St Anne’s Freshers Handbook 2022
This version of the St Anne’s Freshers Handbook is written in plaintext; it has been created to assist those who have reading disabilities, access arrangements for text, or those who use screen readers. This document is in an editable format. If you have any further questions or would like this formatted more accessibly please contact Sheila Smith (Disability Coordinator) at sheila.smith@st- annes.ox.ac.uk.
JCR PRESIDENTS LETTER
Dear soon-to-be St Anne’s Students,
Welcome everyone. I would like to congratulate you for making it to Oxford and on becoming part of the St Anne’s community. I know for many of you the idea of making the transition to university might seem daunting, but I can assure there’s no better place to begin this journey than at St Anne’s, which is without a doubt the best college in Oxford.
The process of starting your university journey brings along a wide range of emotions. Some may feel excited and confident whilst others feel worried and nervous or there might be a mix of emotions. I’m here to assure you that the next 3,4 or 7 years will be some of the best years of your lives. As a Stanner you are now part of one of the most inclusive, progressive, and welcoming communities at Oxford. During your time here, you'll make the most amazing memories and meet the most amazing and interesting people, so I advise you to make the most of this opportunity.
My name is Vivian (everyone calls me Viv) and I will be your JCR President this year. This guide was created by myself, the JCR committee and some of our amazing freshers helpers. It’s here to answer any questions you might have, introduce you to members of the JCR Committee, the Fresher’s week Helpers other important people. It also helps with understanding some of the Oxfordian lingo i.e. Stanners and its overall aim is to give you a feel for what being at St Anne’s is going to be like when you finally join us in Michaelmas! I hope as you read you look forward to arriving at St Anne’s and see that we stand by our unofficial motto ‘we take what we do seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously’.
“So…what is this JCR you speak of?!”
The JCR stands for Junior Common Room and has two meanings. Firstly, it refers to the entire undergraduate community at St Anne’s, which you will soon become a member off. Secondly the JCR is a physical room on our college site, called the ‘Danson Room’ - consider this the main social space for undergraduates with facilities like a foosball table, pool table, TV and Wii and a plethora of board games! Most of you will get acquainted with the Danson room during Freshers week as a lot of activities will take place there. The JCR Committee is tasked with representing St Anne’s across the university and catering for the aspirations and needs of the student community here. They are a lovely group of dedicated individuals willing to support you and provide for you through the stages of this year, including welfare, entz (Oxfordian for entertainment), access and outreach, environment and many more. You’ll get to meet them a few pages below and hopefully in person soon! Many of the Committee members are doubled up as Freshers Helpers so you will have the chance to interact and ask any JCR questions directly to us as soon as you arrive. If you have any questions before arriving, please do get in touch via email or Facebook or Instagram!
Being a Stanner has been a very important part of my time at Oxford. I am extremely proud to be a member of a community which has remained at the forefront of ensuring progression and inclusivity at Oxford. As some of you may already know, St Anne’s was invented in 1879 and it was founded on the belief that women should be given the opportunity to study at Oxford. The progressive values that gave life to St Anne’s has remained entrenched in the college and can be seen in every aspect of college life. Although the pandemic has impacted aspects of college life, St Anne’s has still remained a strong close-knit community and for many students including myself, it is a home away from home. The familial atmosphere at college is one of the advantages of studying at a collegiate university, since you end up knowing most people at college rather well, making it much easier to make friends and find your group. In addition, to the strong sense of community found at Anne’s we are also home to some of the best facilities at Oxford. Not only do we have the biggest library collection at Oxford we also have the best food (seriously, no other college comes even close). One of the other great things about Anne’s is that we’re close enough to the centre of town to keep the traditions that make Oxford Oxford, but far enough to avoid the drama (and the tourists).
St Anne’s will not only be your home, but also where most of your teaching will take place. Whereas the faculty sets the syllabus, provides lectures and co-ordinates examinations, your college tutors will organise and teach your tutorials (normally two-on-one) and classes. Your tutorials are an opportunity to learn from the best, as your tutors are often also doing world- class research, but don’t let that intimidate you. Oxford is all about the intellectual challenge of being pushed beyond your limits and even by the end of first term you will be amazed by how far you have come. You will also learn rather quickly how to effectively manage your time so that you can enjoy all that Oxford has to offer beyond essays. My tip; don’t forget to have a social life. My tip; don’t forget to have a social life, Oxford has range of clubs and societies that caters to everyones interest. Don't be afraid to try new things or ask for help because there is a strong network of people always willing to help!
As we begin to transition into a state of normalcy, Freshers’ Week might return to what it has traditionally been in the past. However, there might be changes in regulations between now and October which may prevent this. Regardless of these changes, your Freshers week will provide you with the opportunities to socialise, make friends, discover Oxford, get comfortable, sleep in, stay up late and settle into university life! Remember everyone is in the same boat so don’t be afraid to say hello to someone new; you won’t regret it! Our Freshers’ Helpers will be on hand 24/7 to support you and help you navigate through the week!
I wish you the best of luck on your arrival to Oxford and your first year here! Congratulations again on getting to Oxford and fingers-crossed this booklet will get you excited to be here, answer any questions, and give you reassurance that you’ll enjoy your first year as much as I have! I look forward to meeting you in October but If there are any questions you have that aren’t addressed in here or just want to say ‘Hello!’, please email me at [email protected] and I shall respond ASAP! I
For any College related questions (academic or social) please feel free to ask me or use me as a contact and I can pass on to the relevant academic staff.
I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer and I look forward to welcoming you to St Anne’s soon!
Viv :) JCR President
VICE PRESIDENTS LETTER
To our newest bright-eyed, fresh-faced Stanners – welcome to St. Anne’s and first of all congratulations! All of the hard work and stress that you have faced to get here, which will have only been exacerbated by the craziness of the pandemic, have finally paid off. Each and everyone of you should be beyond proud of yourselves and even if it doesn’t quite feel like it yet, you deserve to be here! After only my first year of Oxford, and a rather unusual one at that, I can already guarantee that you are going to have the best time during your time here and will find your place and people, just like everyone else.I hope that you have all had the most fantastic summer and have enjoyed yourselves, whether you’ve been taking the lifted restrictions by storm or chilling with friends, family etc. My name is Holly Boyle, and I will be your JCR Vice President this coming year. I am ecstatic to help make your transition from school/college to university as smooth as it can possibly be and make your first year at Oxford one to remember. One of the first things you’ll find to be a bit of a culture shock will be the alien Oxford jargon. What is Michaelmas? Who are the JCR? What is a bop? What is a college parent? The use of all of these words and more will become like second nature and it just takes a bit of time to adjust to the way things work around here. You will hear the phrase ‘JCR’ thrown around especially often – but what exactly is it? The JCR, or Junior Common Room, has several meanings within the college. It can refer to the Danson Room, a room in college which (Covid-permitting) will act as the social and political hub of Anne’s where the general meeting will be hosted each week or where you will often find me and the President, Vivian, having overly-competitive games of table football! ‘JCR’ can also refer to the collective body of undergraduate students, and you may even here the committee referred to as the ‘JCR’ too. Rumours are abundant about student life here, but I can assure you that there is no such thing as a ‘typical Oxford Student’, and the people you meet here will have experienced all different walks of life. The St. Anne's JCR often prides itself on having one of the most welcoming, supportive, inclusive, down-to-earth and familial body of students. Other Colleges may be the host of historic landmarks, or famous movie settings, but the rich source of St. Anne's has always been 'the people'. Our differences are respected, promoted and celebrated – they are the glue that holds us together rather than what tears us apart. From the outreach rooms in the Tim Gardam Building (the new library) to the picnic benches and marquees on the Quad, you'll rarely miss the laughter and buzz of student life. Everyone says this about their own college, but as a law student I know how to be objective, and I can guarantee you will find that St. Anne's is quite literally the best College. Although it is relatively modern, there is no doubt that we have an incredibly rich and momentous history. Ever since its early beginnings as the Association for the Education of Women – the very first institution at the University to provide an accessible Oxford education to women – St. Anne's College has ensured that it remains at the progressive forefront. Our aspiration has always been to understand the world and change it for the better. Though we sometimes shoulder the nickname of ‘that far-out College’ (a ten minute walk from Tesco’s is not ‘far-out’ thank you very much), our presence is well-known. Our location and modern architecture also shield us away from the archaic, intimidating Oxford feel, while maintaining the traditions that make us unique. With 100,000 volumes and 150 study spaces across two buildings (not including all of the outside Trinity-term study spaces we had this year to combat the Covid restrictions), our library collection is among the largest of any Oxford College, so you'll rarely need to make the trek to the centre of town in dire need of a book. If you need anymore convincing, check out Access Rep Danyaal’s video about what the current students have to say about Anne’s: link here! Any concerns you may have about the infamous workload that an Oxford education entails are only natural, but you should never doubt yourself. Imposter syndrome is a very real feeling that almost every student here faces, most prominently in their first year at Oxford because of the adjustment period and being surrounded by so many intelligent people on a daily basis. It may take a few weeks of getting used to, but eventually the work will start to fly by, and you can leave each term knowing that you've achieved so much more than you ever thought you could. Each and every one of you have rightfully earned your place here. Every tutorial is a unique opportunity to learn directly from world-leading experts at the top of their academic field, but Oxford life can be so much more than that. From midnight excursions exploring Oxford and hopefully the return of exhilarating club nights, the social life at Oxford provides all students with the perfect opportunity to unwind. As well as this, the diverse range of clubs and societies that the University has on offer will cater to anyone's interests, so don't hesitate to dive straight in! First Year was an absolute whirlwind for me – with many highs and a few lows – but no matter what it is sure to be a time you will never forget. As Vice-President, I'm lucky to be joining an incredible group of Helpers for Freshers' Week who will be on hand 24/7 to make sure you're having as much fun as possible, while also addressing any concerns you may have or questions about your new life at university. Whether you prefer partying every night or watching a few movies with your close friends, we've made sure that there is an event for anyone. I am so lucky to be part of an amazing JCR Committee, who you'll quickly get to know in your first few weeks. Please feel free to come up to any of us for a chat or email us if you have any questions before you arrive! (My email is [email protected] – see below for the others!). We're here to make sure that your student life is as comfortable as possible. St. Anne's College was designed in 1879 to be ‘Your Home Away From Home’, and we intend to do our absolute best to continue this long- standing tradition. Enjoy the rest of your summer! I’m beyond excited to meet all of you so very soon. VP, Holly
THE JCR COMMITTEE
President: Vivian A (She/Her)
Hello everyone! My name is Vivian (Viv), I live in London, I'm a second-year law student and I’m your JCR President for the forthcoming year. As your JCR President my job is to represent YOU at a college-level and university-wide. I am always available for a chat, so feel free to message me if you have any questions about college affairs. This includes any concerns you have before arriving that you don’t know how to navigate. I truly want to ensure that you enjoy and get the most out of your first year at St Annes, so do not hesitate to contact me as I am open to hear your ideas and voice those ideas to the ‘higher bodies’ of the college. Always feel free to say hi and stop me for a chat, when you see around college. I and the rest of the JCR committee are excited to have you all become members of the St Anne’s community and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you!
