SIDNEY SUSSEX FRESHERS GUIDE 2013

Contents
A welcome from the Freshers rep 3 A welcome from the SSCSU president 4 Why we love Sidney! ................................................................................................................... 5 People around College The College 6 8

Packing Tips ... 10 Accommodation . 12 Finance ... 14 Before you arrive . 15 Arriving at Sidney 16 Freshers Week .. 17 Sidney Sports and Societies .. 19 Cambridge University Societies and Events . 22 Nightlife ............ 24 Subject Reps . 25 The Guide to Cambridge Lingo The Sidney A-Z . 28 Credits . . 30 Map ... 31

A welcome from the Freshers Rep

Hello Freshers! Congratulations on becoming the next generation of Sidneyites. I hope youre excited about arriving in Cambridge, there are certainly lots and lots of people at Sidney excited to meet you. Im Charlotte Burns Sidneys Freshers rep 2013. Along with the freshers committee, Ive been busy planning Freshers Week to make sure the start of your Cambridge experience is truly memorable. Whether you chose Sidney or Sidney chose you, you should be pleased to know that you are about to become a member of a brilliant college. Of course there are all the attractions such as being opposite Sainsburys, having top quality food served daily in hall, beautiful gardens, cheesy bops etc. But what really makes Sidney special is the people here. You will be joining a highly diverse community of students, most of whom you will get to know really quickly due to Sidneys small size. The college setup means that if you have a problem, there is always someone to help (99% of the time this person can be located in the porters lodge) and if you have a spare moment of time, there will always be some way to fill it. Our first year at Sidney has been equally challenging and exciting youve got a lot of fun to look forward to! Cambridge embodies the motto work hard, play hard and Sidney provides you with everything needed to accomplish this. This guide has been written by current 2nd years to provide you with a taste of whats to come. Unfortunately we cant answer all the questions you have about coming to Cambridge within these 30 pages. For some extra insight Sidneys website has a virtual tour of the college, and on YouTube you can find a video created during Freshers week a couple of years ago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bcgmqp3rP4). Finally dont forget to join the facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/sidneysussexfreshers2013/ ) where you can meet others in your year and have any outstanding questions answered by current Sidneyites. Plus feel free to email me (sscsu.freshersrep@sid.cam.ac.uk) or your subject rep with any remaining queries, large or small. Looking forward to seeing you all in October! Charlotte Burns Sidney Sussex Freshers Rep 2013

A Welcome from the SSCSU President

Hello, and welcome to Sidney! We cant wait to meet you in Freshers Week and introduce you to Sidney life. My name is Poppy and I am the current SSCSU President. SSCSU stands for Sidney Sussex College Students Union, and its our job to represent the views of all Sidney students to senior members of college and across the university. We also organise Access events to bring as many excellent students to Sidney as possible, as well as Ents and Welfare support to make sure your experience of Sidney is both supportive and fun. SSCSU officers are chosen through elections twice a year to represent all aspects of Sidney life, and new Freshers will be joining our team by the end of Michaelmas term. We are all here to answer your questions about anything related to life in Cambridge: from how aspects of college run, to how you can access the services provided in college and across the university. There are around twenty SSCSU positions available to undergraduates, and we hope that you will get involved with your Students Union by getting to know our team, coming to Open Meetings (more on these soon) and running for positions yourself, of course! Its worth mentioning that SSCSU isnt the only Students Union in Cambridge: youll probably hear about a university-wide union called CUSU (Cambridge University Students Union). CUSU provides even more welfare support and organises campaigns that affect all colleges, including support for International Students and the Womens Campaign. It also represents Cambridge at the NUS conferences. I love being a student at Sidney for all the reasons you will hear about in this Guide and more. Everyone says Sidney is one of the friendliest colleges, so Im sure that you will quickly feel at home here and make friends for life. Sidney students are well known for their enthusiasm and dedication: for example, social events during Freshers Week are almost entirely organised by undergraduates on behalf of SSCSU congratulations to Charlotte and her team! I look forward to meeting you all when you arrive, in the meantime (or at any time during the year) if you have any questions please email me at sscsu.president@sid.cam.ac.uk. Poppy Morris SSCSU JCR President 2013

Why we love Sidney!

So clearly you are Cambridge material, because youve made the most intelligent decision of your life by choosing Sidney Sussex. Here are the top five reasons why Sidney rules! Amazing Community We are, without a doubt, the friendliest, funniest and most welcoming people in Cambridge. You cant walk through college without bumping into people you know, and before long youll be spotting friendly faces all around town. Staff and students are all here to help you out, from the day you arrive to the day you realise you never want to leave, and theres such a huge mix of personalities so youre sure to find friends in no time. Welcome to the college with the best community spirit in town! Fantastic Location Lady Frances Sidney knew what she was doing when she decided to build her college directly opposite the social hub of Cambridge student life: Sainsburys. Thanks to her genius, we have all manner of exotic goods from pineapples to pizzas, baked beans to Bacardi right outside our front door. Everything else you could possibly want from a city centre clubs, shops, cafs and all is within a five minute walk. Very satisfying when you hear people whove had to make the half hour trek from Girton College! Beautiful Gardens Hidden away where the tourists rarely find them, Sidney gardens are the perfect place for a picnic, a lazy afternoon in the sun, or a quick bit of snowman-building. Unlike practically everywhere else in Cambridge you can walk on most of the grass (apart from the front two courts, and the Masters garden). Thats right, feel free to walk, roll or read on the green stuff to your hearts content. Brilliant Bar Sidney bar is the social hub of the college evening life; theres always a lively and cheerf ul atmosphere in bar. The bar is pretty much student run and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, such that theres little point in going to Sainsburys to pre-drink in your rooms instead people just come to the bar! The bar is there for your every social need. If youre having a night off people hang out here with friends, have a few drinks and snacks, play some pool, darts or try to beat Chris Tarrant on the quiz machine. If you need a snack and a soft drink on a library break, or somewhere for communal study during the day in the dreaded exam term, Sidney bar is the place to go. Its also the only job allowed by the college, so you can get yourself trained in weeks 2 and 4 of Michaelmas and then be able to pick up shifts when you want an evening off. Social Events As well as all the societies and sports teams, Sidney offers loads of ways to get involved in college life. We have a very active Students Union which hosts regular (often entertaining) Open Meetings, termly Bops for you to show off your fancy dress making skills, and plenty of talks, groups, charity nights, and random, fun stuff for you to enjoy throughout the year!

People around college

Master: Professor Richard Penty. Basically the head of the college. A fellow in engineering, he was elected during this past year and so is quite new to the role. You will be able to meet the master and some of the other senior fellows at the masters dinner you will be invited to at some point during your first year.

Senior Tutor: Max Beber The fellow who is in charge of the tutorial system and the educational performance of the college as a whole. Occasionally spotted in full biker gear after taking a ride on his motorcycle!

Tutors Your personal tutor is the person to go to if you have any general worries or a problem with work that you dont want to see your DoS about. Because of this they always teach a different subject to yours.

Director of Studies (DoS) Each subject has a separate DoS, who is in charge of your academic welfare and will organise supervisions. Most people know their DoS quite well and at the very least you will see them at the start and end of term. S/he is also the person to come to if you have an academic problem.

The Chaplain: Revd. Paul Brice Conducts services in the chapel and he is happy to speak to any member of the Sidney community, in complete confidence, on any matter of concern. Hosts the very popular port and muffins evenings every Wednesday, and married your college parents at the end of this year.

The Nurse: Jenny Taylor Jenny is in college most days in the morning. She is always very friendly and generally knows who you are even if youve never spoken to her properly! She deals with medical issues both mental and physical - so shes the perfect lady to see if you need advice on that toe that hasnt looked the same sin ce Cindies (see nightlife). Additionally, she is another point of call if you have a problem you want to discuss. The Bedders The bedders empty bins and clean communal bathrooms and kitchens daily. They also clean your room (hoover, not tidy, mind) and change your sheets once a week. For those days when getting up before 10am is not going to happen (lucky you!) you can leave your bedroom bin outside your door as a sort of do not disturb sign.

