The secret of societies

Try it, you might like it. Never a truer word said at university. Are you really willing to go the rest of your life never knowing if you had exceptional talents in the field of trampolining or debating skills to rival Paxman himself? No? Thankfully, you’re in the right place. Here’s why paying your student union membership and turning up to a society or sports club meeting could be the best thing you do at university.

Diego Carmona, vice-president for student activities at the University of London Union (ULU), was the co-founder and president of the Latino Society at Queen Mary.

“It was an awesome experience socially. I was able to form close friendship circles with other committee members as we ended up spending long periods of time together planning and organizing activities. It was incredibly rewarding and it leaves you with a massive sense of achievement.

“Being part of a sport club or a society can bring endless benefits to students,” he adds.

“Firstly from a social point of view, being part of a club can definitely help in the adaptation and integration process into university life, especially for freshers. Meeting like-minded people can be very reassuring at the early stages of university life and makes the whole experience all the more enjoyable.”

Oliver Walker, who graduated last year, agrees that joining societies can mean you’re rarely stuck for things to do on an evening. He took part in five sport clubs and societies regularly, and says ‘some of them, especially the football team, I joined because first and foremost it was great socially. And the guys on the team are now some of my best post-uni friends’.

“It had the benefit of being good exercise too,” he adds.

Diego emphasizes: “Most clubs involve a fair degree of physical activity. And there are reduced stress levels as students are able to get away from academic or other problems. They can then come back with a “fresh” mind and tackle these problems better.”

For this reason, he argues, indulging your hobbies, experimenting with other interests or playing sport can improve academic results.

And the choice is nigh-on endless. Whether you’re a sportsman, green-fingered gardener, starry-eyed astronomer or just a fan of Strictly Come Dancing who wants to give it a go, there is a club for you. On the off-chance there isn’t, you can start one. It’s unlikely (though, let’s face it, not impossible) that your interest is so niche that it will appeal to no one else.

Oliver Walker joined the Kempo Jiu Jitsu society, the Muay Thai boxing society, and internal 11-a-side and 5-a side football leagues. It’s rare that post-university, this range of activity will be available, especially for mere pennies.

For the less-sporty among us, there’s always charity or volunteering work, media societies, campaign groups, language or cultural societies, food or drink-based gatherings, gaming clubs…the list goes on.

You can also indulge your love of the eccentric with more off-beat clubs. The Assassin’s Guild for instance appears in many universities. Recruits are given another member’s photograph and must then track them down and “assassinate them” using water pistols and/or water balloons.

Walking through my university’s main concourse one day I was amused to see something like the following in amongst all the ‘TV for sale (no channel 5)’ and ‘Broken piano offered; free to a good home)’ posters:

1st RULE: You do not talk about PILLOW FIGHT CLUB.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about PILLOW FIGHT CLUB.
3rd RULE: If someone says "stop" or goes limp, taps out the pillow fight is over.
4th RULE: Only two guys to a pillow fight.
5th RULE: One pillow fight at a time.
6th RULE: Only pajamas, no shoes.
7th RULE: Pillow fights will go on as long as they have to.
8th RULE: If this is your first night at PILLOW FIGHT CLUB, you HAVE to fight.
Meet here at 1am Friday.

Another rather unusual, and charitable, society is the Teddy Bear Hospital. Rachel Downey, founder of Glasgow University’s Teddy Bear Hospital explains:

“Teddy bear hospital is a public health project aimed at nursery and primary school aged children from three to seven years. We go into schools to visit children and their teddy bears to reduce their fears of going to the doctors. The visit takes part in two stages. The first part is a workshop which can be about healthy eating, the human body or people who help us in the hospital. The second part is when the medical students act as Teddy Bear Doctors and have a consultation with the children and their ill teddies.”

So what can potential members expect to gain from the experience? “Being able to make a difference with children and reduce their fears of going health professionals as well as having a good time. I feel that it’s something that benefits both medical students and the children of Glasgow alike, especially those in more deprived areas. It’s a fantastic way of getting together with like minded people and also seeing a bit more of Glasgow when visiting the schools”

And her advice to new students? “Get involved early as first year is when you have the most time to take part.”

Oliver Walker adds:

“In the final year it’s a good idea to join a society's exec. This rarely requires too much work but looks great on the CV and provides a good starting point for showing off your skills in an interview. Being an active member of all these societies made interviewing for my job significantly easier.”