QM Freshers' Handbook 2011

FRESHERSHANDBOOK

2011

The President's Welcome

Kirsty xx

Welcome to the University of Glasgow and, more importantly, welcome to the Queen Margaret Union. You’ve made a fabulous decision coming to study here. There’s no other city that beats Glasgow for nightlife or the arts or history or shopping or live music or eating out or sport. You’re going to have an amazing time here and the QM will be a big part of that. This handbook is here to help you through your first weeks, but also to serve as a guide for the rest of your time at Glasgow so you know where to find the one of the best open mic nights in the city, the cheesiest and longest running student clubnight and where to buy a coffee and a bacon roll the morning after.

The QM was founded in 1890 as part of Glasgow’s Queen Margaret College which later merged with the University of Glasgow, where it became the student union for

ladies on campus. However, since the 1980s the union has been open to all students at the University.

A lot is made of the QM’s rich musical heritage but while it’s true our live music venue Qudos has seen some of the biggest names grace its stage, that’s only a tiny part of what we can offer you.

We’re known for our philanthropic nature: the QM has championed many worthwhile causes throughout the years and raised an amazing amount for charity, a tradition we’re proud to carry on today.

The things that have perhaps changed most over the years – and, if I’m honest, what I love most about the union - are our bars. But not just for the boozing! In Jim’s bar we have pub quizzes, theatre, open mic nights and stand-up comedy. In our dedicated sports

bar, Champion’s we show live sport all day, every day. You can read more about them later, as well as all of our other facilities.

But what has always stayed the same is that the QM is a place run for students, by students. You can make it whatever you want it to be. Just a crackin’ place to socialise or somewhere to show off your talents. We have four different committees to help you find exactly where your passions lie. During your time at the University of Glasgow you can learn things your degree won’t even touch on, whether as a comittee member or a board member.

I’ve been elected to run your union for a year and I’m around every day, so feel free to visit me in my office on the third floor or dancing at Cheesy. I hope you have a great time here and I’ll see you soon!

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Freshers WeekYour Freshers’ Week will most prob-ably make you feel like the most popular person in Glasgow, as several hundred brightly-coloured shirt-wearing helpers attempt to assure you that their events are un-missable.

In reality, your Freshers’ Week is what you make of it. Most of all, it’s a chance to meet new people, try lots of new things and sample the best of what each organisation has to offer.

The QM will have a team of red-shirted students trying to impress you with their chat, pointing you in the right direction when you’re lost and promoting the QM - we’ve put together a lineup with something for everyone and we’re really proud about the diversity of events we’ve got on offer.

There’s a bit about what’s in store below, but for the full lineup check out the QM’s page at facebook.com/qmunion

Firstly we’ve taken our regular events and crammed them with all the extras we could. So Quids - the QM’s cheap Tuesday clubnight - will be hosting the Quids Headphone Disco. If you’ve never seen 1000 people dancing in silence, now is the time.

On Wednesday, QM staple, the Big Wednesday Night Pub Quiz, has upped its top prize to £500 and will take place in the massive Qudos with 300 participants. Do not miss this if you like laughter. Or money.

On Friday, the QM’s longest running clubnight - Cheesy Pop - has in-vested in hundreds of paintsuits to distribute and a ton of UV paint to spray all over you while you listen to a collection of chart n’ cheese.

Then, we’ve pulled out all the stops to fill up the rest of the week with amazing acts and events. We want-ed to kick off the week properly so we found four of the best Scottish bands around and put them all on

Monday night. Following that are Ministry of Sound DJs the Wide-boys, two of the foremost mixers on the scene. Don’t miss this. It’s going to be huge.

On Tuesday evening, we have QM Comedy in Qudos to place the funny cherry on the Freshers’ Week-cake.

On Wednesday, Beat-A-Maxx will be playing in Qudos. Beat-A-Maxx is leading a whole new breed of DJ that mixes the visual as well as the aural - everything from Eric Prydz to the Queen’s Speech. Clever, fun-ny and - most importantly - utterly danceable.

