Freshers 2014 Issue

theknowledge The Official Student Newspaper of UPSU September 2014, Fresher’s Issue

News/ Opinion/ Life/ Culture, discover more inside theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk

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Your executive office team update facebook.com/execofficers

President | Sarah Bowman As President I am responsible for leading the Executive Officer team and supporting student campaigns and projects that affect issues important to you. I will represent you locally, nationally and across the University to ensure that your voice is at the forefront of every decision making process and everything that the SU and the University do, so that you have the best time as a Plymouth Uni student! @UPSUPresident VP Education | Ruth Titmuss Education is one thing we all have in common at University and it’s vital we can make the most of it. Education should be fun, informed and available and I’m here to make sure you get everything you need from your education! I love a good chat, especially hearing what you want to say – so make sure you come and say hi. @UPSUeducation VP International & Outreach | Will Holmes I’m here to represent all the international students, and students who study at our Partner institutions. This year I’m trying to promote cultural diversity at the University and encouraging both Partner Institution and international students to become more involved with UPSU. If you see me around, come say hi! @UPSUIntOut VP Societies & Sport | Emily Hamilton-Peach My role is mainly to come up with ideas to improve societies and sports and to implement any changes that students want and need. I am also a trustee of UPSU so oversee everything that happens within the Union. I am your voice, so anything that you think needs improving in the Students’ Union or the University then let me know! @UPSUsocsport VP Welfare | Rich Skipper I’m responsible for representing students on welfare issues which varies from finances to safety and health to accommodation. My aims are to make sure that your voice and feedback is heard, not only by the University but in the city too. To help build a student community and champion diversity.

To empower and equip you with the information you need so you don’t get ripped off by rouge landlords. @UPSUwelfare

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Editor’s note Hello and welcome to a new year at Plymouth University and the Fresher’s issue of The Knowledge. Can you believe it’s the start of term already?

The paper has changed hands this summer and I would like to say farewell and good luck to its previous editors as they embark on a new academic year or enter the graduate job hunt. I’d also like to give a big hello to the new editorial team who are bigger and more enthusiastic than ever.

Over the summer we reflected on last year’s achievements which included healthy debate, engaging news stories and most of all, winning ‘2014 Society of the Year’. We also spent a number of weeks preparing more exciting opportunities for all writers and readers of The Knowledge and welcomed a Science section to help cover as many achievements from as many departments as possible.

In this issue, we ask our writers to look back at their own Fresher’s experience with the hopes of inspiring and reassuring all new students. As well as this, we document some of the University’s sport and society success stories including UPAD’s performance at the Edinburgh Fridge Festival, and Lorenzo Chiavarini’s U21 Laser World Champion title. Finally, we bring you a first-hand look at the revamped Student’s Union and discuss the latest social media craze: The Ice Bucket Challenge.

So whether you’re lost on campus or enjoying the new SU, sit back, have a read and enjoy the beginning of a new academic year. If you find yourself inspired by any of our stories read more on our website or join in the discussions by emailing contact@theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk See you next issue!

Lauren Chivers, Editor-in-Chief

The Knowledge Team Editor-in-Chief | Lauren Chivers Deputy editor | Madison Taylor Content Editors News editors | James Richardson and Adam James Spotlight editor | Samantha Lees Science editor | Edward Tyldesley Environment editor | Hannah Milburn Opinion editors | Elizabeth Morgan and Martin Dospel Life editor | Megan Pollard Style editor | Harriet Webber Arts editor | Kallum Catterall Entertainment editor | Simon Stone Sports editor | Rhiannon Daisy Societies editor | Emma Chappell Design Design editor | Jordon Hill Web editor | Benjamin Evans-Raspison /theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

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News

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/news

Meet your brand new Student’s Union

By Lauren Chivers A few months ago The Knowledge was the first to give students a look at the plans for the new and improved SU, in partnership with Plymouth University. September is upon us, term is about to start, and the new SU is now open for business.

Having been invited to the official UPSU launch party, The Knowledge proudly presents a first-hand look at the venue and everything it has to offer with a before and after comparison: Originally, the entrance was a bland, concrete walkway that lead dark and damp to the SU’s entrance, with bright blue window frames showing the way. To the left was a disabled entrance to Costa coffee and to the right, stood a wall supporting adverts including Co-Op. As you stood in the cold queue on Friday night the material cover above you stretched across the walkway and didn’t quite shelter you from the wind and rain.

The new entrance offers full coverage when you’re queuing, with lights guiding your way, a clear roof and brand new flooring.

Once you’ve entered the SU you’ll find yourself in The Snug – distinct with its blue walls and red leather sofas.

The Snug tends to be the best place to meet, housing an ATM, a small bar and access to lockers and restrooms.

This room was never shy of doorways and small sets of stairs/ramps leading to Costa, the Burst Bar and Sublime.

