Senior sources in the Students’ Union have told The Cheese Grater that the Welcome Fair, in which societies are able to showcase themselves to incoming and returning students, will be held on Thursday of the freshers’ week, in UCL East.
The decision to hold it in the Stratford Campus due to the quad renovations was made despite resistance from senior staff at the Students’ Union, who were told it could not be held in the Bloomsbury campus to their frustration.
While societies have been made aware of these plans by the Union, this has not been made public as of now – the Welcome Fair is not listed as an event in the Student’s Union website yet.
One senior committee member of a sports club told The Cheese Grater that “recruitment wise I think it’ll obviously make a blow because we’re expecting less foot traffic.”
They claim that they only found out about the decision during their president and treasurer training session held post-exams.
They also said that “I don’t think it will affect us that hugely [being an established sports club], but the smaller societies/sports are more likely to suffer.”
On the other hand, Robert Delaney, treasurer of the UCL Labour Society, had stronger words against the change: “The plan to move the fresher’s fair is simply not feasible.”
He added that this would negatively affect societies’ abilities to recruit new members, especially for smaller societies that rely on in-person recruitment:
“Societies like ours are already struggling with enticing new members, and now things will be even worse as people quite simply won’t be bothered to go to Stratford hungover in fresher’s week. That’s not to mention society committee members, who may live very far away. It will be an absolute nightmare I’m sure.”
The frustrations expressed by Delaney put pressure on the Union to provide sufficient support for smaller societies for recruitment.
It can also be confirmed that the Students’ Union is exploring trials of a bus service between UCL East and Stratford train station, which is a mere 11 minute walk.
This is certainly not the first time the quad closure has caused disruptions and problems – The Cheese Grater has previously reported on major accessibility issues, the ‘eviction’ of the art museum, as well as a staff-led petition being launched to stop endangered trees from being cut down.
A Students’ Union UCL spokesperson told The Cheese Grater:
“This year, the Welcome Fair will be held on Thursday 25 September on the Marshgate Plaza at UCL East. With ongoing renovation works in the Main Quad, we’re excited to host this flagship event at one of UCL’s most iconic spaces in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The rest of our Welcome Week activities – including Welcome Fest – will be centred in Gordon Square, Bloomsbury, where new students will be able to connect, explore opportunities, and settle into campus life. As always, we’re hosting a packed line-up of events throughout the welcome period, from club nights and bar socials to Discover London tours, so there will be loads of ways for new students to make the most of their first days at UCL.”
Regarding the creation of the shuttle bus, an SU spokesperson said:
“A trial shuttle bus service run by the students’ union between Stratford station and UCL East is in development, and we will share further details ahead of its launch.”
