CUCA Freshers' Guide 2023

LITTLEBLUEBOOK THE or THE CUCA FRESHERS’ GUIDE

Editedby: SamSpiri,TomPate,OwenCooper,TobyNoskwith,andSzymonSawicki.

Withthanksto: JeffLilley,DanielCiesla,SarahHardwick,EwanWoods,OliverLaw,andEmilyFreeman.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents - Page 2

Chairman’s Welcome - Page 3

Meet the Committee - Page 5

A History of the Association - Page 6

What’s on at CUCA - Page 7

Port & Policy - Page 9

Life in Cambridge - Page 11

Restaurants in Cambridge - Page 13

Drunk Food - Page 15

Cambridge Pubs - Page 16

Cambridge Clubs - Page 17

Men’s Black Tie - Page 19

Men’s White Tie - Page 20

Women’s Black Tie - Page 21

Women’s White Tie - Page 22

Cambridge Culture - Page 23

Other Societies - Page 25

Sightseeing in Cambridge - Page 27

Places of Worship - Page 29

Joining CUCA - How and Why? - Page 31

Campaigning with CUCA - Page 32

Cantabrigian Jargon Dictionary - Page 33

Letter from Lucy Frazer MP - Page 34

"Thispaper,byitsvery length,defendsitself fromeverbeingread."

~WinstonChurchill

Chairman’s Welcome

DearFresher,

Welcome to Cambridge. Congratulations on making it here. You’ve joined one of the world’s oldest, greatest, and most prestigious academic institutions. This university has produced some of the greatest minds the world has seen for over a millennium and you ’ re now part of that long history.

There is more opportunity and challenge in Cambridge than you can imagine, and if you throw yourself into it, Cambridge will throw all manner of things at you that you never expected, that will shape who you become over the next few years. Opportunities, experiences, connections, and academic success are all there for you, whoever you are, should you choose to seek them. The education and experiences available to you here are second to none. Opportunities here are available to all who are able to succeed through the rigorous admissions process and then choose to make the most of them when they present themselves. That is the privilege of this university that you ’ ve earned your place at and you must not let anyone convince you otherwise.

Whatever you choose to do, do it to the fullest, because you will only get one chance to experience your first year at university, and you won’t regret throwing yourself into student life. In the meantime, while you get used to Cambridge and decide what works for you, my team and I at CUCA have put together this guide to help you find your feet as quickly as possible - and of course to introduce you to our society which we love, and would be very happy to welcome you to.

Regardless of this, I certainly hope there is something valuable that you will take away from this guide. If nothing else, the section on nightlife should help you navigate freshers week as smoothly as possible! Enjoy your first few weeks in Cambridge. I’m sure they’ll be fantastic.

Look after yourself, stay true to your convictions, work hard, and whatever you do decide to do, do it to the fullest.

If there is any way we can help you, if you’d like to know more, or like to get involved, feel free to contact me on ss2850@cam.ac.uk or cucaadmin@gmail.com

BestWishes,

Samuel Spiri, Chairman Michaelmas 2023

The Michaelmas 2023 Committee

‘Politiciansarenotborn,they areexcreted.’

~Cicero

Sam Spiri Chairman

Tom Pate Vice-Chairman

Oliver Howes Junior Treasurer

Jason Singh

Social Events Officer

Jeff Lilley Campaigns Officer

Owen Cooper Speakers Officer

Szymon Sawicki Speakers Officer Elect

Imran Hassan Communications Officer

Toby Noskwith Secretary

Daniel Ciesla Co-opt

Sarah Hardwick Co-opt

Lawrence Whitworth Co-opt

Oliver Law Co-opt

Joanna Crapper Co-opt

Ewan Woods Co-opt

A History of the Association

The first iteration of the Cambridge University Conservative Association was created 140 years ago in 1882, only to be disbanded after a few months. In 1884, the Cambridge University Carlton Club was established as a conservative dining society which existed for 20 years. The university Carlton Club was dissolved soon after the 1906 general election when the Conservative Party, led by Arthur Balfour, lost more than half of its seats.

