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JCR REPORT
Ella Taylor-Fagan (History, 2015)
JCR President
Despite the doom and gloom associated with 2016-17, for
an undergraduate at Regent’s the past year has been both
exciting and successful. It all began with the arrival of a
new cohort of first-years. The Freshers’ Week Committee
worked tirelessly to integrate thirty-six new students, with
ice-cream trips, club excursions, college-family meals, and
an ‘Alphabet’ themed bop. Before they had even finished
their first term, the freshers had produced a play, ‘Mercury
Furr’, as part of an intercollegiate drama competition,
which was a great success. The term also saw success for
the wider JCR. The men’s football team was promoted, the
pantomime showcased an array of thespian talent, and the
busy term ended in traditional OxMas style; we were
welcomed to the Principal’s Lodgings for mince pies, and
the JCR came together with the whole community to sing
carols in the quad.
Hilary term was kicktarted with the launch of a
weekly film club and the introduction of a JCR-run
Saturday morning brunch. The term was again studded
with exciting annual traditions, such as Burns’ Night, which
included a fantastic meal accompanied by a band and
ceilidh. It was also in this term that the Social Equalities
Committee was set-up, under the fantastic leadership of
Grace Barrington (English Language and Literature, 2014).
Thus, an undergraduate-led space was created for various
liberation groups to discuss and tackle issues of inequality.
The women’s rowing team managed to secure its place in
the division, whilst the men’s boat – in one of its most
successful years to date – was sadly prevented from
getting much-deserved blades due to the interruption of
the race by some evil swans. Exciting Friday night socials
burst back on to the scene, with the introduction of a
chocolate fountain which proved to be quite a hit and has
since made regular appearances.
The undergraduate community continued to
thrive into the summer months. We celebrated our
tortoise’s 114th birthday with a party in the quad in aid of
Meningitis Now, raising £1003. The College was filled with
music, a bouncy castle and many guests – human and
tortoise. Once the finalists had finished their exams, it was
time for the much-anticipated Jubilee Fling (pictured right).
Recognition goes to Amelia Williams (Classics and English,
2014) and David Marchington (English Language and
Literature, 2015) for doing a sterling job of organising the
night and turning the College into a laboratory full of
enchanting alchemy and exciting potions. Once again, we
were particularly grateful to alumnus and Treasurer, Tony
Harris (English Language and Literature, 2007), who
generously donated champagne for the evening. The few
last days of Trinity term rolled by, spent lounging on the
lawn in the quad, playing rounders against the SCR, and
reminiscing with the finalists before they departed.
The brilliance of the JCR spread its wings across
the wider university, too. Beth Davies-Kumadiro (History
and English, 2014) organised a ‘Common Ground’
symposium in order to tackle issues surrounding Oxford’s
imperial past, with Vogue magazine printing a feature about
her success. In addition, freshers Kiya Evans (History and
English, 2016) and Philippa Lawford (English Language and
Literature, 2016) produced the play ‘Blavatsky’s Tower’,
which received wonderful reviews and included many
familiar faces.
Oxford has been as beautiful and elegant as ever
in 2016/17, but the Regent’s student body has
shone even more brightly, with triumphs in sport,
the arts, democracy and diversity.
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