[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]The chunk of the southern coast that fell off and became the Isle [PARA]of Wight left a hole which was filled by a channel of water called [PARA]The Solent. In the niche on the mainland to the north of the Solent[PARA]is Southampton. During the 2nd World War, the Luftwaffe [PARA]decided to pay a visit and drop a few hundred tonnes of [PARA]explosives all over the place, so most of it has been rebuilt since. [PARA]Despite destroying just about everything else, the bombs [PARA]somehow managed to miss most of the 12th century city wall [PARA]and various other historic relics. The University - typical of the [PARA]rest of the city - has redbrick buildings that survived the war, [PARA]along with the post-war geometric blocks. It is on a landscaped [PARA]campus, 2 miles from the city centre. Some of the latest [PARA]constructions make[ITAL] fairly indiscriminate us[EITAL]e of concrete and, to [PARA]keep up with expansion, others are just plain prefabs, [ITAL]but the total[PARA]effect is not unattractive, at least until the leaves fall off.[EITAL] The [PARA]campus is dotted with [ITAL]bizarre [EITAL]sculptures in the style of Henry [PARA]Moore. About 850 medical students are based less than a mile [PARA]from the main campus at Boldrewood, a large, [ITAL]squat Lego-box [EITAL][PARA]building. [ITAL] Even though it's within easy walking distance, this is a [PARA]separate community, where the students make their own [PARA]entertainment. Ever seen Flatliners?[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]The University is a variety box packed with a fun-loving mix of [PARA]students of all types who almost all find somewhere to slot in. [PARA]Having found their space, they usually set up a club or two and [PARA]just have fun. There's a different clique for almost anyone. This [PARA]is not the home of student radicalism, and with many students [PARA]from private schools, there is an air of prosperity (if not actually [PARA]wealth) and many students have cars. Parking problems may be[PARA]one of the causes of somewhat chilly relations with the local [PARA]community in recent years, and student-bashing is not unheard [PARA]of.[EITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 194,400 [BULL] London: 74miles [BULL] Portsmouth: [PARA]16miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Southampton used to revolve around its port, but since its [PARA]basically functional reconstruction after the war, it's become a [PARA]city that's there simply because a lot of people were all in the [PARA]same place at the same time[EITAL]. The centre is thoroughly modern [PARA]and[ITAL] great for grant-gutting sprees. [EITAL] [ITAL]But Southampton has more to[PARA]recommend it than the opportunity to buy anything from a [PARA]continental quilt to one of those things you put eggs in to boil them[PARA]in a microwave[EITAL]. There is a small [ITAL]bohemian [EITAL]quarter with good [PARA]pubs and shops, and the outlying districts are [ITAL]quaint [EITAL]and worth [PARA]exploring for cream teas and antiques. The town boasts a [ITAL]very [PARA]good [EITAL]music and book library, various supermarkets and a few [PARA]late night shops around the student areas. The docks are being [PARA]developed and are worth a look. The city contains many parks, [PARA]archeological digs and 5 museums of varying size and obscurity [PARA]of content. [ITAL]Rumours that this is a cultural desert are probably put[PARA]around by jealous people from Bognor or snooty Londoners. [PARA]They're not to be believed.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]The nearest station to the campus (21/2 miles) is [PARA]Southampton Central with services to London (1:07hrs, 2/hr), [PARA]Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Exeter, Glasgow, Edinburgh ... the [PARA]list goes on.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the country, including [PARA]London (ú9.00, 2hrs, 8/day), Birmingham (ú14, 3:35hrs, 3/day), [PARA]Bristol (ú8, 2:40hr, 1/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The A27 splits for a brief spell into the M27 and the [PARA]continuing A27 around Southampton. There's also the A31, A33,[PARA]A36 and A336.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Flights inland, to Europe, Ireland and the Channel Islands [PARA]from Southampton Airport.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries:[EBOLD] To France, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] Good prospects to London, Oxford, the Midlands and [PARA]Wales from the petrol station at the end of the A33. The Union [PARA]also offers a lifts board for cadging off other students.[PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Buses are cheap and reliable, but infrequent. The last [PARA]back from town to the campus leaves at 11pm. The University [PARA]and Union also provide a minibus all round the city from 5pm till [PARA]an hour after bars close. Local trains are regular with [PARA]connections all over Hampshire and there are 7 stations around [PARA]the city, but it's not the cheapest or most practical way of getting around.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] The Union is negotiating discount fares for students with [PARA]some of the companies, but at the moment it's about ú4 from the[PARA]centre of town to the campus.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] Good cycling, despite a couple of big hills. Get a lock [PARA]and good insurance and attach a 600 volt electric charge to the [PARA]handlebars.[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 1,000,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 6,300 [BULL] Study places: [PARA]1,300 [BULL] Computer workstations: 700[ESTAT][PARA]3 libraries - the main one is the Hartley Library in the centre of the[PARA]campus. There is a campus-wide PC network.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 5full/6part [BULL] Unemployed [PARA]after 6mths (1992): 9.1%[ESTAT][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Roger Black (athlete, 'sex on legs'); John Denham MP (Lab, ex [PARA]SU President); Jeremy Hardy (comic); Baroness Hooper; Jenni [PARA]Murray (Radio 4, Woman's Hour); John Nettles (actor, Bergerac);[PARA]John Sopel (BBC correspondent); Kathy Tayler (ex-athlete, TV [PARA]non-personality); Lord Tonypandy (ex speaker of House of [PARA]Commons).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, postgrads, part time students and [PARA]for individual departments. The SU produces an alternative prospectus.[PARA][PARA]
