SCR

from Cuthbert's Chronicle - Issue Number 11 - February 2020.

Cuth’s 12 Days of Outreach

Senior Common Room

Colleges are such an important part of life at Durham that it’s easy to forget that not all universities are collegiate. It can be surprisingly difficult to explain what colleges are to someone who has never been part of one. Prospective undergraduates start to get a sense of all this at open days and freshers understand it within minutes of arriving, thanks to the energetic welcome they receive and the carefully prepared programme of events that follow.

In recent years, we have gained a new SCR member on average every three weeks. A steady stream of the newcomers are guests who have attended a college event and have instantly felt an affinity for the vitality of the Cuth’s community. Others hear about us by reputation and inquire about joining. The membership is pleasingly diverse, with a mixture of academics, administrative staff, local alumni and members of other important Durham organisations; for example, we are fortunate to number the Headmaster of the Chorister School, the Dean of the Cathedral and the Chief Constable, amongst many others, in our current membership. A new university-wide scheme will bring the college dimension to the attention of staff by assigning all new employees to an SCR. While we know that not all new university staff will become active college members, we are looking forward to this new opportunity to show what colleges and our particular SCR have to offer.

In the meantime, another academic year is well under way. As usual, the SCR has engaged with new students by sharing a cross-section of SCR members’ research interests at informal presentations. Also relating to research has been a new “research slam” initiative from the JCR postgraduate reps, where anyone can speak about an ongoing, incomplete or even a stuck research project without giving prior notice. In a reversal of the

normal pattern for College events, a research slam in October commenced in the Bailey Bar and adjourned to the SCR when the bar became too lively for our deeply engrossed conversation.

Other young traditions have established themselves further, including the twiceyearly tasting of real ales and artisan cheeses for the two Common Rooms together. A mead tasting and lecture by two Physics students earlier in the year led to Cuth’s-made spiced mead being used in the mince pies served by SCR member Gillian Banks after the College Carols Service at St Margaret’s Church. And the splendid choral music at the Carols Service is itself becoming a hallmark of Cuth’s; the College Choir continues to go from strength to strength and can now count itself amongst Durham’s finest. Do remember that alumni are always welcome to participate in SCR events. It is always a pleasure to see former students back at Cuth’s.