Isn’t it funny how you attend the same seminar each week, with the same people, the same tutor and yet you only know half of the people in that same room? This may not be true of everyone but I feel it is fair to say that there is a large portion of students that are in this position, where what they do away from their academic study leads to closer ties with people, through a shared interest in something else. Why is this the case? With over 100 active societies running through the Students’ Union ranging from the Model UN to Buddhist meditation and from the Tango society to Debating, as well as over 30 sports clubs and outdoor pursuits clubs there is already a lot to be a part of.
However, what about building these links within our own academic communities, after all this is the common thread that draws everyone here together.
There are already pro-active departmental based groups running like the Geography society who organised an extremely successful end of year ball on Brighton pier and similarly the politics society who are taking a mini-bus full of people over to Northern Ireland to see Gerry Adams and a number of historically significant places. Or Q-soc, (Physics) who run regular socials and events for all their students. What goes on in your department? It would be great to get more departmental societies established affiliated to the Student union to help develop a thriving departmental community.
The main purpose is to aspire for a sense of a united campus community bringing students, faculty and support staff together. This can happen through organised departmental activities, like the Dodgeball taking place on Friday 5th December, 3-5pm at the sports centre open to students and staff who may like to get involved (sign up at Falmer House reception) or through informally organised coffee mornings for students and staff, to larger scale supplementary academic activities like workshops or headline speakers.
There is also the opportunity to look beyond the campus surroundings and into the Brighton area where there a numerous volunteering opportunities that can benefit the local community and provide skills relevant to degree courses and future careers. By becoming an affiliated society there is the opportunity to obtain funding as well as help with anything you would be looking to organise and it is only a matter of submitting a short form to the Activities Committee.
If you agree, disagree with what I am saying, or have some ideas about what I have said please get in touch on activities@ussu.sussex.ac.uk.
So, get a team entered into the dodgeball competition (Forms from Falmer House) and look out for more things that will be taking place next term! Ok, Plug over, think about what you would like to see take place and how you can get involved in your departmental life.
