SWANSEA University freshers are set to star in a new five-part documentary series for ITV2 – but not everyone is happy about it.

First years arrived on campus to find camera crews filming them in lectures, at Freshers’ Fayre, on Wind Street nights out or just going about their daily business.

Notices also went up all over campus warning students that just by being in the area they gave “all necessary consents for your appearance to be broadcast in the series in all media”.

The university appealed on Facebook for students to take part in the series, which will be aired from October 29.

They posted: “This September, Mentorn Media will be making a documentary series called Freshers for ITV2, following a group of Swansea University students as they embark on university life and learn to stand on their own two feet.”

The post prompted a debate on Facebook, with many students warning that the filming could portray students in a bad light.

“Just when you think there’s no way Swansea could look worse! I hate to be cynical but this has disaster written all over it.”

“We’re already known for a woman going for a poo in the middle of the street, and a student being locked up for racist tweets. If we could try not to devalue my degree any more, that would be great.”

“So is Swansea supporting the exploitation of impressionable 17-18 year olds for cheap entertainment now?”

“I only bought a Swansea Uni jumper today. Please don’t give me a reason to be ashamed of wearing it!”

The university posted in reply: “We have had reassurances from Mentorn Media about the kind of programme they wish to make – an aspirational look at life in university for the first time. We have also had positive reports from the University of Bedfordshire, where the last series was filmed. Of course, only students who wish to take part and be filmed will appear in the series.”

Students have reported, however, that film crews have tried to film them even when they have made it clear they do not wish to be filmed.

Members of the LGBT+ Society are angry about being filmed at Freshers’ Fayre, even though they had made a request prior to the event not to be caught on camera.

A student who has logged some of the complaints about the filming in a blog http://againstfreshers.tumblr.com said: “Some members of LGBT+ use it as a safe space and to be outed by a television show is not a good idea.

“At Freshers’ Fayre the cameras were on everyone. They repeatedly asked us to be filmed and would not take no for an answer. We were also approached at a societies training day. They just barge in and say ‘can we film?’ and try to get our mobile phone numbers off us.”

Student Sophie Wiggins was walking home from work late at night and saw the film crews filming a female student who appeared to have passed out on the pavement. “They were just filming her. They weren’t helping her,” she said.

Hilary Webb said: “Nobody likes it. One of my friends was filmed being a bit of an idiot and now she is really worried about how it is going to look.”

Another girl posted on Facebook: “Just attended my first lecture. It was a small group and someone was filming us. I look a mess. Not ready for this. Help.”

Tae Kwon Do Society member Laura Fiteni said: “They are so pushy. They don’t want to film us training. They want to film our socials.”

A spokesperson for Swansea University said: “Mentorn [Media] provided comprehensive reassurances about the selection of the students concerned and the support provided to them during filming.

“The series is described as an aspirational and warm-hearted look at university life, designed to show both the social and academic side of being a fresher. This will be the second series – the first series featured the University of Bedfordshire, who have a provided a very positive reference about the programme and the production company.

“They have said that taking part was a positive experience for the university, with a great deal of interest and activity on social media during broadcast and a spike in open day bookings afterwards.

“The university feels that taking part in the programme is an excellent opportunity to showcase the fantastic location and student experience at Swansea on national TV.

A spokesman for the students’ union said: “We have been working positively with Mentorn Media to film footage of our Freshers’ activities. If students do have any concerns over filming then we encourage them to come and speak to us to discuss it.”

Mentorn Media said: “The series will transmit later in the month and we hope viewers enjoy the programme as it follows students as they embark on university life and learn to stand on their own two feet.”

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