Vice-President: Holly Boyle (She/Her) Hey all! I’m Holly, a second-year Law with French Law student, and I’m really looking forward to being your Vice-President this forthcoming year. I’m from York, the sacred North, although my accent may betray me – with even Principal Helen King donning me a ‘Posh Northerner’… My role as VP in Freshers’ will be helping to organise the events (which should be *slightly* more in line with the traditional university standard compared to what we experienced last year) along with coordinating the Freshers’ Reps who will be there to answer all your questions and introduce you to St. Anne’s. Throughout the rest of the year you’ll be able to find me all over college, particularly in the Danson Room chairing general meetings or in the old library mid-essay crisis! SO looking forward to meeting you all – be sure to say hi whenever you see me around college!
Secretary: Abena Boatey (She/Her)
Hi everyone, my name is Abena and I’m in my second year reading Medicine. This academic year I will be the secretary for the JCR, a fantastic opportunity for me to see how students run St Annes by organising general meetings and elections :) Being secretary means I get to help with everything being set up and communicating with the whole JCR bringing you weekly events and updates , meaning I will get to meet and talk with a lot of you on a weekly basis. And I also get to flex my organisation muscle, as well as attend exciting meetings about potential changes and important decisions in and about college, where I will be taking minuetes. I hope to welcome you all to the St Annes community, meanwhile if you have any questions about St Anne’s or just want a friendly chat don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected]
Treasurer: Kane Moylett (He/Him)
Hi guys my name is Kane (he/him) and I am this years treasurer. That means I’m the go to guy if you want some money for anything JCR related or think of anything that needs spending on. Anne’s doesn’t have the biggest budget, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything. So if you think of something you think we need, contact me and we can discuss putting a JCR motion in :)
Student union rep: Jake Millikan (He/Him)
Hi! I’m Jacob, but I go by Jake. I’m a second year History student here at Anne's. As your Student Union rep this year, my job is to ensure that Stanners have a voice and that our views and interests are properly represented on the SU Council. I am responsible for publicising the issues on the SU’s agenda and ensuring that Stanners are kept up to date with what is happening in the SU. Including posting the date, time and location of each meeting and the motions being discussed. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Alumnae Rep: Faye reader (She/Her) Hi! I'm Faye and I study Law and will be your Alumnae Relations Officer this year. As part of the role I will be organising events that will allow you to meet St Anne's alumnae and ensure that there are plenty of networking opportunities. I will also be the main point of contact if you want to get in touch with alumni and i am here if you want to know more about the SAS. If you have any questions or suggestions for events you would find helpful then please do get in touch and I am happy to chat :) I look forward to meeting you all!
Women’s Rep: Hannah Hopkins(She/Her)
Heya I'm Hannah and I'm very excited to be your Women's rep this year! One of my main roles is maintaining the sanitary product service (where you can fill out a form to have sanitary products delivered to your pidge completely free of charge). I will also be planning a few events this year including talks, concerts, book clubs and film nights. Please do get in touch if you have any questions or if you just want a chat. I look forward to seeing you all in college soon!
Welfare Reps: Victoria Sanatana (She/Her) & Proshcanto Chanda (He/Him)
Hi! We're Prosh and Vicky, your welfare reps this year. We're here to support and provide you with resources to improve your wellbeing. You can come to us with any problem, no matter how small it seems, as us and the peer supporters alike will be glad to have a confidential chat or redirect you to the professional welfare team if need be. You can also join our lighthearted events throughout the year for a more informal ~welfarey~ experience, or make use of our sexual health scheme, where you can anonymously ask for free condoms/pregnancy tests! Stay safe and enjoy your first year at Oxford!
Disabilities Rep: Kaleb Ells (He/Him)
Hi, I’m Kaleb, a second year English student and your Disabilities Rep this year. Aside from combing the College grounds for our resident quadrumvirate of cats and roaming north Oxford in search of new cafes, I’m here to support any students with disabilities or health issues, whether diagnosed or not. So, please, send any questions about life in Oxford with a disability, how to find right support, and anything else my way. Crucially, I’m also here and happy to listen, whether it’s about the access or workload, DSA or support plans, and beyond. If you see me around College, ask or talk away, and you’re always free to email me at [email protected].
Entz Reps: Ben Evans (He/Him) & Leila Symonds(She/Her)
Hi there! Leila and Ben here, your ENTZ (entertainment) reps for this year. Our job is to organise and run college events, ranging from bar quizzes and alpaca walking, to movie nights and bops. COVID-19 has restricted the number of large events that college has been able to run in the past year, but we’re remaining optimistic about the upcoming year and will provide you with top-quality entertainment whatever happens.
Arts Rep: Lorenzo Allchurch (He/Him)
Hey guys I’m Lorenzo and I’m very excited to be your Arts Rep this year. I’m a second-year English student mainly interested in theatre, creative writing, and film in all shapes and sizes (but more than happy to help anybody with anything!). I know there are so many talented people in Annes and I’m so excited to provide opportunities for anyone to express themselves creatively and to put like-minded people together. We’re going to have a great year for the arts and I can’t wait for what you all have to offer!
International Rep: Fabian Bourdeux (He/Him)
Hey everyone! My name is Fabian and I am a 2nd year Materials Scientist. I'm half French half German and have moved from country to country all my life. I know personally what changing culture and having to adapt is like and will do my best to help you all through it. I will be putting on some events so you can get to know more people. If you have any questions or general concerns, you can reach me on Facebook or at Fabian.bourdeaux@st- annes.ox.ac.uk. I look forward to meeting you all!
BAME Rep: Katherin Lai (She/Her)
Hi! I'm Katherine, but I go by Kat and I'm a second year History and Politics student as well as your BAME Rep this year. Now more than ever it's important to recognise that St Anne's and Oxford is part of a wider global community and that we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves, respect others and to fight injustices. I hope to organise events and socials and I will make it a priority to ensure that students of colour are kept up to date with all opportunities available for them. Most of all, I want to be a point of access for you and another friendly face around college. If you have any concerns or want to know anything else, please don't hesitate to message or email me!!
Equal Opportunities Rep: Imogen Creavin (She/Her)
Hello! I’m Immy, and as well as studying English Language and Literature, I’m your Equal Opportunities Rep this year. In this role I manage the Equalities Committee which is made up of the LGBTQ+, BAME, Women’s, Disabilities and Access Reps. Our objective is to continue to combat the inequalities and prejudices faced by members of our St. Anne’s community. It is imperative that we actively maintain the college’s vibrant and inclusive environment. I am here to listen to any concerns you may have regarding these issues, and help move through the right channels to get appropriate support. Most of my time is spent faffing about in Hartland House, so please do not hesitate to speak to me in person, or contact me via email, [email protected] to raise concerns and questions, or just chat! I will organise the running of Equalities Week during Hilary term, as well as numerous events throughout the year that hopefully won’t have to be held online! Access Rep: Danyaal Abdul(He/Him)
Hi, I’m Dan, a second-year materials scientist and I’ll be your access rep this year! My role involves helping tackle any myths or obstacles students face during the Oxford application process so students can make a successful application regardless of their background. I’m also here to help anyone who feels they’re struggling to fit in as I form part of the equalities committee. If you have any questions or just want to talk feel free to send a message or stop me for a chat!
Academic Affairs Rep: Elsie Clark (she/her)
Hi, I'm Elsie, a second year studying Ancient and Modern History, and I'll be your Academic Affairs Officer for 2021/22. One of the things I love about St Anne's is its laid back academic environment - here, there is no pressure to be achieving a First from Week 1 and both students and staff are very supportive in ensuring we undergrads strive for our personal best without burning ourselves out. However, should you have any problems or concerns with your tutors or tutorials, please get in touch with me - my email/messages are always open! I will also be sending out the termly tutorial review, where you can give honest and anonymous feedback on your teaching in college. I can't wait to meet you all and I hope everyone has a great first year!
IT Rep: Sam Davis (He/Him) Hi all, I'm Sam and I will be your IT officer for this year. I study Maths and Computer Science so I should (hopefully) have the technical ability to solve most of your IT problems and those that I am unable to help with I can direct you to the relevant university/college level IT support. I will be around the Freshers areas of college during Freshers week so feel free to talk to me there or send me a message through Facebook or email and will be contactable through Facebook and email for the rest of the year.
Sports Rep: Adam Coates(He/Him)
Hi everyone, I’m Adam and I am the Sports Rep for college this year. I’m a second year PPEist. I’d really encourage as many of you as possible to get involved with college sport, whether that be by joining one of the many sports teams we offer here at Anne’s, going to weekly Zumba or having a post library burnout in the college gym. Getting involved in college sport is a great way to meet new people, exercise regularly and is a great stress relief from the Oxford workload. Plus, the different sports teams run regular crew dates and socials so you will be able to meet lots of people from college and other colleges! If you are interested in playing sport at university level, teams will be holding trials during Freshers’ week, so make sure to look up the club on Facebook/Instagram for more information (or message me and I can find out for you). LGBTQ+ Rep: Adam Possener (He/Him)
Hey everyone, my name’s Adam and I’m a second year studying music. I’m also the LGBTQ+ rep for this year which means I’ll be organising a range of different LGBTQ+ events both within St Anne’s and alongside other colleges. It also means that I’m here for you if you have any questions or concerns about LGBTQ+ life at Oxford, so feel free to reach out to me at any point!
