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FRESHERS' 2019
CONTENTS
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Hello and welcome t o T he Sain t's 2019 F reshers' Mag azine! Thr ou g hou t t his mag azin e, y ou'l l find a p let hora of cont ent t hat will h op efu lly enhance y our first y ear and help g uide y ou t h roug h t he maze of societ ies, sp ort club s, and act ivit ies t o b e invol ve d in, as well as g eneral life in St Andrew s. T he Sain t it self is St Andrews' indep endent st udent newsp ap er and has b een t he voice of St Andrews st udent s since 1997. Wit h a st aff of over 60 st udent s, T he Sain t wor k s t irelessly t o p roduce relevant , honest , and hig h -q u alit y con t ent for t he ent ire st u dent b ody and t own, ap p earing daily onli ne and b iweek ly in p rint . We are curr ent ly r ecruit in g st udent s of all t al ent s, inclu ding w rit er s, p hot og rap h ers, illust ra t ors, cop y edit ors, w eb develop ers, social media g u rus, and b u siness t eam memb ers. If y ou 're int erest ed in g et t ing in volved wit h T he Sain t, y ou can f ind individu al sect ion edit ors' emails on ou r web sit e , or email me at edit or @ t h esaint -online.com. To st ay u p -t o-dat e w it h all t hat ' s n ew in St Andrews, follow us on F aceb ook , Tw it t er , and Inst ag r am, and b e su re t o p ick u p a cop y of ou r first p rint issu e f rom t he Un ion, Lib rary , or Phy sics Building on Thu rsday 26 Sep t emb er. A n n ie Smith, Editor - in -Chie f
NEWS 3 Freshers’ Frequently Asked Questions 4-5 Meet your Sabbs
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MONEY 7 8
5 Hacks on How to Budget Why you should cook for yourself
VIEWPOINT
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9 Advice I wish I had first year 10 It’s OK not to enjoy Freshers’ Week
ILLUSTRATION 11 The Best Plants for Your Uni Room
FEATURES
7 18 8 Front page photo: Samantha Chinomona
12 The niche corners of St Andrews no Fresher should miss 13 Tips for Freshers’ Week (and the rest of the year)
EVENTS 14 Celebrate Freshers’ with Versus Music What not to miss in Freshers’ Week 15 Preview: Starfields
ARTS & CULTURE 17 Freshers’ Guide: Music in St Andrews 18 Freshers’ Guide: Theatre in St Andrews
SPORT 19 A Freshers’ Guide: Give it a Go
FRESHERS' FRESHERS' 2019 2019
NEWS
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Freshers’ Frequently Asked Questions Ta ma r a McWi ll ia m News Editor
Who can I talk to if I have any problems or if I’m feeling stressed? Moving to university can be stressful and there are a number of services available to help you deal with any problems or feelings you might have. If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, Nightline is a studentrun, confidential and anonymous listening and information service that provides a safe space for students to talk about whatever might be on their mind. You can contact Nightline by phone, Skype Audio, instant messaging and email every night from 8pm to 7am. You can also book an appointment with Student Services if you would like to talk to a counsellor in person about an issue that is worrying you. For any issues related to your course, you can also contact CAPOD (Centre for Academic, Professional and Organisational Development) or the Careers Centre.
What should I do if I lose my matriculation card? Your matriculation card is important as it grants you access to University buildings such as the library and is required on entry for various events during Freshers’ Week. It also functions as a room key for many students living in halls. Should you lose your matriculation card, the first step is to go to the Main Library and ask if your matriculation card has been found and handed in at the front desk. You can also check at the Porter’s Office, located to the left to the entrance of St Salvator’s Quad, as well as sending an email to idcards@st-andrews.ac.uk. If your matriculation card is still missing, you can buy a new one online for £20 and pick it up at the Main Library within 24 hours.
Where can I do a food shop? There are a number of places to buy groceries in St Andrews. Located in the centre of town, on Market Street, is a small Tesco which is the most popular food shop in town. Sainsbury’s can also be found on the opposite end of Market Street. These are great options for picking up
those essentials on your way home from lectures, though they are on the smaller and more expensive side. About a mile from the centre of town there is an ALDI, Marks and Spencer, and Morrisons. These are larger stores and are great if you don’t mind the walk or have a car. If you are looking to save a li�le extra cash when food shopping, ALDI is a good option as it is a larger supermarket that offers a wide and inexpensive variety of goods, whereas Marks and Spencer offers specialty and ready-made foods that are a li�le higher in price.
Where can I buy resources for my lectures and tutorials? No one wants to be that person who turns up to their first lecture and realises they‘ve forgo�en to bring a pen. To avoid this, you can find both Ryman as well as Paperchase on Market Street in town. Both stock a large variety of stationery and other resources you may need for the academic year to make your highlighting and mindmapping dreams come true. You can get your hands on any core, supplementary or recommended textbooks for your course in Blackwell’s, located in the Student Union in on St Mary’s Street. Students may also be selling secondhand textbooks at the start of the academic year on your class Facebook page for a discounted price. Of course, you can also find almost all required reading for your course in the Main Library, located on North Street.
Where can I get a part-time job? Along with your studies, it is possible that you might want to get a part-time job while you are at university. There are many businesses in St Andrews where students can apply for part-time work and vacancies can be found through social media or websites such as Indeed.com. The University also advertises part-time work through the Job Shop via CareerConnect, which can be accessed through the University website. The Job Shop advertises vacancies for local part-time and temporary work suitable for students, including bar work, cleaning, retail, administration and much Photo: Kylie Andrews more.