Unrecognisable, the Snug offers colour-coordinated lanes towards ticket booths, disabled access and a much more colourful, welcoming invitation to the rest of the union.

Bright pink, green and orange will guide you to a round table and the first of three bars, offering various levels for both smoothies and cocktails.

The most recent recruit to the old SU was this fruity area, sat like an intermission between bar and bigger bar with a taste of the 60′s in its colour scheme and table decoration. It was also used as another walkway between Snug, Sublime and Illusion.

The Burst Bar is now the first bar you greet on your way through the Union, with a bright counter and a colourful selection of drinks to choose from. The Burst Bar and Snug offer not only an new bar but lime green cubby-hole seating with small TV screens.

Illusion was originally a room for ping-pong tables, fair stalls, small talks and home to a small stage for the University balls and other events. /theknowledgeplymouth

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Illusion is one of the greatest changes to the SU, offering a more inviting bar, a large number of colourful pink seating and a state-of-the-art light and sound system finished with a large projector for the all-important meetings.

Finally, the room you probably spent the most time in: Sublime. Originally this room was home to a large bar, the café, a variety of seating, pool tables and the main venue for students on Friday and Saturday nights. Sublime has been brightened with colour that extends through the rest of the Union, offering brand new pool tables (in orange), a new wall-logo and swanky seating in the form of wiggly sofas and bar stools.

When speaking to The Knowledge, UPSU President Sarah Bowman said: “The opening of UPSU has been incredible! The University’s investment in this refurbishment is a prime example of our partnership, working together to transform the lives of our students through experience. We really hope this transformation will encourage different student communities to use our facilities and get involved in our different events, activities, campaigns, forums and much more! I really hope that everyone enjoys the new space and has a brilliant time with UPSU over the coming years!”

The refurbished SU opened to all students and staff at 7pm on Friday 12th September.

What do you think of the changes?

/theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

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Plymouth University and USPU donates over £20,000 to Teenage Cancer Trust

By Madison Taylor Teenage Cancer Trust received a cheque for nearly £21,500 from Plymouth University and the University of Plymouth’s Student Union.

He said: “The NSS offers students the opportunity to make their voices heard – and this year we wanted those voices to make a difference not just to the student experience of those who will follow in their footsteps, but also to a charity of their choice.

“I am therefore delighted to be able to present this cheque to a very worthy cause – and I’d also like to congratulate the Students’ Union on another wonderful year of fundraising.”

The University donated this large amount of money after a pledge they made to the students of Plymouth. They advertised that they would give £5 for every National Student Survey (NSS) completed by its final year students and the donation sum shows that approximately 1,075 graduating students responded to the plea.

The NSS is held every year from January to April, and offers students from across the UK, the opportunity to share feedback about their courses, student lifestyle, extra-support, housing and social life which gives the University an insight into the way in which students feel about their chosen institution and ideas in ways to improve the student experience.

Woodard added: “We’re very grateful for this generous donation from the university, which will help us to ensure that more young people have a better chance of a positive outcome from cancer.”

Sarah Bowman, returning UPSU president, said: “It’s amazing to see so many students giving their feedback to the university and getting their voices heard, whilst at the same time supporting a very worthy cause that is close to their hearts.”

This year, 4,295 Plymouth University students completed the NSS, and after a vote, chose Teenage Cancer Trust as the charity to receive the University’s donation, totalling £21,475.

Professor Richard Stephenson, pro vicechancellor of student experience, presented the cheque to Bridget Woodard, South West regional fundraising manager for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

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A problem shared: Plymouth students speak about their Fresher fears

By Samantha Lees University is one of life’s greatest challenges: juggling an exciting new world of independence alongside studying for a degree, and it’s not always easy. We asked some of our writers to let us know what they feared the most about coming to university, and how they overcame them.

“I was the first person to move away out of my friends, so my biggest fear was being forgotten! Luckily, I have a good pick of friends, and we all stayed in contact with frequent texts, Facebook messages and Skype sessions.”

Rhi Squire | 4th Year, Primary Education “As a mature student, one of my biggest worries was being accepted and being able to make friends. That’s something that I’d have felt if I had come straight from A Levels, too. Be yourself. The people who mind, don’t matter; and the people that matter, don’t mind. You’ll find friends, life-long ones at that. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”

Phil Ives | 2nd Year, Music “Fortunately, having lived in Torquay, homesickness was never a worry for me, although money troubles soon became a reality! My advice would be to certainly budget Fresher’s week (if you can remember!) but also consider getting a part-time job, that won’t massively effect your studies or social life. It will however bring in a much needed extra income to accommodate for an insufficient student loan!”

Fred Ayles | 2nd Year, History with English “Be who you are. I went in, made a fool of myself and wasn’t me. As it turns out, it didn’t impress anybody. I thought I had to be the one who was always drunk and loud and I’d dumb myself down. Turns out, it didn’t work out the best for me. My biggest piece of advice? Be yourself!”

