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Admissions are almost over and college societies have started their recruitment process. The freshers, ever so willingly try and make it to the society they wish to be a part of.

Most of the admissions have now been done and dusted and students are getting more familiar with their college. Another eventful phase of admissions is now slowly fading away and freshers might be getting an idea as to how their next year is going to be. They have all waited long enough and worked rigorously to be in the university they once dreamt of. And college societies are something everyone looks up to. Apart from academics, everyone wants to do something more and college societies offer them with the exact opportunity.

All of us have our personal interests and hobbies. Some like to dance while some like to act while some like to write and so on. And once we step into DU colleges, we are acquainted with the various societies based on different fields that are run and sustained by the students themselves. From theatre to entrepreneurship, there is a society that coincides our interests and provides us the platform to work in that area. Be it organizing a college fest or performing in a national level competition, DU societies offer it all.

One cannot simply let go of the chance to have a possibly wonderful experience and doing something extra. This enthusiasm of students, particularly freshers show up once the society recruitments take place. And it is the month where all the societies look for recruitments. Tens of desks are set up with posters or flex that read out the society name with a few guys all sitting with a pen and a piece of paper sit all day long. Hundreds of curious students enquire about the work and functioning of these societies and register themselves as an applicant. Seminar rooms and halls are always booked throughout the week where various societies conduct their orientation. Students carrying their bags rush into these halls in order to get a seat before it’s all full. One can peek in these rooms and see the entire crowd listening to the society members talking about their society and experiences.

Students miss their classes in order to attend a GD or a PI or maybe give an audition to showcase their potential and hopefully be a part of the society they look forward to. Round tables have students around them debating over issues or giving their opinion on current affairs. Everybody tries to convince the interviewing panel that they will be a good fit in the society. These interviews can either be smooth or be very grilling. Some come out of it confident while some have disappointed faces reeling after having a tough time during it. It all happens. It always does.  This little one month phase is the defining phase for hundreds of these students who apply to be a part of societies. This phase is what will somewhat determine how their next year is gonna be.

The intensity of the recruitment process is natural given the scale these college societies cover. They provide an insight of their respective fields and serve as the perfect platform for willing students. Particularly in DU, various societies are very active and are extremely objective oriented. They help in nurturing the aspiring and inculcating interest in others. They help the students develop themselves. And the curiosity to be a part of these societies is evident in the way students apply in them. And it won’t be wrong to say that this aura of enthusiasm is the key to the successful functioning of DU college societies which has resulted in creating a college society culture like no other.

 

Feature Image Credits: DUB Archives

Karan Singhania

[email protected]

 

Freshers are excited as well as nervous when they enter college, oblivious to some extent as to what to expect besides fun, freedom and studies. Entering one of the most prestigious universities in the country is one big milestone to be accomplished. For the first years, it is a journey of learning new things and unlearning the old. College life is different from the easy going life of the school, here are your seniors giving you precious advice on college life and how to spend these wonderful three years of your life.

Shireen Manocha, Miranda House

It’s going to be hard. You’re in a new place with new people and in a new environment. There’s so much to learn, so much to explore and it’s going to be hard. So, give time time. Let things settle on their own. Try to know your own self. Try to do things on your own and eventually everything will fall into place.

Asmita Pandey, Gargi College

Being a fresher, you must prioritize balancing your budget in order to avoid useless expenditure

Vineeta Rana, Daulat Ram College

Make a conscious effort of getting out of your comfort zone. Not just once but repeatedly. Audition for a bunch of societies, experiment with fashion, work at internships, also try different classes.

Lakshya Chawla, Sri Venkateshwara College

Join a society to hone your skills. Besides, one can’t make memories just by attending classes. Also, choosing the right company of friends is very important.

Srivedant Kar, Cluster Innovation Centre

Try to figure out what you want in future and take small steps to achieve them while enjoying college life. Climbing the ladder is important but it’s more important to climb the right stairs.

Mansi Chawla, Indraprastha College for Women

My advice to outstation students would be to give themselves some time because it isn’t easy surviving alone. Learn to share your feelings with friends and don’t bottle them up. Be open to communicate and connect.

