Which societies are active?

[Guest]

I have decided to get out and do more by joining some fun societies. From experience I know that some societies are very active with lots of meetings and others tend to fizzle out after freshers week.

I am hoping to hear the opinions of people who are involved in societies. Which ones do you recommend joining, just for the purpose of having a good time? Which have regular meetings/events - i.e. 1-2 times a week or fortnightly?

Thanks!

[tintin]

Don't join the Labour Club - I've heard that the enthusiasm among St. Andrews students for it gets so much that they tend to fold, especially at General Election time! I went to a meeting of theirs a couple of years back and only one person turned up i.e. me!

If politics is your thing, look into the Tories - they have a reasonably active campaign programme and some members of the comittee are seemingly enthusiastic about the task ahead - email them on stauca@st-and.ac.uk.

The best thing would be to check out when the societies have their pub nights - the Sports ones all have details of when and where they meet.

There are some Academic societies like Astrosoc which are extremely popular, because of a universal appeal (no pun intended!) and they meet every Wednesday for a talk and then do observing in the evening, all of which is free. www.astrosoc.com.

Go to the Union General Office and get the Societies Directory; it has descriptions of each society and what they do in it.

Good luck.

[Sebastian]

Is it just me or does the previous post (or at least the first part) seem to be more propaganda than anything else.

If you're interested in politics join the Tory party seems a bit of an odd slogan, join the party whose policies you agree with, not the one some bloke called Tintin tells you to.

Most of the music societies seem pretty active, as do many of the sports societies. At the end of the day its down to what you're actually interested in.

[stan-drews]

A slight correction to the address of astrosoc's website. It's now at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~astrosoc since we lost the .com over the summer.

Try The Sinner's guide to St. Andrews for info about some socities. http://www.thesinner.co.uk/article-view.php?article=6

[labour]

Actually, we are active this year. We've got loads of upcoming events, including talks and discussions by/with Cathie Jamieson (Scottish Minister for Justice), Lord Robertson, Anne Begg and others.
We're also going to Labour Students Council in three weeks for more informed discussions, including a Q & A (aka argument) with Alan Johnson, Higher Education Minister. Two weeks ago there was a drinks session with Jack McConnell and a chance to talk with him about the work of the Scottish Executive.

Our chair/president was elected to the National Policy Forum for Labour Students, which is the policy formulating body and was instrumental in ensuring that Labour Students has a policy against Tuition Fees and for maintenance grants/loans which actually give you enough to live on.

We don't agree with the government on a lot of things, and we're not afraid of saying so, but we have every reason to be proud of this government for a lot of the things they've done.


edit:

Apologies for using a plural when it's just me writing, and also for writing in the third person.
[hr]Blairism is to the Labour movement what America is to democracy.

[Thalia]

Project Anime has video showings in the Salad Bowl every Monday although if you're not into subtitles or anime then it's possibly not your thing...check out the message board here on the sinner if you like ^_^

[hr][s]A Question
A voice said, Look me in the stars
And tell me truly, men of earth,
If all the soul-and-body scars
Were not too much to pay for birth.
---Robert Frost[/s]

[Andrew Cusack]

The Catholic Society is very active. We have talks every Wednesday evening, which are usually followed by Q-and-A sessions with the speaker, then evening prayer, and then off to the pub.

You certainly needn't be Catholic to join or to come along. We have a few non-Catholic members. If you're interested in religion, philosophy, or ethics, it'd be interesting anyhow.

For more information see:
http://uk.geocities.com/canmorecatholic/ or email me (Andrew Cusack, publicity director) at ac66

[Zombie Sheep]

The Federation of Student Nationalists is hoping to start up a branch in St Andrews and a few of us are attempting to get enough members together to affiliate. If you would be interested in this, we are meeting in Droothy Neebors at 7pm on Monday 8th December to discuss some ideas. The FSN is linked to the SNP but has full decision making powers and can choose to disagree with the main party if need be. Anyway, if you are interested, pop along then or drop me an email through my profile bit.

[Simon Atkins]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 06:25, 29th Nov 2003:
I have decided to get out and do more by joining some fun societies. From experience I know that some societies are very active with lots of meetings and others tend to fizzle out after freshers week.

...Which have regular meetings/events - i.e. 1-2 times a week or fortnightly?


Most affiliated societies are relatively active and meet regularly. Many of them have to meet regularly as they teach things (e.g. BALADS) and it would be difficult to do this if they didn’t. It may also be worth looking at sports clubs as far as I’m aware almost all of these will do some thing on a weekly or fortnightly basis, as training has to be kept up.

[tintin]

"The Federation of Student Nationalists is hoping to start up a branch in St Andrews and a few of us are attempting to get enough members together to affiliate."

I wish you the very best of luck!!

[Kelp]

No one reading this thread could accuse St Andrews students of being conservative. When asked for society suggestions the first responses are enthusiastic promos for the Tories, the Catholics, and a group of Nationalists.

Dear World, St Andrews needs your help!

