Welcome to
S R E H S E R F
WEEK2012 Hello! Congratulations, you’ve made it! Welcome to Robert Gordon University, and more importantly, welcome to your very own Students’ Union. We’ve been working our socks off over the summer to give you a Freshers Week that you won’t ever forget (and in some cases, one that you won’t ever remember!). Take a look through this booklet to find 12 pages packed full of daytime and nightime events to make sure that you never have a dull moment during your first week at RGU. If you have any questions about any of the events listed, give us a ring on 01224 262 263 or drop us a line over on our Facebook or Twitter pages: facebook.com/rguunion facebook.com/rgufreshers2012 twitter.com/rguunion #rgufw12
Under 18 ? It is important to note that The Institute Nightclub (our Official Partner) is an over 18’s venue, and you will not be allowed in if you cannot prove your age. You are more than welcome at RGU:Union however! The Union is a private members club, which means that we can let in any student, as long as you are 16 or over. Just don’t try and buy alcohol from the bar though, as you will be asked to leave if caught.
Be part of
every night
with a Freshers Wristband
RGU:Union and our Official Nightclub Partner, The Institute, have teamed up to bring you nine MASSIVE nights, split across 2 fantastic student venues. You can be part of every night by buying an RGU Freshers Week 2012 Wristband! The wristband will get you FREE ENTRY and Q-JUMP to all events being held at The Institute during Freshers Week. That means you get free entry to MINISTRY OF SOUND UNITRASH BIG BANG TOUR, GAZ FORM GEORDIE SHORE, PRITCHARD v DAINTON (DIRTY SANCHEZ), SCOTT MASLEN plus all of the amazing theme nights including the IBIZA FOAM PARTY, UV WHITE PARTY, and more, for only £15! Bands are available to buy online at rguunion.co.uk, from your Freshers Team, and also from the Union its self. For full T&C’s, including information for students that are under 18 visit rguunion.co.uk All events being held at RGU:Union are FREE ENTRY to all students, whether you have a wristband or not.
All events listed in this guide are subject to change, so please keep checking our website & Facebook pages for the latest news.
Saturday 15th THE BIG MOVE IN!
Where: All RGU Halls When: All day
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d bull This is it, the big day. Your car’s full of boxes, you’ve driven for £ 4 . 50 hours and good old mum is fighting back the tears...this is where we come in! If you’re staying at RGU halls, you’ll be greeted by our Freshers Team when you arrive. They’ll help you to collect your flat keys, let your parents know that you’re in safe hands and (most importantly) help you to unpack your car. They’ll be back round in the evening to show you where the Union is, but shhh...don’t tell mum!
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RGU STUDENT BUDDY MEETING POINT Where: The Union When: 11am-3pm
A team of RGU Student Buddies are ready to meet you and to answer any basic questions you may have about the University and Aberdeen in general. These buddies are separate from our Freshers Team, but much like them they are current students with a wealth of local knowledge, who will be happy to answer your questions.
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LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE UNION: NORWICH v WEST HAM Where: The Union When: 12:45pm
We love football, we show it all the time! Come and watch all the best matches form the English & Scottish Premier Leagues on our 7 plasmas and 2 big screens. Oh, did we mention that our drinks prices are awesome? AND we serve food! There’s no excuse not to watch the big match at the Union!
RGU:RAG BIG BBQ TOUR: WOOLMANHILL Where: Woolmanhill Halls When: 1:30pm
You’ve spent all day panicking, doing last minute packing, lugging boxes around, travelling, lugging boxes around again, and unpacking until you got bored. So let’s chill for a bit, have a big BBQ. and get to know each other!
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LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE UNION: SUNDERLAND v LIVERPOOL
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THE RGUFW12 OFFICIAL WARM UP
Where: The Union When: 5:30pm Where: The Union When: 9pm
This is the first chance for you to go out for a cheeky pint or five with your new flatmates. Let our Freshers Team show you the way to the Union where we’ve got awesome drinks promos in our 4 bars, split over 3 floors, with some of Aberdeen’s best student DJs spinning top chart, commercial dance, electro, indie & student anthems all night, every night!
SCOTT MASLEN LIVE RGU FRESHERS WEEK APPEARANCE 18 Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know!