In 1921, the modern Cambridge University Conservative Association was founded with our first annual dinner being held on the 24th of January in 1921. In 1928, The Eagle (the annual St John’s College magazine) described a CUCA member as being, “the proud possessor of a certain tie, obtained by signifying with a subscription his refusal or his inability to think out any social question." Despite occasional journalistic criticism, the alumni of the Association have had a profound effect on conservative philosophy and Conservative politics ever since our foundation.

In the 1980s and 90s, CUCA’s influence in the Party peaked with many CUCA alumni serving government positions such as Kenneth Clarke (alumnus Chairman). Front-rank Conservative Party politicians studied at Cambridge in the early 1960s subsequently be known as the ‘Cambridge Mafia’ – many of whom CUCA Chairman. Currently, a large number of CUCA in the Houses of Parliament. Outside of Conservative other famous CUCA alumni include Sir Nick Deputy Prime-Minister and current President of at Meta Platforms) and Michael Portillo (journalist Conservative MP).

‘Inhistory,agreat volumeisunrolledfor ourinstruction’. ~EdmundBurke

Social Events

In addition to our political activities, we also hold a large number of socials, with the opportunity to meet new people and spend time with friends, as well as take your mind off the sometimes arduous Cambridge term! We’re hosting…

Welcome drinks at the start of term, for new and returning members alike

Lagers with Lee Anderson

‘Tory Tandoori’

Pub crawls

Cricket and football watch parties

Trips to the opera and ballet

CWhSpeakers

The association frequently hosts speakers from the world of politics. This term promises a very exciting lineup of prominent and insightful speakers, including…

Lucy Frazer MP, DCMS secretary

Victoria Prentis MP, Attorney General

Oliver Dowden MP, Deputy Prime Minister

David Gauke

Jim Himes, US congressman, Intelligence Committee

Greg Hands MP, Conservative Party Chairman

Lee Anderson MP, Deputy Conservative Party Chairman

Our Chairman’s Dinner will be held on the 25th of November - secure your ticket using the QR code!

New and returning members and guests are all invited to our welcome drinks on the 6th of October!

Quick,bringmeapitcherofwine, sothatImaywetmymindandsay somethingclever!

~Aristophanes

Port and Policy

Port and Policy (P&P) is the flagship event of the Association. P&Ps are our largest social events, featuring debate on an almost unlimited range of topics, usually with a (often lighthearted) political bent.

We’re holding 6 P&Ps on Saturday nights during this term.

If you ’ re interested in the Association, or the Cambridge political scene more broadly, you can’t miss it!

Motions

Some motions for Port & Policy this term may include...

‘This House believes biological sex defines gender.’

‘This House regrets Brexit.’

‘This House would pre-emptively strike Iran.’

Many other powerful and rousing topics will be discussed at our P&Ps, where everyone has the opportunity to speak, whether an old friend or a firsttime visitor.

Life in Cambridge

Food&Essentials

Cambridge Market

Located in the city centre, the market is a good place to acquire groceries. Many stands selling cooked food are also present, and make the market a great place to try different cuisines from all around the world.

Sainsbury’s (also known as Mainsbury’s)

The main Sainsbury’s (“Mainsbury’s”) in Cambridge is located on Sidney St opposite Sidney Sussex College. Mainsbury’s sells all the essentials a Cambridge student requires at reasonable prices. The self service checkouts allow for convenient and easy shopping. The newspaper stand is regularly stocked with a good range of quality newspapers. A smaller Sainsbury’s also exists on St Andrew’s St near Parker’s Piece!

