationships, limbs and phones broken all because people get carried away.

Alcohol is consumed for enjoyment, and don’t let that enjoyment be tarnished.

If people judge you for not drinking as often as them, then they are not your friends anyway – thankfully the university is full of thousands of people to make friends with. If you’re having problems with alcohol and flatmates book an appointment with NTSU, who have so many resources to help you stay happy and comfortable in your new life.

Freshers week isn’t just about drinking – in fact some of the best things happen when you aren’t nursing a headache or googling the nearest phone

screen repair shop. The freshers fair and societies are the most exciting in the first few weeks of university. You may not be winning any pint downing contests, but pole dance tryouts may reveal a hidden talent.

University is about learning, and sometimes the best learning you can do is from your own mistakes. Freshers week may highlight to you that partying isn’t really your thing, which is something to own and be proud of. Societies take part in sober socials, meaning that friendships can be made without a bar tab.

If the fun has stopped in alcohol, please book an appointment with the NTSU health and wellbeing team, who can support you in staying safe.

Visit www.trentstudents.org/health to find out more.

NTSU also run an alcohol awareness week during first term, offering education and advice around drinking at university.

Further contacts for alcohol related support: NTU advice & support: sac@su.ntu.ac.uk www.nottinghamrecoverynetwork.com

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SECRETS OF NOTTINGHAM TO DISCOVER 1. The Boiler Maker

Located on Carlton Street, Nottingham’s original secret bar is hidden behind a broom cupboard in a fake façade of a boiler shop. Situated behind this glum exterior is a large, dimly lit space with boho décor and vintage sofas. Featuring quirky names such as Pornstar Mankini, Gin Rickey ‘n Morty, and Strong Gindependent Woman, the cocktails cost around £8, but they do also offer non-alcoholic options.

2. The Nottingham Secret Garden

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Hidden off Trinity Walk, this open-air beer garden has been transformed into a concrete garden of trees, grass and a mixture of fake rose bushes and sunflowers. Visitors can sit on wooden benches and deckchairs, and the toilet? On cooler evenings, customers can still enjoy the aesthetics of the garden thanks to heaters and blankets. The laid-back roof top boasts a menu of Pimm’s, gin and tonic, cider and beer, glasses of prosecco, cocktails and four ales on tap.

3. Lost Property

A hidden gem waiting to be found in the heart of Hockley, you can try and find this venue behind a lost property office down a small alleyway. True to its name, the lost property theme envelopes the venue with quirky décor including stacks of chest of drawers, old fashioned suitcases, hanging objects and lost keys. All of this leads to a stunning illuminated bar where cocktails are served from £7.50. It’s advisable to book in advance to guarantee entry.

4. Lost Caves

A hidden bar within a hidden bar! The Lost Caves is a part of Lost Property and can be found a level below. Head down the stairs, and you’ll soon find yourself amongst sandstone caves, colour changing lighting and candlelight. The focus at this bar is Gin, which is served in frosted glasses, however beer, wine, and other drinks are still available.

WRITTEN BY SARAH WARD

Hiding away in the city’s bustling str are an abundance of secret bars, ca and activities proving why Nottingha so unique. Luckily, we’ve been able to most of them down so that you can s your time enjoying everything that city has to offer.

5. The Hockley Arts Club

This is the Hockley hideaway accessed down a passageway. It houses three floors of creative space for social eating and drinking, each with their own unique theme. The top floor - the Electric Garden - is perhaps the most popular floor due to its pink blossom trees and Japanese artwork. With its own private entrance, toilets and sharing tables, it’s available to hire as a private space. Their speciality cocktails include Twister (with the actual lollipop) and the exotic Mambo #5.

6. Ginsecco

Not secret, but definitely hidden and easy to miss. Nottingham’s highest roof top bar is at the very top of The Cornerhouse. Open to drink the afternoon or night away, this bar provides perfect views of the City Centre and beyond.

Alternatively, you can admire the bars elegantly furnished Art Deco pink, gold and blue style, velvet booths or chandelier. As the name suggests, they specialise in gin, cocktails and prosecco with prices starting for around £4-5.

7. The Chameleon Arts Cafe

Perhaps one of Nottingham’s best kept secrets is this live music venue - hidden down the passageway off Angel Row. The only clue that it’s there is a board at the entrance with a sign pointing down the “Creepy Alley.” The intimate venue has hosted the likes of Royal Blood, Sleaford Mods and Blossoms. It is a music lovers haven with a tasty craft beer menu also available.

8. City of Caves

Nottingham’s underground sandstone maze features over 500 original caves underneath the streets that date back to the dark ages. As part of the tour you will visit the Anderson air raid shelter used during WWII, and explore the remnants of Drury Hill Victorian slums. Adult tickets are £7.95 and tours start at roughly 10:30am to 5:00pm.

DESIGNED BY REBECCA WHITLEY-JONES

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CL IFF RO AD

Movie inspired Ocean Outfits For all the new Freshers out there, you will become familiar with “Ocean Wednesdays” here at Trent.

This is where societies choose a costume theme each week and make their way to Ocean to dance the night away. Now, you may be thinking where can they get their inspiration for costumes from? Well, here we have the top five films you can get inspiration for your future Ocean outfits from…

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Scooby-Doo

Baywatch

Clueless

If you are going to Ocean with a group of five, then this is the perfect film to get the next best Ocean outfit from as you can go dressed as the Scooby Gang – be warned though, Ocean will not allow you in with the “Mystery Machine”.

Whether it is the cartoon version or the real-life remakes from 2002 and 2004, the outfits for the Scooby Gang are easy to come by and if you need any extras to finish off your look, then Luvyababes is the perfect place to shop!

Even if you cannot go as the whole gang, then any dressing as any individual from the Scooby-Doo films is a must have Ocean outfit! If you are dressing as Fred though, I do not think you will be able to match up to Freddie Prinze Jr in the role….