Librarian: Alan Stevens Lives in the library during normal working hours, so never seen by the people who do all-nighters for each essay! You can come to him if you have a problem finding a book and in exam term he provides squash and biscuits outside the library each afternoon, which is a nice revision break!

Student Social Welfare Officers Hi, we're Grace and Jack and we're your elected student Welfare Officers. We hope you're looking forward to the great week ahead that Charlottes been planning for you. Freshers Week is such an exciting time and a great way to meet the people who'll be with you for your time at Sidney. As your Welfare Officers, we are here to help you settle in as smoothly as possible. For any worries, sexual health or emotional issues, no matter how great or small, we're always happy to listen. We can also point you in the direction of different services in Cambridge, always completely confidentially. Additionally, we can provide advice on what kind of financial support is out there, who else there is to talk to, and can be the link between you and senior members of staff. We'll introduce ourselves at the start of Freshers' Week, but if you have any concerns beforehand, then please feel free to contact us at either sscsu.femalewelfare@sid.cam.ac.uk or sscsu.malewelfare@sid.cam.ac.uk. Grace Fletcher and Jack Layton

The College
Porters Lodge (Plodge) Home to the Sidney porters, a lovely bunch who go out of their way to help students with any problems they have. Organising taxis around Cambridge and back, acting as bouncers at the Bops, directing first-years and tourists alike- you name it; theyll either get the job done for you or find the right person to help. Just prepare yourself for their very sarcastic comments!

Post room The pigeon holes or (pidges) in Sidneys post room are frequently full of surprises. Yes, there are the ordinary letters from home, but then you also may find the occasional chocolate treat from SSCSU Welfare Officers, random ketchup sachets, lost ties and empty wine bottles. Pop in for some daily procrastination.

Hall You can eat as frequently or infrequently as you like in our dining hall, though most people come at least once a day, usually for Dinner. Breakfast and Lunch are available Monday to Friday and there is Dinner every night of the week, with an incredible brunch on Saturday from 11:30-1:30pm. Meanwhile, formal hall takes place at 7:45pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Sidney students have to wear their gowns to formal dinners, with suits for the men and smart dress for the women. However, it is well worth the effort, the food is always delicious and is great value for money.

Gym The Sidney Gym is really good value, with membership at 45 for the year and inductions throughout the first few weeks of Michaelmas term, so that you can make the most of the excellent facilities. The gym is great place to work out, with a weights room as well as a main room with running machines, cross-trainers, bikes and of course, a set of eight ergs (rowing machines) used for both group and individual training.

Library Our library is located in Garden Court and is well equipped for all your studying needs, with computers, private study areas, and would you believe it, books! It is open 24 hours a day; whilst this doesnt mean you should necessarily be there at 3am, it is certainly useful if youve got yourself an unexpected essay crisis! If a book you need isnt around you can usually get it ordered in by speaking to your Director of Studies or Alan, our librarian. Theres also a computer room in the library open to everyone as well as printers, scanners and a photocopier.

TV Rooms There are three TV rooms at Sidney, in Chapel Court, Garden Court and Cromwell Court, where a large proportion of first-years live. Sports, and favourites such as Take Me Out and Made in Chelsea pull in large groups of people, whilst they are also venues for parties, movie nights and generally just chilling out. The main TV room in Chapel Court also has table football, various board games and a coffee machine. Chapel and Choir Sidney Sussex Chapel Choir will appear fairly regularly during your time here. We often end up performing at feasts and other special events and are usually seen shuffling about outside chapel in our cassocks. On Wednesdays we sing Latin vespers, the only choir in the UK still to regularly do so, before two Anglican evensongs over the weekend. The Friday evening service consists of serene Renaissance music, before Sunday evensong plays host to exuberant Romantic classics. We also go on regular tours, with recent visits to California, Dubai and Italy, and record an album most summers. The amount of time we spend together makes us a close knit and supportive group and if you would like to get involved, it is never too late to audition for Dr Skinner. If the singing is not for you, then drop in to the odd service for some relaxation or a special occasion before formal hall. Bar The bar sells a variety of alcoholic drinks and responds well to requests for new drinks, if you think a new drink would be in high demand and it can be trialled. The full list of drinks and prices will be available in Michaelmas, but typically draught is about 2, shots around 1.50. The bar also sells a large range of snacks and soft drinks, so its often easier to get chocolate/ crisps and soft drinks from the bar than Sainsburys. Theres also a pool table (50p a play and getting cheaper), quiz machine (50p a play) and darts board (free usage).

Packing tips
We are so close to the centre of town that almost anything can be bought once you get here if you forget it, but we thought it would be useful to have a rough guide for packing. This is not comprehensive but it should get you started! Whatever you can cram into your car you can most likely fit into even the smaller rooms in college so dont worry too much about how much to bring. Inevitably you will bring lots of things you wont really use in your first term but surely its better to have it than not. The basics our essential items ID. A driving license or passport is a must for registering with services across Cambridge, as well as for access to the nightclubs etc. UCAS documents Student Finance documents. College will need to see copies of these after you arrive if you have applied for a student loan. Any other important paperwork: your bank details, chequebook, insurance documents, national insurance details, NHS card (for registering with a doctors surgery) Some cash. The first few days will be hectic so it is useful not to have to rush around to cash points while youre busy! Alarm clock, even just one built into your mobile phone Chargers for all your electronic devices. Your phone will be especially crucial in Freshers Week Toiletries and some clothes to suit the September-December weather A towel or two. A tea towel for the kitchens is also useful Washing powder, college does not provide this A chequebook. Although internet banking is increasingly popular and it is very convenient to be registered for this, payment by cheque is still common especially for societies membership and event s in Easter Term like Garden Parties and May Balls A few smart clothes. For guys a suit with a few shirts and ties will go far, although there are some annual dinners and end of year events that require black tie, so you may want to bring this. A normal suit will do fine for Matriculation, where you formally become a member of the college in your first week, and for formal hall dinners which you can attend throughout the year. For girls, the dress code is more vague: no denim, and nothing too inappropriate for a formal setting but apart from that, anything goes. Black tie gowns are great for the May Balls but otherwise, any nice dresses or blouse and skirt combinations will work fine. We would recommend: A USB stick to back up work Some decorative things from home to personalize your room. You will have a noticeboard to display things on, although you are not allowed to stick things straight to the walls. Cushions and throws are also a good idea A drying rack for clothes. The tumble dryer costs 1.20, which is reasonable, but after tumble drying our clothes in Michaelmas weve learnt the hard way that some things dont appreciate being tumble dried and are likely to shrink! A bike. This need not be expensive, and they can be bought easily in Cambridge. It is possible to walk almost anywhere in Cambridge, but you can save yourself some time in bed if you have a bike. If you are thinking about playing in sports teams the matches and training locations are often best reached by bike, including the boathouse for rowing. It is not a problem if youd rather not cycle though, several of us have managed fine without bikes.

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Stationery, including writing paper, stapler, scissors, hole puncher, Sellotape, post it notes, drawing pins, etc. These will all come in useful and are probably things that youd have lying around at home which can be a life saver while in college when making bop costumes etc. If you forget anything useful, there is a Rymans practically opposite Sidney, and Architects are bound to have loads of this stuff! Tin opener and bottle opener. Bottle opener key rings are especially useful when you are out! A laptop, although there are computers to use in college and in your department building. You will also need an Ethernet cable to connect to the college Internet network whilst in your room. They can be bought here but are quite cheap on Amazon or Ebay. Its a RJ45 network cable. Stamps and envelopes for sending off cheques and forms Passport photos can be very useful for photo-cards that you might get from societies, and saves you the trouble of getting them done once you arrive. Coat hangers A basic medicine kit: paracetamol, plasters, cold and flu remedy etc. Vitamins may also be a good investment, e.g. Berocca tablets. Mugs, cutlery, plates, glasses. Having a few spares can be helpful when friends come round for a cup of tea.