Little Tesco and New Tesco

For some bizarre reason, there are two Tesco stores located practically opposite one another in Cambridge - one on Christ’s Lane, and another (New Tesco) near the entrance to Lion Yard Shopping Centre. We strongly recommend getting a Tesco clubcard for a cheap meal deal to deal with your Michaelmas hangovers.

"My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it."

~ Boris Johnson

EverythingElse...

Alcohol

Cambridge Wine Merchants have three stores in Cambridge (one by Magdalene College, one on King’s Parade, and one on Cherry Hinton Road) which have a wide selection of wines and spirits. Mainsbury’s also sells booze.

College and Society Regalia

Although Ryder and Amies is the most famous shop for University stash, other stores, such as A.E. Clothier, sometimes offer quality merchandise at cheaper prices. When it comes to society wear, CUCA’s own tie is available on our website for a reasonable price.

Ede and Ravenscroft

Britain’s oldest continuously functioning tailor, Ede and Ravenscroft have been supplying Cambridge colleges and the Royal Family with official robes and formalwear for centuries. While their products are expensive, buying from them is one of very few times where the high price tag guarantees unmatched quality.

Lion Yard Shopping Centre

Located just off St Andrew’s Street, this shopping centre contains a wide variety of shops to fill all your needs, including Charles Thyrwitt, an Apple Store, a John Lewis, and many more.

Restaurants in Cambridge

Cambridge Chophouse: Whether you’re looking for steak, venison, veal, or rabbit, this iconic restaurant on kings parade serves the full range of traditional British cuisine. The Chophouse’s two floors host a warm and pleasant atmosphere where its seasonal menu ensures your meal is always of the highest quality. Monday - Thursday until 6:30pm the set menu offers an excellent price for a 2-or-3 course meal. This is truly an unrivalled place to try something new on a special occasion.

Fitzbillies: Comically named after the equally recommended museum just across the street, this is simply the best place in Cambridge for a filling brunch or a relaxing afternoon tea. Its famous handmade Chelsea buns are an absolute must-have. Note that they do not take bookings, so it is best to avoid peak times, or arrive early. The restaurant’s second branch, on Bridge street, features a slightly different menu focused on sandwiches and cakes, but is equally excellent.

La Margherita: Despite the name, this is not a pizzeria, but a family-run authentic italian restaurant. Just across the street from Magdalene, it serves a wide range of Antipasti, Primi and Secondi, as well as, in fact, pizza. It can be very busy at peak hours, so booking ahead is strongly recommended.

“Laws are like sausages, it is best not to see them being made.”

~ Otto von Bismarck

The Orchard: Since 1897, this tearoom has been a local tradition, serving afternoon tea, food and drinks. Rupert Brooke moved to the Old Vicarage and brought Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, and many others to draw inspiration from delicious cakes, conversations, and refreshments in the sunlight. We recommend walking along the river and visiting the neighbouring church of St Andrew & St Mary in Grantchester.

Midsummer House: One for your parents to take you to, or for a Valentine’s date or celebratory occasion. Book reservations well in advance, and arrive early to enjoy an aperitif and riverside views from the terrace upstairs.

Parker’s Tavern: Excellent for afternoon tea in the library, drinks at the bar, or a languid supper. Order the ice cream sundae dessert for a sweet treat - served with sweets and chocolates in glass jars and silver bowls. The wraparound mahogany bar with high, backed velvet chairs is the perfect place to perch without wrinkling your dress if skipping the May ball lines or pre-ing for an evening event.

Drunk Food

Close your eyes. Actually, don't. Keep reading, but picture this: It's 3:30 am, you’ve left the club, the night out is almost over, and you suddenly realise that you happen to have a 9 am lecture tomorrow (today?) morning. You now have just over 5 hours left to fix yourself into a functioning state and prevent a raging headache. Is this not going the way you planned? Fear not, dilute those jaegerbombs with some non-cam water, and go to one of these excellent places...

