Freshers' Issue (September 2014)

University of Southampton’s Student Magazine

FRESHERS’ 2014

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YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO FRESHERS’ & MORE +

WessexScene.co.uk

SOtON BUCKeT LIST 3

50 things you really should do before you leave Southampton

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TRAVEL FOR FREE 16

Travelling doesn't have to cost the Earth with these top tips

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YOUR NEW ROOM 21

Make yourself at home in your new room in halls

WELCOME EDITOR'S LETTER TAHLIE COOPER EDITOR

editor@soton.ac.uk FRONT COVER BY JESS COX

Hello Freshers and welcome to the University of Southampton!

This is the Wessex Scene, your university’s official student publication. We cover everything from the latest news on campus, to politics, to lifestyle, sport, international and more! We also have our very own website to update you on the latest news and showcase all the work of our writers, editors and illustrators!

This issue is particularly special for us as the first issue of the year and marks the new re-branding of our student magazine. The Wessex Scene has undergone a glamorous makeover this year, thanks to our incredible designer Sam Bailey. The entire team have worked so hard on putting this brand new magazine together, making sure that you newbies can learn the lay of the land… and have a good read!

This issue may be focused on freshers but still displays a variety of topics, including the top 50 things to do as a fresher, why you should consider a year abroad and some of the top fashion picks!

Wessex Scene Team Contact the team at wessexscene.co.uk/contact Editor Tahlie Cooper Deputy Editor Kerry Sclater Head of Design Sam Bailey Image Editor Jess Cox Features Shaun Harvey & Hebe Neate-Clegg Science and Environment Jennifer Allerton Politics Bridie Pearson-Jones Winchester Kalisto Bancroft Opinion Isabella Hunter-Fajardo Travel Anna Jenkins Lifestyle Bronwyn Scotland & Laura Cox International Emma Clarke Sport Ross Wilson & Jack Pethick News Emma Cheshire & Chloe Fabregas Pause Aidan Pittman Publicity Corinne Dugdale Editor-in-Chief Megan Downing 01

It's not all about the journalism with us though! There are various events that we get involved with throughout the year! The Student Publication Association National Conference is hosted by a university every year, where the team get the chance to work with other publications to improve their own, along with a fancy awards show and a big night out with new friends! To celebrate our own student media outlets, SUSU host the media ball at the end of each year, where the best in student media are awarded for their commitment and best work.

So with a publication full of opportunities and a fun hard working team, why not join us? Whether you're a budding new writer, photographer, illustrator… or simply just want to get involved, there is a guaranteed place for you here! Plus, it always looks good on the old CV to say you're contributing to one of the best (not to mention award winning) student publications in the country!

If you want to join our little family, send me your full name and email to editor@soton.ac.uk and I will set you up with a writer's account and send over our new writer's handbook to get your started! If you're looking to contribute to a certain section or department, I will get you in contact with the right members of the committee, so you can be ready for your Wessex Scene adventure!

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy the rest of the magazine. Look out for Issue 1, which will be out next week!

Editor out!

WELCOME

WELCOME contents ISSUE 0 freshers' 2014 YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO FRESHERS’ & MORE

wessexscene.co.uk @wessexscene fb.com/wscene

WELCOME

Features The Definitive Southampton Bucket List University: What You Need To Know

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Opinion Coming Out of the Feminist Closet A Note to Freshers: Get Your Ass Abroad!

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Science & Environment Our Friend Caffeine

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Politics Student Loans System Could Implode in a Financial "Black Hole" General Election 2015: What's at Stake For Students?

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Travel 10 Ways Students Can Travel For Free

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Lifestyle Transitional Style Staples Well That's Food For Thought!

Get Your New Room Ready For The New Year How to Have a Healthy Freshers' Year

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Winchester Erasmus Park Joy

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International 10 Southampton Survival Tips Dear International Student...

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Sport Try Something New This Freshers' Halls and Society Sport A Handy Freshers Guide to Sport in Southampton

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Pause A Handy Pause Guide to the Best Clubs For You

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THE DEFINITIVE SOUTHAMPTON BUCKET LIST BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES POLITICS EDITOR 03

Effective, delicious and it’s name sounds like male naughty-bits. This is Jesters' best cocktail – don’t pay any attention to fans of the Juicy Lucy.

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There are a lot of university bucket lists on the interweb. There’s even a few Southampton based ones.

Consider this the bucket list to end all bucket lists – whether you’re a fresher, a finalist, or anything in-between, get working on this before graduation. You know you want to.

10 TRY A JESTICLE

11 QUIZ AND CURRY AT THE BRIDGE 12 JOIN A SOCIETY

1 MIDNIGHT MANZILS Tariq Manzils is the late night curry place in Bevois Valley, Portswood.

Open til 3am, an early hours Manzils is an essential to the Southampton experience.

2 £1.50 TRIPLES

Sobar Tuesdays offers this too good to be true deal.

3 KARAOKE AT THE STAG’S

Every Thursday The Stag’s Head, our on-campus SUSU ran pub has a Karoke night, which is not to be missed. Plus you can get pizza and a drink for £4.95.

Well played Stags, well played.

4 JESTERS GOLD CARD

Also known as the Palace of Dreams, Jesters is an experience that every Southampton student must have. Make sure you wear a special pair of shoes, and get a gold card by staying in the Palace for 12 long hours. In exchange you get free entry for a year, not bad.

5 MEET SUSU THE CAT

How many Universities have their own cat? WE DO!

6 SELFIE WITH SUSU

7 GO OUT IN FANCY DRESS The more creative and more ridiculous the better.

8 FEED THE CAMPUS DUCKS 9 ATTEND A SAINTS MATCH We are blessed to have a Premier League football team in our city (for the time being at least). Go along, sing “Oh When The Saints Come Marching In” and make friends with some locals.

They’re not that bad.

The best is when it’s something you’ve never done before, whether it’s fencing, american football, bridge, bhangra, DJ society, politics association or wildlife protection. There really is something for everyone!

13 GET A SHOUT OUT ON SURGE RADIO

Text in requests on 07547 006 005 and they’ll probably play them!

14 WRITE FOR THE EDGE OR WESSEX SCENE

Everyone knows the media societies are the best societies.

15 STAR IN A SUSUtv VIDEO 16 BBQ AND PIMMS ON THE COMMON 17 DO SOMETHING WACKY FOR CHARITY Have fun and raise money at the same time! Why not join RAG?

18 LEARN A LANGUAGE

Get a bi-lingual buddy to teach you, or try Southampton’s amazing life-long

Or a flatmate – there is no better bonding experience.

20 GO ON TOUR

A lot of societies and halls go on tour every year. Tour is great (plus you can practice your new language skills).

21 WAKE UP ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Did you hear about that guy that went for a night out in Oldham and woke up in Paris? Well this is our version. Okay, it’s a bit tricky, but at least visit the island, it’s very pretty.

22 VISIT BOURNEMOUTH

And have fish and chips on the beach!

23 VISIT THE NEW FOREST 24 WALK THE CITY WALLS We’re a very historic city ya know.

25 LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC Go to the Joiners, The Talking Heads, or the O2 Academy, because live music is the best.

26 VISIT THE WINCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET 27 CLUB HOP IN BEDFORD PLACE 28 SPRINKLES! Best. Ice cream. Bar. In. The. World.

Make sure you visit their Portswood venue and their city centre one!

29 COMPLETE THE FELLOWSHIP

A Lord of the Rings themed pub, with Lord of the Rings themed drinks resides in Southampton: The Hobbit.

Plus you get a free t-shirt once you’ve completed their drinks challenge, which is pretty cool.

30 TRY THE 50s DINER

The new 50s diner on level 3 of SUSU looks amazing.

31 GO TO MARWELL ZOO 32 GO TO VARSITY, OR WIDE LANE

Varsity is the biggest and best sporting

33 ORDER TEXT-A-TOASTIE The lovely folk at the Christian Union run a Text-a-Toastie service every wednesday. Just text them with your location, toastie order, and question about God and you get a free toastie and your question answered, mmm.

