JCR Societies

Lottie Keyse (Societies Officer)

Epiphany has been extremely busy for John Snow Societies, building on the hard work and successes of last term!

With summative season dominating much of this term, societies have provided an important space for students to unwind outside of their studies. Many societies such as Boxing, Kickboxing, and Board Games and Chess have continued to run regular classes and events. Imi Singh, Stuart Lewis, Ben Rushton and Baylie Feast all deserve particular recognition for providing weekly opportunities alongside their other commitments.

Both the Art and Music Societies have worked hard to boost to engagement this term. Art Soc have organised regular sessions in the TLC, ranging from still life to wall art. This has allowed students to try a variety of artistic mediums under the guidance of President Katie Reid. Meanwhile, Music Society President Leah Fraser has continued the weekly string and wind group rehearsals, as well as hosting and organising the new ‘Hill Choir’ – formed of five hill colleges - in the Hub Hall every Tuesday. Music Society’s hard work culminated in a fantastic ‘live lounge’ evening in the Igloo at the end of term. Other societies have come up with clever collaborations to increase engagement. We’ve seen joint socials between LGBTQ+ and Taylor Swift Society, and Lunar New Year celebrations organised by International Association, Languages and Cultures Society and POC Association.

We have been very fortunate to receive a large boost of funding from College. The presidents’ submitted proposals for myriad equipment, all aimed to increase the accessibility of societies for John Snow students. For example, we now have an array of specialist cooking and baking equipment for students to borrow, high-quality music tech to match the increased performances in the Igloo, as well as gouache paints and clay to explore new artistic techniques. College funding also facilitated a hugely popular tote bag painting event in the Igloo, ran by Environments Society. I would like to take this opportunity to thank College for their generous investment and organisation.

Charity showcase was the pinnacle of this term, giving a fantastic platform for John Snow Societies to celebrate their talent. Dance Society President Hope Godsmark provided the backbone of the evening, along with Louis Macfarlane and significant input from Music Society.

The positive impact of societies was truly displayed at the inaugural Outreach, Charities and Societies Formal in February. Sixteen of our societies filled tables with their members, highlighting the strong friendships which have been facilitated through engagement with societies. It was wonderful to hear the buzz and chatter between students brought together by mutual interests.

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to societies in Epiphany, I look forward to celebrating your achievements at the Sports and Societies Dinner in June.