Gardenia: Equipped with an army of loyal fans who will refuse to go to any other place, “Gardies” has a wide selection of kebabs, burgers and chickens of unmatched quality, but also a queue you’re likely to spend a good few minutes in on a busy night. Remember to be very loud and disturb the precious sleep of the Caius students in their rooms above you! (Please don’t)

Trailer of Life: At the north end of market square, the “Van of Life” has been serving hangover-vulnerable students burgers, fries and quesadillas since 1992. In 2018. It was named the third best “drunk food place” in the entire UK, and it has certainly earned the title. The Quesadillas are particularly loved by some of our members. The Van of Life probably has the fastest serving rate of the three, but our ability to judge time at 3am is less than precise.

Uncle Frank’s: On the opposite end of market square from the previous entry, the “Van of Death” offers an excellent selection of well-priced kebabs. Its slightly more remote location leads to it often being blessed with shorter queues than the others, so if you’re in a hurry, this really is your best choice.

Cambridge Pubs

The Eagle: Cambridge’s second discovery of DNA was first announced The RAF bar also features iconic airmen. Indisputably the preferred members after Port and Policy, tourist favourite.

The Mitre: With a spacious charm, and an excellent location proximity to many colleges, this drink, evening meal, or society event.

The Maypole: This family-run generous outdoor space. Its rentable used for start-of-term drinks, events, or other society gatherings.

Regal (Wetherspoons): There's place that people can’t seem to 1920’s cinema vibe? The gambling prices? We all have our reasons, here with or without our recommendation.

College Bars: Classic or Modern, controlled, every college bar is unique. in common, is their amazing comm them all out, but don't forget to visit your own!

Cambridge Clubs

Nightlife in Cambridge: Perhaps not the oxymoronic, is. Manchester has nothing on the Cambridge experience 3am chips in a formal gown. You can have a great assistance of alcohol!

For clubbing, the most popular locations are:

Revolution: Formerly Cinderellas or ‘Cindies’ to younger generations known as ‘Revs’ , Revolution the closest nightclub to Cambridges Wetherspoons opposite Emmanuel College. On a Wednesday ‘Rumboogie’ is one of the biggest club nights in Cambridge. floors, a rooftop smoking area, and great music. is highly reccomended due isn’t your thing. ‘Grandma alternative. We recommend discounts and promotional information (there’s a lot)

Drink recommendation: Cocktail happy hour

Mash: A much smaller club, but air conditioned, MASH seems to constantly be having drink deals. ‘‘Fresh Tuesdays’ guests with R&B and Hip Hop (5 for £5) before midnight.

Hip Hop, Funk, and Soul, alongside all night 3 pound doubles.

true partiers - all night 5 for tequilas, whilst Friday brings week. Saturday often offers ‘night, although we’d recommend avoiding this one if you don’t want to hang out with townies!

Drink recommendation: Jaeger bombs or tequila

Vinyl: Vinyl is regarded as Cambridges resident gay club and many of CUCAs LGBT members are frequent attendees, particularly at themed glitterbomb nights and drag shows. However, this club also has something to offer everyone. Throwback Fridays and Best Disco in Town Saturdays feature retro classics from the 70s 80s and 90s and 00s everyone knows and loves.

Drink reccomendation: Vinyl sometimes is a bit light on the offers, but does run offers on Hard Seltzers

Lola’s: Monday Motive, Slay Thursdays, Lost Saturdays, and La Vida Lola Sundays, are the Lola Lo flagship events Sunday night is favourite for students, and being run in association with Hawks and Ospreys, most Sports club events/swaps will end up in a Sunday Lolas. Halfway between a tiki bar and a more conventional disco, Lola Lo is a Cambridge staple. Motive Monday is a particular favourite of some committee members, although the drinks promotions on offer at Lolas make this a club you’ll want to frequent.