34 UNION FILMS MARATHON

We are so lucky to have a cinema where tickets are only £3 right here on campus! Once in a while they even do an all nighter.

35 GO TO A ROLLER DISCO Hell yeah Southampton has it’s own roller disco. Skate down to The Mo’ Club and do your thang.

36 AFTERNOON TEA AT THE GRAND CAFE

The Grand Cafe is one of Southampton’s finer dining institutions.

It was once a hotel and ballroom, where the guests of the Titanic spent the night before boarding the ill-fated cruiser. The Queen Mother once stayed there too! £15.50 per person isn’t too much considering how fancy it is.

37 ATTEND A BALL

Freshers' ball, Grad ball, subject balls, AU ball, society balls – GO TO THEM ALL.

38 WALK DOWN THE CAFPAF/SOBAR STAIRS AND NOT FALL OVER

Especially tricky for those of us in heels.

39 DO A PORTSWOOD PUDDING CRAWL

41 COUNT THE NUMBER OF SEMI-NAKED PEOPLE DURING A HALLS FIRE ALARM It’s inevitable.

42 GET SOLENT BFFS They’re really quite nice!

43 MAKE FRIENDS IN A CLUB BY TAKING ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ACCENT AND PERSONA 44 HALLS BANTER Because *insert your halls here* is the best!

45 LEARN TO COOK

Or you’ll get sick of super noodles and Domino's pretty quickly.

46 LECTURE WALK OF SHAME Go to your lecture in last night’s clothes – this is even better if it’s fancy dress.

47 PLAY COME DINE WITH ME

Get a group of flats/houses to take turn hosting dinner parties, then secretly rate each other- preferably on film.

48 RUN THE SOUTHAMPTON HALFMARATHON 49 DO A CRAZY SPORT

Muggle Quidditch is a great start.

50 GET A SHOT OF CHOCOLATE AT CAFE PARFAIT THURSDAYS

Let the challenge commence.

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19 PRANK A HOUSEMATE

event of the year! If you’re not playing, cheer on Team Southampton!

Bar crawls not your thing? Well do a pudding crawl instead! Start off at the Bridge, and make your way through Portswood highstreet all the way to Mango. Wear baggy trousers though, obviously.

40 FREE FILM AT HARBOUR LIGHTS PICTUREHOUSE

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learning lessons, you can do anything from Mandarin to French! C’est Bonne!

Join the E4 Slackers Club and get a monthly free showing!

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UNIVERSITY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW If you’re sat on your bed reading and you’ve just been dropped off, you still need to unpack, and you haven’t met anyone yet, I’m here to talk you through it. And it won’t be one of those be-safe, eat-your-vegetables, go-to-lectures talks proper adults give you (although do all of those things too!). This is some friendly advice from someone who’s just done it all, and knows what I wish I’d been told.

HEBE NEATE-CLEGG FEATURES EDITOR IMAGE BY AMY SHEPPARD

Get creative

Have fun making the place your own. It’s usually your space for the year, so you can fill it with posters and pictures and decorations and whatever else you think will help you to feel at home. It’s a good form of distraction in the first few days if you’re feeling homesick.

and charity to arts and music. The Bunfight in your Freshers’ Week shows you everything that’s on offer, so give something a go! Just make sure you don’t finish university saying “I wish I’d done more, all I did was get drunk and sleep a lot” (this might sound like the dream right now, but it’s possibly not the best thing to put on your CV, compared to President of the Fish On Toast society).

You’re not alone

Sleep sensibly

“

Budgeting

Everyone is in the same boat! Clichéd, but true. Even if you’ve come to university as a very shy, timid person, just try and have a go at talking to people. The worst that will happen is they don’t respond, in which case you’ve lost nothing, and you might gain a best friend. Introduce yourself, make conversation and generally show yourself as an open person, because people who want to make friends will respond. If someone doesn’t, they might just prefer to keep to themselves, so don’t make them uncomfortable, just show you’re there if needed. Equally, there’s nothing wrong if that’s you; just remember that if people are trying to force you to get involved and it’s not your thing, they’re not trying to be unkind, they’re just as nervous as you.

THE BUNFIGHT IN FRESHERS’ WEEK SHOWS YOU EVERYTHING THAT’S ON OFFER, SO GIVE SOMETHING A GO!

Keep busy

Being away from home, you could end up spending more time on your own than you’re used to. If everyone’s home for the weekend, or you’ve got a lot of work and you can’t go out, it can be a bit strange knowing that your mum’s not downstairs cooking you a nice hot supper. It’s ok to spend time on your own – it might be a bit new for some, and a bit scary at times, but if you’re worried about it, university is literally full of ways to keep you busy, as well as helping you to meet people and make friends.

Join lots of socieites

There’s so much on offer at university, and it’s more readily available to you than it probably ever will be for the rest of your life, so take up lacrosse like you’ve always meant to, or carry on your favourite sport. But don’t worry if you’re not sporty (I can safely say that is not an adjective to describe me) – there are hundreds of non-sport-related activities to get involved in from writing for the student paper (nudge nudge) to decorating cakes (that’s actually a thing!). So if you find yourself spending more time by yourself than you’d like, or struggling to fit in, look for something you can get your teeth into – from politics FEATURES

Incidentally, don’t sleep all the time! Sleep is necessary to make sure you don’t get run-down, but don’t forget how much you’re paying for your degree – it seems a shame to waste it lying in bed and feeling guilty that you’re not at your 9am. Don’t be ashamed if you don’t make it to the gym the day after Freshers’ Week either, but try to keep on top of grown-up things like laundry, washing up and food shopping.

Remember though, it’s ok to allow yourself a bit of time for home comforts, so making the trip home every now and then is nothing to be ashamed of (if nothing else, it saves money on washing!).

is one of the hardest things for new students to get their heads around.

It’s very easy to accidentally spend £30 on a night out, then spend half an hour in Sainsbury’s, working out the volume-toprice ratio on two different brands of cheese. If you set up a student bank account, you can afford to go into your overdraft without interest, but I’m sure students who spent the year living in their overdraft and surviving on one batch of spag bol for a week would tell you that it’s easier to keep an eye on your spending and not go over too often. University offers plenty of support to help keep on top of your finances, but there are also loads of ways to earn money; plenty of businesses want part-time student workers, and the university itself offers a lot of temporary work at really good rates for students, so keep an eye on that if finances are something you’re concerned about.

Don’t panic

if you’re not settling in as quickly as everyone else. It’s not the end of the world if you end up going home a lot, or not going out much, or you just aren’t always totally enjoying every second of Fresherdom. Hopefully this won’t be you, and you’ll have a ridiculously awesome time with the best friends in the world ever and a semi-permanent hangover for a month or two.

But if this isn’t you, and you’ve reached three months in and you’re still a bit lost, like I was, don’t worry about it. Just keep looking for new ways to meet people, find things that interest you, make sure your course is right for you, and enjoy yourself.

Read my online A-Z Guide to First Year series at wessexscene.co.uk, which will tell you in more detail everything you need to know about how to survive as a Southampton student.

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M COMING OUT OF THE FEMINIST CLOSET

aybe you haven’t even told anyone yet. But you know. Deep down, a feminist heart beats. This is not an article to convince you that feminism is necessary. This article is for those who have decided to embrace the radical notion that women are people, and so, I applaud and welcome you, my fellow feminists. Sadly, you will not get such a warm welcome everywhere you go.

In high school, I was the only self-identified feminist among my friends. And they made it clear they wanted nothing to do with it. By not calling themselves feminists I thought my smart, beautiful, funny female friends were telling me that they didn’t think they were equal to men. In reality, these girls didn’t really understand what feminism was. And misconceptions about feminism are rife. Ellen Page said it best when she said “…how could it be any more obvious that we still live in a patriarchal world when feminism is a bad word”.