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FRESHERS' 2019
NEWS
MEET YOUR
SABBS Ta ma r a McWi ll ia m News Editor
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he sabbatical officers of the Students’ Association are alumni of the University or current students on a sabbatical year. They work to represent the students of St Andrews, as well as the University itself in a number of different ways. Freshers will come to know them as the ones behind the events and activities at the Union, the organisers of the Freshers’ Week, Sport and Academic Fayres, and the ones they can ask questions or voice their ideas to. More information on the roles that sabbaticals play in the Students’ Association can be found on the University of St Andrews Students’ Association website. Without further ado, these are your six sabbaticals for this academic year. P r esident o f the St ude nt s’ Asso ci a t i o n F rom G lasg ow , Scot l and Deg ree in Eng l ish, C lass of 2019
ie Rodne Jam y
“Hi there, and welcome to St Andrews! My name is Jamie, and I am your Association President for 2019-2020. Basically, I deal with all the ‘outwardfacing’ aspects of what the Students’ Association does, from national representation, to the environment, to accommodation. I hope you have a great time here in ‘the bubble’, and I’m looking forward to meeting you. If you ever have any problems, questions or concerns, or just want to chat, email me at pres@st-andrews.ac.uk, or find me in the middle floor of the Union—I’ll either be able to help you, or know someone who can!”
ka Schmeling Mi
D ir e cto r o f E ve nt s & Se r vi ce s F rom San Dieg o, California Deg ree in Comp u t er Science & Manag ement , Class of 2019
“Hiya guys! I’m Mika, this year’s Director of Events and Services (DoES). I work mainly on events held in the Union spaces, whether it’s Freshers, Refreshers, or any other booking we may get! My job is absolutely incredible because I get to work with tons of different teams to help them put on amazing events in all the Union spaces. I also work closely with many of the subcommi�ees and services in the Union—whether it be student performance [and] music groups, technical crew, or design team. If you would like to know more about ge�ing involved with Union events, or if you would like to host one of your own, please reach out at does@st-andrews.ac.uk, or you can find me in the Sabb office on the middle floor of the Union!”
FRESHERS' FRESHERS' 2019 2019
NEWS
D i r e cto r o f St ude nt D e ve l o pm e nt & Act i vi t i e s F rom Washing t on, D.C. Deg ree in Psy chol og y and Ant hrop olog y , C lass of 2019
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aina Sullivan Sh
“Hello! My name is Shaina, and I am your Director of Student Development and Activities (DoSDA) for 2019-20. The DoSDA supports all student extracurricular activities, including our 170+ societies and subcommi�ees—ranging from theatre, student fundraising, debating, and more. If you’re interested in ge�ing involved with societies (or starting your own!), if you have any questions at all, or just want a chat, feel free to drop by our office on the middle floor of the Union!”
At hle t ic Unio n P r e si de nt
h Allcock L ea
F rom Manchst er, Eng land Deg ree in Classical St udies & Eng lish, Class of 2019
“Welcome to the Bubble! My name is Leah and I’m the Athletic Union President for 2019-20. My job is to ensure that every student who wants to take part in sport and exercise can, and has fun whilst doing it! Whilst a lot of my focus is in ensuring that sports clubs run smoothly, I also look at wider issues such as wellbeing and inclusion—ensuring student sport is accessible and enjoyable. Saints Sport hosts lots of great events throughout the year and the sports community is one of the greatest things to get involved with. If you have any questions, email me at aupres@st-andrews.ac.uk, or feel free to pop into my office in the Sports Centre. Have an amazing year!”
D i r e cto r o f Wellbe i ng
Flor
F rom O x for d, Eng l and Deg ree in Biol og y , C lass of 2019
a Smith
"Hello, I’m Flora and I’m the Director of Wellbeing for 2019/20! I represent students on all ma�ers related to Wellbeing and Equal Opportunities to the university and external bodies like the NHS. I also chair the Association’s Wellbeing and Equal Opportunities Subcommi�ees and line manage groups like Got Consent, Peer Support and Saints LGBT+. In my role, I also run the Students’ Association Elections, which will be happening in March. If you’d like to get involved in student wellbeing or equal opportunities, or want more information on the student elections, come find me in my office on the first floor of the Union or drop me an email at dowell@st-andrews.ac.uk."
D ir e cto r o f E ducat i o n
y Bretherton m A
F rom K ilmalcolm, Scot land St udy ing G erman, Russian & Sp anish
“Hi there! My name is Amy and I’m your Director of Education this year. I’m your main representative in any affairs that relate to education, postgraduate studies and employability. This involves acting as your voice on University commi�ees that relate to your academic experience and supporting the School Presidents and Class Representatives. I’m here to represent you and make your academic experience as positive as possible, so if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to pop into my office on the first floor of the Students’ Association at any time or drop me an email on doed@!”
Photos: Sammi Ciardi
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FRESHERS' 2019
MONEY
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5 Hacks on How to Budget C e don i a Pe t e r son
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tarting university can be nerve-wracking. I know that right about now you're stressing about commi�ing to your modules, moving to St Andrews from whatever far (or near) flung part of the world you hail from, and—perhaps most pressingly of all—trying to find your social footing and make friends in the chaos around Freshers Week. That's all important, but trust me when I say that you'll soon conquer each of these challenges. The issue that you might be pushing to the backburner right now, and which you really shouldn't be, is budgeting. Start out with a good plan in place, otherwise you're going to get halfway through the year and be shocked to realise how low your bank balance has go�en. When you're planning your budget, consider taking some of this into consideration. Don't worry too much about spending in Freshers Week. I know, I know, this probably isn't the sort of advice you were expecting from this article, but seriously—the time when you're meant to be making friends and joining random societies is not the best time to start a hardline budget strategy. When your new acquaintances suggest going out to eat, do it. When you get the urge to go to one of the Freshers’ events, go for it. Just keep a loose eye on your bank account, check in every couple of days, and make sure that you're not draining more than you can afford to lose. But realistically, plan on spending around half (or even more) of your budget for that month in this week. Don't go crazy during Freshers’ Fayre. Go in with a specific amount of cash that you're willing to spend on memberships, and don't be afraid to respond to a society's offer of membership with the words, "Could I just join your mailing list?" You can always pay membership later, and all you're really interested in right now is understanding what the society has to offer anyway. You should also scribble down a list of the societies you pay membership to as you go, because no one else is tracking that for you (also, those £3 memberships add up really fast).