The classic Lifeguard T-shirt will become a familiar sight to you when you make your weekly trip to Ocean (not forgetting the Rugby boys in their speedos).

However, it will make you wonder where have they got the inspiration for this outfit from?

Well, wonder no further as this inspiration is from the 80s classic TV show (and film remake starring Zac Efron in 2017) starring a group of very, very good-looking lifeguards that look out to keep the people of California safe. All you need for this outfit inspiration is a yellow T-shirt with the writing “Lifeguard” on (obviously) and a pair of red shorts. And not forgetting the whistle!

This is an Ocean outfit for all the female freshers out there (not excluding the boys). The 1995 classic Clueless sees rich high school student Cher learning to cope with growing up and the problems it brings.

Even though she is the most popular girl in school, she uses this to help new girl Tai gain this popularity and, in the process, establishes her own feelings.

This is the perfect film to get a costume idea from, especially if the theme week is school uniform!

Whether you want to dress up in the iconic yellow plaid jacket and skirt combo – inspired by Cher – or the darker version worn by her best friend Dionne, either will make you stand out from the crowd!

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT Ghostbusters This is a more specific film to gain inspiration from (and most likely will not focus around a certain theme week), but this doesn’t mean you can’t dress as the beloved characters from this iconic film!

There is no need to make a trip to the costume shop for this one as you can easily buy a plaid skirt and jacket of the same colour from any clothing outlet at a much cheaper price.

Ghostbusters is the 1984 classic that sees three men lose their jobs as parapsychologists, but this allows them to establish “Ghostbusters” - an organisation to fight the evil ghosts roaming around New York.

Superhero films (Marvel) For any fan of Marvel – not forgetting DC Comics (the lesser of the two), when there is a Superhero week for Ocean for your society, it is finally the time when you can bring out your inner child and dress up as your favourite superhero and not be judged as many people who go to Ocean will be focused on their drink.

The Avengers is a perfect example to get inspiration for a Superhero outfit from because of all the Superheroes on offer.

If you want to go elite, then your options are obvious as they include Iron Man, Spider – Man and Thor.

Not forgetting all our female superheroes out there as there are many you can aspire to be from Superhero films including Black Widow from the Avengers, Wonder Woman and even Supergirl!

‘bring out your inner child and dress up as your favourite superhero’

If you are looking for the perfect costume for a Halloween night out to Ocean, then this film is perfect to gain inspiration from as you will be dressing appropriate to the occasion!

To dress up exactly like the “Ghostbusters” then a trip to the costume shop is needed as this is an outfit that cannot be made by yourself.

So, there you have it, whenever you make your first trip to Ocean, you now have some great films to gain inspiration from (and even some great new films to watch for a night in). I would say that’s a double whammy right there!

Written by: Katie Green Designed by: Karima Morsli

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AN ALTERNATE GUIDE TO FRESHERS WEEK IN NOTTINGHAM Written by Robbie Nichols Designed by Rebecca Lewin

While many venues are beginning to open their doors again - thanks to the implementation of social distancing measures - it’s looking more and more likely that clubs won’t be opening as soon as others around Nottingham. It’s beginning to be apparent that Freshers Week may be a very different experience for all our first years. This means students might have to start engaging in some ‘alternative’ activities...

No fear, here’s our list of things to do, one for each day of Freshers Week:

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY

THE LOST CITY ADVENTURE GOLF

Why not start your week off with a trip to The Lost City Adventure Golf course at Nottingham’s Corner house? The Lost City has two 18-hole courses within its jungle themed walls. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, you can use the Pizza and Golf deal on a Monday night to get a pizza and 18 holes of golf for a tenner or after you’ve finished golfing, head up to The Lost City’s Tiki Bar for cocktails and mocktails. You can also get a student discount!

TUESDAY

NOTTINGHAM BOWL

To keep up that competitive spirit between you and your new housemates, spend Tuesday night at the Nottingham Bowl. Open till 11pm on a Tuesday, Nottingham Bowl offers students great prices on games. You can play up to three games for £10.50. If multiple rounds of bowling isn’t your thing, they also sport a healthy sized collection of arcade machines.

WEDNESDAY

FANCY DRESS SPOONS BAR CRAWL

For those wanting a taste of Ocean Wednesday, why not grab your favourite fancy dress and do a bar crawl of the four Wetherspoons pubs located in walking distance from Trent and Market Square. Start your bar crawl off at the Gooseberry Bush (a stone’s throw away from the SU) before moving towards the Roebuck Inn, The Joseph Else, and finally ending the crawl in Lloyds No. 1. Guaranteed to be an entertaining alternative night out!

THURSDAY

THE HAUNTED MUSEUM

While not quite as central as the other locations, Nottingham’s Haunted Museum is well worth the visit for those interested in the macabre and spooky. Open till 8pm, the museum hosts tours through their fully restricted area every half an hour on which

they show you the three floors of haunted items within. The building is ranked the 29th most haunted building in the UK, so is a must see for spook fans.

FRIDAY

THE NOTTINGHAM GLEE CLUB

The Glee Club is a venue located along the Trent river that hosts a variety of events. However, every Friday (and Saturday) night, four stand-up comedians from all over the world take to the stage in order to give you an evening of laughs.

Students can get a ticket for £8, which includes an assortment of food and drink vouchers to use at the bar in the breaks between laughs.

SATURDAY CAVE ESCAPE

Nottingham is built on a system of man-made caves, and whatever better way to explore those caves than to get locked in and attempt to escape! Located on Mansfield Road, Cave Escape provides two themed escape rooms - one Dracula inspired and one Nazi treasure inspired. With a maximum of six players, the rooms guarantee an hour of puzzle solving and code cracking fun.

