Downing 2010 cover opt b_Layout 1 - Downing College - University ...

DOWNING COLLEGE ASSOCIATIONThe national and international financial crisis has had a direct effect on theundergraduate and graduate student body. The undergraduate and graduateTutors have seen real financial hardship being suffered by a number of students.Thankfully the College’s hardship funds have provided a life-line for a numberof students, and this has in most cases ensured that they have been able tocontinue with their studies. But the hardship funds are limited, even thoughthey have recently been enhanced by the generous support of a number ofalumni and firms. This year the funds were exhausted by the start of the EasterTerm. Consequently, the generosity of the Association in providing the studentsupport fund has proved especially important this year. This has enabledstudents to buy essential books, present papers at conferences, stay in theCollege over the vacations to use the library facilities and participate in overseastravel on trips which are directly relevant to their studies. We know that thefinancial pressure on students will continue and we are all sincerely grateful forthe continued financial support of old members for these funds. But thefinancial pressures are likely to have wider effects. The supervision system, thejewel in the crown of education at Cambridge, is not sacrosanct. Senior Tutors,Bursars and Heads of House in all Colleges are reviewing this system to ensurethat it is as efficient as possible. It is my view that this system, while it canwithstand minor reform at the margins, must be allowed to continue withoutradical change; for it is this more than anything else which makes education atCambridge so special. It needs to be defended.So the College is competing well. It is, I think, managing and nurturing itsresources effectively. But we could expand our provision, especially when wesee what many other Colleges can provide. We spend so much of our collectivetime making do with the little we have. Now, of course, all Colleges are havingto cope with much less, especially when funds come from the State. But theless which the well endowed Colleges have to cope with is so much more thanwhat we have even when times are good. This is why the Catalysis endowmentcampaign is so vital to the future of the College. If we do consider ourselves tobe a big hitting College, and that is certainly the view of the Fellowship andthe student body and, I trust, the view of alumni, then having a secureendowment is essential. I would be very happy to speak to any old memberabout what we provide for our students, what we should provide and how wecan make ourselves as competitive as possible.Professor G J Virgo, M.A., B.C.L. (Oxon).18