Established: 1965
Langwith (one of the original two colleges established in 1965 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II) is set in the heart of campus, both in terms of location and psyche. Slap bang in the middle of a host of academic departments, a few seconds walk from Central Hall and with views looking over the lake, it really is impossible to have a more central location than Langwith College. As well as this, Langwith finds itself home to The Courtyard (the most popular bar on campus) which contributes to its social and happy-go-lucky atmosphere. However, one thing all Langwithians take seriously is its deep-seated rivalry with its college neighbour Derwent, and this air of enmity has now spanned two separate millennia.
Langwith Chair – Cem Turhan
1. Location?
Right at the heart of campus, the college surrounds the Courtyard, which is the only current YUSU bar on campus. Also, the Upper JCR doubles as the Norman Rea Gallery, with a new show every two weeks.
2. Why did you pick the college?
The reputation as both a fun college, but with a great welfare support system, and the size means everyone gets to know each other. Centrality and the Courtyard on our doorsteps are pluses too.
3. Distinguishing features?
Close college spirit, Langwithians are laid-back and friendly but like to have a good time. Also, being the oldest college we have a lot of history and pride. Most people tend to meet in the Courtyard too, plus most events are there, so it’s very useful to have it on your doorstep.
4. Best thing about the college?
The spirit! There are always people about, whether they are hanging outside of their blocks, in the Corner Room (welfare room with huge TV, Wii and loads of magazines, open for all) plus great events all the time. Langwith is also a diverse college, with people from all walks of life.
5. Worst thing about the college?
We are moving in 2012. It will be great to get nice digs but sad to see the old buildings go.
6. College member most likely to say?
Langwith Til I Die/PUNCH !?/Breaking into song – Black & Yellow (Wiz Khalifa)
7. College member least likely to say?
Anything complementary to Derwent.
8. Why you love being College Chair?
Because I’m obsessed with Langwith in the most endearing way possible.
9. What animal would your college be and why?
I could probably say something obvious like leopard or bumblebee (black and yellow reference to the college colours) but I’d say we are more like… monkeys? Fun, laid-back, worldly, and bit cheeky.
10. Best college memory?
RAG Parade/Any event/All the mental block parties/Random Kitchen Foam Parties/Barbecues outside of B Block in the summer/Free wine at Gallery openings (every two weeks)!
11. What you wish you had known as a fresher?
In Langwith you literally don’t need to worry about a thing because there are people always there to help you out. So I’m not going to give any advice, just come, have a sick time, and we’ll be there to make sure you’re alright. Uni is a place everyone grows, learns and changes so much, and there’s no real way to prepare for that.
Langwith Student – Tom Banks
1. Location?
Slap bang in the centre of campus. Some rooms complete with a view of the lake, Central Hall, the Courtyard, and plenty of duck poo.
2. Why did you pick the college?
They had rooms with a toilet available, it seemed like a pretty close-knit college due to its small size, it was one of the catered colleges… and they had a Vegas night in freshers’ week. Any excuse to get the tux out!
3. Distinguishing features?
Right next to the Courtyard, the best student bar on campus, in my opinion. The buildings are extremely dated but beginning to get an archaic, classic feel about them.
4. Best thing about the college?
The location is awesome, and you can guarantee that everybody is friendly, warm and inviting. And the events are always pretty good too.
5. Worst thing about the college?
Some of the accommodation is a little bit on the rough side, but a couple of posters from the poster sale in Fresher’s week and it’ll all be fine!
6. College member most likely to say?
“Courtyard King and a pint?”
7. College member least likely to say?
“F**k this, let’s go to D-Bar”.
8. What the website says?
“Langwith College was officially opened on 22nd October 1965 by Her Majesty The Queen”. (Snazzy or what?)
9. What the students say?
“I’ve loved every second of my time in Langwith. The people, the atmosphere and the college spirit are awesome.”
10. Best college memory?
When the whole of Langwith got together and helped push through an important vote on pushing for the new Langwith on Hes East to be given a bar! It showed the unrivalled college spirit and determination.
There is a significant lack of a mention for the greatest of all of Langwith’s traditions. PUUUUUUNNNNNNCCCCCHHHHH
Sounds like you interviewed the most illiterate college member you could find! Otherwise well written article which manage to repair the damage…
“What animal would your college be and why?” – The myriad of creatures that make up the Courtyard King.