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Don't forget to budget for essentials. It really sucks to be down to your last budgeted £15 and then get your monthly phone charge of £10 and suddenly be staring at £5 for the rest of the month. Set aside the money you need for things like your phone, your laundry, and any other essentials, and then plan the rest of your spending as though that money isn't even there. Also, for people new to the UK, definitely do experiment with phone plans. Month to month deals are often very cheap here, and it's really easy to switch from one company to another and keep your phone number, so don't feel tied to a specific plan. Figure out how much data you actually use, then find the cheapest plan with that amount of data and Illustration: Gabrielle Wolf switch to it. Before you go crazy on Amazon, check out the places around St Andrews where you can get free or cheap items for your new room or home. The absolute best place to get things like pots and pans, cutlery, hangers, and various knick-knacks is the St AndReuse fair that happens during Freshers’ Week. The items you'll grab aren't new—they're donations from previous students—but they're often in really great shape and you get the added bonus of keeping them out of a landfill. Finally, keep track of your spending! I cannot emphasise enough how important this is, because it doesn't ma�er how carefully you think through your budget if you reach the end of the month and discover you've overspent by £50 and have no idea where the money has gone. Obviously there are a plethora of ways to budget, but hopefully some of these tips and tricks will come in handy—or at least get you going on the right path. The bo�om line is that you're here to enjoy yourself, and you are the only one who knows exactly how much (or how li�le) you can afford to spend a month. As long as you are regularly monitoring your spending and know where your money is going, things shouldn't get too far off track.
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FRESHERS' 2019
MONEY
Why You Should Cook for Yourself Luciu s R e ib e l Deputy Money Editor
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here has been much grumbling about the student housing situation in the past few years, but in all of that I hear almost nothing about a serious crisis that has befallen this student body: people just don’t know how or don’t want to cook for themselves. There are far too many lost souls at St Andrews who have never cooked at home, ate hall food and free pizza their first year, and moved on to private accommodations without understanding the glories of garlic and olive oil. Too often, I will go to a friend or acquaintance’s house and see a pristine fridge ringed by pizza boxes and takeaway bags. Too often do I hear people say, “I’ve made pasta four nights in a row now,” with only the barest hint of shame in their voice. This simply must end. The main reason you ought to care is that you and your fellow St Andrews students are being swindled by Deliveroo, Dominos, and the frozen food mafia. Statistics vary by region and on how fancy your home ingredients are vis a vis the fanciness of your take-out place, but study after study has shown that preparing your own meals costs at least fifty per cent less than take-out or delivery. The savings go up even more when comparing home-prepared meals to si�ing in at restaurants, even at “budget” options like Nandos. Let me give an example. Despite knowing the cost, once every two weeks I order a take-out meal for one from Tulsi, usually a lamb Madras curry. Including delivery cost, that meal costs about £16.50. When I cook a similar meal on my own, a curry with rice and naan on the side, I get more food (yay leftovers) for only around 9 pounds. Now, my cooking definitely isn’t up to restaurant standards, but the point remains that I can make more than double the amount of food for the price of a Tulsi meal for one.
Treat two-minute meals like they’ll take two minutes off your life Ignoring takeout for a moment, microwaveable dishes are also not a viable solution; given the quality and quantity of food you get from the typical microwaveable meal, you’re not actually saving that much money compared to takeout options. And besides, there’s nothing quite as grim as eating half-warmed mystery meat alone in your kitchen night after night. Save yourself this indignity and sauté some beef strips. To incoming freshers, I will say this: don’t fall into this
Illustration: Rachel Cripps
trap; try to cook a meal (and actually cook, not just throw something in the oven) at least twice a week, and try different recipes each time. If you can’t think of anything but have different ingredients in your fridge, try using recipe finders like Foodwise and Recipeland that give you different possible meals based on the ingredients you have around your flat. Check out the Fine Food and Dining Society, or for your other societies, organise or participate in potlucks; ge�ing other people’s input and appreciation for your cooking is incredibly helpful. Most costs at St Andrews are relatively inelastic; housing always costs a lot unless you’re willing to live far from town, tuition is more or less locked in, and some costs, like banking fees, are unavoidable. Changing the way you eat is one of the few ways to free some space in your monthly or yearly budget. If you find yourself turning down a night out for lack of funds, consider spending more time in the Aldi vegetables isle next month. Even leaving aside the statistics, it’s worth learning how to cook for the social benefits. You don’t want to be the guy who brings chips and dip to the potluck every time. And that’s not to mention the health effects: the vast majority of microwavable dishes and take-out options in St Andrews are… lacking green, one could say. Treat “2 minute meals” like they’ll take two minutes off your life, because they probably do. Fundamentally, cooking for yourself is a good way to free up extra cash that can be spent on be�er things (like quality gin) and improve a vital life and social skill. While it’s true that the more you cook the more you’ll save, it’s also important to remember that this isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. Even cooking some meals is be�er than cooking none, and very few people I know prepare all or nearly all of their meals themselves. I know I certainly don’t, but it’s something I’ve commi�ed to improving on, and I hope that others will make that effort, too.
FRESHERS' 2019
VIEWPOINT
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Advice I wish I had first year J oe Wa t e r s Viewpoint Editor
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eing a second-year now is a funny sensation. Writing this in June in a beer garden on a sunny day in Yorkshire, the feeling is not lost on me that 12 months prior to writing I was pulling my hair out over my A Level exams, fully expecting total failure and a shameful trip to Durham to begin my University life (a horrific prospect, I’m sure we can all agree.) However, that was not the case and, before I knew it, I was doing what many an Englishman had done before me – invaded Scotland – this time with less cavalry and pikes and more books and nervous anticipation. Chances are, for many of you freshers reading this, that advice you’ve received prior to coming to St Andrews will be completely useless, given by grandparents and shopclerks alike who have no idea what your university
currently be in and be brutally honest with yourself. Now, I’m not saying ditch whoever you’re with no ma�er what, as I certainly wouldn’t have even with hindsight. However, university is certainly going to be a massive change to what your current situation is, and your relationship will have to change also to reflect that if it is to remain healthy. On a much lighter note, I wish someone would’ve told me St Andrews isn’t as bad as everyone said it would be for a comprehensively schooled working-class guy from the North of England. Coming to St Andrews, I had it in my head that I would fall victim to the prejudices of Sco�ish nationalists on one hand, wedgied and left hanging from toilet doors by a gaggle of Old Etonians on the other.