Feature Image Credits: aplaceformom.com

Prachi Mehra

[email protected]

The atmosphere of colleges across the University of Delhi is thick with the repeated mention of freshers’ parties. Conversations reek of both anticipation and bewilderment; two sentiments that newbies are naturally good at emoting, especially so when the takers for the Ms. /Mr. Freshers’ title are so many.

It is more than just okay to want to win the contest because a little adulation does go a long way. Here’s a list of things that you need to keep in mind if you’re in the running to become the Ms. / Mr. Fresher of your college!

Dos

  • Stick to the theme: It is absolutely necessary for you to adhere to the theme of the freshers’, if at all there is any. When the Students’ Union along with the able assistance of the advisory board comes up with a theme, after a lot of contemplation, that is, it expects compliance for the same. If you fail to abide by the theme, chances are that you will lose your eligibility as a potential candidate.
  • Preliminary research on the theme: A Freshers’ contest comprises of several rounds, one of which might be a theme specific question and answer round. Just so you are not caught off guard, acquaint yourself well with the theme. For example, if you happen to have a comic-themed freshers’ party, then it is imperative that you know, what building served as the original headquarters for the Fantastic Four and other questions of the like.
  • Maintain a sartorial splendor: Everyone is excited for the Freshers’; so much that their enthusiasm is palpable even from a distance but the thrill must be such that can be contained or it is likely to lead to a wardrobe disaster. Some people tend to let their exhilaration lead them astray. It is important to look tasteful. A wedding makeover is not what the freshers’ demand; rather a subtle stroke of light make up, coupled with a sartorially pleasing piece of clothing, is probably what it does. It is always important to suit the requisites and not go overboard.
  • Hone your skills: A freshers’ contest is incomplete without a show of the various talents. It is necessary/advised for you to have one specialised skill, at the very least. However, as much as it is important to possess an innate (or acquired) ability, honing the same stands at equal footing with its possession. It is always advisable to prepare well, or think, in advance for this round in particular.
  • Be confident: It is the most clichéd advice in the world but also the most significant one. Self-assurance stands head and shoulders above the rest; word has it that a great figure or physique is nice, but it’s self-confidence that makes someone really sexy. (Vivica A. Fox) If you are in the running to become the Ms. /Mr. Fresher, it is an obligation for you to have faith in yourself and your abilities as an individual contestant. Everyone is a little scared but what is important is to not let the agitation show. The focus should be on showcasing the best version of yourself out there, regardless of how much better or worse your fellow competitor is because trust me, everyone is just as new to that moment as you are.

 

Don’ts

  • Don’t fret: It is essential for you to understand that the panel in front of you is basing its judgment on how well you carry yourself and how bold your personality is. Faintheartedness is very easy to spot and can severely affect your chances of winning. In order to leave an impression on the jury, it is important that you gulp down the nervousness. Even during the question and answer round, make sure to not let your fear get the better of you. Let your conviction speak for itself.
  • Don’t be brash: While it is okay to be assertive, it is not, to be foolhardy. Everyone has their own set of beliefs and convictions and it as much our responsibility as is theirs, to respect them. In situations involving an interaction with the panel, it is a requisition to be accommodating. It is both, disrespectful and reckless to disregard a perspective without hearing an articulate explanation of the same. Understanding the downsides of ideological coercion is paramount in this regard.
  • Don’t confuse it for a beauty pageant: I cannot lay enough emphasis on how absolutely necessary it is for everyone to know that Freshers’ is not a beauty pageant but a personality contest. It is something that should implicitly be understood but needs perpetual reiteration, nonetheless. The contest abides by a very well thought out criteria for selection, which accounts for pretty much everything with the exception of outward beauty. It is especially mandatory for people competing for the title to rid themselves of any pre-conceived notions of the like.

Having said all of the above, it is also always good to remember that freshers’ is meant for the sole purpose of enjoyment.  It is the beginning of a new year, rather a new life, and it should be dealt with just the same!