SUNDAY CINEMA TRIP

A relaxing Sunday trip to the cinema sounds like the perfect way to round off a week of fun-filled nights. After so many films being delayed during lockdown when the cinemas closed, there’s bound to be a film out that everyone wants to see. Two of the most popular cinemas in the city include The Broadway Cinema in the Lace Market, and the Savoy Cinema in Lenton. Both cinemas offer student tickets for £5, so why not go see all the films you didn’t get to see over lockdown?

So there you have it, an alternative week out for Freshers whilst the clubs are closed. For the time when the clubs eventually open again, you always have these options now for an alternate night out. Enjoy!

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YOUR GUIDE TO NOTTINGHAM’S GAMING CAFES Written by Chris King Designed by Rebecca Lewin

It’s not all clubs and take out places - Nottingham is also home to some of the most enjoyable, welcoming and fun board game cafes out there. All provide a welcome place to sit and play your favourite card and board games, with Dungeons & Dragons nights thrown into the mix. So whatever your favourite nerdy pastime is, Nottingham’s got you covered. And for those non-nerds reading, why not give it a try? You never know what you might find!

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

The Theatre Scene in Nottingham

Arriving in Nottingham can be daunting, and you may want some entertainment. Since a TV License may be a bit too expensive for University students, you may want an alternative form of entertainment: a trip to the theatre (once they are safe to open).

Below is a list of various theatres and performance venues in Nottingham that we recommend checking out during your time here at Trent.

Theatre Royal/Royal Concert Hall After opening in 1865, this is the main theatre in Nottingham. The Theatre Royal attracts a variety of shows including operas, community shows and big budget touring productions from London’s West End. The theatre is located in the City Centre and isn’t far from the Nottingham Trent City Campus.

If you’re looking for a night out with friends or family when they come to visit, this place guarantees a great night out. The only catch is that tickets might be on the pricey side and shows typically last a week before moving on. The exception is the annual Christmas Pantomime - which has attracted big names including Joe Pasquale and David Hasselhoff.

Alongside the Theatre Royal is the Royal Concert 38 Hall, attracting various orchestras across the UK In Nottingham, there isn’t a major Orchestra such as the Halle and the Birmingham Symphony, but it provides a variety of orchestrated music from Classical to soundtracks from popular media.

The current building opened in 1982 (its first performer was Elton John) after the original 1858 building was demolished. If you’re interested in seeing a concert there, then pick up a student “Go Card” for your time at Uni which will allow you to see any concert there for just £5 a ticket. Both buildings have a restaurant and bar connecting both venues if you want a bite or drink before the performance, although bars are available on the various levels of the venues.

Nottingham Playhouse Originally established in 1948 as a repertory theatre, Nottingham Playhouse is a theatre with a more contemporary approach, showing plays with the occasional musical that change on a monthly basis, including its own pantomime. The current building opened in 1963.

There is also the Neville Studio space for smaller productions. It is located a little further out of the City Centre (at Wellington Circus) and marked with a “sky disc” sculpture just outside.

A restaurant and cafe is connected to the building if you want a bite before the performance.

If you want to see the main shows at the Playhouse,

we recommend waiting for the “Pay What You Can” performances where you can pay whatever you want for a ticket that night. Be warned you must be at the door before they open at 10am to guarantee yourself a ticket.

Motorpoint Arena The Motorpoint Arena - located in the Lace Market near the National Ice Centre - was opened in 2000 by Jayne Torvill (yes, Torvill and Dean were from Nottingham). It’s the largest stadium in the East Midlands and holds up to 10,000 people. The Motorpoint arena also hosts the annual Varsity Ice Hockey game between NTU and the University of Nottingham.

Other events the arena has hosted have included shows such as Marvel Live! and comedians such as Jack Whitehall. It’s biggest and most popular events however are for music. Its largest concert was for Little Mix and its most consistent band is Westlife.

Other artists who have performed at the Arena in recent years include Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Elton John and even the Queen Musical “We Will Rock You”.

Metronome Metronome is one of Nottingham’s newer venues which opened in late 2019. It is owned by Nottingham Trent’s Confetti College and is slowly but surely growing into one of Nottingham’s most popular venues for music, poetry, comedy, theatre and gaming.

One of the venue’s most recent events was hosting the British University E-Sports Winter Championships which saw various university students competing to be the very best in a variety of games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Dota 2. The venue holds up to 400 people. It is growing as a popular gig venue, challenging Rock City.

New Theatre The New Theatre is the student theatre at the University of Nottingham, based at the University Park Campus. It’s unique because it is the only theatre in the country run entirely by students. The performers are made up of students from a variety of backgrounds, rather than trained professionals.

It is also one of the few theatres working further towards sustainability with no use of printed programmes, and online payments and bookings – tickets only costing £5.

By Stuart McComb Designed by Sophie Puffett

HOPE Start off by taking a deep breath and breathe.

Relax, and wander through life with a cautious ease.

You have come this far, You have worked so hard, Do not let negativity take that apart.

Exams are not the beginning or the end; at the end of the day you are more than a student, so stop catering to this trend.

If you are a first year, take your time; there is a lot of that.

Be yourself and do not try to impress anyone, especially right off the bat.

If you are coming from a foreign land, that should not stop you from lending a helping hand.

Things will fall into place.

It will all happen full circle; at a steady pace.

This poem has come to an end, use it to help you stay afloat.

You will make it through all of it with just a little bit of hope.

Written by Zach Omitowoju Designed by Sophie Puffett

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WHAT SPORTING TREATS DOES NOTTINGHAM HAVE TO OFFER? S

1. Nottingham Forest – City Ground The first stop for any sports-fan when coming to Nottingham has to be the City Ground. Home to Nottingham Forest, the stadium lies on the banks of the River Trent and has seen it all over the years, from winning the first division to being crowned back-to-back champions of Europe. The Reds now play in English football’s second tier. You can still expect high-quality football and a raucous atmosphere.

