Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to a new academic year at UoN.

We’re your new women’s officers and this year we’ve got loads of events planned for UoN students; from teaming up with UoN Feminists for a pub quiz to performances of the Vagina Monologues for V-day, we and our committee want to put together a great year for self-defining female students.

The Women’s Network is in place to provide support and safe space for the self-defining female student body, as well as organising campaigns around the issues that mean the most to UoN students. We want to make sure the female voice is heard and represented at our university, both through our Zine (which any of you can write for!) and by bringing your thoughts, concerns and ideas to every Union council. Improving the student experience and university life for women is really important to us, and we want to make sure women are hugely involved in shaping the future of our university. As a part of this, we want to inspire UoN women to take leadership roles this year - whether that may be on your JCR Committee, in a society you’re involved with or on your course.

At UoN, Welcome Week is all about trying new things. From nights out in a new city to signing up to weird and wonderful sports you never knew existed, freshers is the best way to immerse yourself in university life. Naturally, the university strives to make Week One events safe, and in an environment in which everyone will feel comfortable. Throughout Week One there will be uni reps in your hall and on nights out with you who will make your safety their priority and be there to advise should you feel uncomfortable or concerned.

In recent years, social media has played a massive part in exposing sexism on campuses around the UK. Despite it being a time when freshers need the most support, sexism emerges in fresher’s week in the form of chants, lad culture and sometimes even club night promotion endorsed by a university. We are constantly working towards stamping out sexist behaviour at UoN, and you can help by using the hashtag #nottssexism or tweeting @nottssexism to report. We can only stamp out campus sexism if we work together.

We hope you have an amazing experience at UoN. Wishing you a happy freshers!