Listen up, social secs: Here are the best themes and socials we want to see this year

What is the average Durham student going to remember about their uni experience in the decades after graduating? Their reading lists? The degree content? No, the amazing socials they went on, of course.

When we become self-respecting adults in a few years, with real jobs and responsibilities, it just won’t be cool anymore to dress up as a chicken and wander bars until your friends find you. And even sooner than that, we’re going to start getting actual hangovers (shock, horror).

So, social secs, the quality of our uni experience rests in your hands – this is what we want, don’t let us down.

Good dress themes (when will we ever be able to do this again?)

This is just a general one, but uni is one of the last times we’ll be able to do fancy dress in our adult lives, so I’m just trying to capitalise on it. If I don’t see a dress code on a social, I’ll still go, but I’ll be disappointed.

Tied socials

This one is quite a rogue one that I haven’t seen in a very long time. The basic concept is that you are randomly assigned one person, and you have to stay tied together for as long as you can (the most intense way to get to know a stranger). This theme, along with some fun challenges, is actually a really great way to make new friends at society meet-ups.

Just pray you’re assigned someone of the same gender, otherwise the bathroom situation gets very awkward.

ABC social

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The “anything but clothes” dress theme is an under-utilised classic. As the name suggests, participants must come to the social wearing anything they can fashion from household items, instead of actual clothes. I’ve seen good examples using tape, bin bags, loo roll, bed sheets… it really draws on the creativity of the educated minds of UK students.

Just make sure that you’re not depriving your housemates of household essentials before you go out – it could lead to some group chat drama.

Challenge socials

One for the goal-oriented student. What brings society members together more than a shared objective of winning a prize you will never look at again? Jumping through Chad’s tree, running naked around Chad’s lawn, completing the famous Mary’s challenge: All pointless activities that you will deeply regret for the rest of your days. Those are the more intense ones, but there are more chill, fun ones to complete too (especially if you come to our Tab socials).

When I reference challenge socials though, I am referring to the fun challenge socials. Don’t be that evil social sec who’s just degrading freshers. It’s weird. Trauma bonding is not the way to make society connections.

Races between bars

Bar crawling? No, try bar racing. Why walk casually to the next bar when you can have a wheelbarrow race or a three-legged race instead? Entertainment for onlookers, and sports day nostalgia and competition for partakers.

Ou Est Le Poulet

Ou Est Le Poulet is an amazing game, but it does require a bit of foresight, planning, and a big group – so worth it though. Participants put money in a pot to participate, and then it’s a race against time to find the chicken in one of the Durham bars. The chicken will be buying drinks using the communal fund while teams search in bars (buying a drink in each one). Once a team finds the chicken, they can start using the communal fund to buy their drinks too.

It’s got teamwork, it’s got time pressure, it’s got a chicken costume. What more could a social need?

Days out

So, it’s pretty rare for a society to do these, but when they happen they can be great fun (and definitely offer an escape from the very confining Durham bubble). A few years ago, the History Society organised a trip to Edinburgh Castle and the Christmas markets; I think it was such a great idea, so I’d love other societies to follow suit. Plus, Durham has so many good spots for day trips. Go to Newcastle, go to Beamish, go to the seaside, go to the waterfalls. Go wild, social secs.

Sober socials

While a good bar crawl is always fun for a social, as an old, weathered fourth year, sometimes I like to avoid the resulting hangovers and embarrassing stories that come with drinking socials. And, there are a good few students who don’t drink, but still want to have a good time.

There are so many options, especially in Durham. The cinema, the cat café, bowling, escape rooms… the options are endless.

So, social secs, don’t be boring. Give the people what they want.