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

2. Notts County – Meadow Lane On the other side of the river is the home of Notts County. Until recently, the Magpies were the oldest Football League club in the world stretching back to 1862. However, struggles on and off the pitch have seen them fall into non-League. Nonetheless, watching a match in their Kop End is something not to be missed – if football is the sport you’re looking for, Meadow Lane might be the destination when you’re on a student budget.

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40 3. Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club – Trent Bridge If you thought two football grounds within close proximity was unusual, then how about an international-level cricket ground on your doorstep too? Trent Bridge, like its neighbouring football clubs, is just a bus journey away in West Bridgford and frequently plays host to England matches. It is also the home to Nottinghamshire.

Gather up your mates for a T20 in the summer and you won’t regret it.

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

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4. Nottingham Rugby Club – Lady Bay Nottingham Rugby Football Club finished sixth in the Greene King IPA Championship last season after their season was cut short due to Covid-19. The Green and Whites play at the Lady Bay Sports Ground. The rugby season runs alongside the university year so there’s no excuse not to get down there when you’ve got a free weekend - don’t worry, there’s not a pair of Speedos in sight!

WRITTEN BY PETE TRIFUNOVIC

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SPORT 5. Nottingham Panthers – Motorpoint Arena Possibly the closest sports venue to Nottingham Trent’s City Campus, the Motorpoint Arena hosts the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team.

The Panthers are one of the most successful ice hockey teams in Britain and the only one to have triumphed on the European stage. Students can buy tickets for £14 and their high-octane matches often go right down to the wire.

6. Nottingham Tennis Centre Nottingham Tennis Centre is a state-of-the-art facility with over 30 courts. Every June, the venue plays host to the Nature Valley Open, a warm-up event for both the men’s and women’s tours ahead of Wimbledon. The grass court tournaments have featured the likes of British stars Dan Evans, Johanna Konta and Heather Watson in recent years.

7. Beeston Hockey Club – Highfields Park Beeston Hockey Club sits opposite to the University of Nottingham campus and adjacent to the city’s tennis centre. The club have both men’s and women’s teams in England’s top-tier, with many players playing at national and Olympic level too. The club also have close ties with NTU and many of those who wear the pink and blue also turn out for Beeston.

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8. Nottingham Racecourse – Colwick Park Nottingham Racecourse is the perfect excuse to get suited and booted for a great day out with friends. It is located at Colwick Park, to the east of the city, but it’s easily accessible by hopping on the number 44 bus from the city centre.

Tickets can be as cheap as just over a tenner – of course that’s before you get the drinks in!

9. National Water Sports Centre – Holme Pierrepont Country Park Fancy something a bit different? The National Water Sports Centre might be right up your street.

Only a 20-minute drive from the city centre, it offers a wide-range of sports to get involved in, both in the water, up in the sky and on dry land.

Once you’ve survived the extreme sport that is an Ocean bar crawl, why not give one of these a go?

COACH DRIVES NTU TEAM’S SUCCESS STORY The revolution in women’s football has been masterminded by Daniel Corlett. But, as Harry Booth found out, it has been a team effort on and off the field.

One of the biggest success stories in Nottingham Trent University sport in recent times has been provided by the women’s football team. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the team have won every league game they’ve played. Much of that success is down to Head Coach Daniel Corlett and first-team coach Jenni Foster.

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Looking back at the recent history of women’s football at NTU, there was a clear shift in momentum that led to their first title. Corlett believes it was down to the sheer volume of good footballers. “We have always had talented players come through, but it’s the pure number of players in the recent seasons that has really made the difference,” he said.

The representative honours in the current squad confirm this; the club boasts seven Nottingham Forest players and England Under-21’s goalkeeper Charlotte Clarke. “We actively encourage the girls

to play externally, it really helps them improve,” said Corlett.

Naturally, this level of success didn’t just happen because of outstanding players, but also elite levels of support. “We try to provide as close to a professional environment as we can. The support structures in the department as a whole, with strength and conditioning coaches and physios, are absolutely exceptional. To be honest, I’ve not seen a Uni team who are as fit as we are.”

A lot of this is down to Chris Rawlings, the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach. The excellent level of support carried on during lockdown, the strength and conditioning coaches led Zoom calls for the players.

The journey to this point has been a long and largely enjoyable one for Corlett. In his eight years at the club (four of which were spent running the intermural sides) he has had a wealth of experiences in every level of women’s football at Trent. “On one of my first days on a stall at the sports department, women’s football was across from me, so it was a bit of a fate thing really.

“I’ve not seen a Uni team as fit as we are”

SPORT

The team behind the team

Daniel Corlett

Role: Head Coach Qualification: UEFA B Licence

Jenni Foster

Role: First-team coach Qualification: UEFA B License Other role: Birmingham City women first-team coach

Jack Coldwell

“Getting the third team into BUCS and seeing them win the league in their first season was a proud moment for me.”

Success didn’t stop there. Two seasons ago, the second team had their very own, “Aguerrrooooo!!!” moment when they scored the title-winning goal in the 92nd minute of the final game.

Corlett values his experiences with the individual players as much as the mesmeric team performances. One story that he took the most joy in retelling was that of Tanesha Blackwood, and her return from a horrific ACL injury.

“We put her back on in defence, but she went up for a corner and scored. That was very emotional for us - I’ve never seen the team celebrate so much! I still enjoy watching that game back.”

Her journey was helped by the team’s brilliant physio Pauline Czubacka, who also works at Nottingham Forest and has been involved with the England Seniors team.

Corlett gave the players the credit for the fantastic sense of community. “The club has effectively become a family for them,” he said. Looking into the future, Corlett hopes that this continues and becomes central to all of Trent’s women’s football teams.