The Freshers’ Ball on Thursday may be the only shot you get at real class during Freshers’ Week. With a red carpet, champagne, a casino, string quartets, a chocolate foun-tain and everything in between, use this opportunity to try out your gladrags before you spill cheap wine down them.

Unless you’re nocturnal, you’ll also be looking for something to do during the day this week. For this reason the QM has arranged a range of activities during the few grey hours of sunlight Glasgow can offer. The daytime events are all about meeting new folk and get-ting to know your new flatmates better. Exemplary of this is Speed Mating on Tuesday in the food fac-tory, where you can chat over some games and challenges.

Want to band together and win some stuff in exchange for other-wise useless knowledge? The Re-ally Useful Pub Quiz will be held in Jim’s on Monday where you can


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win the stuff you forgot to bring to uni, from cornflakes to paddling pools.

There’ll be another chance to win prizes in what is likely to be a frank-ly shocking attempt at a civilised game of bingo on Wednesday. It might get loud.

On Thursday and Friday, a vintage fair and comic-book fair will be held in Qudos. Head to the former if you fancy picking up some cheap ol’ school garb, while at the latter the cream of Glasgow’s burgeoning comic-book scene will be set up, willing to adopt the initiated and initiate the curious. Having got to

uni, you’ll know by now that being a geek is both cool and incredibly useful, so as well as the comic book fair on Friday, there’s a lazy day of gaming up in Jim’s.

There are also three opportuni-ties to check out the local talent in Freshers’ Week by attending the Theatre Workshop, the Un-plugged Showcase and New Com-edy in Jim’s, introducing you to the Glasgow student theatre, live music and comedy scenes, respectively (duh).

Just make very sure that you make the most of this week of mayhem. You only get to be a Fresher once.


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Make sure you keep your Wednesday morning clear of tutorials and seminars, or indeed coherent conversation; Quids takes no prisoners. Quids is, of course, cheap - every student’s favourite word. With cheap entry and a banging playlist, there’s no point going anywhere else.

The cheapest night on campus will keep you smiling until 2am like a kid on Christmas day. On the Qudos mainstage, Glasgow’s Gerry Lyons will be playing gui-tar pop, rock and dance. Meanwhile all the favourite cartoons from your childhood will be projected onto our screens, ready for when your tired feet can dance no more. Up in Jim’s Bar there will be a bunch of stu-dent DJs playing all night long.

Also drinks are a pound. One Hundred British Pennys. Try and remember that, it’s vitally important.

This is really very straightforward: Fridays are Cheesy Pop. It’s as simple as that. As Glasgow’s longest run-ning student club night, Cheesy just got a whole new menu of drinks and a host of fun extras for her 18th birthday.

If you’re not in the mood for dancing (why?), you can chill up in Champions Bar, or there’s always karaoke packing out Jim’s Bar until the end of the night. Spinning the tunes in Qudos will be QM one-man institution DJ Toast with an extensive playlist of chart and cheesy music, along with everybody’s guilty pleasures and requests. Leave your musical shame at the door as you dance along to the best-of-the-worst of pop music history.

In summary, Fridays. Qudos, Cheesy. Be there. We sure as hell will be.

Clubnights



Here at the QM we like to embrace the alternative. On the last Saturday of each month, the QM plays host to Bedlam, Glasgow’s premier industrial rock, metal and alternative night.

You’ll hear from Rammsteinn and Slipknot to Pendulum and Rob Zombie and more, as everything between industrial rock and elec-tronic rave and more features on the playlist.

Qudos, the last Saturday of the month

The first of its kind on campus, and an international night like noth-ing else, Viva La Fiesta’s focus is on good music, great atmosphere and a chance to meet students from all over the world.

Once a month, the QM will be work-ing with Viva la Fiesta to bring you an exciting and eceltic clubnight, offering a whole new way to get in-volved in the international commu-nity at the University of Glasgow.

Qudos, monthly Wednesdays

Fresh this year at the QM, you’ll find Sin City. A den of hedonism awaits all those bad enough to head out on a Thursday night.

Each week, the QM hosts Sin City’s special guest DJs, an exclusive VIP area with free bubbly and big prize giveaways.