WHAT AGE WERE YOU WHEN YOU KNEW? WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU TALKED ABOUT IT? WERE YOUR PARENTS SUPPORTIVE? WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST CAME OUT … AS A FEMINIST? ORLA SHEEHAN IMAGES BY JACOB HEPWORTH-WAIN

SO WHAT WILL YOU HEAR UPON COMING OUT OF THE FEMINIST CLOSET? “So, you’re one of those feminazis then?”

Thanks to the infamous American radio personality Rush Limbaugh the term “feminazi” has become a household word, equating working for gender equality with mass genocide. Although feminism is the furthest from a fascist regime there is, as the patriarchy tries to cling to power, the liberation feminism brings is the ultimate enemy.

“You’re just unhappy with your body” When the majority of women do not fit society’s beauty ideals, not least because “white” is one of the key requirements, then society’s ideals are dysfunctional. It is about allowing the majority of people, men included, not to feel ashamed of their bodies. What’s so wrong with that?

“So if you believe in equality, I can hit women then?”

I am slightly alarmed that some men’s first reaction to my belief in equality is a gleeful request for my permission to assault women. I always however point out that assault is illegal, no matter the gender. Feminism, as well as being the movement which continues to champion domestic abuse services and rape crisis services for women, has also opened the dialogue for men who experience domestic abuse and rape.

“Oh I see, you’re gay” Gay, hetero, bi, asexual or anything in between, feminism welcomes you. But this statement is usually used to undermine you. Just like feminism, gay is also seen as a bad word, sometimes literally becoming synonymous with bad.

If you are heterosexual, you may find the automatic response 07

OPINION

to this is to take offence, as I did the first time this was said to me. “I didn’t know you were a lesbian Orla” sniggered a schoolmate. This person obviously meant this as an insult and so I jumped to defend myself against this accusation. I felt the need to reassert my heterosexuality, my privileged voice in the conversation. I was trying to form a bond with my schoolmate. I wanted to be on their side so I rushed to create a sense of otherness between myself and gay people.

Only later did I realise what I had done and I have never been more ashamed. To react like I reacted when I was sixteen is to be completely homophobic and utterly offensive. No matter whether it is meant as an insult or not, being gay is not a bad thing. Nowadays I do not assert my sexuality when this comes up. I’ll tell the person maybe I’m gay, maybe I’m not and really, it makes no difference.

“I believe in equality and all but…”

NO, WAIT, STOP. Do not listen to the rest of this sentence.

Equality has no qualifiers. And whatever comes next will no doubt be wrapped up in some quasi-academic rhetoric trying to seem reasonable.

“HOW COULD IT BE ANY MORE

what you feel is best. Not engaging will likely make any naysayers think you are scared of being beaten by their “flawless logic”. But sometimes you just have to leave them to their little bubble or you will end up exhausted.

Based on what you’ve read so far you would be forgiven for thinking that being a feminist is all doom and gloom, but while some of the responses may be negative, there are many positive ones too. You don’t always know who else around you is also a feminist. I have made new awesome feminist friends as they spoke up to defend me and feminism in a conversation.

And if the negative responses ever get me down, I rally around my local feminist community, the university's feminist society! At weekly femsoc meetings I find solidarity and understanding among an amazing group of people. I enjoy exploring my views, which in turn makes me better prepared for the conversations I have with non-feminists.

And sometimes it’s just nice to kick back and have fun with a group of people who you know also believe wholeheartedly and unequivocally that you are a human being and that you deserve the right to equality.

OBVIOUS THAT WE STILL LIVE IN A PATRIARCHAL WORLD WHEN FEMINISM IS A BAD WORD. Ellen Page HOW TO DEAL

Obviously this is quite a gendered article as I have no experience of what it is like to be man coming out as a feminist.

I would love to hear about the experiences male feminists have. For women, this has been an introduction to the sort of comments you will undoubtedly get at some point after identifying yourself as a feminist, and I guarantee you will think at some point “Is it worth even saying it?” Firstly, yes it’s worth it. We need to own the term and get people talking about feminism. If feminists themselves won’t stand up and say “I’m a feminist”, there’s no hope to convince anyone else.

On the other hand it is not your job to represent feminism 24/7.

If you don’t want to be the token feminist in a conversation, you do not have to engage. If you don’t feel like discussing feminist theory and just want to eat your lunch in peace, I say go for it. I really dislike the terms “good feminist” and “bad feminist”. There is no perfect way to be a feminist. So do OPINION

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A NOTE TO FRESHERS:

GET YOUR ASS ABROAD!

I

joined Southampton as a first year history student with a plan in mind to do a semester abroad in Mexico.

I wanted to do this for two reasons: one because I wanted to go to Mexico (duh!) and study pre-hispanic history, second one being I wanted to consolidate my Spanish.

Going to uni with this mind set made me determined to see it though. The moment a ‘study abroad’ meeting was advertised in the faculty, I was ready. I eventually ended up going to Seville, Spain (another really good place to study prehispanic America) because Mexico posed too many complications, but getting myself there was not an easy or quick process – it took a lot of harassing of faculty members. Because of this, a lot of the people who had initially shown interest in doing time abroad, just couldn’t be bothered or lost interest in pursing it. In my view this was a massive shame.

I had a really great time in Spain as part of the Erasmus uni exchange programme. With the Erasmus programme there are hundreds of opportunities to study in Europe – literally anywhere. On top of that you get a grant (yes that’s free monies), and student finance pay you back for your travel costs, so don’t forget to keep receipts.

I had an amazing 4 months abroad, mostly paid for by my student loan which I received as usual. I ate tapas, drank a lot of red wine, went to Morocco, and travelled a lot round the south of Spain. I managed to save most of my Erasmus grant which I then used to put towards a trip around Mexico (I finally got there!) and Guatemala the following summer.

So that’s the first part: my semester in Spain, but I’ve just come back from a year abroad in China. How did I wrangle that I hear you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. As the keen fresher that I was I wandered along to the ‘Curriculum Innovation Fair’ in

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HELLO FRESHERS, WELCOME TO SOUTHAMPTON! AHEAD OF YOU ARE 3+ YEARS OF FUN TIMES, FRIEND MAKING, LIVER DESTROYING AND DESPERATE SCRAMBLING IN THE HARTLEY LIBRARY. ISABELLA HUNTER-FAJARDO OPINION EDITOR IMAGE BY ELEANOR MAN my first year, I was looking for a module to help keep up my Spanish. As it turns out the language modules offered are for beginners, so I nonchalantly picked up a French and a Chinese leaflet with a vague idea of starting one of them. When module-pickin’ came round, I spontaneously decided to start Chinese. This would become one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I loved learning the language and began wanting to travel to China as a way to improve my language skills.

As usual, I wanted to do it with minimum expenditure to myself. I approached the Confucius Institute at uni (which I only found out existed because I was learning Mandarin) and asked about scholarship opportunities.

I was informed of a yearlong scholarship offered by the Chinese government. I applied, I got the scholarship (it’s really not at prestigious as it sounds, they give out lots of scholarships), suspended my course and booked a one-way ticket to China. The scholarship pays for tuition, accommodation, medical insurance and gave me a monthly stipend.

This has been a life-changing year for me. I have a decent level of mandarin, I’ve travelled extensively around China, I’ve made incredible friends from all over the world, and I’ve been immersed in and forced to adapt to a completely different culture and way of life. It has been an invaluable life experience. I’ve finished my time studying Chinese at Xiamen University, and I’m writing this from Shanghai where I’m undertaking a two-month internship. After this it’s Mongolia for 10 days then finally home. Basically my message is: take advantage of study abroad opportunities, there is more money out there for you than you think, and once you get over the bureaucratic barriers, you’re set for life defining experience.

OPINION

OUR FRIEND CAFFEINE 11

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

W

elcome, new student, to Southampton. Whilst at university you are sure to make many friends and acquaintances, some who will last forever, others who you may only know briefly. But one friend that will see many of you through your whole time here: all the ups and downs, the highs and lows; is caffeine. This drug, unique in its ubiquitousness throughout culture, has been consumed by humans, it is estimated, for roughly 10,000 years in one form or another. But is it really friend or foe?

