John Snow College Michaelmas newsletter 2017

Michaelmas Newsletter

2017 2018

Table of Contents 1. The Principal Piece 2. Note from the Editor 3. The Botanist Reunion 4. Keeping Up with Snow 5. Michaelmas Ball 6. Charities Update 7. Words from Welfare 8. Student Union and Snow 9. Sports Update 10. Meet the Postgraduates 11. Steps for Snow 12. Student Development Fund 13. Class of 2016 14. Fund the Pump

Editor Beth MacDougall

Per scientiam et prudentiam quaere summam

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

The Principal’s Piece

As another term at John Snow College a noticeable buzz of excitement around comes to a close, it is a joy to reflect

College as the final plans are released

back on all the wonderful events that

for our brand new College building on

have been happening across College

the Howlands site (next to Josephine

in recent weeks. We have held two

Butler College), and our brand new

Postgraduate lunches, with a special

John Snow College building and

Chinese buffet, which were both very

accommodation blocks on the Mt

well attended. It was a delight to meet

Oswald site (next to Van Mildert and

our postgraduate students and hear

the Business School). Our first year

how they are enjoying their first term

students have now well and truly

here at College.

settled in and it seems like no time has

It appears to have been a term full of

past since we first welcomed them into

’firsts’ as we experienced our very first

John Snow College. However, the first

formal dining experience in Durham

assignments have been handed in and

City in the remarkable Great Hall of

students have been rewarded for their

Durham Castle. The gasps of awe as

hard work this term with a fabulous

students walked in to the beautifully

John Snow Michaelmas Ball in The

decorated hall, were indicative of how

Waterside, organised by our JCR Ball

enjoyable the evening was for all who

Chair Sarah Marshall.

attended. It was lovely to see that no

Ending on this high note, we wish all at

matter where we go we will always

John Snow a restful and enjoyable

bring the John Snow spirit and

break and hope to bring all the current

enthusiasm with us. This event

joy and excitement into the

marked another step in our transition

new year.

from Stockton Queen’s Campus up to

Professor Carolyn Summerbell

Durham City, a move which is creating

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Note From the Editor

The first term can be the scariest but

event will be held at, The Botanist at

also the greatest of all, students

Broadgate Circle, just a four minute

encounter new experiences and have walk from Liverpool Street train the chance to explore many new

station. Food, soft drinks and alcoholic

opportunities. Our JCR President will

beverages will be provided. More

soon be highlighting all the wonderful

information regarding the event and

events that have been happening over booking details will be coming soon the past ten weeks, along with some

but for now, save the date, 9th

specific highlights from several JCR

February 2018 and look forward to

Officers.

reuniting with your John Snow College

‘The atmosphere in college is

classmates in the year 2018.

festive and optimistic for the

For now, please enjoy our Michaelmas

upcoming year’

term Newsletter and let the John

As for our alumni, thank you for the fantastic response to the previous

Snow College spirit ignite once again.

newsletter, we hope you all enjoyed it and are now more determined than ever to get back in touch with John Snow College, we are constantly looking for new ‘Class of..’ candidates.

Furthermore, we are very much hoping to see you at our upcoming alumni reunion event in London. The

Beth MacDougall Alumni Relations and College Community Officer

John Snow College Invite you to attend our annual event, at

9th February, 19:30 Broadgate Circle London, EC2M 2QS

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Keeping Up With Snow

As the days seem to get ever shorter

amongst our students and it promises

and the smell of flat Christmas lunches exciting times ahead in Durham City, fill the College Corridors it seems as

The resilience and understanding

though Michaelmas seems to have

shown by our Staff, JCR and Students

flown by in a blink, and when I hear

regarding the transition has been

the Fresher’s exclaiming they can

fantastic with a real attitude to crack

hardly believe first term is over, I like

on with the job at hand and make the

to think it’s because time flies when

best out of every situation.

you’re having fun. As we reach the

The Term culminated with the fabulous

halfway point in both the academic

Michaelmas Ball, our last ever in The

term and also my tenure as President

Waterside, and wow, what a Ball it

it’s a lovely moment to reflect on how

was! I’d like to take this moment on

things have gone over the past 6

behalf of all John Snow Students to

months, and what excitement lies

thank Glen and The Waterside team

ahead, not only for this academic term for their amazing work over the years, but also our future in Durham. they will be an asset that we will surely It seems that the move is now well

miss once in Durham, but we wish the

underway, Mt. Oswald designs come

best for all of them in the future with

through quicker than ever, and our

the International Study Centre.

JCR space at Howlands is starting to take shape. We have also been

Will Lewington

introducing formals in Durham starting JCR President with a first year formal in the truly stunning Great Hall of Durham Castle.