You’ll have to start working on your excuses now for all those late Fri-days and missed deadlines.

Qudos, every Thursday, 10pm

Social Events



The QM's open mic night is well established in the city, having hosted a variety of big name acts in recent years including Frank Turner, Twin Atlantic, Tommy Reilly and Kassidy as well supporting up and coming local artists. It’s also the one of the best platforms for students to show off their musical talent to a decent audience every week.

Jim's Bar has seen students perform with a range of musical talents and styles over the years, from beat-boxing and poetry to ceilidh tunes and metal, Un-plugged is more than just acoustic crooning. A guitar, a piano, backline and stage are all provided, and feel free to bring anything else you might like.

Every Monday - 9pm, Jim’s

The Big Wednesday Night Pub Quiz provides a mid-week pick-me-up to any student wise enough to ven-ture to Jim’s Bar and endure an evening of chat, trivia, ridiculous videos and scary games.

If you can make it to Wednesday drowning in a sea of essays and coursework the BWNPQ’s unstoppable hosts - Chippy & James - to fill you with enough fun and enthusiasm to last you until the weekend. Bring a team down for a chance to win an assortment of prizes, a crate of booze and a shot at the cash rollover. Head over to the BWNPQ’s page at facebook.com/bwnpq.qmu for a preview of the infamous video round. A QM staple that should be taken regularly, with beer.

Every Wednesday - 8pm, Jim’s

Every day of every week you'll find something to keep you entertained at the QM. The Social Convenor and their dedicated team of committee members put on a variety of events for a wide spectrum of the QM’s discerning members. If you're looking for a oft-need-

ed and well-deserved relaxation time in your ‘hectic’ study schedule, pencil everything here into your diary (although, if you attend them all, every week, you’re unlikely to leave with a degree in four years time).

UNPLUGGED b.w.n.p.q.



On the last Sunday of each month all Jim’s Bar is a stage, and students merely players. Sit back and let the QM put a pint in one hand, a panini in the other* and show you the best of new theatre written and performed by your fellow students. All for just £5.

* You’ll actually have to pick them up yourselves, but the thought’s definitely there.

Last Sunday of the Month - 7.30pm, Jim’s

Once a month, an array of local comedians will grace the stage of Jim’s Bar, from veterans of the Glasgow comedy scene to stu-dents and new performers trying their hand at making you laugh.

Entry costs just a quid for a few hours of light entertainment. Sit back with and giggle with your mates, and very possibly catch-ing the next big thing early on.

First Thursday of the Month - 8pm, Jim’s

When your lectures finish for the week, there’s really only one thing you want to do: sit in a bar with your friends and win prizes for your otherwise useless yet encyclope-dic knowledge on all things pop culture. For exactly this reason, the QM gives you Pop Culture and a Pi-ano. Wind down with friends and let McBride test your knowledge on music, TV, film and the web with the QM’s resident gangster P. Kelly playing phat tunes on the piano.

Every Friday - 4pm, Jim’s

NEW COMEDY

IN JIM'S

NEW theatre

IN JIM'S

POP CULTURE

AND A PIANO

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The QM doesn’t just rely on its reg-ular weekly and monthly offerings to keep its lovely members enter-tained. Throughout the year, all of the committees, staff and Board of Management work incredibly hard to bring you big, spectacular one-off events too. A small taster selec-tion can be found on this page. The dates for our special events are on the last page.

All of the traditional holidays are covered, with spectacular themed

nights planned months in advance for Halloween, St. Andrew’s Day, Christmas, Burns’ Night, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Burns’ night and a whole host of other occasions.

QM speciality events like Late Late Hogmanay offer you the chance to celebrate with friends you may have missed over the holidays, and the infamous 10- and 12-hour Cheesy Pops are the finest tests of stamina you’ll see outside of a mar-athon.

Huge expeditions take place the whole year round at the QM Un-ion too. Our Campaigns & Chari-ties Committee organise an annual citywide scavenger hunt, known as The Big Hunt, which has seen par-ticipants kiss policemen and take photos of Twilight books in the toi-let. Also, for the good cause that is Comic Relief, you and your mates can make a team and hitchhike - in the past getting as far as Egypt or Frankfurt by joining the manic ad-venture that is Jail Break in March.

