Welcome to the University of Southampton ISOC!
After a lot of hard work and dedication, you have made it to the University of Southampton. Starting your endeavour into the course of your choice. You will have new opportunities and new challenges both in your studies and deen. That is why the ISOC is here to support you with everything from keeping up with salah and observing Ramadan to making new friends and getting involved with the community.
Freshers' Week
The first week of university is a time of transitioning into a new chapter of your life, getting to know the university and trying out different things. The ISOC has a series of events in store to introduce you to the university's Muslim community. For more information, please visit the Freshers' Week page.
Freshers Handbook
Our Freshers Handbook will be coming soon, inshaa Allah, so stay tuned!
Buddy System
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We would like to introduce a new and exciting initiative we are starting this year called the Buddy System.
The idea is to match current students with new freshers, with the aim of smoothing their transition into university life. As everyone is aware, moving to university is a daunting process; moving to a new city, living out and adapting to the fast paced university life can prove to be a challenge. So, we hope this scheme will help new students settle in and feel more comfortable at the start of their university life. |
8 Freshers' Week Must-Dos
Simply, this is a list of all that I think you should aim to do in your first weeks at Uni. I hope you enjoy.
1 - Attend the Meet and Greet
The Meet and Greet will kick of our Freshers' week and is the best opportunity you will have to meet fellow freshers, current members and the committee. We will inform you on what we can do for you, as new Muslim students starting a life at Uni, tell you about life at uni, point you to this website (thank you to the ones reading this before M&G); flesh out our plans for freshers as well as the rest of the year.
This introduction talk will probably be followed by pizza and the ability to meet everyone else. As previously mentioned, this is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and get to know us all. Get to know the committee - we are here for you. Get to know your fellow freshers - they are in the same situation and may even be in your cohort. Get to know other members - they want to get to know you too and may be studying the same course. This really is the best opportunity, to meet us and yourselves, especially as there will be a lot of others in your position.
This introduction talk will probably be followed by pizza and the ability to meet everyone else. As previously mentioned, this is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and get to know us all. Get to know the committee - we are here for you. Get to know your fellow freshers - they are in the same situation and may even be in your cohort. Get to know other members - they want to get to know you too and may be studying the same course. This really is the best opportunity, to meet us and yourselves, especially as there will be a lot of others in your position.
2 - Make the right friends early (2.5 - Invite others to come / be the right friend)
This may seem hard, but it is vital. It is a great idea to try and meet fellow Muslims early on. We are blessed, alhamdulillah, here at Southampton to have such a large group of Muslims, and so you should try to align yourself with friends that will help you achieve what is best in both the dunya and the akhira, inhsa'allah. I am not saying don't have non-Muslim friends, because of course that is absurd. In fact, I have a lot of non-Muslim friends; these people aren't necessarily bad or bad influences; you should be friendly with everyone, and it is good to have friends on your course. However, if you don't make any efforts at the start to hold strong to your deen by aligning with ISOC or finding supportive friends, you can quickly be lead on the wrong path, from which it is not an easy route to re-trace as you won't have that connection with the Muslims all around you. The prophet (SAW) said "Man is influenced by the faith of his friends. Therefore, be careful of whom you befriend" [Allamah Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 74, P. 192]. This is a hadith we really should try to bare in mind, especially as we come into new environments, and meet new people.
Working the other way around, you should aim to actually be the supportive and good friend to your brothers. If you know Muslims, invite them to come along to the meet and greet, ISOC events and Jummah. Despite our great numbers at ISOC masha'allah, there are still a large number of Muslims who, don't get involved with, or try to learn about the Muslim community they have at their fingertips, and don't even know there is a prayer room. Invite them to this website, invite them to events and if they say no, you have at least tried.
The next 4 on this list, as well as the first 1, actually are about this point. Get involved, make good friends, and make the most of the short time you have at Uni.
Working the other way around, you should aim to actually be the supportive and good friend to your brothers. If you know Muslims, invite them to come along to the meet and greet, ISOC events and Jummah. Despite our great numbers at ISOC masha'allah, there are still a large number of Muslims who, don't get involved with, or try to learn about the Muslim community they have at their fingertips, and don't even know there is a prayer room. Invite them to this website, invite them to events and if they say no, you have at least tried.
