FRESHERS’ WEEK 2012 10-14th September
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
10-14 September
wELCOME TO
FRESHERS’ WEEK 2012 Welcome to Freshers’ Week 2012! This booklet is designed to give you a taste of what to expect when coming to Glasgow University in September 2012 and the ten-day campus carnival which is Freshers’ Week! Freshers’ Week is a cross-campus festival to propel you into University life in higher education in style, with over one hundred events in over twenty different locations spread across one incredible week. It’s a chance to meet new people, make new friends and create memories you’ll never forget. You’ll meet people you’ll party until dawn with; people you’ll phone up for advice when things are getting stressful and some people you’ll spend a mad night out with, and never see again. Freshers’ Week is only a week, but memories of your Freshers’ Week will last your whole life. There is no better way to get to know the University of Glasgow than being part of Freshers’ Week. Your Freshers’ Week experience will let you get the inside track on how to make the most of your time at University by taking you to every corner of campus, and giving you the chance to sample a bit of everything it has to offer. It’s run by the four student organisations of the University of Glasgow, more about whom you’ll find in the following pages, and it’s safe to say that a huge amount of effort from a lot of current students will be going in to ensuring you have an amazing week. Plans are already well underway by the time you read this, as the headline acts get booked, the venues spruced up and the teams of helpers assembled. All in, there are over 600 people working or volunteering to make Freshers’ Week 2012 the best week of your life, and that doesn’t even include University staff. Freshers’ Week events run from 10am until 2am the following day almost every day of the week. You can spend your day chilling in one of the union bars, take a leisurely tour round campus, do an afternoon pub quiz during the day, grab some dinner and then back out for live music and big name DJs in the evenings.
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Previous years’ Freshers’ Weeks at the University of Glasgow have featured Pendulum, Biffy Clyro, Dizzee Rascal, Kissy Sellout, Judge Jules and even S Club 7 (though it were only two of them). There’s something for everyone in the night time lineups in Freshers’ Week in one of the two on-campus nightclub and gig venues. It’s not all about going mad every night and comparing who’s got the best stories from the night before every morning, there’s plenty more bang for your buck in the form of daytime events to introduce you to Glasgow and your new fellow academics. Last year saw a bus tour of the city’s best hidden treasures, introductions to student media and volunteering, and a West End-wide treasure hunt. One of the undoubted highlights of the daytime lineup is the two-day Freshers’ Fair where you’ll have a chance to sign up to the hundred-or-so clubs and societies of Glasgow Uni, and blag some free stuff too. You’ll also have the chance to partake in a range of fitness and sport based taster session with everything from kendo to kettlebells, boxfit to zumba and loads more available to sample courtesy of the sports association. And as part of the deal, there’s free shuttle-bus services running throughout the mornings, evenings and night times to ensure you can cut about between events sharpish, and not have to worry about dishing out for taxis all week. Bangin’. All of this and much, much more awaits you in Freshers’ Week 2012! All you need to do is register for your pass, find £40 to pay for it and you’ll be guaranteed entry to every single event of the week. Turn the page to find out more.
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
what the heck is a
FRESHERS’ pass? The Freshers’ Pass is the golden ticket of Freshers’ Week, allowing you to be Charlie in a Glasgow based modern adaptation of the famous Roald Dahl story. Except there’s not chocolate, just loads of bangin’ events and you don’t have to win a competition to be part of it. The Freshers’ Pass is the only way to guarantee entry to every single Freshers’ Week event, as you’ll be unable to pay for individual nights out during the week, but think of it this way, there’s a hundred events, passes cost £40, that’s 25p per event. Wait. No. No it’s not. But you get the idea, cheap as chips. Or, forty quids for over 100 events across ten days featuring an incredible range of entertainment vs. £40 on: • A PS3 game • A trip to the cinema with your other half to see a film (including popcorn and drinks) • A pair of designer shoes you don’t really need • A few Dominos pizzas Think about it in these terms, and it would be a crime not to invest in a pass. The pass will also grant you usage of the Freshers’ Week bus services, running every morning, evening and late at night to ensure you get home safe from your night out. Buying a pass couldn’t be simpler, but just in case you’re one of those visual learners, we’ve put together the handy infographic on the right to explain the process. Or you’ll find full details on www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek (for online purchases) or on the back page (for postal purchases). You’ve got until Friday 7th September to buy your pass (online only) so plenty of time to get yourself organised, convince your parents to part with the dolla and get to the web address below to order your pass. Freshers’ Passes can be purchased when you arrive in Glasgow, but expect there be some serious queueing if you dare tempt fate and decide to leave it to the last minute.
