ORBITAL September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
1
FRESHERS 2016 | FREE
THEORBITAL.CO.UK
WELCOME
THE
ROYAL MILE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF STUDENTS’ UNION ROYAL HOLLOWAY
EDITOR Holly Pyne DEPUTY EDITOR Louise Jones
THIS ISSUE
SUBEDITOR Rosalie Falla NEWS Anna Robinson Paco Tijdink COMMENT Abbie Cheeseman Cemre Camuz FEATURES Yasmeen Frasso Tomike Adeniji LIFESTYLE Annie Pantry Elizabeth Rosenberg ARTS Joanne Archer Beth Carr SPORT & SOCIETIES Jess Hines Alice Reynolds OPERATIONS Nebiu Samuel
STUDENT LIFE
04 05
GET RICH
The pros and cons of getting a job in first year
EXPLORE
Explanations of Egham and Englefield Green.
LOCAL AREA
06
GREAT PARK
08
All the must-see places in Windsor Great Park.
The five most ‘instagrammable’ places.
PHOTOGRAPHY Cameron James Seymour ONLINE Imogen Trinder MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA Emma Halahan ADVERTISING Hannah Foord EVENTS & TRAINING Georgia Austin CO-PRESIDENT SOCIETIES & MEDIA Pippa Gentry COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Cameron James Seymour ADDRESS Media Suite, Students’ Union, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX TEL +44 1784 276 744 EMAIL editor@theorbital. co.uk WEBSITE theorbital.co.uk
LIFESTYLE
10 12
F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Which character is your accommodation?
MATURE
Clive Hill shares his experiences at uni.
EXPERIENCE
14
ILLNESS
16
THE SOUTH
How to deal with having an illness at university.
The experiences of being a Northerner at Roho.
September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
3
EDITORIAL A warm welcome to all new, and returning staff and students, from the Orbital’s Editor, Holly Pyne.
F
or many of you, this may be the first time you’ve seen the Orbital.; to all of you, welcome. To those that are returning; welcome back.
This is a special issue of the magazine, which is dedicated to welcoming in new students and providing you with some more information about the university, from the students that live and work here.
The Orbital is the Official Students’ Union magazine covering everything from campus news to arts shows to famous alumni.
During this week, Freshers’ week, there will be five different issues of the Orbital - all with a different theme. These include separate sports and societies’ issues,
and one to specifically teach you more about your Students’ Union and the people who work within it. Make sure to look out for them throughout the week! All that’s left to say is; I hope you have a amazing year, make sure it is the best yet. Be sure to visit us at Freshers’ Fair, we look forward to meeting you.
4
theorbital.co.uk
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
GET RICH,
CRY TRYING
Joanne Archer discusses the positives and negatives of having a job in your first year.
G
etting the job
Most students will be rushing to get a job after a few months of realising they can’t maintain the party lifestyle with limited student finance, so why not beat the demand?
[T]hey can’t maintain the party lifestyle with limited student finance.”
“
Location, location, location
For first years this is a very important factor to consider. Having a job on campus, if Depending on the job, you you live in halls, just makes won’t be working for a good sense. You don’t have to two or three weeks after worry about unreliable public handing in your application so transport or walking long you will still have all the time distances which can only to enjoy freshers with one mean more time for tactical less thing to worry about. naps. What’s not to love? This said, finding a job can be stressful. Just remember it is only first year so, whilst it may help to have a jaw-droppingly out of this world job, it doesn’t need to be overly relevant to your future career just yet.
Royal Holloway also pays students very well, with most being paid around £8 an hour. In second and third year, it doesn’t matter so much where you work as you will be 10-20 minutes from uni but it’s worth making your first year as painless as possible.
