Exec and Society

Societies

Who, what, where?

Martha Sanders Society Editor, luugryphonsociety@gmail.com

Illustration by Szu-Yu Chen

Hello and welcome to the Society section of the Gryphon, where we will keep you up to date with all the exciting events put on by the 300+ societies at the University of Leeds. We’re keen to shine a light on the amazing things that societies do here, while reporting on the innovative ways they continue to build communities despite the ongoing restrictions. Here is a tiny taster of what societies are on ofer this year.

Who?

Women in Leadership

What?

We empower female students at their future workplaces through various events with help from our sponsors and partners. We believe in diversity and inclusion whilst staying open minded and professional! This year’s sponsors include companies like Google, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Citi, etc.

Because of COVID, we prepared an entire contingency plan, both for professional and social events, moving some of our initiatives to online resources and events. We want to stay as active as possible so stay tuned with our social media, website and events! We will also be organising fun, social events.

Where?

www.luu.org.uk/women-in-leadership Facebook: Leeds Women in Leadership Society Irish Dancing We hold regular Irish dancing classes that are suitable for all abilities, from beginner level to advanced. Lessons take place twice a week with classes for both heavy shoe and light shoe. There are plenty of opportunities to perform throughout the year at events such as our society Christmas show, the LUU dance show and St Patrick’s Day celebrations. We welcome all students and non-students, and can’t wait to meet lots of new faces! Since lockdown began, we have enjoyed organising many virtual events to replace our usual classes and socials. Our regular dance challenges proved to be particularly popular amongst our members. To keep everyone occupied at home, we held a variety of Zoom socials. Due to the current circumstances we haven’t fnalised plans for this semester yet, however we are hopefully going to take part in a virtual dance competition and also organise a virtual Christmas show. www.luu.org.uk/irish-dancing Facebook: LUU Irish Dancing Society

Who?

Jiu Jitsu

What?

We are a friendly, welcoming martial arts club. We teach self-defence focusing on throwing, striking and locking in a safe environment. We practice multiple diferent scenarios in our sessions and allow our members to learn at a pace that suits them. Due to social distancing guidelines, the best representation of our club’s vibrant social scene is from previous years. As well as regular post training meet-ups, we have a wide range of inclusive socials. Last year these included trampolining, movie nights, bowling, and nights out. Throughout the year we make regular trips around the country to train with other clubs. We train and compete regionally and nationally with the best instructors in The Jiu Jitsu Foundation. As a result of COVID-19, we adapted to weekly online sessions which focused on technique and ftness. We ran weekly online socials, from movie nights to game show quizzes. We also participated in a running challenge over July in which we ran a total of 320.5km.

Where?

www.luu.org.uk/jiu-jitsu

Who?

What?

Where?

Facebook: LUU Jiu Jitsu Club

Who?

Comic and Graphic Novels

What?

At its heart, Comic Soc is a friendly group of geeks who meet up for a social every Tuesday evening. We host a large variety of diferent Tuesday socials, including evenings in the pub, bowling, movie screenings, laser quest, and, of course, our legendary Otley Runs. We also have a large comic collection to borrow from and have plenty of one-of events like con trips and midnight screenings.

Once term starts up again we are dedicated to continuing this precious geeky community in Leeds and running some form of event every week as normal! So far, we have trialled out online quizzes, interactive flm viewings, collaborative games nights, and even a “Quarantine and Quills” edition of our famous “Pints and Pencils” event. We also have also developed a new resource: an online comic book library! Stay tuned as we have some exciting new online events, as well as some never seen before collaborations in the pipeline that you will not want to miss.

Where?

www.luu.org.uk/comics-graphic-novels Facebook: LUU Comic and Graphic Novel Society

Campus Watch

1University of Manchester The university apologises after sending out ‘incorrect’ ofers to A-Level students

Whilst many students celebrated the Sixth Form graduations and, of course, Government U-turn that meant that the initial A-Level results algorithm 3 they were accepted on to university courses they had initially been rejected that saw thousands of students receive grades far lower than they expected and from due to undeservedly low A-Level deserved. results, some students faced yet another UoM apologised for the mistake and disappointment. suggested that it was due to the extra The University of Manchester sent work required due to the Government 1 out several ofers to students, accepting U-turn on A-Level results. They said them on to courses, only for them to that their staf were working extremely contact them again mere hours later hard to process thousands of pieces of to tell them that they had been sent in additional data following the updated 2 error. One student told the Manchester exam grades. Evening News that he felt “betrayed and heartbroken”. For those students impacted it is yet Alex Chitty another blow in a series of challenges. News Editor They have already seen a move to online teaching, cancelled proms and 2 University of Hertfordshire Overseas students fear losing their university Ulster University has followed in the footsteps 3 Ulster University Face coverings made mandatory at Ulster University Meet the editors... Alex Chitty Hi, I’m Alex. I am a fourth year places due to fees deadline of Queen’s University Belfast by making masks Politics and Parliamentary Studies compulsory on its campus for both students student. I think its important that

Overseas students attending the and staf. When the new academic year begins, our student newspaper holds the University of Hertfordshire feared they people must wear face masks in all enclosed University to account; I want writers could lose their course place if their areas, including lecture theatres and social to feel confdent in pursuing stories tuition fees were not paid on time. The spaces, alongside maintaining 2-metre social that they are passionate about. university reportedly gave international distancing. students a deadline of 24 th August for The measures have been introduced to Kerisa Carlin their full tuition payment. ‘support the phased return to campus,’ I’m Kerisa and I’m an English

One letter sent to a student disclosed following an announcement in June hoping to Language and Literature student. “If your debt remains and the fnal resume all on-campus teaching by September Not only am I hoping to bring new instalment of your tuition fees, which are 2021. The university has released guidelines on stories to life, I also want to due 24 August 2020, are not paid, you will how to wear a mask correctly around campus, encourage new voices to share be debt chased”. The letter than continued to ensure these measures are as efective as their narratives and create a paper to state “Your StudyNet will be blocked possible. that is more refective of our diverse and you may be withdrawn from your This will come as a relief to students readership. course, if your fees remain unpaid”. studying more practical-based degrees, who

In a comment to the BBC, a university will now be able to access practical classes Ella Jones spokesperson said “We amended our as well as lectures. The opening of libraries Hey, I’m Ella, one of the Online News payment dates to give all students more and sports facilities also means students can Editors. I’m a 2nd year Journalism time to pay both their accommodation return to some aspects of normal university student from Loughborough. and tuition fees - for example, agreed life. Most importantly, these measures will Including a variety of student payment plans with students until next greatly beneft frst-year students, giving them voices is important to making enrolment milestone”. a sense of normality in a completely unfamiliar the newspaper a diverse and

She also added “We are happy to discuss environment. representative media outlet, which and put payment plans in place for any The efectiveness of these new measures will is something I’d love to see happen! students afected, to give them more time certainly be monitored by other universities, to repay”. hopefully implemented countrywide as the Isabelle Thom

International students have to prove academic year progresses, as students and staf I’m Isabelle, I’m a fourth year they have the funds to cover rent, fees alike push to get back to normality. English Literature student and I’ve and living expenses before being granted just completed a Year in Industry visas. in PR so I’m really looking forward Kerisa Carlin Catherine Upex to putting those skills into my new News Editor role for The Gryphon!