[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]The Romans came to York. So did the Vikings and Dick Turpin. [PARA]The white rose of York was the losing team in the War of the [PARA]Roses and the county cricket team sustains the hostilities. The [ITAL][PARA]magnificent [EITAL]Minster cathedral dominates the city both culturally [PARA]and physically. However, all this historical importance has more [PARA]to do with the fact that York, coursed by the [ITAL]beautiful [EITAL]River Ouse,[PARA]is midway between London and Edinburgh, 35 miles from the [PARA]coast, than with the University. It is 2 miles south-east of the city [PARA]centre at the village of Heslington. It is a largely concrete campus[PARA]round a man-made lake, complete with ducks, a stately manor [PARA]and some [ITAL]pleasant [EITAL]landscaping. It was designed as a 'concept' [PARA]campus - the concept in question being 'discovery around every [PARA]corner', [ITAL]which explains why everywhere looks the same and it's [PARA]easy to get lost.[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]York is a collegiate University - cynics claim this is an [PARA]unsuccessful attempt to copy Oxbridge. Social life is loosely [PARA]college-based with college bops and gigs. [EITAL]There are 7 colleges, [PARA]each with about 600 members[ITAL], which don't vary enormously. [PARA]Students don't get to choose their own college, but it's not difficult[PARA]to switch if they feel the need. The collegiate system isn't all that [PARA]strong (especially compared to Oxbridge) - college spirit can only [PARA]be found when served with ice in college bars. The University [PARA]may not be enormously happening (and positively moribund at [PARA]weekends), but it's cosy and friendly (some find it almost [PARA]suffocating) and many find it hard to leave. The town swarms [PARA]with graduates which must mean something.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 100,600 [BULL] London: 205miles [BULL] Edinburgh: [PARA]205miles [BULL] Leeds: 23miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Apart from London, York is Britain's top tourist city and offers a [PARA]host of traps and treats, including museums such as the Jorvik [PARA]Viking Centre (free admission with a Blue Peter badge). [ITAL]It is [PARA]quaint in the extreme[EITAL] with city walls, tea shops, a castle and what[PARA]claims to be the oldest street in Britain, The Shambles. The [PARA]shortest street in the city also has the longest [PARA]name:Whip-ma-Whop-ma Gate. In York, as locals love to explain[PARA]to American visitors, streets are called 'gates', city gates are [PARA]called 'bars' and bars are called 'pubs', of which there are a huge [PARA]number. Got that? There is also a daily market, supermarkets [PARA]and numerous bookshops (new and 2nd hand), but there's not [PARA]much for the late night shopper.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Main-line connections from York Station (2 miles from the[PARA]campus) to many destinations including London King's X [PARA](1:50hrs, 2/hr), Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Bristol.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express to most destinations, including [PARA]London (ú12.00, 3:55hrs, 4/day), Newcastle (ú10, 2:25hrs, 1/day), [PARA]Manchester (ú6, 2:25hrs, 3/day), Birmingham (ú12.50, 4:25hrs, 1/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] A19, or 10 miles from the A1.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Nearest airport of any size is Leeds/Bradford (40mins by [PARA]car) for Ireland and the rest of Europe.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Good north/south, once hitchers reach M1 or A1.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] York is too small and compact for local trains except [PARA]regionally to Leeds, Hull and Bradford. Frequent bus services run[PARA]everywhere (70p from campus to city centre) but they don't run [PARA]late at night.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Unreliable and expensive despite student discounts, [PARA]although students still use them for late night journeys. The SU [PARA]arranges discounts.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Pretty good, flat with a few cycle lanes, but also a few [PARA]light-fingered would-be bike-owners.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,300 16-20pts[BOLD][PARA]Sciences[EBOLD] 1,291 18-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Art[EBOLD] 1,500 18-20pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 560,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 2,800 [BULL] Study places: 786 [PARA]Computer workstations: 500[ESTAT][PARA]Main J B Morrell Library; Architectural Studies Library; 6 smaller [PARA]college lending libraries.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 7full/1part [BULL] Unemployed [PARA]after 6mths (1992): 11.5%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The lake surrenders to canoes and rowing boats in the [PARA]summer term.[PARA][BULL]Killing a University duck results in automatic criminal [PARA]proceedings.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Tony Banks MP; Hugh Bayley MP; Ruth Bradley MP (all Lab); [PARA]Michael Brown MP (Con, ex-Whip); Harry Enfield (comedian); [PARA]Harriet Harman MP (Lab); Victor Lewis-Smith [PARA](comedian/broadcaster); Genista McIntosh (theatre director); [PARA]Dominic Muldowney (composer); Harvey Proctor (ex-MP, [PARA]shirtmaker); Paul Roberts (pianist).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads. Alternative [PARA]prospectus ú2 from SU.1