Drink reccomendation: £2 tequilas and beers on a Monday

Cambridge Junction: The Cambridge Junction is the arts centre on the industrial park close to the station. Alongside hosting comedians and performing artists, The junction puts on a range of gigs, concerts, club nights and raves. House, Techno, and DnB enthusiasts should keep an eye on this venue

Drink reccomendation: we’d recommend your group of friends pre-drinking at Wetherspoons before making the hike up to the Junction. Make sure you don’t drink too much though, or you’ll prematurely be hiking back down!

Inevitably, you will need to head off somewhere for post-club food afterwards - the reccomendations in the above ‘Drunk Food‘ section should suffice.

Alongside this, if clubbing isn‘t your thing, then there‘s plenty of pubs and bars around Cambridge like Novi, Bar-Oh, and the Town and Gown for a more relaxed evening.

Men’s Black Tie

Black Tie

Black tie is a fairly common dress code for formal events in Cambridge. You may end up wearing it a handful of times per term, or only once or twice per year, depending on what your social calendar looks like. Generally however, it’s very likely that there are events you’ll want to go to during your time at Cambridge which have this dress code.

For our part, we tend to wear black tie for at least a couple of our events every term, including the Chairman’s dinner. There’s no need to be daunted, though. The basic things you need to pass muster at a May Ball or formal dinner are actually quite simple and widely available. (You can find our recommendations on where to look on page 10 )

For men, the building blocks of black tie are:

Black dinner jacket/tuxedo with silk lapels (ideally peak or shawl lapels)

Black dinner suit/tuxedo trousers, usually with a single silk stripe at the outer seam

White dress shirt

Black waistcoat or cummerbund (not a belt!)

Black bow tie (ideally self-tied)

Black leather shoes

It’s also possible to experiment a bit, such as with a velvet jacket, or branch out from the monochrome look.

Men’s White Tie

White Tie

White tie is much rarer for formal occasions than it used to be, and certainly isn’t a requirement for students, but it still has a place in Cambridge and Oxford. Traditionally, events such as May Balls would’ve been a white tie affair, and if you’re keen to really look the part (or keep up the equally venerable Oxbridge tradition of LARPing Brideshead Revisited), you may be interested in putting together a white tie outfit.

It’s worth bearing in mind that it may be better to rent white tie rather than buy it, depending on your budget and how frequently you think you’ll wear it. Additionally, due to its rarity, it tends to be more expensive and slightly more difficult to come by than black tie. That said, here’s what you’d need to look for to make a white tie ensemble:

Black evening tailcoat

Black evening trousers (traditionally with two silk stripes, but it’s not exactly the end of the world if they don’t have these)

White stiff fronted shirt, with a wing collar

White evening waistcoat

White bow tie (if you’re putting in the effort to get white tie, you might as well learn how it tie the bow tie yourself!)

Black leather shoes (traditionally patent leather)

Women’s Black Tie

Black Tie

An exciting one as the code needn’t be: resemble some form of Antarctic bird. You’ll probably see events coded like this a few times a term so having a few dresses that you can rely on is useful.

Basically:

A cocktail dress around knee to ankle-length

No garish patterns or anything too obtrusive. Classic colours like red, green, blue or purple are more acceptable

Not a hard no on the ‘spaghetti strap’, but thick shoulders and an open back is a much better option

Flesh coloured tights should be worn with the dress

Pair the dress with some closed-toe heels that aren’t too insane

Add a scarf or something if you want to be a little more eccentric, and maybe experiment with some jewellry - pearl earrings if you want to be on-brand

Hair can be worn up or down, but should be styled

You will probably want to bring a matching clutch-bag

Women’s White Tie

White Tie

Sadly, you’ll only attend a few events of these per year, so make the most of them and stick by this code. These dresses/items aren’t necessarily expensive, and you only need one. Plenty of people re-sell them around Cambridge when they have graduated and flown the nest (moved to London to work a souless corporate job).