 

 

Feature Image Credits: TheTab

Lakshita Arora

[email protected]

Dear Freshers,

Welcome to the University of Delhi. Take a moment to feel the joy of having achieved a massive milestone of your life – making it into DU. This might be an accident of circumstances or a culmination of your endless efforts, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say that the whole world conspired to help you achieve your dreams. Now that you’ve successfully taken admission in the most prestigious educational institute in the country, it’s time to comprehend the gravity of this stage in your life. Delhi University will give you all that a college experience possibly can – education, amusement, friends, and most importantly, an identity.

Be ready to expect the unexpected. Every notion that you currently hold will be challenged in this campus, where every fleeting moment of idleness is filled with the urge to achieve something. The people you are going to meet, the ideas you are going to encounter, the academic environment which used to be a mark-milking tool for you until now, are all going to change, even as this University continues to be well-known for its almost meme-worthy standards of education. Stereotypes of how DU kids carry jholas and never actually study are hilarious in themselves, but they function as badges of honour for students in their time here. Popular for harbouring, or at least generating, a liberal and culturally aware generation of students, DU allows you to push yourself, whether that be through academics or extracurriculars. Well-rounded and up-to-date syllabi, along with the general elective under the Choice Based Credit System, come together to provide students a holistic education. The numerous societies within colleges, as well as university-wide associations further allow students to expand their horizons and develop their talents. Portraying ideas, thoughts, and injustices through dance, music, and theatre, is no small feat, and you’ll get your moment of glory throughout the much-publicised fest season. We guarantee that being part of a society or student association will give you the experience of a lifetime.

It’s no secret that the varsity has produced a variety of individuals – scholars, athletes, and even numerous Miss Indias. The opportunities that DU offers, coupled with its cultural and ideological diversity, produce a distinctively unique environment. Three years in this place changes you – undoubtedly for the better.

The age-old traditions of skipping classes to chill in the lawns of your college, or to run outside for a quick bite of Tom Uncle’s Maggi in North Campus are just as crucial to the DU experience as the education. You will create an entire bank of memories from this period of your life, such as begging your class representative to mark your proxy and photocopying notes for the entire semester a week before your final exam. But the most significant change in your life will not be learning how to navigate the Delhi metro or how to bargain most effectively for junk jewellery. It will be learning about yourself.

Some people believe that this University thrives on its past glory. We beg to differ. We believe it draws its glory from you. We believe that as you embark on this journey of your college life with a nervous, excited, and hopeful state of mind, you’ll end up with many achievements, but the most noteworthy of these would be your identity. As you steer your life for the next three years among classes, societies, and this mad city, remember that it’s up to you to become a part of the collective pride of this University.

You may leave DU as a completely new person than when you entered, or you may leave as merely a more refined version of your teenage self. But what’s undeniable is that you will be a truer version of yourself after having gone through all that DU has to offer. So sit tight, because you’re in for the ride of a lifetime at the place you’ll soon call home – Delhi University.

We wish you all the best!

 

With love on behalf of the DU Beat Team,

Vineeta Rana

Srivedant Kar

 

Feature Image Credits: The Odyssey Online

A notice issued on Thursday by the acting principal of Ramjas College says that there will be no DJs or music streamed through speakers at freshers’ welcome parties, farewells or other functions. All functions must also end by 4 pm, and at least two teachers, one of whom should “preferably” be a woman, must be present till the function ends.

The principal said that the notice was passed so as to make sure that there is no noise pollution or complaints in and around the campus.

“It is appalling what the students do. We have received many complaints in the past. I will not go into the details but there have been instances where people have complained of misbehavior. Why are DJs or loud music needed? This is a college, not a club. Even I was a student of this college. We didn’t need to make noise to throw farewell parties. People have to maintain decorum. Also, examinations are starting soon and there should be no noise. Students in hostels need peace and quiet to study. Practical exams have already started and theory exams will start on May 9,” said Principal PC Tulsian.

The notice has received criticism from both students and teachers.

One of the students who did not want to be named said “This is bizarre! Why can’t we play music during our functions? And why must a function end by 4 pm? These rules make no sense for college students. The college itself uses speakers for the functions it holds. Why should the students not be allowed? If the music is too loud or disturbing anyone, the authorities can always tell us to lower the volume. But why the blanket ban?”