Environment Rep: Kelsey Monteith (She/Her)
Hi, my name is Kelsey. I’m a second year Geography student (shocker…). I’m environmentally obsessed in my personal life, so this is a great opportunity for me to try and have a wider impact and hopefully inspire others to do the same. I’m aiming to build on the work of the previous Environmental Officer and develop some new ideas to help St Anne’s become greener and more sustainable. I’m always open for a chat and meeting new people, and I’m happy to help with any queries or listen to any ideas you may have, so don’t be shy! Email: [email protected]
Charities & RAG Rep: Rosa King (She/Her)
Hi everyone! I’m Rosa, a second-year chemist, and I’m so excited to be your Charities and RAG Rep for the upcoming year. My role involves charity both in college and as part of RAG (Raise and Give), which is the central charity organisation in Oxford that coordinates university-wide charity events, challenges and competitions. There is a really broad range of charity, fundraising and volunteering events to get involved in, hosted both in and out of college; at the beginning of Michaelmas term there is a chance to nominate and vote for a charity that will be supported by St Anne’s for the year. There are so many opportunities to take part and I’d love to hear any suggestions or questions you may have, so feel free to contact me at [email protected] x
Tortoise Ranger: Lucy Thopmson (She/Her) and Megan Jenkins Carson (She/Her)
Hi everyone! We’re Megan and Lucy and we’ll be your tortoise rangers for next year. We’re both second year linguists (Lucy studies French and Italian and Megan studies Spanish and History). We’re really excited to find a new tortoise for next year and to continue Tortellini’s legacy of winning the Corpus Christi tortoise race. We’re going to make sure that our new St Anne’s tortoise is happy and becomes a loved member of the St Anne’s community. Most importantly, we are going to make sure that this tortoise becomes a viral sensation and puts St Anne’s on the map. YOUR FRESHERS HELPERS
These are your Freshers Helpers; they’ll be your first point of contact if you have any questions during Freshers Week including subject-related ones. Feel Free to contact them on Facebook, Instagram or in person!
Name: Vivian Abrokwah (She/Her) Subject: Law Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Live your best life
Name: Holly Boyle (She/Her) Subject: Law Hometown: York Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Try not to fall victim to the temptation of trying to do everything in the first week of university! There will be so much going on within college and the wider university in Freshers’ Week – remember you need time to breathe and don’t feel pressured to try and do it all in fear of missing out! Michaelmas is a marathon so make sure you’re taking time to rest and recover as well as enjoying yourself, experiencing new activities and meeting new people.
Name: Leila Symonds (She/Her) Subject: Law Hometown: Stafford Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Bring a door stop with you to keep your door open during Freshers’ Week! It’s a great way to meet your housemates and make some friends :)
Name: Proshanto Chanda (He/Him) Subject: Computer Science Hometown: Birmingham Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Go to as many in person society socials as possible and meet people from other colleges.
Name: Victoria Santana (She/Her) Subject: Physics Hometown: Madrid Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Get some sunlight! Rays of sun are kind of scarce and precious in Oxford (lol), and it's really worth taking a break to soak them in.
Name: Adam Possener (He/Him) Subject: Music Hometown: Norwich Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Your first essay/problem sheet isn’t as important as you think it is! So don’t spend all your time in the library, focus on having a good time.
Name: Abena Boatey (She/Her) Subject: Medicine Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Open yourself to all experiences and free yourself from expectations.
Name: Adam Coates(He/Him) Subject: PPE Hometown: Epsom Email: adam.coates @st-annes.ox.ac.uk Top Tip: Make the most of the opportunity to meet new faces, don't be afraid to approach people- you’ll look back at your first term and will be glad you did!
Name: Kaleb Ells(She/Her) Subject: English Hometown: Birmingham Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Everyone’s nervous in Freshers Week, even if they don't seem to be. If you want some time away from the busyness, it's always worth asking someone on a walk to get to know them a bit better (everyone’s happy to be asked!) or taking some time to unwind.
Name: Kane Moylett(He/Him) Subject: Law Hometown: Scunthorpe Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Don’t be afraid to just start a conversation! Everyone is feeling the same awkwardness and they will really appreciate it!!
Name: Will Allfrey (He/Him) Subject: Maths Hometown: Middle of nowhere, Dorset Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Don’t date your college wife :))
Name: Lorenzo Allchurch He/Him) Subject: English language and literature Hometown: Amsterdam Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Back yourself and don’t be closed off to the idea of new experiences, people, and environments even if they might be daunting at first. You’ll settle into your own unique rhythm at Oxford sooner than you might think.
Name: George Fitzmaurice (he/Her) Subject: English language and literature Hometown: Wirral Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Remember everyone is as nervous as you so dont be self conscious, just talk to as many people as you can and have a good time.
Name: Chloe Glynn(She/Her) Subject: Geography Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Say yes to every opportunity, especially social events in your first few weeks.
Name: Olamide Taiwo (She/Her) Subject: Classics Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Welfare is especially good at St Anne’s so if something is bothering you there are so many people who really want to help you out.
Name: Alaw Owen (She/They) Subject - French and Beginners’ Italian Hometown - Nefyn (small Welsh town in the middle of nowhere) Email - [email protected] Top tip - Feel no pressure to get out of your comfort zone and go about this week at your own pace; I didn’t make some of my friends until the summer term!
Name: Oscar Hill (He/Him) Subject: Physics Hometown: Plymouth Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Bikes make life so much easier, bring one!
Name: Chloe Glynn(She/Her) Subject: Geography Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Say yes to every opportunity, especially social events in your first few weeks.
Name: Zab Oliver(She/Her) Subject: History Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Don't put too much pressure on yourself in Freshers week- remember to take time to look after yourself! Also open mindedness is super important :))) Name: Sam Davis (He/Him) Subject: Biochemistry Hometown: Nottingham Email: [email protected] Top Tip: It's probably the last time you'll be able to get away with going up to someone and saying "Let's be friends" so make the most of it. Everyone's probably feeling the same as you, take the opportunity to meet loads of new people but if it gets too much, make sure you take a break.
Name: Tilly Rousham (She/Her) Subject: Biology Hometown: Loughborough Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Don’t wear heels on matriculation
Name: Lexie Turner(She/Her) Subject: Experimental Psychology Hometown: Wolverhampton Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Put yourself out there and talk to everyone, you’re all in the same boat!
Name: Danyaal Abdul (He/Him) Subject: Material Science Hometown: Preston Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Talk to as many people as you can in fresher’s week, everyone’s in the same boat so make the most of meeting new people by introducing yourself to every new face !
Name: Jake Milikan (He/Him) Subject: History Hometown: London Email: [email protected] Top Tip: Sign up to, and get involved in, as much stuff as possible, you meet loads of people and it's very rewarding.
Name: Faye Reader (She/her) Subject: Law Hometown: Wokingham Top tip: Try to get to know as many people as possible and when it comes to work don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. ACCOMODATION
Wolfson: It may be brutalist from the outside but has a lot to offer! You can expect to have a sink with a mirror and a balcony, that most other rooms in Freshers buildings don’t have. Expect big kitchens with good storage space too!
The Bevs (The Bevington Houses): The infamous Bevs, You could be lucky and get a huge room, but you could also be stuck with a fairly small one. Most of the rooms are a pretty decent size though. Most Kitchens also are quite spacious but one or two are small. Be prepared to bring along a mirror, some rooms don’t have one.
Woodstock: Rooms in Woodstock range quite a lot inside but are all fairly spacious. All rooms come with sinks and mirrors and there are quite a lot of bathrooms: around six in the building. The kitchen is really large and is shared by everyone in the building. It is a great social space so there is a definite community feel here!
ATB (Above The Bar): All rooms in ATB are quite big, and have nice large windows. The layout of the building itself is quite a maze and takes some getting used to. There are no rooms with mirros so make sure you bring one! Kitchens are fairly small but there is ample storage space so you don’t need to worry.
WHAT TO PACK
For the Kitchen: ● Saucepans, Frying Pans ● Chopping Board & a decent knife ● Plates, Bowls and Cutlery ● Glasses & Mugs ● Colander, Grater (useful but not essential) ● Food!! Stock up from your parents while you can
For your Room: ● Stationary e.g. notebooks, pens ● Clothes Hangers ● Clothes, Fancy Dress (for bops) ● Towels & Toiletries ● Chargers, extension cables are useful! ● Speakers ● Mattress topper ENTZ
As your ENTZ reps, we’re in charge of organising and running college events.The COVID- 19 pandemic prevented college from running a lot of large events last year, but with the recent relaxation of restrictions we hope to make up for it (safely) this year! St Anne’s is known for being friendly and we can’t wait to meet you all and introduce you to our college traditions!
Despite their reputation, Oxford students do have social lives and there’s something for everyone at St Anne’s. We’re close to loads of pubs and parks (for picnics) and are not far from the city’s clubs too. Jericho is also five minutes down the road and is full of quaint cafes and pubs
St Anne’s also has plenty of outside spaces. The college quad is always full of people studying and relaxing in Trinity Term, and University Parks is right by the back gate for picnics and sports games. Port Meadow is also frequented by students when the sun’s out, and is a hot spot for swimming in the River Isis.
At the time of writing, clubs have recently opened in the UK and, fingers crossed, will stay open! In Oxford, there is a club night for every day of the week. Students enjoy cheaper drinks at ATIK’s Broke Mondays, great music at Plush on a Tuesday after LGBTQ+ drinks, sporting crewdates at Park End Wednesdays, the outside bar of Bridge on Thursdays, Fever Fridays and O2/Bully events on Saturdays. There’s always something going on!
BOPS Bops are a huge tradition at Oxford. They are essentially informal college parties, often with a theme (80s, festival etc). At St Anne’s, they happen in the dining hall and everyone dresses up following the theme. St Anne’s also hosts larger ‘mega bops’ where tickets are also sold to students from other colleges. Bops are a great way to meet both other freshers and students across the university!
FORMALS Formal meals are another Oxford tradition. They happen fairly rarely at St Anne’s which makes them all the more special. Everyone dresses smartly and enjoys a three-course meal in the dining hall
BALLS The majority of balls in Oxford have been cancelled in the last two Trinity Terms, but this means there is ever-growing excitement for Trinity 2022! College balls are one of the most memorable Oxford experiences and, although they can be expensive, they are totally worth it. Expect top entertainment and a party lasting all night. WELFARE Hi freshers - welcome to St. Annes! We're Prosh (a second-year computer science and philosophy student) and Vicky (a second-year physics student), and we're happy to be your welfare reps this year! The last two years have been tough on all of us, and really tough on some of us. But a clearing is in sight, and although most of us won't be able to get back what we have lost, we'll do our best to make this year better. As welfare affects many parts of each of our lives, our roles are very varied, and we run several different events and schemes for your benefit. We run weekly welfare teas where you can come for (free!!!) snacks, have a nice chat with other students, and step away from work a bit. We also plan lighthearted events where you can have some stress-free fun, and we have a lot in store for this year (Vicky: We WILL be watching Ponyo aka the cutest movie ever)! Hopefully we’ll be able to do many such events in person. We also carry out the beloved “text-a-chocolate” scheme, where you can send other stanners (St.-Anne-ers :D) a nice message along with some chocolate to their pidge. Other than running events, we organise the sexual health scheme, where we anonymously provide free condoms, pregnancy tests, and other necessities to any students who need them. We're also part of the peer supporters, which are other St. Anne's students who are trained by the Student Union in listening to any concerns you may have, and be able to direct you to any resources if need be, including the college's professional welfare staff. Speaking of which, we're also the main point of contact between the you (the students) and the welfare staff. They're all lovely people, and we'll be happy to direct you to whichever person/resource is best in your case if you choose to pursue it. But fret not (about missing events)! Everything will be publicised on the JCR page well in advance and it will be quite hard to miss them (Vicky: I can be veeeeery insistent). You will get a bunch of flyers and there's posters around about the schemes and peer supporters so don't worry! If not just send Prosh or Vicky (or both) an email. Keep an eye out for us in fresher's week! We're really looking forwards to meeting you!!! :D Have a welfarey year!!! Xxx
FOOD AT ST ANNE’S
At St Anne's we're proud of our chefs who have won awards in national competitions-not something most Colleges can claim. During the week, College offers three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and on weekends there is only brunch - by far the best and most eagerly anticipated meal of the week. There is always at least one vegetarian option (which is almost always vegan too) provided at all meals, and menus are available online, on the JCR website, for the week. The Chef and his team cater to all dietary needs; simply make yourself known to a member of the Dining Hall staff and they will be more than happy to help. We are also particularly excited about our new Head Chef, who has been with us for one year now. As the former Head Chef at Turl Street Kitchen (a fancy and incredibly popular restaurant in the centre of town), the meals at Anne's have been getting even better, and we hear that he has plans to experiment with some new street food options!
