Some Cambridge societies are known the world over. The Union has been hosting the nation’s finest minds, and Tory MPs looking for a free lunch, for over 200 years. Some of its debates have made quite the impression — even generating national headlines. The ADC’s rigorous professionalism has produced some of our greatest thesps — and of course Varsity has been standing for high-quality student journalism since 1947.

But in addition to these old and storied names, are the University’s myriad other societies — over a 1000 in total. With freshers’ fair over-running Parker’s Piece last week, Varsity set out to interview some of the newer — and sometimes quirkier — organisations which incoming students might opt to join, if their college rowing club doesn’t ensnare them first.

Cambridge Alternative Music Society (CAMS) was founded last year and defines itself as a relaxed and welcoming community. It aims to create an inclusive space for people to talk freely about alternative music through bops, socials and a Discord group. A core principle of CAMS is openness. They told us: “anything that is not mainstream pop is considered alternative”, ranging from jazz to electro.

Amelia, secretary of CAMS, said: “emo halloween bop has been the main selling point this year.” Indeed, after joining CAMS, she’s discovered that Cambridge has a “huge community of emos.”

Brown Girl Link Up (BGLU) was founded in December 2021 after a group of brown girls ‘linked up’ and decided to turn their sense of shared community and safe space into a society.

“Me and my friends were sitting in a room and thinking it was so nice to be surrounded by people you get on with and have cultural similarities with, and that it would be so good if everyone had that opportunity,” Kareena Tooray, the society’s vice president, told Varsity.

BGLU is open to women and NB people of South Asian descent. Popular events last year included ‘Curry brunchers’ and ‘Brown Girl BBQ.’ This year, BGLU continues with the events (and puns) with ‘dressy drinks’, ‘brownminton’ and karaoke night.

Varsity asked freshers which BGLU events they were most looking forward to. Prishti from Queens’ said she was most excited for “movie night, because I love Khabi Kushi Khabi Gham.”

Cambridge University Cuban Salsa Society was created only days before the fair opened. The president, Damian, held a number of Cuban Salsa Parties last year in Wolfson College. After the parties’ popularity, he decided to turn their success into a society.

Their goal this year are simple: “to make more Cuban Salsa parties.” The society will also hold salsa lessons for beginners, so don’t worry if you can’t dance salsa yet!

People should join for the friendly atmosphere, the diversity of members, whose nationalities span Latin America, Europe and Africa, and “because our parties are very fun”, Varsity was assured.

Kia is co-president of roller-skating society, in which members skate around and listen to music. She founded it with her friends in June 2022 after “a group of us in Girton and King’s just met up and started skating around.” Plans for this year include skate rink meetups, socials, and skating around Cambridge, including night skates.

Kia told Varsity: “if you’re stressed and think, let’s put some wheels on my feet and roll around with a bunch of people to really vibey music, why would you not?”

Nadia, a fresher from Catz who signed up to the society at the freshers’ fair, is excited to get to know Cambridge “from a roller skating perspective”.

Varsity also went to speak to live action role-playing society, or larp soc. Larping involves attendees pretending to be part of a fantasy game. Participants invent characters with backstories, who then participate in a particular ‘system’.

Varsity was told that the society had been less active over Covid — despite spears proving convenient for enforcing social distancing.

Larp soc meets weekly in non-fantasy attire to do ‘magic’ and engage in ‘diplomacy’. They also meet on Midsummer Common once a fortnight to get fully dressed up and do battle — before heading to the pub for a pint afterwards.