The teachers as well criticized the clause regarding the mandatory presence of teachers calling it regressive. “The rules are regressive. Students should be able to hold functions in their own college. Why is the presence of teachers necessary? The notice smacks of unnecessary moral policing,” said a teacher on condition of anonymity.”

 

With inputs from Indian Express

 

Aditya Narang

[email protected]

Being one of the most sought after courses in Delhi University, English Honours crests up the expectations of every literati who seeks admission in this course. The idea of meeting Shakespeare, Jane Austen or George Eliot everyday makes it nothing short of exciting. But how is the journey actually like, well, let’s find out here!

After braving the cut off crisis, entering college on the first day as an English Honours student is bound to elate any literature enthusiast who is looking forward to an expedition of the literary world! The initial days of study in this course certainly blurs the boundaries of literature exploration. Meeting great authors, playwrights and critics through their work takes some time to be familiarized with, yet, makes one feel like delving deeper into the sea of literature. How can we forget the joy of purchasing those new books that never fail to bring a wave of happiness with the smell of their new pages!

Seeing all that happiness, our dear friend – the syllabus, starts pouring us some more love with endless discussions, chapters which seem to never finish and, motley range of timeless drama and poetry. This is when we feel like telling this friend of ours to calm down! With the ever increasing number of texts and background readings, at times it starts getting difficult to manage academic reading and leisure reading at the same time. Adding on to it, friends from different courses keep envying us for reading mere “stories” in the syllabus and having an easy course structure. This is the moment when we feel like enlightening those friends about the difference between reading Blake and Swift for leisure and reading them as part of one’s syllabi. Thus, we join the brigade that breaks baseless myths about the course being a mere cake walk!

Just after the crest phase comes the road to the trough. The teachers expecting students to read their respective texts completely and “critically analyze” everything that comes our way starts getting a little too tricky! This is when we start shifting from mere readers to critical readers of literature. But the road doesn’t seem all that easy in the first semester of the course. With loads of narratives and analysis to remember, one definitely gets overwhelmed with the amount of reading to be done, while being unaware of the questions that can be asked for such study. After putting in much effort, we’re forced to rely on help books to help us sail through the semester. However, the ultimate test of literature love for a first semester student is the semester examination. A study loaded with truckloads of texts, the first semester exams of the course resurface the general emotion for studies in no time.

Nonetheless, English Honours sure makes every seeker a thinker beyond the average one. Despite the initial hiccups, this course is not a mere study, but a leap ahead in the understanding of the world.

 

Feature Image Credits: www.flavorwire.com

Priyal Mahtta

[email protected]

 

With the pressure of studies and society activities slowly building up, DU Beat brings you some must have Delhi experiences that every fresher must catch.

1. Cycling trip to Rashtrapati Bhavan
Pick up the bright green bicycles from the Patel Chowk Metro station and go for a cycling trip to the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan with your friends. You can also combine this with a picnic in the India Gate lawns. Delhi being the heart of power of the country and this being a powerful location of the city, the trip might give you a feeling of being closer to power and will be a good memory to go back to any day!

Cyclin trip DUB

(Image Credits: Alex Arthur for DU Beat)

 

2. Midnight exploration of the Ridge
Having spent quite a few days in the college, your seniors must have filled your ears with the stories of the crying woman in a white saree or the monkey which hunts people at night, all of them residing at a common address- the ridge. Why not explore it yourself with your friends at midnight?
The silence of the night and the street lights combine perfectly to give you a feeling of someone who’s been waiting for long and is beckoning you. (Try this at your own risk and have a strong heart throughout!)

NC Ridge
(Image Credits: www.holidify.com )

 

3. Photoshoot at India Gate
With the Independence Day approaching and a patriotic fever rising all over the country this is the best time to plan a trip to India Gate and obviously click a picture of yours to set as your Independence Day cover photo on Facebook. What better way to display your patriotism and flaunting being in the capital at this time of the year?

India Gate
(Photo Credits: commons.wikimedia.org)

 

4. Going for a theatre experience
The capital is home to some of the best auditoriums of the country which play hosts to lots of plays. If you’re a theatre enthusiast then Mandi House which stations the National School of Drama, Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture, Bharatiya Kala Kendra and many more literary avenues can become one of your most visited locations in Delhi.

Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture Delhi
(Photo Credits: commons.wikimedia.org)

 

5. Catch the light and sound show in Red Fort
The great red building has been a witness to the rise and fall of the mighty Mughal Empire and the rise of Modern India. They say it right when they say that the red sandstones of Red Fort narrate history, for one trip to the Fort will take you back in time to the glorious days of Mughal rule in India. You can catch the light and sound show in the evening which would take you through a beautiful journey of history.

Red Fort
(Photo Credits: www.flickr.com)

 

So whether you are of the adventurous kind or prefer artful displays, there are many things you do to keep yourselves excited and amazed. This list is just a preview. So buckle up freshers! Delhi has tonnes of adventures in store for you!

Feature Image Credits: Alex Arthur for DU Beat
Srivedant Kar
[email protected]

College life is driven by a lot of factors. Although, technology is not a very major one, it helps you to keep tab on various aspects of your college life. So, here’s the first part of the list of the hardware that we think would really help you in your undergraduate journey:

  1. Smartphone 

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    Source: pixabey.com

With time changing more swiftly than weather, a smartphone is a must for all new fuchchas out there unless you want to get on back foot for losing out on the random WhatsApp chats and latest class time updates and last minute changes declared by your popular class representative (CR). From taking a perfect selfie to calculating your monthly expenses, your smartphone can be the gateway to the world.

 

 

 

2. Earphones

Source: www.publicdomainpictures.net
Source: www.publicdomainpictures.net

From the drum beats of the theatre society to the noises of students bunking classes, you have to face a whole new level of distractions while trying to concentrate on something in college. In this situation a good earphone can come as a great rescue in time. With a great combination of right volume and right music it has the power to shift you to a different world where you can focus on your work in hand. No doubt some awesome companies like Google, Facebook and apple have earphone vending machines on their office premises.

 

3. Power Banks

Source: wikimedia.org
Source: wikimedia.org

From waking you up in the morning for the 8:30 classes to satisfying your soul with music during break within classes, your phone works harder than you. With WhatsApp and Facebook notifications pinging up in every ten minutes your phone’s battery life is going to get tired like you at the end or even middle of the day. A good power bank can ensure that your lifeline i.e. – phone doesn’t go out of its life and make your life more difficult. Go get one, before you decide between whether to make a last call of the day or to play your favourite song.

 

 

 

Having the right hardware is just not enough. One needs to know how to use it. Else it’s just dead weight that you’re carrying. So here’s the first part of the list of apps and software that would really help you in your undergraduate journey:

  1. For Social Needs

WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat – These are the four pillars of a good social life in not just DU, but in any university across the nation. Most of you, are already on Facebook and WhatsApp. Instagram and Snapchat are the ones on which many of you still aren’t. For an all-round social life, you need to be on the other two as well. You’ll realise their importance once the fest season comes. So register yourself right now and like the DU Beat pages (Yes! That is essential for a very cool social life as well. True Story!).

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2. For Documentation and Project Needs

Open Office & Libre Office – These three are free license office suites which will help you to do all your digital assignments, presentation, reports and projects on Laptop or PC. Microsoft Office suite is one the best but it is paid. These are the best free alternatives.

53. For Utility

Truecaller – If you have an active social life in college or you’re involved in various co-curricular activities, you’ll need to filter out the incoming calls. This app comes in handy. It’s a universal caller ID which gives you the name of the person along with some additional information. User can also block numbers, making it an excellent ‘pervert management tool for girls.

ColorNote– The app is one of the best apps for taking quick notes and messages on your phone. You can make check lists and can even pin your TODOs in the notification bar. It’s available for Android and Windows phone. Similar variants are available for Apple iPhones easily.

Pocket– The ultimate apps for bookmarks. There are various links leading to articles about plethora of things on various social networks which will resonate with your personality. This app helps you save such links so that they can be read anywhere, on any platform or device. You can even save them offline and load it later. All you need to do is save them under your pocket account.

