The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - settling in we hope

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread - sorry about the lame thread title but done in a hurry!

Dds flat seem big into drinking and going out but they like the pre drinks too... so dd joins them just for that. Which is far more socialising than she ever did at home.

One of her flat mates was taken to a & e with a suspected heart attack but it was apparently.just stress.

@notaflyingmonkey Durham does have a neurodiversity society for the students with ASD and other non neurotypical characteristics. They apparently meet and chat, and do games etc. Durham has amazing support for students with ASD with a full 2 day induction programme before freshers week. It gives them an opportunity to all meet each other. My DD also told me that the physics lecturer said the physics department has had specialist autism training because so many students and staff have ASD.

DS saying they don’t use the communal space as it’s ‘full of crap’ so being used for storage partly? It’s one room for a block of 150 students and otherwise only tiny kitchens which is crap. He’s fine with his group though so that’s ok for now.

He hasn’t signed up for any societies and I hope he does - he is thinking sports groups at least but some other things would be good too as a distraction/get him out of the flat..

Durham is the uni that got into significant hot water (along with Edinburgh) about its initiations a few years back (particularly with reference to sexual misconduct). I thought they had really clamped down and announced a ban.

@Piggywaspushed that's good news! I'll pass it on.

So impressed with the student making stew for the week, I actually laughed out loud at the thought of my DD doing that! Fat chance. I’m so very glad she’s catered this year. She can cook well but wouldn’t bother, though she’ll have to get into gear for next year, she’ll probably live on hummus and avocado toast. There are worse diets I guess.

Just found an article about initiations. All linked to males , 'posh' sports and 'posh' unis. Unsurprisingly...

Stop worrying!!! Dd is most definitely not at a posh uni, or a posh male. She had to drink 2 cans of lager and wear a cops and robbers costume. Big whup.

That does sound tame!

That's what she told me anyway!

DS didn’t care about what kitchen stuff we packed. One of the first things he cooked was tuna pasta bake. But we didn’t pack him a casserole/baking dish - he just bought one from the supermarket. Good. (Wonder if he bought a cheese grater after being so adamant he didn’t need one..)

Yep the ‘posh’ section of the Agricultural society at Newcastle was akin to the Bullingdon Club in the 90s. It was infamous for trashing places and initiation ceremonies.

In most universities, if a given minimum number of students want to set up a society within the SU, they are given resources such as free room bookings etc. Obviously, they would have to comply with various rules.

Setting up a new group at Birmingham:
www.guildofstudents.com/studentgroups/societies/setting-up-a-group/

@mum2eim, that's good to hear!

@Piggywaspushed, that's what I had thought....
Just spoke with DS who didn't mention any initiations, but was quite put off the uni football team at the trials as many others were so full of themselves and serious, but actually not that good.... he didn't tell anyone what level he played at as he doesn't want to be a bragger, and said at least the college one was a laugh. Anyway he has signed up to trial for 3 new sports too, which could be fun and quite exciting to do something different.

DS rugby lot seem too serious for words reading their blurb. I cannot see him getting involved. Am relieved because there is so much training when his workload is very heavy as he moves forward on his course.

DD just showed me the mensa (cantine not society) plan for next week.
I must say, catering has improved vastly since my time and everything labelled according to health, environmental friendlyness and fairness. She has figure out where to load up her campus card for cashless payment.

DD's halls have just had a random drugs search (complete with sniffer dog). She was just happy to get to pet a dog

Must say that quite surprises me RaptorInaPorkPieHat I just wonder what action they would take if (when) they find anything. Internal or external reporting and what consequences they would be. I must say I’m glad to hear some Universities are cracking down.

There's a long list of prohibited items on the accommodation agreement, everything from candles to fireworks and bbqs to illegal substances. We knew there would be spot checks, but I admit I wasn't expecting a sniffer dog

Wow I had no idea they do spot checks. I guess they do need to ensure all the students are safe but it seems a bit full-on.

It’s a good idea I think, preventative at least. As DH and I didn’t go to university, this is all new to us. We were talking this morning and wondering who is actually keeping order in college? Are there staff apart from the Principal, admin, catering, housekeeping staff?

There are porters and security at Collingwood Benji, but ‘order’ is not always kept...

Ha ha I couldn’t remember who had a DC at Collingwood before. It’s you @Herocomplex! Thanks, sounds like a nightmare for those poor staff.

Best to just hear the highlights Benji, and draw a veil over the rest!

Yes,I agree. I guess the first term is where they realise there aren’t parents and teachers stepping in and that they need to learn to set their own boundaries...... can you hear the naivety in my post?