Lizzie Morgan | 3rd Year, English Literature Don’t be afraid, instead, think of university as a learning curve, an experience that allows you the transition from your teenage years to adulthood. As our many of our writers have said, the basics to making it through are to make sure you embrace .the university culture, be yourself, start to take on financial responsibility and most importantly, enjoy yourself.

/theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

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Spotlight

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/features

Don’t get trapped in the university bubble

By Sarah Waddington You can write as much advice as you like to university students on how to procure success from your degree, on how many extra-curricular activities you should participate in and on how best to get that all important job after you graduate. But my one piece of advice, and you can take it or leave it, is most importantly to not get trapped in the safe confines of the university bubble.

What do I mean by that? I mean, it is all too easy to make friends with people on your course or from your halls in first year and stick with them until you leave. It is also too easy to walk from your flat to your lecture and home again, possibly stopping at Americano for a coffee on your way. It is also way too easy to write your essays and hand them in with minimum effort, and then go to Bang Bang on a Friday night and wipe out the rest of your weekend.

weren’t limited to stereotypical university life.

I made sure that I integrated myself into the community around me; I made sure that I took every opportunity that came my way; I made sure that I partied but also studied; most importantly, I made sure that I got to know and love the city I was living in.

Essentially, I think this is what has helped me walk straight into a job; not only that, my dream job (which I’m still feeling extremely amazed and grateful for).

I hate it when people say “I hate Plymouth”. Well, did you really get to know it?

My advice: get to know locals, volunteer, join a sports club outside of university, undertake work experience; contribute in any way you can. Don’t be lazy.

I know, because I’ve done all of them. But that’s not all I’ve done.

If I’d have just finished my English degree and hadn’t have done anything else to help my employment opportunities, I definitely wouldn’t now be working for The Herald.

Be positive, work hard, but still have fun.

I made sure that my three years at university

Burst that bubble.

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Science & Environment

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/environemnt

E-Cigarettes: Lifesavers or death sticks?

By Ed Tyldesley In an article published this week in the British Journal of General Practice it was claimed that if all 9 million smokers in the UK were to switch from tobacco to ‘e-cigarettes’, 54,000 premature deaths would be prevented each year.

However, in the same article it was pointed out that; ‘The proportion of those aged 16–25 years who have ever smoked regularly has stayed constant at 30% over the period when e-cigarette use has increased.’ This seems to suggest that even though this product which is designed to help people stop smoking has boomed in popularity, the amount of people who smoke has stayed relatively constant.

Does this provide a comment on the effectiveness of ‘e-cigarettes’?

This finding shows that ‘e-cigarettes’ do provide a useful tool to those who want to stop smoking all together, which means that if all of Britain’s smokers switched today from tobacco to ‘e-cigarettes’ over 54,000 premature deaths would be prevented. However, do 100% of people who smoke ‘e-cigarettes’ abstain completely from tobacco? It seems not. This ‘half-and-half’ smoking can be just as dangerous to your health as smoking purely tobacco.

Picture the scene, you go to a one-day festival and take with you a 20 pack of straights, depending on how much you smoke you are unlikely to go and buy another pack or even finish the one you brought with you. This would be a heavy usage day compared to most as you’re probably drinking for most of the day and enjoying yourself. However, if you take an ‘e-cigarette’ with you and are one the those people who use it as a cessation tool and are completely abstinent, you could easily end up smoking over 5ml of ‘e-liquid’ just because it is always there in your mouth, you can even smoke indoors! 5ml of ‘e-liquid’ could provide you with up to 48mg of nicotine which equates to 80-90 tobacco cigarettes! This isn’t including the ‘I’ve-had-a-fewtoo-many-drinks-so-okay-just-one-fag’ cigarettes you get through during the day-long party. Now I understand that this is an extreme one-off as these events are very rare. However it is suggested that the average ‘e-cigarette’ gets through 3-4ml per day /theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

which equates to anywhere between 7-28mg nicotine (based on agreed bodily absorption rates of 10-40%) and as we know, nicotine is a serious tumor-promoter and ‘…current data suggests that nicotine is not a benign substance in cancer progression.’

Nevertheless, nicotine is only one of many substances present in tobacco that can cause health issues and is the over-ignored younger sibling to tar. ‘E-cigarettes’ are marketed as a way to stop smoking tar filled tobacco and switch to a ‘cleaner’ alternative without losing the nicotine fix. In this sense the ‘e-cigarette’ is doing a great job of stopping us sucking in tar every day, unfortunately the advertising doesn’t mention that the nicotine is almost as dangerous as tar, especially in higher quantities. You can buy 30ml of 24mg/ml nicotine ‘e-liquid’ for under £15. That’s the same nicotine as 180-200 cigarettes.

