Mansfield College JCR's Alternative Prospectus 2012

WELCOME TO MANSFIELD

CONTENTS Mansfield Alternative Prospectus 01.

Welcome To Mansfield

02.

Introductions

04.

Academic Life

06.

College Library

07.

Sports & Societies

08.

Student Support

10. Junior Common Room 12.

Food & Dining

14.

Accommodation

16.

Chapel

17.

Volunteering

18.

Entertainment (Entz)

20.

Erasmus

Look out for com ments from our Freshers about the first thing they loved about Mansfield.

More in formation about everythin g mention ed in thi s Prospectus can be found on Mansfield’s college website, mansfield.ox.ac.uk

Mansfield was established in Oxford in 1886.

We are the smallest Oxford college, taking seventy students a year in arts, social sciences and sciences, and we currently have the highest proportion of students from the state sector. Mansfield prides itself on providing a progressive, informal environment, in which tutors and students work together to achieve academic excellence.

We occupy one of the most attractive sites in Oxford, close to all the libraries and shops, yet in a quiet position near to the University parks and River Cherwell.

01.

INTRODUCTIONS Hello, my name is Rosie and I am loving life in Oxford and at Mansfield! I faced various challenges when coming to University, the biggest being the fact that I am a wheelchair user.

INTRODUCTIONS Mansfield’s Principal

“l was welcom ed straigh t away by my college ‘paren ts’ wh o helped me to move in, an d bought me a drink at the pub later.”

— Nick

Oxford’s age meant I was worried about the practicalities of getting around, and so I arrived at Mansfield with a significant amount of anxiety.

Mansfield was great in helping me make the transition from living with my parents to living on my own. I was determined to be as independent as possible and College staff supported me in this and helped me to achieve my goals. Mansfield’s JCR, Hall, Chapel and various meeting and seminar rooms within college, along with many of the student rooms, are all accessible by wheelchair, which is great

by Oxford standards.

Mansfield students helping Freshers move in.

One of the most significant things that has had a positive effect on my time at Mansfield so far has got to be the people. The College is so small you quickly get to recognise everyone and you will soon be greeted by friendly faces wherever you go. Everyone has bad days, whether it is work-related or more personal matters, so it’s good being in a small environment where you know all the staff and tutors, and friends are just 30 seconds away.

Baroness Helena Kennedy began her time as Principal of Mansfield in September 2011, and she has already made many exciting innovations.

We have a Friday afternoon lecture series with personalities such as Jon Snow and Sandy Toksvig speaking; a highlight was Nawal al Sadawi, who provided a unique insight into what life was like during the Arab Spring. Helena and her guests join the rest of Mansfield in Friday night formal dinners and Helena holds informal brunches every week to get to know her students.

Freshers’ Welcome Dinner.

“l love the way all the years mix with eac h oth er with ease.”

— Selina

Jun Li I am an international student and I come from China. There were definitely culture shocks and difficulties in communication when I first arrived, but I was so grateful to have a pair of warm-hearted college parents (current students who look after you) who picked me up at the station at midnight and toured me around this unfamiliar city.

Rosie

Jun Li

“With in a week, l felt lik e l’d lived here for a year.”

— Celi a

Rosie and friends having fun at a Bop. 02.

Freshers’ Week is the perfect opportunity for the incoming first years and the rest of Mansfield to get to know each other.

Mansfield Freshers’ Fair.

The week is packed with events: Freshers’ fair where you can find out about the societies and sports you might like to get involved with, academic induction sessions with your tutors and with current students to introduce you to your new studies; tours of the libraries and departments; and a Freshers’ welcome dinner.

Amidst all the introductions we make sure you also have some quiet time to get started on your work and settle in to your new life.

th activi ties “Fresh ers’ week is filled wi cin g at - from en joyin g th e dan get tin g to to b) Wahoo (a loc al ni gh t clu th a group wi d lan kn ow th e lay of th e dy row a n eve d scaven ger hunt, an e JCR.” th in ld he z qui Mansfield trivia

— Ben

Ben S

03.

ACADEMIC LIFE

ACADEMIC LIFE

As an Arts student, most of my learning is done independently with guidance and support from my tutors, as is the case across the University. Mansfield’s tutors are world-class, wonderful and animated - do look them up!

Usually, I’ll be working on one or two essays a week and will have the same number of tutorials. Tutors give a reading list with recommendations and a choice of questions, and I will produce a piece of work usually between 2000-2500 words based around my own reading and what I have taken from it.

