Southampton Students HAPPY AS LARRY

As of late Southampton has seemed to go from bad to worse. This year the University has faced another drop in the league tables, and (on a slightly different note) landed a disappointing 65^th place in the University sex league – not to mention the grim goings on we constantly have to be wary of. In a recent survey conducted by Student Beans, however, our fine University was named as having the 5^th happiest students in the country (beaten only by Cambridge, Aston, Durham and Glasgow). Who says you need to sleep around to have fun?

With our fellow south coast frenemies Bournemouth coming 4^th from the bottom in the survey, happiness is clearly not region-related either. So this leads us to ask, what’s so good about Southampton that makes us happier than most other Universities?

Jesters

It has to be said. Jesters is a place that we often take for granted, but as students we are so lucky to have such a hole in our splendid city; across the country it’s rare to find student places that sell pints for less than £2 (in capital cities the minimum price will be about £2.50 or even £3). But it’s not just the prices that make Jesters so great – with the prices comes the relaxed ambiance of the place. I’ve never met bouncers so friendly, and in my entire 2 years here during which I have visited Jesters about once a week on average I have only witnessed people being kicked out once. There’s no dress code, it’s completely unpretentious, and you’re guaranteed to get chatting to at least 1 friendly randomer with every visit – with a place like this no wonder students are happy here.

Our surroundings

Southampton itself is a friendly place to be. The abundance of sex attacks and stabbings might make it hard to believe, but in 2010 the city topped a league table to be named ‘the friendliest and most welcoming city in the UK‘ (with London coming at the very bottom). Local comedian Mike Osman believes that:

there is so much to be happy about for Southampton people; we are near the water and near the New Forest, possibly the most attractive place in the country.

Others were not so understanding: one commenter observed

So… we’re the 3rd most violent city in the UK, and also the friendliest. Maybe our muggers ask how you are before coshing you…?

What do you think? How happy are you in Southampton, with regard to both the University and your lifestyle as a whole? Or do you have any other explanations for why we’re such happy bunnies? Let us know in comments!