It seems to me that in an attempt to help fully addicted smokers stop smoking, the ‘e-cigarette’ is enticing new and younger smokers to start!

Remember that first drag of a cigarette you took at school? It was horrible, disgusting and made your throat burn? What if it was cola flavoured?

There is a call to have legislation brought in to monitor sales, prices and health claims by the WHO, As well as regulation, the Royal Society for Public Health wants the devices to be renamed something like ‘nicotine-sticks’ (hence the Star Wars reference in the title). I’m not sure these measures would be enough to keep young people away from buying an ‘e-cigarette’ and starting to smoke. As we know the substances aren’t the only addictive part of the cigarette, both electronic or tobacco, one of the hardest addictions to beat is the oral and tactile fixation of holding and smoking the cigarette.

There is an argument that states that we are all adults and can make our own decisions, but where does this leave those who aren’t adults?

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Don’t be trashy: Recycle

By Hannah Milburn

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Whether you recycle a little or a lot, it all helps in reducing the amount of waste going into landfill, keeps your living space beer bottle free and gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after doing the right thing.

Whether you’re about to start your first year of university or are a returning student, it’s about that time when the quantity of empty beer cans and wine bottles in your kitchen is excessive, the bin is already overflowing and a pizza box is delicately balanced on top. But never fear, for as my mum always says “where there’s muck there’s brass”.how they overcame them.

The average student will produce 1.5 tonnes of rubbish during a three year degree, most of which will go to landfill, but much of which could be recycled and reused, it could even make you money.

Recycling is a hugely important part of our effort to take care of the environment and something everyone should be part of. It’s really simple to get involved with, requires minimal effort and can be very rewarding. Most things nowadays can be recycled in one way or another so before you throw anything away, check the packaging and see if you can recycle it. Keep a separate box or bin in the kitchen for all your recyclable bits and then simply take it out with your normal rubbish and put in your green wheelie bin. It’s really that easy. Plymouth City Council has created a list for students on what can and can’t be recycled and how to get started.

If you’re a little bit more artistic, there are endless possibilities to create something useful and original with your rubbish. For all those design students, why not use those wine bottles and 2L coke bottles as part of your project. Candle holders, vases, lights, tables, and plant pots are just some of the unique things you can make and even sell. For those of us lucky enough to have some outside space with their student digs, grab some spray paint, save some tin cans and turn them into funky outdoor candle holders and plant pots. Even better, give them as gifts for people and save yourself some pennies for another pint.

Coffee tables by Brazilian designer Tati Guimarães using 100% recycled material.

Perfect homemade presents for mum and grandma.

/theknowledgeplymouth

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Opinion theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/opinion

The Ice-Bucket Challenge is overrated

By Martin Dospel Let me start this article off by saying that donating money to any charitable organisation with a good cause is a fantastic gesture. By donating, most people are showing awareness of this terrible disease and what a person with ALS goes through on a day-to-day basis, and it should be mentioned that the power of social media can definitely assist in the journey of finding a cure.

The challenge was invented to show what it feels like to be temporarily paralysed, and gives you a short glimpse of what every second of every day is like for someone with ALS. However, the majority of the videos on social networking sites are not even using icy water, which was the whole idea behind educating people; and secondly, it seems like the majority of narcissists participating are doing it for their own self-interests.

It’s important to know what you are donating to and how it truly changes someone’s life. However, a staggering 53 percent of people who accepted the ice bucket challenge did not know the meaning behind it. This disturbing statistic should not be overlooked.

Have you ever wondered where the money goes? 75 pence in every pound goes to people who work for the charities which means only 25 percent of the money raised goes to the actual ‘charity’. The trend has still accomplished its aims of raising millions, despite the fact that half of Brits that took part in the challenge admitted they didn’t even donate afterwards.

Giving to a charity should be a private affair, else we’re no different than those billionaire philanthropists who establish legacies for themselves by openly showing how good they are.

I’ve heard a lot of people criticising celebrities for doing the challenges publicly. At its core, this trend is absolutely corrupt and proves to everyone how immoral ‘the West’ is.

/theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

Finally and most importantly, I recently watched a video by Water Aid that showed how precious a few litres of contaminated water is to people in Africa. Instead of deliberately wasting clean water and being cheerful about it on social media, wouldn’t it make more sense to donate to a charity which provides clean sanitary wells for those who need it, as well as donating to ALS? This trend has had me questioning why people ignore those ‘give £2 a month’ adverts on TV, but are happy to donate to this charity.

This challenge has been great for educating people about one worthy cause but it is awful to see so much water is being wasted just because we have access to it. Patrick Stewart did the right thing when he wrote the cheque and put the ice in a glass of whisky!

Participating in this challenge seems like a terrible idea to me, but I presume you’ve already done it. I hope this opened your eyes just a little bit.

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From student life to working life

By Nicole Newson In May I finished my final exams and my degree.