Every essay is a work in progress, and you are always encouraged to extend and challenge your own ideas based on new information.

Tutorials are supplemented by lectures within the faculties - you can attend those which support your term’s work or even those which you just find interesting.

When you do really well academically you get invited to the Scholars’ and Exhibitioners’ dinner.

Physics is a subject with a large time commitment; plenty of time is spent in tutorials, lectures and weekly labs. The course is varied and covers everything from the very abstract Quantum Mechanics to the much more physical Thermodynamics. One of my favourite aspects of the course is that you have the opportunity to choose a short option at the end of each year; these include Astrophysics, Biophysics and Energy Studies. Mansfield is lucky enough to have Jocelyn Bell-Burnell as one of its fellows: a truly inspiring physicist.

Eleanor (History & English)

Eleanor

Alongside my studies, I enjoy being part of the Physics Outreach Group and Mansfield Chapel Choir. I occasionally attend lectures at the Oxford Space and Astronomical Society and events run

by Oxford International Relations Society.

An drew

Much like most degrees here, the Theology course allows one to really develop a deep knowledge of specific areas of my subject. I’ve found I’ve really enjoyed Biblical studies, so I’ve focussed on modules in the Old and New Testament, and have studied texts in Greek and Hebrew. I love being able to learn both languages and apply them in my study – a privilege that not every Theology student in the country can enjoy in their undergraduate degree.

As Senior Tutor I have academic care for all the students studying at Mansfield. I also teach medieval literature for the English degree.

Tutorials are really interesting and rewarding for us as tutors. Our students come along with an essay or a problem sheet, and discussion can develop in unexpected ways because everyone is sharing ideas, their own thoughts about their reading or about how to work out a problem. All the time I learn fresh things from my students, and every tutorial is different and special to the individuals in it.

I’m a second-year Engineer. The level of work is heavy but consistent, which means you can plan your time easily - two lectures a day and two tutorials a week quickly becomes ingrained into every scientist’s schedule. All of Mansfield’s science tutors are engaged in cutting-edge research in their respective fields. This genuine enthusiasm and love for their subject seeps through to tutorials, making studying far more interesting.

I am always impressed by how hard students work, from their first day in Oxford, to grapple with new and complex ideas. You will suddenly find yourself using intellectual muscles you didn’t know you had.

Lucinda, Senior Tutor

The structured style of learning allows us to commit to regular activities, and the “work hard, play hard” attitude definitely applies to us Mansfield scientists. Science at Mansfield is intense and challenging but fantastic fun. The family feel of our small College is the perfect environment to further your scientific knowledge.

Sam (Engineering)

Lucy (Physics)

“it’s not as preten tious as l expected- everyon e is norm al!”

— Joe

Andrew (Theology) 04.

Lucy

05.

SPORTS & SOCIETIES

COLLEGE LIBRARY puter system Th e in ternal library com nsfi Ma eld (on ly) (called Heritage) has th e on ly do you see Not catalogues on lin e. , but if it has in is k boo wh ich room th e see wh o has your been tak en out, you can have to do is pop book. Thi s mean s all you for it! m over to th eir roo an d ask

Welcome to Mansfield library. By day, the spacious alcoves and beautiful views of garden and quad will provide a comforting and peaceful atmosphere for your studies. Enter at night, and you will find woolly jumpers, slippers and the bleary eyes of Mansfielders with essays, preparing for a solid night’s work. Whether you prefer to work early in the morning, late at night or mid-afternoon, you will always find others working in Mansfield library (except maybe the witching hour at 4am).

Over 30,000 books are available and Sally the Librarian encourages you to suggest books she should buy for your subjec t.

The library itself is split into three rooms, all of which are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and are accessible through most of the vacation periods. You may prefer the wood-panelled main library with its stunning painted ceiling; the cosy Theology library, or the even smaller Law & History library with communal desks and fewer people. Whatever your preference, you will certainly find your favourite working spot somewhere. All these libraries are open to all Mansfielders.

The alcoves in the main library offer seating for up to three people, but you will usually find an empty one when you wish to work alone. You might find a few engineers working on a problem sheet together (quietly) in one alcove, whilst a Geographer is typing up his essay across the way with his headphones plugged in.

s oth er Mansfield is also close to Oxford’ fe Sci enc e clif Rad n, librari es – the Bodleia an d fac ulty Library, Am eric an Institute h an d Law glis En , phy gra librari es for Geo y. are only five minutes’ walk awa 06.

