By Tony Costin
As Welcome Week rapidly approaches and students across the country, even across the world prepare for studies in Staffordshire, the Students’ Union is a hive of activity, busy with preparations that have been months in the making.
Starting on Saturday 12th September, Welcome Week promises to introduce new students to Staffordshire University and their Students’ Union in the best way possible, as well as breaking the ice with each other. With a variety of unmissable events, from nights out in the LRV and comedy shows to society meet and greets and tasters, everyone will find something that’ll make their new place of study a fantastic place to be.
Also available will be the brand-new ‘Purple Explosion’ mini-events, such as hook-a-duck, tombola and space hopper racing, which students can find across both Stoke and Stafford campuses throughout Welcome Week and meet classmates, new friends and even win prizes.
Kat Clark, the union’s Student Engagement Intern, has spent the last three months with her colleagues planning events like ‘Purple Explosions’ and many others for all students to enjoy, developing new ideas in response to feedback from years past.
She said: “A lot’s gone into it this year. For the last few years we’ve mainly done large, scheduled events and the one thing we got from feedback was that people couldn’t always make it to them because of academic conflicts or extra-curricular activities.
“So this year there’s going to be an additional 60 little events [‘Purple Explosions’]. They’re little drop-in, drop-out activities, none of them run for longer than 45 minutes, which means we can get more students engaged with the union, knowing it is there and what we do.
“The idea is to show that the union is there for you. We’re often seen as an invisible identity; students see all the events going on and assume they’re being run by the university, when actually a lot of them are run by us, as well as clubs and societies.”
Elected student officer Ash Holland has also been hard at work in the run-up to Welcome Week and prepares for a very hands-on role along with his fellow officers.
He said: “We’re all going to be out there talking to students, seeing what they like, what they don’t like, to show that we’re here for you. There’s lots we can do to make your time at Staffs blend in nicely at the start and throughout your time here.
“We’ll also be visiting all the faculty meetings, meeting the students who we’re representing and showing you where to come if you need any help.
“There are some great events going on at all the different venues. I’m personally looking forward to the roller disco on the Tuesday night.
“My first Welcome Week was crazy and scary at the same time, I didn’t know what to expect. But I met some people on my course and in my faculty and a made a new friendship group and connections that without I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”