Freshers – Page 2 of 3

23Sep

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Sports & Socs

Why join a society?

Royal Holloway has dozens of societies, ranging from the usual, such as History, to the not so usual, Humans vs. Zombies, and now is the perfect time to join up! If you’re struggling to decide whether or not to join a society, we've come up with 5 reasons why it would be a fabulous idea. 1. A CHANCE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW Have you always wanted to complete a D of E Expedition? Do you sing Carmen in the shower? Joining a society is a fantastic opportunity to try something entirely new that you may not have had the chance to do before. Royal Holloway boasts over 80 societies with everything from Computing to Tolkien, so there is something for everyone to try. 2. MEET NEW PEOPLE Coming to university can be daunting and it can be difficult to make new friends. Outside your flat and you...

3 Questions RHUL students get asked – and how to answer them

23Sep

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Opinion

3 Questions RHUL students get asked – and how to answer them

You start university and suddenly you’re facing 20 questions from friends and family. As a smaller university Royal Holloway is not universally known so here are a few answers to some FAQs. 1. How’s life in London? Maybe it’s because of Holloway Prison or being part of the University of London, but almost everyone I talk to assumes I’m living in London. Take a deep breath to answer this and explain how you actually live 40 minutes away by train, and no, you’re nowhere near Holloway prison. Be prepared to say this again and again (sometimes with the same person!) 2. That’s a good insurance choice... This is a less common comment but people sometimes assume, because we are not Russell Group and have slightly lower entry requirements, higher achievers must have just settled for a place he...

22Sep

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Opinion

How Not To Do Freshers Week

This is not an article that will detail that fine delicate balance between the cliché extremes of ‘working hard and having fun’, for several reasons. Those sorts of articles are patronising, unenlightening, and generally written by people who frankly know how to do neither. Instead, I will impart a few quick recommendations regarding what not to do during the VK sponsored inauguration ritual that is Fresher’s week. Do not, under any circumstances, even consider the remote possibility of spending a single night inside your room. For this week, there are no ‘early nights’. You have just arrived, all you have are blank A4 sheets and an empty timetable. You have nothing to be early for. Do not call your friends out the back of Medicine or the SU (these places will become familiar to you) on...

22Sep

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News

SU in Campus Shop Takeover

‘The Store on Campus’ will now be under-management of The Student’s Union, with the relaunch of the new shop having taken place on 16th of September. Changing the way the shop is managed will allow the Students’ Union to present a multitude of new benefits to students, while maintaining the same level of service that has always existed. CO-President of Education and Campaigns Nayab Cheema, recently said in her official statement to the students union website www.su.rhul.ac.uk, said: “We’re really excited by this new development and what it means for our members. “Our focus is on offering students great value while putting money back in their pockets. This means we’re getting rid of card charges and minimum spends so you’re free to pay for your shopping however you want. Additionall...

2Nov

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Opinion

We can’t stop at LSE

By now I’m sure you’re familiar with the goings on at LSE. The (former) Rugby club distributed sexist and homophobic leaflets to Freshers all across their university, which resulted in many students calling them out, with the internet backing up those who did, and their club being disbanded for the year. This is an unfortunately perfect example of how harmful lad culture can be at university. But it doesn’t stand alone, and shouldn’t be treated as though it does. We’ve got one university to take action against the promotion of this lifestyle; what about the rest? Take Nottingham University, for example. Only now are we beginning to hear about the chant from Nottingham university’s fresher’s week, despite it being over a month ago. The words to this were incredibly misogynistic and rude,...

28Sep

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Sports & Socs

Basketball Bears

There's a lull of safety to the familiar phrases of parents, teachers, siblings and friends: "your first year will be the best year", "you're going to meet so many different people", "you're going to make friends and memories that will last your lifetime". They seem so certain. After my first year, it is my belief that it is exactly what you make it. Freshers is the only year at University that has as much free time as it does - it is a year designed to allow for the shift, growth and life changing that is moving away from home and starting in a brand new place. My advice, is to do as much as you can. RHUL bears basketball is one of those experiences. Unlike several of the sports teams on campus the basketball squad is composed of only two teams- RHUL Men's Basketball, and RHUL Women...

28Sep

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Sports & Socs

An Introduction to Femsoc

Interested in feminism? Or simply finding out more about what exactly that means? The definition of feminism is ‘advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality’; we aim to work towards equality of the genders. As one of the first UK universities to accept women, Royal Holloway has a rich feminist history which we try to keep alive through our society. We meet weekly for friendly discussion with likeminded people, usually followed by a social. In the second week of term we will be holding an open session to give a feeling for the society before you pay membership, so don’t believe the ‘man-hating’ stereotype, come and meet us for yourself! We invite in a variety of speakers and hold charity and campaign events as well as a great mixture of soc...

Check out Royal Holloway’s Cricket Club! OPEN TO ALL

28Sep

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Sports & Socs

Check out Royal Holloway’s Cricket Club! OPEN TO ALL

Whether you’re already a skilled player or haven’t yet picked up a cricket bat, cricket has something for everyone! There are many reasons why you should pursue this brilliant sport. This sport not only improves your overall health and fitness but also develops your rhythm and coordination skills. There is a strong team spirit both in training sessions and on the pitch.. If you have previously played hockey, golf, tennis or another racquet sport you would be well suited to giving cricket a try! Alternatively if you simply thrive off competition and get a thrill from winning then you should pick up this sport now! Cricket is all about socialising with your teammates and enjoying yourself both on and off the pitch. There is nothing more thrilling than a game which is taken to the last ...

28Sep

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Sports & Socs

Latin American Society

Bienvenidos a La Society! The Latin American Society invites you to join us at our events and fiestas, transporting you from Egham to the Caribbean. We have planned so much to make this year the most amazing and enjoyable year at RHUL. From our Tequila Fest to the celebration of Carnaval du Brasil, we have exciting events for everyone. For those ready to impress with their hot Latin moves we have Salsa classes. For those interested in perfecting their Spanish, we offer Spanish lessons, ranging from beginner to advance with particular emphasis on the diverse and rich Latin American dialect; introducing them through dynamic and participative classes. Us Latin lovers want to create an idyllic, enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome. Our socials will often be s...

28Sep

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Sports & Socs

NASA say ‘BOUNCE’

Do you fancy increasing your fitness, having a blast and learning something new? How about hurtling yourself into the air and plummeting back down to land on your front, back and, occasionally, your feet? If so, trampolining is the perfect sport for you! NASA has even approved the sport with a study revealing that trampolining is 68% more efficient than running. Nearly all muscle groups are engaged, yet bouncing places less strain on your joints. If NASA says so it must be true! Trampolining is a competitive gymnastic sport that involves performing acrobatic moves between bounces. RHUL Trampolining welcomes members from all ability levels. If you’re a complete novice our fully qualified coach will build your confidence on a trampoline before progressing to more complicated skills. For m...