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The Board of ManagementYou’ll hear a lot about volunteering while at University, how it’s one of the most important things you can do whilst studying and how you’re more likely to get a job if you gain some extra-curricular experience.The QM is run by the Board of Management; a team of student volunteers. Being a Board Member goes beyond the committee struc-ture, and gives you the chance to represent the needs and views of thousands of students and gain ex-perience in running a busy charity organisation.

The majority of the Board is made up of Ordinary Board Members. They are the ideas machine of the union and attend the fortnightly

board meetings in which all un-ion activities are proposed and re-viewed. There are twelve Ordinary Board positions, with three posi-tions exclusively reserved for first years.

For each of the QM’s four commit-tees, a convenor sits on the Board of Management, responsible for the activites of the committee and using members’ ideas and opin-ions. Each convenor has a slightly different role in organising and working with the committee. To find out more about of the commit-tees check out the following pages.

The student volunteers with the most responsibility at the QM are

the Executive Committee, a three-person team you’ll find in a slightly cramped office on the third floor. The head of the committee, is the QM President - the public face of the QM and effectively responsible for organising and coordinating everything that happens in the Un-ion.

Running for election could not be easier - when an election is called nomination packs will be avail-able from the QM reception and to download from the website. Before the election there will be a heckling meeting, giving members a chance to [gently] interrogate candidates, followed by one frantic day of cam-paigning. It’s that easy.

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Campaigns & CharitiesThe QM has a rich tradition of work-ing with charity organisations and involvement with student cam-paigns, both locally and nationally.

The Campaigns and Charities Com-mittee does exactly what it says on the tin. Each semester, one char-ity is chosen to be supported by the QM. The Committee run social events and sell glowsticks, face-paint and the like at QM events to raise money. On top of this, they are the point of contact for cam-

Although the word committee hints at some form of commit-ment, attending one of the QM’s four committees is easy as pie. It’s the simplest way to give back to

The Committees

paigns on student issues - within Glasgow University and further.

C&C (as it’s affectionately known) also spearheads big special events for specific occasions or events - Jailbreak and The Big Hunt perhaps being the most infamous.

The Campaigns and Charities Com-mittee also operate a free condom scheme, giving out gratis johnnies [and more] twice weekly from one of the committee rooms.

If you want to get involved in the charitable aspect of the QM, would like to influence the union’s role in student issues, or would like be trained in health, wellbeing and safety. You have the chance to be involved however you like, from handing out advice and contracep-tion to your peers to meticulously sorting out the logistics of a world-wide hitchhiking competition.

The C & C Committee meet every Monday at 5pm in the Boardroom.

the organisation and have a say in how the QM’s activities and events are run, as well as scoring those all-important volunteering points. From student journalism to event-

planning, charity fundraising to DJing - the QM’s committees offer a variety of interesting ways to get more than just a degree during your time in Glasgow.

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EventsYou didn't think the QM's bangin' clubnights ran themselves, did you? The QM's very own Events commit-tee plan and run everything that you can see on Tuesday and Friday nights in the union.

Everything from blowing up bal-loons to wielding the camera at Cheesy Pop is organised by a team of dedicated and delectable events committee members run-ning about behind the scenes. And

when not helping out, you will find them in Qudos. Dancing. Badly.So, if you want to be able to say you helped run a ten-hour clubnight, helped set up Quids or say the 'great-hot-tub-pile-up of 2012' was your fault. Maybe even that the in-ternationally acclaimed ninja-toga themed Cheesy was your idea.

Or maybe just that you helped with the tech setup for our weekly events which all of your mates got

wasted at, you should apply for the events committee after Freshers' Week. The committee is full of lovely char-acters and is headed by this year’s convenor, radiant Lauren Clarke.

