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Campus Diary- First year blues Thinking out aloud- Going out, staying safe and having fun - Students Lifestyle
Campus Diary
First year blues
By Muna. A A story is told of a certain female student who went to the canteen on her second day at the university. She ordered that a feast of kebabs, sausages, and whatever else was in sight be heaped into a polythene bag for her. The canteen attendant happily obliged but was shocked when the shopper she had thought a big spender instead walked away without paying a penny. Of course, the attendant ran after the girl demanding for her payment, only to be told: I am university-sponsored! To prove it, the student even showed the attendant her meal card. Poor girl was shocked when the canteen attendant told her (in no kind words) that her University sponsorship did not include kebab feasts.
It is a suspect story I must admit, but ones first weeks at the University can be very daunting. If you do not take the wrong route to your hall of residence and consequently get lost for hours, someone will point you in the direction of the playground when you ask for the Administration building. Even worse, you may pay your registration fees to some conman impersonating the faculty registrar. They see you with a brown envelope and immediately recognise you as game.
True, my universities do not have enough lecture rooms but believe me it does not mean that it actually has few. Margaret and Priscilla were to have their first Literature lecture in a certain Faculty of Arts lecture room identified on the timetable as ULT. It is Greek to any fresher. Rather than ask and be given the smouldering So you are a fresher? look, they decided to go peeping into every lecture room until they found the right one.
After roaming that faculty for about 20 minutes, they heard a discussion about satire, metaphor and the like, coming from one of the rooms. Oh, they had found their lecture room. In, they darted, taking their seat at the back of the class like well mannered latecomers would. The lecturer lightly scolded them about their tardiness but quickly went back to the subject at hand.
Now, the subject at home presented a problem. It was Literature alright, but Margaret and her friend did not recognise any one of the characters being discussed. Why was there a discussion about characters in a novel yet they had not even been told which books to read? Still, they sat through the lecture. You never know about university education. They would figure this out later.
At the end of the lecture, the lecturer cheekily smiled their way and said: Im sure there are two people in this room who are as confused and lost as sheep! See, you next time second-year class! They had ended up in the wrong room, after all the pains!
Thomas was determined not to fall into the humiliating experience of getting lost on campus. So he dedicated his first week to mastering the geography of the place. He would set off from the main building and move in any random direction. He would map on a piece of paper all the significant building and trees along the way. He always ensured that he never lost sight of the main building. Just in case. One time he strayed as far as the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He lost sight of his reference point! The story of how confused he was and how many wrong turns he took while he frantically tried to make his way back is one you ought to hear from him. I am still in stitches about it.
Published on: Sunday, 31 August 2008
E-mail writer: muna@mysrconline.com
Thinking Out aloud
Going out, staying safe and having fun - Students Lifestyle
By Stockmann A Summary: Stay safe at university - suggestions and tips.
Although most students have a trouble free time at university and polytechnic, statistics suggest that one in three students becomes the victim of some sort of crime each year. Since we are stating a new academic, the following can be good suggestions when you go out of campus.
Going out at night Planning travel home It's important to plan where you're going for the night and how you'll get home. Or back to your hostel.
Always make sure that at least a couple of friends in the group I am going out with know I want to travel back with someone. I used to tell just the one friend I share a hostel with but after a few pints they occasionally forgot and went without me!
When it comes to the walk back, I make it clear I do not want to take any short cuts. The main reason is that short cuts are more dangerous especially at night, but also I have noticed friends are more confident guiding me if we stick to well-lit, main roads using the routes I am used to.
For what to tell your friends about guiding, see how to guide people with sight problems.
Using taxis When waiting for the taxi to , I think it important to look confident so you don't appear to be 'hanging around'.
Communicating with your roommates about your whereabouts You might want to agree how roommates communicate with each other after a night out to show you are all back safely. It might be useful to set up a system that you all can access, such as a Post-it notes on a refrigerator.
"I always phone my Roommates if I decide to stay out at later than I was expecting or overnight. I have encouraged my friends to do the same and of course some are more willing than others! However, my closest friends are on board and we all now look out for each other's wellbeing."
Staying safe on the street Carrying money and keys on you You may consider carrying a 20 Ghana Cedi note in a pocket in case you have too much to eat or your bag or wallet is lost or stolen. Keep your keys on your person and not in your bag.
Cash machines Never use a ATMs at night, you are safer getting cash back in a shop and ensuring you put your wallet away before you leave the building.
Stay safe in clubs Caution with bags and phones Keep bags closed and fastened, keep calls brief and to use a phone ideally go into a shop. If someone grabs your bag, let it go - it's safer than challenging the thief. If your phone is lost or stolen, report it to the police and contact your network provider and tell them your phone has been stolen. They'll be able to block both the handset and the SIM card so that they can't be used.
Drinking and eating Don't accept a drink from a stranger. Get a trusted friend to ensure your drink is not touched by anyone else. Buy drinks in bottles with lids you can place in your bag. Although it doesn't happen all the time, students have had their drinks "spiked" without them knowing. This is when drugs are placed in someone else's drink for a "joke" or with the intent of assault. If you think you have had your drink spiked, alert a trusted friend or the bar staff immediately. You also must seek medical attention. Studies have shown that many job-seekers miss job opportunities on the basis of personal presentation, which is dress and grooming. The visual impression is important because employers are deciding on sight, if you will fit into the company culture?
Published on: Sunday, 31 August 2008 |
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