Time management If you can afford to get through first year without a job, then there is really no need to. Working can be rewarding, meeting new people and gaining new skills, but it can also limit the time you have in getting involved in other activities. Saying that, there are so many more interesting jobs, anything from taking notes for other students to taking part in Psychology studies, so do some research. Ultimately, you can earn money at any time in your life but you will never get the opportunities that University offers ever again. Use your time wisely and do what is best for you and your schedule. Joanne Archer
September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
Beth Carr provides all you need to know about your new area from shops, transport and hidden gems.
5
ENGLEFIELD
GREEN
he Green is like the overlooked little brother of Egham, small but perfectly formed. Benefitting from not requiring a walk up the hill on the way back, there are a selection of charming places to eat, from Italian to Indian, and many that deliver as well as offering dining in facilities.
T
EGHAM
E
gham is the natural first point of call for any student looking for travel, food or other consumer goods. It’s no Oxford Street but Egham High Street is home to a variety of charity shops, selling all manner of books, clothes and DVDs at low prices, all for a good cause.
hours at all times, and an M&S garage on the roundabout for your late night shopping needs. Eating and drinking is also easily done in Egham, with a plethora of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops to suit all tastes and budgets.
Egham’s key feature is also the station. Situated around 15 minutes walk from the back gate of campus, The High Street simply head right and is also home to away from university Tesco, Iceland and until you reach the Waitrose, showing that railway line and follow Egham truly caters it until you reach the to every shopper’s station building. taste. There’s also a Budgen’s, which is 24
Check out the unique Village Centre in the church on Victoria Street, housing an inviting coffee shop which also serves lunch options at very student friendly prices. Also on Victoria Street is Genevieve’s Gallery, where you can escape from student life and paint your own pottery - perfect for showing off your creative side or creating a unique gift for a friend or flatmate. Englefield Green also has pubs, sandwich shops and a florist, alongside an actual village green.
6
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
theorbital.co.uk
WINDSOR GREAT PARK Cameron James Seymour showcases the most picturesque place in the local area; Windsor Great Park.
THE LAKE
Credit: Cameron James Seymour
D
uring the warmer months, the gardens and lawns are a great place for a picnic with friends. There are plenty of open areas and it is much less crowded than Founders’ South Quad.
There are also plenty of paths to follow if you want to escape deadline stress later in the term. The park is a popular place for students and sports teams to run and train.
the Totem Pole (pictured above) and the Leptis Magna Ruins. The Ruins replicate the ruins of a Roman city called Leptis Magna and uses some of the original city.
However the park is more than a place to run. The two most unusual features are
The Totem Pole is more recent, and was gifted to the Queen in 1958, by
September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
7
TOTEM POLE
Credit: Cameron James Seymour
the Government of British Columbia. It is 100 feet high and both it, and the ruins, provide a contrast to the green, and very English, surroundings. Virginia Water Lake is by far the most visited area. It’s particularly popular with morning joggers and dog
walkers. You can walk the whole 4.5 miles of the lake but most remain on the near side and visit the Cascade. The Cascade is a man-made waterfall and a popular feature for students to photograph, along with the lake itself. When fully flowing, it is quite an impressive sight
and can be used to create some interesting images. So, there is more to the park than first seems. Egham may not seem so hectic but you might just appreciate the peace and quiet of the park. once the deadlines creep up. You’ll need somewhere to escape to.
8
theorbital.co.uk
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
The most ‘instagrammable’ places:
Local Edition
Y
ou’re fully away from home being an independent human being for the first time in your life. You need to find a way to show your friends and family just how much Royal Holloway slays. Joanne Archer has rounded up the very best spots, both on campus and the surrounding area, to fill your Instagram feed.
Credit: Cameron James Seymour
Founder’s
Very cliché and predictable but, no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to avoid uploading a photo of the Victorian architecture from one of the numerous angles. The view from inside the quad featuring Roho’s very own power couple Tom and Jane, is one of the most popular.
Founder’s Pond
Not exactly a picnic spot, but a quintessential scene tucked away between Founder’s, Jane Holloway Hall and the Students’ Union Shop. Whether you are on a midnight stroll with friends debating the meaning of life, drunkenly having a paddle on a lilo or just passing by on the way to lectures, who doesn’t love a water feature?
