Everybody loves free stuff and being a Fanshawe student means there’s plenty of free items and services around campus that you can benefit from. Some benefits are harder to find than others, so the Interrobang compiled a guide to help you make the most of being a Fanshawe Student.

FANSHAWE LIBRARY

We all know that having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card, but many don’t know how much the library has to offer beyond just books. For example, check out the Media Equipment Loans counter to the right as you enter the library. Here you can borrow all kinds of gear from high end cameras, lighting gear and sound equipment, to gaming consoles, projectors, laptops (loaded with media software) and more. They even have cell phone chargers and headphones, for those awful days when you forget your own at home. The library also has a section where students can check out the latest movies, TV shows and video games. If you go to FanshaweLibrary.com, they offer even more on the digital side of things, including ebooks, video download loans and Lynda.com subscriptions, at no cost.

TRANSPORTATION

Looking for an affordable way to get around town and check out all that London has to offer off campus? If you’re a fulltime Fanshawe student, you can get away with rarely paying for transportation the entire time you’re in college. All full-time student cards are loaded with a London Transit Commission (LTC) bus pass you can use during the semesters and even in the summertime, between school years. Simply tap the smart card readers with your student card as you board the bus. The bus system conveniently covers the majority of the London area, but if you’re looking to get to somewhere off of the bus route or don’t want to be waiting around at a bus stop, fear not. It is also possible to borrow bicycles free of charge for up to three days at a time from The Biz Booth, through the FSU Bike Share Program. More information on this can be found at fsu.ca/bikes. To take things to the next level, the LTC busses even have bike racks. So, you can combine methods for the ultimate transportation hack.

FOOD

You have to work a little harder to find free food around campus, but the opportunities do exist. There are plenty of events organized by various groups around Fanshawe to keep an eye out for. Often times during events in the Student Union Building (fsu), such as the Student Wellness Fairs or Chill Lounges, you can find free tea, coffee or other snacks up for grabs. There are also plenty of food-oriented events that happen on a regular basis, such as breakfast in Forwell Hall or free dinner and a movie at the The Out Back Shack. The best way to stay informed on all these fun and tasty events is to keep an eye on the bulletin boards around campus or check in on the FSU calendar as often as you can, at fsu.ca/events. For students who may be financially struggling, Fanshawe offers The Sharing Shop as a short-term solution. According to the FSU website, it “provides full-time Fanshawe College students, in a short-term need of assistance, with grocery items, toiletries and cleaning supplies”. More information can be found at fsu.ca/thesharingshop. It is a donation based program, so students can lend a hand by donating products whenever possible.

LEGAL SERVICES

Through a non-profit organization titled Community Legal Service, funded by Legal Aid Ontario and Western University, full-time post-secondary students are able to receive free legal assistance. Services and expertise are offered in a number of areas including Landlord and Tenant Law, Criminal Law, Charter of Rights challenges, Small Claims Court representation, Public Legal Education, Student Appeals and Affidavits and Notarial services. Community Legal Service also organizes a program known as the Dispute Resolution Centre, which according to the FSU website, “provides mediation services to residents of London and Middlesex County who wish to resolve their disputes quickly, efficiently and inexpensively”. For more information, go to fsu.ca/legal-services.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

There are a few free services on campus to help promote a healthy and fit lifestyle for students. The first is the Fanshawe Student Wellness Centre which offers three floors dedicated to this area. Every full-time student gains free access, to the Centre’s well equipped gym and workout rooms, rock climbing wall, squash courts and more. There are also a number of workshops and classes that can be attended and students even get free access to the nearby swimming pool at Carling Heights Community Centre with their Student Wellness Centre Membership. More information of what’s offered here can be found at StudentWellnessCentre.ca. Full-time students are also covered under the FSU Health Plan for a number of medical and services, as well as prescription drugs. Further info on`what’s covered and how to opt out of the health plan can be found at fsu.ca/health.