PRICE & PAYMENT
Food is subsidised with main courses for lunch and dinner at about £3.50. However, soft drinks aren't subsidised (so it might be worth kicking your Diet Coke addiction before coming up). Brunch is perhaps the best value for money, as you can get a full English for just over £2!
At the start of each term, £125 from your battels (a fancy Oxford word for a domestic bill from College) will be credited to your Bod Card (University card), which you pay in the first few weeks of each term. Every time you purchase something in Halls, you will scan your card - YOU MUST HAVE IT WITH YOU!! It is possible for this to last you the whole term, but only if you stick to eating the very basics. Most people have to top up their Bod Cards before the end of term. This can be done on the Weblearn service online and may take a while to get used to - ask a second year if you need help. Any money that hasn't been used on your Bod Card will be refunded on your battels at the start of the next term and your balance will be renewed to £125. Tip: CARRY YOUR BOD CARD EVERYWHERE! Tuck it in your phone or lanyard. It is both a form of your student identification and a key to get into relevant college and for libraries and department buildings as well as allowing you to be able to buy food in hall and STACS.
FORMAL HALL
A 3-course meal served to your table (with food of an even higher standard than normal hall meals), complemented with by coffee and chocolates. Formals usually cost around £14.50 with wine and occur about five times a term (once a fortnight + one charity formal). The online booking system gives you the option to register any dietary requirements and to have wine with your meal, selected and subsidised by the College. You are also able to register any dietary requirements. Suits and dresses are to be expected so take this rare opportunity to show off your suave side! Sometimes there may even be a fancy drinks reception in Ruth Deech Building beforehand, especially at the more popular formal events, such as the Family and Sports formals
STACS
The St Anne's Coffee Shop is open every day of term from 09:30 - 18:30, including Sundays. STACS is perfect for your caffeine fix, offers a famous pizza range, smoothies, cakes - basically all you could want. Best of all, you can pay using your Bod Card like in the hall, which means that it doesn't feel as though you're spending real money ..
SELF-CATERING
Whichever accommodation you end up living in, you will be guaranteed a kitchen/kitchenette, so if you fancy yourself as a bit of a Jamie Oliver, aren't able to make it to the dining hall during mealtimes, or have specific tastes or dietary needs, then do not worry; you will be able to cook for yourself. Every kitchen comes equipped with a: fridge, freezer, microwave, toaster, hob, oven and kettle. (Make sure you declare any food allergies - the wonderful kitchen staff are able to cater to practically everything, and it's important that the college nurse knows, just in case).
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
St Anne's cares a lot about sustainability and this is seen in all aspects of college life, from our bee friendly plants to our food! Our kitchen uses locally sourced produce and has drastically reduced their plastic use, and the vegetarian and vegan options are really tasty (we were in the top 10 on the Veggie Norrington Table which ranks the colleges on how good their veggie options are!)
We also run a variety of schemes to help students make eco-friendly decisions including: ● A bike sharing scheme to help you get around Oxford quickly and with a low carbon footprint (email [email protected] for more information) ● A food sharing scheme to reduce our food waste https://www.facebook.com/groups/1188619734862356 ● Distribution of sustainable period products (email hannah.hopkins@st- annes.ox.ac.uk for more information)
To find out more about how to live sustainably in Oxford, look at our St Anne's Sustainability Handbook including advice on where to shop, environmental campaigns to get involved in, tips on reducing energy consumption, and more!
BIKES
Bikes are certainly great for getting about Oxford quickly, however, many people survive without a bicycle. If you are keen to get a bicycle then you should head down to the OUSU early on in the week, as they always have a good sale on bikes left behind from last year. Walton Street Bike Shop is also a place to look if you are willing to splash out the cash, or Decathlon outside of central Oxford. The Police have recently clamped down on cycling without lights, so make sure you get a light for your bike! Obviously, a sturdy bike lock and a helmet are also essential. The Lodge even sells cheap helmets -some departments have sales at the start of each term, and you can often find a stall near the RadCam in Michaelmas giving free high-vis stickers. The St Anne's Bike scheme allows you to borrow one of the colleges own bikes up to 4 times a week for a fairly cheap termly price. Contact the lodge if you would like to join this scheme!
BUSES
There is a bus system in Oxford, however this is on the pricey side for students for some companies! Return tickets around Oxford to outer locations like Cowley, lffley and Headington lie in the £3-4 range. For journeys to the Oxford Airport the prices lie around £20. We're lucky St Anne's has a bus stop right outside the front and back entrances! SPORTS
Undoubtedly one of the best aspects of college life is getting involved in college sport. Whether you want to get involved as part of your daily exercise, as a beginner or are looking for more serious competition, there are a range of abilities, sports and teams here at Anne's. Most teams will be running a stall at the St Anne's Freshers Fair, if not, feel free to contact Eve, our sports rep, at [email protected] or our club captains for more information on how to get involved.
ROWING
Rowing is the sport closest to many St Anne's students' hearts. You only have to see the Boat Race to understand how big rowing is at Oxford, and College level rowing is a great way to get involved. Whether you're chasing blades or just looking for a challenging workout in a team setting, the numerous College crews competing at termly regattas can cater for all abilities - many members of the crew hadn't been on the water, or even a rowing machine, before they came to Oxford! The intensity of land training and outings is also matched by the intensity of the Boat Club's social calendar. Crew dates for both Men's and Women's crews are a great way to meet people at other Colleges, and regular team curries and SABC dinners are another highlight of the College social calendar. If you don't think you'll enjoy rowing but still want to be involved, you can always try your hand at coxing. The Boat Club is always on the lookout for these essential members of the crew, so if you're interested feel free to get in touch and give it a go. No experience is required; you just need an authoritative stance and a loud voice! Get involved!
MEN’S FOOTBALL
A proud sporting institution, St Anne's Football Club, better known as the Mint Green Army (MGA), has three teams catering for all levels of ability. It promises to be another exciting season, as the First XI looks to build on one of the best seasons in recent memory, which saw the MGA, captained by Giresh Ram, finish 4th in the Premier Division. This is the top league of college football and off the back of successive promotions, retaining our place in this league was a serious achievement. Looking ahead to this season, we retain most of the 1st XI but have spaces for Freshers to step up to represent the College. The goal for this season is to have a proper run in Cuppers (cup competition for all colleges), something we have failed to do for far too long now, as well as mount a title challenge in the league. The Seconds and Thirds are also looking to build on promising years, so there is a lot to look forward to next season. As well as Oxford's best pitch and kit, the MGA are also known for their famous curry nights. We are also invited to play in the uni-wide Futsal League in the Summer, so if 5-a-side is more your thing, then there is also something for you!
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Our women's football team, The Saints, is made up of members from St Anne's and St John's colleges. We had enormous success last season in the top division, winning the double of the first division league as well as cuppers. It was the best possible season and stands us in an excellent position to build on this year. In Hilary and Trinity, we compete in futsal indoor league. We' d love to see as many freshers give football a go. Many of our team members had never touched a football before joining so don't worry about inexperience -everyone is welcome. We're a team that loves to have fun and have organized nights throughout the year where we either hang out or have social events with other teams. We have weekly training sessions and matches on the weekends. It's a great way to relieve stress and get out into beautiful university parks.
NETBALL
St Anne's mixed netball team has continued its success from last year, winning many games against colleges to remain in the second division. Netball matches take place on Thursday or Friday lunchtimes. College netball is not a huge commitment but is a great opportunity to get in a quick run around between lectures and meet people from other year groups. Win or lose, we always leave the games smiling! As well as playing, we often have lunch as a team and the socials throughout the year include crew dates and curries at Jamal's. The team is fun and energetic and would love to welcome as many new players as possible, no matter your ability. We look forward to meeting you in Michaelmas!
RUGBY
St Anne's/St John's Rugby Team (AK.A. The Saints!) is a joint college rugby team that strikes the balance between excellent sporting standards and a buzzing social scene. Widely regarded as the best college rugby team in Oxford, having won multiple awards and trophies, The Saints remains all-inclusive and open to all experience levels. There's something for everyone in this big, rugby-loving family.
OTHER SPORTS WE OFFER
We offer many more sports including cricket, rounders, lacrosse, tennis, badminton, hockey and squash that compete weekly and in cuppers, which are intercollege tournaments. There is sure to be something on the sports scene at Anne's that suits you! There will be many chances to sign up for one of these teams, but your best opportunity is at the college freshers fair in fresher’s week. Hope to see you there! If you are interested in setting up/leading a new sport please feel free to get in touch with me, my email address is [email protected].