The events committee meets eve-ry Tuesday at 5pm in the board-room.Applications for a space on the events committee can be down-loaded from www.qmu.org.uk

PublicationsThere are a number of print publi-cations on Glasgow University cam-pus, making the choice of who you should contribute to a tough one, but its pretty safe to say that the QM’s qmunicate has the best track record and reputation of the maga-zines. Entirely written, designed and edited by students, getting your name into a respected pub-lication, that has won numerous Herald Student Press Award prizes - including best magazine (twice) -

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is as easy as rocking up at the Pub-lications Committee with an idea and the ability to write in a way that relates to students.

Whether your talent lies in writing, design, illustrating or even proof-reading, there is a place for you in Pubs (as it’s affectionately known). The magazine contains news, car-toons, media, culture and a diverse features section, so you can write about anything that interests you

and that might interest your fellow students (within reason). The thea-tre, film and music sections have a seemingly inexhaustible well of music, movies and gigs for you to review, for free.

This year, the Publications Con-venor and qmunicate Editor is Nina Ballantyne. The Publications Committee meets every Wednesday in the Boardroom at 5pm.

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Ever wanted to host Unplugged? Ever wondered who writes inane questions for Pop Culture and a Piano? Would you prefer that your playlist graced the speakers of Jim’s Bar rather than the dude who just keeps playing the Beastie Boys?

The QM’s Social Committee over-sees the union’s regular bar events - Big Wednesday Night Pub Quiz, Unplugged, New Comedy, New

Theatre, Pop Culture and a Piano and karaoke - and lets you have a say in every aspect of them.

If you want to take a shot at helping run any of the QM’s social events, come along to the Social Commit-tee. From here you can gain experi-ence in every aspect of the union’s daily hijinks: DJing, hosting, writ-ing, marking and booking. If you’d prefer to learn how to set up the

technical aspects of the events, you can learn that as part of the Social Committee as well.

The Social Convenor is Paddy Hughes, who can often be found in the convenor’s office chasing quiz rounds and comedians.

The Social Committee meets eve-ry Thursday at 5pm in the Board-room.

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MembershipBecoming a member of the Queen Margaret Union is free, and you need only join once to stay a mem-ber until you leave the University of Glasgow. Being a member of the QM is something very worthwhile indeed, here’s why:

First, there’s the sensible stuff. Being a QM member saves you money in the union and elsewhere. The loy-alty card system earns you points every time you spend money in the union’s eateries. Membership also gives you cheaper entry to all our smashing clubnights throughout the year. As a member, you can sign in up to four non-member mates to the building. Joining up basically gives you access to all the QM has to offer, but at a slightly reduced rate.

Then there’s the exciting stuff. As a voting member you get a direct say

in how the QM is run - being a mem-ber of the Union also entitles you to vote in QM elections, attend the super-important and surpris-ingly fun Annual General Meeting and even run for a position on the Board yourself. Members can also attend any of the four committees that organise events and activities, make magazines and raise cash for good causes. Use this privilege! Membership also gives you the op-tion to affiliate your club or soci-ety to the Queen Margaret Union, where we can provide free room hire, advice and assistance with events, and help with publicity.

On top of that, this year you can use your membership card to get discounts at several shops all over Glasgow - from vinyl to kilts, and vintage clothes to mature spirits, you’ll knock a chunk off your bill if you present your QM card. You can

find more details on where to go at the back of the handbook.

Finally, there’s the inspiring stuff. Membership of the QM is member-ship of a huge, daft, diverse, hard-working community where anyone is welcome. Membership is singing the last chorus of the last song at Cheesy Pop long after the bar has closed and the cloakroom queue is growing. Membership is turning up to the quiz every Wednesday because this week you’ll win the big cash rollover, even if it is only £25. Membership is finding friends with tastes as varied and weird as you. Membership is having a home away from home. Membership is learning and doing those things you always wanted to try.

And of course, QM membership en-titles you to apply for a place as a Freshers’ Helper in 2012... Just sayin’.



The Third FloorThe third floor of the QM hides a myriad of treasures that the savvy student would be silly to forget in his or her hour of need. It’s best to tackle this one tour bus style.