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We wrap up the first part of our tech list here. Stay tuned for more. Do tell us about your personal experiences with apps and software in similar categories.

Image credits: natashascrazylife.blogspot.com

Kavach Chandra and Srivedant Kar
[email protected]
[email protected]

First of all, you made it. Congratulations. That’s bright enough! Second of all, Delhi University is going to be everything you imagined. Okay not everything, but it’s going to be nothing less than three maddening, crazy and heartening years for you! But before you stop reading and start texting with anticipation and excitement, let us (your humble seniors) clear some of your misconceptions.

What to look out for:

  1. Jam Packed Social Calendar: Of the many things students will need to sacrifice this year, their social life is not one of them. With the new found freedom, the newbies can now go have a ball with their new found friends!
  2. Better societies and awesomer fests: As ECA and sports activities are as important marks, fests and societies will get a boost and improve drastically. With the fucchas working even harder to prove their mettle, it’s safe to expect each college putting up a grand show!
  3. College protests: As the hand of the ABVP and NSUI still looms large over DU, most freshers will be witness to their spectacularly conducted and overly dramatized protests. With political connections, there students will definitely try to bring the house down.

Busting Some Myths:

  1. Ragging: Contrary to the common belief of – ‘Tu kyu kar rha hai? Fucche se karwa lenge!’ DU isn’t exactly a frame out of 3 idiots and you will definitely not have to perform crazy stunts or walk around pretending to be James Bond just because a senior told you to do so. With strict anti-ragging laws, your worst nightmare should be cranky teachers and definitely not your seniors!
  2. The Ladies/ The Studs: For all those who stayed single to find their soul mates in DU, you’ll be waiting some more time. Contrary to popular beliefs, the girl’s colleges are not a pond of budding super models. And not all boys look like they were ripped off magazine covers. They too are humans, give them some credit for looking perfectly human and not like porcelain dolls.
  3. Equality Among Colleges: Okay so you’ve probably been expecting this all the way, but suddenly your best friend from the other college will become ‘them’ and your newly found united college buddies will be ‘us’.
  4. Completely Fudged up Timelines: If you had been cursing your friends, family, associates etc. for not being punctual all this time, you are about to experience a whole new level of procrastination. The University declares results exactly a month after its due date, if you’re lucky. Be glad that’s the only thing the university does. And if you have any other issues to sought with the administrative department, then god save you!

By Raghav Chopra ([email protected]) and Akriti Gupta ([email protected])

Yes, it’s the first week of college. Yes, it’s nothing like you imagined. Yes, you do feel a little lost. Here’s a revelation: you’re not alone.

Typically, the first few months of college require loads of patience from your end. And every senior who looks well settled in her/his place right now has been in your shoes at one point of time. Everyone may seem like a ‘someone’ right now but no one walked in to college all popular and confident!

So while you’re still in your ‘figuring out’ phase and are getting depressed over the fact that you’re just one of the crowd, here’s how to deal with the ‘Nobody Panic Syndrome’:

  1. Join a society: College will offer you a society for whatever suits you the most. As clichéd this advice may seem, you’ll bear the fruits eventually. By the time the first semester ends, you’ll realise that not only your teachers identify you as a member of that society but also your friends and peers from different departments.
  2. Chisel those conversation skills: The first few months in college will bring you the friends that’ll stay with you for a lifetime. Talk about chicken, Big Bang Theory, Sky-diving, exploits in parking lots; whatever sails your boat! It’s easier than you think because everyone is as awkward and confused as you are.
  3. Hanging out should be a priority: Go out with your peers, explore areas in and around college. This should be your top priority (side note: even more important than attending classes!). Not only do you get to know about the food you’ll survive on the next couple of years, you’ll bag loads of memories.
  4. Associate yourself with activities outside college: You want to be a go-to and contacts person? Know your business outside college too. Capitalise on your skills and be open for new ventures. Join organisations that work outside the ambit of your course.
  5. Most importantly, make your presence felt: Don’t want to feel like a nobody? Participate in fests, volunteer for department and college work. Keep up that enthusiasm; you are being slyly observed, you don’t know it!

 

Arushi Pathak
[email protected]