There’s a real buzz about the move

2017

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Michaelmas Ball

Term concluded with our fabulous

and Miami rides. We were also

Michaelmas Ball on Saturday 9th of

extremely lucky to be able to

December. Students travelled back in welcome back one of our very own time and were invited into the

alumni, Angus Mather who delivered

secretive speakeasy world of the

a brilliant DJ set. The evening was

1920s for an evening of wonders. We heralded as one of the best pulled out all the stops this year, with Michaelmas Balls we've ever held so students being treated to a delicious

the bar has certainly been set high

3 course meal in The Waterside with

for our Summer Ball coming in 2018.

a terrific and vibrant live jazz band.

It was the perfect way to round off the

As well as this, students were en-

Term and I would just like to thank

thralled by the appearance of a

The JCR, Ball Committee and all the

troupe of flapper style dancers who

students who came and made this

performing a magnificent Charleston such a special evening for everyone which had students tapping their toes involved. I hope to see you all soon all

weekend.

‘Last ever Waterside Christmas Ball’ After dinner, students were spoilt for choice with entertainment from our own Pick n' Mix and Cocktail Stand, professional Roulette and Blackjack tables, photo booths, magic tricks

at our Summer Ball!

Sarah Marshall JCR Ball Chair

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Charities Update

This term we decided to focus on two month to raise money, the first being charities. The first charity we got

on November 1st.

involved with was Operation

‘We auctioned off shaving and

Christmas Child for Samaritans Purse. We wrapped shoeboxes and filled them with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies to reach out to children in their own communities. These simple gifts are children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease.

‘A small shoebox can have a big

waxing the eight boys!

We also held a bake sale on the University campus in the middle of the month. To celebrate it being the end of the month and those moustaches being fully grown, we held another event in our College bar to check out the finished products and sold raffle tickets to win one of three VIP

impact’

experiences in Spensleys

The second charity we got involved

Middlesbrough! Spensleys were also

with this term was Movember! Eight of kind enough to give us £1 from every our lovely John Snow boys were

ticket sold for entry on 30th of

freshly shaved at the beginning of the November to go to Movember! At the month and each grew a moustache

end of the month we managed to

voted for by the students in John

raise an amazing grand total of £600!

Snow! The different moustaches

Thank you.

included, the ‘let it grow’, the ‘Ron

Amy-Jayne Bell

Burgundy’, the ‘Chaplin’, the ‘Handlebar’, the ‘Walrus’.

We held lots of events throughout the

JCR Charities Officer

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Words from Welfare

The term started off with a successfully the extremely helpful support team that managed Fresher’s Week. Our team of is in place at Durham University.

Welfare Reps did an excellent job in looking after the fresher’s and enabling them all to have a terrific first week at College. Our first Welfare Campaign for the term was “Alcohol and Drug Awareness”. We did this by posting short, fun animations on social media (Facebook and Instagram), as well as College dining activities, showing students about the different effects of alcohol and drug misuse, as well as the advantages of reducing your alcohol consumption.

‘Create a safe and respectful

‘More cakes and biscuits entered in than there was space for!’

This term we brought our very Bake Off to John Snow College, Inviting College Parents and their flats to celebrate Halloween. This was an extremely successful event and a fantastic way to get our first, students second and third students engaged and interacting. Most recently, Jess and I ran a Mental Health Awareness welfare campaign, where we sold wrist bands (the money went to MIND), gave out thoughts diaries at College dining,

environment’

left uplifting quotes around College and

Following this, we had our “Sexual

had a Tea and Toast evening watching

Assault and Violence Awareness”

Alice in Wonderland.

campaign in late October in conjunction with the University ‘Respect Means’ campaign which is

Max TindallJones

predominantly focused on throughout

Jessica McNichol

all Colleges. We wanted to highlight

JCR Welfare Officer

Class of… 2016

I have so much love for John Snow,

experience different roles and also

100% the best 3 years of my life so

take part in a number of development

far. The College is like a family, it gave opportunities. During the grad me my closest friends and so many

scheme I am completing a masters in

amazing memories! Since leaving

Professional HR which helps link the

John Snow I joined the Lloyds Banking theory you study and how to actually Group HR Grad scheme where I spent apply it in a business context. It’s all a 8 months working in Culture, 8 months balancing act but of course there’s in Operational Change and now going still plenty of time to be sociable and into a role in Corporate Affairs

enjoy grad life!

supporting Commercial Banking. Still

Becca Shaw

in the very early stages of my career

Business

but love it so much so far! My grad

Management

scheme is 2 years which gives time to

Having left John Snow two years ago

teaching and experiences I received

after studying psychology, I joined

during my 3 years at Durham and

Arcadis, a design and asset

John Snow. The College does a

management consultancy, as an

fantastic job to promote an

environmental and social consultant.

atmosphere that results in such well

The job now sees me leading as an

round students, helping me within the

environmental project manager on a

business to quickly work on some

7-million-pound programme for flood

large and interesting projects.