September 2016
Virginia Water
Around the lake you can find many Instagrammable hotspots, including a 100ft totem pole, ruins imported from North Africa, many beautiful flower gardens and the very cascade used to film “Agony� from Into the Woods. If you happen to find a prince, tell him where he can find Orbital HQ.
Windsor
Home to the notorious Windsor Castle, even more notorious Atik nightclub, Legoland and many scenic locations and shops, you are sure to find something to do there. Be sure to put this one on your feed, even if just to prove that in your whole time at uni you have been to an actual club.
Richmond River
Further out than the other spots, Richmond river is one for the voyager amongst us. The scenes from the riverside are absolutely breath-taking, with boats of all varieties passing by the natural scenery. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area and you can even hire a boat for a more immersive photographic experience.
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
9
10
theorbital.co.uk
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
Which F.R.I.E.N.D.S character
is your accomodation?
F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Elizabeth Rosenberg answers that burning question.
Credit: Cameron James Seymour
Williamson, Tuke and Butler: Chandler
Your buildings might be in the middle of campus (and named after former Principals FYI) but just like Chandler’s job that makes them boring and non-descript. Fortunately you have the campus shop so you can survive on snacks and
sarcasm.
Gowar and Wedderburn: Rachel
The most expensive halls, but that’s okay because your dad is more than happy to bail you out. Usually these residents are the ones who work the hardest as they want to prove that they’re NOT just money and no brains, work hard but party harder is their motto.
Reid: Monica
Reid work for everything they have. They are smart and living right next to the Sports Centre means that they’re fit and attractive as well. If there was a word to describe them it would be “aspirational” but this is only because the rest of the student body has risen them to perfect beings in their heads.
September 2016
Founder’s: Phoebe
Founders tends to be the most chilled out residence as their lives are so easy. Everything they need is approximately a 5 minute walk away from them and they live above both a bar and the dining hall. If you’re the kind of person to wake up 10 minutes before a lecture and still make it on time - it’s for you.
Kingswood: Ross
Kingswoodians insist on telling everyone how hard their lives are as they have to travel into college by bus or take a half hour walk which is soooooo annoying. If you want epic pre-drinks then, find a friend who lives in Kingswood as their pre-drinks (which turn into all-nightdrinks) are legendary.
Runnymede: Joey
Runnymede is here to give you a good time, just like Joey’s roof-top parties. It’s the place to go when the party has finished but you’re not ready for the night end. It definitely has the most ~reputation~ but beneath all that reputation, everybody’s a good guy who aren’t as odd as they first seem.
Highfield and Penrose: Gunther
Everyone is going to use where you live for a shortcut but will never really know the name of it. Basically, no one cares about you. Sorry.
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
11
12
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
theorbital.co.uk
WHYARE
YOU HERE? Clive Hill gives an insight into what it is really like as a mature student, and how to make the most of university, no matter what your age is.
BE INVOLVED Sports and Societies aren’t just for Freshers.
September 2016
M
ature students are defined as anyone who started their undergraduate studies after the age of twenty-one. It’s a really mixed bag; from the retired Physicist who has decided to take a second degree, the twentysomething lettings agent who wants to teach, to the ex-soldier who realises he was stopping genocide in Europe before his cohort were out of nappies. We are everywhere and are probably the broadest minority on campus.
