Exciting upcoming events to look out for

Minentle Mndiyata

UP societies are known for hosting the best events where all students, especially first-year students, get to have a good university experience that is not consumed with academics.

One of many upcoming events is the RAG of Hope which will be on 25 February at Hillcrest RAG Farm from 7:00 to 18:00 with the theme being Coachella. This day-event will raise funds for charities affiliated with the university by operating a craft market where RAG partners will receive an opportunity to set up stalls and sell their hand-made crafts to students as well as members of the public at affordable prices. Collaborating with STUKU and Student sports to organise an event that will include a craft market, sports activities, games, UP’s Got Talent, the SANBS blood drive, and so much more. will be achieving greatness around you all the time. You will soon be acquainted with all the ‘FLY @ UP’ memes, but as funny as they are, UP does foster a supportive environment for students to thrive. It is a given that you will go through rough times at university, but they will shape who you are as you enter the ‘real world’.

Next up on our calendar is the UP INSYNC concert which is an event where first-year students can showcase their skills by participating in performances with their residences, day houses, faculties, or societies. This concert usually takes place on the first Saturday after Welcome Day and it provides an opportunity for students from different backgrounds to get to know each other while rehearsing and preparing for their performances. This concert also gives all attendees and their parents an exclusive highlight of the student-life side of campus.

With that being said, be on the lookout for these exciting events.

The memes

UP has a few dedicated Instagram meme pages to keep you laughing through the studying blues. The memes are definitely something to be taken advantage of as you only have a few years to enjoy and understand them. Be warned though as some of them might be a little too relatable and hit a little close to home. LifeAtTuks is the current most-followed UP meme page but tuksmemes is worth a follow as well.

Resources on Campus

UP has a ton of resources available on campus for students to take advantage of, here are a few of them:

Computer Labs: UP has computer labs available on all their campuses and in the residences. The computers are available for all students to use for their academic work. There are also printing facilities available all around the UP campuses.

Campus Psychologist: There is psychological support available on every campus and is free for all students. The Student Counselling Unit offers support for academic, therapeutic and emotional concerns or issues. You can find the Student Counselling Unit next to Student Centre opposite the Tukkiewerf Entrance on Hatfield Campus, in the Letlotlo Building Room 1-28 on Groenkloof, in the Tshwelopele Building Room 3-12 on Prinshof and at the Itsoseng Clinic in the Administrative/Academic Building, Ground Floor on Mamelodi Campus. You can pop into these centres to make an appointment but if you are in a psychological emergency phone the UP Careline at 0800 747 747.

The Javett Art Centre: This amazing art gallery is located on the south campus of UP, but is accessible from Hatfield campus as well. The centre features incredible art works from all over Africa, and includes many recognizable pieces. The Javett-UP is free for all university students provided they present a valid student card, the usual price is R150 per person so be sure to take advantage of this perk. A walk through Javett’s beautiful exhibitions is sure to spark creativity and inspiration.

Societies: From religious, to political, to social, there are many societies to choose from at UP. Societies are places to find like-minded individuals and potential friends. During the year, societies will often have booths up where you can ask questions and join.

Tuks FM and PDBY: Tuks FM is UP’s student radio station and was recently named Campus Station of the Year for a record 5th time. PDBY is the campus newspaper where you can get all your latest campus news and read articles from dedicated student journalists. Both these entities are always looking for more volunteers, so why not give it a try?

Lunch-Hour Concerts: Every Thursday afternoon from 12:40 to 13:20 there is a free lunch-hour concert in the Musaion Theatre on Hatfield Campus. There are a wide range of performers, and students from the Department of Performing Arts also have an opportunity to perform as prep for their exam recitals. These concerts are a great experience and introduce the audience to different music genres and cultures.

The Food: Grabbing some lunch from the cafeteria (or any of the wide range of food places on UP campuses), sitting down on the grass and eating in the shade is a must-have ‘campus life’ experience. There are loads of food shops to choose from on UP campuses ranging from healthy to a little unhealthy and from super cheap to a little pricey on a student budget, there are options for everyone.