Illustration: Rachel Cripps
experience will truly be like. As such, here is some advice that I, given the chance, would give my fresher-self, a year on from starting my St Andrews experience. Firstly, for the love of god and all that is holy, make sure you’re in St Andrews for all of Freshers’ Week, from the day you move in until the day lessons start. This might seem elementary, or even compulsory, for a lot of people, but you’d be surprised how many people move into St Andrews on the first Saturday and miss the first weekend of Fresher’s for a number of reasons. This was the mistake I also made. Do not do the same. I made the dreadful error of spending the first few days after moving into halls in Aberdeen visiting my now ex-girlfriend. As much as my time there was enjoyable and as a�ractive of an idea it seemed at the time, it had dreadful repercussions on the rest of my fresher experience. By the time I’d returned to John Burnet Hall, people had already established their friendship groups and all the ‘welcome’ and ‘meet and greet’ events in hall had passed. This made the already difficult task of trying to make friends with people who might as well be aliens exponentially harder. This brings me onto the second piece of advice that people neglected to give me. Before you come to University, evaluate any romantic relationship you might
Of course, neither of those fears came to fruition and, for all the stick St Andrews gets for being elitist, I found it generally a welcoming place. Lastly, and as you can read in more detail overleaf with Laura Beveridge’s article, also featured in this magazine, I wish somebody told me it is entirely OK not to enjoy Fresher’s Week. While you’re bound to see and hear the loud and brash having the time of their lives first and foremost (often when you’re trying to get to bed), you’re bound to not see the countless other people who perhaps find themselves in the same boat as you do, tucked away in their room desperately watching Netflix whilst waiting for classes to start. During Freshers’ Week, I found myself in this boat and thought myself as some social outcast when, in fact, I was probably in the majority from what I have heard from my fellow contemporaries about their Freshers’ Week experiences. If you find yourself in a pickle throughout your first year or entire university experience, there’s an abundance of support at the university to help you, and it is all genuinely helpful. And always remember, it’s OK to not to be living your best life straight away at uni.
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FRESHERS' 2019
VIEWPOINT
It’s OK not to enjoy Freshers’ Week La u r a Be ve r e i dg e
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reshers’ Week, in my head, consisted of non-stop fun, partying, and meeting my new best friends. Freshers’ Week, in reality, consisted of awkwardly dancing with people I’d just met; a miserable case of “freshers’ flu” that rendered me sans voice for at least four days; and teary phone calls home. At the time, I felt like I was the only one experiencing this: the only one who felt scared and alone, the only one who didn’t have “such a class night” at a 601 event, and the only one not to have met their friendship group.
The expectations that often surround Freshers’ Week can be unrealistic The expectations and pressure I felt to have a Freshers’ Week that was the stuff of legends which, in four years’ time as I graduated, I would look back upon with fondness, only added to my feelings of inadequacy: if I couldn’t even handle Freshers’ Week, how was I meant to handle a whole year here? Was Freshers’ Week the precedent for the rest of my university career? No. No it wasn’t. The expectations that often surround Freshers’ Week can be unrealistic. I found this out not only from my own experience, but from the anecdotes of the friends I made in the aftermath: their Freshers’ Weeks were a mixture of yes, highs, but also tales of panicking in an overcrowded 601 and phone calls to parents weeping to go home. Of course, some people have a fantastic Freshers’ Week. Some of you will instantly bond with your like-minded flat mates (feel fortunate, you lucky bunch, for
you will never know the pain that comes with five nights of small talk with people you blatantly have nothing in common with), and some of you will thrive in the Freshers’ se�ing of 601 every night. If however you are not so blessed, please take solace in some words of wisdom from yours truly—your not so wise writer: if by night three, you simply cannot stomach another night of struggling to be served at an overcrowded bar and being unable to find your flatmates after returning from the bathroom, then not messaging the group chat because you don’t want to be a bother so you just leave because you panic and what else are you meant to do (sorry, that example got weirdly specific), don’t be afraid to message your accommodation’s group chat and suggest a movie night (I can guarantee there will be others in exactly the same position as you), and moreover don’t panic if you haven’t found your tribe by the end of Freshers’ Week. It took me a good three weeks before I found who would become my best friends here. On this note, when it comes to making friends, my best advice (although I loathed it when my parents told me this during my Freshers’ Week because, for those of a shyer disposition with unfamiliar people, it’s a testing time) is don’t give up hope and don’t stop trying: go to every event, keep reaching out, and eventually you will stumble across someone you click with.
Don’t panic if you haven’t found your tribe by the end of Freshers’ Week In short, I’m going to tell you what I wish someone had told me: it’s OK not to enjoy Freshers’ Week. Freshers’ Week is fun, scary, exciting, and emotional, so buckle up tight and prepare for the reality: a rollercoaster of highs and lows. And hey, you always have your second year to have another shot at the Freshers’ Week you imagined.
Illustration: Rachel Cripps
FRESHERS' 2019
ILLUSTRATION
Illustration: Rachel Cripps
R A C H EL C R IPPS
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FRESHERS' 2019
FEATURES
The niche corners of St Andrews that no fresher should miss Si ob h an Ali Deputy Features Editor
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eloved by students and tourists alike, St Andrews has an undeniable charm and leaves a lasting impression on its visitors. From signature cocktail bars and cosy breakfast nooks to picturesque beaches and stunning architectural relics, The Saint has compiled a list of must-see places for every fresher and newcomer to explore upon their arrival.
NORTHPOINT CAFE Allegedly the site of Kate Middleton’s first date with Prince William during their student years in St Andrews, Northpoint Cafe is renowned for its mouth-watering pancake stacks and Maltesers hot chocolate. This is just the tip of the iceberg as Northpoint’s menu is packed with delicious breakfast and snack options. Famous as an essential breakfast spot, every fresher will probably visit the cafe at some point in their four years in St Andrews, whether that is a quick bite to eat in between lectures or a slightly hungover and ravenous post-May Dip binge.