The breadth of sports and societies (S&S) is one of the things which makes Oxford unique, and at Mansfield you’ll enjoy their benefits both within your College and in the University as a whole.

S&S are a key part of making the most out of your time at Oxford - whether you are a professional sportsperson or a member of an obscure society, Mansfield has something for you!

“l love Mansfield’s fam ous yellow rowin g boat- you can’t miss the Lem on wh en ’re you on the river!”

— Matt

From Film Society to Knitting Society, getting involved in clubs will allow you to meet new people who share your passion for niche and not so niche activities. The number of societies at Mansfield is rising quickly and many have secured funding from College to help them out.

In the event of your specific interest not existing at Oxford or Mansfield, you’ve always got the chance to set it up - the S&S Rep will help you out.

Journalism

If physical exertion is more your thing, then you’ve got the chance to play at a strong level for the University, a very competitive level for College 1st teams, and a more light-hearted approach in 2nd teams. For some sports, Mansfield pairs up with Merton and we’ve developed a reputation as one of the most feared teams across a wide range of sports. The football and cricket teams are league champions, with squash and basketball only narrowly missing out.

Oxford is served by two weekly student-run newspapers which are both constantly recruiting new staff. Being involved with student journalism is a great way to be right in the centre and aware of everything that’s happening in and around the University. I started writing as a reporter at the end of my first year, and have since become the News Editor, which is a far greater time commitment but also really good management experience. In this role I am responsible for commissioning, editing and laying out the new section of the paper and managing a group of seventeen reporters. Whilst this level of involvement isn’t sustainable over three years, it was great to have a term splitting my time between my Theology degree and helping to run an award-winning publication.

Daniel

Jack

Macbeth poster: “Man sfield Dram a Soc iety does Macbeth.”

OLES: The Oxford Ligh t nm ent society is a ertai Ent society dedic ated to putting on shows for those who cann ot norm ally travel to the theatre.

Man sfield provi ded the twic eweek ly venue for its rehearsals resulting in three shows – Peter Pan, Batm an the Panto and Tragedy: A Com edy – whic h raised over £16,000 for charity.

07.

STUDENT SUPPORT & WELLBEING The College is a community, with lots of friendly faces to help you out with the smallest of problems.

Among the tutors the Senior Tutor looks after the academic well-being of all of the students, and is supported by the Tutor for Welfare, Tutor for Women and Tutor for Disabilities.

“Man sfield look s so pretty lit up at ni ght.”

— Priyan az

The Women’s rep, as well as representing female undergraduates, organises Welfare Tea which happens every Sunday.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning rep (LGBTQ) supports everyone who might be questioning their sexuality, organises socials and awareness events, and raises the Rainbow flag on the College flagpole for LGBT History month in February.

The Junior Deans are postgraduate students who support these tutors and the Dean in looking after student welfare, upholding discipline and making sure the College is a safe and welcoming environment for all its members.

They live on site, and are available 24/7.

The College also has trained student Peer Supporters who attend Welfare Tea and are easily contactable if you have any personal problems.

The JCR is the Junior Common Room, which refers to the actual undergraduate common room and all the members of it. The JCR bench represents the undergraduate body in College.

The JCR president and Vice-President run fortnightly student meetings and attend the College Governing Body with the Fellows and Principal to represent you and put forward your ideas. The other members of the JCR bench have self-explanatory titles: Secretary; Access & Academic Affairs Officer; Treasurer; Entz (entertainment); Sports & Societies; Environment, Ethics & Charities; and Bar reps.

By An drew G an d Connell

Then there are the people who look after your welfare and they make a great effort to be as available as possible to anyone who might need their support- it’s always reassuring to know that they are there!

Financial Support Going to university is expensive, but Oxford has really generous bursaries, and Mansfield has lots of other ways of making sure you don’t have financial problems. We have hardship funds to cover unexpected money difficulties; food and accommodation are subsidised so they are affordable; travel is cheap (all you need is a bike!); the College library means you don’t have to buy many books; we have funds for travel abroad; and many awards and prizes for academic excellence. We make sure our students never have to leave their course because of money problems.