A month later I got my first full-time “proper” job which started straight away. To say going from student life to working an 8 hour day in an office was a shock to the system is an understatement.

Gone are the days of long lie-ins and nocturnal sleeping patterns and there’s also no chance of mid afternoon naps. Watching daytime television in pyjamas during the afternoon is a thing of the past, though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there is only so much Jeremy Kyle you can watch.

As a student being lazy is completely acceptable so long as you still get your work done and attend most of your lectures. Why shouldn’t it be acceptable? It’s the last time in your life it will be ever be deemed as acceptable.

Once you start full time work, the weekends become very important. You only have two days a week to see family and friends and to do everything you want to as you’re usually too tired in the evenings during the working week. You suddenly realise how much free time you had as a student and how much you took for granted those lazy weekdays you spent in the pub with your friends or those hungover days you spent watching films or those sunny afternoons on the Hoe. Those Wednesday nights out to Walkabout or Thursday nights at Oceana with all the cheap drink deals are long gone because going to work hungover is not an option. Before I started work, the last time I’d been awake at 6.30am was when I was going to bed after a night out or an all-nighter. Now I don’t see sleeping in at the weekend as wasting half a day but as catching up on sleep. Trying to reverse the nocturnal sleeping patterns from the last few years takes some getting used to.

freedom that comes with them should be enjoyed.

On the other hand, there are many perks to working life over student life. Being paid is the most obvious one, knowing you’re earning money for working and knowing the hard work will pay off at the end of the month rather than in six months’ time is much more satisfying. The thing I like the most though is that when I leave the office at 5.30pm I can switch off and not worry about work again until 8.30am the next day. It’s very different to my final year particularly when it came to my dissertation, when I’d often work late into the night.

I’m not saying that student life is a complete doss.

In fact going to University in between school and working life is a great way to gain skills that come in handy later whether you’re using your degree subject or not. At University and at work, you have to have the self-discipline to sit and do your work without a teacher nagging you to hand in your coursework and you often mix with people with very different personalities to you and have to get on regardless. Plus if you can get your coursework done in a noisy library with people chatting then you can get your work done in a noisy office with people chatting and making calls.

To all those still at University, make the most of student life and the freedom that comes with it because once you start working, you’ll realise how much you took it for granted. That being said, given the choice between studying again and working, I think I will stick to my job.

You also realise how much freedom you had as a student. If you didn’t feel well one day, missing a lecture didn’t really matter. You could procrastinate by going on Facebook as many times as you wanted throughout the day without worrying about your boss noticing. Neither of those are activities are to be encouraged but the /theknowledgeplymouth

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Life

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/lifestyle

Where to go if something’s not quite right.

As a young person in Plymouth, a lot of things that can go wrong health-wise. Whether you need support and advice, you need to get tested for sexual health problems or you want access to contraception, there are a range of places you can go in Plymouth to get help.

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The Zone Plymouth The Zone offers support for young people up to the age of 25. It’s a confidential, drop-in service that offers advice and information on relationships and sexual health, accommodation and benefits, drugs and alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

The Zone’s sexual health service offers help with almost all things, including:

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Free pregnancy testing Free condoms and lube Free emergency contraception Free chlamydia testing Free contraceptive pills/patch/implants Information on Sexually Transmitted Infections Termination of pregnancy advice and referrals Sexual health advice

They have a Nurse and a Doctor who are regularly available in the clinic. As the clinic is a drop-in service you do not need to make an appointment, but you may have to wait to be seen as the service can become very busy at times.

The Zone can be found on Union Street opposite Walkabout.

The GUM Clinic, Derriford Hospital The GUM (Genitourinary Medicine) Clinic in Derriford Hospital is the main place in Plymouth to go for sexual health. It’s a free and confidential drop-in service that’s open to everyone with no need for a referral.

Services offered: • Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV • Information, advice and counselling relating to sex and STIs • Free contraception and advice /theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

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Testing for Hepatitis B and C and provision of Hepatitis B vaccine for those at risk Unplanned pregnancy advice and support Pregnancy testing Provision of emergency contraception and some oral contraceptives.

Management of genital dermatoses

If you are unsure what is wrong, or if anything is wrong, then you will see a Doctor who will help as much as he can. They can also help diagnose any non-STI conditions that may be bothering you.

The Walk-in clinic is open from: Monday to Friday 8.30 to 10.30am.

You do not need to book an appointment.

However, if these times are inconvenient for you, then you can phone up and book an appointment to have later in the day. 01752 431124 In order to get to the hospital, you can catch the 86, 84 and 15 FirstBuses that leave from outside the Brass Monkey Pub. With an NUS Card you can get a Child Dayrider for £2.

The Cumberland Centre The Cumberland Centre is Plymouth’s Minor Injuries Unit, and offers a drop-in service for injuries that need seeing immediately but are not serious enough for A&E. However, the centre also offers other services, including a Sexual Health Service, which is run by appointment only.