Some of us bring Saucepans/cooking equipment. This entirely depends on how adventurous a cook you are and the equipment in your nearest kitchen. It is worth bringing a few microwave proof dishes as its remarkable how much can be cooked in a microwave and their speedy settings might become your best friend. Of course, if cooking is your thing, then the nearby Sainsburys means that you could potentially cook for yourself every day if you have access to a good kitchen. Contraceptives. If you need to obtain these while youre here then theyre available free from the I tried to pack myself in a Welfare Officers and otherwise are very cheap. suitcase. I could hardly Old A Level/IB notes and textbooks. This really depends if you think they might be useful for the contain myself ~ NatSci course you are about to start. fresher A printer. Some people need to print things more regularly than others so its up to you. These can be bought cheaply from the local branch of Rymans, so it might be best to see how it goes in the first few weeks. In the meantime, printers are available for a small charge (5p per sheet) in the Sidney library, along with a scanner. Also often subject departments have printers available to use. A duvet cover. College provides you with one which they will wash for you weekly but it is fine to bring your own to wash yourself if you prefer.

We wouldnt bother bringing A TV: there are TV rooms in each accommodation building which is both more sociable, and if you use these you dont have to pay for a TV licence. It is surprising how many people will all watch the more popular programmes, from sports matches, to reality TV series. For anything youd rather watch in your room or you miss whilst its on TV there is always BBC iPlayer and 4oD on your laptop A toaster, kettle or other appliances. Students are not allowed these in their rooms as college cannot be sure that they are safe, and the kitchens near each room will be equipped with these anyway An iron. Laundry rooms have communal irons with boards, they are bulky in rooms and you may be surprised how many of your clothes you can manage not to iron.

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Accommodation
Fellows Garden

Cromwell Court You lucky half have managed to get Cromwell Court for your first year. Why so lucky? Well, firstly it is incredibly social! Everyone in Crommie is a fresher and this makes organising pre-drinks, movie nights and tea breaks from work so easy. I was in flat CE last year (which is the place to B). I had the end room on the corridor making it slightly larger than the others (great advantage for making friends in freshers week!). Rooms have a mini fridge and a partition wall with a massive cork board this is great for pinning up your favourite photos, posters and general artsy stuff. Our flats gyp room is small but perfectly formed, boasting a microwave, fridge, grill, kettle and toaster. There are a couple of flats with proper kitchens (with hobs), one of which is situated by the TV room. Sharing a shower between 4/5 is not as bad as you may think - I have never had to wait for a shower! Despite its location outside of Sidneys walls, Cromwell is a great base for first year students like you. One last thing: the Cromwell bedders are absolutely hilarious! ~ Nick Krol, Geography.

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Sussex House So youre going to be living in Sussex House? With kitchens equipped with kettles, sinks, microwaves AND HOBS AND EVEN AN OVEN ON FLOOR 7, you must be relieved. Sussex House is special because its connected to college by a bridge so you never have to walk outside to get onto the main college site, unlike those unlucky cromwellians. There are three fresher floors here, aptly named floor 6, 7 and 8 (a mystery that still remains unsolved, not even by the mathmos!). Floor 5 is the grad floor. The grad floor corridor is out of bounds, for those of you who do not wish to die a most painful deathunless you want to use the gym of course...but a 2k erg may still count as a most painful death! Each floor has its own distinct smell, a useful tool to find your way home after a swap, bop or a night at Fez. There are showers and baths on each floor. People tend not to use the bathsbut the highest shower setting is very powerful, almost cyclone worthy, so have fun with that. The architectural layout is beyond compare with corridors that loop around the part of the corridor which is accessed through doors so for those of you too lazy to open a door to get from one end of the corridor to the other, this is a blessing. The rooms are generally quite big and all furnished with a bed, a wardrobe, a bookshelf, a chest of drawers, and a sink, (apart from my room, 7.8 at least the walk to the bathroom counted as daily exercise). - Grace Dickinson, MML Garden Court Garden court houses the largest fresher rooms in college, and as only freshers live in T and S floor, a close knit community is always formed. There are sinks in all the rooms, and you share a shower and toilet with five others. T floor is always very sociable, and some of the rooms on S floor come in pairs, with a shared front door. Although the stairs can be a pain, you will appreciate those perfectly sculpted thighs by the end of term. Living in Garden Court means you also live a few floors above the library, which is depressingly convenient!~Sophie Tang, Law

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Finance
Finance is going to be a concern for many of you, aside from having to wait what feels like forever for Student Finance to get their act together, you will have to learn how to manage that money responsibly whilst still being able to have fun and take advantage of all the opportunities Cambridge has on offer. General Costs Your main costs will be room rent, food, and extras like societies and May Balls. At Sidney you pay for a lot of these things in your termly Bill. This will include: Your rent Food bought in hall on your college card Kitchen Fixed Charge this is a set amount each term, but it means food in Hall is cheaper. Other costs from the term e.g. Formals, printing, etc.

Your bill can be paid online or by cheque, debit or credit card. Getting your Money If you are a UK student and have applied for it, you will receive your student loan/grant shortly after you arrive in Cambridge, once youve given the relevant forms to the Stude nt Finance Manager (for the numerically challenged, there will be form filling sessions at the beginning of term dont worry!). With this you have a total of between around 3500 and 7000 depending on your household income. If you are from a lower income background you can also apply for the Cambridge Bursary Scheme which may give you up to 3500, paid from January. Then there are bursaries and prizes given by the colleges based on financial need, or for academic and sport achievement, along with travel grants which you can apply for later in the year. If you budget without taking these latter funds into account, you should get by at Cambridge without struggling and then anything extra is a pleasant surprise. If however, you do face financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances, Sidney has a hardship fund to tide you over until your situation improves. How to Budget You may or may not want to have a strict budget. But either way you will of course be responsible for your spending. It is advised that your maintenance costs will be about 7500 a year. Be prepared to spend a bit more in Freshers Week. Not only will there be more events to attend, but you may also have various sign -up fees for societies you join. The Cambridge Union, which hosts famous speakers and runs various other events, costs around 175 for life membership (with a discount in your first few weeks), so you might want to try out a few of its openfor-all events when you arrive to see if its for you. Youll also need about 50 spare to buy your gown (essential for the Harry Potter experience!) Although you cant have a job at Cambridge (you wouldnt have the time!) Sidney is unique in that we have a student-run bar, where you can sign up to work however many shifts you want. Its a great way to get a bit of extra income, and it hardly feels like work! There is also a great careers service who can help you secure internships and part-time work in the summer holidays.

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Financial Difficulties The basic framework of student finance should ensure that you never run out of money. If at any point you do encounter financial difficulties, your first contact should be the Tutorial and Student Finance Manager, Mr David Graves (dlg23@cam.ac.uk). You wont be expected to pay your bill until youve received your money from Student Finance, and you can agree a plan to pay in instalments throughout the term. The college and university as a whole are committed to the principle that no UK or EU student should be prevented from completing their studies due to financial difficulties, and in these circumstances David can assist with budgeting and applications to various sources of hardship funds. In short, Cambridge and Sidney will do all they can to make sure youre financially comfortable during your time here.

Before you arrive

There are a few bits and bob you should know about before you arrive at Sidney Freshers T-shirts With a brand new design for 2013, these t-shirts will be not only help you to identify other Sidneyites in the sweaty depths of Fez dance floor, but will also allow you to avoid trips to the laundry room for your first week in college. These are only 5 and the money will go straight on your college bill (see Finance). If you really want to opt out please e-mail sscsu.freshersrep@sid.cam.ac.uk as soon as possible, but we promise theyre better than the usual freebie t-shirts - theyve got the Sidney crest on for starters! College Parents You might be leaving home but you certainly wont be parentless. Believe it or not at the end of the summer term two second/third years were joined in matrimony by the chaplain and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their offspring. They should be in touch very soon with some handy advice (one will probably do your subject) and will be around in college all year if you need any help. You will get to know your parents and college sibling straight away, with family formals during freshers we ek already being organised. Wall of Faces To help everyone with the tricky task of remembering names in the first few weeks we will be continuing the Sidney tradition of creating a Wall of Faces before your arrival. The pictures you provided in the SAQ questionnaire will be displayed in each of the accommodation blocks (Cromwell Court, Sussex House and Garden Court). If you really dislike your SAQ picture then thats fine: please email a replacement (sscsu.freshersrep@sid.cam.ac.uk) before the 22nd September and we will try and replace it before they go to print.