TOASTIE BAR Hosted by the St Andrews Baptist Church, the Toastie Bar is the perfect culmination to students’ weekly Bop nights and casual drinks with friends. Serving an unprecedented variety of toasties, both sweet and savoury, including bold limited editions such as custard creme toasties, queues for the 50p toastie can trail several blocks down the street. Pop over for a cheap midnight snack every Friday night from 11pm until 2:30am.
ST ANDREWS BOTANIC GARDENS Reminiscent of Mary Lennox’s Secret Garden, St Andrews Botanic Gardens is a natural haven in the heart of the town. Comprised of several glasshouses, the rock garden, a stunning bu�erfly house, waterfalls and more, the Botanic Gardens is home to a wide variety of species and is a hub of biodiversity. Visitors can also stop off for a cup of tea (and Janne�as ice cream!) or choose from a range of plants to take home and nurture.
Illustration: Gabrielle Wolf
TOPPING & COMPANY BOOKSELLERS As if lifted directly from the pages of a novel, Topping & Company is a quaint bookshop just a block away from the Student Union. Brimming with piles upon piles of books, it is easy to get lost as you make your way deeper into the heart of the bookstore. Wander in on a rainy day to se�le into one of the plush armchairs nestled between the shelves and enjoy a cup of tea and a side of biscuits while perusing the works of Yuval Noah Hariri or Jared Diamond.
JANETTAS GELATERIA Considered iconic amongst the St Andrews community, Janne�as has been serving over 50 flavours of freshly prepared ice cream for over 100 years, from traditional classics such as chocolate to more adventurous varieties such as Sco�ish Tablet, Turkish Delight, Peaches & Cream, and many more. In an effort to pay homage to their Italian heritage, the cafe offers a wide array of snacks and dessert options in a plethora of flavours, bringing a glimpse of classic Italian gelaterias to the wee Sco�ish coastal town. Freshers can also look forward to free Janne�as at University events, such as the balls that take place throughout the year. On one of the rare sunny days in St Andrews, the queue for Janne�as can extend down the street as townspeople clamber for ice cream and head to one of the quads or beaches to enjoy the sunshine.
ST ANDREWS CASTLE Overlooking the rocky Castle Sands beach, the ruins of the over 800-year-old St Andrews Castle add to the cultural feel of the town. A historical relic of the wars for the Sco�ish throne between Scots and Englishmen, the castle played many roles over its long and tumultuous history as a prison, a fortress and a bishop’s palace. Visitors can explore an underground mine to understand medieval warfare as well as the dungeons where various prisoners were kept captive.
FRESHERS' 2019
FEATURES
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Tips for Freshers’ Week (and the rest of the year) J ur i n F l or e s Deputy Viewpoint Editor
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o, you have finished unpacking your boxes and hugged your family goodbye. You are left in this new room, in this new town - now what? Trying to push yourself to jump into all the things going on in Freshers’ Week is already hard enough, so here are some tips to make it easier.
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MAKING FRIENDS You do not have to be friends with the first people you see. As you are in a university with thousands of people, you are bound to meet those with whom you do not share common interests or values. That being said, making friends with whom you can speak to from the heart will take time, effort, and consistency. Find people that you might like from your lectures, societies, and sports clubs. Invite them out for lunch and check out places in St Andrews together. If you do not want to pursue a friendship with certain people, that is completely fine. Like dating, spend time with different people until you find the right ones. It can be mentally and emotionally overwhelming at times to make the right friends for you; however, work at your own pace (whether it takes a month or a year) and eventually you will find the right friendships.
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Illustration: Cose�e Pucke�
Freshers and Charities Fayres at the end of the week, so make sure you check out the Facebook pages to see what you might be interested in. Stay organised by downloading the Union’s Freshers’ Week App so that you know when and where events are occurring. All of the societies in St Andrews are welcoming to complete beginners, so make sure you spend your first year taking advantage of their activities! Nevertheless, make sure not to overwhelm yourself. It is normal to leave certain societies (at a reasonable time) if you think that they are not for you, but be sure to try out the unexpected as they may surprise you.
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COMBAT HOMESICKNESS You may find yourself missing home (i.e the food) and feeling culture-shocked in this new environment, especially if you are an international student. St Andrews is a surprisingly diverse and international community – we’ve got a wide range of cultural societies including the Japanese society, the African and Caribbean Society, and Sanskriti (South Asian) society. You can be integrated into these societies as much as you want, but even joining their Facebook groups would be a good source for their activities.
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BE YOURSELF AND KNOW YOUR LIMITS
NEEDING A BREATHER FROM THE BUBBLE
Since you are in a completely new environment with exciting yet unfamiliar experiences, there is pressure to make an impression. Be sure to do things that you always wanted to try but do not push yourself to do activities (or even go to a certain event) if you do not want to. You might want to make the most of Freshers’ Week, but just because you got scammed into buying the Golden Ticket does not mean that you should a�end every single event. If you know that you need for a night in, I highly advise selling the ticket, calling friends from home, and sleeping in. You’ve got the rest of the four years to make your St Andrews experience memorable. Trust me, no one is going to remember if you miss out on a few events.
There are bound to be days where you need a breather from the bubble, so depending on how you feel, here are the tips that I would give (in order of the severity of your cabin fever). If you just want to be by yourself for a while, go to East Sands, St Salvator’s Chapel, or the aquarium. If you need a breather away from the bubble, find a travel buddy and take a weekend to check out tourist sites in Scotland or Europe (cheap flights found on SkyScanner). If needing to get away immediately, Anstruther is a bus ride away and has the best fish and chips place (no joke).
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TRY OUT NEW ACTIVITIES With so many clubs and societies, make sure to try out the activities that you always had an interest in doing. There are several “give-it-a-gos”, introduction talks, and “meetthe-teams” going on throughout the week, as well as
From finding the right friends and academic family to commi�ing yourself to a society, adjusting yourself to this quaint yet bustling town will take some time. Have patience and enjoy the unse�led feelings. The red gowns, the Raisins, and the walks on East Sands will one day be the key moments of what you love about St Andrews, so make sure you take advantage of the Bubble!