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www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
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do you want to buy a freshers’ pass?
No
Yes!
Re-read the last three pages and come back.
Good choice. Would you rather pay online or by cheque?
Online
Cheque
Go to: glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
Turn to the back cover of this booklet (then come back here, obvz) Complete the form
Read the FAQ and click ‘Purchase’ Rip it off Register your details
Get a cheque made out to GUSRC (£40)
Pay £40 via credit/debit card
Upload a photo of your beautiful face (for printing on the pass)
Get two passport photos of your face (for sticking on the pass) Stick all this in an envelope, add a stamp, and scrawl our address Lick and stick and post that bad boy
Recieve confirmation email
Start getting excited for Freshers’ Week 2012
SRC
QMU
GUU
GUSA
who runs it? As alluded previously, one of the things Glasgow is famed for (in fairly specific circles), and incredibly proud of, is its diverse student representation/social/sports provision in the form of four separate student organisations. Where most universities settle for one student union, association or guild, greedy Glasgow students can glut themselves and indulge in the delights offered by four individual student bodies. As a result of maintaining the historic traditions of the institution (Glasgow loves tradition) Glasgow University offers a student council (GUSRC), two social unions (QMU/ GUU) and a sports association (GUSA). Learn the acronyms, love the acronyms, because come the second day of Freshers’ Week 2012 and 24 hours of living the acronyms, you might never want to hear them again (just kidding, but do expect to hear them a lot in the first few days). But what does this mean for you as you plot your path to Glasgow University studentdom? It means Glasgow’s got four student organisations specifically focusing on different aspects of student life, with no distractions. GUSRC can focus on support, welfare and representation without worrying about how much money is coming through a bar or shop; the GUU and QMU can concentrate on throwing bangin’ clubnights and top notch pub quizzes without concerning themselves about their patrons political and GUSA, though it seems obvious, can crack on with sports without dealing with any of this. Sweet deal, no? There’s also the added benefit of a bit of cross-campus rivalry, particularly between the QMU and GUU. In Freshers’ Week, both unions go above and beyond to serve up special events and souped-up versions of their regular weekly fayre to try and top their crosscampus rival and tempt you to become part of their social communities and become a regular at their bars or events. All four of the organisations are run by elected volunteer students, in the form of councils or boards of management, but their roles and functions are varied in a large number of ways. Across the next few pages, you’ll find the lowdown on all four organisations, what they’re known for and what you can expect from them in your Freshers’ Week and beyond - think of it as an adventure of enlightenment in acronyms! 6
10-14 September
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
glasgow university students’ representative council
GUSRC GUSRC are the legally recognised representative body for all students of the University, though they may seem to be the one which has least direct impact on your University life. Most of their work is done ‘behind the scenes’. They work closely with the University, with their four sabbatical officers and other student officers taking seats and representing students on almost all University committees. What you will discover, and probably pretty quickly, is how useful the SRC can be, in a variety of ways, as they run The Advice Centre, a student information and listening service, and loads more things you can read about below.
Services GUSRC’s cup runneth over with services for students, being the main student body in charge of student support and welfare. Many of the services you will only encounter as and when you need them, but the two worth mentioning here are the Halls to Campus Minibus Service and the Secondhand Bookshop. The former is pretty obvious - it’s a minibus service which voyages every morning and evening between the major halls of residence and campus. The Bookshop is something you’ll want to look out early as it’s probably the cheapest way to buy course books, and in doing so, you’re helping out your fellow student, who you’re buying directly from and not some faceless corporation. Ethical. GUSRC are also responsible for the four main student media organisations of Glasgow University (GUM, Guardian, GUST and Subcity) so if you’re a keen bean when it comes to involvement and dream of a career in the media, get in touch with the SRC and they’ll point you in the right direction. If you’re inclined to learn more about the SRC’s activities, their website, in the top corner of this page, will tell you more about the Jobshop; The Advice Centre; Flatshare; Print Services (cheapest on campus); Nightline and the Student Volunteer Support Service. The SRC also run a number of campaign weeks throughout the year, including Media Week, Health Week and Raising and Giving Week to raise awareness health issues, money for charity and give students opportunities to engage with media professionals.