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Arriving at Sidney
The build up is over, youre finally at Sidney. We can assure you there is a lot of fun to be had on arrivals day its not all losing keys, forgetting door codes and chasing porters! Here is an overview of the general scheme of events on the Saturday when most of you arrive. Arriving at the car park or at the Porters Lodge at the front entrance, youll be greeted by a group of current Sidney students, eager to help. You will also receive some important items, including your room key and university card from the Mong Hall. At some point, you will be able to buy your gown. There are second hand gowns but these tend to sell out pretty fast. Generally then, gowns are 50 so make sure you have cash on you (or one of the helpers can show you to the nearest cashpoint which isnt far at all). Youll be shown to your accommodation block where there will again be a bunch of current students if you need help unloading. Now is the time to meet your neighbours and socialise; you dont really need to do anything beyond putting your boxes and suitcases in your room, therell be plenty of time for proper unpacking later.

There will be an opportunity for your parents to be taken on a tour of college during the day. You may also wish to take them to Sainsburys to stock up on food its literally opposite the main college door. At 2.30pm everyone (parents, students and siblings) will congregate in Cloister Court for the freshers garden party. There will be speeches welcoming you, a chance to hopefully meet some members of your college family, others doing your subject and lots of mingling. The end of the garden party is when you say goodbye to your family. Second and third years from your subject will whisk you off on a brief tour of Cambridge, hopefully showing you the way to your department (probably highlighting the quickest route to Lolas on the way). Theyll then take you for a subject meal at a one the many restaurants Cambridge has to offer. Afterwards its back to Sidney for a relaxed evening of college based socialising, meeting more people and reintroducing yourself to those whose names youve already forgotten.

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Freshers Week
Heres a little taster of what you can look forward to in your first week at Sidney, furnished with pictures of us enjoying freshers week 2012. It is only a taster, there will be much more on offer and the full timetable will be published on facebook closer to the time. Matriculation Think Hogwarts, think great hall, think matriculation. The first opportunity you will get to wear your gown for a night, this involves a ceremony in the chapel where you will sign to officially become a member of Sidney. This is followed by a huge formal dinner in hall, with freshers and fellows dining together take the opportunity to ask the fellows about Cambridge life. Pub Lunch and Punting The 2nd years will take you to some of their favourite pubs in Cambridge, before heading down to the river. Punting is the best way to explore the beauty of the Cambridge backs. Forget the tour guides, this is the time for the students to take control. Learn the art of punting now, and by may week you will be nimble enough to catch the best spot for the fireworks of the riverside may balls.

Pirate Pub Crawl Ay me hearties! Whip out the eye patches, stripy t-shirts and be prepared for a night of plank walking and shark attacks. Meeting at Sidney bar, each group will proceed around the pubs of Cambridge, completing challenges of the high seas presented by several Sidney societies along the way. Silent Disco A staple of Sidney freshers week. Neon themed wear as many brightly coloured items of clothing as possible. Add headphones, switch channels, find your favourite tunes and go crazy safe in the knowledge that no-one can hear you singing along.

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Family Formal Another opportunity to wear your gown. Join your new family for a meal in Sidney Hall, and let your parents show you the tricks of the trade. Quiz Night You got the grades, survived the interview but have you got the knowledge to be crowned champion of Sidneys Freshers week quiz? A sample of the quiz nights often held in Sidney bar, choose your team carefully and prepare to get competitive. Treasure Hunt Scurry past the tourists and dodge the bicycles in a mad dash around the cobbled streets during an afternoon well spent hunting out the treasures of Cambridge. You may find yourself negotiating with porters at colleges youve never heard of before, demonstrating your acrobatics in the middle of the city and seeing how many Spanish tourists you can cram into a telephone box. But it will all be worth it after all who wants to lose a treasure hunt? Alphabet Bop The first of what will be many cheesy nights in Sidney bar, with guaranteed bop juice, funky lighting and possibly candyfloss. Formulate a costume that represents something beginning with the same letter as your first name (the alphabet part), and then dance the night away to your favourite high school tunes (the bop part). Get creative with your costumes previous years have included light houses and helicopters, so nothing is too adventurous.

Inter accommodation Socials So its been three days and youve seen a lot (maybe more than expected) of the people on your corridor, but you have no idea what life is like elsewhere in college. This is your chance to find out. Spend the evening visiting each of the freshers accommodation blocks and mixing with some new faces. You never know, that friend you made in Garden Court may become very useful when the journey from the bar to Cromwell just isnt manageable Alternative Ents So all this partying can take its toll, and no doubt at some point during freshers week you will just want a quiet night in. This doesnt mean chilling alone in your room however. Join our alternative ents team for evenings of pizza consumption, film watching, nosying in some 2nd year houses and possibly some Countdown themed games (in tribute to Sidney alumnus Carol Vorderman).

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Freshers Fairs First up is the university wide freshers fair a HUGE sports hall filled with representatives from every society in Cambridge (and lots of free Dominos pizza). Youll sign up for so much, that youll forget what you signed up for. Dont worry though youll soon be reminded by daily emails from the president of the ice cream/tiddlywinks/winnie the pooh society Next is the smaller but equally exciting Sidney Freshers Fair, where all of the Sidney sports, charity and other societies will be represented. A great opportunity to sign up for something youve never tried before knowing it will probably be low commitment and no doubt a lot of laughs. College societies are a great way to get to know people in other years, and build up your stash collection

Sidney Sports and Societies

Rowing Sidney Sussex Boat Club is by far the largest society in college and for a good reason too. Although we may not be head of the river, for such a small college we definitely pull our weight. Close to nobody has rowed before coming to Cambridge, but whether youre a super-stacked muscle mountain or have never set foot in a gym, there is guaranteed to be a place for you at SSBC. We have boats for serious competitors, having sent people to row for the university; we also have boats for people who just want to turn up and get a bit of exercise. Or if youre averse to exercise or are of the more vocal persuasion, why not try out coxing? The boatie community within Sidney is very strong (you can usually tell them apart, since theyll be the ones wearing skin -tight lycra to hall and lectures). Most people at Sidney have tried rowing and its a good social point. You get to meet people from other colleges on swaps and at the end of term you get to go to a black tie Boat Club Dinner; a definite highlight to every term. This year were hoping to send some boats over to the United States. A couple of years ago we made our first trip across the pond and got to row in Philadelphia. Interested? Find out about all this and more at the Boat Club Squash in the Knox Shaw Room after Matriculation, where SSBC will be providing more free drinks than you could shake a stick at. Football Sidney has a strong football tradition, putting out two mens teams and one womens team each week in the inter college leagues. There is training every week for all teams, but the womens team and the mens second XI is more about meeting people, getting some good exercise, having fun and pulling off outrageous skills, while the first team is very competitive, battling hard with the best. The year concludes with the prestigious Ayodele Fajuyigbe Memorial Cup, a five-a-side tournament played in May Week. There will be practice matches for all teams in Freshers week and we would love to see as many of you as possible, whether a budding Beckham or more of an Ali Dia, giving it a go.