But he balances his future ambition of, “being the best in the country” at every level alongside being the best off the pitch. This demonstrates to outsiders the pride women’s footballers take in every aspect of their club, and the positive attitude that has served them so well.

For the new batch of students wanting to join this bright future, the message is simple. Although there will be some new and exciting talents arriving, it is not just about a select few. “There’s a complete range of players here. The key is finding something you’re passionate about. All it will do is help make your time at university as enjoyable as possible,” Corlett concluded.

Written by Harry Booth Designed by Georgia Baird

Role: Second-team coach Qualification: FA Level 2 Other Role: Scout for Shrewsbury Town

43

Nicki Ottley de la Salle

Role: Third-team coach Qualification: FA Level 2 Other Role: Used to play for Chelsea Ladies and now coaches Ilkeston Town Ladies

Chris Rawlings

Role: Strength and conditioning coach Other Role: Works for NTU Sport department through Sport 981

Pauline Czubacka Role: Physiotherapist Other Role: Sports Rehabilitator for Nottingham Forest Women

When lockdown stopped play COVID-19 brought Nottingham sport to a juddering halt with top-level professionals and humble amateurs equally effected.

Alex Brinton has been finding out how clubs coped.

RUGBY UNION Nottingham Rugby Steve Smith Chief Operating Officer

44

We had already been told to expect funding cuts from the RFU prior to COVID, but as a result of the pandemic we have had to completely change our business model. The players were fulltime professionals, now they are semi-pro. This means that the guys are having to look for other jobs, although in some instances this might mean they are better

off financially. Changing from a professional set-up to a semi-pro one is a massive shift for us. We have lost a lot of our income over the summer and making this up will be difficult. We realise we are not the only club that has been effected badly by the pandemic.

We had five home games left, for which we would normally expect to sell between 1,200 and 1,500 tickets. We also lost Varsity, the national sevens competition and we also host a lot of summer office parties.

It’s going to be very different when we get going again. A lot of the players have moved on and want to stay playing professionally. We’ll need to rebuild the squad and appeal to young players. But in some positions, we will be able to recruit more experienced players in the 28-32 bracket, this could be extremely beneficial for us. It will be a long time before we get back playing though. It doesn’t make any financial sense to play behindclosed-doors. We would have to spend between £12,000 and

£15,000 to test the whole squad twice a week.

FOOTBALL Notts County Nick Richardson Media and Communications manager At first, we just wanted to ensure everybody at the club was safe, then we had to lock the stadium down. It was really important that we kept the staff and the players informed of what was going on. We then had to set up the management team to work from home.

When we were happy with that, our thoughts turned to the business side and how the club would navigate the issue of our having income streams taken away. We also wanted to help the community. All football clubs have been effected badly, but we have perhaps been effected more than other clubs at our level, because we generate a lot of income from commercial events as well as matches.

SPORT So, we’ve lost out big time financially. We were looking forward to a potential National League play-off campaign which would have attracted good crowds. We were through to the semi-finals of the FA trophy so there was a possibility of two big days out at Wembley.

this safe for our customers.

These included; a pre-booking system, a one-way system and lots of sanitiser stations around the site.

We unfortunately lost our marquee event of the year, in the Nature Valley Open. It was scheduled to run from June 6 to 14. It normally serves as a We are really looking forward to warm-up to Wimbledon for both the day we can open our doors men and women. We get good to the Notts County faithful again, crowds and last year was a but we can all agree that there particular highlight with British are more important things in life player Dan Evans winning the than football. men’s tournament.

TENNIS Nottingham Tennis Centre Ali Woodhouse Communications and Marketing lead for Active Nottingham We closed the doors to all our customers on March 17, ahead of the national lockdown, but we were able to launch fitness classes for our members to join in with at home.

We were fortunate enough to be able to restart outdoor tennis in late May. We had to put in a place lots of different systems to make

Opening for outdoor tennis has been a great success and it’s been wonderful to see people of all ages enjoying the facilities again. We’re excited at the prospect of being able to welcome people back to even more people in the future.

CRICKET Nottingham Cricket League Michael Aplin Ground advisory officer I did always think some cricket would be played this summer; it would have been an unmitigated

disaster if there hadn’t been.

Although, I have been quite surprised that the level and amount of cricket that has been allowed back. All our divisions have been regionalised to cut down the travel time for players.

I would estimate that between 10 and 25 per cent of players are still reluctant to come back and play cricket. Some of these players have found other things to do. In this sense cricket’s loss has been golf’s gain.

In terms of financial losses, some of the clubs have benefited from handouts from Sport England who have been very generous. Some clubs use grounds and facilities provided by the local authority, and they’ve definitely been the most effected. The councils understandably haven’t been able to make sure the grounds are in the best possible condition.

As a league we have provided hand sanitiser, wipes and PPE to all the clubs. We have also provided gloves and aprons in case anyone is injured.

Written by Alex Brinton Designed by Meg Chadderton

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EASY STUDENT RECIPES THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK

46

Written by Ellie Watson Designed and Illustrated

by Meg Chadderton Easy and cheap recipes often become the staple of uni diets. Whether you’ve never cooked before, or you’re a pro - it can often feel like you don’t have enough time to prepare a proper meal, especially if you’ve got deadlines or you’re going on a night out.

A few of these recipes don’t need specific ingredient measurements - just use as much as you’d like and try different things!

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE JACKET POTATOES 45-50 minutes including prep Jacket potatoes can easily be ready with minimal effort, so they’re perfect for leaving in the oven if you’re busy. If you’re a bit of a newbie in the kitchen, here’s how to bake a classic jacket potato: • • •

Wash the skin, and pierce with a fork several times (this is important, we don’t want any exploding microwaves) Pop in the microwave for 5-7 minutes to soften Cook in the oven at 180-degrees for 35-45 minutes. Depending on preference, leave in a bit longer for a crispier potato

You can also swap out regular potatoes for sweet potatoes. These need similar cooking times to regular potatoes.