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www.
glasgowstudent.net /glasgowuniversitysrc @gusrc enquiries@src.gla.ac.uk
getting involved Boom. This one the SRC have covered. The SRC have the biggest number of elected students of the four student bodies with a staggering 43 seats on their council. They have two elections a year, one in November and a bigger one in May, you’ll know it’s happening from the hunners of emails you get and colourful shirted helpers giving out sweets on library hill. But wait, there’s more. GUSRC also oversee the class representative system which over 700 students are part of. In addition there are 100+ clubs and societies which the SRC support and fund, including everything from Chivalric Dreams to the Vinyl Club. Finally, there’s the Student Volunteer Support Service which will help you build up some CV fodder by working with programmes such as Girl Guides, sports coaching in schools and elderly befriending, who doesn’t want to spend some time hangin’ out with some grannies? There are a tonne of ways to get involved with the SRC should you fancy it.
freshers’ week GUSRC’s Freshers’ Week is normally a little more low-key than the Unions. They’re likely to run a ceilidh at some point, but don’t be expecting Fearne Cotton to turn up to DJ the after-party. Their flagship event of the week is the two day Freshers’ Fair, which sees the SRC take over the University’s majestic and ancient Bute Hall and pack it full of clubs and societies and local businesses who want to thrust free things at you. It’s a great idea to head along, and catch the SRC’s clubs and societies sitting at stalls, throw your shiny new university email address down on a couple of mailing lists (probably a good time to abandon your variation on x_lolzcutegirly121_x@hotmail.com) and meet some like-minded people. What GUSRC do very well in Freshers’ Week is add a bit of diversity to the events lineup. For those times when you need a break from the boozing or want to do something a little more serious with your week zero, checking out the SRC’s programme of events is advised. In previous years they’ve run West End Treasure Hunts and University Tours (essentially the same thing, but for the less brave) as we;; as introduction sessions for volunteering, student media and plenty of other non-traditional events.
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
QUEEN MARGARET UNION
QMU The Queen Margaret Union is one of the two social unions which aim to indulge your inner social butterfly while offering a variety of services. They reside in the brutalist late 1960s beast of a building at the end of University Gardens at the top end of the hill. Through the buoyant 1990s and early 2000s the QM found its niche as the ‘alternative’ union, forging a reputation on live music, decent bars and good value food. They maintain most of these accolades, though in addition they now offer a sports bar, a wide variety of social events and their live music offering is more focused on local bands and more intimate gigs.
freshers’ week Like their cross campus compatriots, the QMU go all out for Freshers’ Week and basically condense what would be a decent six-week programme of events into ten days of madness. Previous year’s Freshers’ Weeks have seen the QM play host to live performances from Twin Atlantic, Biffy Clyro, Kissy Sellout, Pendulum DJ sets and comedy stylings of Abandoman and Milton Jones. They also run the annual Freshers’ Ball, the only one on campus. The rest of the week will be supplemented with a variety of themed clubnights and the annual, big launch of their weekly Friday night clubnight Cheesy Pop. During the day the QM stage a plethora of pub quizzes and other bar-based events such as cocktail demonstrations, bingo and speed mate-ing for those of you keen to meet new people but aren’t sure how to set about it.
entertainment The rest of the year, when you’ve recovered from Freshers’ Week induced flu (stock up on berocca now), the QM will tempt you back through its doors with a weekly programme including two pub quizzes, and an open mic night which has been frequented in previous years by Frank Turner, Keane and Badly Drawn Boy. Cheesy Pop is the QM’s big night out, and the unrivalled cheesy night which has been running on Fridays for nearly 20 years in their main venue, Qudos. It’s a guilty pleasure for
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www.
qmu.org.uk /qmuNION @QMUNION INFO@QMU.ORG.uk
most Glasgow University students. Expect everything from Abba to Wheatus from Cheesy Pop’s Resident DJ Toast, who’s been manning the decks at the QMU since the event began. Throughout the year, keep an eye out for one off events such as film screenings, special themed quizzes and charity events such as last year’s Red Ribbon Ball in aid of the Terrence Higgins Trust. At the end of each term approaches, prepare yourself for the extended editions of Cheesy Pop usually lasting from 8pm until 8am. The QM are also enhancing their live music credentials by hosting small gigs in their Jim’s Bar venue, featuring a wide range of quality local talent. If Glasgow’s music scene continues to be as prolific as it has been in recent years, they could very well be hosting the next big thing in your first year as a student.
