The Journal
MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YEAR
50
RUGBY TRIUMPH
CUSU DISABILITY OFFICER
HEDGEHOGS
For the first time in 38 years, Fitzwilliam’s men’s rugby union side won the College Division One title, just before the first lockdown began.
Rensa Gaunt (MML 2015) was voted in as CUSU Disabled Students’ Officer and started her new role in summer 2020, after graduating from Fitzwilliam College.
Laura Frost (Veterinary Medicine 2003), a veterinary surgeon at Wood Green, The Animals Charity, returned to Fitzwilliam College to rehome baby hedgehogs she had hand-reared back to health. Laura has looked after 15 hedgehogs at her home in Cambridge.
Fitz pair up with Sidney Sussex in the competition, but make up the majority of the team who were crowned champions for the first time since 1982, after Caius conceded ahead of the final scheduled match. Captain William Lockhart said: “It was a feeling of elation and a bit of relief. We knew it would come down to two games just after Christmas, against Downing and Johns, and it was pretty pleasing to come out of those with wins.”
In her new role, Rensa wants to secure the future of the Disability Resource Centre and University Counselling Service, as well as push for continuous and linkedup curriculum, exam and welfare reform. “I’d also like to increase awareness of mental health conditions as a disability that legally require the University, faculties and colleges to make adjustments,” she adds.
Fitzwilliam College has a growing population of hedgehogs. The gardens provide an ideal habitat for them, with a lot of low-growing shrubs and great biodiversity of insects for them to eat. Steve Kidger, Head Gardener at Fitzwilliam College, has worked hard to establish a hedgehog friendly habitat, including log piles, hog hotels and feeding stations in the gardens. He has also eliminated use of pesticides.