The real magic of jacket potatoes is the topping.

While there are the generic options, it’s worth trying something new, like tuna with tender-stem broccoli, and lots of cheese on a regular potato, or black beans, BBQ sauce and cheese on sweet potatoes. Get creative!

• • •

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE 30 minutes Spag bol is great because you can make it for your whole flat, or save what you don’t eat for several days afterwards. All the quantities can be adjusted depending on your personal preference!

•

• •

STIR FRY 15 minutes This super quick and easy staple works for veggies or meat-eaters. Firstly, get together with your flat and invest in a wok pan. They aren’t too expensive and, if you don’t mind sharing, this is a fab meal to cook together.

Like jacket potatoes, a stir fry is so easy to make because you can use whatever ingredients you like. All you need is a mixed vegetable base, dried noodles, and sauce. You can add in chicken, prawns or something similar if you eat meat (these can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to buy frozen).

• •

•

Start by adding your noodles to boiling water, leave for around 10 minutes While the noodles are cooking, add some oil to your wok and chuck in your veg mix (if you want you can buy these pre-packed from every supermarket). Keep an eye on your veg and make sure you’re often stirring - woks get really hot, and the food can burn easily [If you’re cooking raw chicken (or meat alternative), cook this gently in a third pan]

When the veg is starting to soften, and the meat is almost done, add whichever meat you are using into the wok] Then, when your noodles are cooked, drain the water and add the noodles to the wok Mix everything together, then add a sauce of your choice. Lots of supermarkets have specific stir-fry sauce packets, but you can also use soy sauce or another alternative.

• •

First, place your minced beef (or veggie equivalent) into a saucepan with some oil you can add the whole pack or save some for another day. Add seasoning and cook until well browned. Then remove from the pan and set aside.

Add one chopped red onion and 1 or 2 cloves of chopped garlic into the empty pan and fry gently with oil for 5 minutes until softened.

Pour the mince back into the pan and add around one tin of chopped tomatoes (add more or less depending on how much bolognese you fancy).

Leave the sauce to simmer while you cook the spaghetti in boiling water. Once cooked, drain the water and mix with the bolognese sauce.

Add any extra seasoning, and you’re done!

BREAKFAST: OVERNIGHT OATS 5 minutes Cooking at uni isn’t just about dinner. Overnight oats are one of the easiest breakfasts to make, especially when you don’t want to get up earlier than you need to for lectures.

•

• •

Add equal parts oats and milk (any type) into a jar or storage container. Then add half the amount of plain yoghurt. You can also add chia seeds and cinnamon at this point. Stir them together and place in the fridge overnight In the morning, remove the lid and stir the oats - you can add more milk if the consistency is too thick Top with lots of fruit, chocolate chips, honey, or anything you fancy! You can find loads of inspiration online

3 47

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Budgeting tips How to avoid your overdraft in the first term of university.

The start of university is always an exciting time. You’re given more freedom than you have ever had before; you can go out and party whenever you like, you can spend your money on whatever you want, and you can pretty much do what you please. However, this new sense of freedom is often not very good for the bank account. Here are just a few tips on how to save your pennies during your first term at uni so that your overdraft doesn’t become your best friend (although we know this is inevitable anyway!)

Budget, budget, budget...

Budgeting is definitely the key to financial success when you’re at university, but not many students will actually do it. The biggest thing to remember is 48

that it’s essential to live within your means, otherwise you’ll end up with a big debt-shaped slap in the face.

The simplest way to budget is to

As for bank accounts, I would recommend signing up for either a Monzo account or a Revolut account. Both of these are great for budgeting, as they tell you exactly where your money has gone as soon as you have spent it. They are also easier to sign up to than a regular bank account!

come to that one later), your

have at the start of the month,

maintenance loan needs to last

and then divide that by four so

you until January when you get

that you have an amount of each

the next one. So, spend your

week. Then, at the beginning of into a separate bank account.

unless you’re planning on getting a part-time job (I’ll

work out how much money you

each week, transfer that amount

However, remember that

money wisely, otherwise, you’ll

Don’t blow all your money in freshers’ week

get to the end of the first term

We all know how easy it is to be

bound to want to join quite a

swept away by buying things in freshers’ week. There are drinks to get, new things for your room to purchase and societies to sign up for, which often include a hefty fee if it’s a sport.

and wonder where it all went.

Freshers’ fair can be overwhelming, and you’re few things. Yet, before you pay the joining fees, think about how likely you are actually to attend the society’s events and whether you would just be wasting your money.

Shop smart The kings and queens of keeping on top of their finances at university will know the importance of meal planning. They will also understand that the cheapest place to go for your weekly shop is definitely not Waitrose!

Find a part-time job

Get down to your local budget supermarket (I personally have a bit of a love affair with No one actually wants to do Aldi) and go wild. Make sure to work of any kind during the first write a list before you go, with year of university, and particueverything you will need to larly not in the first term. It’s a make your meals for the week. time to enjoy yourself, and you shouldn’t spend all your time slaving away at a part-time job.

Nonetheless, you should start to think about finding a part-

Not only will this stop you from forgetting anything, but it will also prevent you from buying things you won’t end up eating.

time job in the first term if you think your bank account might need the extra cash. Many other students in Nottingham will be doing the same thing, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start the search early.

Having a part-time job at university is not only beneficial for your This is a bit boring, but if you finances. Having one on your CV have a birthday coming up, you might want to ask for at the end of your studies will supermarket vouchers for a show potential employers that you are driven and that you can birthday present. They might not be a new iPhone or a nice pair of manage your time well. shoes, but having supermarket vouchers at university will save you a ton of cash. You could then put the money you would’ve spent on the weekly food shop elsewhere, maybe towards a night out or two.