Services The QM boasts a decent range of useful things, alongside bar-based events to fritter away your student loan. It’s catering is well regarded as decent value, with a servery and cafe offering on its second floor dishing out barista coffees, paninis, breakfasts, pizzas and full meals (usually including at least one deep-fried option) five days a week. If you can’t be bothered cooking and have an hour to kill between late lectures, you could do worse than dropping ~£4 on a meal from the Food Factory. On the third floor the QM house washing machines (cheaper than halls machines, but not your mum’s), showers, bean bags and committee rooms which you’ll undoubtedly stumble into when you join one of the affiliated clubs and societies.
getting involved The QM is run by a team of around 25 students of their Board of Management, elected in two annual elections (Autumn and Spring). Four of the Board convene their committees - their forums for ordinary students to have a say in what they do. They plan and run the QM’s campaigns and charity work, large scale events, weekly social events such as the pub quizzes and organise and produce their own fortnightly magazine, qmunicate. All the committees are open, anyone can go along, so jump to their website if you’re looking for more info. Membership to the QMU is free and will score you discounted entry to clubnights and big events, and allow you to use their unique loyalty points system to save up for freebies.
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
GLASGOW UNIVERSITY UNION
GUU The other of the two unions providing social activities on campus is the Glasgow University Union, which was recently named Student Union of the Year. The older of the two unions (by a few years), you’ll find the GUU in the big old building at the bottom of University Avenue. The GUU has traditionally been the second home to many a sports club, handily being situated round the corner from the university gym. Their main bar, the Beer Bar, has the only beer garden on campus, plus loads of screens for catching the latest sport and they’ve got another five bars tucked away in their extension. There, you’ll also find the GUU’s nightclub, the Hive, which currently holds the title of the biggest club in Glasgow’s West End.
freshers’ week There’s a fair bit of similarity between the two unions in Freshers’ Week, but enough diversity that between them, there’s something for everyone. Previous Freshers’ Weeks at the GUU have included Erol Alkan and Edith Bowman; live music from Dizzee Rascal and Two Door Cinema Club; comedy from Craig Campbell and Lee Nelson, and the annual GUSA party. Traditionally, the GUU round out the week with a ten-hour party in the Hive. Their daytimes are filled with Just A Minute, free breakfasts, pub sports competitions, and a mini version of their Big All Day Games Event (BADGE) which will see teams compete in a student mini-olympics featuring competitions such as trolley racing, water balloon fights and a huge scavenger hunt.
entertainment Thursday nights are the GUU’s big night for campus clubbing, as the Thursday Night Hive clubnight draws students from far and wide with the promise of a spot on the podium, the best chart and dance music and the chance to catch up with pals. Other weekly events include a Monday-night pub quiz, an open mic night down in their Deep Six venue and poker competitions. If you’re brave enough to take the floor during
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www.
guu.co.uk /guunion @guunion president@guu.co.uk
one of their regular debates events, run in association with Glasgow Uni’s Dialectic Society, there’s also weekly training sessions to hone your skills and get you ready for addressing the galleries of the debates chamber. Amongst their special events, the GUU count the Month of Games, which you’ll find out all about as February approaches. At the end of each term the GUU run their own Friday night extended clubnights and each January, they run a a week’s worth of events under the banner of ‘Refreshers Week’. The biggest event in the GUU calendar is Daft Friday, a 12 Hour long night of entertainment featuring live music, DJs and other spectacles. Imagine if Freshers’ Week were condensed into one night, and only in the GUU, and you’ll get the idea.
Services In terms of nourishment, one of the things you’ll marvel at in your first week is the presence of a Subway sandwich franchise within their building. Eat fresh. Across the room from Subway’s fluorescent signage you’ll find the GUU’s own catering outlet serving a fairly traditional range of canteen munchies for student friendly prices. Elsewhere in the GUU’s building you’ll find the famous debates chamber (former spiritual home to Charles Kennedy, Menzies Campbell and Liam Fox), a formal dining hall, another three bars (that’s nine in total), two libraries and a billiards room. You’ll go to at least one clubs and societies ceilidh at the GUU during your first year of University, and if you join a club or soc, you’ll find yourself using various parts of the building throughout the year.
getting involved The GUU is run by a team of 17 students of their Board of Management and by four student-lead committees. The committees are made up of GUU members and are run by elected convenors, overseeing the GUU’s library and magazine, social events, clubnights and debates activities. The GUU’s open to anyone via an application process which you can find more out about in the first part of term. In the meantime jump to their website if you’re looking for more info. As with the QMU, membership is free and gets you a load of goodies and discounts, mostly importantly amongst which are the chance to attend committees and the right to vote in the GUU’s annual election so you can have your say in the how the union is run.