First, get in the lift and press the button marked ‘3’. Having safely made it out of the lift, to your right you will find three rooms. The Gen-eral Office is a crucial background hive of activity during the day and can be used to book committee rooms (more on that later). The Board Room is where the QM’s own Committees meet, and where the Board of Management pontifi-cate and muse upon the running of the union. The General Manager’s Office is self-explanatory - it’s home to the QM’s general manager, who is responsible for a lot of the opera-tional business of the union.

Go left out of the lift and you’ll like-ly bump into a busy Board Member. This section is the headquarters of the Board of Management (the students who run the QM). First on your left, you’ll hit the Convenors’ Office, the home of quiz round

writing, qmunicate proofreading, 10-Hour planning and condom or-dering, amongst many other things. Convenors and their committee members work tirelessly in here, ensuring the day-to-day running of the QM’s events and services. Next landmark on the left is the Execu-tive Office. The President, Honor-ary Secretary and Honorary Assis-tant Secretary abide here, working, debating and making sure the QM’s running smoothly. Just past the Exec Office and on your right you’ll find the Board Flat - safe haven for hard-working Board Members.

Having got this far, you’ll also have passed the Laundry Room, an odd touch that proves invaluable during the annual breakdown of your poorly maintained washing machine, or if you want give your sports gear a rinse between the gym and the long walk home. It’s also cheaper than the machines you’ve got in your halls. Wash for a quid. Dry for fifty pence. Bargain.

On your right, you’ll have seen three big rooms, a bit like class-

rooms. These are the committee rooms, and if you end up a mem-ber of any club or society on cam-pus, you’ll probably wind up here for a meeting or event. They’ve got beanbags, chairs, tables, projectors and a killer view.

Last but not least, at the very far end of the corridor, you’ll find the TV Room, the Study Room and some bathrooms. Each will come in far more useful than you might expect. The TV Room uses the QM’s exten-sive Sky package, which is pretty handy if your internet can’t handle downloading all of the American TV drama you’re obliged to watch. Then there’s the study room; when the library and Reading Room are hoaching with sleep-deprived stu-dents fighting through deadlines, exams and sleeping patterns, the Study Room remains an oasis of calm and focus, and the QM’s wifi means you can still get on Face-book and sporcle to procrastinate like a pro. The third floor toilets are for some reason less busy than any others in the building too, despite having showers. So now you know.

CateringThe QM offers the best value for money on campus and provides a diverse range of dishes throughout the week. The Union has three outlets for food proper. On the ground floor you’ll find Qudos Coffee Bar, which opens super-early every week day - a life-saver for any 9am lectures. As well as a range of barista coffees, Qudos Coffee Bar also stocks a selection of tasty baked goods, and some baguettes with a range of fillings. Grab a cuppa and sit by the Qudos windows, read a paper and watch the world go by if you’ve got time to kill between lectures.

The QM’s other food outlets can be found on the second floor. To

your left at the top of the stairs is the indomitable Food Factory, home to the biggest portions of Macaroni Cheese, Sausage & Mash, and Chicken Bites you’ve ever seen, part of an ever-changing menu of local and global dishes which also includes Indian, Spanish, Chinese and traditional cuisines. There’s a huge salad bar, prepared freshly every day and handmade pizzas are oven-baked to order.

Lacuna is located at the other end of the second floor, serving up baked potatoes, sandwiches, paninis, nachos, toasties, baguettes made to order, as well as pasties and cakes. It suits those of who appreciate a more bespoke

approach to lunch and orders can be made to sit in or take away. There are a huge range of fillings to choose from, and the lovely staff will even rustle you up beans on toast if your cooking skills are so rudimentary that you can’t knock it up at home. They also make proper coffees, tasty teas and ridiculously indulgent hot chocolates for those cold, wet Glasgow days, of which there are likely to be many over the coming winter. The triple-chocolate chocolate cake is a ridiculous must.

You can collect membership points in all catering outlets with the member card, and once you’ve gained enough, blag yourself something free from them.





The ShopThere are lots of shops in the West End selling all sorts of things, but none are quite like the QM Shop. The QM Shop was founded to pro-vide students with everything they needs to crack on with University, stocking everything the hapless Fresher could need and almost cer-tainly everything you’ve forgotten and can’t blag for free at the Fresh-ers’ Fair (there will be something).