A floor-length dress or ‘gown’ This dress shouldn’t be patterned, and should cover the shoulders

With this, you also have the option to wear white gloves! Exciting. If you do opt for these, they should reach the elbow

Heels are pretty much mandatory (you don’t really want the dress scraping the cobblestone that runs throughout Cambridge), and they should be closed-toe.

It is customary for the hair to be styled nicely and put up Classic, minimalistic jewellery is preferred Again, a clutch-bag is useful

You may also wish to bring a tote-bag and flat shoes when travelling to events

Cambridge Culture

May Balls

May Balls are big events held by many colleges at the end of the academic year, in a period known as May Week. These are great opportunities to celebrate the end of exams and enjoy a fun night with friends. Tickets are usually sold in Lent Term and grant access to a wide range of foods, drinks, and entertainments. Dress code is typically black or white tie. In addition, some colleges hold balls in different seasons, such as the Selwyn Snowball and the Churchill Spring Ball.

Formals and dining

You will become familiar with this aspect of college life very soon, as you will most likely receive an invitation to a matriculation dinner and a freshers’ formal. Afterwards, you will get to enjoy society and subject dinners, as well as formals (formal dinners), which are regularly held by the colleges. In addition to that there is our own termly Chairman’s Dinner - Please do join us at the end of Michaelmas Term!

Garden parties

Garden parties are typically held in the warm and sunny days of Easter Term. They are less expensive than May Balls, but often just as enjoyable, and the dress code tends to be more informal. Many are organised each year, including CUCA’s own garden parties, which are definitely worth going to.

Punting

Punting (propelling a narrow long boat with a pole) on the River Cam is a traditional Cantabrigian pastime. Punts are available for rent from establishments such as Scudamore’s Mill Lane Punting Station and Trinity College Punts (located near Trinity College). CUCA’s Pimm’s and Punting events combine punting with drinking Pimm’s.

Sport

There is a wide variety of sports available to play throughout Cambridge, famously rowing on the cam, with every college and the university having their own boat clubs.

Other Societies

Believe it or not but there is more to life in Cambridge than student politics. Beyond the time spent in lecture halls, libraries and supervision rooms, there are hundreds of different societies you can potentially have a crack at throughout your time in Cambridge, here’s just a small slice of the options available to you in Cambridge...

Theatre

Cambridge has an incredibly vibrant theatre scene, with hordes of different shows on every week across a wide variety of venues, with the main two being the ADC theatre and the Corpus Playroom. Each term there is a new programme with a wide range of different shows.

Journalism

Ever wanted to write the next big Cambridge exposé? Well, there’s a variety of places to sink your teeth into student journalism in Cambridge. The biggest of these is Varsity, the largest student paper in Cambridge with a semi-regular print issue going round into almost every corner of the university. If you want to read/write something a bit more light hearted though, The Cambridge Tab may be the place to look. Publishing everything from stories and reviews to listicles and guides on Cambridge life, the Tab often takes a slightly more fun spin on what goes on around the University and beyond.

Politics beyond CUCA

In case you are indeed crazy and desire more student politics (join the club), here are a selection of other political societies. The centre of social life in this regard is, of course, the Cambridge Union, in which all your political fantasies can be fulfilled. On a more serious note, the Union hosts a range of top-class speaker events, weekly debates and social events; it may be pricey, but lifetime membership offers a great deal. Aside from the Union, there are CUCA’s (adversarial) cousins: CULA and CULC. Offering similar events to ours, albeit with a liberal/socialist perspective, these societies are worth going to if you can’t get enough of the Cambridge political scene. Other political societies include CUUNA (the United Nations society) and various humanitarian societies.

Others

To list every single type of club and society in Cambridge would probably bankrupt CUCA from the printing costs alone, so be sure to keep an eye out at the freshers fair and on the SU website for a full list of all the different types of societies Cambridge has on offer. From rambling and pistol shooting to stoicism and spaceflight, the opportunities are endless.