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Rugby Sidney Sussex RUFC has a proud history of plucky comebacks, flair rugby and beating other colleges despite only having twelve men available. Thats why we want you to sign up in Freshers week, to help us turn gutsy defeats into thumping victories and avoid the League of Shame. Players of all standards are welcome, from complete beginners to club rugby virtuosos, with a sense of fun being at the heart of everything we do. We are the smallest college to maintain an independent team rather than merging, so all of the squad look out for each other on and off the field, including those members who dont play due to injury or cowardice, but join us pitchside and in the pub afterwards. With a tour to America coming around soon, there has never been a better time to get involved, particularly with two trophies that need to be reclaimed this season. The Dashwood Cup was retained by the Old Boys, as hopes of a stunning cupset faded in the second half. Most dishearteningly, in a game blighted by disallowed tries and injuries, we lost the Wallace-Hadrill Shield to our sister college St. Johns, Oxford, a title that must be regained on home soil this winter. So come and join in for a (fancy dress) game of touch in Freshers week, wed love a big intake of players before we kick off another cracking season. Hockey With an intercollegiate league throughout both Michaelmas and Lent terms, and the Cuppers league, Sidney hockey is great to get involved with. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned hockey veteran there is a place for you on the team. During Michaelmas and Lent there will be a game most weekends plus hopefully a few training sessions at the start of term. Theres no need to worry about equipment either, Sidney has shiny new kit for this season, as well as plenty of spare hockey sticks available to use. Currently Sidney sits in the lowest division, and there is the potential to do very well this season, so we are looking forward to you coming and giving hockey a go in the very near future! Tennis Sidney tennis is as strong as its ever been, with strength in depth throughout the squads. With mens, womens and fellows teams in operation, theres always someone looking for a knock up. Despite a disa ppointing early exit in Cuppers this season, the previous year Sidney men made it to the semi-final beating Trinity on the way, a performance well be looking to improve on this year. Squash Sidney has a small yet dedicated squash team with a huge range of talents ranging from potential university players to complete beginners, everyone is welcome to play. The squash court is free to use for students, simply book the court then sign the key out, all of which can be done at the Porters lodge. In Michaelmas and Lent there are weekly games in the college league, furthermore Lent term brings Cuppers, a knock-out competition between all colleges. Last year Sidney managed to reach the third round before being knocked out by finalists Downing. There is also the College squash competition, where one can win pride, fame, and great fortune to become Sidney Squash Champion. A much sought after accolade!

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Netball Ladies' and Mixed Netball gives you the opportunity each weekend to get some exercise and socialise with people from all years. The Ladies' team were promoted to the second division this year, and we hope to maintain this success next year. We normally play a short match of 8 minute quarters each weekend, so it isn't a huge commitment. We're hoping for a big fresher intake this year - so please get involved! Ability varies hugely, but all that is required is enthusiasm. If you're interested in mixed netball, it is slightly more vigorous than ladies' netball, so be prepared to be squashed from time to time! There are netball brunches and dinners to look forward to, and the occasional swap. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible come along for a game!

Mixed Lacrosse Joining the mixed lacrosse team at Sidney is something you wont regret. It provides a great opportunity to meet people in different years, stay active and embrace the competitive spirit of intercollegiate sports. It is a low commitment with short games once a week. There is a wide ability range, with plenty of novices, and in freshers week there will be an opportunity for everyone to give it a try. This year we held an impressive winning streak and successfully moved up a division! So, if youre looking for a way to keep active, promised yourself you would try something new, or just like lacrosse, come along in freshers week. Cricket Sidney has a pretty young team having lost a lot of players in the last two years but we are developing well and are starting to run some of the bigger teams close in the Cuppers t20. Players of all ability are welcomed! We do a few indoor nets in Lent - so no urgent need to bring any equipment you may have for first term - and then a lot of outdoor nets and games in Summer term. We share grounds with Johns which means we have great grounds, excellent training facilities and lots of equipment that you can use if you don't have any. After a great Ashes summer make sure you get involved, there is plenty of coaching knowledge about the squad so you can develop your skills gradually. Even if cricket isn't your main sport it is a great way to take a break. Our season opener is a spring bank holiday match against a squad of Sidney alumni from 1986-90 and is a timed game (about 35 overs max). Its a great occasion, and we are planning to have some more informal games with college and the grads with BBQs. Email at589@cam.ac.uk with any questions or to be added onto the cricket mailing list.

May Ball Committee This year we will be holding a May Ball. They are special events which you will hear lots about throughout the year. Sidney's Ball is biennial and hence you will have few opportunities to be involved in such a large scale event. We have left the security position on the committee open for a fresher so if you are interested get your applications in when we contact you!

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Christian Union The Sidney Sussex Christian Union is essentially a group of Christians who meet each week to encourage one another as we seek to share Jesus with other members of college. We therefore aim to have an outward focus, putting on events throughout the year, such as a May Week BBQ, where people could enjoy some great food and hear a talk about what Christianity is about. We're putting on a free breakfast on the first Sunday of term (the 6th October), which everyone is welcome to come to, whether you'd call yourself a Christian or not, to enjoy some food and chat to new people. Then some of us will be heading along to churches nearby, so you won't have to go alone if you want to come, though obviously there is no obligation to go. We're also going on a short getaway before the start of next term as a college group, across 2nd-3rd October (Wednesday and Thursday before Freshers week) at a cottage on the Suffolk coast, and we'd love for any Freshers who wish to, to join us. Do drop us an email if that is something you'd like to do, or if you have any questions, at pt353@cam.ac.uk (Pete Thompson) or kw393@cam.ac.uk (Kenneth Wong). See you in October! Sidney RAG RAG stands for Raising And Giving, and its how Cambridge University raises money for charity. As well as university-wide events such as Jailbreak (pairs being sponsored to get as far away from Cambridge as possible in 36 hours, with no money - last years winners reached Sydney), colleges have their own teams of RAG reps who organize college-based events. RAG in Sidney plays a major role in providing enjoyment and raising money for worthwhile causes at the same time. Recent Sidney RAG events include a haunted pub-crawl or Ghost Crawl at Halloween, Chained involving tactical donating as pairs competed to be handcuffed together for 24 hours, speed dating with other colleges, and Battle of the Bands. A Nearly Naked Calendar was also created along with popular canvas RAG bags. Huge amounts of support from students and staff all helped Sidney raise over 15,787 last year, second only to Trinity. We really hope Sidneys enthusiasm for RAG will continue to grow, and you can help out by getting involved! Visit http://www.cambridgerag.org.uk for more information and find us at the Sidney Freshers Fair.

Cambridge University Societies and Events

Here at Cambridge we are extremely lucky to have a huge variety of University-wide societies in addition to those at Sidney, ensuring we have something to cater for all tastes. The best thing is that many of them are very cheap, or even better, completely free! Whilst there isnt space to mention all of them, weve profiled a few here, and as mentioned earlier you can find out more at the Freshers Fair. Cambridge Union Society The Cambridge Union hosts famous speakers as well as running various other events. Just this year we had the opportunity to see Jerry Springer, Katie Price, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and David Milliband as well as countless other business leaders, politicians and celebrities. And only last week I was shaking hands with the President of Albania! The weekly debates and high profile speakers' events alone are well worth the membership fee, not to mention cocktail workshops, fitness classes,the members' bar, garden parties and Balls. Plus your Union card will get you amazing discounts at shops and restaurants across Cambridge. For more info check out the Union online (www.cus.org or on Facebook), head over to the stand at the University Freshers Fair or go to the Union building itself - it's no distance at all from Sidney, so no excuses! Remember that there's a discount on membership if you sign up before or during Freshers' Week!

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Sports As you might expect, the sports scene at Cambridge is huge. As well as the usual team games, such as rugby, football and netball, there are also water sports, martial arts and racket sports as well as plenty of other more unusual and extreme sports if youre into something different. If youre not the sporty type then never fear, because spectating can also be good fun! For a full list of sports societies here at Cambridge, as well as links to their websites, you can visit http://www.sport.cam.ac.uk/university-sports-clubs/index.html. Journalism All you budding journalists out there are in for a treat, as there are plenty of free student newspapers looking for contributors across a wide variety of areas, including news, fashion, features, sport, arts, comment and lifestyle. Our two broadsheet papers are The Cambridge Student (TCS) and Varsity, whilst their younger tabloid rival, known as The Tab, will be edited by Sidney Student Jonny Singer this coming term. If you are interested in helping, make sure to investigate at the Freshers Fair, if not, theyre still enjoyable to read! Music With a Chorus, a Chamber Choir, and four orchestras covering a range of musical standards and styles, Cambridge University Music Society (CUMS) caters for a diverse group of over 500 performing members, several of whom are Sidney members. They put on regular performances which are really great value for students. There are also groups to cater for those who prefer a variety of other musical styles, including jazz and folk. Drama and Comedy If you fancy being up on the stage, youve come to the right place. We have The Cambridge Footlights, a world famous comedy troupe based in the ADC Theatre, who first aired the talents of some of the foremost British comedians and actors of this century. They stage an hour of original sketches and stand-up called Smokers every fortnight at the ADC, which anyone can audition for. In addition to this, various college drama societies across Cambridge will be holding auditions for parts which all students are free to audition for, and even if you only fancy a small role, you will be able to find some outlet for your creative talents. Subject Societies If lectures and supervisions arent enough for you, most subjects have their own associated societies, which anyone can join. These are fantastic because they attract some really excellent speakers from outside the University, who often give fascinating and thought provoking talks. Again these are really cheap to participate in, so getting involved is a steal. Most also hold social events so that you can get to know the other members outside of talks or workshops. You can find out more about specific societies at the Freshers Fair. Varsity Trip The Varsity Trip is the largest annual student ski trip in the world, with over 3,200 students attending last year. Dont worry if youd be a newbie on the slopes, as the Varsity Trip is the perfect place to start skiing or snowboarding! Usually around 30% of participants on the trip are complete beginners and many of these are Freshers. It is a great way to end your first term at Sidney and have some fun with your friends without the worries of any work. Visit www.varsitytrip.com