Freshers Week is go! You’ve sampled the Union, now kick off the best week of your life with a bang and party with us at our Official Nightclub Partner, The Institute. Special guest tonight is the sexiest man from the east side of the square, Scott Maslen, as he makes an appearance for RGUFW12. Ladies, try and contain yourselves!
Sunday 16th THE BIG MOVE IN!
Where: All RGU Halls When: All day Day 2 of the big move-in. Again, look out for our happy team of Freshers helpers (they’re all wearing orange t-shirts, you can’t miss them!) who will help you take your boxes up to your room. Make sure you give them the heaviest ones!
FREE POOL AT THE UNION
Where: The Union When: All day Now then, we know what you REALLY want to spend your money on during Freshers Week, so save your pennies and have a few games of pool on the house. That’s if you don’t still have the shakes from the night before!
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RGU CHRISTIAN UNION: CHURCH HUNT
Where: Meet at the Union When: 10am Our Christian Union Society’s annual church hunt, to help new students find a church that you feel at home in.
RGU STUDENT BUDDY MEETING POINT
Where: The Union When: 11am-3pm A team of RGU Student Buddies are ready to meet you and to answer any basic questions you may have about the University and Aberdeen in general. These buddies are separate from our Freshers Team, but much like them they are current students with a wealth of local knowledge, who will be happy to answer your questions.
RGU:RAG BIG BBQ TOUR: ROSEMOUNT Where: Rosemount Halls When: 1pm
LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE UNION: READING v SPURS Where: The Union When: 4pm
THE BIG RGU WELCOME PARTY
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Where: The Union When: 9pm This is the OFFICIAL start to the best week of your life! Get dressed up and head down to the Union as we kickstart Freshers Week 2012 in only way we know how...by partying!
OFFICIAL WELCOME PARTY 18
Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! Five bars packed to the rafters with thousands of RGU freshers, awesome drinks promos and the ultimate mix of commercial and student anthems. Welcome to your new home for the next 4 years, make yourself comfortable and let’s show The Institute how good an RGU Freshers Week is!
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FREE POOL AT THE UNION
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Where: The Union When: All day The morning (well, afternoon probably, you’re a student now!) after the night before. Get down to the Union, pick something from our all-day breakfast menu to help nurse yourself back to full health, and let us treat you to a few games of pool. Our bars open at midday as well. Just saying...
FREE ABERDEEN CITY BUS TOUR
Where: Picks up from Aberdeen Art Gallery (next to the Union) When: 10am, 1pm, 3:30pm Get to know your way around Aberdeen with our tailor-made RGU student bus tour. Let us show you the fun parts of the city: where to party, where to shop...plus find out how to actually get to the Garthdee campus! The route includes Old Aberdeen, Gallowgate, the Beach Esplanade, Torry, and more. There are three tours throughout the day, make sure you check one out, but get down early as spaces are limited.
MONSTER SAMPLING SESSION
Where: The Union When: 12pm-2pm Now, we know it’s only Monday, but you’ve had a busy weekend. If you’re still feeling the effects from last night and need a quick boost to kickstart your day, then come and see us at the Union as we host a special FREE sampling session with the team from Monster Energy Drink. Free samples of their favourite flavours and some new ones to check out as well.
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MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AT THE UNION: EVERTON v NEWCASTLE
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MONSTER TOGA PARTY
Where: The Union When: 4pm
Where: The Union When: 9pm Monster Monday continues with our own twist on a Freshers Week classic, the Toga Party! Now, if you wore your bed sheets into town on any other night of the year, people would think you’re just a little bit loopy. Luckily for you though, Toga Night breaks all the rules! So carefully craft your sheets into a top notch toga (YouTube helps!) then come and join us for our Monster Toga Party! We’ll have Monster goodies and stickers to give away throughout the night, so you can customise your toga even more!
TOGA PARTY with STAGE GAMES, CHALLENGES & PRIZES 18 Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! If you’ve made it this far with your toga still in one piece, then you’re doing well! The party continues at The Institute, with more toga madness, alongside some outrageous stage games and challenges - will you be brave enough to take to the stage in front of everybody? They’ve lined up some amazing prizes for the winners, including a brand new LCD TV! Perfect for your new flat!
