The new academic year in ALSS commenced with a string of welcome and induction events to include all our students on the Cambridge and Chelmsford campuses. We started with a successful and very well attended undergraduate Freshers' party in Cambridge, which saw about 450 students from across our varied departments and pathways mix and mingle with each other and staff. There was a real buzz and a great atmosphere, largely thanks to our ALSS house band 'Familiar Strangers' - second-year Music and Performing Arts students - who played an eclectic mix of jazzy, own and cover music. Students were also treated to the 'Past, Present, Future' show in the Ruskin Digital Gallery, which references ALSS alumni such as members of Pink Floyd (David Gilmour and Syd Barrett) and Spitting Image (Peter Fluck and Roger Law). It was a great opportunity to meet fellow students, and by the end of the evening there were students (by then quite merry!) who were planning to organise an open-talent cabaret and a crossdisciplinary student society - there was a real feeling of coming together and excitement, and this was our best Faculty Freshers' party so far.

We had a similar experience in Chelmsford, where Freshers' (Law) students had the chance to mix with some returning students at their 'Freshers and Welcome Back' party. This was well attended with over 90 students crowding into the SU Bar together with ALSS Law staff. The resident SU DJ and SU bar staff did a great job, and students particularly enjoyed an ice-breaker game we had organised to get the party going. 'Human Bingo' had all students talking to each other and to staff, and there were no 'wall flowers' by the end of the evening. One student sent a thank you note afterwards, which summed it up: "Thank you for a most enjoyable Freshers' Law party on Monday. I especially enjoyed the 'ice breaker', as I would have never have gotten to speak to my fellow students otherwise, as I can be shy. Thank you also for the free drinks winning ticket, which my many new friends seemed to enjoy!"

We have also warmly welcomed our ALSS postgraduate students and 'late arrivals' (mostly international) with welcome and induction events. Further ALSS LTIR (Long, Thin Induction and Retention) events planned for semester one are: ALSS Student Rep Informal Forum and Q&A with the Dean (Cambridge and Chelmsford); ALSS International Student Forum (Cambridge and Chelmsford); ALSS quiz nights (Cambridge and Chelmsford). We hope all our students settle in well and look forward to seeing them at our events over the coming months.

Karen Sturt
Faculty Student Experience & Events Co-ordinator

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