Money is important, but not that important Saving money and avoiding your overdraft in the first term of uni is good. However, don’t turn down what may be amazing experiences in the aim of keeping the numbers in your bank account high.

University is a time to let go and enjoy yourself, particularly in your first year. If you spend a bit more money than you originally wanted to in the process, that’s not something you should worry about too much. However, if you follow just one of the tips mentioned in this article, you should be able to keep your finances relatively afloat!

Written by: Jessica Goddard Designed by: Karima Morsli

49

FRES HER

S TO FRES HER OUR S TOP TIPS

Written by Matthew Lee Designed by Sophie Puffett

If you are due to be coming to university this year then you will have probably heard all the normal clichés before. ‘Moving to university can be a scary time’, ‘you’ll meet loads of new people and make plenty of new friends’, ‘you’re going to meet your future partner at uni’ - here is where it gets real, here are nine pieces of advice from current students to new freshers.

Freshers Week

the Victoria Centre as you look for your costume; you will also become accustomed to the pub crawl route on your journey to the club. If you feel like you are dressed as an idiot, you are doing Ocean Wednesdays exactly as they should be. Embrace it!

Wings and Wedges will become a staple part of your food palette.

Food in the Student Union may not be the cheapest there is but it is a hot meal and Get involved as much as you can! It can be a scary sometimes that is all that matters. Whether week. You’ve moved into your new room, you’ve it be the southern fried chicken wrap, New hardly met your flatmates apart from moving 50 groceries into your fridge or freezer but suddenly Yorker burger or the wings and wedges combo; sometimes you will find yourself spending more the Freshers Reps are herding you into the kitchen time in the SU than in your own lectures. ready for your first night out in Notts. You may be anxious at first but before long it will feel as though Clifton Campus you’ve known them all your life.

More importantly, Freshers Week is an opportunity to settle into life in Nottingham. Whether it be the Freshers Fair, wandering around the Students’ Union Sports Hall as you seek a society to join - seriously, there’s loads. From anime to Christian Union, darts to Latin dance and cocktail making; there is certainly something that you will be interested in. (Personally, we’d recommend joining Platform.)

The Freshers Reps on City Campus will try to get you to visit our friends over at Clifton midway through Freshers Week for one of their club nights. You may accept that offer out of pure curiosity, and trust us, it’s worth a trip! The NCT number 4 bus rides straight into campus, and will take you straight to the home of NTU Sport. It’s worth checking out The Point and the Pavilion whilst you’re there too.

Ocean Wednesdays

Excellent Transport

If you weren’t a student in Nottingham, you would probably wonder what was going on when Wednesday evening comes around. What is normally a quiet place in front of Boots library will have turned into a congregation place as students meet up with each other in their incredible costumes.

Transport in and around Nottingham is great.

Depending on where you are originally from, you may have been used to having to walk everywhere during the day. While most things, such as lectures, seminars and clubs, are within walking distance for students staying in the university-provided accommodation; some students choose to stay slightly further afield.

This weekly night out is a great opportunity for friendships to grow within societies as you are forced out of your comfort zone and into random themed dress-ups. In the lead-up to Ocean you will have become a regular visitor to ‘Luv Ya Babes’ in

The city’s bus and tram network provide excellent access to every inch of the city and further afield.

Both have apps which are highly recommended in

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

L ee Matt : t i d cre Photo

order to make it more efficient when travelling across Nottingham; for buses it can be particularly useful for as they require exact change on some routes.

Don’t Rush into Organising a House for Second Year In September you move in, and soon enough you’ll be travelling home for Christmas; then it will be Easter and suddenly it is the summer break. Time passes quickly while at university, but it is important to not rush any decisions when organising who and where to stay with in the following year.

Chanting at Varsity

The Students’ Union hosts a housing fair each year where a number of their recommended landlords can answer students’ questions and can organise house viewings. We’d recommend using this as your guideline for when to start looking for your housing.

Varsity 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak meaning there will be even more significance on next year’s event.

Societies and Sports Clubs

“T-R-E-N-T WE ARE THE TRENT ARMY”. You will first learn this chant during Freshers as you make the short trip from your accommodation to any of the city’s clubs, but this, as you will learn, will become your soundtrack to varsity. Trent may not have won the sporting showdown against their rivals from University of Nottingham since it slipped from their grasp in 2012, but it is always an NTU party atmosphere when it comes around each year.

Be yourself and most importantly, have fun!

It may sound cliché but the three years you spend at university will most likely be a time in which you discover a lot about yourself. Whether it be a newly found hobby, the continuation of a previous activity or something more personal.

There are hundreds of sports clubs and societies for you to choose from at Trent. Varying from airsoft to badminton; lacrosse and horse racing, hula hooping and everything in between. There are plenty of opportunities to embrace the creative, It is important not to feel forced into fitting in with sporty, competitive or recreational inner you. ‘society’s norms’. If you don’t enjoy drinking on nights out, have a particular hobby which you think It is a great opportunity to find people who have is silly or more; there will be plenty of others who similar likings to you from across all years at the share similar interests to you. There are so many university, meaning you won’t have to limit yourself people at university that you can pick and mix who to the students in your lectures. you want to socialise with.

51

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE You might not absolutely love your first term at university -

A N D T H AT ’ S You’ve worked hard throughout school, and it’s all led to this, the first term of University and freshers’ week. You’re excited and you’re nervous. You don’t know what to expect, all you know is that it’s going to be the best few years of your life, and this is just the beginning.

Except, that feeling of nervousness you had on your first day, for some people, never subsides and you’re left wondering. Is University for me?

You might find that everyone in your flat is completely different from you in every way, and upon realising that, you will also have to spend the next year with them, which is scary.

