[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]The chunk of the southern coast that fell off and became the Isle of Wight left a hole which was filled by a channel of water called The Solent. In the niche on the mainland to the north of the Solent is Southampton. During the 2nd World War, the Luftwaffe decided to pay a visit and drop a few hundred tonnes of explosives all over the place, so most of it has been rebuilt since. Despite destroying just about everything else, the bombs somehow managed to miss most of the 12th century city wall and various other historic relics. The University - typical of the rest of the city - has redbrick buildings that survived the war, along with the post-war geometric blocks. It is on a landscaped campus, 2 miles from the city centre. Some of the latest constructions make[ITAL] fairly indiscriminate us[EITAL]e of concrete and, to keep up with expansion, others are just plain prefabs, [ITAL]but the total effect is not unattractive, at least until the leaves fall off.[EITAL] The campus is dotted with [ITAL]bizarre [EITAL]sculptures in the style of Henry Moore. About 850 medical students are based less than a mile from the main campus at Boldrewood, a large, [ITAL]squat Lego-box [EITAL]building. [ITAL] Even though it's within easy walking distance, this is a separate community, where the students make their own entertainment. Ever seen Flatliners?[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]The University is a variety box packed with a fun-loving mix of students of all types who almost all find somewhere to slot in. Having found their space, they usually set up a club or two and just have fun. There's a different clique for almost anyone. This is not the home of student radicalism, and with many students from private schools, there is an air of prosperity (if not actually wealth) and many students have cars. Parking problems may be one of the causes of somewhat chilly relations with the local community in recent years, and student-bashing is not unheard of.[EITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 194,400 [BULL] London: 74miles [BULL] Portsmouth: 16miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Southampton used to revolve around its port, but since its basically functional reconstruction after the war, it's become a city that's there simply because a lot of people were all in the same place at the same time[EITAL]. The centre is thoroughly modern and[ITAL] great for grant-gutting sprees. [EITAL] [ITAL]But Southampton has more to recommend it than the opportunity to buy anything from a continental quilt to one of those things you put eggs in to boil them in a microwave[EITAL]. There is a small [ITAL]bohemian [EITAL]quarter with good pubs and shops, and the outlying districts are [ITAL]quaint [EITAL]and worth exploring for cream teas and antiques. The town boasts a [ITAL]very good [EITAL]music and book library, various supermarkets and a few late night shops around the student areas. The docks are being developed and are worth a look. The city contains many parks, archeological digs and 5 museums of varying size and obscurity of content. [ITAL]Rumours that this is a cultural desert are probably put around by jealous people from Bognor or snooty Londoners. 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 Southampton Central with services to London (1:07hrs, 2/hr), Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Exeter, Glasgow, Edinburgh ... the list goes on.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the country, including London (ú9.00, 2hrs, 8/day), Birmingham (ú14, 3:35hrs, 3/day), Bristol (ú8, 2:40hr, 1/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The A27 splits for a brief spell into the M27 and the continuing A27 around Southampton. There's also the A31, A33, A36 and A336.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Flights inland, to Europe, Ireland and the Channel Islands 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 Wales from the petrol station at the end of the A33. The Union also offers a lifts board for cadging off other students.[PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Buses are cheap and reliable, but infrequent. The last back from town to the campus leaves at 11pm. The University and Union also provide a minibus all round the city from 5pm till an hour after bars close. Local trains are regular with connections all over Hampshire and there are 7 stations around 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 some of the companies, but at the moment it's about ú4 from the centre of town to the campus.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] Good cycling, despite a couple of big hills. Get a lock and good insurance and attach a 600 volt electric charge to the handlebars.[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 1,000,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 6,300 [BULL] Study places: 1,300 [BULL] Computer workstations: 700[ESTAT][PARA]3 libraries - the main one is the Hartley Library in the centre of the 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 after 6mths (1992): 9.1%[ESTAT][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Roger Black (athlete, 'sex on legs'); John Denham MP (Lab, ex SU President); Jeremy Hardy (comic); Baroness Hooper; Jenni Murray (Radio 4, Woman's Hour); John Nettles (actor, Bergerac); John Sopel (BBC correspondent); Kathy Tayler (ex-athlete, TV non-personality); Lord Tonypandy (ex speaker of House of Commons).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, postgrads, part time students and for individual departments. The SU produces an alternative prospectus.[PARA][PARA]
