Somerville College Report - University of Oxford

32 | JCR Report
JCR Report
I’m continually amazed by the strength of College identity in Oxford, especially in
the fresh hordes of suitcase-wielding first years that stumble through the Porter’s
Lodge each year. Drawn less from every corner of the United Kingdom and more
from every corner of the world, most students come up unacquainted with Oxford’s
hard and tested facts, let alone its secrets. And yet, despite their unfamiliarity with
the ins and outs of Oxford, these students already know they are Somervillians. Not
just that, they feel they are Somervillians. Nowhere else have I seen an identity so
powerful that it immediately enthrals its recruits so completely and draws them in
to their new community. Having fought their way through such a rigorous selection
process, it is unsurprising that Somerville has achieved a somewhat mythical status
in the minds of all our freshers. This sense, it seems, does not go away.
As Dr Alice Prochaska’s first term as Principal, Michaelmas was always going to be
an important period for the College, and as JCR President it was my duty to meet
with the Principal in her cavernous office in House to report on the issues and
successes of the JCR. To say that the Principal hit the ground running would be
an understatement. It must be an unusual experience to return to an institution
which has changed so much since your youth, but like all visiting Somervillians the
Principal seemed to immediately perceive that the idea of Somerville had not. The
College will always revel in being an open, friendly, supportive community. This
idea made my meetings with Dr Prochaska tremendously helpful, for which I am
extremely grateful.
Hilary Term brought with it perhaps more concrete events, particularly successes.
Ever since I arrived Somerville has had a strong reputation for artistic brilliance,
a trait enforced by a strong showing in the annual Drama Cuppers, where a
play written and performed by first year Somervillans attained five star reviews.
Somerville is less well known for successes on the Rugby field. However, this
history was severely buffeted when our first fifteen won the prestigious Plate trophy
after a ferocious match at the Iffley Sports Stadium. In other fields our sports