It’s been a long time since I’ve written, but I have so many notes about the past few months that I could write pages and pages about studying abroad – and I intend to. This post is about the circling culture at Warwick, something I knew absolutely nothing about when my plane landed but now love. I’ll give you a quick explanation of what it is, a few notes about some of the games, and what to expect should you attend such an event. Don’t worry, I’m making sure not to spoil any games so you can enjoy learning them yourself. Failing while learning is the best part.
Circling is an event where student societies gather to drink while playing a series of games. Everyone sits in a circle and two circle masters run it by regularly calling on different participants to begin playing. No one explains the games; someone starts by proposing a game of blank to their left or right and you play until someone messes up. Messing up is punished by having to drink, and everyone keeps playing the game until it’s either played successfully or everyone becomes so sick of it that they give up. Either way, you will end up drinking a lot as a “fresher,” but that’s the point.
Although circling is, at its core, about group drinking, Warwick is pretty good about keeping it safe. Circle masters are usually the society’s Social Secs, and are responsible for keeping the night fun but safe (they have to sign this thing called a Circling Codes of Conduct). If you don’t think you can handle another drink or simply don’t want to drink, remember that you don’t have to. You don’t want to be the guy who threw up on a wall (yes, I saw that happen).
The games are all a lot of fun, and towards the end of the year it’s fun to play them with a group of friends outside an organized circle. One time my friends and I played a few games for 20 minutes while waiting for a bus in Coventry. Pay attention to patterns – or a lack of patterns – when playing. The games aren’t always Black and White. It’s also fun to just randomly play Sexy Roman Numerals in improper places. Have fun learning the games yourself, but here’s a link to a short list of some games to give you a taster:
Some advice:
Show up on time.
You will be penalized if you don’t, but it’s also not a huge deal if you are late. Just prepare to possibly have to lick the floor.
Follow the theme.
If there’s a theme, try to follow it to the best of your ability. Charity shops in Cannon Shopping Centre or the neighboring town Leamington Spa are good places to thrift pieces for your costume if need be. I went to a linguistics circle with the theme of animated characters and dressed up as Spongebob characters with my friends. There’s also a popular night with the theme “Skool Dayz” where people are expected to dress up in button-down white shirts, plaid skirts, and ties as if they just left British secondary school.
Pay attention to whether or not the circle masters are supplying alcohol or if it’s BYOB.
If the drinks are supplied, you will most likely be given the bank details of the circle master to transfer them money (I only have an American bank account so I just gave people cash). Most circles expect you to bring your own drinks. For circles that take place inside the Copper Rooms (the Student Union’s nightclub on campus), you will be expected to purchase a drink called “Purple,” a combination of beer, cider, and blackcurrant juice. It’s not a bad drink, but don’t spill it on a white shirt. Also don’t feel pressured to drink if you don’t want to. I circled with my own non-alcoholic drinks many times and still had a lot of fun participating in the games.
Make sure you get the event ticket with circling if you’re circling in the Copper Rooms
It should cost the same as a regular ticket, but you do need the circling ticket.
Don’t use your phone
iPad kids will not be tolerated and using your phone during a circle will be penalized.
Pay attention to break times
Be back in the room when the bathroom break ends or you will be penalized.
Don’t pick your neighbor
Incest is wrong.
Try not to spill your drink
“Spillage is lickage, SPILLAGE IS LICKAGE”
Have fun
At the end of the day, it’s not that serious. The main goal of circling is to make new friends and bond with the society. You don’t even have to be a member of whatever society you’re circling with, most are quite welcoming of newcomers and there’s no expectation to join. Just try to learn names and meet folks.
Pictures of me and my friend Gemma circling dressed up as Spongebob and Patrick. I'm being told off for something by my friend Jamie in the other photo. I was attempting to channel Britney Spears with the braided pigtails for that Skool Dayz circle.
Other resources:
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