Issue 02 - University of Surrey's Student Union

‘Challenging the
status quo of Surrey
student apathy’
By Jack Brockless ( Vice- President of Politics Society)
We have all heard the age-old idiom that students at Surrey are simply not
bothered when it comes to politics and activism. But the times they are
a’ changing, with a little help from the Politics Society. Autumn Semester
2008 has been an exciting time for us. Our AGM was held at the end
of the last academic year, with the new Committee entrusted with the
roles to build upon the successes and learn from the shortcomings of
previous years- with the over arching aim to be bigger and better than
before!
This year began with a strong showing at the Freshers’ Fayre, where
a great number of new Freshers, brimming with enthusiasm, came to
interact with the Committee members running the stall, decked out in
flags, posters, books and relics from previous Politics Society activities.
With many new names and emails taken, confidence was at an all time
high. This was further supported by a wonderful evening of student
frivolity at the annual Politics Society Pub Golf Tournament where
members, new and old, successfully “putted” their way to victory on an
alcoholic golf course. I hasten to add that the Politics Society promotes
responsible drinking at all times!
Next up was a Poker Event in the HRB, co-hosted with the University
of Surrey Poker Society, where members of both pitted themselves
against one another in a battle of wits and stone-like faces. The evening
culminated in an impromptu social in the bar of Wates House, where
once again many indulged in further responsible drinking.
Our recent Politic sojourn was arguably it’s most successful of the year:
the American Election 2008! Nearly 50 students crammed themselves
into Lecture
Theatre M (lovingly kept open by Campus Security, to which we are very
grateful), armed with snacks, drinks and election paraphernalia, to watch
the live footage stream. As the evening wore on and the responsible
drinking prevailed, the victory of Obama over McCain became a certainty,
much to the chagrin of the Republican supporters in the room! Yet all
were in agreement that the night had been a marvellous mix of beer
and banter. Proving yet again that politics can draw crowds. Perhaps
Surrey’s student body isn’t quite as apathetic as previously imagined
So what next Essays and exams loom, and as ever, the Politics Society
is respondent to the concerns of its members – so for now, she sleeps.
Next Semester however, the Committee is already thinking of new ideas,
social events and more formal events (speakers etc). On the horizon,
we are hoping to host our very first Politics Society Ball at the end of the
academic year (May 26 th ), so politics students can celebrate the end of a
year of hard work with dinner, dancing and further responsible drinking!
The two subsidiary societies of the Politics Society, namely the Debating
Society and the Model United Nations Society, will also be hosting their
own array of shindigs to involve and support the most political, active
and argumentative members of Surrey’s student body. Could this be
you
If you’re interested in joining the Politics Society then you can e-mail us
at ussu.politics@surrey.ac.uk, and click the checkbox next to our name
on the Guild of Students page.
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