The Men’s rep not only looks after the welfare of the men in College, but also organises socials and runs the ‘Adopt a Finalist’ scheme in the summer term. This involves ‘adopting’ someone who is taking exams and helping them with tasks like shopping and returning library books.

08.

09.

Map of th e JCR

By JUNIOR COMMON ROOM lmogen

Ben ch seats sittin g JCR ben ch members can be found JCR the ng ni run here every Monday nc e to meetin gs – free piz za an d a cha College. in on goes at wh have your say about Table tenn is

your frien ds Test h ow pati en t g…pon g… really are … pin n g… pin g…pon g…pi

Pool table

At only 30p a gam e it’s a bargain an d a great way to chill out wh en you fin ally reach that essay deadlin e.

Newspapers The JCR provide an array of weekly newspapers and Oxford publications such as the and the . Or, for the truly news conscious among you, magazine.

10.

Sofas and bean-bags Very important for those emergency power naps. Or if you can stay awake why not make the most of the Wi-Fi connection.

Notic e boards

Welfare Tea Free tea, cof fee an d biscuits on Sun day aftern oon s (as part of welfare tea,) run by the Men’s an d Women’s reps.

Pub qui z machi ne For wh enever you fan cy proving that a group of Oxf ord student s are not actually sm arter than a 10 year old.

Gam es machines

Table football For all those tim es you wan t to play football but are too lazy to actually move your legs.

Dart board

11.

TV Bec ause nothin g makes a plac e feel lik e hom e more than figh tin g over the remote.

t SCR Guest Nigh

on Served Escalope of Salm Sauc e er tt with Bu crem e ala oms ro h (v) Mus uf fed with Turk ey Steak St cc om pan ied by Apric ot Farc e A e Win e Sauc e a Cream & Wh it (v) Roulade toes Parsley New Pota li co Broc rrots Lem on Glaz ed Ca

Lun ch Men u

£1.20 ger Soup 3.00 £

Carrot & GIn h eep Fri ed Fis £1.95 Tradition al D a £1.95 Quorn Korm Burger se ee £2.95

Veggi e Ch l en Sc h n itze £1.85 Lem on Ch ick k 72p Gam m on Stea 35p Ch ips ush y Peas £1.05 Garden or M Salad Bowl Din n er

ri to Ch ick en Bur zalun a Halloum i Mez

Bean Sauc e Beef in Black pot Vegatable Hot Fri es Ric e Sweetc orn Salad Bowl

FOOD & DINING

Gam e Soup Ch ive Soup (v) Asparagus &

One of the best thin gs about Man sfield is the equality between students, academics and staff- we all eat the same food in the same place and treat each other with respec t.

Ch oc olate Tart

Mansfield has one of the best reputations in Oxford for its food, offering an affordable and varied range of options for each meal, including great vegetarian options. The Mansfield chefs will go out of their way to provide for all dietary requirements and menus are emailed out in advance, so you can decide whether or not to take a cheeky Tesco trip! The College also has kitchens for student use.

Formal and “Formal Formal” We have optional formal dinners every Wednesday and Friday which we find are appreciated more than at Colleges which have formal nightly; and we definitely have more indulgent menus!

We also have a black tie formal (known as formal formal) twice a term, consisting of 4 courses rather than the standard 3. This is followed by our infamous Champagne and Chocolates (C&C) - see the Entertainment page for more info! Although the dinner is always popular and fills fast, C&C’s is popular with everyone.

The Dining Hall is open during the day for the purchase of coffee and other hot drinks, chocolate bars and cakes, ice cream and soft drinks, or just to pop in and say hello to the staff.

Sad times at ‘halfway hall’; it’s when all the secon d years celebrate/c ry because they are halfway through their degree.

£1.95 £1.95 £2.25 £1.95 72p 60p 35p £1.05

We also have many spec ial occasi on din ners in the ch apel, in cludin g the Freshers’ t din ner in your first week, Boa d Club Sum mer VIII’s din ner, an Ch ristmas Din ner.

We also have Brun ch on Saturdays from 12 noon- a great chan ce to catch up on gossip from the nigh t before!

Chri stmas Dinner.

ed Our themed din ners have in clud se ne Am eri can Thank sgivin g, Chi ry Pot ter Har , ght ni ns Bur sh tti Buf fet, Sco mer BBQs. sum d an e!) cod ss dre g (in cludin to new n The din in g staf f are always ope suggesti on s.

12.

