Seven years at Stephenson

Harriet Axbey, MCR President 2019-22

I joined Stephenson in 2015 at eighteen years old, a fresh-faced first year, up North for only the second time since my interview. On my first day I was welcomed by Tom, the then-JCR president, and a team of incredibly enthusiastic Freshers’ reps who helped move my belongings into Barker block, my new home. Back then, this was the start of a three-year degree, but little did I know I would still be here seven years later!

Of course, this was in Stockton-on-Tees, our original stomping ground before the 2018 move to Durham City. Back in my day things were somewhat simpler; we had students studying a small number of degree courses, an enviable location close to lectures/ gym/library and were indisputably the best college on campus. While the latter is still obviously true, many things have changed in the seven years since I arrived at Stephenson. We are now at the top of a hill, one which my calves did not thank me for, but one that we all got used to within the first few months. The college community started to comprise of students reading degrees I had never encountered before, like Law, Mathematics, and Sociology. ‘What do you mean you don’t have to get up at 6.00am for placement every week?’ I’d ask these bemused and well-rested students.

Stephenson still has the same enthusiasm, if not even more so: having more rivals meant we had to up our game! But then came the Covid pandemic and the busy hub of student life changed beyond recognition. Josh Crawshaw and I became the ‘pandemic presidents’, busy running virtual events, helping quarantining students and getting our heads around the daily, sometimes hourly, changes to government and University policies. We had only been in Durham for a year, and we were facing a challenge we had not anticipated. I cannot praise the college staff highly enough for their hard work and dedication to the welfare of each and every student. The Stevo spirit was strong!

I have held a few roles within the college throughout my time here – JCR Junior Welfare Officer and Disabilities Rep as an undergraduate, MCR Vice-President, and finally MCR President during my postgraduate degrees (when I finally got one of the much-sought-after purple polo shirts!). Being involved with the college did not just feel like one big family, it is one big family. As we celebrate two decades of Stephenson College, we have a new building, a new location, new students, and new staff. However, not once have I felt that I am not at Stephenson. Our college ethos has remained throughout my time here; it is still the same inclusive, friendly, and ever-enthusiastic underdog college as when I first arrived.

Back in my day things were somewhat simpler; we had students studying a small number of degree courses, an enviable location close to lectures/gym/library and were indisputably the best college on campus.