The Gold Rush

Be warned third years, the time for one-night stands is running out …

| UPDATED

Have you heard of the Gold Rush?

The term escapes many of us until the last year at uni. But now, as the end of our time at UEA approaches, finalists are discussing the hurry for… ahem, gold.

Not that kind of gold …

Don’t know what we’re talking about? Urban Dictionary, never known for coyness, (or eloquence), defines the Gold Rush as: “That time towards the end of school/university, everyone in the year that you normally walk past and have a groin clench/minge twinge as you walk past, you now have the confidence to try it on with, on the basis that you won’t be seeing them next year.” Nice.

Despite the questionable “groin clench/minge twinge” imagery, UD’s idea of the Gold Rush giving shy students the confidence to approach potential partners is a good thing… kind of.

Fellow UEAers have described the Gold Rush as a time when morals are relaxed and sex is a more likely outcome at the end of a heavy night in the LCR.

One student told The Tab: “the Gold Rush is a thing, everyone’s more up for it in their last year.”

There’s a ‘you’re only young once’ mentality among those in the Gold Rush at UEA. Practically speaking, it’s true that time for undetected one night stands is running out for finalists moving home with parents in a few months. But is the Gold Rush emotionally satisfying?

Students at Sheffield Uni have a slightly more romantic definition. There, the Gold Rush is a last ditch attempt at leaving uni in a relationship. It’s the time when everyone says, “oh shit I’m leaving soon, I better find a bf/gf.” Although the emphasis on sex is one step removed, a panic induced relationship is rarely a good idea. I did say it was only slightly more romantic.

I found you! (just)

Maybe the Gold Rush is only a good thing if you’re up for the odd one night stand anyway. Completely changing your sexual behaviour just because it’s your last year at uni may not be the most sensible thing to do.

Is there a Gold Rush at UEA? Is the Gold Rush a time of fun and sexual liberation or battered emotions and mistakes? Let us know what you think in the comments below.