Sightseeing in Cambridge

The Corpus Clock

A monstrous timepiece ticks in a glass case on the corner of Trumpington St and Bene’t St. This bizarre clock was unveiled by Stephen Hawking in 2008. The clock face is a large 24-carat gold-plated disk which displays the time with blue LEDs. A giant mechanical grasshopper, known as the Chronophage (or Hopsy), walks across the disk eating the seconds as they pass.

Mathematical Bridge

A wooden footbridge spanning the River Cam connecting two parts of Queens’ College (it is also known as Queens’ Bridge). Student myths often claim that the bridge was built by Sir Isaac Newton without nuts or bolts and was subsequently taken apart and reassembled by academics (who could not fathom how to put the bridge back together without using nuts or bolts). In reality, Newton could not have built the bridge as he died 22 years before the original bridge was constructed (in 1727). Since the original, the bridge has subsequently been rebuilt twice and is a Grade II listed building. The bridge is actually “mathematical” due to the arrangement of tangential and radial straight timbers into an arc.

Ely

Only a 15 minute train ride away, the city of Ely is an excellent destination for a quick half day trip to get away from Cambridge. The most significant touristic site is doubtlessly the Ely Cathedral. More ambitious variants of the trip include travelling by a 2-3 hour bicycle ride or a 5-6 hour walk. Other trips worth investigating include The Broads, England’s youngest national park, as well as Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

Fitzwilliam Museum

n Trumpington Street, the Fitzwilliam is a colossal museum filled with from all around the world. Besides marble and modern art, this museum also collection of historical coins from to the Achaemenids, as well as an featuring both common and more weapons. The Fitzwilliam Museum is 10am-5pm from Tuesday to Saturday and 5pm on Sundays (closed on Mondays). is free making this a great place for and their families to visit. Beware the Fitzwilliam Museum requires visitors rucksacks in their hands so make sure not heavy backpacks into the museum. The museum also has a cafe and a gift shop.

Museum of Archeology and Anthropology

um of Archeology and Anthropology is Downing Street. Like the Fitzwilliam Museum, this museum is free to visit. The Arch and Anth Museum is host to fascinating collections of artefacts unearthed in Cambridgeshire and beyond. The titanic totempole on the first floor is worth a visit.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

The botanical gardens lie between Trumpington Road and Hills Road. Whilst adult entry costs are £7.20 per person, admission is free for University of Cambridge students (remember to take your CAMCard to prove you are a student). The site is associated with the UoC Department of Plant Sciences.

Places of Worship

Little St. Mary’s (LSM): While it may not have Great St. Mary’s iconic tower, this twelfth century parish church is home to a thriving Anglo-Catholic tradition. Its graveyard is host to a great uncle of George Washington, while is parish hall is the site of CUCA’s Port and Policy events.

Fisher House: The University’s Catholic Chaplaincy hosts a distinctly student-oriented atmosphere. Three Sunday services (including one in Latin) are complemented by a range of events run by the Fisher Society, including weekly talks, a Christmas Party and an Annual Dinner.

St. Ephraim’s: Cambridge’s Russian Orthodox Parish includes many welcoming congregants from Russia, Ukraine, and Britain, and enjoys a close relationship with the city’s renowned Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies. All services are in English, including weekly Vespers, Liturgy, and a regular cycle of services for major feasts.

Holy Trinity Church: This vibrant and welcoming Evangelical-oriented church on Sidney Street holds traditional Christian beliefs alongside modern forms of Worship. Highly associated with the Cambridge Christian Union, HT hold a weekly student night involving a meal, worship, sermon, and discussion.

College Chapels: Of various sizes, shapes and styles, no college chapel is like any other. Open to students of all faiths, they can also be an excellent place to sit down and take a break from the busy Cambridge routine.