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
our equivalent of the Amish rumspringa. For some of us, it’s less about liberation than it is about getting your new peers to get to know you, because you stand out from the norm.
and reassurance: I have been messaged at 3am on a Thursday morning for romance advice, helped friends overcome anxiety issues, and been a character reference. In turn my peers have taken For the first few weeks I had notes for me when my it all, and not just from my kids have been in hospital, peers: I was asked whether raised money by doing it was “Doctor or Professor” Tough Mudder for CLAPA (a on my Starbucks cup in charity close to my heart) Freshers’ week and even and listened to my fears as a second year, having about failing academically academics apologise for with a maturity that interrupting your “lecture” exceeds their years - It’s far when you’re stood talking from a one-way street once to students while waiting you put yourself out there. for the lecturer to arrive is guaranteed to embarrass In short: When I arrived in 2014 it them more than you! Mature students - Be part didn’t take long to realise of campus life, get involved, that if you were older than “Why are you here?” Is have fun and interact with your regular undergrad that a question every mature your peers. Don’t take you were invisible to many student gets asked, from yourself too seriously. on campus. I could have the 17 year old who is too played this in two ways: young to drink at Freshers, Regular students – We Keep my head down, come through to the Head of aren’t your parents, in for lectures and go home, School. Some find this teachers or the police, so or throw myself in to the question confrontational, speak to us in the same way whole university experience, but my advice is to take as you’d speak to the rest I chose the latter and it exactly as its meant. It’s of your peers. Encourage have no regrets doing so – someone getting to know us to get involved, either in University is an enlightening you and I guarantee they group work or socially. Don’t experience for all. If you’re will happily answer you be surprised if we ask your straight out of school, it’s when asked the same. advice; you left school a few your time to thrive outside months ago. Some of us of the rules your families Be prepared to be a haven’t written an essay for placed on you, Freshers is source of advice, counsel twenty years!
13
14
theorbital.co.uk
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
BEING ILL AT UNI Feeling ill at university? Need healthcare? The Orbital’s Beth Carr tells you how not to stress when you’re ill away from home.
M
oving away from home can be a stressful time and mixing with people from all backgrounds can lead to falling ill with the medley of germs you are exposed to. However, whether you’ve been struck down by Freshers’ Flu or if you have succumbed to another form of illness, there are ways to get healthcare help easily and quickly without having to frantically phone home or travel for miles. One of the first things to do
when arriving at university is register with a GP. The Royal Holloway Health Centre is based in Founder’s building and, if you are living away from home in the local area, you are eligible to register there. When you get ill, it’s important not to just rush off to make a GP appointment – minor conditions can be treated at home, in a walk-in centre or with advice from a pharmacist. NHS 111 is a free helpline which is always manned and can advise you over the phone about where to seek help. The closest
HEALTHCARE
Handling Freshers’ Flu can be a struggle without the correct information.
Accident & Emergency department is at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey and, in most cases, situations that need A&E care are dealt with by an ambulance via a 999 call. So, whether you have a simple cough or a broken leg, you should now have the knowledge to find any help you need and focus on getting better and back to normal at university.
September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
15
NIGHTLIFE
It’s a big part of Freshers’ week but it’s not all there is.
FRESHERS’ WEEK Yasmeen Frasso tells you why there’s no need to worry about Freshers’ week.
I
thought I’d share some tips on how to enjoy Fresher’s without the nights out and partying. Remember that everybody is in the same boat. During Fresher’s, thousands of students are thrust into a foreign environment and forced to fend for themselves for the first time. Nobody knows what to do. You aren’t alone. Keep your door propped open. It allows people
to know you’re in and encourages them to make conversation with you. Don’t be afraid to knock on others doors too, even if it is just to take that first gruelling Tesco’s trip together.
the day events together.
The kitchen is a good social space. Not just during Fresher’s but for the whole of university, kitchens will always be a central hub.
Most importantly, don’t let one week determine how your year goes. I can’t emphasise enough that it does not matter whether it’s for you or not. But regardless of how Freshers’ week goes for you; the year will be very different.
There are other people who don’t enjoy nights out. Invite people over for movie nights or arrange to go to some of
Go to the Freshers Fair. It allow you to see the sports teams and societies that are on offer and get some freebies.
16
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
theorbital.co.uk
ANGEL OF THE NORTH Are people from the North and South really that incompatible?
