[Snore]

I've checked around on TSR and can't find much conclusive stuff on this, so I'd be grateful to anyone who can fill me in on a couple of things.

I called the Housing Office, but the woman I spoke to was incredibly unhelpful and didn't even seem to know the answers to any of my questions. She just gave me glib platitudes, which I can't stand.

They've put me in Norwich house, and I think it's the top floor. This is apparently where the mature students are generally housed - there's a creche - as well as the international students and those with disabilities. I don't really see what these groups particularly have in common, or what the point of lumping them all together is.

This probably sounds like I have some problem with these groups, but I don't. I just wanted a fairly normal university hall experience and am concerned mainly about the mature student thing - it seems likely that there'll be a much more sedate atmosphere if there are loads of 40-year-olds with kids. I'm basically nocturnal and was looking forward to the ability to mill around at night and there actually be people around my age to talk to. To a lesser extent I wonder if the international students might end up being a bit cliquey. I have no particular qualms about disabled students, other than that depending on particular disabilities they might require a much quieter nighttime than you'd find in standard halls.

So is Norwich House the boring hall? Do the floors mingle (i.e. are they individually locked corridors)? Are there many 18 - 25 year olds (particularly on the top floor)?

On a more general note, what are the rooms/common rooms etc like? Scabby? Small? Nice views? Any info would be great. People launching predictably meaningless accusations of bigotry and prejudice would not. I'm assuming however that no-one will really want to respond to such a boring, self-centred thread.

Harrumph.

[SussexJo]

Originally Posted by Snore

I've checked around on TSR and can't find much conclusive stuff on this, so I'd be grateful to anyone who can fill me in on a couple of things.

I called the Housing Office, but the woman I spoke to was incredibly unhelpful and didn't even seem to know the answers to any of my questions. She just gave me glib platitudes, which I can't stand.

They've put me in Norwich house, and I think it's the top floor. This is apparently where the mature students are generally housed - there's a creche - as well as the international students and those with disabilities. I don't really see what these groups particularly have in common, or what the point of lumping them all together is.

This probably sounds like I have some problem with these groups, but I don't. I just wanted a fairly normal university hall experience and am concerned mainly about the mature student thing - it seems likely that there'll be a much more sedate atmosphere if there are loads of 40-year-olds with kids. I'm basically nocturnal and was looking forward to the ability to mill around at night and there actually be people around my age to talk to. To a lesser extent I wonder if the international students might end up being a bit cliquey. I have no particular qualms about disabled students, other than that depending on particular disabilities they might require a much quieter nighttime than you'd find in standard halls.

So is Norwich House the boring hall? Do the floors mingle (i.e. are they individually locked corridors)? Are there many 18 - 25 year olds (particularly on the top floor)?

On a more general note, what are the rooms/common rooms etc like? Scabby? Small? Nice views? Any info would be great. People launching predictably meaningless accusations of bigotry and prejudice would not. I'm assuming however that no-one will really want to respond to such a boring, self-centred thread.

Harrumph.

Not sure of all the answers but here goes. My answers will be filled with generalisations;

(p.s. 'mature students' means anyone over 21/26 (depends on whose definition you use) so not necessarily someone who is over 40 (not that there is obviously anything wrong with that!) and a lot of older mature students tend to (generalisation) live at home rather than up sticks and move to somewhere else)

- The creche is off to one side so is not really part of the building in general
- International students tend to want to meet lots of people so don't tend to segregate themselves
- 'Students with disabilities' covers a massive spectrum of things and I don't see why they would generally need a separate housing area (Kulukundis House is the only exception to this) or why this would stop them mingling, you can get over that one (not meaning to sound ranty or anything, just don't see why that would be a problem)
- I think the only places you can live with families is certain bits of East Slope and Park Village
- I'm sure there will be people to mingle with and talk to and if not there are a load of other people living a stone's throw away (on different floors and other residences)

From what I remember from briefly being in there the kitchens tend to be fairly large with a seating area. Nothing fancy and shiny and new but you don't need that

I know your post wasn't meant to sound antagonistic but in the nicest possible way (and this applies to a lot of people), don't worry about it, you'll be fine, you make your time at Uni what it is, not the room you stay in or the person in the room next to you

Jo

[Snore]

Originally Posted by SussexJo

Not sure of all the answers but here goes. My answers will be filled with generalisations;