Maybe someone could tell me, why Langwith and Derwent hates each other so much? Or it’s just jokes?
Hate’s a strong word. No one hates anyone – Langwith are just extremely jealous of the fact that we can put on half-decent events whilst theirs always flop. We always point it out and it winds them up, that’s all. Though saying that I did hear that 2 of their freshers got removed from the Uni in my first year because they shat in our postbox, so maybe there is a little bit of misguided hatred in there..
Langwith events are always well attended/sell out. We constantly put on the best and most diverse events!
Haha Cem, funny joke there!
At least Langwith freshers get a chair that doubles up as a comedian. I guess that’s one redeeming feature right there.
It’s got better over the years but as my mother always says ‘You can’t polish a turd’.
This is why I get so fed up of the papers online. Why can there not be an article that people don’t slag off..? It’s info for freshers. Get over it…
Langwith Hogs Sheffield – biggest off campus bar crawl ever, all for 5 quid last year and apparently our events dont sell out.
All of langwith events make a profit when we have to pay for doorsafe which other colleges do not have to.
And we have an event that runs every week that has been going for 25 years plus
That’s a very bold statement that it was the biggest bar crawl ever – can you cite any proof of that?
Also, you’re right that other colleges don’t have to pay for doorsafe, but then you guys don’t have to pay for staging, sound and lighting.. and that’s roughly 5 or 6 times the cost that you pay for doorsafe. Those events still turn profits, so your feat of turning a profit even after paying for doorsafe really isn’t impressive in the slightest.
What gets to me personally is that Langwith is misleading freshers into believing that it’s the social hub of the uni, saying that they put on the best events and they’re the most sociable college, when they’re widely regarded to be one of the least sociable. If you’re going to promote your college, at least be honest and mention that it’s got a great welfare team and it’s in a central location – don’t make stuff up.
There would maybe be a rivalry between Derwent and Langwith if they were any good at sport/had a social atmosphere. During freshers they were drowned out by the mass numbers Derwent had out compared to Langwith and they’re painfully bad at sport so its not really competitive.
That is such bullshit. Last year our fresher’s week sold out which is 300 students, and our bar crawl to Sheffield took over 200 people. Just because you don’t go to our events, doesn’t mean you can say if they’re good or not. Derwent is obv not going to go to Langwith events, like Langwithians don’t go to club Ds, which membership I hear dramatically deteriorated this year!
I’m not doubting that you can put on events, even though the amount of fresher’s week tickets you sell really doesn’t tell you anything about how good your events actually are! Cem is going around telling freshers that Langwith is the “most sociable college”, hosts the “best events” and “the blocks actually mix”.. I’m just pointing out that Halifax, Derwent & Vanburgh (at least) put on more events that are way more successful than anything Langwith could possibly ever do and, from what I’ve heard from people in the College, the blocks don’t mix a great deal either.
It’s not fair on freshers to mislead them into thinking Langwith is super sociable, then they turn up to realise it’s actually shit.
I was a fresher in Langwith this year and have to say that I have had a fantastic year. I joined the college hearing it was sociable and have encountered nothing but a great college atmosphere, lots of friendly people, great events and LOTS of mixing between blocks. I was in B block and now have good friends from each block and can safely say that every single person from Langwith I know (which is a lot) loves the college and would not have chosen to go anywhere else. Personally I think you should focus on promoting the good points of your own college as our chair Cem (who is fantastic) is trying to do. I seriously can’t see many freshers being impressed by people insulting the other colleges, it’s not neccessary and as members of the college we are perfectly entitled to express how great we think Langwith is. There is really no need for this rudeness ‘They then turn up to realise it’s actually shit’…I don’t know what you’re basing that on but I can tell you that all the freshers (including myself) have had an amazing year so it’s actually not shit at all. Lastly, I think the fact that we don’t feel the need to have a go at other colleges to try and deter freshers from going there speaks volumes- we are confident that we will get a great bunch of freshers regardless- with or without your criticism!!
Seriously. Every college looks at it from their own perspective so there’s always going to be someone who has to complain about the article. As a Langwithian I know that Langwith is a sociable college which puts on amazing events that always sell well. The blocks do mix in my opinion too, but just as much as any other college on campus. Stop bickering and let the Freshers decide stuff for themselves!