Getting ready for Champagne and Chocolate.

Form al dinn er is served after the norm al hall tim e, allowing those of you who wan t a quick, early dinn er to not miss out!

“ The first thing l loved about Mansfield was the hall. lt’s suc h a pretty plac e to eat, the food is great (an d reason ably pri ced too), an d the lon g tables mean that you get to sit with an d talk to lots of people!”

— Ben J 13.

Sneak peek into Fish & Chips Fridays.

ACCOMMODATION

ACCOMMODATION

Living In

The view from a College room

College provides accommodation for all students in their first and third years, and second and fourth years rent houses around Oxford.

There are two types of rooms on the College site itself. There are the rooms in the older building - large rooms with sinks and two beds that can be pushed together to make a super king double sized bed (a luxury unheard of at other Colleges). These larger rooms have a shared bathroom. The rooms in the newer buildings are slightly smaller but all of them are ensuite.

Living Out

Living out in your second year means you can live anywhere in the city, with whoever you want, and it gives you the chance to have a completely different living experience to that of your first year – much more like ‘real life’. It also opens up a world of possibilities for dinner and house parties, limitless opportunities for decorations if you’re particularly creative, and a whole summer to enjoy Oxford out of term time at the start or end of your tenancy.

Most student houses can be found in the Cowley Road area, which has a multicultural mix of residents, meaning there are a wide variety of international shops and restaurants that you should definitely take time to check out.

Freshers are guaranteed a single room (no shared rooms) on the College site in their first year and almost all of those are ensuite. When you live in College accommodation in your final year, there are some two-room sets if you want to share. All rooms have desks and bookshelves so you’ll have plenty of space to work.

The JCR gives you plenty of advice on finding the right house. It’s always easy to find a house you like, and living with friends will make it feel like home.

Living in College means you are just a few steps away from the dining hall and the library and because Mansfield is so central you can be in lectures and labs in a matter of minutes. In your first year living in means it is easy to get to know people, and in your third year it is great to be nurtured by college again when you need to concentrate on finals and not think about where to go to get your washing done.

Rachel and Chris

(wh o “Several of you apparen tly like parties than ue ven er bett no is kn ew?), and there ys alwa is e Ther !

Road in a house on Cowley al sever at n agai and , week one in Freshers’ on been ing Hav . year the stages through of both the hosting and attending end truly these parties, l can say that they can be the highlight of a term.”

— Chris

’t “Wh en you arrive at Man sfield, you can e. ther le peop the help but fall in love with and The atm osph ere is friendly, welc oming en wood sive mas a ing invitin g. Also, hav does fron t door whi ch open s automatically if der won you e mak to e mor that little bit you acci den tally applied to Hogwarts.”

— Harry 14.

15.

Hom e Sweet Hom e Wh erever you end up livin g, ‘in’ or ‘out’, there will always be people around to help you out, look after your accomm odation needs, and you will be sure to find yourself never too far away from the College com mun ity!”

— Rac hel

VOLUNTEERING

CHAPEL Although the architecture of the Chapel suggests grandeur and elegance, inside it is the epitome of progressiveness and friendliness.

As Oxford’s only unconsecrated College Chapel, it hosts weekly Wednesday night services with Chaplain Tanya Rasmussen, but is also a venue for bops, ‘arial’ (pole) dancing lessons and University-wide drama and music.

Happy Helpers!

Volunteering The Environment Ethics & Charities rep helps to promote a charitable student body.

Mansfielders this year raised money through a wide range of events, including bungeejumping, mega-raiding (going to other cities in costumes to ask for donations), and being taken 100 miles away in a darkened coach in a race to get back to Oxford as quickly as possible.

Closer to home, there is a charity fundraising system in the Mansfield JCR that allows students to nominate and vote for charities of their choice every term.

Think of the Chapel as a balmy oasis in the whirlwind of work, socialising and the weird and wonderful societies that might employ your time here. Having a safe, available space to take time and collect yourself can be really helpful. Getting involved with what goes on is really easy. With free formal halls, free cheese/ biscuits/olives/wine and the musical directing mastermind of John Oxlade, there is no excuse for not trying out Mansfield Chapel choir. You don’t have to audition or even know how to read music - I should know! If your musical skills lie elsewhere, come in and practice your instrument whenever the Chapel is free, or offer your services for one of the Wednesday lunchtime recitals, open to everyone in College and the general public.