[Miss Maryland]

if you're a girl, then i would reccommend eidsoc (ethnic dance). there is a salsa lesson every thursday (or is it every other thursday), and every other saturday there is a belly dance lesson, and the performance group meets on the saturdays in between.

if that interests you, there will be a lesson at the salad bowl in the union next saturday from 4-6 pm. i think the lessons are 3 pounds each if you've paid the membership fee. you don't need any previous experience, the only requirement is that you are a girl.

if you're a guy, i hear that the salsa classes are a great way to meet girls, if you're up for that sort of thing.

[hr]...and there was much rejoicing.

[Nick Mitchell]

Although I can't really speak for this year's members, Rocksoc has traditionally been a very active society which is very friendly to new members and has a real community built up around it. It's a very good way to meet new friends and it has always been quite diverse, so don't be put off by the impression some people have of it as full of miserable, self-obsessed goths.

[josephn]

A good way to find out about most of the societies is by going to their webpage, if possible, and / or e-mailing questions about the society. Unfortunatly the Union's societies link page doesn't contain too many links so here are some I've found:

AU - this site has links to most of the sports societies, the links page is: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/%7Eauweb/Cl ... CLUBS.html


The unions society link page can be found at: http://www.yourunion.net/main/societies

Ju-jitsu: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~ju-jitsu

Rock Soc: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~rocksoc

Neo Tokyo: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~neotokyo

Classics: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~classoc

Real Ale: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~sauras

Astrosoc: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~astrosoc

Charites Campaign: http://www.usacc.org.uk/

And finally a plug for QuantumSoc, plus we're having a guest lecturer on the 3rd December, 3:15pm @ Physics Theatre B

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~quantum

IMAGE:www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~quantum/misc/qsoclink.jpg

[josephn]

A good way to find out about most of the societies is by going to their webpage, if possible, and / or e-mailing questions about the society. Unfortunatly the Union's societies link page doesn't contain too many links so here are some I've found:

AU - this site has links to most of the sports societies, the links page is: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/%7Eauweb/Cl ... CLUBS.html


The unions society link page can be found at: http://www.yourunion.net/main/societies

Ju-jitsu: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~ju-jitsu

Rock Soc: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~rocksoc

Neo Tokyo: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~neotokyo

Classics: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~classoc

Real Ale: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~sauras

Astrosoc: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~astrosoc

Charites Campaign: http://www.usacc.org.uk/

And finally a plug for QuantumSoc, plus we're having a guest lecturer on the 3rd December, 3:30 @ Physics Theatre B

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~quantum

IMAGE:www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~quantum/qsoclink.jpg

[Anon.]

[s]Miss Maryland wrote on 16:14, 30th Nov 2003:
...the only requirement is that you are a girl.

Doesn't that contravene Union membership policies for affiliated societies?

[Miss Maryland]

[s]Anon. wrote on 00:40, 1st Dec 2003:
[s]Miss Maryland wrote on 16:14, 30th Nov 2003:[i]
...the only requirement is that you are a girl.

Doesn't that contravene Union membership policies for affiliated societies?
[/i]

no, because its the requirement for the belly dancing lessons, not for membership. guys can be members and go to the salsa lessons. the reason why guys aren't allowed in the belly dancing practices is because it would make most of us feel uncomfortable, especially those who don't wish to be in the performance group. besides, traditionally men aren't permitted to mingle with the women while they dance.


[hr]
...and there was much rejoicing.

[Lindsay]

The Shire of Caer Caledon is quite active. We meet every Sunday in the Undercroft of the Medieval department and also hold regular medieval style feasts and castle trips. For more info see:
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~caledon

Real Ale is also active with regular pub meetings (check out our fantastic new notice board in the Whey-Pat) and several trips planned (not to mention the mother of all St Andrews Pub Crawls!!!)

I can also give a hearty endorsement to Rocksoc!

[hr]Time is the best teacher. Unfortunately she also kills all her pupils!

[Buzzboy]

[s]Miss Maryland wrote on 00:54, 1st Dec 2003:
[s]Anon. wrote on 00:40, 1st Dec 2003:[i]
[s]Miss Maryland wrote on 16:14, 30th Nov 2003:[i]
...the only requirement is that you are a girl.

Doesn't that contravene Union membership policies for affiliated societies?
[/i]

no, because its the requirement for the belly dancing lessons, not for membership. guys can be members and go to the salsa lessons. the reason why guys aren't allowed in the belly dancing practices is because it would make most of us feel uncomfortable, especially those who don't wish to be in the performance group. besides, traditionally men aren't permitted to mingle with the women while they dance.

[/i]

Okay, so does that mean I could set up a society for warrior haka and ban women from attending?

[hr]
On the Seventh Day God said to Adam:

"Can I leave it with you?"

[Thackary]

[s]Buzzboy wrote on 11:03, 1st Dec 2003:
Okay, so does that mean I could set up a society for warrior haka and ban women from attending?


Yes, as long as you make the society open to everyone, and host other events for both men and women.

Alternatively, you could simple form a society as above and ban women from attending; you just won't be allowed to affiliate to the Students' Association.