Sanctuary at Mansfield

MCR President’s Report

John Wilkinson (DPhil Condensed Matter Physics, 2018)

I can’t quite believe it as I write this, but a whole year has passed since I became MCR President. And what a year it has been! Mansfield’s graduate community is now over 200 strong, and continues to welcome students from across the world, from a multitude of backgrounds, studying a plethora of different subjects.

In Michaelmas term 2019, we were joined by 80 new MCR members, and the Bench organised a range of introductory events, including welcome drinks, a bar exchange with Worcester College, and a dinner with ‘College parents’ (current MCR members who kindly volunteered their time to help the new intake settle in). Although the typical Oxford weather prevented us going on a punting excursion, freshers’ week was a roaring success and really helped our new members settle into life at Mansfield.

Our social activities continued throughout the year and proved to be popular, organised by Philip Sivyer (Philosophical Theology), Clay Graubard (International Relations) and Liam Parker (Engineering Science). We arranged exchange dinners with many colleges (including Merton, Keble, St Peter’s and St John’s), wine and cheese exchanges with Queen’s and Linacre, movie nights, pancake nights and much more. These events enabled us to take a much-needed break from studying (and reminded us just how good the food is at Mansfield). We were keen to involve the SCR in our events too, which we achieved through the Michael Mahony seminars. Lottie Moore (Theology) started off this series in Michaelmas by helping us to find the meaning of the world according to Albert Camus. Lucinda Rumsey, Senior Tutor, and Professor Ian Griffiths, gave a joint seminar in Hilary term, introducing the graduates to Mansfield’s successful outreach programme by informing us about fluid dynamics and initiating us into the world of Anglo-Saxon riddles.

Finally, in Trinity term we took the seminar series online, where we organised an internet-themed session: Colin Williams (History) gave a talk about the origins of the internet, and Professor Helen Margetts FBA OBE, Mansfield Fellow in Society and the Internet, spoke about keeping humans in the loop as the internet gets increasingly involved in our lives. These talks were a highlight of the MCR’s term and were very well received by both MCR and SCR members.

One of the primary objectives of the MCR is to represent Mansfield’s graduate students to the College and the wider University. In order to do this successfully, we have BME, LGBTQ+ Bench positions, Disabilities and Women’s representatives, headed by an Equalities officer. We were delighted to have all of these positions filled by MCR members, who were very active in ensuring that the MCR continues to be a safe space, where everybody feels welcome.

In particular, our Women’s Officer Dorina Heller (Women’s Studies) organised many activities throughout the year, including ‘W(h)ining Women’, and a brunch for International Women’s Day. Both occasions were hosted in conjunction with the JCR, and the MCR provided generous assistance with the funding. These events were very well attended by the graduate community, who accounted for around one quarter of all participants. As university can often be very tough on the mental health of graduates, our Welfare Officer, Daria Jensen (Psychiatry), also hosted many activities throughout the year. In particular, the bi-termly welfare brunches have been a major attraction, with several members dropping by for a chat and to enjoy a moment of relief from the demands of academic life. A mindfulness event was also put on through Ripple (a start-up providing student-run guided meditation sessions), in conjunction with College. This proved to be very successful among MCR members, with the MCR and College providing full funding for participants. Yoga and Pilates, organised by the College, were also popular within the graduate community.

I have very much enjoyed the opportunity to be MCR President this year, and I am proud of all that we have achieved together. The MCR has brilliantly embodied the Mansfield culture of being open, inclusive and welcoming, and I am sure it will continue to do so in the future.

‘ I have very much enjoyed the opportunity to be MCR President this year, and I am proud of all that we have achieved together. ’ MCBC Report

Daniel Guest (Mathematics, 2017)

Triumphing over tribulations, Mansfield College Boat Club (MCBC) not only survived widespread flooding and a worldwide pandemic in 2019/20, but also bolstered its success and camaraderie both on and off the water. It remains one of Mansfield’s strongest sports societies.

As Michaelmas term 2019 commenced, a group of enthusiastic returners placed MCBC in one of its best starting positions of recent years. Successful recruitment from the JCR and MCR reinforced this position, with five crews of keen novices ready to take to the water in preparation for Christchurch Regatta. The new recruits displayed impressive fitness during ergometer (‘erg’) tests, further increasing our confidence. Unfortunately, however, the regatta was not to be, as the heavens opened and torrential rain brought about the worst conditions of any Michaelmas since records began.

With the river closed for much of the term, the decision was made to cancel the novice regatta, and instead several indoor ‘ergattas’ took place. Four of our novice men decided to test their abilities. Despite an incredible effort, clocking the second farthest distance of the day in the 4x90-second relay, our athletes faced the eventual victors early in the draw and were narrowly beaten, so could not progress to the later stages. Our newest members nevertheless gave an exceptional performance, doing the club proud and demonstrating strong potential for the coming bumps season.

The relentless rain of Michaelmas temporarily subsided over the Christmas vacation, allowing the river levels to drop sufficiently for a winter training camp to take place. We seized this opportunity to make up for a term of missed outings, with over 30 members of the team returning to Oxford prior to the start of Hilary.

Special thanks must go to MCBC alumnus Antonio Bonchristiano (PPE, 1984) for his hugely generous contributions to Mansfield sports this year, including rowing. His encouragement allowed several of us sports reps and College Fellows to create a new strategic ‘Sports Plan’, which aims to improve access and boost performance. The scheme enabled the club to cover all accommodation costs for our winter training camp. We made significant progress on the water during the camp, but just when crews were starting to come together the rain returned and we were once again confined to land training for the majority of Hilary term.

Despite the disheartening weather, Hilary was not without success – Mansfield students Martha Birtles (English, 2018), Caspar Jopling (MBA, 2019), and Dan Holod (MBA, 2018) were all selected to represent Oxford in the 2020 Boat Races. Martha’s achievements are particularly impressive, as she only learnt to row with MCBC last year. Although our women’s side faced further difficulties including a change of captaincy, they were able to persevere through weekly tank sessions, circuit training and ergs. This places them in a strong position for the coming year.

We also welcomed back several alumni for our first Torpids Dinner which, despite the lack of Torpids, was a fantastic evening featuring a relaxed atmosphere and some rousing speeches from the captains. This occasion, attracting old friends and new teammates, also proved to be a fitting close to the year as, unbeknownst to us, we would not be returning to Mansfield for some time. As Hilary came to an end the Covid-19 pandemic reached the UK, stopping all sports and dashing our hopes of racing for the remainder of the year. Only in late summer 2020 did we begin to see crews return to the water, albeit with the strict distancing rules that have become the new norm for us all.

Despite the threat of future restrictions we are optimistic about the coming year. Our numbers remain strong, with many new second years keen to return to Longbridges Boat House. Sadly, we have had to say goodbye to some MCBC veterans, but our new committee is already busy planning a return to the water. This speaks to the fact that, as much as we are a rowing club, it is the friendly and diverse community of athletes, coaches and alumni at the core of MCBC that attracts new students every year and brings back old members long after they graduate.

‘ Only in late summer 2020 did we begin to see crews return to the water, albeit with the strict distancing rules that have become the new norm for us all.’