UPSU Advice The UPSU Advice centre is an independent, confidential, impartial advice centre available to students regarding any aspect of their life. The advisors are available for students to drop in and see, or an appointment can be made.

Call: 01752 588380 or 0800 953 0155 Email: advice@su.plymouth.ac.uk

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Dear Fresher, enclosed is some advice, love from students of Plymouth University

By Madison Taylor

Fresher’s week, starting university and leaving all your home comforts behind is all that applicant students will be thinking about this summer. Whilst there is a lot of excited adrenaline coursing through veins, there will also be a lot of trepidation and nervousness. A handful of students from Plymouth University, who are not-only veterans of Fresher’s week but a source of information and advice, have given tips to the newbies joining us on campus in September: Dear Fresher, There is an abundance of opportunity outside your degree that you shouldn’t hesitate to involve yourself with, not only to make your years more rewarding and exciting but also to prepare you for life after higher education. University is more than just obtaining a degree: it is a chance to broaden your horizons in countless ways that will benefit you when you graduate.

Love from, Thomas Riggs | Graduating, English Literature and Creative Writing Dear Fresher, Don’t compare it to other people’s experiences. You may be best friends with the people you are placed with and live with them for the rest of your time at uni, or you may be the other end of the spectrum and tolerate them, counting down the days until you get to move out. Either way, treat it as a learning experience; you learn a lot about other people, but also about your own habits, likes and dislikes.

Love from , Rhi Squire | 4th Year, Primary Teaching Dear Fresher, Make the most of all events at Freshers (not just Societies and Sports and clubbing). Talk to course leaders, advisors and business representatives. These give you an insight into your course, potential work experience and options post-univeristy.

Love from, Lauren Chivers | 3rd Year, English Literature Dear Fresher, Don’t presume that your housemates are supposed to be your closest friends at uni, so don’t freak out if you don’t click, and if you spread your wings and make more friends, you’re more likely to find the right housemates for 2nd year. First year should be about societies and meeting people, leave endless nights in the library for 2nd and 3rd year.

Love from , Jodie Rigden | 3rd Year, English Literature Dear Fresher, Do not miss the freshers fair. If you play your cards right you should have enough pens, notebooks, bottle openers and vouchers to get you through the year. If your lucky you may even get a free Nando’s out of it!

Love from, Joshua Vaughan | 3rd Year, LLB Law Dear Fresher, Open your minds to new possibilities… don’t get stuck in a rut. Take yourself out of your comfort zone, and do new things as often as you can.

Love from, Phil Ives | 2nd Year, Music /theknowledgeplymouth

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Dear Fresher, When you arrive, explore Plymouth, but don’t just stay in Plymouth. If you’ve got a car, use it! If not, Plymouth has great public transport to the rest of Devon and Cornwall. Dartmoor basically starts where Plymouth ends to the north, and is great all year round for hiking and camping. On the south coast to the east you have some amazing beaches like Wembury and Bantham, and they’re good for surfing too. And to the west, well you have all of Cornwall. One of the best things about Plymouth is its location, so make the most of it.

Love from , Matthew Thomson | 3rd Year, Economics Dear Fresher, It has become a Plymouth urban legend that by Christmas you should have your housing sorted. Do you really want to be stuck with someone you’ve known for two months? There are plenty of lovely houses: take your time, choose your housemates wisely. Also know your rights when it comes to housing, and don’t settle for anything below your standards.

Love from, Samantha Lees | 2nd Year, English Literature Dear Fresher, University gives you a fresh start so you can revamp yourself by becoming the most confident and out-going person or the laziest hermit. Whatever you chose to do you will be recognised a couple of years later by people who saw you dress up as where’s wally only to have forgotten the glasses, so if you are going to join in with the fun and game – commit and don’t give it a second thought. The memories, photos and stories will be worth it!

Love from , Christina Boston | 4th Year, Primary Teaching Dear Fresher, Enjoy the time available in first year outside of academic study by being lazy, but remember that time does fly and you should think about what you want to have achieved by the time you graduate.

Get to know your flatmates and coursemates, and talk to the committee members of any society you like, they may be valuable contacts in the future.

Love from, Thomas Pashby | Graduating, Environmental Science We hope you enjoy freshers and the coming year, but tread with caution – your first year shapes who you are and how your university experience will pan out.

/theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

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Style

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/style-beauty

Staple pieces to see you through the year

By Harriet Webber Whilst your parents are arguing over the essential utensils for the kitchen, it’s time for you to decide what fashion essentials are needed for your wardrobe.

With a pinch of inspiration from our very own Campus Style, Style have created an ultimate fashion guide for every fresher and returning student this year.