In its pure form, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine is a bitter white powder. Naturally, it is found in plants such as the cocoa, coffee, kola, guarana (you’ll often see this listed as an ingredient in energy drinks) and tea plants. You might wonder what use a plant might have for evolving an ability to make caffeine, a complex molecule which would require no insignificant amount of energy for the plant to produce. Until recently, this baffled scientists as well.

For one thing, methylxanthines are used as pesticides by humans and plants alike, to paralyze and kill off insects that would eat the leaves. However, some plants, including coffee and certain members of the citrus family, contain caffeine in their nectar as well as their leaves, and it turns out that bees, unlike other insects, are not so susceptible to this poison. In fact, the caffeine dose can actually increase the bee’s memory of a particular plant.

But now to address our own relationship with this drug, which is indeed a rather peculiar one. For instance, many of you will pay 2 to 3 times as much for 12oz of the stuff as you will for an entire litre of petrol or diesel, which does seem ridiculous, but it isn’t without its uses. Increased alertness; task switching (aka multi-tasking – you brain is not actually able to focus on two tasks at once, it just gets better or worse at switching quickly between them); and the ability to pay attention to meaningful sources while ignoring irrelevant ones (known as selective attention), are among brain processes shown to benefit from moderate doses of caffeine. Very useful to the student trying to cram revision for exams, then.

So how does it work? There is a chemical formed naturally in your brain called adenosine which bonds to certain receptors, calming nerve cells and inducing sleepiness. Caffeine, being structurally similar to adenosine, can bind to these receptors, blocking them off from adenosine, but does not induce the same sleep-ready state, and allows stimulants in your brain, such as dopamine and glutamate, to excite neurons as they would naturally do. This is what creates the buzz you feel

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

when you drink your double shot cappuccino or can of energy drink. The caffeine concentration in your blood peaks anywhere between 45 minutes and 2 hours after intake, with a half-life of around 5 hours, meaning that after 5 hours, the concentration is halved.

As well as this, the increased neuron firing induced by the effect of caffeine is picked up on by the pituitary gland, which releases hormones telling the adrenal gland to in turn release adrenaline – your body reacts as if in a fight or flight situation. The consequence of this is that your pupils dilate; the superficial blood vessels (the ones near to the surface) constrict to prevent bleeding excessively from wounds, and increase blood flow to muscles and vital organs; your heart rate and blood pressure rise; and the liver releases sugar into the bloodstream for extra energy.

The extra energy is beneficial in the short term, and caffeine has been shown to increase the effectiveness of aspirin in treating migraines, which could be to do with the blood vessels constricting. However, although these short term benefits exist, prolonging the body’s acute stress responses can lead to chronic stress, long term high blood pressure, and heart problems.

The drawbacks of caffeine consumption are more likely to occur in those with a twenty-cup-a-day habit, so to speak. Our bodies can become used to consuming caffeine, building up a tolerance, and requiring you to take in more caffeine in order to stimulate the brain and fight fatigue. Withdrawal symptoms include anything from a mild headache to migraines and tremors, but far from the severe withdrawal of other drugs, you’ll be fine in a day or two.

Still, with the above health benefits and risks considered, doctors recommend no more than 300mg of caffeine consumption a day, because whilst between 200-300mg can elevate mood, more than 400-500mg can cause irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and more severe health risks. With 150mg in an average cup of coffee, and 80mg in a cup of tea, this means limiting yourself to 2-3 cups a day, which may come as a surprise to more than a few PhD students who have been wondering where they can get their caffeine intravenously.

So, though caffeine may seem to be our friend most of the time, we may want to limit the time and money we spend on it to keep ourselves fit for other social engagements.

JENNIFER ALLERTON SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART

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STUDENT LOANS SYSTEM COULD IMPLODE IN A FINANCIAL “BLACK HOLE” REBECCA LAKE IMAGE BY JESS COX

A

s you bright-eyed, bushy-tailed freshers begin your university adventure, you’re undoubtedly keen and excited for what is to come – interesting lectures, great facilities at the union, being involved in societies, making new friends, socialising and being independent. But there’s one long term effect of coming to university that most students won’t be looking forward to…paying back student loans.

Earlier this summer, it was reported that the student loan system has predicted the cost to the taxpayer inaccurately.

Reports from MPs in the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee (BIS), have called for an urgent review of the student loan system. When fees were increased to £9,000, it was forecast that 28p would be lost for every £1 of student loans. Yet, according to the report, the government loses 45p on every £1 of loans to students.

This could lead to a hypothetical “black hole” in the budget, but a spokesperson from BIS denied this, claiming that its costs are based on long term projections that may fluctuate short term.

The increase in loans to students and rise of tuition fees to £9,000 per year in 2012 means that in 30 years the total debt will be £330billion. One reason why the government has capped fees at £9,000 a year in England is to protect the Treasury; higher fees mean bigger loans hence more losses. Most of this is unlikely to be repaid, as certain financial criteria has to be met once the student leaves university, and is paid back proportionally. At the moment, students are loaned money by

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the Treasury for their fees and living costs. Students do not have to pay their loans back until they are earning £21,000 and these debts are written off after 30 years. A recent study called ‘Payback Time?’ showed that 73% of students will never pay their loan back fully. MPs are also questioning the efficiency of the Student Loans Company’s collection process.

Previously, the government has promised to remove the cap on student numbers and further expand and fund university places, but the problems with the student loan system means that this seems completely impractical. It will cost £5.5billion.

“higher fees mean

bigger loans hence more losses.

At the moment, students are loaned money by the Treasury for their fees and living costs. There had been suggestions that student loans could be privatised to help fund this university expansion. Notably, Business Secretary Vince Cable has blocked the sale. The select committee report recommends caution over selling loans. MPs implied that it may help financially but the business department “has yet to prove” that such a sale represents good value for money, and could lead to greater exploitation of graduates and far fewer students going to university. Although, former Universities Minister David POLITICS

Willetts claimed that the planned increase in student numbers was not dependent on such loan sales. It could lead to higher tuition fee charges, changes in loan terms and the way higher education works. Universities could take on some of the risk that their own students repay less of their student debt than expected. There could be some controversial consequences of this, as the easiest way to cut loan defaults would be to accept fewer women and students from poorer families, since both groups tend to have lower lifetime earnings.

The concern of the Russell Group, an elite group of 24 leading research Universities, which includes the University of Southampton, is that increased student numbers without sufficient funding would mean stretching university budgets too thinly.

Toni Pearce, National Union of Students president, said: “Forcing debt on to students as a way of funding universities is an experiment that has failed not just students, but our country. Politicians need to recognise that we will only achieve a sustainable higher education funding system if we abandon the discredited regime of sky-high fees and debts altogether.”

POLITICS

Shadow Minister for Universities, Science and Skills, Labour’s Liam Byrne, agreed, stating; “Another day, another damning indictment of the government’s failed tuition fee regime.

They’ve burdened young people with a debt they cannot afford, and now the taxpayer is liable for £330billion over the next 30 years. This is unsustainable and the cross-party BIS committee is right to call for an urgent review into the sustainability of the student loan system.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: “The government is committed to ensuring that the taxpayer is receiving value for money and that is why we are continuing to work with the Student Loans Company on improving best practice and have already dramatically tightened the regime for recouping repayments from graduates both domestically and overseas.”

Just something cheery to start you off on your university path!

Whatever happens with your student loan, it is absolutely imperative that you make as much of university as you can.

Three or four years go by surprisingly quickly, and you need to make the most of every second of it! Join some societies, learn something new and enjoy yourself. But still, use your student loans wisely, while you still can!