Facts are that Fresher’s week and other Langwith events are well attended. Of course someone from Derwent won’t be able to comment on these events as they wouldn’t attend. It is up to Langwithians to comment on how much they enjoy the events and their time in the college more generally. And if you ask anyone of them they will tell you what a great time they have had.
No one is really in any place to tell people who have been a member of one college that they would have had a better time in any other. The petty sniping on this article and across the board can only show particular individuals (here, from Derwent) in a bad light that will reflect back on their college and the kind of atmosphere people will expect there.
Everyone is going to sell their own college at a time like this and throughout the year but attacking another college and particularly individuals is what is really embarrassing.
@Misleading,
You’re name is sort of ironic isn’t it? You are claiming that Cem is being misleading whilst being stupidly misleading yourself.
Langwith is a great college, as are some of the others.
It is very sociable and the blocks mix well so I’m told. But you forget that it’s the people not the place that actually make the college good. Langwith has had a strong and committed JCRC over the last few years and they help integrate and look after the freshers very well so I’ve heard. The welfare side is particularly good IMO.
I’m not saying it’s a thousand times better than all the others but it certainly isn’t ‘shit’.
For freshers who are looking for a college to live in then I’d tell them this:
Don’t take peoples opinions as fact, it’s often twisted by college rivalry and personal ties between friends. Langwith is a great college in a good location and it is filled by compassionate friendly people. In the end what more do you want?
If you’re after an amazing party experience then I’d suggest you change uni and go to Leeds, but otherwise go for Derwent. Thats the best for a good drunken laugh. Every college has good nights out though, so don’t think the rest of us can’t have fun. Go for Langwith if you want to have a good well-rounded experience. Trust me the choice of college is important, so make it wisely.
Oof. A few things. Firstly “misleading” blatantly you’ve never been a member of our college so how on earth are you qualified to comment on our sociability, events, block mixing etc? I was a fresher last year and loved it, I can quite honestly say that I knew most people living in halls because we socialised and ate together. The JCRC is the hub of our college, unlike colleges such as Halifax where I know for a fact the JCRC aren’t even known to most college members. We put on brilliant events which are always well attended, just cos we’re not all obsessed with getting shit faced every night of the week, do you even know about our weekly film nights and free food events? We’re in a very fortunate position having the courtyard so close by and as such socialising is made a lot easier, can Alcuin, Vanbrugh, Halifax etc say the same? Thought not.
The blocks mix brilliantly! How on earth can you pass comment on that? I know someone from every block, I wonder if that would happen in any other college? Also we have made specific plans for freshers week for events to encourage inter block
mixing, these continue throughout the year with events such as inter block sports
tournaments.
Basically you’re talking out your arse, you have absolutely no authority to comment on our college. Jealousy isnt a good look on you babes :)
@Johanna, A Langwithian, and all the other posts suspiciously close together
Ok, maybe I got a bit caught up in the moment in suggesting it’s shit. My point (which I think is perfectly valid) is that Langwith should promote its great welfare team, its centrality and that it houses the Student Union bar, rather than telling students it puts on the best events. I *may* be wrong, but Langwith hardly have a reputation across campus of putting on good events. Volume, Club Ds, Goodfest, Halifax Take Me Out.. these are all great events associated with other colleges. For a college that apparently puts on the best events, I can’t name a single event of yours, and I think many other people across campus would say the same.
This means that freshers will arrive with expectations that won’t be matched by their experience. Langwith has a lot of positives, but I really don’t think its events are one of them.
And, no, I’m not from Derwent.. as much as you seem to love the idea that I am.
I was told Langwith put on good events and I feel it has truly lived up to the hype. I have to say although I went to Club D events and Goodfest (don’t actually know what Volume is) I have to say that whilst they were good I have to been to Langwith events that were better. Just because they aren’t as well known campus-wide doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not good, or potentially some of the best events on campus! So if we, as Langwithians, feel that we put on some of the best events on campus, how is it misleading to tell freshers this? It’s good that you care so much about correctly informing the freshers however, we feel we are doing exactly that and frankly I have to agree with the others- your comments come across as quite petty and that certainly won’t do you (or your college) any favours! Why not focus your efforts on hyping up your own college? So much more productive..
I heard that langwith is the best college, and is highly favoured by the comedian stephen k amos, I wonder why?