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FRESHERS' 2019
EVENTS
Celebrate Freshers’ with Versus Music Si ob h a n Ali Deputy Features Editor
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aunched in October 2018 by fourth-year students Dominic Reynolds and Sagar Sharma, Versus Music (colloquially known as VS) has been a revolutionary new addition to St Andrews’ nightlife and social scenes. Described as “an antidote to unfulfilled demand” for music and events as well as the sometimes “cliquish and exclusive” nature of the social scene in the coastal town, VS firmly believes in crafting a connection with people and constantly interacts with students to see what kind of events they would like to witness and a�end. A long way from their humble beginnings in a small flat on South Street, VS’ social calendar was packed to a brim last year. Striving to entertain and liven up the St Andrews community, the VS team hosted hip hop house parties, DJed for famous acts such as Fuse ODG during Refreshers Week, and collaborated with highly anticipated fashion events such as Sitara. This is something they hope to replicate this year as well. Students can look forward to further collaborations to liven up
traditional events such as other fashion shows and Halloween House of Horror. VS will also be introducing a Streetwear Charity Fashion Show under the theme of “Urban 2020” to mix “streetwear”, hip hop and “underground vibes” with accompanying fashion drops throughout the year. The Saint will be keeping students posted on upcoming events, ensuring they are updated on what the town has to offer. Top of the agenda are the exciting plans the VS team has for Freshers Week. Catering for a diverse audience, VS will offer an alternative and unique way to celebrate moving to the Bubble. Excited to welcome incoming students and host their first ever Freshers’ Week. VS will be supporting acts and playing at the Student’s Union and neighbouring 601 nightclub. Newcomers and returners alike can also look forward to even more exciting house parties throughout the town, free of charge, as a different way to enjoy nights out. Any budding models and fashion-focused students should also keep an eye out for upcoming model auditions.
What not to miss in Freshers’ Week Me g Dy son Deputy Events Editor
1. Pier Walk If you haven't already got a red gown, make sure you grab one before a�ending a Pier Walk. Usually at midday on a Sunday (there's one during Freshers' Week!), you'll meet in Sallies Quad and then head down to the pier to do the walk down the pier in classic St Andrews style.
2. Freshers’ Fayre The Freshers' Fayre is the place to be in order to explore all the different societies that St Andrews has to offer. Each society has a stall where you can sign up for emails about events to come. It's not just societies, either - there are stalls for local businesses as well, so you can pick up discounts and vouchers galore. And there's free food!
3. Starfields
The annual headline event of Freshers’ Week, Starfields is run by the St Andrews Fashion Show. Set up like a festival, they feature some of the biggest house and electronic names in the industry, and it's something you don't want to miss out on.
Illustration: Gabrielle Wolf
Early bird tickets have already sold out, but be sure to pick up a ticket if you haven't already. For more information, see our preview on the next page!
4. An Event in 601 The full lineup of Club 601 events during Freshers’ Week are available on the Union website, including a meet-and-greet with Anton and Belle from “Love Island”, a DJ set from Tristan Evans of The Vamps, and Massaoke. Not only do these events give you a chance to have a great time and experience St Andrews nightlife, but they also offer the opportunity to meet people from different years and halls. You can buy individual tickets or grab them all with a golden ticket.
5. Opening Ball One of the events that you will not want to miss during your time at St Andrews is the Kate Kennedy Club's Opening Ball. Although usually scheduled a li�le after Freshers' Week, it's the perfect introduction to the St Andrews tradition that is black tie. You'll be greeted by champagne and highland pipers, and there's great music and free food too!
FRESHERS' 2019
EVENTS
15
Preview: Starfields St e ll a G a g e Events Editor
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his year The Saint has the exclusive inside scoop on the biggest event of Freshers Week. We have been given the official press release for Starfields 2019, so we can give you all the information you need to know about one of the most highly anticipated events of each academic year. Not only is this event the headline of St Andrews Freshers’ Week, but it is also one of the most popular student-run music festivals in the entire UK, having hosted musicians such as Cheat Codes, Gorgon City, Klingande, and more. This event has become the way for students to celebrate the start of their year: gathering in Lower College Lawn to listen to some iconic musical talent. To give you an idea of just how much students look forward to this event each year, their 2018 early-bird tickets sold out in under 20 minutes! This year’s event also promises to be “a revolutionary take on a summer music festival.” Starfields 2019 will be particularly special, as the team pursues a more environmentally conscious and friendly event. The new and improved SF is now adopting a sustainable ethos, complete with recyclable cups, water cartons, and compostable materials. There will be a strong emphasis on reducing waste and incorporating these sustainable alternatives, as it is FS’ corporate mission this year to minimise the waste produced at their events. Many music festivals produce enormous amounts of waste, so this emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint of the event is a significant step forward. The team said, “We
hope that these measures will make us one of the most sustainable student event organisations in the UK.” In pursuing this new mission, the FS team is also “raising awareness about how event culture within St Andrews, and across British universities, may become more ethical and ecologically-minded. This will include working with sponsors and vendors who will be asked to be mindful of this sustainable message.” The final piece to the full picture of Starfields is, of course, charity. The St Andrews Charity Fashion Show is first and foremost a charitable organisation that has raised over £570,000 for various charities over the last 28 years. They also have an immense virtual reach of over 150,000 people, who they can communicate with in promoting their new sustainable ethos as well as their philanthropic pursuits. In conclusion, the FS team are hoping to create a quintessential end-of-summer celebration that will equally celebrate and kick off the start of the year. Head of Press Georgia Davies said, “We want to capture the electricity and excitement of Freshers week, providing students with a night they will want to remember. Starfields aims to merge cu�ing edge dance music with a carefree night of fun before the semester’s work begins. It is really important to us that freshers and final year students alike enjoy the event and feel able to express themselves: be that through fashion, dancing or enjoying some of the fantastic vendors that we are featuring this year.”
