JCR President’s Report Eloise Abbott PPE, 2014 The past year has been positive, fulfilling and exciting – as well as, at times, frustrating, upsetting and hard. One truth remains: Oxford is a challenging place for its students. Nevertheless, Oxford and its challenges are unreservedly embraced by Mansfield students. Alongside managing many problem-sheets and essays, the members of Mansfield’s JCR have campaigned and competed in earnest this year. We have an impressive number of students involved in University-level sport, and Mansfield College Boat Club had an incredible Torpids and Summer Eights. The JCR also continues to engage with student politics, working closely with Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) on liberation, charity, access, and welfare campaigns. Many students campaigned in the run-up to the two referendums that faced us this year: the OUSU referendum on whether to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students (which was voted against by the student body); and of course, the EU Referendum. Several important figures within the University voiced their support for the many EU students currently at Oxford who may find it more difficult to study here in the future. They also emphasised the University’s strong commitment to continue research partnerships with European universities and funding bodies. Such messages have been greatly appreciated. In February we held our triennial ball, which showcased the incredible creative talents of the students on the Ball Committee. The theme was the ‘Doors of Perception’, taken from William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: ‘If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is: Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.’ The Ball Committee succeeded in opening not just our eyes, but all our senses, in a luxurious evening of eating, drinking, and dancing. To those students who gave so much of their time and energy in constructing this event, Mansfield thanks you. The Committee has also chosen to give the profit from the ball to the JCR, and I am in consultation with students as to how this generous gift can best be utilised for the benefit of Mansfield students. As has become customary in the President’s Report, there follows a comment on the current building works. The construction of the Love Lane building is well underway, and the Bursar has worked hard to
12 Mansfield 2015/16
minimise the impact of this on students living in College. Of course, tutors have had to deal with many hours of deliveries and drilling also, so we all look forward eagerly to the completion of the building and the housing of all Mansfield students in College-owned accommodation, to be achieved in October 2017. Students in their second year currently rent privately and this can be a severe financial strain. Mansfield will become a more accessible place when we can offer accommodation to all undergraduates and for this I am very thankful. During the past year, students successfully lobbied College to ensure that the Love Lane building contained gender-neutral toilets; this is of crucial importance to our College’s commitment to the inclusion and protection of transgender and non-binary people. We have since published a trans policy and, along with our thriving LGBTQ+ community, I feel proud of the message we are sending to potential applicants. We are also working hard on greater inclusion, and higher application rates, for BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups) and disabled students. A welfare survey was completed by more than 5000 current Oxford students. It found that large numbers of students are reporting mental health issues; this is a worry of which the Mansfield student body, and in particular the current Bench, is acutely aware. Mental illness should not be seen as an unavoidable side-effect of the pressures of Oxford. Luckily, Mansfield tutors – while expecting the utmost effort and academic rigour – are exceptionally respectful and aware of such issues. With our Senior Tutor at their head, a woman who acts unwaveringly in the interests of students and who does so with such inexhaustible kindness, who could expect any different? We were sad to say goodbye to those leaving us in the summer, but excited to welcome a new cohort in October. Mansfield JCR is an incredible combination of intelligent, dedicated, and dynamic people, and I am immensely proud to have led it.