Access Mansfield also provides opportunities for hands-on volunteering through a project called AstonMansfield. This is Mansfield’s long-standing link with community centres in East London: the Froud Centre and Durning Hall.

The Chapel is everyone’s space, both the social and spiritual hub of Mansfield.

Emily

Mansfield Choir rehearsal.

“What l love best is the close-k ni t com muni ty at Mansfield” — Jan

I’m involved in access work through Mansfield, the Materials Science department and the University. For the University, I am Training Co-ordinator for Target Schools, a student-run campaign to breakdown the myths about Oxford. I also work on UNIQ, an Oxford-run summer school for Year 12 students, and this year I’m working with Headstart tutoring.

I was at a state school myself and got very little help with my Oxford application, but my parents supported me and helped me where they could. I don’t want to let something so trivial as a lack of awareness from school teachers affect where a student chooses to go to University, or even whether they go at all!

The centres provide services for fifty faith groups, rape victims, asylum seekers, youth groups, mentally and physically disabled children and local businesses. This year members of the JCR volunteered at the Froud Centre, designed and built an outdoor game for a summer fair, cleaned and painted their courtyard and playground, shared a barbeque and played games in mixed teams, before ending the day with a tug of war.

Sarah

Andrew C-B

16.

Mansfield’s Mega Bop with dancin g in the Chapel.

17.

Ch ari ty Autum n Fai r.

ENTERTAINMENT (ENTZ) Entz is the institution that makes sure the work/ play balance is kept in order. Whilst you may be slaving away over that problem sheet or tough essay, we’ll be working behind the scenes in order to make sure that as soon as you’re out of the library, you’re having the best time possible.

Our activities are College-endorsed and funded, meaning that no expense is spared in making sure you have the time of your lives.

ENTERTAINMENT (ENTZ)

On top of this, it’s our responsibility to make sure that club tickets are always available to you, meaning you can queue-jump for the nights you want at the cheapest prices. We make sure there’s a Ceilidh on Burns Night, pub quizzes, Budweiser for the Superbowl and barbeques and food at College sports events.

We organize a huge variety of college trips to destinations including nightclubs in London and Birmingham, the cinema, Oxford greyhound track, paintballing and even Blenheim Palace. We’d like to think we can provide activities for everyone (this list is by no means exhaustive!), regardless of how you want to spend your time off.

College Bop. Happens twice a term at Mansfield, and involves everyone in college getting down to the JCR, enjoying each other’s company, laughing at all the ridiculous, but sometimes ferociously impressive themed fancy dress, gawping at the incredible talents of Mansfield’s resident DJs, and having an all in all boptastic time. We’ll provide you with the speakers, lights and theme, but those historic costumes, memorable DJ sets and unforgettable danceoffs are up to you.

We get our kicks out of making you smile.

“Mansfield’s Cellar Bar is a social hub of the College. It may form the meeting place for a big night out, act as a brief respite from the hard work of the library, or provide a venue for an enjoyable night in College with a few drinks and great company. Drinks are reasonably priced and there are plenty of non alcoholic options.”

— Chris.

Bops

Ollie and Joe

One event unique to Mansfield and our Chapel is our twice-termly Champagne and Chocolates. Following the black tie formal, the whole of college descends on the College Chapel for an evening of great chocolate, good champagne (okay, Cava) and the best company.

Termly Open Mic Night: If you’re a performer of any sort, or have any desire to be, then this is what you’re looking for. The night showcases all of Mansfield’s abilities in the JCR which is professionally set up for the occasionwith the bar open throughout.

Mega-Bop Min is!

Large crowds at Open Mic night.

18.

“lt’s all about the atm osph ere: the friendly, fam ily atm osph ere, and the great soci al atm osph ere. There’s always people to see and thin gs to do.”

— Tash & Charlotte 19.

Every College needs a pet, and ours is Erasmus. Anyone can buy food to keep him full and he returns the favour ten-fold in affection.

Failing to offer him food within your first week will guarantee you the cold shoulder for the duration of your degree, but this is why we love him. When you move away from home for the first time everybody needs something to make the place a little friendlier.

This shared pet helps to make Mansfield feel even more like a family.

Credits:

Art Directi on and Desi gn: Eph em eral Forever

drew Photos by Kei ko Ikeuch i and An lack l-B Cam pbel Also‌. and Elli e A great deal of help from Jen ny

20.