My Embrassing Freshers Story

Article by Isobel Mcveigh Illustration by Flossyt Waters (@flossywaters)

When writing this piece, I sat and muddled my mind through all the embarrassing experiences university has brought me, from pre-drinks to club nights, socials to birthday parties. This process not only made me feel like the old fourth year I am but also incredibly nostalgic. I find myself extremely jealous of those who have all this embarrassment to come. I hope that, while they should be wary of these moments, freshers know that university is for making silly mistakesafter all, it gives you a great embarrassing story.

One of my favourites from first year isn’t just one but a chronicle of sorts. It was later named by friends as the drunken series of ‘Isobel tries to fit into small spaces’. However, the lead-up to these experiences started soberly. In first year, I lived in Glen Eyre Halls, a short walk away from campus with lots of green spaces. I would walk the same way every day to my classes, a cute path cutting through the accommodation. Every time I would pass a small hollowed-out tree stump covered in moss, and every day I would think to myself, “I could fit in there”. I can’t explain why this thought occurred or what reason I had for my desire to sit in it, but it was there. However, no sober person climbs into a tree stump at 2pm on a Monday with an audience of hungover students, so I let the thought slide.

A few days later my friends and I headed to Spoons to celebrate a flatmate’s birthday. After a pitcher or two, we stumbled onto the bus and headed home. As we walked the path back, I was struck once again by the thought of the tree stump. Fuelled by alcohol, I sprinted off towards it, much to the bewilderment of the rest of the group. I can tell you I did indeed fit in the tree stump. However, it came at a price. Several people now possess photos of me in compromising positions in the stump and candids of my drunken difficulties getting in and out of it. It had also been raining, a fact I hadn’t considered but regretted when I emerged coated in mud. My white jacket is still stained to this day. I would like to say that I learned from this embarrassment, but as you’ve probably guessed this wasn’t the case. With my first try at fitting into a small space a success, my drunk alter ego set out to do better. This is how I now know I fit into a tumble dryer, something I later told in a panic as my fun fact for an interview (I did get the job). Unlike with the tree stump, the tumble dryer fiasco was not pre-meditated. A friend and I left a Halloween party in my flat to collect our clothes from the laundromat on-site in halls, a mundane activity that was made interesting to us by our drunken state. When there, the question once more struck me of what small space I could fit into. I succeeded in getting into the tumble dryer, dressed in a ringmaster Halloween costume and fishnets; it is a great embarrassing video, I can assure you.

Some honorable mentions in the small space chronicles include: a laundry basket, a kitchen cupboard, a bed drawer, and my own wardrobe (which is an achievement if you know how many clothes I own). While these experiences were embarrassing, they do provide a funny story. So, I would advise freshers to not be afraid of making their own.

There are some key things you should know about Southampton when you begin your university journey. As well as all the best places to go and things to see, it’s really important to know what sort of things are available so you can utilise them and make the most out of your time at uni. Behold: SUSU.

SUSU, Southampton University Students’ Union, is a university-funded charity whose aim is to benefit students. As a student, interacting with SUSU can greatly benefit your experience. They manage societies and sports teams, as well as events and lots of services from wellbeing to financial advice. They also run some on-campus eateries, including Stags, The Bridge, and The Shop.

Most people will talk about SUSU, but also of Sabbs, which are sabbatical officers. These are five positions that are filled at the end of the academic year by students who are voted in by the community. They are the most accessible members of SUSU. For more information on each of them, you can find a wealth of videos and paragraphs explaining who they are and what they intend to do this year. For a starter, each one was asked to say hi and briefly describe their role.

Oliver Murray (Union President):

Hi everyone, I’m Oliver, your Union President! My primary roles include leading the Students’ Union, chairing the Trustee Board, and serving as the key link between the university, our organisation, and students. In addition, I also oversee the functional areas of sustainability, halls, and campuses. If you want to contact me about any questions or queries, please feel free to email me at president@soton. ac.uk!

Zoe Chapple (Vice President Activities):

My role as VP Activities is to look after all the nonsports societies affiliated with SUSU. This includes all the dance, performing arts, fundraising, academic, faith, cultural, business, media, and general interest societies. If anyone has any problems or queries in regard to societies, please get in contact with me via my email (vpactivities@susu.org), my Facebook @ZoeChappleSU, or Instagram @sususabbs.

Casie Osborne (Vice President Sports):

Hey, I’m Casie your VP Sports. I mainly deal with any sporting queries and all 140+ sports clubs. I really want to make sports accessible for all and I’m super excited for this year. Whether you’re nervous, excited or indifferent, I am here for you! You can contact me on Facebook at Casie Osborne SUSU or email at vpsports@soton.ac.uk

Aycha Ates Di-Adamo (Vice President Welfare & Community): ac.uk, Facebook at ‘Aycha SU’, or the Sabbatical Officer Instagram @sususabbs.

Hi all, I’m Aycha, your VP Welfare and Community! I lead on wellbeing and community campaigns, general welfare of all students and student safety, and work closely with the VP Sports and VP Activities to help them with welfare within clubs and socs. Feel free to contact me via email at welfare@soton.

Emily Bastable (Vice President Education & Democracy):

Hello, I’m Emily, your VP Education and Democracy. That means I represent every student at Southampton’s academic interests, from undergraduate to postgraduate research ensuring everyone has a voice. The best way to contact me is via email vpeducation@susu.org or if it’s a quick question you can message me on Facebook ‘Emily Bastable susu’.

*This is intended to be a brief, neutral summary of SUSU. As Wessex Scene is an independent publication, we are no stranger to doing more in-depth stories on SUSU and its affiliations. If you have a problem that you think needs to be addressed, please contact editor@wessexscene.co.uk for assistance on how to publish your experience.