OKAY .

University is built up by many people across the world as the best years of your life.

On top of the social side of things, you’ll also have found that you have a boatload of work to do, almost immediately. Many people simply forget about this part of university life.

You’re here now, and you’re sort of wondering whether you’ve made the right decision by coming here.

I can tell you that 9 out of 10 times, you will have made the right 52 There is pressure on new students decision by coming to University, to ignore their feelings and enjoy but the most important thing to University, simply because they’re do when struggling at University in there. For many new students, the first term is to give it time. there can be reasons why you may not immediately fall in love with For many students, University the University experience. continues to get progressively better the more you settle in. For Firstly, the intensity of fresher’s some, this may take longer than week is not for everyone. The pres- for others, and that’s okay. sure to be intoxicated 24/7 is too much for some, and that’s okay.

After the first term, you may have gained the confidence to join a The process of fresher’s week and society, or you may have found being thrust into a new enviyourself a job. You may have even ronment can also be stressful. found common ground with your Meeting hundreds of new people flatmates, maybe realising you’re every day, for some people can be not so different after all. The emotionally and physically taxing. crashing wave of the first term does eventually mellow out into a There are a lot of new characters steady sea, and all the pressures to contend with, and you’re meet- of the first few weeks get subing them all in a completely new stantially easier to handle in the and foreign environment. It’s okay second and third term. to admit this is strenuous and it’s okay to admit you might not enjoy When you start to enjoy it (and you the process of it. Living with new will), savour every moment bepeople, for some people, can also cause it’s true what they say... time be a test. flies when you’re having fun.

Written by George Cowell Designed by Alex Haylock

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

TOP 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD BRING TO UNI… BUT WILL PROBABLY FORGET! If you’re anything like me, you will DEFINITELY have forgotten something in your packing. When trying to plan for everything you could possibly need for the next three months, especially when moving away from home for the first time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. For example, I brought my leaver’s ball dress (just in case) but forgot pillows.

So, here are just a few things that you may not think of bringingbut which are really handy to have!

3. Bottle opener.

For obvious reasons, this is a MUST HAVE for Freshers week. Even without alcohol, 2. Doorstop. a bottle opener is handy to Particularly if you’re a have around. sociable flat, having a 1. Wooden spoon. doorstop makes it so much This one is quite self-explaneasier to have people in atory, as most meals require and out of your room! Start stirring of some kind (the using it during Freshers, extent of my cooking skills), and it’ll encourage your new 4. Water bottle. but you’d be amazed just flatmates to spend time with Because it’s 2020 and how many people don’t you, and it will also help you sustainability is important. think to bring one. be more approachable.

Save yourself the guilt (and hassle) of buying plastic bottles every day and invest in a cute bottle to keep you hydrated during lectures 6. Extension lead. (having one is especially 5. Mirror.

Having an extension lead crucial after a night out).

If you are staying in halls, is essential for times when the chances are that you everybody wants to charge won’t have a full-length their phones in the kitchen, mirror. Ensuite rooms tend but there is only one socket. to come with a tiny mirror 7. Jumpers.

Also, it makes turning your above the sink, and believe While you may only think to desk into a work-space bit me, straightening your hair pack the clothes you’ll need easier! in the bathroom when there for going out, the reality is are no plugs is not ideal. that you’ll be bundling up for the majority of the first term, especially as it gets colder.

8. Blankets.

So, bring plenty of jumpers!

Did I mention how cold it gets? As someone who 9. Flip flops. comes from the South, I was If you are in a shared not prepared for the change bathroom accommodation, in temperature. Your little 10. Earplugs. you definitely NEED these. room will feel pretty chilly Even if your flatmates are the Easy to slip on while half most of the time, so make most considerate people in sure to wrap up warm at night. asleep, either when using the world, you are bound to the questionable toilets, or be woken up on occasion. If going outside for the inevthey’re a bit noisy on their itable fire alarms, flip flops way back from a night out, should be kept on hand earplugs will make sure you where possible. can get some sleep.

Article writer: Frankie Galton Designed by: Fatema Sohail

3 53

CREATIVE

A Freshers’ Week Conversation

Adam: Have you got your student ID card?

Tom: Yeah, which line are you going in?

Adam: That one, haven’t you got a wristband?

Tom: Yeah I bought one.

Adam: Oh how much did you pay?

Tom: They’re all the same I think.

Adam: Nah, my friend at Leeds got this mad discount.

Tom: What is he at Trent?

Adam: No but I thought it might be similar.

Tom: Oh, I don’t think so.

Bouncer: ID’s please and student cards?

Tom: Oh shit, do we need our actual ID’s?

Adam: Yeah it is a club.

Tom: But surely they know we are over 18 if we’re at uni?

Adam: Yeah I guess butBouncer: ID’s?

Tom: I haven’t got mine.

1 54

Bouncer: I can’t let you in then.

Tom: He’s got his.

Bouncer: Yeah it doesn’t work like that and I can’t let either of you in with that.

Adam: It’s only a can, I can throw it away.

Bouncer: Can you show me your ID? Adam: Oh will you let us both in then?

Bouncer: Lads move along.

Tom: The girls behind us are really drunk, can’t we take their place?

Bouncer: Not their ID’s.

Queuer: I need a wee.

Adam: She needs a wee.

Tom: Why don’t you hurry this up and we can all go inside? Don’t snap your fingers at him. Ah right okay, we’re being escorted away then.

Adam: You should’ve let me do the talking.

Tom: Want to go Box?

Article writer: Emilie Mendham

Adam: You still haven’t got your ID.

Designer: Bethany Free

CREATIVE

The First Year Effect

by Emilie Mendham

“Your voice has changed.”

It’s got a northern twist that twangs at the End of each sentence.

But this is only the start of an avalanche of change, And newness.

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