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GENERAL ELECTION 2015 WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR STUDENTS? BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES POLITICS EDITOR

I

t’s pretty likely that the General Election in nine months will lead to a hung parliament. There’s a lot of student issues still to be tackled, notably tuition fees.

In the coming months manifestos are being drafted, redrafted, and proofread more times than a dissertation. For most of you, it’ll be the first opportunity to vote in a General Election, so use it well.

There’s no doubt tuition fees are now a political issue. Back in 2010, Nick Clegg pledged to get rid of them, and we all know what happened there – perhaps that’s why Old Nick has kept quiet on the fees issue, only pledging to create more apprenticeships.

Yet, Clegg’s biggest problem is not if he’ll remain Deputy Prime Minster – but if he’ll remain an MP at all. Clegg’s constituency of Sheffield Hallam is full of students likely to seek revenge from the tuition fee betrayal by voting Clegg out entirely. With his popularity at an all-time low and student support of Lib Dems at a pathetic 0.6%, this is feasible.

The Tories' term in office has been markedly bad for students.

Accompanying the fee rise has been a drop of 29,000 young people in part-time employment, hence the increasing difficulty for students to find part time work, and it’s getting worse.

According to David Willets, the Former Higher Education Secretary, the Conservative party manifesto is likely to include plans allowing Oxford and Cambridge to raise their fees to £16,000 a year. If this ever happens (let’s hope it doesn’t), it’s probable that the rest of the Russell Group universities, including Southampton, will follow. The plans will detail that the university itself buys the debt, so graduates earning upwards of £21,000 will pay back the university – not the Treasury. It’s not all bad though; the Tories hope to give

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bursaries worth £20,000 for every maths and science grad, with a first, who goes into teaching.

On the opposite side of the fence, the Labour Party want to reduce fees to £4,000- £6,000 a year. Ed Milliband plans to fund this by abolishing a tax break that banks are receiving and giving higher interest rates to graduates earning over £65,000. After lowering tuition fees, the party would move towards introducing a ‘graduate tax’.

John Denham, the former Universities Secretary and Labour MP for Southampton Itchen since 1992, has called revival of employer sponsored degrees (costing the student nothing) and intensive two-year courses to lower University costs.

He has also proposed a flat-rate maintenance loan of £15,000 a year, and tuition fee costs of less than £10,000 for three years, and £5,000 for two years– as they were when Labour left office. Denham is a Southampton Alumnus and a former SUSU President, he plans to retire from Parliament in May. If you live in Southampton, one of your MEPs is Nigel Farage, who has called for a return to the student grant system – in effect, no fees to students. If pigs learn to fly and this ever happens, UKIP will fund this by cutting the number of university places and getting rid of “mickey-mouse” courses. This was perhaps viable 70 years ago, when a smaller percentage of a smaller population were attending university, but it’s dubious today.

At the last General Election, turnout for 18-24 year olds was at 44%, and only 32% of this bracket have said they’re certain to vote in 2015. By April, manifestos will be published and we as students should have a much better idea of where we stand.

Students, who are too often forgotten, can make a substantial difference, so make sure you vote!

POLITICS

10 WAYS STUDENTS CAN TRAVEL FOR FREE

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WORKING ON FARMS (WWOOFING)

There are many programs and independent farmers looking for eager travellers to help on farms all over the world, but by far the most well known is WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). The idea is simple: connect farms looking for cheap help, with travellers looking to learn a little something about organic farming while exploring a new area and meeting new people. It benefits everyone, and means that on top of cheap travel with your room and food provided by the farmer, you also get the opportunity to learn some farming skills!

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YES IT’S TRUE: THE SAYING “THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE” DOES EXTEND TO TRAVELLING. SO FREE YOURSELF OF TRAVEL COMPANIES, HOTEL CHAINS AND TOUR GUIDES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME!

SUMMER CAMPS

Think “Beaver Falls” and “Parent Trap” and you will have the image of cute log cabins surrounding a serene lake with campfire singsong and archery practice. With few qualifications required, great accommodation and food, and paid well enough to go off exploring the rest of the country in your weeks off, this is the ideal option for many. If you are looking for a more rewarding experience than teaching welloff American children a selection of outdoor pursuits, there are charitable camps too. For example there are many camps for the disabled, as well as camps all over Europe, Asia, and Africa too.

ANNA JENKINS TRAVEL EDITOR IMAGES BY SHEINA MACBETH

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AU PAIR

Many websites offer a helpful system of pairing young potential nannies with families abroad, but lots of them require you to have some childcare qualifications. By far the best experiences are had by those who go to a family they are already connected with. Look after the children while the parents are working and then explore the area! Au pairs can often look forward to perks such as their own room or apartment and even their own car. You are also likely to be paid (although not much). However, it can be difficult to get time off to explore the surrounding area.

4 sheina_leigh

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aypoleprojec Maypole #them Working at the r #selfie ee harity #volunt #charityshop #c #maypolechic

5 days ago

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SUMMER SCHOOLS AT FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES

Students wishing to make the most of their summers will be drawn to this option. Summer study abroad programmes offer a balance between travelling to somewhere new and continuing your commitment to your university experience. You can take courses in many things, but many students choose to take a language course, or a course that the university is specifically known for. Scholarships are available for travelling and living

TRAVEL

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ENTER COMPETITIONS

However unlikely it is that you’ll win the luxury yachting trip to Bali or the month long jungle expedition through the Amazon, it only takes two minutes to apply and you have nothing to lose! Look out for travel photography or blog competitions that are usually run by big newspapers, camera companies or travel guides, which will have less applicants.

expenses as well as the university fees. You can always go and visit the friends you will make here the summer after as well!

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VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering abroad is a great way to mix travelling with doing something for the community. It also means that you have the opportunity to really get involved in the local community, which can be difficult as a tourist. There are volunteering placements covering everything: working in hospitals, schools and social centres, and animal and environmental conservation are just a few options. Choose a project which really interests you in order to make the most of your experience.

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CREW A YACHT

Whether you are an able seaman or have never been on a boat in your life, crewing a yacht is one of the most rewarding travelling experiences. Jobs range from deckhand, cook and hostess, to officer, first mate and captain. The intense work load during passage is paid off whilst docked in exciting places around the world. Being on a boat also enables you to explore areas of the world inaccessible to the traditional tourist.

Hidden beaches and coves can become highlights of the trip.

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HOUSE SIT

Websites such as HouseCarers and MindMyHouse allow people with second homes an opportunity to advertise for a house sitter. The deal is that you can stay in say a villa in the south of France and in turn you water the plants, sort the post and feed the cat. Usually no money changes hands, but sometimes the housesitter can expect a little pay depending on the amount of chores they are expected to do. This is a great and easy way to get a free holiday, although it does limit your opportunity for travel.

10 USE YOUR CONNECTIONS If university is about anything, it’s meeting new people from walks of life you have never experienced. Whether it’s your flatmate from Florence or course friend from Cardiff, get out there and benefit from free floor space and local expertise!

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HITCHHIKING

So leave your iPads, Netflix account and comfy sofa at home next summer, pack trust, optimism and freedom into an old backpack and explore the world!

This kind of travelling is not possible everywhere in the world, and where it is it should be done with precaution, following certain safety rules. Never travel alone or at night, and follow your gut instinct – if you get a bad feeling about someone, don’t get in their car! When done right, this can be an excellent method of travelling. It allows you to benefit from local knowledge and get lifts to places where buses and trains wouldn’t normally stop.

TRAVEL

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TRANSITIONAL STYLE STAPLES It’s a tricky time of year for High Street fashion. While the last of the sale rails are lingering, stores are filled with enticing new season products. Although it can be tempting to splash your cash on some new garments as soon as you spot them, you can stretch out your budget a little further with a set of basic items that you can simply chuck on before a 9am lecture! Here’s how.

LAURA COX LIFESTYLE EDITOR

1 2 3

Knitwear

It’s not the time to invest in (pricey!) chunky knits just yet. In the late summer/early autumn light knitwear should be enough to keep you cosy.

