A Year in the MCR

LAUREN HOLLOWAY

Despite continued uncertainties of COVID last year, the MCR was excited to be able to do a lot together in person in the College and in Oxford to create the family dynamic those at Regent’s know and love.

Being able to mix again for Michaelmas 2021 allowed us to organise Fresher’s week events to welcome new students into the MCR and Oxford, meet other students, and build a sense of community, including through a Fresher’s formal with the JCR and a Matriculation lunch. This set the tone for regular social and welfare events throughout the term, including visits to historic pubs, quiz nights, club nights, bops, careers events and the bonfire night. We were grateful for the MCR’s facelift courtesy of the previous year’s committee, and it was great to see the men’s and women’s rowing teams compete in the Christ Church regatta, with involvement across the MCR and JCR.

Hilary term 2022 was a bit trickier due to the Omicron variant spreading, but the MCR were determined to make the most of things and keep members connected. We were able to host events with other MCRs, such as formal hall exchanges, bar exchanges, club nights, and a karaoke night, which were a great opportunity to meet students from other colleges. A highlight of the term was the college-wide Burns night, where MCR members enjoyed haggis and dancing at the ceilidh! The MCR also underwent important developments in its commitment to making the College an inclusive environment.

The focus of Trinity term was to build community in the MCR by organising a variety of in-person events. We hosted a Ramadan Iftar dinner, a wine and cheese evening, pizza and games nights, a Finalist’s formal dinner, and a range of welfare events including a yoga night. We prioritised building on our joint event programme with other MCRs, which ultimately led to the inaugural PPH Ball taking place at the Oxford Museum of Natural History. This event exceeded expectations and sold out with 322 attendees, mostly MCR members from the organising PPHs (Regent’s Park, Blackfriars, and St Stephen’s) as well as graduate students from other PPHs and colleges, who danced with the dinosaurs all night long! Trinity term was also a highlight for building relations with JCR. As well as Manny’s Birthday, the Garden Play, and Final Fling, we organised an MCR-JCR buddy scheme, where undergraduates could be matched with postgraduates in their areas of interest. We are excited about member-proposed ideas for further all-college events in the next academic year, such as poetry nights and research symposiums. To wrap up the academic year, we were delighted to be able to host the college’s Valedictory event for the first time since COVID, with two MCR members - Betty Zhaoyi Yan and Athol Williams - singing and performing poetry.

Lauren Holloway was President of the Middle Common Room (2021-2022) and a graduate student reading for the MPP in Public Policy (2021).

The MCR has identified a need for those on one year courses in particular to quickly acclimatise to Oxford and get involved in life at Regent’s, we hope that over the coming year our Mentor initiative will play a positive part in addressing this.