The next 4 on this list, as well as the first 1, actually are about this point. Get involved, make good friends, and make the most of the short time you have at Uni.
3 - Attend as many events as you can
Similar to the Meet and Greet, these freshers' events are the best opportunity to get involved and show your face early. Not only should these events be fun, they will allow you to get a good taste for the ISOC community. Moreover, the community is a large one, so the more events you attend, the more people you can meet.
4 - Give ISOC sport a go
The importance of sport is paramount. Not only is it an exquisite form of dopamine, it allows you to bond with others and keep your body strong. Obviously, it is good, if not great to keep active, and sport is a fun way of doing this, however, I'm not going to approach ISOC sport from this perceptive. This is because, quite frankly, the benefits are obvious in this regard.
However, what ISOC sport does provide a great social environment to build great, long lasting relationships as well as allow you to potentially pick up a health hobby. The environment is key though, especially as Muslims. To the brothers, this is a great opportunity to be involved in sport without the pressure of going for a drink after, or going on nights out with your teams at clubs. To the sisters, this is arguably a better opportunity because not only does the above apply, but you are also limited in these opportunities due to the nature of the environment they are played in. Sisters' sport allows for you to take part and have fun where otherwise you may not be able to.
However, what ISOC sport does provide a great social environment to build great, long lasting relationships as well as allow you to potentially pick up a health hobby. The environment is key though, especially as Muslims. To the brothers, this is a great opportunity to be involved in sport without the pressure of going for a drink after, or going on nights out with your teams at clubs. To the sisters, this is arguably a better opportunity because not only does the above apply, but you are also limited in these opportunities due to the nature of the environment they are played in. Sisters' sport allows for you to take part and have fun where otherwise you may not be able to.
5 - Visit the prayer room and attend Jummah
It is a good idea to get familiar with the prayer room. We are incredibly fortunate to have an convenient place to pray and make Wuthu, at the heart of campus. Say hello and meet your fellow brothers and sisters.
We are similarly lucky to have the ability to pray Jummah on campus and you should take the time to become familiar with where it takes place. Jummah at Uni is a blessing and you should try to take advantage of it. Moreover, as there will be no physical bunfight, it is another opportunity to introduce yourself and meet fellow Muslims.
We are similarly lucky to have the ability to pray Jummah on campus and you should take the time to become familiar with where it takes place. Jummah at Uni is a blessing and you should try to take advantage of it. Moreover, as there will be no physical bunfight, it is another opportunity to introduce yourself and meet fellow Muslims.
6 - Sign up for an ISOC buddy
The ISOC buddy system is a new one for the coming year. The idea is that your buddy will help you with starting Uni life and answer any questions you may have. Obviously, it may not be for everyone, but we recommend you give it a go. We have a google forms which will aim to match you will a buddy which most suits you to make the matching as smooth and un-awkward as possible.
7 - Look through the Freshers Handbook and the rest of this website
The Freshers Handbook is a basic guide for freshers coming into the university. Scroll up to have a look.
Our website has information on all aspects of the ISOC so look around to see how you can get involved with the things we do.
Our website has information on all aspects of the ISOC so look around to see how you can get involved with the things we do.
8 - Take a tour of Southampton
Southampton is a nice city, and it is your home for the next 3+ years, the earlier you become familiar with it the better. It may be a good idea to explore the city with freshers' you meet at the meet and greet or other ISOC events. Also look to identify the local masaajid and try out some of the local halal restaurants.
Places to visit in Southampton:
Places to visit in Southampton:
- City Centre
- Port
- Ocean Village
- St. Mary's Stadium
- Ageas Bowl
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Note on the busses: - U2s go to and from Bassett Green and Central Station via Avenue - U2B - to Basset Green - U2C - to City - U1s go to and from Wessex Lane (basically) ans Central Station via Portswood - U1A - to Airport, U1E - to Eastleigh, U1W - to Wessex - U1C - to City
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