Drinking...

[hannah668]

Hi everyone,

I just have a question for current students, although I am a bit nervous about the responses hehe. Anyway, here goes... Well, basically I'm a little bit concerned as I have been on the Exeter Medsoc website and have seen that a lot of the activities are based around drinking. I don't drink and I hate clubs and bars but I'm concerned that I'll be the only one with this kind of viewpoint. I really want to get along with everyone and don't want to be labelled as a "party pooper" or anything but at the same time, I don't really want to be involved in things which I don't enjoy doing. Anyway my question is... Are there many people who don't drink or who don't enjoy socialising in this way or am I going to be on my own lol? Are there other activities in fresher's fortnight (or in general) where people can socialise and get to know the people in their year group without drink and partying?

Thanks a lot,
Hannah

[Dr Noodle]

For some reason some people here genuinely believe that freshers is just about the drinking. Bolox to that, obviously it's not, it's about getting to know your peers and helping you settle in.

I'm not on medsoc but a few of my friends are and I have nagged them a wee bit about it. I do like drinking but having no non-alcoholic activities pissed me off as I didn't meet the people who didn't take part in it until a good while after the course had started. And it was unfair on them as they pretty much didn't have a freshers.

All that being said, our survivors week (like freshers but at the end of the year) was organised by the new medsoc and they organised a beach trip, charity dodgeball etc so hopefully they'll do the same for freshers.

There's a bowling alley here and a swimming pool. There are also sports and other activities up at main campus. There's a park down the road with tennis courts (and swings ). You could try and arrange movie nights at your flat (not too hard, you'll all be living together) etc. The beach is only about 15 miles away and costs about 3 quid return on the train.

To answer your other question, yes there are quite a few people here who don't drink so you definitely won't be on your own don't worry

If there's anyone else coming to Exeter who feels the same way could you tell us here. Would be good for medsoc to see it.

[Sephie]

Hey Hannah
I'm on the committee for the current Exeter MedSoc and the first thing I want to say it "Don't worry, you are not alone".

First off the website is still in its infancy, our marvelous President has been working hard to build it and we are all just getting to grips with it so rest assured there should be more stuff on it soon.

There have been some concerns raised in the past about the number of activities based on drinking and/or going to clubs and its an issue we are currently dealing with. Our Activities Officers, Charity Officers and Education Officer have so many things on the cards which have nothing to do with drinking. If you want some examples of other things we do:

We have just come fresh out of Survivors week, which admittedly did have a fair bit of alcohol involved but we did so many things
-There was a bus arranged for a day trip down to the beach in Exmouth where we had a BBQ and built a sand castle, this was amazing I am still sunburnt (not as bad as the treasurer though, that was funny)
-There was charity dodgeball, this was incredibly fun and I'm gutted I didn't get to join in. The ideas people had for fancy dress was alone worth turning up for.
- An Open Mic night, going along and listening to all the talent of Exeter Medical School. This was an amazing night, the food was good, the location amazing, the atmosphere incredible and I didn't have a drop to drink. When you get here the male Social Sec will be happy to give you a song on the guitar.....seriously a bit too happy at times.

Previously we had a trip to Body Worlds down in London, arranged by our enthusiastic (understatement of the century, if anyone has more energy than her please introduce them) Education Officer. Bus there and back again! Saw the models and they were pretty breath taking.

As for freshers week, I will put my hand up and admit I bailed out of a lot of it last year and I do regret it, it looked fun. We have conducted a survey of our members and a large majority of people have requested non-drinking activities so you definitly are not alone. There are plans for events in freshers where there is a good time to be had without drinking.

You will get a booklet in the post sometime in August/September about MedSoc and the stuff we do. You can learn more about what we do and whats on in Exeter to do.
Speaking of Exeter there is a lot to do that doesn't require drinking or partying. The best place in Exeter for me has to be Firehouse, this is a pub but you don't really go there for the alcohol. It's really old fasioned, lined with tables and benches so its everyone in together, lit by candle light so the atmosphere is amazing. It sells pizza until god knows what time in the morning, so its ideal for munching good food in a nice place with friends (by the way go there for the sunday lunch, it is to die for)

There are plenty of people who dislike drinking and partying in Exeter so you are not alone, and we as MedSoc are working hard for a variety in our events. I hope you are not disappointed and we are always open to suggestions.

I there is anything you're still unsure about I will be more than happy to answer!

Sephie x

[hannah668]

Hey there, thank you so much for your posts- it really did reassure me and make me feel a lot better about the whole thing

For some reason some people here genuinely believe that freshers is just about the drinking. Bolox to that, obviously it's not, it's about getting to know your peers and helping you settle in.