FACILITIES
St Anne's has its own gym and weight room in college which you can access year-round for £17 a year. These rooms have a number of cardio machines including bikes, treadmills and cross-trainers and are due to be renovated in the very near future! They are perfect for a quick sweat at the end of a long day. If the college fitness rooms don't quite cater for your gym needs, membership to the gym and swimming facilities at the University Sports Centre at lffley Road is also a reasonable price. Anne's also shares a sports ground with St John's which is known as "The Fortress" and is about a five- minute cycle from St Anne's up Woodstock Road. It has arguably the best-kept pitches in Oxford, with a rugby pitch, football pitch, three hard tennis courts and three grass tennis courts accessible in the summer. The tennis courts are free to use (compared to the £5.45 you would pay at lffley Road). If you are interested in booking a court, please message me on Facebook or email me at adam.coates@st- annes.ox.ac.uk
VARISTY SKI TRIP
The Varsity Ski Trip is a massive event on Oxford's calendar in which Oxford and Cambridge students travel to the French Alps for 6 days of partying, skiing and alpine bliss! Older than the Winter Olympic Games, what started out as the Blues Ski races has now become a renowned 3000+ student strong annual event in the Christmas vacation. Whether you are an experienced slalom racer or complete beginner, the Varsity Ski trip is for you. The whole trip, including ski hire and lessons, are heavily subsidised by the university, making it one of the cheapest ski trips out there, and many of the students heading out there will be beginners so don't stress if you've never strapped on skis before! Skiing is only one part of this fabulous trip; relax at the end of the day at après, dance your heart out at the massive opening and closing night parties, and enjoy the many other events that take place throughout the week. Big names from years gone by include Calvin Harris, Tinie Tempah, Disclosure, Example, Rudimental and Sigala - be sure to expect artists of equal calibre this year. For more information, there will be a stall at the freshers' fairs.
UNI LEVEL SPORT
If you are super passionate about sport, I really recommend trying to get involved in university level (blues) sport. To sign up for a team, look out for information about trials at the virtual university Freshers’ fair. Most university sports clubs will have a Facebook or Instagram where you’ll be able to find out more information about their teams. If you’re not sure where to start, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me and I’ll be happy to help point you in the right direction! Transitioning into life in Oxford is a massive change for everyone and initially the work can feel overwhelming. I know from my first year experience of university netball that balancing university sport, your work (lectures, tutes, classes/labs) and social life is very much possible. If at any point you are struggling to get involved in something you want to be doing or having difficulty balancing a super busy schedule (because we have all been there), please feel free to send me a message and I will try to give you some advice about managing everything.
St Anne’s is filled with talented sports stars who also have plenty of experience of Blues-level sport so there’s likely to be someone at college who you can talk to about the specific sport you’re interested in. We can even boast about having a Stanner, Amelia Standing, as the Stroke in the Women’s Firsts Boat this past year! The costs associated with university level sport (subs, kit, varsity etc) are subsidised by the college and there is usually support available from the sports club so do not fret if you feel that you may be limited by funds. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions! MUSIC AT ST ANNE’S
St Anne’s has a thriving music scene, with opportunities for all levels of performers. Whether you’re the next Sir Simon Rattle or Mr Hudson (both St Anne’s alumni), or just enjoy a casual jam now and again, you will certainly find what you’re looking for here at St Anne’s.
If you enjoy singing, you could join the STAcapella choir. It is non-auditioning and a casual environment for both those who have sung before and those who just want to have a shot at it! The choir meets once a week during term-time and performs regularly. If you want to have the opportunity to perform in a more casual environment with no commitment, you could take part in the regular open-mic nights in the bar, which always have a good turnout.
The St Anne’s Music Society is a student-led umbrella organisation for the various College music ensembles. The society organises termly concerts in the MOLT, giving students - both those who study music and those who do not - a chance to perform. Alternatively, if playing chamber and orchestral music isn’t really your thing, we also have a new contemporary music ensemble called SACME (St Anne’s Contemporary Music Ensemble). The ensemble performs contemporary music including student compositions, around Oxford. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, the man to talk to is Sam Padfield.
It doesn’t stop there, however. St Anne’s also has its own BoomSoc, a boom whacker group run by our own music student, Maz Sutton. If you fancy learning how to whack plastic tubes to play real pieces of music, you might want to give it a try.
St Anne’s also has music bursaries available for instrumentalists and singers and hosts an annual composition competition! We have annual performance, including our conducting and composition scholars, competitions also being held for these roles each year. If you want to practise playing, you can practise in one of four of St Anne’s practise rooms. You can have access to upright pianos and an ensemble room, which includes a grand piano and a drum kit.
ARTS AND DRAMA
ARTS, FILM, PHOTOGRAPHY, JOURNALISM + St Anne's has a vibrant and exciting artistic culture, which we're always developing, and are especially trying to push this coming year. You can participate in regular workshops held in college, including ones focusing on life-drawing, photography, and film. We also host open- mic nights and weekly film screenings in the MOLT if you have a passion for film.
St Anne's hosts an annual Arts Week, where we promote the artistic talent of the St Anne's students. We will be hosting a series of workshops you can get involved in, and especially this year will be aiming to host an outdoor summer play. You can be a part of this as an actor, composer, director, or producer! The Arts Week will also be aiming to host an exhibition, where both Ruskin Art students and those who study other subjects, can submit work. Get in contact with Zoë, this year’s Arts Rep, at [email protected] if you have any more questions about how you can join in.
We're also hoping to revive student arts journalism this year at St Anne's, with one successful JAR (Jericho Arts Review) issue being published already, another now in the making. The issue included submissions of poetry, painting, prose, photography and more, from our own St Anne's students! You can get involved and contribute - look out for Lucy Goodfellow and Theo Davies posting on the St Anne's JCR on Facebook.
The St Anne's Arts Fund can provide financial support for theatrical productions, publications, and other events, with funding allocated by a panel of college members each term. Look out for application forms in Michaelmas!
DRAMA
You can organise and join in with the in-college annual freshers play which happens in Michaelmas term - where you will be competing with other colleges to put together a performance. Get involved by composing, acting, directing, or producing, regardless of your experience! If you have any more questions about this, please email this year's arts rep, Lorenzo, at [email protected]. We are also hoping to host an outdoor summer play in St Anne's Arts Week, which you can get involved in.
UNIVERSITY WIDE SOCIETIES
In the unlikely event that you cannot do exactly what you want at St Anne's, or if you want to do something more seriously at a higher level, then there will definitely be a university-wide society that can cater for your needs. University- wide societies are also a great way of getting out of College and making friends with people from other Colleges, which is particularly rewarding when they invite you to their Formal Hall. The university wide Freshers Fair will be online this year so check the Oxford SU website for more information and a full list of all the societies available to you.
OUSU
The Oxford University Student Union (to be distinguished from the Oxford Union, discussed below) is the group that works hard to look after students at Oxford. Whether that means promulgating new schemes to help international students settle in or lobbying the university to release more mark schemes. If you have any problems that extend beyond college, then the OUSU can help. Indeed, they can help with college-based problems too. All students are automatically members, and you can log in with your SSO to access resources -campaign materials. They also have guides on university life, applications, workshops and how to make the most out of committee positions. OXFORD UNION
The world-famous Union is the home of debating at Oxford and is both one of Britain's oldest university unions and one of the world's most prestigious students' societies. Whether you are an avid debater or prefer just to have heated discuss with friends, there are opportunities to get involved at many different levels. If you are not so keen on debating yourself, then it may be worth paying the (hefty) fee to join as there are always great speakers, and every Thursday there is an unmissable debate. Recent speakers include Billy Joel, Lord Sugar and Carles Puidgemont, and in the past the Union has hosted the likes of Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Malcolm X and even daytime television superstar Judge Judy. Also notable for its various scandals, some even making the national news (i.e. the recent visits of Steve Bannon and Marine Le Pen). Friday of 7th week each term is usually quite a spectacle as people message you asking you to "go down to the Union" to vote for them, it is easy to see why many politicians started their careers running for a position in the Union. Don’t let that put you off however, it is an incredible and a near enough unique forum for ideas.
DRAMA
If you want to be involved in more than the annual freshers play, there are plenty of ways to get involved with university-level drama, including groups like OUDS (Oxford University Dramatic Society), and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. OUDS has a portal which you can access by visiting their website - where auditions will be listed that you can sign up to for free!
MUSIC There are bands and orchestras of every type and size in Oxford, all with regular concerts. If you want to continue to play your instrument, and Anne's doesn't quite have what you want, then the broader university will step in! Of course, there are choirs and singing ensembles of every type too. Like sports, some of the groups require auditions and can be rather competitive - but there are many less competitive ones too. One great bonus of university music is that there are likely to be music tours or trips abroad.
STUDENT JOURNALISM
Oxford is full of brilliant student journalism and editorial work. You could write for the Cherwell or for the Oxford Student (OxStu), submit to the arts and literature magazines like ‘The 1515, the Oxford Review of Books (The ORB), or The Jericho Arts Review, which is more St Anne's specific. St Anne's seems to have quite a big presence in Oxford's student journalism, so if you're interested there will most likely be someone around college to get you started! You can find the individual publications on Facebook or contact one of the committee reps for more information. This section has only represented a fraction of what is available - there's still the student radio, film societies, the Oxford LGBTO+ Society and many other societies, waiting for you to join!
SPORTS
From Korfball to Karate, Football to Frisbee, and Squash to Salsa, there is something to cater for every requirement at university level. Popular sports are competitive at university-level, and if you're serious about sport, doing them at university is a great way to get excellent training for very little money. If you're particularly good, then you may be able to achieve either a coveted half-blue or blue in a sport (and get a fancy sports blazer to boot). The Varsity matches against Cambridge are always massive events across the whole university. Although not all the matches receive as much attention as the iconic Boat Race, the Varsity matches are an exciting experience for all those involved. The cricket match is held at Lords and the Varsity Rugby match at Twickenham which means they're great days out. Sports teams also tend to have a great social side and often travel the globe for training weeks, so it's worth going along to trials in the first few weeks of term and trying for a spot on a team.
EQUALITIES
This year the Equalities Committee is represented by: Imogen Creavin (Equal Opportunities Rep), Katherine Lai (BAME/BME Rep), Danyaal Abdul (Access Rep), Hannah Hopkins (Women's Rep), Fabian Bourdeux (International Rep), Adam Possener (LGBGTQ+ Rep) and Kaleb Ells (Disabilities Rep). St Anne's is an inclusive community and as your Equalities committee this year we are truly trying to embody what it means for everybody to be treated equally. At St Anne s each representative hosts at least one event per term, and we collectively host Equalities Week which will happen in Hilary Term. Each of us are a point of contact to support you in any issues you may be facing with regards to equality, including issues we don't specifically have representatives for such as FirstGen, care leavers/young carers, and low income As a university we have lots of campaigns on the Student Union website, which you can read more about here! https://www.oxfordsu.org/representation/campaigns/
Current Campaigns include: CLASS Act, FirstGen, DisCam, CRAE, WomCam and many more! A message from the CLASS Act Campaign: 'We have created a Class Act offer holders Facebook group! www.facebook.com/groups/422013645422039
This is a group managed by our campaign for offer holders from one or more of the following backgrounds: ● Working class ● From a low-income background ● State/comprehensive educated ● First generation student ● Care leavers ● Estranged students
It is designed for offer holders from similar backgrounds to be able to chat and get to know each other so that before the first term you already know some other people! It is private meaning no-one else can see members or any of the posts in the group. Feel free to join if you are an offer holder or if you're a current student please share with any offer holders you know who fall under the Class Act remit!"