Pick versatile block colours, such as pastels, which will see you through the winter season and still be useful when spring rolls back around.

Boucle jumper, River Island, £25

Ankle Boots

A pair of black ankle boots is a must! Team them with dresses now and add thick tights as the weather cools. They also look great with skinny jeans and a lumberjack shirt for a more relaxed look. Pick a classic style, such as this Chelsea boot, to ensure that your boots will still look chic next season.

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Large enough to fit all your notes, a satchel bag is perfect for taking with you to lectures. Check charity shops for an authentic vintage version (if you are lucky!) or scout the High Street for modern day updates like this Accessorize bag.

Kingston Satchel, Accessorize, £32

The Statement Necklace

Boots, New Look, £25

Whilst a statement necklace might not seem like an essential item, it is surprisingly versatile!

This accessory brightens up even the most plain of outfits and can be used as a means of taking your outfits from day wear to evening wear.

Necklace, Topshop, £20

Don’t forget to take your new student ID with you when you hit the shops for discounts in many High Street retailers!

Distressed look boyfriend jeans

Wear them with cropped lace tees in the summer and add chunky knitwear in winter. They’ll look great with a black leather jacket and a lacy blouse for the perfect mix of girly and masculine style when the autumn weather arrives.

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The Satchel Bag

Topshop Reclaim to Wear Mom Jeans, £42 LIFESTYLE

WELL, THAT’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT! Before even thinking about UCAS, university courses and where in the world I wanted to study, I was already excited to go to uni - but not for the usual reasons...

LAURA ASH IMAGES BY CHARLOTTE SCARROW In fact, I couldn’t wait to finish studying. I didn’t want to move away from home and, as an unsociable girl who would do anything to get out of seeing people outside of school hours, I wasn’t going to be dreaming about all the strangers I would hang around with for hours on end at uni. What I was excited for… was the food!

The start of university became a food revolution! I ate like there was no tomorrow, at every opportunity, cramming my bag with sandwiches in case I got hungry. My portion sizes were huge so I would eat for 2 on a daily basis with cookies, flapjacks and jam doughnuts as snacks in between.

Nights out consisted of more alcohol than was healthy and was washed down with cookies and crisps when I got home (and I thought I was being good because I’d passed up ‘ChickO-Land’!)

I’d thought I was invincible and didn’t notice the weight that I was putting on. I remember thinking that I was lucky and, later, that I was bulking out in proportion and I could continue eating and drinking as I did.

It took me until the Easter holidays and a step on the scales at home, to realise that I’d gained a stone! I couldn’t believe it!

So, in light of my own experiences, I’m here to offer my top tips on beating what has been deemed the ‘Freshman 15′.

Why do most students put on 15 lb in their first year of university?

According to an article published in The Mirror, contributing factors include: depending on processed foods, take-aways and resistance against fruit and vegetables.

LIFESTYLE

Add these to late-night eating habits and socials at Sprinkles and you’ve got yourself a recipe for an unhealthy lifestyle.

What can you do?

Thankfully, there are ways to prevent poor eating habits and maintain good health throughout your first year! But it’s never too late to make healthy changes.

1) Go fresh! Living healthily on a budget is difficult. But

there are a few things you should know before your first shop.

Certain fruits come with a neat price tag. (Asda does bananas for 67p/kg which is enough for 1 a day for the week.) But shopping at markets will cut the price considerably more than those you’ll find in the supermarket. The university holds a veg market on campus every monday.

2) Make it easy! No one wants to stand in the kitchen peeling carrots, chopping beans and boiling broccoli for ages after a hectic day at uni, so make it easy! Many supermarkets stock pre-cut vegetables in their fresh aisles that can be cooked whilst you load up your laptop or have a chat. Alternatively, buy frozen vegetables that cook even quicker.

3) Avoid keeping snacks in your room! Seeing food in

your room will only encourage you to eat, even when you’re not hungry. Keep healthy snacks close by and store crisps further away. When a craving calls, we reach for the nearest food. If your unhealthy nibbles are further away, it’s less likely that you’ll be eating them when you’re hungry.

These are just a few tips to keep you going but the most important thing that you can do at uni is find your balance.

Settle in, establish a good group of friends, find time to meet your study requirements and take care of yourself!

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GET YOUR NEW ROOM READY FOR THE NEW TERM MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME IN YOUR NEW ROOM IN HALLS LORNA JOHNSON IMAGES BY ALEXANDER MAVRONICHOLAS

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oving in to your new halls is intimidating – there’s no doubt about that, but it is also one of the highlights of your time as a fresher. You’ll be meeting the people you’ll be living with for the next academic year and finally seeing your new room. But if the ‘jazzy’ curtains and carpet leave you feeling somewhat disappointed, then never fear! We have the top tips to make the best of what you have been given, from ideas to get your creative juices flowing, to clever ways to just conceal what you don’t like!

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Bedding

While it is a great idea to pick up some IKEA bargains (and highly recommended given the handy store just a bus ride away from campus), one thing worth making a small investment in is your bedding. A mattress topper is pretty essential, given that a night on those beds could leave you feeling like one of the Flintstones. With the rest of your bedding, choose sheets with a high cotton thread count; it’s the best material and super easy to wash! Your bed is also the focal point of any room, so pick a colour or theme and incorporate this, with pillows, throws, quilts or a patterned cover. It adds personality and ties in with the room if you have this theme dotted about elsewhere with lamps, photo frames and other accessories.

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Photos

Photos and posters are an easy way of instantly brightening your room and making it your own. The walls may look startlingly bare when you first arrive, so make sure you have some prints to put up as soon as you’ve finished unpacking! The familiar faces of your family and friends will be a big comfort in those first few days. A few nice photo frames could start eating into your budget, so go for 21

a cheaper, colourful option – use Washi tape! It’s a type of masking tape that can be removed from walls easily without leaving marks, and so is perfect for rented accommodation.

Available on Amazon or Ebay, this comes in a range of colours and patterns so just simply frame this around pictures or prints to liven up those plain walls.

Command hooks are also really useful. Again, developed for rentals, these will leave no damage on your walls and can be used for extra storage and decoration. There are hugely versatile and there are plenty of great ideas for these online.

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Hide it

Living in halls, you will find that people will constantly be popping round for a visit (at all hours), so it’s probably not the best idea to have your dirty laundry or old underwear lying about to greet them! Grabbing yourself a super handy laundry bag from IKEA, the 'skubb' laundry bag is perfect. It hides your clothes with a cover as a lid and the frame fits perfectly under your desk out of the way. ideal for storing up your bundle until your next big wash.

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Concealing the carpet

While the carpets in halls accommodation are practical, they often aren’t very pretty! If there are mystery stains or you’re just not keen on the print, grab yourself a rug.

It will cheer up the room and be cosy for you to step on to when you wake up for lectures on cold autumn mornings!

If you have any serious issues with your room, contact your halls reception. Most problems are fixed within only a day or two of the issue being reported.

LIFESTYLE

How to have a healthy Freshers’ year AFTER MONTHS OF REVISION, AND (POSSIBLY) HOURS OF NERVOUSLY CHECKING UCAS TRACK, YOU HAVE STARTED YOUR ADVENTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON. WELL DONE! LAURA COX LIFESTYLE EDITOR IMAGES BY LUKE CHAMPION

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ach year, thousands of nervous students flock to universities across the country for Freshers’ Week and, unfortunately, it’s not long before the majority of them have been struck down by the notorious ‘Freshers' Flu’.

This ‘illness’ isn’t merely a state of mind; it can be really quite nasty and manifests its presence with a cacophony of coughs and sneezes in those first few lectures. If it’s the first time you’ve ‘properly’ been away from home and living by yourself, being ill is the last thing you’ll want to worry about! However, it’s not all bad news – you can have a healthy Freshers’ Week (and year!). Here are some tips to make the next few weeks run a little more smoothly.

Exercise

It is tempting to use Freshers' Week as an excuse to laze around…a lot!