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NIGHTLIFE
Wondering what you will be doing in the evenings at Cambridge? The wonderful thing about the town is that there is plenty to keep you busy, whatever your preference whether that is an alcohol-fuelled night at Fez, a chilled catch up with friends at Sidney Bar or a civilised night at the ADC theatre. Below is our take on what Cambridge nightlife has to offer! CINDIES: Welcome to Cambridges most cheesy club. But dont be put offthis is the best club that caters for everyones music taste, from Daft Punk to Taylor Swift. You may even hear the odd Disney classic making an appearance during the night. The dance-floor is especially electric on Tuesdays and Wednesdaysthe challenge is to see whether youre fit enough to handle the Dirty Double each week. FEZ: Youve been transported to Morocco... Well, not exactly but Fez does at least live up to all its music hype. Music ranges from House to Dubstep to its Propoganda night every Friday, where indie-lovers coalesce. Youre bound to find a Sidneyite rocking out the dance-floor tunes any night of the week. This is a favourite of the college, and why not? We ARE the edgy college. With its location just off Sidney, a very rapid transfer can be made from bop to Fez on a Friday night.

LOLA LOS : Located just off the Market Square, Lola Los is a Hawaiian escape from all your work troubles. Split over 3 floors, youre bound to find a level blasting out your favourite beats. The highlight of this club is its roof-top terrace. After several hours downstairs, this is a welcome relief to the sweaty dance-floor below. Slightly more pricey for drinks than the others, but drinks range from your classic Jaegerbombs to tropical cocktails and pitchers. Thursdays and Sundays are the most popular nights here.

LIFE: With accommodation located metres above Life, youre never too far from all the fun. This is arguably Cambridges biggest club, but dont expect to see it in all its glory till much later into term! Drinks are very competitively priced here, especially on spirits and mixers. Saturday nights see the return of the hot-tub (who actually wants to go in it?) while Sundays and Fridays are very popular with Cambridges societies and clubs.

Bars: The Fountain, The Vaults, Ta Bouche and La Raza are popular choices for an alternate (and a very civilised) night out in Cambridge. The Fountain is a favourite venue for the universitys ArcSoc (Architecture Society) nightsthese showcase the students creative edge and provide a very special night of martinis, dressing-up and even life drawing. Bars are great for catch up with friends within or between collegesnot to be missed!

All da ladz. Mathletes vs. athletes

Ents and Bops: Sidney boasts fantastic bops every terms but for those wanting to venture out the college walls, Emma and Clare have great ents. Clare Cellars hold one every Friday night. Shot bars, comfy sofas and DJ sets cater for everyones tasteyou can be as crazy or as chilled as you like. This is a great for pres before hitting up Life. Each week sees a different music set, and their Jazz nights are a favourite for Cambridge students. Meals out: You may be joining the world of the student but dont forget to treat yourself once in a while. And Cambridge offers a great selection of eateries, from Byron to Wagamama. Dont forget to exploit your student discountWildwood offers 25% off! And its fantastic. Also students here like to organise swaps - these are meals out with other students from different colleges to a curry house. Its a great way to meet other students from all sorts of subjects (and to boast about Sidney). Youll meet friends for life!

Are you guys having a good time?

The Junction: For music lovers and the like. This venue showcases the very latest in musicfrom chart music to indie and alternative bands. Live music is such a fantastic way to spend your nights here and help you to hold on to some sort of reality within these busy 8-week terms!

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Subject Reps
AMES (Asian and Middle Eastern Studies) Georgie Thompson, (gt307@cam.ac.uk) Architecture Janine Dela-Cruz (jdd42@cam.ac.uk) Sidney Architects, get ready for 3 years of making crazy models, roaming around Cambridge with your drawing tubes and Tindalls bags and finding yourself awake at ridiculous o'clock! Nonetheless, you've picked an awesome College for Architecture - we're small in numbers, but you'll have plenty of close friends from all the other Colleges, which not many other subjects can claim! Enjoy the benefits of living next to the only art shop in Cambridge, finishing exams early, one week in Naples, ArcSoc events, the Sidney Desiyn Group (the only College-specific Architecture society in the University!) and the wonderful feeling that you're doing the coolest subject! Enjoy your summer, don't hesitate to email me and sketch, sketch, sketch! Congratulations for choosing the best subject at Cambridge - Arabic! You will never be bored studying Arabic at Cambridge due to the sheer diversity of the subject: history, language, culture, literature, religion... so you can find out what you really enjoy. There's a fair bit of work but it's definitely manageable, and there's lots of time to do other fun stuff too. Also as a small subject you get to know all the other Arabists on the course really well, which is really cool. Unfortunately I won't be able to meet you until next year as I am in the Middle East on my year abroad, and there are no other Arabists at Sidney, but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me. (N.B: Camille Lardy, 2nd Year Anthropology, follows an AMES paper and will be a student point of contact in College if you want - cmhl2@cam.ac.uk)

Economics Alistair Smith (ads74@cam.ac.uk) Congratulations on your offer and your good taste in choosing Sidney and the Economics Tripos! Sidney has a great community within College and you'll get to know the other Economists well. Your DoS is fantastic and will support you throughout the year as well as supervising Macro. The five first year Economics papers cover a great breadth of material so you'll be exposed to many areas of Economics. The year is really a great challenge to look forward to. But Cambridge is much more than your subject. I look forward to meeting you and if you have any questions just fire me a quick email and I'll be happy to help.

Classics Charlotte Jacobs (cj339@cam.ac.uk) Hey guys, well done for getting in and can't wait to meet you all! Classics at Sidney has been a great choice for you. The Classics department in College are keen for all the undergraduates and graduates ( a small but close group of people) to meet up throughout the year - we even had a mock Symposium last year! Supervisions usually take place with the other Classicists in your year (3-5 people) but lessons and lectures allow you to meet the Classicists University-wide. I'm sure you'll have a great time and I hope you're really looking forward to it! English Elias Wynshaw (ew417@cam.ac.uk)

Engineering Jess Mason (jm883@cam.ac.uk) Excellent, you'll soon be studying the best subject at the best College in Cambridge! Get ready to be worked hard, but have so much fun along the way. You'll be introduced to StephSoc, the College Engineering Society, where you can enjoy fortnightly engineering talks (including free wine) followed by Formal Hall, where it truly feels like you've entered Hogwarts! Additionally there's the Cambridge University Engineering Society that sends a weekly email of all things engineering-related, and puts on a fantastic Garden Party that you can look forward to in May Week! The great thing about Engineering is that all your lectures and labs are in the department, a 5-minutes bike down the road. You'll have several supervisions a week which will be at College or at the department. During these you'll go through example paper questions with your supervisor. Get excited to study Engineering at Sidney!

Well done on making your offers, and welcome (in advance) to the elite group of literary scholars known throughout the world as Sidney English. You'll find that it's a very close community here - there are five or six of us to a year - and that there's also a pretty strong personal relationship between the students and Fellows (you do get to drink with them a few times a year, which is always a riot). Depending on your priorities, the highlight of your first year may be Shakespeare term, when everyone else has exams and you'll be reading the greatest poetry in the world in some of the most amazingly pretty (and tourist-free) gardens in Cambridge. Outside the highly personalised teaching, probably the academic highlight of reading English at Cambridge is the libraries. The English library is modern, well-supplied and has a very helpful staff, while the University Library has at least one copy of every book ever published in the UK. So, if you like to read and think and write, you couldn't have wound up at a better place to do it.