Jeans are forever You can’t go through university without owning a decent pair of jeans. Always go for variety by investing in different colours, styles and cuts. (left) Isra 4th year Accounting and Finance (right) Megan Firmin 4th year Psychology Isra proves you can’t beat a classic pair of skinnies like Topshop’s Baxter jeans. They will go with many an item in your university wardrobe and they never go out of fashion. Megan opts for yet another classic by showing us how to pull off a pair of boyfriend jeans from Zara.

Nifty Knitwear Let’s face it, the winters in Plymouth are more savage then most. Not to mention the horrors of living in a student house with sub zero conditions. You’ll need to invest in some knitwear to see you through those cold months, but who says they have to be boring?

A bag to make Mary Poppins jealous A good bag is probably one of the most important things in your university wardrobe. It has to be perfect!

Practical yet stylish, different yet you. It must succeed where all other bags have failed; it must cope with an endless array of books and pens whilst succeeding in making you look fabulous all at the same time.

A coat to see you through the seasons For those of you who are already familiar with the utter delight that is Plymouth weather, you’ll know a good coat can go a long way. Again, this is a super important item for your university wardrobe so its important you invest in a coat that will see you safely through the cold and wet weather. (left) Rhys Joseph 2nd year Music (right) Dan Williams 2nd year Engineering Rhys and Dan have both chosen a classic coat that is both stylish yet practical. Rhys coat is from TK Maxx whilst Dan’s coat is from H&M.

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Keep it simple when it comes to ‘fashionable’ gym wear

By Verena Fiebelmann I’m sure many of you would agree that we start thinking about what to wear before even making any plans to go out. Uni? Definitely going to wear my comfy jeans. Pub? Maybe I’ll go for the denim jacket.

Not only is this stressful, but having to discover the new common knowledge of what is fashionable, acceptable and yet practical at the gym is on a whole new level to me. Walking through the gym doors to find the latest Nike gear, tight tops, hot pants and sports bras all colour coordinated can be discouraging. Going to the gym can quite frankly be very daunting without the added variable of ‘what am I going to wear here?’.

It seems as though being fashionable whilst working out is the new trend. Here is what I have observed to be deemed ‘fashionable’ at the gym.

Anything that has a Nike brand will most definitely be acceptable, so that covers anything from shoes to sweatbands. So these Nike Free 4.0 running shoes for women would be perfect, if you are willing to spend a lot of money.

Generally a lot of women seem to wear threequarter length workout pants or shorts, usually in black. Leggings and vest tops are also quite popular amongst the ladies. If you are one of the more confident types, wearing a sports bra is now also acceptable, so wear if you dare.

H&M do great deals on sportswear, this sports bra below is only £9.99. Anything that is figure flattering and tight around your curvy parts is now expected of women who attend the gym.

Most of the girls at the gym I attend actually wear make-up and have their hair nicely tied up, so each to their own I guess.

/theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

Bearing all this in mind, your entire outfit must also be fairly well colour coordinated otherwise you will stick out like a sore thumb. Guys have it a little easier; the general outfit amongst them are shorts or tracksuit bottoms, usually in grey or black. This is finished off with again a simple top, although, if you want to get the guns out, be daring and try out a tank top.

Personally, I think you should wear whatever you are comfortable working out in and forget about what is fashionable. The most important thing about the gym is that you are actually there, and every single workout you do, you get one step closer to reaching your goals.

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Arts & Entertainment

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/arts-entertainment

Day of Disconnect: Could you live a day without technology?

By Simon Stone Tired of being the only person not on your phone during pre-drinks? Well this campaign could be the answer to your problems.

On 4th October, the first global ‘Day of Disconnect’ will take place, as thousands of people will participate by turning off their phones, tablets and laptops to see if they can live without technology for just one day.

The petition page describes that, “Too many of us are chained to our smartphone, always looking down and never fully present. The sad truth is that it’s no longer culturally acceptable in most professions to say “I’m not available,” even for a day. It’s time to give ourselves a break.”

The official Facebook page, created on 22nd August, has quickly gained a fair amount of exposure, with 5,400 likes and over 18,000 shares. Bands such as Imagine Dragons have also shared it with their fans, gathering a further 36,000 likes, though comments in response to the post were fairly negative.

When we asked a few students for their opinions on the campaign, the response was generally mixed: “I think that is great, it would probably be easier to participate when living at home rather than living at uni – as that makes things a little more complicated. I think disconnecting from technology will hopefully bring people back into the real world and stop making people so anti social.”

Lizzie Morgan| 3rd year English “I had a month without Facebook… I found myself interacting with my friends more in person. I wasn’t chained to my phone or laptop to see what they were up to. I was more open to do things and more eager to get out of the house. I would recommend a gadget free day to anyone. Why should we be ruled by our phones?”

Ashleigh Howells| 2nd year English “Sounds interesting, but I couldn’t do it. I rely on my phone (email especially) for work, and people need to be able to get hold of me. Plus social media had become a great promotion tool, so it’s kind of a necessity for me.”