Lectures haven’t started yet and there can be a lot of nights out and heavy drinking involved. However, a cycle of partying all night and lounging all day will leave you feeling sluggish when it is LIFESTYLE

time to focus and begin studying. Now is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. At the Bunfight, you can find out about the many different societies and sports available at the University.

If you’re an aerobics fan, make sure you check out the Zumba and Bokwa classes available for very reasonable prices.

And, finally, though it is tempting to make the most of your brand new free bus pass, take a walk around the city and really get to know your new home. Visit the Common in the daytime for a walk around the pond or, if you’re interested in the heritage of the city, walk around and explore its Roman walls.

Sleep!

After plenty of nights out, your body needs to rest and repair itself. Once the parties of Freshers' Week have died down, make sure you commit to getting your 8 hours each night. When you turn up for 9am lectures feeling fresh and ready for the day ahead, your body will thank you for turning in early! It’s equally important to get the balance right; if you sleep for too long, you will

feel sluggish! It’s natural that it may take some time for you to adjust your sleeping patterns to your new lifestyle, but be confident that you will settle down soon.

It’s not all about alcohol Freshers’ Week is famed for being a blur of continuous club nights and constant drinking of alcohol. But this isn’t necessarily true. SUSU provides many activities which don’t involve drinking and going to clubs, such as trips to attractions in the local area, pub quizzes and curry nights. Give yourself a break and a chance to recuperate from a series of hectic nights; suggest a relaxing movie night with your new flatmates.

The next few weeks are some that you are sure to remember forever! Taking care of yourself properly in these early stages (and throughout the year!) is crucial in making the transition from home to university much more smooth and stress-free.

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Erasmus Park Joy A piece of poetry reflecting life in Erasmus Park Halls of Residence.

KALISTO BANCROFT WINCHESTER EDITOR IMAGE BY CHARLOTTE SCARROW

OH! The Joys of Erasmus Park, becoming independent, living the student life, in a three-storey house full of wannabe artists and fashion designers, ten to be precise!

All those steep stairs to climb, after a demanding day, to be welcomed into your private room, that’s not so ‘private’ as most would prefer, as the walls are paper-thin, oh joy!

Everything can be heard!

OH! The joys of Erasmus Park, coming to the kitchen to cook, and socialise with quirky housemates, only to come across an utter pile of dirty dishes, accompanied by tons of flies and mould.

But we can handle that, with regular parties in the kitchen, who cares that it’s a mess! ‘cause the cleaners will ‘sort’ it out, oh yes…., but the dishes are reserved for us, which is fair enough.

OH! The joys of Erasmus Park, living within earshot of a 24/7 supermarket, when you’re craving a microwave curry, in the early hours of night, but hey, Domino's on speed dial is pretty good right?!

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WINCHESTER

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SOUTHAMPTON SURVIVIAL TIPS

ARE YOU MOVING TO THE UK TO STUDY? AS A FORMER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FROM GERMANY, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON. LISA KLEIN IMAGES BY JESS COX

1 LIVE IN PORTSWOOD

5 CYCLE!

All the fun happens in Portswood. I once saw some freshers taping a semi-naked guy to a lamppost. But seriously, you will be close to everything you will ever need as a student: the university campuses, Sainsbury’s, Roosters' chicken and Jesters Nightclub. Oh boy.

Southampton is a very bicycle-friendly city with many cycle paths outside and around the university. Just make sure you wear a helmet. And even a bright yellow vest, if you are fashionable. The British love their helmets and their bright yellow vests. Safety first!

Even if this means you have to buy a ridiculous white shirt, it is the best way to connect with people who are in the same boat as you. After attending a few events, you will have made many friends from all over the world. I guarantee it.

Doing this will save you a fortune by the end of your time at Southampton. (Or perhaps just a fortune of time, if you are struggling with the funny looking coins that the British call money.) Tip: an empty beer can will hold up to 50 pounds in change.

2 ATTEND AS MANY ERASMUS OR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AS YOU CAN

3 DON’T TAKE YOUR COAT TO A NIGHTCLUB!

3. For goodness sake, don’t take your coat to a nightclub.

Everyone will know that you are not British, but instead – in my case – that European from “the continent”, whatever that means. You may smile when I tell you that bars and clubs usually close at one am and not five or six am, but be warned: the amount of alcohol you’ll consume on a Monday night at Jesters will last longer than one night.

4 BRING FANCY DRESS!

British students love to dress up for every occasion (and sometimes even without any occasion at all.)

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6 BUY YOURSELF A PIGGY BANK

7 SPEAK TO EVERYONE!

When you're new at university it can seem scary talking to new people. Just remember, everyone's in the same boat.

You might even find your lifelong best friend in the queue for registration!

8 SURVIVE FRESHERS’ FLU

Keep calm and drink a cup of tea, buy some multi-vitamins, smile and get on with it. Everyone has it at the beginning of Semester 1 and 2.

9 JOIN ONE, TWO...NO THREE SOCIETIES

Do what you love to do, whether this is sport, theatre, media or cake decorating, or find out what you are good at. This is INTERNATIONAL

the perfect way to make new friends and take a break from studying.

But the most important tip:

10 TRAVEL

Southampton may not be the prettiest city in the world, but it is within reach of beautiful places such as the New Forest, the Isle of Wight, Brighton, Winchester, London. Within the city, however, be sure to make the most of your unilink bus pass.

It will take a while getting used to living abroad. If, like me, you are used to 20 contact hours or more a week, you may be overwhelmed by all of the free time. Use this time wisely by, of course, using Hartley Library’s resources and studying hard, but also going out and enjoying yourself!

And with that I will leave you. I hope you enjoy your stay in Southampton as much as I have!

Dear International Student...

ANJIT AULAKH VP STUDENT COMMUNITIES

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eflecting on my university experience so far as an international student, the first thing that comes to my mind is the student discount that McDonalds provides. Whenever you buy a medium or a large meal, you will be rewarded with a free cheeseburger or an ice cream. I am not kidding.

Seriously though, my initial months in Southampton were absolutely amazing. My only regret is that, back then, I didn’t have the knowledge that I have now, so I will try to impart as much of my wisdom as I possibly can.

The academic year kicks off with Freshers’ Week on campus.

I was equally anxious and excited; would people like me?

Would I fit in? Luckily, I soon realised that getting involved in various events and societies was the best way to overcome these doubts.

There are no lectures in this first week and the students’ union organises many awesome activities for you. Whether this is a karaoke night, a barbeque or even a day trip, I strongly encourage you to participate in as much as you possibly can – they don’t all cost money or involve getting drunk! Don’t be too shy to talk to people. I personally recommend that you budget for fancy dress costumes, because the British love to dress up and enjoy themselves!

I often get asked whether I experienced a ‘culture shock’ when I first came to the UK. Although I had visited England before and I have relatives living here, the transition from home wasn’t as smooth as I had expected it to be. But don’t worry, even if you miss your family and are homesick or struggling to adjust to the wet weather, currency, and food, you will soon get used to all of these things. Just make sure that you buy a raincoat!

INTERNATIONAL

With regards to your studies, you may not have realised that your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree grade. What this means isn’t that you will be able to get away with doing nothing during your first year; rather that it will make sure your transitioning does not get in the way of your assignments. Of course work hard, but it is also important that you familiarise yourself with your new surroundings and learn to adapt to your new lifestyle. Travel, make new friends and do things you have never done before!

I have so much more to share with you all, but I sadly have a word limit. I will, however, leave you with my final top tip: there’s never, ever, ever a stupid question. Whenever you are in doubt or don’t understand something, just ask. Never keep anything bottled up, or you will find yourself in a similar situation to me in my first year, when I didn’t realise that you have to press the red ‘stop’ button to get off the bus. Just ask, and don’t stay on the bus for a second lap of the city until a kind stranger does it for you.

