Freshers for Everyone
By Sophia Owens
“F*CK ME! IT’S FRESHERS.” “F*CK ME! IT’S REFRESHERS.” But why the separate label? They’re not so different, and really, it would save advertising companies some money and stress if they were to simply announce that Freshers Week is here again.
Refreshers Week is essentially the same as Freshers, and therefore the excitement of “Freshers Week” should present itself for all students. Freshers is a week of freedom before studies start, where students are looking to settle in. Whether this be into an accommodation or flat, or into university life – it would be unfair to expect any student to jump straight into studying from summer or their year abroad without some time to process the change in pace.
The myth that Freshers is only for freshers should be dispelled, as it can be just as, if not more enjoyable on a repeat.
Why is New Year called New Year? The coming year brings something new. The same applies to Freshers, where the first week of the academic year brings novel experiences and unique things to try. There’s no need to categorise other years’ first week back of university as “Refreshers Week”. “Freshers” is an all-encompassing term, like how the word ‘university’ is – let’s face it, it’s not solely about studying for your degree. It’s also about friends made, fond memories, joining that one random society that encompasses your life. Freshers is a welcome party to the university and all it has to offer - there’s no reason why older years should be excluded, and moreover why it can’t be a ‘welcome back’ party. Many students may not have had the courage or opportunity to go out clubbing or to society tasters. Why should they be restricted to what they can try later?
Freshers Week isn’t just about sleeping through the day and going on nights out seven days on the trot. Nor does it revolve around first year. Whatever your year of study, do freshers again.
Just for Freshers
By Ana Mikelis
Welcome Week is purportedly welcome to all students but we all know who’s really welcome and who’s not. I am a third year visiting student, and I have obviously been the odd one out. While at the Societies Fair, I overheard many referring to the week as ‘freshers’ week.’ The fact societies are prioritising targeting first-years for membership couldn’t be clearer.
I think that possibly every society on campus had a pub crawl this week. I understand this may be many students’ first time drinking in university and so do the societies, who leap at the opportunity to use a booze-fuelled social to reel in students. This is not a bad thing per se, just a statement of fact. I do think the pub atmosphere brings people together even if I had to mingle with the first years at times.
I do want to make clear that I have felt very welcomed, but I have also been continuously met with shock when stating that I am a third year student from New York. During the orientation meetings required for my degree, all the information was targeted towards first year students. I had to go out of my way to email people separately and ask questions at the end of presentations to get my personal questions attended to.
While the societies and academic orientations are targeted towards freshers, I have been able to navigate my way, I just had to make my presence known more than I would have liked to.
One Coin, Two Sides: Is Freshers Week for Everyone or Just Freshers?
Freshers for Everyone
By Sophia Owens
“F*CK ME! IT’S FRESHERS.” “F*CK ME! IT’S REFRESHERS.” But why the separate label? They’re not so different, and really, it would save advertising companies some money and stress if they were to simply announce that Freshers Week is here again.
Refreshers Week is essentially the same as Freshers, and therefore the excitement of “Freshers Week” should present itself for all students. Freshers is a week of freedom before studies start, where students are looking to settle in. Whether this be into an accommodation or flat, or into university life – it would be unfair to expect any student to jump straight into studying from summer or their year abroad without some time to process the change in pace.
The myth that Freshers is only for freshers should be dispelled, as it can be just as, if not more enjoyable on a repeat.
Why is New Year called New Year? The coming year brings something new. The same applies to Freshers, where the first week of the academic year brings novel experiences and unique things to try. There’s no need to categorise other years’ first week back of university as “Refreshers Week”. “Freshers” is an all-encompassing term, like how the word ‘university’ is – let’s face it, it’s not solely about studying for your degree. It’s also about friends made, fond memories, joining that one random society that encompasses your life. Freshers is a welcome party to the university and all it has to offer - there’s no reason why older years should be excluded, and moreover why it can’t be a ‘welcome back’ party. Many students may not have had the courage or opportunity to go out clubbing or to society tasters. Why should they be restricted to what they can try later?
Freshers Week isn’t just about sleeping through the day and going on nights out seven days on the trot. Nor does it revolve around first year. Whatever your year of study, do freshers again.
Just for Freshers
By Ana Mikelis
Welcome Week is purportedly welcome to all students but we all know who’s really welcome and who’s not. I am a third year visiting student, and I have obviously been the odd one out. While at the Societies Fair, I overheard many referring to the week as ‘freshers’ week.’ The fact societies are prioritising targeting first-years for membership couldn’t be clearer.
I think that possibly every society on campus had a pub crawl this week. I understand this may be many students’ first time drinking in university and so do the societies, who leap at the opportunity to use a booze-fuelled social to reel in students. This is not a bad thing per se, just a statement of fact. I do think the pub atmosphere brings people together even if I had to mingle with the first years at times.
I do want to make clear that I have felt very welcomed, but I have also been continuously met with shock when stating that I am a third year student from New York. During the orientation meetings required for my degree, all the information was targeted towards first year students. I had to go out of my way to email people separately and ask questions at the end of presentations to get my personal questions attended to.
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While the societies and academic orientations are targeted towards freshers, I have been able to navigate my way, I just had to make my presence known more than I would have liked to.
Photo by Mark Chan for The Student.
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