Vikki Patis| Graduate in Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies Could you live without technology for a day, or do you see it as a vital part of connecting with your friends and family? Let us know.

/theknowledgeplymouth

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Sports & Societies

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theknowledgeplymouth.co.uk/category/sports-societies

Plymouth student becomes Under-21 Laser World Champion

By Lauren Chivers Recently, Plymouth University student Lorenzo Chiavarini became the under-21 Laser European champion. Last month, he returned to better his title and become the under-21 Laser World Champion. The Knowledge was fortunate to be able to ask him a few questions about gaining his title and living the life of a sailor: Hi Lorenzo, congratulations on becoming the U21 Laser World Champion! You were also recently crowned U21 Laser European Champion, have you been able to let either sink in yet?

My goal after winning the European title was to medal in the Worlds; last year I was 4th, so I am still digesting that I won the World Under 21 Championship too, the standard was very high.

Tell us about the process of preparing for the championships. Did you have a specific training program or stick to a certain diet?

Both are part of my lifestyle and routine, to think and plan ahead. As an athlete I have a healthy diet. A combination of training on the water, gym, long bicycle rides and equipment checks are required.

During the training and the event itself did you have to overcome any difficulties?

In the Europeans my mast snapped in two during the final series so I had to perform flawlessly in the following races to have a chance of a medal. The conditions in the Worlds were inconsistant but we all naturally had to deal with the same difficulties and tactical decisions on the course.

The championships were held in France, does sailing in a warmer climate help you stay positive and motivated?

We compete in all weathers in all seasons so are quite prepared for anything. It’s great when you get good winds and weather. We travel to many destinations but rarely leave the sailing grounds, we are focusing on the event.

The title isn’t won in just one race, how do you stay focused for an entire week of sailing?

A Championship Event is usually spread over a week of sailing possibly 12 races. It’s a matter of consistency, concentration and also mental and physical strength.

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What’s your favourite sailing venue?

I used to say that home, the West Coast of Scotland, is the best sailing ground, I also appreciate training on Lake Garda.

How did you manage both your studies at Plymouth University and your sailing? Was one a bigger priority than the other?

It has been very difficult to honour commitments as a member of the British Team, to my sport and to University studies no matter how many hours you work, how organised or how determined.

If you weren’t competing what would you be doing?

What would I do if I were not sailing? I have been asked before, I cannot imagine not sailing but I could say, maybe a pilot.

Finally, I have to ask, how cool was it to meet the Queen and Prince Phillip at just 15 years old?

It was a great honour to meet the Royal Family in Scotland, what an occassion, what a memory!

The under-21 Laser World Champion title will top Chiavarini’s already impressive sailing profile that includes his recent under-21 Laser European Champion and 2012 under-19 European Champion titles.

Keep your eyes peeled for this young sailor as he progresses towards Rio 2016.

/theknowledgeplymouth @PlymUniStuNews

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UPAD at the Edinburgh Festival

By Callum Moffat In August, several members of the UPAD society performed their own play ‘Shakespeare’s Avengers Assembleth’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. We caught up with Callum Moffat to hear about the experience, and what they have planned for the new academic year.

What gave you all the idea to write the play?

The idea for writing the play actually stemmed from a UPAD workshop session about improvising Shakespearean scenes from famous plays; we saw a group take multiple Shakespeare characters and have them interact with each other. We discussed the idea afterwards and it all just snowballed from there!

How much practice was involved?

Before we travelled down to Edinburgh, we ended up doing about 2 weeks of pretty intensive rehearsals; 4 or 5 hours every day. But I think that we were helped by the fact that we’d already done a run in Plymouth in March, and by using as many of the original cast members from that as possible, we were able to get people up to speed relatively quickly.

How did you think it was received?

Before coming to The Fringe, we did our research and found that there are over 3,000 shows.

There’s so much competition that the average audience for a fringe event is just 4 people!

Needless to say, we were delighted when we had 28 on opening night, and the numbers just kept growing from there. We ended up selling-out 4 nights completely, with one night going over our maximum capacity with people sitting on the stairs. On top of this, not only were people there but they were actually laughing at our jokes too! It was an absolute pleasure to be on stage in front of the audiences we had and then to get the criticalreception of a 4-star review which completely blew our minds.

Where is next for Avengers Assembleth and the UPAD society?

I think quite predictably there’s a massive temptation for a sequel! We don’t want to rush into writing it though, and we’ll think it through very carefully before we start penning anything.

A lot of the cast, and almost all of the organisers, are now graduates, so we’re trying to set up our own theatre company, Drake’s Drummers, here in the southwest. As for the UPAD society, we’ve handed over the reins to the exceedingly capable Sarah Lawrence, who will be chair for the coming year. She’s got loads of exciting plans for the society, so be sure to keep an eye out for any UPAD shows!

/theknowledgeplymouth