The Equalities Committee are here to help, so please don't hesitate to contact any of us. As students ourselves we can relate to your experiences which may be easier for you to discuss rather than a professional. However, if necessary, we can point you in the right direction if speaking to someone else is more appropriate (e.g. counselling services, the welfare team).
BAME COMMUNITY
The BAME community across Oxford University is strong and closely knit. BAME formals are a great opportunity to meet other BAME students from other colleges and other years (fingers crossed we hope to host our very own first BAME formal), and BAME socials with one or two other colleges provide another occasion where you can meet other students of a similar background and culture (great for if you are feeling homesick). Socials include trips to G&D's (Oxford's renowned ice cream parlour), college bar trips, and other events, many of which take place in Anne's itself.
The Student Union also hosts a range of BAME activities such as BAME Leadership Events, which aims to empower current and aspiring leaders to be effective in their role. Other events discuss issues raised by current BME students, such as being confident as the only BAME person in the room, and these sessions can be a great way to discuss any concerns or thoughts you may have about being BAME in Oxford.
The BAME community at St Anne's is friendly and welcoming to everyone, and our regular socials are a great way to relax and socialise with other BAME students at Anne's.
WOMENS*
Something highly useful to be aware of is that college has a stock of free sanitary products that you can order either by contacting your Women's Rep, Hannah, on Hannah.hopkins@st- annes.ox.ac.uk or anonymously via this form: https://forms.gle/Z9UD4bLNrp4DpR8F9. Please do take advantage of this system if it's of use to you - we have a significant backlog and a budget to buy more products so make the most of not having to pay for your period supplies! You can get a variety of pads, tampons and menstrual cups completely free!!
CULTURAL FOOD PLACES
We recognise that a lot of students will want to cook for themselves but don't know where to buy specific ingredients for those home cooked cultural meals, so here is a list of supermarkets where you can buy non-english foods, whether it's that really particular Swiss chocolate, or halal and kosher meat! We recommend you also bring some with you if you're worried.
● Baltic Food (Cowley Road) ● Euro Supermarket (Cowley Road) ● Lung Wah Chong (near the train station) ● Seoul Plaza (Cowley Road) ● Skogen Kitchen (off the High Street) ● Tahmid's Store (Cowley Road) ● Gloucester Green Market (often has pop-up stands with food from all over the world)
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
St Anne’s has a friendly and active LGBTQ+ community, which enjoys events within the college such as movie screenings in the MOLT and karaoke nights. This year we hope to put on an even broader array of activities, including LGBTQ+ specific welfare teas, pub quizzes and G&D’s trips.
Additionally, Anne’s students go on joint LGBTQ+ crew-dates with other colleges and hopefully this year will have a themed bop or two as well! The University-wide LGBTQ+ Society puts on a host of activities that range from Bob Ross painting evenings to specific faith, disabilities and class socials. The Soc also holds pre-drinks in a different college bar each week before everyone heads to Plush – Oxford’s local gay bar – which has its student nights on Tuesdays.
All these events are a great way to meet other LGBTQ+ people in Oxford, helping you to get settled in. It’s also a good idea to join freshers’ groups on Facebook before you arrive, as there is likely to be an LGBTQ+ group chat which you can join to get to know people before Michaelmas Term starts. Similarly, the LGBTQ+ Society’s rainbow parents’ scheme will allocate you a couple of second years who are excited to welcome you into the community! DISABILITIES Disability Support Being disabled at Oxford can bring some unique challenges. However, the University and your tutors want the best possible for you, and there’s a wealth of support to ensure that your time in Oxford is fulfilling and enjoyable.
Navigating life with a disability can be tough, so it’s really important to ask for support. You’re not being given anything you don’t deserve – this support is simply there to help level the playing field.
Sheila Smith (St Anne’s Disabilities coordinator—[email protected]) is your first port of call for disabilities support. Contact her as soon as you can, so that she can help to work out how College and the University can help you best.
All disability support is entirely confidential. Any information you share is never passed on without your permission, but it’s really helpful to share some info on a need-to-know basis with your tutors and the DAS, so you can receive the best possible support.
Checklist It’s great if you’re able to do as much of this as possible before term, because it can take several weeks to set up.
· Contact Sheila Smith, Disabilities Coordinator, as early as possible. She can help you to register with the DAS (Disability Advisory Service). The DAS can then help you to apply for DSA (Disabled Students Allowance), which funds equipment, expenses, non-medical helpers (e.g. scribes), and more to support your studies. With Sheila and the DAS, you can create your Student Support Plan (SSP), which details how your condition affects your studies and helpful adjustments to accommodation, teaching, and assessment. To give some ideas about what might be helpful in your SSP, here are two examples: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/Anonymised%20sample%20SSP_ 0.pdf;https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/SSP%20for%20OPEN%20 DAY%20070618.pdf. Your SSP can also include things like accessible accommodation adjustments and more. But, remember, these examples are not exhaustive – if you think something would help ask for it! · Get medical proof. Ask your GP or hospital doctor for a letter detailing your condition and how it affects you. See https://academic.admin.ox.ac.uk/medical- evidences-and-certificates for a template. · Explore whether you’re eligible for free prescriptions. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs- services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/who-can-get-free-prescriptions/ gives eligibility details. It’s worth a look, as it can save a lot of money if you frequently receive prescriptions.
This is only a quick summary, so please contact me or Sheila if you’d like any extra information or support. We’re here to help! Community · Within college, we have our own St Anne's Disabilities Community. This year, I’m hoping to organise regular meetups, where we can chat about our experiences and anything else besides. Really, it’s just a chance to meet some more people and relax. · The Student Union has created DisCam – the Disabilities Campaign – which has a Facebook page for general advice and notices alongside specialised groups for different disabilities. https://www.facebook.com/groups/OxfordDisabilities/permalink/11538970181 06611. It’s a great way to meet people with experiences similar and different.
An important reminder A disability is defined by the UK Equality Act 2010 as a ‘a physical or a mental condition which has a substantial and long-term impact on your ability to do normal day to day activities.’
This includes more than you might assume—including some conditions that don’t always have obvious effects. So make sure you check https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and- courts/discrimination/protected-characteristics/what-counts-as-disability/ for more detail.
As your disabilities rep, I’m always here for a chat and to listen, so just drop me a message at [email protected]!
Some examples of help you could get: ● Extra time/rest breaks in exams ● Exams spread over a longer period of time ● Recorded lectures ● Transport to and from contact hours (lectures, tutorials, classes) ● Library assistant to take out books for you ● Use of lifts ● Accessible accommodation in college FAITH
If faith is important to you, there is plenty at both Oxford and St Anne’s to help you maintain this. At university a shared faith can be a great way to meet new people. discover more about yourself and enjoy some great experiences. Whatever your religion you will find a society or a group which allows you to meet other like-minded people.
ST ANNE’S CHRISTIAN UNION & OICCU (INTER-COLEGEIATE CHRISTIAN UNION)
Hello! We're super excited to welcome you to the Anne's Christian Union! If you haven't yet realised ... St. Anne's is easily one of the friendliest colleges out there, and our CU is no different! Our CU is a gorgeous little group of people from all ends of the college who simply have a shared love and/or interest in our God, creator and Father! Everyone's faith looks different - we're all at different places in our relationship with God, and that's what makes our community even richer! So, regardless of where you stand with faith, we'd LOVE to meet you and chat through your questions/ hear your encouragement/ laugh at your jokes! Currently, we meet every other week for Bible studies and socials (with s n a ck s of course) to get to know God and each other better. As Anne's CU is part of the uni-wide CU, we join OICCU for the central meeting in the alternate weeks! We also have a little breakfast together every week, where we meet to hold each other and Anne's in prayer, as well as to catch up!!
We also have various fun events every term both within our college and joint with the others. OICCU also hosts a range of seminars, talks, and socials - a personal fave of mine being the Monday morning prayer (familiarly known as MMP) in the beautiful Exeter College Chapel. Do check out the OICCU website for more details on their events, and please please do drop a Facebook message or email (Alethea Meachem, [email protected] ).Whether you have some deeper spiritual questions, wonder what life at Oxford is really like, are interested in coming along to some CU stuff (or not really interested) or just fancy a chat – I’d love to hear from you! JEWISH SOCIETY (JSOC/OJC)
Oxford Jsoc (Jewish Society) is NOT just a religious society; our aims and likewise our events are varied in their nature. JSoc organises social, educational as well as religious events for students of all shades of observance - ranging from those who go to shul three times a day to three times a year. With prestigious speakers, cocktail parties, bagel brunches and of course Friday night meals, Jsoc provides a unique opportunity to mix with other Jewish students. We also provide meals every night of the week at the OJC (Oxford Jewish Community Centre) so eating kosher food in Oxford should never be an issue. Charges are reasonable. Look on the J-Soc website for further details. Oxford JSoc has it's very own Chaplains, Tracey and Michael Rosenfeld-Schueler. They are around not just to educate, but for any help on any issue, however mundane you might think it is. Further details on the Oxford Jewish Chaplaincy website http://oxfordchap.weebly.com/.