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
GLASGOW UNIVERSITY SPORTS ASSOCIATION
GUSA Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) is the student body for Sport & Recreation at the University of Glasgow. They’re responsible for representing all students who sign up for Sport & Recreation membership assisting with the promotion, development, organisation and administration of sport. Whether it is competitive sport, recreational sport or health and fitness activities, GUSA ensures that opportunities to take part in sport and recreation are as engaging and accessible for students as they can be. GUSA supports almost fifty sports clubs by providing them with funding and transport to participate in sports events at local, national and international level while allowing students to have a say in sports matters at the University.
freshers’ week GUSA’s Freshers’ Week is a busy combination of ensuring that all the sporting activities of the week run smoothly and encouraging you to sign up for sport and recreation membership. Though the £50 sign-up cost might seem steep in a week when your wallet/ purse will be stretched from a few cheeky drinks and the inevitable takeaway or two, keep in mind that memberships lasts all the way through to the following September. There’s free entry throughout Freshers’ Week so you can get a feel for the place and discover for yourself that there’s no better way to clear your head than an early morning swim. Another thing the GUSA sports helpers will convince you to partake of is to join them at the annual GUSA party. The event’s theme is kept a closely guarded secret until the week, but previous years have included jungle and circus nights with the GUU transformed and filled with roaming entertainers including magicians, stilt walkers, DJs and the GUSA helpers in ridiculous/brilliant costumes. If you like a chance to dress up and fancy meeting some of GUSA’s finest sportspersons partying like only they can, head along and catch it. The sporting equivalent of the Freshers’ Fair, the Sports Fair, runs in the Uni gym’s activity hall during the week on Tuesday and Wednesday, featuring sports clubs offering the chance to find out more and sign up. With the gym being free for the week, so are all the classes and a range of tasters sessions, running pretty much all day, every day throughout the week. 14
www.
glasgow.ac.uk/sport/gusa
/gusa1881 @gusapresident gusa-president@gla.ac.uk
Services Sports services at the University of Glasgow include a whole heap of facilities including a swimming pool, cardio and muscle suites, squash courts, an activity hall which can host volleyball, badminton or five-a-side and loads more including astro pitches and all the sporting equipment you could dare to dream of. It’s pretty comprehensive. There’s also over a huge number of different exercise classes for a variety of fitness levels, so whether you think you’re tough enough for Super Circuits from week one, or want to work your way up by trying out some Zumba, there’s something for everyone looking to improve their fitness and to help lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Inter-mural and inter-university leagues for sports clubs, teams and individual athletes run throughout the academic year allowing for plenty of opportunities to play sport and meet new people. So if you like the look of the Ski and Snowboard Club, the Hares and Hounds running club or want to go solo with some martial arts or the like, there’s plenty on the go.
getting involved Sport and Recreation Membership, which allows you to be part of any club sport (you can’t without it) and access to all facilities and classes costs just £50 for the full year. An absolute bargain compared to most other Universities considering all the things you can get for your money; make sure to ask one of the pink t-shirt wearing GUSA Helpers in Freshers’ Week all the things you can do with a membership. You can also stand for election to the GUSA Council. There are twelve positions which are elected annually by the students and are responsible for areas such as travel, publicity, fundraising and outreach alongside the executive.
entertainment The majority of GUSA’s activities are unsuprisingly fairly sport centric, though their big social events are certainly worth looking out for, especially the annual fashion show. Undoubtedly the biggest GUSA event is the GUSA Ball, taking place in Spring and attracting over 700 students to a formal ball and awards ceremony where prizes are given out for achievement, contribution and even for ‘Freshers of the Year’. In previous years they’ve run fashion shows, ceilidhs and campaign weeks so keep an eye on their Facebook, Twitter or website for special things happening from the folks at GUSA.
www.glasgowstudent.net/freshersweek
postal
PASS PURCHASING
Buying your Freshers’ Pass gives you access to every single event as well as use of the Freshers’ Week bus services for no extra fees. There are two ways to purchase for your Freshers’ Pass, the easiest is to pay a visit to:
attach two passport photos here NOT WITH GLUE (WE HATE GLUE).
surname:
glasgowstudent.net/ freshersweek
forename:
Alternatively... Cheques and Postal Orders for £40 should be made payable to ‘GUSRC’.
address:
Please return this page, along with your payment, no later than Monday 3rd September to: GUSRC (FW2012) John McIntyre Building University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ
postcode: college:
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SOCIAL SCIENCES
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email: mobile:
If you have any queries, please visit the FAQ on glasgowstudent.net/ freshersweek or contact the SRC on enquiries@ src.gla.ac.uk or 0141 339 8541. For all the latest on Freshers’ Week 2012, visit glasgowstudent. net/freshersweek.
alt phone: Register me for a Freshers’ Week 2012 pass. I enclose my payment of £40 to GUSRC. I confirm the above information and understand that in the event of my withdrawal I may not be entitled to a refund.
Signed: date:
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