Tuesday 18th EXPERIENCE ABERDEEN CULTURE FAIR
Where: Cowdray Hall (next to the Union) When: 4pm-7pm Are you new to Scotland? This grand and vibrant event has been organised, in partnership with RGU and the University of Aberdeen, to greet new international students arriving in Aberdeen and give them an insight into the culture of Aberdeen and Scotland in general. See our very own Lord Provost give a welcome speech, sample some of the local food and drink, cheer to the beat of Highland dancing or wander in a fantasy with some delightful Scottish poetry. There will also be a Japanese karate demo by a karate club of RGU Sport! Not only is this amazing event free but there will be loads of freebies to take home!
RGU CHRISTIAN UNION: TEAMTIME
Where: RGU St Andrew Street Building, Room C37 When: 7pm Find out a bit more about what the Christian Union do. Teamtime is their weekly meetup to equip and encourage their members.
TRAFFIC LIGHT PARTY with SOURZ
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Where: The Union When: 9pm Are you looking for that special someone? Searching for THREE BOW the perfect Freshers Week romance? Maybe you’ve WITH DIFF LS OF NACHOS ALL spotted your dream guy or girl at the bar already, but ERENT TOP PINGS are too shy to ask them if they’re available? Right then, it’s time for the Union to play Hitch, and hook you up! We’ve teamed up with Sourz to bring you our special Freshers Week Traffic Light Party. The concept is simple, you will be given a colour when you come into the bar, you let us know which one you want (Red, Yellow or Green), and you wear it proudly for the rest of the night. If you’re on the pull, look for the people with Green! We’ll also have special Sourz goodies and freebie giveaways throughout the night.
N SHARINAGCPHOS LATTER
£5
Red = I’m not on the pull. Yellow = Buy me a drink and I’ll think about it. Green = Free & single and ready to mingle!
IBIZA FOAM PARTY
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Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! The foam party, a Freshers Week classic. All throughout the summer The Institute have spent over £1million totally refurbishing their club, from top to toe...and we’re going to get it SOAKING wet! Imagine the biggest foam cannon that you’ve ever seen, then picture one even bigger than that, shooting all over the Institute’s main room. All of this set to a soundtrack of the best club bangers, delivered straight from Ibiza’s busiest dancefloors. Get ready, this will be a foam party like no other.
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SOCIETIES OPEN DAY
Where: The Union When: 12pm-4pm Find out more about the Union’s societies at our Societies Open Day. Join societies, chat to their members, and find out about how to start your own. If you can’t make this event, all of our societies will be at the Freshers Fayre on Thursday.
RGU CHRISTIAN UNION: WOOLMANHILL BBQ Where: Woolmanhill Halls When: TBC
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LIVE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: CELTIC v BENFICA Where: The Union When: 7:45pm
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BAYWATCH BEACH PARTY
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RGU:RAG SLAVE AUCTION
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Where: The Union When: 9pm Freshers Week just isn’t Freshers Week without a Baywatch Beach Party! Grab your bucket and space, put on your armbands, and look out your finest Hasslehoff chest wig as we go back to the 90s and back to Baywatch! Hit up the 1st floor for chart, cheese and party classics, or head upstairs and join us for commercial dance, chart and top student anthems. And who knows, if you’re lucky you might get to practice your mouth to mouth technique with somebody! Where: The Union Top Bar When: 10pm Got your eye on one for the Freshers Team? Want to have someone clean all your freshers week dishes? In need of a personal assistant for the day? RAG brings to you the Freshers Team Slave Auction. We’ll be auctioning off Freshers Team members for a 24 hours period. Highest Bidder Wins!
CRAZY CANCUN BEACH PARTY with GAZ FROM GEORDIE SHORE 18 Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! You’ve warmed up at the Baywatch beach party, now it’s time to practise your slow-motion running up the road to The Institute for the Crazy Cancun Beach Party featuring a special appearance from Geordie Shore’s very own Gaz!
Thursday 20th FRESHERS FAYRE
Where: RGU:SPORT, Garthdee Campus When: From midday OFFICIALLY the biggest freebie giveaway of the year! We take over the Garthdee campus for the day and jam pack it full of stands from bars, clubs, banks, shops, sports clubs, societies and more, all gagging to give you freebies! From posters and talking toastie machines to inflatable bananas and discount cards, get down from midday and grab what you can before it all runs out!
