FRESHERS WEEK EDITION

South College is a diverse college full of people with different talents and interests, and our societies are the perfect way that South can showcase these. If you ask anyone around college, they will certainly recognise the importance of sports and societies at university, and Durham’s size means that there will definitely be a group that you are interested in! For me personally, being an active member of two of South’s societies has changed my university experience for the better in numerous ways, allowing me to express my creativity and develop personal and professional bonds with lots of people around college, many of whom have become truly valued friends.

Over the last academic year, South’s performing arts scene has grown and developed beyond recognition, with the creation of a new theatre company, Oswald’s Players, which has put on two shows so far, a pantomime and a musical. As I am writing this article, myself and three other members of the company are writing our next pantomime which shall be performed in the wonderful Mount Oswald Hub Hall on the 18th and 19th of November. Music and Dance have also really found their feet over the last year, collaborating with Oswald’s Players for these shows to happen, but also individually, with Music Soc hosting open mic nights and Dance Soc hosting weekly dance classes for all abilities in the Mount Oswald Hub Dance Studio. Dance Soc is also hosting South’s first ever South Come Dancing on the 29th of November, a one-night version of Strictly with all profits going to Movember. All three groups are very excited to welcome the next cohort of Southies to their activities, and we would love to see as many people involved in performing at South, whether that means they wind up on the stage or behind it, perhaps assisting our incredible JCR Tech Officer, who makes practically every event at South possible.

The JCR Executive Committee have also just ratified new societies, including Feminist Society and Mahjong. Compared to other colleges, South may be lacking in terms of the number of societies, but this only means there is more space for new ones to be established!

If you have a burning idea for a new student group, please don’t hesitate to get it going.

All you need to do is find yourself an executive committee comprised of, as a minimum, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and fill out the Sports and Societies ratification form which can be found on the JCR website. Once you have filled this form out, send it to myself (south.jcrsocieties@durham.ac.uk) and Oliver, the JCR Chair (south.jcrchair@durham.ac.uk) and it will be added to the agenda of a JCR Executive Committee meeting, where the members shall discuss your application and let you know the outcome.

The execs of all of South’s societies cannot wait to meet you all during Freshers’ Week and get you involved in one of the best sides of Durham life! ∎