I
’ve always been slightly paranoid about my origins and I know I’m not the only Northerner who feels this way. I was born in Chesterfield and moved up to Liverpool when I was four. When I decided to move down South for university, or, to be precise, 222.7 miles down South
according to Google Maps, it was safe to say that my extremely Northern grandma was more than slightly concerned. There are a lot of stereotypes about the North (which, FYI, is a completely separate area from the Midlands). The most popular of these stereotypes include: assuming we all sound like Sean Bean,
assuming the North as a whole is ‘underdeveloped’ and assuming people from the North are somehow not as intelligent. That last one is mainly due to accent differences. I was nervous about going to a university which I expected to be primarily full of international students or more ‘local’ Southern born-and-raised children. In
September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
NORTH VS SOUTH Rhiannon Ireland shares her experiences on being a Northerner at Royal Holloway.
fact, I’ve actually loved every minute. Maybe it’s because international students and their many different accents and cultures are definitely more of a majority than a minority at Royal Holloway. Basically, what I am trying to say is that almost every city, village and town has its drawbacks, and that’s okay. Nearly every student you meet can probably
name something about their hometown they don’t like. However, after the initial jibes and stereotypes have been safely put to bed, you soon realise that your accent and your origins actually don’t matter anymore. When you meet somebody at university, you get to know them through your time spent together. It soon becomes clear that it
definitely does not matter where you come from. The only time it matters is when it can get a little ridiculous trying to find a place you can ‘meet in the middle’ while making plans with your Southern friends during summer. But even then, true friendships will last those 222.7 miles. Rhiannon Ireland
17
18
theorbital.co.uk
ORBITAL | Royal Holloway Student Magazine
You don’t need lots of money to enjoy the local area, writes Beth Carr.
VIRGINIA WATER
1
Virginia Water Lake is the perfect place to picnic with friends or challenge yourself to get fit by walking the 4.5 mile circuit of the lake. Turn left out of the main entrance in front of Founders and cross the road and within 15 minutes you’ll find the gate on Wick Lane to our very own section of Windsor Great Park. It’s so close so it’s perfect for hour long breaks between lectures, or you can grab your friends and make a day of it, with ample space to wander.
NATIONAL TRUST
3
Whether you’re a long time fan of the National Trust, or only just heard of it, Runnymede Meadow A particular is a wonderful place to get favourite with back to nature and escape Kingswood the pressures of university residents, the life. Loosely connected with Air Forces Memorial is a poignant and beautiful place the Air Forces Memorial, one of the many entrances to think and take time out. It’s just a short walk through to the National Trust site is just down the road from Englefield Green from campus or easily accessible Kingswood, the opposite way from campus. From here via the free Kingswood bus. you can meander through Not only can you reflect the trees until you reach the on the men and women open meadow and enjoy the memorialised in the stones, wide open space, or head from the top of the tower for the Magna Carta and you can see Thorpe Park, JFK memorials. There’s a Windsor, Heathrow and sometimes as far as London. tearoom next to the car park The view is breathtaking and too for that much needed pit it’s a great place to go to find stop, before you head back some space and perspective. to normality.
FORCES MEMORIAL
2
September 2016
Royal Holloway Student Magazine | ORBITAL
19
www.facebook.com/blueprinttradingrhul
https://twitter.com/blueprintif
http://www.blueprinttradingrhul.co.uk
Want to learn more about investment and trading? Then Blueprint Investment and Trading society is for you. Do you want to learn about spread betting, stock trading and enhancing general financial knowledge? Come and join us at weekly meetings to learn more. Whether you want to learn more for fun or aspire to follow in our alumni’s footsteps having gained careers in the following companies: Merrill Lynch, Bloomberg, ING, HSBC and many more. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for updates.
The Library presents: Best of British Are you a Muggle or Magical? Test your knowledge in our quiz Tuesday 20 September 4:00-6:00 Founders Reading Room
Great British Film Screening - Enjoy some classic British Films with popcorn. Wednesday 21 September All Day in Bedford Library