Geography Izzy Woolgar (iw254@cam.ac.uk) Congratulations! You've done really well to get this far. Life as a Geographer at Cambridge is great. Why? Loads of reasons, including the fact that as a general rule Geographers are super sociable, so you'll make loads of friends in other colleges soon enough. The phrase 'work hard play hard' will become your mantra - there is lots of time to do both. The Chorley Society is Sidneys very own geography society and is a great way for listening to top researchers (as well as having some lovely meals and wine!). Finally, the course is so varied that you're guaranteed to find something you love. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all soon, and meanwhile hope you're having a great summer!

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History Pete Thompson (pt353@cam.ac.uk) Hey Fresher Historians, congratulations on your offers and we're sure you'll adore Sidney! The Historians are a really tight-knit group who you'll no doubt have loads of fun with. You'll learn to love our dear Director of Studies, Dr Fulda, and have the opportunity to have some lively and rather off topic debates with your fellow Freshers during HAP classes (that's Historical Argument and Practice, something none of us really understand, a year on). You'll get the chance to enjoy free College wine during Confrat Formals, that's the College historical society, while hearing some big name speakers. With your Prelim exams out of the way at the start of the summer term, you'll have the best term Cambridge can offer, to the jealousy of everyone else! No doubt you all can't wait until October!

History of Art Lydia Mills (Lydia.mills@cantab.net) Congratulations on getting into Sidney to read History of Art and becoming a member of one of the most alternative departments in Cambridge. With world famous art historians for lecturers and supervisors youll be sure to find the course living up to all your expectations. Varying class sizes and opportunities for specialization allows plenty of room for originality and creativity. We share a department with the architects, so watch out for the ARCSOC parties and get creative!

HSPS (Human, Social and Political Sciences) Armin Kammerlander, PPS (ak813@cam.ac.uk) & Camille Lardy, Arch&Anth (cmhl2@cam.ac.uk) Dear future HSPSers! You are the first generation of your kind, and within days you'll probably know more about HSPS than we do. The wide range of subjects you can choose from will give you an insight into the important things in life, from political philosophy to male pregnancies among the Hua of Papua New Guinea! The University provides excellent resources for your studies, like the Haddon and SPS Libraries, the amazing Arch & Anth Museum, and public lectures offered by the ominously-named, but quite inoffensive, CRASSH. Sidney is a great place to study humanities - its strategic location near the clubs offers neverending opportunities to observe group dynamics in ritual partying ;) We're looking forward to meeting you in October, and expanding the number of social scientists at Sidney - maybe we can start our very own College society! Get excited, enjoy your summer, and see you soon! x

Law Henry Moore (hbdm2@cam.ac.uk) Be prepared to be offered free food, free drinks and free goodies. Whilst studying Law at Sidney, you will inevitably meet representatives from major law firms, who will sponsor events, organise free dinners and encourage you to join them when you graduate. There is, of course, no obligation to join these firms, and many of us go along for the freebies. As well as these glamorous events, Sidney has its own Law Society, which will have a Welcome Drinks event early in Michaelmas term, and, in Lent term, will award handsome cash prizes to those skilled at 'mooting'. Anyone wishing to learn more about mooting should join the CULS, which offers beginners' mooting competitions and training events. Whilst studying hard, always think about the future, and take advantage of the excellent careers events on offer at Sidney and elsewhere in Cambridge. Linguistics Ben Turner (bt314@cam.ac.uk) Dear baby linguists/ linguisticians/ ChomScis (we're still very much fighting the battle of differentiating ourselves from our fellow MMLers in terms of what we call ourselves, so basically pick whichever feels the most comfortable :D) Congratulations on your exam results and for being edgy enough to pick Linguistics. My name is Ben and I am the only second year Linguistics student at Sidney. By default, that makes me your Subject Rep and I am thrilled at the prospect. My job is to provide support and answer any questions you will have. As Subject Rep I will have your back when you draw your first syntax tree, pronounce your first palatal or attempt your New Zealand accent for the first time (trust me, it will be abysmal). A word of warning: if you don't feel confident yet with Classical Chinese syntax or the development of morphology in young children's speech in indigenous South American tribes, then you are really going to struggle here. I am of course completely joking and I wish you the best of luck with your studies. Enjoy what's left of summer and get ready for one hell of a Linguistics-fuelled year. Medicine Becky Jordan (rmj37@cam.ac.uk) & Noemi Hughes (jnh40@cam.ac.uk) Congratulations on getting into the most stimulating course in the country! First off really enjoy your summer. As for preparations, follow the advice from your DoS but dont stress. Definitely make the most of Freshers' Week as well! Just to give you a bit of a heads up on the course itself: you can look forward to doing human anatomy (FAB) starting with the upper limb (with fun dissecting!) and then physiology (HOM) and biochemistry (MIMS). There are ample opportunities for socialising too - the Sidney medical and veterinary society is very active here as is the University MedSoc society hosting events such as the MedSoc Ball! Looking forward to meeting you soon!

MML (Modern and Medieval Languages) Bethany Randall (bar44@cam.ac.uk) Flicitations/ enhorabuena/ congratulazioni/ Glck wnschen (sorry if I missed your language, I only have 150 words!) on choosing the best subject at the best College! We're a small, close-knit group at Sidney, but everyone does different combinations of languages and you'll have translation and grammar classes in the Faculty with people from other Colleges, so it's a very sociable subject! As an MMLer you have the joys of cheese and wine nights, tequila tastings, foreign film nights, salsa classes and other exciting things to look forward to, which are organised by the different language societies. We can't wait to meet you in October, but feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions beforehand. Hasta luego! Music Laura Harrison (lkh40@cam.ac.uk) Massive congratulations on getting into Sidney to study Music! Although there aren't many 'musos' here, we are a diverse but closely-knit bunch and we're all really looking forward to meeting you! Music at Sidney is great fun, and the course covers pretty much every aspect of music. So whether you enjoy composing in the style of Palestrina or Schubert, or can't get enough Wagner (like me!), you'll soon get into the swing of things. In terms of practical music making at Cambridge, the opportunities are literally endless! Check out the CUMS website for a start. There will also be the chance to get active in Sidney's Music Society - always a source of muso fun! Don't hesitate to drop me an email if you have any questions.

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Mathematics Emma Clark (ejc80@cam.ac.uk) Congratulations! You made it through STEP - that is no easy feat! Welcome to Sidney, maths is a fairly small subject here, with six Mathematicians per year, which makes it a perfect size for everyone to work together. In my experience maths is hard work but rewarding; compared to most sciences subjects there aren't as many contact hours but the examples sheets are usually a little bit longer. Also maths is very different here that school so the most important thing you can do when you arrive is take your time to adjust to this new experience. The Allen Society is the maths society at Sidney, we have talk and dinner events 2 to 3 times a year so that we all get a chance to see each other in a slightly less work-oriented environment. There are a couple of other maths societies that are University-wide if you are interested in joining those as well. Well done again for making it here you obviously love maths and so will really enjoy it here. We look forward to meeting you! PBS (Psychology and Behavioural Studies) Sam Andrews, Third Year (sja57@cam.ac.uk) Congratulations Psychologists! A lot of students think they're doing the best subject but not many can say that they straddle both the sciences and the arts. Also, although we get equated (a lot) with Freudian psychoanalysis from non-psychs, the "can you read my mind?" questions are pretty empowering! You've chosen the best College as it is right opposite Sainsbury's (nothing can compete with that!) and the other Sidneyites are a fantastic bunch of participants people. We also have the best DoS. He is quite literally the psychology God. We're currently a rare breed at Sidney so all three of us are really looking forward to meeting you and expanding our numbers. Don't hesitate to email if you have any questions and we'll see you very soon.