THE UNION’S BIG FAT PUB QUIZ WITH LEE & ROSS
Where: The Union When: 7pm The Union’s BIG FAT Pub Quiz is back for another year and kicks off in style this Freshers Week! Lee & Ross are back (at a slightly earlier time than normal) with the usual questions, prizes & ridiculous bonus rounds to start your Thursday night off. Register your teams at 7pm, but this WILL be busy so get down early to make sure you get a seat!
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CURRY & A CURRY, RIC PINT E
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Where: The Union When: 9pm The Union’s resident indie night makes its return for Freshers Week 2012 with a bang as we host a Jack Daniels Indie Disco. Expect the best new & classic indie dancefloor anthems from The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, The Smiths, The Cribs, The Killers, loads more, and of course Bloc Party. Get hot. Bounce around. Jump around. Get sweaty. Let’s turn this into an indie disco!
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JACK DANIELS INDIE DISCO
DIRTY BITZ vs INDIE-NIAL
RGU: SPORT
Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! The Institute mash things up on a Thursday with the launch of their brand new night, Dirty Bitz vs Indie-Nial. Stick in the main room for the latest in commercial electro smashes and remixes, or head upstairs to the indie room to continue the alternative feel. Thursdays just got interesting again!
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RGU SHOOTING STARS: DRAMA WORKSHOP
Where: The Union When: 2pm-4pm We will be hosting a relaxed welcome workshop for all interested members where the committee will be introduced, we’ll break the ice and most importantly, have fun! We’ll also be discussing the production and show plans for the year and make sure everyone knows the plan of action!
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PIZZA & CO KE M E A L 12” pizza DEAL fro
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RGU FREETHOUGHT SOCIETY: HOW TO BE A PSYCHIC CONMAN
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LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE UNION: BLACKBURN v MIDDLESBROUGH
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SCHOOL DISCO
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HOUSE OF HOUSE | FRESHERS PARTY
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Where: The Union When: 7pm A fully interactive demonstration of various tricks that psychics have used over the years. From the Fox Sisters through to Uri Geller, psychics have been claiming to be able to do things beyond our understanding. Where: The Union When: 7:45pm
Where: The Union When: 9pm What was your favourite thing about school? Science lessons? Early mornings? Rubbish food? Of course not…if you’re anything like us it was the discos! Look out your uniform for one last time and join us for a night filled with student anthems and old school classics. Deal? We’ll meet you behind the bike sheds! Where: The Union Top Bar When: 9pm This Freshers Week sees the Union welcome House of House into the top floor bar, as they introduce themselves to a brand new year of RGU students. The HoH boys have a growing reputation within Aberdeen, having thrown a number of successful events throughout the city over the last year. HoH residents Finnigan and Massey will each be bringing a variety of house stylings to get you warmed up for a Friday night.
MINISTRY OF SOUND UNITRASH BIG BANG TOUR
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Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! UniTrash is a brand new student night bought to you by Ministry of Sound. Since last year they have carried out over 100 events all throughout the UK. If you have been fortunate enough to attend one of these, you know what’s its about, “the latest in credible clubbing” and it’s just for students! Check out their soundcloud for free mixes and to hear what you can expect at UNITRASH event: www.soundcloud.com/unitrash
Saturday 22nd RGU STUDENT BUDDY MEETING POINT Where: The Union When: 11am-3pm
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A team of RGU Student Buddies are ready to meet you and to answer any basic questions you may have about the University and Aberdeen in general. These buddies are separate from our Freshers Team, but much like them they are current students with a wealth of local knowledge, who will be happy to answer your questions.
LIVE FOOTBALL AT THE UNION: SWANSEA v EVERTON Where: The Union When: 12:45pm
RGU:RAG BIG BBQ TOUR: LINKSFIELD Where: Linksfield Halls When: 1pm
POOL COMPETITION Where: The Union When: 2pm
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L L A B T FOOATTERSAUSAGE PCHLPIES, 4 JUWMLBOOF FRIES 2 SCOTOLLS & A BO R £5
PROJECT X UV RAVE
Where: The Union When: 9pm Undoubtedly the highlight of Freshers Week! For the fifth year in a row we will bring you Aberdeen’s original and best Freshers Week UV Party. More UV lights than you could imagine, buckets of glowsticks, and resident DJ Ross Murchison going all Dave Pearce for the night by spinning the ultimate dance anthems. Go crazy and make year 5 one to remember!