Photo: Grace Garthwright
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FRESHERS' 2019
ARTS & CULTURE
17
A Fresher’s Guide: Music in St Andrews An n a b e l St e e l e Co-Arts & Culture Editor
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aunting” doesn’t quite do justice to the although STIMS is also ge�ing their “Bands at Pres” plan feeling of starting university, and it’s hard to underway, hosting pre-drinks nights with live music so feel as though you’re spending all your time you can forget the anxiety of designing a playlist—or se�ling in, making friends, going out to the questionable having to listen to someone else’s unsatisfying Union freshers’ events or—if you’re a li�le more a�empt—and lose yourself in the ‘90s dream. STAR Radio disciplined—preparing for classes to start. It’s barely is the University’s radio station, but they host live music plausible to scope out an entire town’s music scene, no nights modelled after Radio 1’s Live Lounges, which ma�er how tiny that town might be. We’ve got your back, usually take place in the cosy Rector’s Café, and they also in the shape of an article dedicated to outlining St dedicate many radio shows to celebrating St Andrews Andrews music. student music-makers. Music Is Love is a collective Let’s start with the obvious: nights-out. It’s ingrained dedicated to showcasing the best St Andrews musicians, so deeply into the collective, idealistic pu�ing on several live events, including vision of university that it’s easy to their famously intimate Bell Pe�igrew find yourself prioritising your social sessions which happen in the beautiful life above the seven articles you need Bell Pe�igrew Museum in St Mary’s to have read by 10 am the next day. Quad. Not that I’m speaking from If none of this is up your alley, experience, of course. If you’re not so perhaps you’re looking for something a fussed about the music, Union nights li�le more classical. Recitals and classical can be decent. There’s often a good performances are no rarity in St turn-out because they tend to host Andrews; they often take place in some of the cheapest events, and nonYounger Hall which is just by St ticketed entrance to the Union is Salvator’s Hall on North Street. The St entirely free. However, we’re not all Andrews Music Society is also dedicated happy with Ariana Grande BOPs to hosting and promoting classical music which don’t play a single Ariana events which are occurring across town, Grande track, and many of us aren’t so like the Facebook page and subscribe exactly crazy about the idea of an to their mailing list at the Freshers’ Fayre Ariana Grande BOP in the first place. if you want to stay clued up. There are Enter the independent electronic also several choirs, including the Illustration: Reuben Morris-Dyer music groups: Wax Collective, BPM, prestigious Sallies Choir who perform at ASHA... the list goes on and on. At these nights, good Sunday church services in St Salvator’s chapel as well as music and a strong sense of community are the two most making appearances at events throughout the year, such as important goals, and the success rate is basically one the magical Christmas Service in Trinity Church on South hundred per cent. Some groups also branch out from the Street. electronic genre, hosting grime, jungle or R&B nights every Hopefully, after reading this, the St Andrews music so often. The locations are also far more appealing than the scene feels a li�le less distant and makes a li�le more sweaty 601 dance floor: Wax Collective is known for its sense. But this is just the surface: despite its misleading Flash Rooms, ticketed events held at someone’s home, size, there really is a whole lot going on in this three-street transporting you back to the glory days of house parties. town. If you’re curious about it all, the best piece of advice The Vic is another popular destination for these events, I can give is to get out there and explore it. Make new and, on its good nights, is probably as close as you can get friends and find out what they’re going to, talk to the to a night club in St Andrews. people in charge of these societies about opportunities, and Moving on, let’s talk about Music Is Love, STIMS and go to events with an open mind, ready to discover whether STAR Radio, a selection of groups and societies dedicated or not it’s your cup of tea. Everyone always says that St to hosting more chilled-out nights where music really is Andrews is entirely what you make it, and that’s exactly the central focus. These tend to be sit-down gig nights, the case for the music scene.
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FRESHERS' 2019
ARTS & CULTURE
A Fresher’s Guide: Theatre in St Andrews G r if fi n G odsi ck Theatre Editor
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erforming arts, and theatre even more specifically, maintain an incredibly active presence in both university and the town. However, for new arrivals, the various societies and groups may blend together, making it nigh impossible to audition or participate in everything going on the first week or tow of the school year. In light of this conundrum, The Saint, for your perusing pleasure, offers you the 2019 Freshers’ Guide to St Andrews Theatre.
M er m ai ds What is it? The largest and most wellknown of the theatrical groups, Mermaids is actually the overarching governing body of all student-run performing arts at St Andrews, in addition to pu�ing on a multitude of plays every year. What’s happening? They typically put on around 6 to 8 straight plays each semester, with One Man, Two Guvnors, The Children’s Hour, and A Doll’s House among the shows being put on in first semester, and up to five original works that are presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August each year. Also during the fall is the Freshers Drama Festival, in which students who have never participated in theatre at St Andrews have a chance to act, direct, and tech a mix of existing and studentwri�en productions. Additionally, Mermaids designs and puts on Christmas Ball, one of the premier soirees of the St Andrews social calendar, with tickets selling out in a ma�er of seconds. When? Auditions for their shows typically take place during Week One, which is the week that follows Freshers’ Week.
J ust So What is it? Just So is the one-stop destination at St Andrews for all things musical theatre. What’s happening? Typically producing 1 to 2 musicals per semester, Just So is presenting Chicago (co-directed by yours truly) this fall. Just So is also in charge of planning and decorating the pre-event reception for Christmas Ball. When? Chicago auditions will be happening at the beginning of Week One (shameless plug: please come out and audition!). Photos: Annabel Steele
G i lber t & Sul l i van What is it? Winner of the 2018 Best Society Award, G&S, as they are commonly known, specialise in and exclusively produce the 14 opere�as that English duo W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan wrote in the late 19th century. Lavish costumes, hilarious actors, and sell-out shows have become synonymous with the G&S Society, who, despite their success, provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere to be both long-time veterans and complete newcomers. What’s happening? Fresh off of their annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival production, this year tackling The Pirates of Penzance, G&S will be mounting The Sorcerer during the fall semester, and Patience as their spring production. They generally rotate through the canon in a way that a student will rarely perform in the same show twice during their time in St Andrews. When? The Sorcerer auditions are split between Freshers’ Week and Week One.