Philosophy Ollie Clarke (ohc21@cam.ac.uk) Firstly, well done on getting into Sidney, and more than that, on choosing by far the best course. Philosophy here is really interesting and the course is surprisingly broad. You're not expected to know everything though, so you can focus on the areas that interest you the most, which is great. Some people are put off by Logic, but pay them no heed - it's easy once you grasp the rules and see how everything links up. We are a small subject, but all that means is we're a close-knit group who look out for one another. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop me an email and I look forward to seeing you in October. NatSci (Natural Sciences) Emily Pycroft, Bio (ep413@cam.ac.uk) & Sam North, Phys (sjn55@cam.ac.uk) As a Natural Sciences student (NatSci) at Sidney, you'll be part of a large community with Natural Sciences typically being the largest of any of the subject groups in the year, which means there is always another student to talk to or work through a problem with! When you arrive at Sidney, you'll automatically become a member of the Wilson Society - a group of all the NatScis in Sidney, which is a great opportunity to meet second, third and fourth years. The Wilson Society organises social and academic events, for example this year we've had a Black Tie dinner, a Formal swap, and a talk from the Careers Service. Unlike other subjects, you will have several labs a week which are great for meeting friends outside of the College. There are two Directors of Studies (DoS) for Natural Sciences and both are always on hand to help with any problems.. If you want to get involved with things outside of College you might like to attend talks from BioSoc, or try your hand at science-communication with BlueSci and if you think you might like to work with children in the future then Time Truck might be for you! If that's still not enough, there are loads of science-related attractions to visit in Cambridge including the Museum of Zoology, Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, the Whipple Museum of the History of Science and the Botanical Gardens. We look forward to meeting all of you!

Theology Lara Pleydell-Bouverie (lcp42@cam.ac.uk) Well done on getting into the fun and beautiful College that is Sidney Sussex! I'm the only Theologian in my year at Sidney but it's meant that I've made some great friends in other Colleges and around the Faculty. It's a sociable subject and no doubt you'll soon experience a classic Theology swap with the theme 'New Testament vs. Old', or something equally as silly. You will soon be introduced to the joys of Greek (it's really not that bad) and the diverse papers that range from sociology to philosophy and ethics. I look forward to seeing you in October!

VetMed (Veterinary Medicine) Matt Ashford (ma579@cam.ac.uk) Hi, I'm Matt, the Vet Rep for this year. VetMed is a small subject, at Sidney there are usually two vets per year which creates a tight-knit community of Sidney Vets. The small subject size, combined with our timetable including lots of practicals (making friends over a preserved limb may seem a strange concept now, but soon you'll be telling everyone about the latest dissection room gossip!) mean that you will have friends from many different Colleges. Much of our teaching is with the Medics and so you'll get to know them really well and soon learn they have an ability to get twice as stressed over the same work as us, the key is not to take them too seriously! Have a great summer and we look forward to meeting you in October!

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Guide to Cambridge Lingo The Sidney A-Z

A B C D E F G H I J JCR: Junior Common Room. Located in Chapel Court, it has a big TV and a table football. Informal/smart casual: A dress code a step down from formal, but not the same as casual. For guys a shirt and trousers will do, and anything nice for girls. No denim please! Geography: Essentially a degree in colouring in. The only ones who still get to go on field trips! Economics: Which country will you bankrupt/ruin next? Engineering: Its all about the lego and bridges English: One will most likely/compose poetic verses/in secret notebooks (spot the cheeky haiku) Ents: The entertainments team, of four people. The organizers of bops and other fun events throughout the year. Ergs: Rowing machines/exercise done on rowing machines. A favourite topic of boaties, always on about socalled split times ADC: Amateur Dramatics Club, around the corner from Sidney Architecture: UHU glue, cardboard and Stanley knifes make for a great night in.

Backs (the): The bit beside the Cam which shows the back of colleges such as Trinity and Kings, nice to sit on. Black tie: Formal wear, men: dinner jacket, dress shirt and bow-tie; women: evening dress. For May Balls, etc. Boatie: Rowers and coxes, they get up ridiculously early, wear lycra and only ever talk about rowing. Bop: Disco in the bar, great music, fancy dress, crazy bop juice, bound to be a great night.

Classics: Seem to read an unsettling amount about incest. College card: Student ID, pays for hall, opens doors, etc. Also usually has a cringy-looking photo of you. CUMS (lol): Cambridge University Music Society CUSU: Cambridge University Students Union

Deaned: Like being sent to the principal, but way worse. Three strikes and youre out (joke!). Drinking societies: We have four! The Roundheads and the Porcs (male) and the S.L.A.G.S and the Sybs (female). Freshers also tend to make their own during the first year.

Formal: One of the occasions where you might believe you are at Hogwarts. Can you manage to go to every colleges formal during your time at Cambridge? Freshers flu: Generally not real flu, simply the result of a week of no sleep, a few beers and much mingling. As per man flu, everyone is convinced they feel worse than they do.

Hermes: The Universitys internal email service. You will get hundreds of emails a day until you learn to block the societies you enthusiastically signed up for at the freshers fair. History: First years use reading glasses by day, shot glasses by night! History of Art: Did you know that you read a painting from top left to bottom right, unless of course its the wrong way up HSPS: People who dont study it will never be 100% sure what it stands for (Human, Social and Political Sciences). Lucky you, doing three degrees at once. A new course combining PPS and Arch and Anth.

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L M N P S T U V Varsity: A uni newspaper, sports matches between Cambridge and Oxford, and yearly ski trip Vet Med: Permanently in the library, or playing with cute animal. Its a balanced life. UL: University Library. Supposedly a location for liaisons, but mostly the arena for a fight to the death over that last copy of your set text. Make sure you dont get locked in. Tab (the): Online Cambridge Uni newspaper, run by students, for students. Terms: Michaelmas, Lent and Easter Theology: There is no right or wrong answer, let your imagination run free Sent down: To be expelledsee deaned Squash: A societys meeting organized to encourage membership. Also a flavoured drink. SSCSU: Sidney Sussex College Students Union Stash: Clothing for various clubs and societies. Rowing stash = lycra onesie. Soon you will know Suicide Sunday: first day of May Week Supervision: Individual or small group (1-4) teaching and discussion with an expert in your subject Swap: Intercollege lively night out, with guys from one college and girls from another. Typically themed, associated with Drinking Societies PBS: New course to confuse people about for 2013. Straddling linguistics, psychology, sociology the list goes on. Philosophy: Students found in coffee shops looking brooding. Will question literally everything you say. Pidge: Your pigeon hole. Source of leaflets, procrastination and occasionally chocolate Plodge: Porters lodge, endless source of directions. In fact theyre like a cross between our dads and Wikipedia. Port: Fortified red wine with a high alcohol content. Very common in Cambridge. Punting: Part of the pomp of Cambridge. An activity on the river Cam using a long pole to direct a punt (wooden boat). Much more of a challenge in reality, very rarely involves a swim. NatSci: Abbreviation of Natural Sciences, preceded by bio or phys. Natural Sciences: Have Saturday lectures, and will never be okay with that Maths: Mathmos are rarely spotted. That person on your corridor that you never see? Probably a mathmo. Matriculation: Officially becoming a Sidney-ite, includes a posh meal and a photo your gran will love! May Ball: Actually in June. All night black tie events with tickets ranging from 80 to 200 May week: Also in June, a whole week to celebrate the end of exams! Medicine: Medics epitomize work hard, play hard. You may never trust a doctor again MML: Modern and Medieval Languages. Actually required to go on holiday, its just not fair. Law: Read books. A lot of books. And even have their own carefully guarded section of the library. Never get into an argument with a lawyer! Land Economy: You will actually spend more time defending your subject than studying it. LGBTQ: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning. CUSU LGBT run a LGBT parenting scheme for freshers and events throughout the year, visit: www.lgbt.cusu.cam.ac.uk/freshers

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Credits
We hope youve enjoyed reading through this guide and that it has at least given you some idea of what you have to look forward to this October. Obviously we havent been able to fit in everything about Sidney into this guide, so it is just a taster of things to come. Once again, we congratulate you on making your offers, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

The Freshers Guide Team 2013

George Cooper, Guide Coordinator

Charlotte Burns, Freshers Rep

Nick Krol

Camille Lardy

Will Searle

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Map

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