UV WHITE PARTY 18
Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! It’s the weeeeekend! You’ve been partying all week, so it’s probably time to have a little rest, right? WRONG! Freshers Week continues in style with The Institute’s UV White Party. Grab your glowsticks, slap on the UV facepaint and let’s cut some serious shapes!
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FREE POOL AT THE UNION
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RGU CHRISTIAN UNION: CHURCH HUNT
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RGU STUDENT BUDDY MEETING POINT
Where: The Union When: All day Now then, we know what you REALLY want to spend your money on during Freshers Week, so save your pennies and have a few games of pool on the house. That’s if you don’t still have the shakes from the night before!
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FOOT BALL 2 SCO PLA TCH P TT ROLL IES, 4 J ER S & A UMB BOWL O SAU £5 OF FRIES SAGE
Where: Meet at the Union When: 10am Our Christian Union Society’s annual church hunt, to help new students find a church that you feel at home in. Where: The Union When: 11am-3pm A team of RGU Student Buddies are ready to meet you and to answer any basic questions you may have about the University and Aberdeen in general. These buddies are separate from our Freshers Team, but much like them they are current students with a wealth of local knowledge, who will be happy to answer your questions.
RGU:RAG BIG BBQ TOUR: ST PETER’S Where: St Peter’s Halls When: 1pm
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LIVE SUPER SUNDAY AT THE UNION: LIVERPOOL v MAN UTD
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LIVE SUPER SUNDAY AT THE UNION: MAN CITY v ARSENAL
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Where: The Union When: 1:30pm Where: The Union When: 4pm
ONESIE & PYJAMA PARTY
Where: The Union When: 9pm Now them, it’s not often that you get an excuse to parade around town at night wearing your pink spotty PJ’s and your Scooby Doo slippers is it? Grab your pillows, grab your favourite teddy bear and grab your hot water bottle, because we’re seeing Freshers Week off with a massive RGU PJ Party!
PRITCHARD vs DAINTON: DIRTY SANCHEZ with 18 PYJAMA PARTY
Where: The Institute Nightclub When: After the Union - the Freshers Team will let you know! Pritchard and Dainton, founders of Dirty Sanchez, take their outrageous show to The Institute to close off Freshers Week 2012 with a BANG!
Monday 24th RGU SPORTS DAY
RGU: SPORT
FREE SHUTTLE BUS FROM GARTHDEE CAMPUS TO UNION SQUARE
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Where: RGU:SPORT When: 10am-2pm Finish the week off by getting active at our Sports Day! Have fun, de-stress and take part in sporting challenges and taster exercise classes. Where: Picks up from RGU:SPORT When: 2pm
UNION SQUARE: MALL OF RESIDENCE
Where: Union Square Shopping Centre When: from Midday Freshers Week is over and it’s nearly time to hit the books...but there’s still time for one last day of fun. Union Square is Aberdeen’s destination for big name brands, restaurants and movies so why not join our ‘Mall of Residence’ on Monday 24th September between 9am and 11pm for free movie screenings and gaming on the big screen at Cineworld, offers and discounts in stores and restaurants, as well as fun on the on the mall and in selected stores throughout the day. Visit www.unionsquareaberdeen. com/students for all the latest info, offers and discounts....That’s why we love Union Square.
SHOT ROULETTE
Where: The Union When: From 5pm Do you feel lucky?? Spin the wheel and see what drink you land on...it could be one of over 15 bombs or shots! Sourz flavours, Bombs, Shooters and more. Only £1 per play!
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THE MALL OF RESIDENCE
STUDENTS
FRESHERS
SHOP HERE
MEET HERE
BE SEEN HERE
DRINK HERE EAT HERE
BUT DON’T SLEEP HERE!
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THE STUDENT DAY MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER For more info on offers, discounts and what’s happening on the day visit our website. That’s why...
www.unionsquareaberdeen.com/students