Whilst the OJC is the home of Jsoc, we have plenty of events that take place in colleges, which is a great way to get to know Oxford. We have 'lunch n learns' most days of the week on a plethora of controversial and interesting Jewish issues. Traditionally Jsoc has been at the heart of many interfaith and intersociety events, from barbecues to football matches. Despite having events most days of the week, Friday nights are at the heart of JSoc. With themed dinners, speakers and of course chicken soup (that will never match up to Grandma's but we try), Friday night services are a great way to end the week. The JSoc lounge combined with an abundance of alcohol (and kosher food!!) ensures that Friday nights are not only a meal, but one of the best social events of your week. Further details on the J-soc website http://www.oxfordjsoc.co.uk/jsoc
ISLAMIC SOCIETY (ISOC)
The Islamic Society brings together students and alumnae from all backgrounds whether Muslim or not. This university-wide society brings together members from across different colleges for socials, dinners, lectures and classes! There's a weekly term card with all the events going on including Interfaith Formals, Ice Skating and chilled-out trips to G&D's. Ramadan is notably one of the most exciting times for Muslim students as we often get together for evening meals and prayers and enjoy some Halal food. The Prayer Room located in the Robert Hooke Building is a popular place for Muslims to get together for Jummah prayers! There is a large emphasis on welfare and support for other Muslim students and we hope that it will create an environment where students can feel as though there is someone to turn to if they need help. As an extension of this you can opt-in to have an ISOC-parent to link you directly with students in ISOC who study your subject! To find out more check out the website: https://www.ouisoc.org/ouisoc-committee.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is also a new institution which has a beautiful library and grounds for studying and lectures located next to Magdalen College. You can get a library card to access an even larger range of Islamic Culture related books and scriptures here: https://www.oxcis.ac.uk/news/library-reader-cards
HUMSOC
The HUM Society caters for the needs of the Hindu and Indian students by providing a range of religious, social, and cultural events across the university. The group intends to educate both Hindus and non-Hindus in the teachings and philosophy of Hinduism. Previous events have included Holi celebrations, social dinners, interfaith sports and speaking events. This term HUM will be holding the annual Oxford Diwali Ball along with plenty of other social events for the Freshers, notably HOLI, a festival of colour everyone can get involved in. Every week there are Aarti sessions, involving the waving of lighted lamps before an image of a God, which can be great to give the mind a break after a hard day's work. The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies isn't far from Anne's either. To find out more check out the website: https://oxfordhindusociety.co.uk/#about
SIKH SOCIETY The Oxford Sikh Society runs weekly Simran and discussion sessions. They also have Guest Speakers and Social Events and they certainly love their chai (tea). As you can see, faith at Oxford is certainly accommodated for and indeed celebrated. If you are unsure where to go, or what to do, then feel free to ask one of the Fresher Helpers, or a member of the JCR Committee, and they will do their best to point you in the right direction. Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordsikhsoc/about
FINANCE
STUDENT LOAN
The most important thing to do before you arrive is to sort out your student loan; you can find out how much you're entitled to, and apply, here: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. Make sure to do this as soon as you can, so you have plenty of time to focus on the more exciting aspects of coming to college. If you fill it in late, your first payment might be delayed so definitely get on this ASAP…
Your student loan is split into two parts:
The Tuition Fee Loan - this covers the entire cost of tuition for home and EU students and is paid directly to the university (one less bill to remember!)
The Maintenance Loan - this covers other living costs; it is means-tested (i.e. the amount you receive depends on your household income)
Last year, the total cost of staying in college accommodation for all three terms was around £4300. This included a room during term, and £125 of hall food per term. Although this is a good rough guide for this year, prices are liable to change somewhat. OXFORD UNIVERSITY BURSARY SCHEME
This provides money according to your household income, as stated in your student loan application. Staggered funding is available for people with household incomes lower than £42,620. Details can be found here: http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/fees-funding/ug-funding/oxford-support
WORKING IN OXFORD
You’re not allowed (and most likely won't have time) to take on proper work while you're at college. The one exception is working for college - you may be able to pick up a couple of shifts per week at the college bar, or do some light library work. Working as an ambassador, either for college or the university, normally reaps financial (or culinary) rewards, as well as providing good CV filler.
STUDENT BANK ACCOUNT
In short: it's worth getting one. Compared to normal current accounts, they tend to offer excellent terms to students. Make sure to shop around, as banks offer different benefits with varying overdraft options and freebies, like student railcards or vouchers. For foreign students, opening a bank account may require a little more effort. For more information for International Students, please refer to the Internationals Guide or contact our International Rep, Fabian Bourdeux.
INTERNSHIPS AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES
The main thing to do with these is keep track. Sign up to a couple of careers networks at the freshers' fair, and try to read the (many, MANY) emails you'll receive with lists of opportunities. These will start as soon as you arrive, and sometimes being the early bird will pay off. There are micro-internships specifically for between term-time, and a huge range of Summer internships both paid and voluntary. The applications and deadlines come out in strict batches so do keep your eyes peeled for anything of interest. Some internships will also be advertised on the JCR Facebook page. CV clinics are run by both the college and the University of Oxford Careers Service, to help guide you through the process if you're struggling. Our advice is apply to a few at a time and know that you don't have to choose something directly related to your subject! Website: https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk. Any questions regarding internships and Careers, please contact Elsie our Academic Affairs Officer ([email protected]) or Kane Moylett our JCR Treasurer (kane.moylett@st- annes.ox.ac.uk).
STAYING ON TOP OF YOUR FINANCES
Money management apps (such as Money Dashboard and Yolt) are a good way to keep track of your spending, and offer tips on how to avoid your overdraft. Websites like MoneySavingExpert also offer advice and information about a range of financial topics. Rebecca (Access Rep) has put together a template budgeting spreadsheet to get you started ( shorturl.at/txGIP ) along with collating some financial tips from St Anne’s Students (shorturl.at/HLMY1)! If you ever need any help using the spreadsheet, she’s willing to help & should be running a drop in (either in person or on Zoom) to help anyone adapt the spreadsheet to themselves.
LEVIES
These are payments you must pay at St Anne’s used to fund JCR provisions, and other good causes. Some of these are optional, but a few are compulsory (mainly to avoid people freeloading!). The compulsory Levies are:
JCR Welfare Levy - The Welfare Levy is used to provide vital services to St Anne’s students throughout their time at university. These include services such as Welfare Teas, Peer Supporters and Contraceptive provisions.
Punt Levy - The Punt Levy provides free access to Punts during Trinity term to all members of St Anne’s College.
Homeless Levy - This levy is given to a broad range of local homelessness charities via On Your Doorstep.
Living Wage Levy - This levy is used to ensure that all staff working at St Anne’s College are paid the Oxford Living Wage, currently £9.69 an hour.
The opt-out levies are:
• JCR Charities - This levy is specifically for donating to charities, last year, the JCR donated £2400, including £500 to the BLM to show our support.
• JCR Homeless Action • JCR Oxford Refugee Scholarship • JCR Arts Levy - This levy helps funds Arts week.
IT AND COMPUTING
Do I really need a computer at university? In short, yes. Email is the primary way through which tutors contact you, so having a computer of your own will make your life far easier. Particularly with life moving online it’s useful to have access to a device that can run an internet browser, Teams and Zoom as this may be how some classes are taught. The IT room is also available should you need it. This room also provides printing facilities, as do the libraries, so don’t feel as though you need to run out and buy a printer of your own (any printing costs are added to your battels, but printing is pretty cheap at 5p per page). Photocopiers can also be found in the College libraries.
INTERNET CONNECTION
Wireless access to the university’s Eduroam wi-fi system is available throughout all the university properties and can be logged into using the Remote Access Password Account Details (there will be more information upon your arrival on how to set this up). How to log in to Eduroam for your phone or laptop or digital device:
1. Download EduroamCAT from this link https://cat.eduroam.org 2. Go to downloads or (General > Profiles if using iOS) 3. Click ‘install’ to install Eduroam onto your device 4. After a few seconds a page should pop-up asking for your sign-in details. 5. Enter your Oxford SSO and password (you will receive this prior to joining the university. It should be in the format [email protected] if you are a St Anne’s Student- must be capital letters! 6. Go to wifi settings and select Eduroam - you may need to write your login details again
Screenshots are provided in our support guide via Weblearn. Any problems contact the IT support or Sam our IT Rep! An Ethernet cable may be used for a faster Internet connection (this can be bought in College at the lodge for £5 if you don’t already own one). A longer (3- 5m) Ethernet cable is useful as the location of the Ethernet port may not be ideal for where you prefer working in your room. However, all rooms in College have access to Eduroam wireless internet. Wireless access is also available in the College libraries, the seminar rooms, STACS and the dining hall via a VPN client connection (you will be given more information on this when you arrive).
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
The IT Rep, Sam Davis, is happy to help with urgent or out-of-hours problems. Sam will also always be on hand during Freshers’ Week to make sure all of your IT needs are met as soon as possible so that you can hit the ground running.
The College also provides some technical support with IT technicians available to help you with network problems. You are expected to keep your computer with an array of anti-virus and anti- spyware tools during your time here. However, the university has some software to download for free, including a copy of the Sophos anti-virus package, so you don’t need to go out and buy Norton.
Mac users are also expected to have anti-virus software and Linux users should have a firewall, such as Firestarter. Beware of peer-to-peer file sharing! The College doesn’t like it and if you are caught doing it (particularly if it is of the illegal kind which the university comes down heavily on) you will lose your internet connection, potentially for weeks at a time. Nightmare. For a full list of what you are NOT allowed to do on the network go to: www.oucs.ox.ac.uk
GLOSSARY
Ali’s Kebab vans serve the same function as 3am as oases do in desert environments. Not quite Evian, but heaven when you need it. He is (twice) an Honorary Member of the JCR and has recently invested in some sweet new wheels. Fresh food and fresh looks. Best known for the North Oxford delicacy the 'St Anne's Special'.
Arts Week A week in Trinity Term when Anne's turns up its culture vibe. Expect exhibitions, plays, pimms and painting! You can get involved with the latter - find out more in Michaelmas term.
Battels College bill. Includes hall food and any other expenditure on your Bod Card. Often increases proportionately with time spent in the College bar.
Beaver College mascot because St Anne’s students spend their days out, hard at work, and retire to their homes a night (a highly questionable analogy). Heck out the beavers carved into the stonework of Hartland House. Amy Hartland was a generous benefactor with Canadian roots and admired the work ethic of the early stanner women.
Bod-Card Bodleian University Library Card. Used to take out books from the various university libraries, including our College Libraries. Also used to pay for hall meals. Topped up via Weblearn.
Bop Themed Parties that each College holds a few times each term. Part eye- watering hedonism, part Freudian childhood relapse. Two sides of the same coin, really, but always great fun and an essential feature of Fresher year. Our dining hall 'Mega-Bops' are renowned across the whole university.
Collections College assessments taken at the beginning of each term, because nothing says hello to a new term like a three-hour exam. Officially the world's worst progress test and they also don't actually count towards your degree. But, you know, all part of the fun.
College Family Bizarre peer mentoring system which has become an ingrained social service in its own right. First-year children are assigned two second-year parents: subjects similar, genders unspecified. Your College parent may have a spouse. Do not be alarmed by this: it isn't legally binding.
Consulto et Audacter The College's motto, meaning 'deliberately and boldly'.
Crew Date A dinner you will have, usually with your sports teams, but can be related to any society or subject. You will go to a local restaurant - favourites are Jamal's and Vinnie's. The custom usually is to eat a lot and expose your team members through a series of drinking games you usually won't remember. Don't feel pressured into drinking though if you don't want to!
Danson Room The undergraduate common room sporting comfy seats, a subscription to Sky, ping pong and football tables and some working space too. Also where JCR meetings are held (although not mitigating the discomfort of floor-bound latecomers). Welfare teas are also hosted here along with group showings of Love Island during the summer.
Dean Nice and important person whom you should only really ever be seeing whilst in the company of several hundred other people. If you're 'deaned', you've probably done something wrong, and if you can't remember what that was, likelihood is that's part of the problem.