In my experience, everyone at the University of Southampton is absolutely lovely and will be more than willing to help you out. Aside from all of the chaos of settling in and the craziness that is Freshers’ Week, remember that you will be offered tons of support from both the university and the students’ union, and that the student services such as the Advice Centre, Nightline and the SUSU safety bus exist to make sure that you are a-okay.

Have a great year!

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TRY SOMETHING NEW THIS FRESHERS’ WILL SCOTT TELLS YOU WHY YOU SHOULD TRY SOMETHING NEW WITH THE WIDE VARIETY OF SPORT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON HAS TO OFFER.

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IMAGE BY JESS COX

verybody says that coming to university is a time for new experiences. Sport is the perfect way to let off steam and release the stress that builds while studying. Although many freshers will look to join sports clubs which they’re already familiar with, trying a new sport can be more challenging. Even if your confidence is lacking, or it’s a less common sport, you can often find that you’re alongside a lot of other new

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people, effectively levelling the playing field. So here’s a few sports you should certainly try:

American Football

The Southampton Stags are four times national champions, and certainly one of the more successful clubs within the AU. American Football is without a doubt one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, showcased by the NFL hosting two sell-out games at Wembley last year, and increasing that to three this year. It really is the sport for all shapes and sizes, with professionals ranging in size across the positions. The Stags train at Wide Lane three times a week, and have coaches that have previously been heavily involved with the Great Britain national team.

Korfball

The Spartans currently run 3 teams at the university, two of which play competitively while the other is purely recreational, so there are opportunities for all abilities. Korfball is possibly the only truly mixed-gender team sport in the world, with women and men playing together on the same team.

The principles are similar to those of netball, handball and basketball, but the unique defending and mixed sex rules make for a much more varied game at a much faster pace. The rules also offer a balancing of size, as players are only

allowed to be marked by opposition of the same sex.

Quidditch

Probably not one that you knew existed! Whilst not exactly the same game as played by the wizards, the muggle equivalent draws almost every aspect from it’s magical partner. Played with all of the same three balls (quaffle, bludger and snitch), the same positions (yes, there is a seeker!) and scored just like the Potter equivalent, quidditch is forever growing. If you don’t want to play in a team, why not be the snitch, and get chased by both teams’ seekers?

With the only difference being the lack of floating broomsticks, this means that there is a surprisingly tough physical aspect as you charge around the pitch!

These are just three of a huge wealth of sports that the University of Southampton has to offer, so there's be something for everyone! Whatever you choose to take up here; whether it be something whacky like Quidditch or something more conventional such as Football. I'm sure your sporting experience here at Southampton will be an amazing one, so take every opportunity that you can and more importantly enjoy it while it lasts!

SPORT

HALLS AND SOCIETY SPORT

A

fter getting to know my flat mates, settling in and drinking an unhealthy amount of alcohol, myself and many others wandered off to the Southampton University football team trials. My disappointment about not making the cut (actually a huge mistake on the selectors’ part) soon vanished when I joined my eleven a-side halls team, the mighty Chamberlain F.C. As someone who takes football quite seriously, I was a little anxious that it might not live up to what I wanted to get out of university from a sporting perspective. The particular setup of my side included a "legends" XI and a "freshers" XI. Playing in a competitive league with mainly decent players, and a few infamous grudge matches with the Greek society later, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have changed anything about the way things turned out.

From personal experience the camaraderie amongst the whole group of lads who belonged to Chamberlain was exceptional, and I’m sure the same could be said of many of the halls and societies who make up the Wednesday and Sunday leagues. Attending socials (sometimes weekly, occasionally twice a month) early on and throughout your first year at Southampton is a brilliant way of integrating yourself into uni life and making new friends. There is usually a trial or two within your first couple of weeks, with information through facebook and posters around your accommodation. Don’t be afraid to wander down with or without anybody to begin with, you will find people doing exactly the same as you!

DON’T WORRY! IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD IF YOU DON’T MAKE THE MAIN UNIVERSITY TEAMS .

ROSS WILSON SPORT EDITOR spring jaunt to Porec in Croatia. Twenty Four hours on a coach wasn’t always pleasant but the ‘tournament’ and festival atmosphere of our location made for an unforgettable week.

The togetherness of the group I travelled with is what you are likely to enjoy, especially if you land yourself in Chamberlain Halls or Hartley Grove!

First year should be about setting yourself up with a variety of things to do, belonging to clubs and societies that you are likely to continue with throughout your time in Southampton.

Everyone makes mistakes though, pottery society isn’t necessarily for everyone. Though you will hear the classic ‘try anything and everything’ line, sometimes it’s worth not paying too much attention to it. There will be things that you won’t enjoy and though it’s nice to try something new and enjoy something you didn’t think you would, I'd recommend joining a sport you know you'll like.

If you are a serious sportsperson and gym fanatic then you won’t be disappointed by the university’s array of facilities.

Jubilee Sports Centre which is on Highfield Campus has a 25 metre swimming pool, a large sports hall for basketball/ badminton/5-a side football etc. and a top quality fitness suite.

Furthermore there are also facilities at Wide Lane and Glen Eyre.

With that out the way, all that’s left to do is wish you the best of luck for first year and that you’re stay in Southampton is as brilliant as you’d hoped!

The highlight of my first year playing for halls has to be our SPORT

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A guide to sport at the University of Southampton for freshers JACK PETHICK SPORT EDITOR

A guide to the University of Southampton’s Sport facilities and some handy tips you might not know.

W

ith over 80 sports clubs here at the University of Southampton you really are spoilt for choice. The bunfight (Wednesday 24th September), is an excellent chance to find out more about the wealth of sports clubs available to you here at Southampton, whether you are thinking of going down the conventional route of something like football or rugby, or want to see how you can get involved in something new and crazy lik Capoeira, Quidditch or Ultimate Frisbee! The big sporting events of the year, as I’m sure many of you have heard already, include the Varsity Cup with Portsmouth University, and the AU ball towards the end of the year, so there is plenty to get excited about. For now though, as you settle down in to University life here is a brief guide to help you get started and get involved.

How to get to the Facilities

(For the purpose of this the reference point is the Highfield Interchange.)

Riverside Park

This will be used mostly by intramural sports teams (mostly football). Take the U1A bus to Montefiore Halls and then walk back in the direction you came from. Go round the bend to the left and go over the narrow bridge. The park is on your right once you are over it.

If you’re in Monte it’s easy!

Wide Lane

Once again, take the U1A bus and go all the way to the stop just by the Airport Parkway train station.

Cross over the railway line on the steps, and then cross over the traffic lights just outside the station and the sports facilities are on your right through the hedge.

WaterSports

The University Watersports Centre is situated close to the Wessex Lane Halls of Residence (near Riverside Park, so take the U1A again) and gives direct access onto the River Itchen.

The Watersports Centre is also home to the Rifle/Archery Range which is well used by university clubs.

Little things you might not know HIDDEN GYMS Raining? Can’t be bothered to go all the

way to Campus to work out (which is ironic in itself!)? Then not to worry, there are gym facilities in Glen Eyre and Monte Halls

HIDDEN TENNIS COURTS

There are a few tennis courts behind Avenue Campus, perfect for a game straight after a lecture!

Equipment for hire

You can hire equipment from Jubilee and Wide Lane, there is even a electric pump you can use to top up your footballs etc.

fitness classes

If you’re a big fan of Zumba, Spinning Classes or any other fitness class, then make sure to get your Member code from the reception at Jubilee so you can sign up for free classes online!

watersports courses

The Watersports Centre offers a wide range of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Canoe Union (BCU) approved Watersports courses.

If you have tried a new sports club and decided that its not for you, but want to give something else a go, then head to www.susu.org/something-for-everyone/sport, where you can find a list of every sport society. You’ll find all the contact information you need to join: it’s never too late!

So there you have it. A short and sweet guide to help settle you in to sporting life here at Southampton. Take every opportunity you can, get involved and enjoy.

As Southampton is a coastal town, there are inevitably plenty of facilities for watersports and sailing.

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