Furthermore, the shop’s range is designed to suit a student budget, with special offers on the essen-tials, like The Guardian [and sev-eral other newspapers] and bottled water. It’s a convenience store that you’ll want to get acquainted with

early in your university career - get to know what’s available, because it will be vital in your time of need (about five minutes before your first exam when you realise you haven’t got a ruler/calculator/pen/the power to stay awake for the whole thing). There is not enough hyperbole in the world to describe how satisfying it is to buy a quality rollerball pen for less than £2.

The best part of the QM shop is that all the money you spend there goes back into the organisation. There’s no fat cats sitting in an office some-where counting their millions and using your money to buy extrava-gances (promise) - every penny

spent in the QM goes back into im-proving the services and facilities of the QM.

If that’s not sold it enough, here’s a rundown of some of the best things you can get in the shop;stationary, sandwiches, the cheap-est dried mango in the world, cans of juice, bottles of juice, University jumpers and t-shirts, magazines, greetings cards, labcoats, binding, stamps, travelcards, wellies, um-brellas, flash drives, crisps and the cheapest pick ‘n’ mix in Glasgow.

Just to top it off, the staff are lovely. Guaranteed You should definitely go shop there.

The BarsThe QM has three bars - each spe-cial in her own little way.

Downstairs we have the multi-tasking momma Qudos, home of top live music sets, dance-offs, MMA bouts, ceilidhs full of craic, posh dinners, student produced theatre, club & society events and our five wonderful clubnights. We'll be there every night in Fresh-ers' Week, dancing ourselves silly, and throughout the year. We hope you will too! During the summer months, the bar opens up during the day, we'll sling on some music, open the windows and enjoy the sun streaming in through.

Upstairs you’re treated to two more bars. Jim's Bar is our multipurpose

venue. Home of the Union's weekly open mic night, Unplugged, and platform for karaoke enthusiasts during Cheesy Pop, Jim's is an in-tegral part of the QM's live music heritage, and yes, that includes your best mate’s dodgy rendition of Come on Eileen. The latest addition to the bar is an upright piano which you’ll find on the stage, so if you fancy yourself a pianist, crack on and try to get a sin-galong going. If you’d rather listen, new quiz Pop Culture and a Piano plays here every Friday. Jim's also hosts New Comedy and New Thea-tre nights to support local talent, and the QM’s flagship trivia-testing event, the Big Wednesday Night Pub Quiz, takes over the venue eve-ry, uh, Wednesday from 8pm.

Champions’ Bar is the ideal venue for watching sport with your mates during your time here. Open late during the week, and at the week-end, you’ll struggle to find a bar serving a cheaper pint, in a better location, and showing as wide a range of sport as you’ll find on the big screen in Champions’. The bar is absolutely packed with screens, you can keep an eye on several games whilst playing a game of pool or foozball, and there’s noth-ing quite like the atmosphere you’ll find here during the big match. Champs’ is also known for hav-ing the best range of malt whisky you’re likely to find anywhere near Byres Road and ayou’ll struggle to find a cheaper dram anywhere else in Glasgow..



OnlineThe QM’s expansion into every-thing online grows ever stronger.

For all the latest from the QM visit facebook.com/qmunion. There you’ll find the latest news on forthcoming events, debate about student issues and you can blag yourself guestlist entry to QM clubnights most weeks; merely by taking microseconds out of your intense web-based research (read; reddit/youtube browsing) to com-ment or like a status.

Furthermore, the union has estab-lished a twitter account under mon-iker @QMunion - an island of use-ful information and news amidst a sea of inane messages about what your mates had for dinner, or how stupid someone on the telly is.

The QM’s magazine, qmunicate, has its own twitter account at @qmuni-cate, providing fantastic live news updates from campus and beyond.

The favourite new toy, however, has to be the new-this-freshers’-week website - qmu.org.uk. From here you can find out information about pretty much anything that goes on in the union using our calendar - from gigs and special clubnights to club and society events.