defence construction on behalf of the Environment Agency. All these things are something I thought would never be possible so early in my career and I truly believe that this is a result of

Alex Ward Psychology

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Student Union and Snow

One of the main projects the Student

The event was run by myself and our

Union has been pursuing this term is

JCR President Will to help the current

the ‘Ripped Off’ Campaign aimed at

first year students make their first

fighting the rising accommodation fees moves towards finding housing next which is an issue that impacts upon all year. The event focused on student students throughout the University.

renting in Durham and explaining the

The objectives are to freeze

help Student Union can give.

accommodation fees, increase the

‘Our College University Challenge

transparency on what the fees contribute towards and make changes to bursaries for more students to be able to come to Durham and enjoy it without being limited by their bank accounts.

‘Student Union housing campaign’

team performed extremely well’ Although we made a great show at the heats in November, unfortunately we did not progress through to the final rounds. Finally, Assembly this term has been very successful with important discussions taking place

This has been particularly important

including the naming of the 17th

this year as all 1st and 2nd year

College which is very relevant to our

students will be moving to Durham

College as it will be right next door to

where competition for accommodation us on the Mount is very high, so we have tried our hardest to give students as much support to facilitate a smooth move into the city. This includes an

Oswald.

Alex Price, JCR Student Union

information evening which was held in Officer The Igloo bar at the College.

John Snow College Dear Alumni

Meet the Postgraduates

As a postgraduate student,

Society that I have joined which has

unfortunately my time at Durham

really helped me with moving so far

University is limited to only one year.

away from home. It has helped make

Luckily, John Snow has given me a

me feel less homesick.

sense of belonging that I hope will last Next term, I am very much looking a long time, even after I have forward to more activities in the completed my time here.

College as well as in Durham city.

I have very much enjoyed my time at

Hopefully there will be more societies

John Snow in the last couple of

and activities that could welcome

months and have had a lovely time.

postgraduate students to join, like the

I particularly enjoyed fresher’s week,

calligraphy night or ping pong night in

wearing the gown, our Matriculation

The Igloo.

Ceremony in Durham Cathedral and the formal dinners.

‘Formal Dinner at the Castle’ The first formal dinner at The Castle in Durham City, was truly amazing. It felt very traditional and classical and was a fantastic atmosphere. John Snow has also provided us with many interesting activities. During fresher's week we all went ice skating which was a very exciting and unforgettable experience. There is also a Chinese

Chengqing Yang Postgraduate Finance

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Team John Snow

Despite the planned decrease in

premiership doing well and consistent

fresher intake and therefore less new

each week with 2 games in hand to

members than usual, Team John

potentially climb the table up to 3rd

Snow sports continue to be as strong

spot. Catherine Duffell is leading a

as ever. True to John Snow, we have

strong side.

not let any changes or decreased

Mixed Lacrosse A sits joint 3rd with a

numbers affect us as much as people strong turn out and one of the biggest would’ve thought. freshers pool this year being led by

‘As strong as ever’ Currently sitting 13th in the league table we sit above our fierce rivals Stephenson who currently sit in 15th position. Several B, C and D teams have folded, however, that has made our talent pool stronger in the higher ranks with some teams really standing

Charles Bleach, with a strong win in the floodlit cup winning 17-2 against University B. Mens A Football sit 11th out of 13 in a very tough premiership which see 4 Collingwoods sides in.

Highlights so far have been a solid 8-0 win against St Aidan’s C being led by Walla Mohammed-Ali.

out well. Men’s A Basketball Team are Finally rugby has had to join up with currently sitting 2nd place in the table

Stephenson College this year and has

with the potential to put a real push on a huge double header this Friday in the Epiphany term, being led by

playing both for a league win and the

Captain Pablo Chacono, there is a

first round of the flood lit cup in the

strong smell of victory for the boys in

same night against

blue from Stockton.

St. Cuthbert’s. All in all strong things

Netball A is sitting 7th out of 12 in the are coming for Team John Snow in

John Snow College the Epiphany term.

as well as a number of members of

‘Maiden Castle Takeover’

staff, showing up to cheer our John

As well as all these fantastic results, this year we were extremely lucky to have a full weekend of John Snow Takeover at Maiden Castle. Many of our sports teams, including netball,

Snow Rangers on to the very end.

The bunting was out and Snowy was dancing around the sports ground, showing Maiden Castle that John Snow had well and truly taken over!

basketball, football and lacrosse came out in full force to go head-to-head

Alexander Nikolatos

against numerous other Colleges

JCR Sports Officer

even our rival Stephenson College.

