That Girl from Derwent dwells on the value of religion this Christmas.
That Girl from Derwent has learned a few more things about prejudice since moving up North.
That Girl From Derwent reckons if you're going to be offensive, you should find a better reason.
That Girl from Derwent considers why it is that some words have wider implications than others.
Way back in the mists of second year, I decided that for my third year I would move back to campus to be closer to the library.
Ah! How naive I was! How innocent! What a fool. Months, and far too many visits and emails to the accommodation office, later, and I have become one of the many mixed up in the chaos that has become the norm for campus accommodation.
As it turns out, I’m one of the lucky ones. I actually have a room. For reasons of safety (frankly I just don’t trust any of you), I won’t be revealing its exact location. Only that it’s in Halifax, that infamous Black Hole to the south of campus, and that it’s in a place which normally doesn’t contain first years. That is, before now.
So now I find myself in a room I can’t afford surrounded by freshers who are everything freshers should be, i.e. loud, enthusiastic, messy, and with that strange mixture of extreme self-confidence and crippling nervousness I remember so well from my first year. I have to remind myself (after the second time I’ve been woken up at stupid-o’clock at night after a boisterous drinking session) that that’s just what freshers do, and who am I to deny them that?
I don’t blame them, but nevertheless I should never have been in this situation anyway. And while the people at the Accommodation Office have been very sweet, it is clear that as a third year I am far down on their list of priorities. It appears to be mostly first year foreign students who have borne the brunt of this year’s cock-up. This is just a small example of conversations overheard while waiting in the never-ending queue.
Accommodation Office Personnel: I’m sorry we have no rooms available right now. You’ll have to find private accommodation.
Poor First Year: Where is this accommodation? (Looking nervous)
AOP: In Tang Hall.
PFP: Where is that? (Clearly panicking now)
AOP: Oh not far away. (Clearly having had to say the same thing to many people already)
So I suppose I should count myself lucky. One side affect of Accommodation Hell is that you spend far too much time in a queue waiting for the Accommodation Office, and so you get to know the Information Centre far too well. I think I might scream if I have to look one more time at that model of Heslington East, which I’m sure they think makes them look forward-thinking and dynamic, but in fact makes it look like a child’s playroom.
I have also developed a new respect for foreign students, who really have to deal with a lot of crap. Did you know they have to register with the police with a week of entering the country? I didn’t. They also don’t find out where they are living until a few days before they arrive. Is it no wonder they complain so much when they get here? I know of at least one girl who wants to leave because she has been so mistreated by the Accommodation Office system. What kind of message does that send to other potential students?
Brian Cantor better watch out, or by the time Heslington East is finished, there won’t be any students to fill it.
i love your very last paragraph!!!
RE: draconian measures for foreign students
two years ago York Vision uncovered that a large amount of 'foreign students' were entering the country on academic visas, then going missing
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