Formal Hall Special dress-up three-course meal held usually five times a term at St Anne's; a proud Oxford tradition. Food is better than anything you could possibly cook/mildly heat in your life. Wine can be included in the price of the meal. Make sure you book up in advance as they sell out quick, especially the Family and Christmas formals Menus and seating plans are available on the notice board in Hartland House.
Gowns Funky black drapery designed to make you exude pure scholarliness and look extremely attractive to tourists. Needed for matriculation, disciplinary meetings, exams and formal hall in some colleges (but not at St Anne's). Students who achieve a distinction in their first-year exams are upgraded to long Scholar's gowns.
JCR Committee Your representatives to college, who are there to address all the concerns you might have. You’ll think it’s a big deal maybe for a week (but hopefully the novelty will never fade), then likely realise that we’re the same as you only with…. We’re just like you, there are no perks.
Key/Fob Surprisingly expensive items that you need to get around college and most importantly, into your room.
Matriculation Compulsory official registration ceremony where everyone wears subfusc and files into the centre of town to listen to some Latin. Something you lucky incoming freshers can probably skip because of social distancing measures.
Prelims/Mods First-year (Prelims/Mods) and final-year examinations. Most take their first-year prelims at the end of Trinity term, in summer, yet PPL and Law, Psychology and Classics students sit their mods at the end of Hilary term. Keep calm and carry on.
Principal Icon Helen King. She runs the college. Respect her.
Scout Lovely people who are tasked with rectifying your domestic destruction every morning. Also a reason for getting up respectably at a respectable hour - people apparently fall asleep in bizarre angles and modes of undress. Leave your bin outside your door to avoid this.
STACS Glorious acronym for St Anne's Coffee Shop, opened in 2008. Opens at 09:30am and closes at 06:30pm daily and takes Bod Cards. Great for working or a catch-up. Get your caffeine fix, and treat yourself to one of their famous pizzas (with a pint if you fancy).
Stash Basically Merch for college. You can buy College stash (e.g. puffer jackets or fleeces that feature the Anne's crest); university stash; sports stash; stash for different societies - the list is endless. You can also add your initials too! Walk down Cornmarket Street and you will encounter at least 100 people wearing different articles of stash.
Trashing The Oxford way of celebrating the end of your exams - by having your friends throw prosecco, lambrini, confetti, silly string, Holi paint and shaving foam all over you before a pleasant jump into the River Cherwell. CHECKLIST
Before you arrive: ● Read the Freshers' notes produced by College and FILL IN AND RETURN ALL OF YOUR FORMS. This will make your life once you arrive at Oxford much easier, and make sure you're not in College's bad books. ● Crack on with your reading lists, even if it's just a few books! Your life will be easier in Michaelmas term.
When you arrive:
● Arrive at St Anne’s for your allocated time slot. Head straight on over to the Lodge where Freshers Helpers will give you your key and welcome pack ● Find a friendly Freshers Helper (look out for our t-shirts) and we will show you to your room and point out various key areas of College. Unload all your things into your room. Remember to stay within the time allocated to you as there will be other Freshers scheduled to unload their cars. See off your parents, dry your eyes (and your mum’s) and get ready for a great week. ● Get to know your room and your accommodation. Locate the nearest shower, kitchen and bathroom. Keep hold of your key. ● Meet your housemates and prepare to introduce yourself. You will be living with these guys for the next nine months so make the effort! ● Go across to the lunch hall. Here you’ll be able to meet lots of other Freshers. Sit with whoever, anyone will be happy to chat. Be sure to check the college guidelines to see who you can sit with to adhere with social distancing measures. ● Make your way to the Danson Room or the Quad where you’ll be able to meet the rest of your year group, as well as other Freshers Helpers. ● Most Importantly, relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about trying to meet everyone and remember everyone’s names. Instead make the most of everything and have fun on your first day. FINAL WORDS
We hope that this booklet has answered any questions you’ve had about life at St Anne’s and that you’re as excited as us to be back at St Anne’s (for some of you, you’ll be seeing St Anne’s for the first time!). After months of working hard on personal statements, interviews and admissions exams, it can feel strange that your Oxford journey is soon to begin. You’ve made it! - don’t forget that you deserve to be here on your efforts, strengths and dedication. Oxford is a fresh start, and this year will no doubt be a strange one, but it will pass very quickly so take the time to take it all in and make the most of it!
There’s a reason the Oxford admissions is so long and rigorous. It’s not just for the university, so that they can find the best people they can. It’s also about choosing people they feel sure will survive and thrive at Oxford. So, if you have anxieties about starting or are worried your tutors have made a mistake, they most definitely haven’t. Every person who turns up has been meticulously selected for a specific reason. It won’t just be you having those feelings and you are always far from being alone. One of the worries everyone has, in Freshers’ Week and beyond, is the sense that everyone is doing better than them, succeeding socially. Coping better academically. That is not true. Everyone has their ups and downs. Oxford is truly a rollercoaster and you’re no different.
The opportunities at Oxford range from subject societies, micro-internships, sports, music, art and everything in between. You can do whatever you want, and you can do it at the highest levels and competitively. Work is important, but not the be-all and end-all. Oxford could teach you how to be the best Earth Scientist, Historian or Economist in the UK; it could help you to become a standout actor, a compassionate writer or a resilient rugby player. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Fresher’s Week may look like another few days, however it is a unique time where there is almost no academic commitment - a time to find your feet, make friends and discover St Anne’s, Oxford and what they have offer.
With that we’d like to acknowledge the students who have put time into creating this booklet for you. It’s been incredibly fun to make!
Editors: Vivian Abrokwah, Holly Boyle, Kaleb Ells, Abena Boatey, Adam Coates, Proschanto Chanda, Victoria sanata, Fabian Bourdeux, Jake Milikan, Danyaal Abdul, Sam Davis, Adam Possener, Kane Moylett, Elsie Clark, Lorenzo Allchurch, Leila Symonds, Ben Evans Hannah Hopkins, Imogen Creavin, Lucy Thimpson and Megan Jenkins.
Creative Team: Vivian Abrokwah
Enjoy the last few weeks of the summer - we are eagerly awaiting your arrival. CONTACTS
PRINCIPAL - HELEN KING Helen King is a former St Anne's PPE student who then went on to a prolific career in law enforcement, making her way up to the position of Assistant Commissioner, the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police. You already know that she's a big deal at college, but she's also a nice lady who will often stop you for a brief chat when walking around college.
VICE PRINCIPAL – PROFFESOR. PAT IRWIN Prof. Irwin is there for a confidential chat about college life, work and policy.
TREASURER - MR JOHN FORD In charge of all things financial. John is the person to see if you are worried about money. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to managing finances.
SENIOR TUTOR FOR ADMISSIONS - DR SHANNON MCKELLAR Responsible for the academic business of college - from student recruitment, academic progress and academic teaching staff (tutors and lecturers). She works closely with the JCR Academic Affairs, Access and Welfare Reps.
DOMESTIC BURSAR - MR JOHN BANBROOK The Bursar is responsible for maintaining College facilities . The Bursary consists of vital departments: Accommodation, Catering & Facilities.
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR – KATHERINE BROWN Responsible for academic administration. Also works with the Academic Office, which produces materials for incoming Freshers and helps us plan Freshers' Week - please make life easier for them by returning all your forms on time!
DEAN - DR DON PORCELLI Dr Porcelli is a Fellow in Earth Sciences. It is Dr Porcelli's job (along with the Assistant Deans) to ensure that we all live happily ever after in the College.
IT MANAGER - MR IAN BURNELL He runs the college computer network. Contact him if you have a problem with the network. For problems with your own machine, contact the IT Rep (Ed Martin).
LIBRARIAN – CLARE WHITE Responsible for both College libraries, she is a friendly face who is sure to also become a familiar face quickly from your many visits to the library.
WELFARE DETAILS
WELFARE CO-ORDINATOR AND SENIOR TUTOR Shannon McKellar
Oversees and co-ordinates welfare support in college. She is available to meet students with any welfare concern, academic or not. Contact [email protected] Academic Office, 1st floor, Hartland House (East)
DEAN OF WELFARE Rachel Busby
Responsible for student welfare in collaboration with the Assistant Deans and the rest of the Welfare team. Contact: [email protected] (please email in advance to arrange a meeting) - 27 Banbury Road, Ground floor.
ASSISTANT DEANS Robert Stagg, Jennifer Cassidy and Ben Verboom
They live on the main College site and can be contacted by students for an informal chat or advice. They report to the Dean (Don Porcelli) and Senior Tutor (Shannon McKellar-Stephen). The assistant deans are accessible between 7pm and 8am, but if you want immediate assistance, call the lodge. Contact: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
COLLEGE NURSE TBC
For all medical and health concerns. Available Monday, Thursday and Friday 09:30 - 12:30, Tuesday 14:00 - 17:00 and Wednesday 10:00 - 13:00. These time may change Contact: Via the Porters' Lodge or [email protected] - 27 Banbury Road, Ground floor.
COLLEGE DISABILITY CO-ORDINATOR Mrs Sheila Smith
Organises many of the practical arrangements surrounding disabilities & works closely with the Disabilities rep to facilitate the needs of all students. Contact: [email protected] - Academic Office, 1st floor, Hartland House (East)
JCR WELFARE REPS Victoria Santana & Proschanto Chanda
Contact: [email protected] & proschanto.chanda@st- annes.ox.ac.uk
JCR ADVISERS Graham Nelson & Sian Gronlie
Fellows of college who can be contacted for confidential advice, especially on academic matters when you don't feel comfortable approaching your personal tutor for whatever reason Contact: [email protected] and [email protected]
JERICHO HEALTH CENTRE. NEW RADCLIFFE HOUSE. WALTON STREET College GP Practice. This is part of Dr. Leaver and Partners. How to contact: 01865 311234 (this is also the out of hours contact number)
PEER SUPPORTERS
These are students with extensive Welfare training and a more informal way of accessing care or support. Their details can be found through contacting the Welfare Reps and on posters around college (including in your kitchens. You should be able to meet some in Freshers Week.
EXTERNAL SUPPORT
EMERGENCY SERVICES: (only if there is a genuine emergency): 999
NON-EMERGENCY POLICE: 101
ST ALDATES POLICE STAT ION (THAMES VALLEY POLICE): 8 King Edward Street, Oxford, OX1 1SZ
NHS: 111 (When you require urgent medical help but it's not life-threatening)
JOHN RADCLIFFE HOSPITAL: 01865142 166. Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 9DU
OXFORD FAMILY PLANNING: 01865 456 666
OXFORD GUM CLINIC: 01865 231 231
NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE: 0800 11 66
IF IN DOUBT ABOUT WHO TO CONTACT IN AN EMERGENCY CALL THE LODGE AT: +44(0)1865274800