Cambridge Central Mosque: In addition to a magnificent main hall, Europe’s first eco-friendly mosque also has a cafe and garden for use by both Muslim & non-Muslim students. Founded in 2019 by Timothy Winter, a British theologian, Islamic scholar and Divinity Faculty DoS, whose work includes publications on Muslim modernity and Anglo-Muslim relations.

Cambridge University Hindu Cultural Society: Students practising the Sanātana Dharma may join the university’s Hindu cultural society, established in 1992, to celebrate many religious holidays and connect to the community as a whole. The society hosts events year round, from festivals like Holi and Diwali to traditional regional dances such as Garba during Navratri.

Cambridge University Jewish Society: On Thompson’s Lane, this centre is a synagogue with Modern Orthodox services and holds meals and classes.

(For further information, we recommend contacting your College Chaplains…)

Joining CUCA How and Why?

· Joining CUCA is easy. Simply visit our website shop and fill in your details. prices and enables you to

· Membership also allows you to vote and stand in the termly CUCA elections.

· Not sure about buying membership? Non-members can still attend various CUCA events before deciding on whether to purchase membership.

To jump to the membership section of our site, scan the QR code!

“The wide spectrum of beliefs represented makes for a great forum to discover and refine your views and ideology. It also makes for infamously rambunctious debates and social occasions!

“Politics is far too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”

~ Charles de Gaulle

Campaigning with CUCA

CUCA is not affiliated with the national Conservative Party. However, we are proud to support our local Conservative Party…

Campaigns

CUCA has a termly elected Campaigns Officer who coordinates with the local Conservative Association on campaigning, and coordinates our weekly Saturday Campaigning events. Campaigning generally consists of activities such as:

1. Leafleting: putting Conservative Party leaflets through the letter boxes of local residents.

2. Canvassing: knocking on doors of voters, asking them about local issues, and filling in surveys.

3. Data Entry: Data entry nights with the local association, providing free beer and snacks in exchange for our challenging and enjoyable voluntary work.

4. Election Campaigns: Be they local, a by-election, or a General Election, CUCA turns out in full force to get Conservatives elected in Cambridgeshire!

All of these activities are great ways to get involved with both local and national politics!

For more information, contact the Michaelmas Term 2023 CUCA Campaigns Officer, Jeff Lilley (jl2317@cam.ac.uk).

CantabrigianJargonDictionary

Herearesomedefinitionsofpotentiallyconfusingwordsorphrasesspecific toCambridge...

Cantabrigian-DescribessomethingrelatingtoCambridge.

Town and Gown - A phrase relating to the distinction between the residentsofCambridgeandtheacademiccommunityattheUniversityof Cambridge.

Michaelmas,Lent,andEaster-ThethreetermsofaCambridgeyear.

MayWeek-AweekinJune(notMay)afterexamswhenCollegeshold MayBalls(thenameoriginatesfromatimewhenMayWeekusedtobe heldinMaybeforeexams)

Plodge-Shortforporters’lodge.

Pidge-Shortforpigeonhole(locatedintheplodge).

Gyp-Asmallkitchenattachedtoacorridor.

Supervisor-Anacademicwhoteachesyouinsupervisions(alsoknown as‘supos’)whicharesmallgroupteachingsessions.

Tutor-Anacademic(ofteninacompletelydifferentsubjecttoyours)in yourcollegewhoofferspastoralsupportandadvice.

DoS - A Director of Studies, who arranges your supervisions and is a pointofcontactforacademicsupportandadvice.

TheCambridgeweek-WeeksatCambridgestartonThursdayandend onWednesday.

Keeping term - A requirement that students of the University of Cambridge must live within three miles of the Church of St Mary the GreatduringFullTerm.

JCR - Junior Combination Room (college-level society representing undergraduates).

MCR - Middle Combination Room (college-level society representing postgraduates).

Cambridge SU - Cambridge Student Union (university-wide society representingundergraduatesandpostgraduates).

CUSU-CambridgeUniversityStudentUnion(anantiquatednamefor CambridgeSU).