O pe r a So c What is it? St Andrews Opera Society mounts one full opera per semester, and, with the shows being exclusively performed as English translations, is more accessible to the general student body. What’s happening? In the fall, OpSoc is producing the classic Orphée and Euridice, but with a gender bent twist and a new modernized English translation. When? Orphée and Euridice chorus auditions will be happening during Week One, with the leads already being cast. Whether you are vaguely interested in one of these societies or have your heart set on joining all of them, theatre at St Andrews provides a refreshing creative outlet for all students. More information on any these organizations can be found on their various Facebook pages or by reaching out to commi�ee members.
FRESHERS' 2019
SPORT
19
A Fresher’s Guide: Give it a Go C h a r lot t e C oh e n Sport Editor
D
uring Freshers Week all of the sports at St Andrews offer a give it a go sessions where anyone can go along and try it out. So, here’s a list of all the sports St Andrews have on offer and how you can give them a go! If you want to know more about any of the sports St Andrews has to offer, head along to the Sports Fayre on Monday 9 September from 1-6pm in the Sports Hall.
MO N DAY 9 SEPTEMBER MEN’S FOOTBALL: 1-4pm at the Sports Centre POLO: 1-6pm at the Sports Centre SUB AQUA: 1-6pm (sign up at Sports Fayre) TRIATHLON: 7-8pm at the Sports Centre
RIFLE: 1-5pm at the Shooting Range (16 Argyle Street) SAILING: 1-5pm at the Sports Centre HOCKEY (Women’s Beginner): 1:30-3pm on the Hockey Pitch at the Sports Centre WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: 2-3pm at the Sports Centre MEN’S LACROSSE: 2-4pm on the LAX pitch
THUR SDAY 12 SEP TEMBER MEN’S FOOTBALL: 1-3pm at Sports Centre SAILING: 1-5pm at the Sports Centre WOMEN’S CRICKET: 2-4pm in the Sports Hall
WATER POLO: 6:15-8:30pm, meet at the TAEKWON-DO: 8:30-10pm in the Studio of MEN’S RUGBY: 2-4pm on the grass pitches Union the Sports Centre F R IDAY at the Sports Centre
TUESDAY 1 0 SEP TEMBER SURFING: 1-3pm at East Sands
WOMEN’S RUGBY: 2-4pm on the grass pitches at the Sports Centre
MEN’S SHINTY: 2-4pm on the Shinty Pitch MEN’S FOOTBALL: 1:30-3pm in the Sports at the Sports Centre Centre CANOE: 2-5pm at East Sands VOLLEYBALL: 2-3:30pm in the Sports Hall MOUNTAINEERING: 2-5pm in the Sports WOMEN’S POOL: 2-4pm in the Union Centre SQUASH: 2:40-4pm at East Sands Leisure FENCING: 2:30-4:30pm in the Sports Hall Centre SQUASH: 2:40-4pm at East Sands Leisure MOUNTAINEERING: 3-5pm in the Sports Centre Centre HOCKEY (Women’s Advanced Trials): 3ATHLETICS AND CROSS COUNTRY: 4- 4:30pm on the Hockey Pitch at the Sports 8pm at the Sports Centre Centre KENDO: 5-6:30pm in the Sports Hall ATHLETICS AND CROSS COUNTRY: 3JUJITSU: 7-8:30pm in the Sports Hall NETBALL: 10:30am-12:30pm in the Sports Centre
W EDN ESDAY 1 1 SEP TEMBER
13 SEP TEMBER
MEN’S BASKETBALL: 2-3:30pm at the Sports Centre WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: 3:30-5pm at the Sports Centre JUDO: 7-8:30pm in the Sports Hall
SATUR DAY 14 SEP TEMBER PARKOUR: 8-10am in the Sports Hall BOXING: 10-11:30am in the Sports Hall AIKIDO: 11:30am-1pm in the Sports Hall MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: 1-2:30pm in the Sports Hall SURFING: 1-3pm at East Sands
5pm at the Sports Centre
ARCHERY: 2:30-4:30pm in the Sports Hall
TRAMPOLINE & GYMNASTICS: 3-5pm at the Sports Centre
HANDBALL: 3-4pm in the Sports Centre
CYCLING: 3:30-5pm, meet in Sports Centre WEIGHTLIFTING: 4-7pm in the performance suite at the Sports Centre
TENNIS: 11-4pm on the tennis courts at the MEN’S HOCKEY: 4:30-6:30pm on the Sports Centre Hockey Pitch at the Sports Centre WOMEN’S LACROSSE: 12-2pm on the BADMINTON: 4:40-6:30pm at the Sports LAX pitch at the Sports Centre Centre WOMEN’S SHINTY: 12-2pm on the Shinty KARATE: 5-6:30pm in the Sports Hall Pitch at the Sports Centre TABLE TENNIS: 12-2pm in the Sports Hall PARKOUR: 6-8pm at the Sports Centre TRIATHLON: 7:45-8:45pm at St Leonard’s KORFBALL: 1-3pm in the Sports Hall Pool MEN’S FOOTBALL: 1-3pm at the Sports SWIMMING: 8-9pm at East Sands Leisure Centre Centre GOLF: 1-4pm at the Links Driving Range (next to the Old Course Hotel)
FUTSAL: 5-7pm in the Sports Centre
SUN DAY 15 SEP TEMBER MEN’S CRICKET: 10-11am in the Sports Hall CHEERLEADING: 2-4pm in the Sports Hall DANCE: 2-5pm in the Sports Centre studio FUTSAL: 4-6pm in the Sports Centre
MO N DAY 16 SEP TEMBER SWIMMING: 7:45-8:45pm at East Sands Leisure Centre
WEDN ESDAY 18 SEP TEMBER CLAY PIGEON: 1-5pm (sign up at the Sports Fayre)