Come holiday or Christmas time, you can use the QM’s online shop to get your family the ubiquitous Uni-versity of Glasgow hoodies/t-shirts, and for a fraction of the prices of the University-run retail outlets. Of-fers will often appear on the front page, so checking at least twelve

times a day is advised. You can also pick up tickets for the QM’s events such as 12 Hour Cheesy Pop or the St. Andrews Night Celebrations.

Here you can also find an exhaus-tive list of the clubs & societies that are affiliated to the QM, with contact details and information on how, when and where to get in-volved.

From the website you can also download many of the QM’s own documents - whether you want to affiliate your society, apply for life membership, read the minutes of Board of Management meetings, or even delve into the marvelous world of the union’s Constitution, ByeLaws and Policy documents (godspeed you, brave souls).



Diary Dates

September

May

April

March

February

January

December

November

October

June, July, August

12th - Freshers’ Week Begins19th - Term 1 Teaching Begins

1st - QM Whisky Club31st - Hallowe’en

5th - QM Whisky Club18th - Children in Need30th - St. Andrews Day Ceilidh

ALSO- QM Autumn Election, Health Week, Movember

5th - Start of exam leave16th - End of term 1 & 12hour Cheesy

9th - Term 2 teaching begins. 13th - Cheesy’s late, late Hogmanay25th - Burns Night

ALSO - SRC Media Week



16th - Start of revision23rd - Start of exams

ALSO - QM Annual General Meeting

9th - Europa League Final 12th - FA Cup Final18th - Freedom & 10hour Cheesy19th - Scottish Cup Final

Shortly after starting at the University of Glasgow, you will realise that you need a diary, if only to keep track of everything you’ve missed. Handily, you can pick

one up in the QM shop. Here’s a few important term dates - along with a couple of our own - to keep you on track.

5th - Superbowl Sunday17th - Fairtrade Fortnight Begins24th - Mardi Gras Cheesy

16th - QM Jailbreak17th - St. Patricks Day18th - Sport Relief ALSO - QM General Election, SRC RAG week

Term may have finished, but fear not! The QM shall run summer hours on shop, catering and bars, and now you don’t have to worry about mornings.

Opening Hours Contact Info

Committees

Credits

Weekdays:

Coffee Bar: 08:00 - 17:00Shop: 08:00 - 18:30Jim’s Bar: midday - 01:00Champion’s: 11:00 - 01:00Food Factory: 08:00 - 18:30Lacuna: 09:45 - 15:00, 18:00 - midnight General Office: 09:00 - 15:00

Monday: Campaigns & Charities - 17:00Tuesday: Events - 17:30Wednesday: Publications - 17:30Thursday: Social - 17:30All held in the Boardroom on the 3rd Floor

Queen Margaret Union22 University GardensGlasgowG12 8QN

tel: 0141 339 9784 fax: 0141 357 3567

www.qmu.org.ukwww.facebook.com/Qmunionwww.twitter.com/QMunionemail: [email protected]

For lost property and ticket sales, please contact reception.

Design, Edit and Copy: Nina Ballantyne, Peter S. Foakes, Colum Fraser, Kirsty Hill Additional Copy: Lauren Clarke, Graeme Stewart Photos: Stuart Crawford, Andy Dunlop, Kirsty Hill, Iain SmithProof: Colum Fraser, Liam Hainey, Kirsty Hill, Paul Kelly, Iain Smith

Important Info



Printing: Forward GraphicsThanks: Abi for letting us borrow him, Ali Fraser for the 1am InDesign wnich allowed us to reach dead-line, Mr Mac for the biscuits, the curry place for the curry, the chinese place for the chinese. And Peter S. Foakes. Lad.

All work copyright © 2011 Queen Margaret Union excluding photos which remain property of original photographer.The Queen Margaret Union is a registered Scottish Charity: SC001239

Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Queen Margaret Union. The Queen Margaret Un-ion assumes no liability for any inaccuracies within the document, all information subject to change.

MacGregor MacDuffThe King of Kilts

30% off Kilt Hire for QM Members

Dumbarton Rd and Bath Street, Glasgow

www.macgregorandmacduff.co.uk

QM Freshers' Handbook 2011

Documents

Transcript of QM Freshers' Handbook 2011