(p.s. 'mature students' means anyone over 21/26 (depends on whose definition you use) so not necessarily someone who is over 40 (not that there is obviously anything wrong with that!) and a lot of older mature students tend to (generalisation) live at home rather than up sticks and move to somewhere else)

- The creche is off to one side so is not really part of the building in general
- International students tend to want to meet lots of people so don't tend to segregate themselves
- 'Students with disabilities' covers a massive spectrum of things and I don't see why they would generally need a separate housing area (Kulukundis House is the only exception to this) or why this would stop them mingling, you can get over that one (not meaning to sound ranty or anything, just don't see why that would be a problem)
- I think the only places you can live with families is certain bits of East Slope and Park Village
- I'm sure there will be people to mingle with and talk to and if not there are a load of other people living a stone's throw away (on different floors and other residences)

From what I remember from briefly being in there the kitchens tend to be fairly large with a seating area. Nothing fancy and shiny and new but you don't need that

I know your post wasn't meant to sound antagonistic but in the nicest possible way (and this applies to a lot of people), don't worry about it, you'll be fine, you make your time at Uni what it is, not the room you stay in or the person in the room next to you

Jo

Thanks for your response Jo.

As you say, the word 'disability' is massively broad, and I have no hang-ups about living with disabled people - I have done so before. I just know that one of the primary ingredients for dealing with any ailment (permanent or not) is plenty of rest, and as such wonder whether there might be a bit of a 'lights out at half ten' sort of culture in a hall with a significant proportion of physically or mentally afflicted people. That might make me want to move. Which of course I could try to do if it's really that sleepy a place. Same basic thing with the maturer of the mature students (i.e. those not in their twenties/early thirties) - I can quite easily make friends with people older than me, I just wonder whether they'd be looking for the same lifestyle as me at that stage in their lives.

Funnily enough I'd heard Norwich House has the smallest kitchens on campus, with no communal tables or anything.. maybe different floors have different layouts or something. It would really suck if there were no communal tv-type rooms.. the brochure implies only York House has one, but it's a bit vague. Sigh.

Anyway thanks again for responding.

[Flicker]

It's a normal hall - the radio studio is in there and whenever i've been up there doing our show it's always been lively and party-y so i wouldn't worry at all. There might be a slightly higher than normal percentage of international students, but that's not a bad thing, and I don't think you'd be able to discern anyone with disabilities, I thought the only difference was Kulukundis House because it has wheelchair access.

Anyway, don't worry, you'll have a great time.

[threefortyfive]

I lived in Norwich House last year, and there were a normal amount of international students (i.e. 2 out of 12 on my corridor) I think in the past it has been used as international accomodation but not anymore.

The corridors aren't locked and most people made friends with people on other corridors/floors.

The kitchens used to be small but were extended and done up last year and now they are some of the nicest on campus I think, with chairs and tables etc. When I lived there everyone gathered in the kitchen and it was very social.

The rooms are quite big, especially on the top floor where they are apparently massive. There is also a TV room downstairs with the comfiest sofas in the world.

Views depend on where your room is, there is a courtyard in the middle so if your room is on the inside then all you can see is everyone elses window, but if it is on the outside there are views down towards east slope or across the fields.

[Snore]

Thanks to Flicker and threefortyfive for your responses. I'm now feeling quite lucky, really. Sounds like I got a really nice hall with nice big rooms, a nice TV room (I've heard it's done with soft pinkish mood lights and proper furniture), and stuff. All without having to pay Swanborough/Lewes Court rates, and apparently a lot of their rooms are surprisingly small anyway.

Thanks again, but I'm still hugely curious so if anyone wants to chip in with snippets about Norwich House I'll think you're great.

[katie1x]

what room are u in smore cos iv just found out im there. in room 62. i have no idea what its like. how much storage space do we get? and is there room under the beds to put things does anyone know?

[threefortyfive]

Yeah there's room under the beds, and quite a big wardrobe with loads of shelves and stuff, bedside table thing with 3 drawers and a big bookshelf.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by katie1x

what room are u in smore cos iv just found out im there. in room 62. i have no idea what its like. how much storage space do we get? and is there room under the beds to put things does anyone know?

Sorry to blank you, Katie, but I had no answers to your questions and don't fancy pin-point identifying myself on the net, I prefer as much anonymity as I can get. I'm glad you got a response from someone who does know though