The weekend was a huge success with supporters from across all years,

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Steps for Snow

At Elvet Hill Cottage, John Snow’s

the Chinese Students and Scholars

base in Durham City, we held a well

Association (CSSA) and Durham

attended event before the Lumiere

University Charity Kommittee (DUCK)

Durham. Mulled wine, mince pies and informing the students about the huge more festive treats were well received variety of opportunities available to and the warm cottage was full with

them as students of Durham

students and staff before all endured

University. The Great Hall offered a

into the cold to see what the Lumiere

stunning backdrop to a wonderful

had to offer.

evening and the night concluded with

‘John Snow is well and truly on

a brilliant performance by the Durham

the move.’

When the new year begins, John Snow will be getting ready to move to Durham City. For one year, we will be based at Howlands, which will house our College offices and College bar and social area. With our neighbours, Stephenson and Josephine Butler, we will begin our new life as John Snow College, Durham City.

On Monday 4th December, our first

University Gospel Choir. This formal marked a significant milestone for our college in the move from Queen’s Campus to Durham, being our first formal to take place in the city.

This is an exciting time for our College and we would love each of you to be as involved as our current students are. Once John Snow, always John Snow. For more details please contact the College and I will be happy to help.

formal in Durham city was held for our first year students. The theme of the

Sophie Breedon

evening was opportunity, with

Transition Officer

speakers from the Student’s Union,

WE NEED YOU! £20 for a ‘brick in the build’ and donation towards our brand new pump!

Email: snow.alumni@durham.ac.uk

John Snow College

Report from Sean Whewell, SDF Recipient Dear Alumni,

conditions no longer exists.

The fund-raising project in Tanzania

Visiting the Nursery completely

concerned the construction of a new

shattered my previous outlook on life

school, MCODE nursery, in a rural

by transforming the way I view the

village community 2 hours by bus from privileges I have and how previously I Moshi in North Tanzania. Over 40

had so easily taken them for granted.

children between the ages 4 to 8 in the Just seeing the infectious happiness village are already reaping the benefits the locals and children showed, from improvements in classroom

regardless of the daily struggles they

infrastructure and facilities.

face, was inspiring to me and has since

‘Visiting MCODE Nursery is the

changed my attitude towards life.

most powerful memory I take from All members of the team were tasked the trip’ The new facility as compared to what was previously there, offered a more ordered set up with chairs as oppose to the bench style set up beforehand, which many of the teachers said caused unrest and made it difficult to manage the children.

Furthermore, the structural integrity of the new building means the threat of potentially losing the classroom due to severe rains or other weather

with raising ÂŁ1000 separate from other costs of the trip (travel, food, etc.) to be directly donated towards the building of MCODE Nursery. I raised this money mainly through working as a youth football coach at home during all of Christmas and Easter break, as well as using money I had saved up from jobs done during the previous summer.

John Snow College ‘Climbing Kilimanjaro was also a

ing.

Furthermore, pushing through

life changing experience’

what felt like an impossible,

I would say the most physically

insurmountable ordeal on summit

challenging yet rewarding thing I have night has become a source of strength for me. In times of adversity done in my life. Having to reach far beyond my physical limits on summit

and difficulty, in whatever facet of my

night (the final push to the top)

life, I tell myself that if I could get

despite severe altitude sickness

through that most challenging of

showed me the immense value of

nights, I can get through this as well.

discomfort as it relates to personal growth. I have applied this lesson here in Durham by trying uncomfortable, sometimes daunting, activities that I know will force personal growth such as Toastmasters public speak-

Sean Whewell Second Year, Marketing

John Snow College Dear Alumni,

Student Development Fund

The Student Development Fund (SDF)

take advantage of the incredible

is a great opportunity for current John

opportunities that Durham University

Snow students to enhance their

and John Snow College provide. From

personal development. Funded by the

drama to music, sport to volunteering,

JCR and alumni donations, the SDF

there are so many ways in which John

provides financial support for activities

Snow students can enhance their

and projects that will develop a

employability and stand out from the

student’s skills and employability. These crowd. With the SDF, students can might include charitable expeditions,

engage in even more of these

attendance at conferences, or

opportunities

participation in sport or music events.

The Student Development Fund relies

John Snow students have an enormous on the generosity of former students. positive impact on local and global

The College is very grateful to John

communities and the SDF can help

Snow alumni whose donations

them to do so. SDF applications which

contribute so much to the experience of

have been successful in the past

current students. If you wish to know

include John Snow students have

more about the Student Development

helping to build a nursery in Tanzania

Fund and how to contribute, please do

and allowing students to work in a

contact niall.oddy@durham.ac.uk or

school in far away countries, such as

snow.alumni@durham.ac.uk

Rwanda, the SDF has contributed to the travel costs of those students.

Niall Oddy

In an increasingly uncertain world it is

Student Support Officer

more important than ever that students

John Snow College Newsletter Michaelmas Newsletter 2017

johnsnowjcr

John Snow Alumni

Johnsnowjcr

@AlumniJohnSnow