[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]Homing in on Keele University, the helicopter flies from the north over the Derbyshire Peak District, over the [ITAL]less inspiring [EITAL]landscape of North Staffordshire and towns such as Hanley and Stoke-on-Trent (Keele is just 5 miles west now). 2 miles away to the east of the campus, we buzz over Newcastle - not the Geordie one, but the smaller Newcastle-under-Lyme (a population of just 72,000). Finally, we come over a hill and spread out below us are the modern geometric blocks of the University in nearly 1 square mile of parkland. The chopper descends by the library and the [ITAL]beautiful [EITAL]Keele Hall, the oldest building (19th century) on the estate. We leap the last few feet before the helicopter lands and run through the paved and green open spaces which redeem the [ITAL]stark [EITAL]architecture, screaming, 'Where's the clue? Where's the clue?'. Students run in all directions yelling, 'Oh my God, it's Anneka Rice!'.[PARA]The clue reads: 'You're in Keele University. [ITAL]The middle of nowhere is just around the corner. Beware the wind, it gives a blow job not easily forgotten[EITAL].'[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Keele is a small, friendly and busy University, with almost all students and 60% of the staff and their families living on campus. It's important that it should be friendly because escape to Newcastle-under-Lyme or even Stoke is hardly freedom, although from time to time, students do just have to get away. Students often have a range of interests (possibly because the course structure is weird - see below), and a lively attitude to their social life. Whatever you do, you can never forget you're a student; The place can feel like a 600-acre ivory tower, made by IKEA.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] London: 147miles [BULL] Manchester: 34miles [BULL] Birmingham: 43miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Keele is hardly a village, let alone a town. The area around Keele was built on the 19th century pottery industry, hence the cunning name, The Potteries. Wedgewood, Spode and Royal Doulton pottery all came from round here (Habitat and Tupperware didn't). Writer and playwright Arnold Bennett used the area as the setting for his works - 'Five Towns' is based in Stoke (although it's actually made up of 6 towns). [ITAL]Local facilities in the old market town of Newcastle are a little limited.[EITAL] [ITAL] However, there's more than enough to get by - [EITAL]all the major banks and a fair few shops (not after 10pm, though). For more of the trappings of commercialism, Hanley in Stoke is better equipped. The Potteries Shopping Centre is full of all the national traders. Local attractions include all the various Pottery Museums, the once industrial, but now leisure canals, the Stoke City Museum and Art Gallery and Alton Towers, the [ITAL]mega[EITAL] theme park, 1/2 an hour down the road.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] There's no station at Keele, nor at Newcastle. Trains from Stoke-on-Trent go to London (1:50hrs, 1/hr), Manchester, Birmingham and all over.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express doesn't go to Keele either, the nearest service being Stoke, from which there are services to London (ú14.75, 3:25hrs, 5/day), and Birmingham (ú4.75, 1hr, every 2hrs).[PARA][BOLD]Car: [EBOLD]The M6 is within smelling distance of the campus; in fact in runs along the southern edge of the park. However, there's not a junction for a couple of miles in either direction. The A525 runs right past the campus and the A34, A50, A52, A53 and A531 are all nearby.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Hitchers need to get to the M6 junctions (by bus) which is quite hopeful, if replete with drunk drivers and psychotics.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Cheap runabout passes are available from the Union's travel agency for use on the local buses,[ITAL] which are quite cheap anyway[EITAL] (campus to Newcastle: 77p). [ITAL]They give good local cover and, supposedly,[EITAL] run every 30 minutes.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Plenty of taxis which charge between ú1.50 and ú3 to Newcastle.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Bikes are a useful way of getting around the campus although the landscaped hills are bumptious bumps. Off-campus, there are hazardous roundabouts.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Humanities[EBOLD] 1,198 22pts[BOLD][PARA]Sciences[EBOLD] 368 18-20pts[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 38 18-20pts[BOLD][PARA]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,443 24pts[BOLD][PARA]Business[EBOLD] 242 22-24pts[BOLD][PARA]Maths[EBOLD] 222 18-20pts[BOLD][PARA]Education[EBOLD] 287 22pts[BOLD][PARA]Medicine[EBOLD] 144 18-20pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 500,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 2,000 [BULL] Study places: 660 [BULL] Computer workstations: 560[ESTAT][PARA]2 libraries: the main one in the centre of the campus and the Nuffield Library. 60% of students leave[ITAL] if not computer literate, at least knowing their IBM from their RSVP.[EITAL][HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 7full [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 9.8%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Almost everybody does joint honours courses (ie more than one main subject). On the majority of courses the 1st year is spent studying subjects from a variety of faculties. After that, students decide what subjects they want to major in. [ITAL]The result is that students get an insight into matters they might have otherwise completely ignored.[EITAL][PARA][BULL]September 1994 sees the start of Keele's semesterisation; 2 terms, running from September to January (with a Christmas break) and January to June (with an Easter break). [ITAL]Um... big difference...[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA]Bamber Gascoigne ('University Challenge' presenter and writer); John Golding MP (Lab); Jack Straw MP (Lab); Adelaide Tambo (ANC official); John Taylor (failed Tory candidate, GMTV lawyer).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, part time and full time postgrads and course leaflets. An Alternative Prospectus is available from the SU for 35p.