I couldn't agree more

a beach trip, charity dodgeball etc. There's a bowling alley here and a swimming pool. There are also sports and other activities up at main campus. There's a park down the road with tennis courts (and swings). You could try and arrange movie nights at your flat (not too hard, you'll all be living together) etc. The beach is only about 15 miles away and costs about 3 quid return on the train.

Sounds great!

There have been some concerns raised in the past about the number of activities based on drinking and/or going to clubs and its an issue we are currently dealing with. Our Activities Officers, Charity Officers and Education Officer have so many things on the cards which have nothing to do with drinking.

Ok, it's good to hear that it is something being addressed and that other people have already mentioned about it. It just appears to me that the website is predominantly based around drinking... I loved the sound of all the other activities though...

I hope you are not disappointed and we are always open to suggestions.

No, definitely not hehe!

Thanks again so much

[Rake]

Just to repeat what everyone else has said...

I'm sorry the MedSoc website gave you that impression - we've done loads of non-drinking things! This term we had the charity fun run, day trips to exhibitions and the beach, dodgeball, open mic night; last term we went paintballing... there are two formal balls a year, a ton of medic sports teams and tournaments, and hopefully there will be some music/drama stuff to get involved in next year too. It's a work in progress though - we've had four or five socials as well, which have been brilliant, but they're not the whole story.

It would be a lie to say drinking isn't part of the culture at uni; in first year, most people go out one to three nights a week. There are loads of opportunities to meet people even if you don't - PMS put you in small groups for everything, and living in halls helps too.

When I started uni, I hated clubs. I could think of nothing worse than being surrounded by loud drunk strangers talking bollocks. I made a few good friends early on and then spent the first week or two finding my way round Exeter rather than participating in the organised freshers stuff.

Having said that, the nights I did go out during Freshers, I had a lot of fun - getting dressed up with my new friends, meeting new people and visiting new places. Most people were drinking but it didn't matter. That's what Freshers is all about. One of my biggest regrets from first year is not getting more involved at the start: it took me a lot longer to get to know people.

This year we're going to make things easier for non-drinkers by having a a few non-club/pub events during Freshers. A few of the freshers reps don't drink either.

Heh, I started typing thinking this would be a short post. Bottom line is, alcohol greases the social cogs but you'll be okay if you're not a clubber - it just means making more effort during the daytime!

-There was a bus arranged for a day trip down to the beach in Exmouth where we had a BBQ and built a sand castle, this was amazing I am still sunburnt (not as bad as the treasurer though, that was funny)

Yeah yeah you didn't find it so funny on Sunday night ... and it was more of a throne than a castle really

[hannah668]

It would be a lie to say drinking isn't part of the culture at uni; in first year, most people go out one to three nights a week. There are loads of opportunities to meet people even if you don't - PMS put you in small groups for everything, and living in halls helps too.

I guess (sadly! ) drinking is an integral part of every uni- I was just worried that I would be the only one who did want to be involved with it...

Having said that, the nights I did go out during Freshers, I had a lot of fun - getting dressed up with my new friends, meeting new people and visiting new places. Most people were drinking but it didn't matter. That's what Freshers is all about. One of my biggest regrets from first year is not getting more involved at the start: it took me a lot longer to get to know people.

I am completely open to meeting new people and visiting new places, but I just don't find it that enjoyable when the new people you meet are all drunk and the new place is a club hehe!

This year we're going to make things easier for non-drinkers by having a a few non-club/pub events during Freshers. A few of the freshers reps don't drink either.

Sounds good to me!

[Rake]

I completely understand your predicament - in fact I may even have started a similar thread last summer. But try not to worry too much about it, you will have an amazing time starting uni no matter what happens. Don't forget there's all of Exeter to tap as well as all the stuff up at main campus.

[Yixian]

It has to be said Exeter Uni is priiime hunting ground for the fancy dress pub crawl scene xD but you're free to take as much of that as you like and everybody is obviously into other stuff too, I don't think there's anything you'll want to do that nobody will want to do with you, at least I haven't found that in my year.

That goes for both social, cultural and academic activities.

The only exception is political/activismy sorts of stuff, I've been told that our year has been really quiet in that area, on all sides of the spectrum, and I've noticed that, which is weird because Exeter University was in the past the most famous uni in the country for it.. but apparently your year is the reverse, a lot of those societies that have been quiet amongst our year are preparing for a lot of interest from you guys. But yeah anywho you might not be into that anyway, just say'n.

So yeah I wouldn't worry at all! And don't be afraid to reach out to the 2nd years for anything.

[Dr Noodle]

Are you gonna turn all our new freshers into little Castros? =p

[Yixian]

Gandhis!

But it's true for both sides of the political spectrum, as well as human rights etc., as compared to other years apparently ours was like... desolate xD Which is really unusual because traditionally that + drinking is one the hallmarks of medstudents lmao, and specifically Peninsula too, look at Medsin, Peninsula has a bunch of representatives on the national council this year from years 3+.