Hatfield Junior Common Room

From left to right: Sam Goring (Senior Man), Jonathan Leung (Vice-President Discipline), Jess Clark (Senior Welfare Officer), Max Hart (Treasurer), Jonathan Cherrett (Facilities Officer), Rhiannon Melass (Communities Officer), Dane Bainbridge (Sports and Societies Officer), Chloe Hayes (Events Officer), Leonor Lopes (Secretary), Cassandra Baptiste (Chair)

As readers may have expected, Covid has dominated the activity of the Junior Common Room in the period April 2020 – March 2021. Despite what can arguably be seen as the most significant interruption to undergraduate life since the war, undergraduates have come together in the Hatfield spirit to make the best of it, help others, and be the best they can be.

Amongst the confusion of the initial Covid outbreak my able predecessor, Kathryn Rogers, set about establishing an online community to provide support to Hatfielders at home and to those still in Durham. Through these networks Hatfielders shared their suggestions for keeping physically and mentally fit, as well as providing light relief and humour in those dark times. Podcasts, books, lectures, fitness apps and more were shared and enjoyed.

Sabbatical Senior Man Sam Goring Chair Cassandra Baptiste Communities Officer Rhiannon Melass Events Officer Chloe Hayes Facilities Officer Jonathan Cherrett Secretary Leonor De Castro Ferreira Lopes Sports & Societies Officer Dane Bainbridge Treasurer Max Hart

Vice-President (Discipline) Jonathan Leung Senior Welfare Officer Jessica Clark

Undertaking exams at home posed a potentially daunting challenge to many Hatfielders. The JCR rose to the challenge and supported Hatfielders with virtual welfare campaigns spearheaded by Senior Welfare Officer, Jess Clark. Online drop-in hours were consistently provided and there was never a moment when Hatfielders were without support. Jess’ report (see page 87) details the hard work put in the by the team for which we are all thankful. Following the death of George Floyd, the JCR was united in its determination to root out inequality within the JCR, College, University and wider society. To that end Rhiannon Melass, JCR Communities Officer, established an Equality and Diversity Committee. Recommendations from the group are expected in Michaelmas 2021. At a university level, the JCR, through our People of Colour community, contributed to DU People of Colour Association’s ‘17 Letters, 4 Words’ Campaign. The communities have continued to create safe virtual spaces for marginalised groups in College despite Covid and have contributed feedback and campaigned to make the lives of their constituents better. This work has gained renewed urgency following the murder of Cuth’s alumna Sarah Everard in March 2021. Hatfield Feminists continue to work to make Hatfield, Durham and the wider world a safer, more equal, place for all. Though the usual post-exams festivities were abandoned, Chloe Hayes, JCR Events Officer, rose to the challenge and organised an online Hatfield Day. The day emulated Hatfield Day as far as possible and included music, quizzes and a mysterious Zoom call early in the morning. As quickly as summer came, it left. With a new Senior Man in post the JCR set about delivering Freshers’ Week in a Covid environment. The usual festivities and move-in activities looked impossible on paper. However despite this, James Reid and Minnie Parker, the JCR’s Senior Freps managed to organise a Freshers’ Week like no other. Hatfield freshers were able to get a true taste of College life through an ambitious, well marshalled, programme, which had been assembled in only three days. Senior Freps usually have 12 weeks! Not only was there a good array of evening entertainment, but the move-in itself was smooth, socially distanced and well spirited. The tradition of having a Freshers’ Formal on arrival was sadly discontinued, but Freshers’ Formal did continue. Two thirds of freshers attended a Formal before Covid intervened. We are aiming to hold the last Formals in Easter Term 2021.

Following the success of Freshers’ Week, the JCR was keen to capitalise on the

Rebuilding College life will be difficult, but if anyone can do it, it’s this Exec and their teams.

momentum. Dane Bainbridge, JCR Sports and Societies Officer, set about providing training to club captains and society presidents to help them navigate the Covid landscape. Following this, sports and societies quickly established themselves in a Covid secure way and offered a great sense of community to many. Unfortunately, the November lockdown put an end to sports and societies operating, but the JCR is looking to relaunch clubs and societies in early May.

The November lockdown also put an end to plans to restart Formal dinners in a reduced capacity format. It confirmed the rescheduling of the Michaelmas and Lumley Balls, which were eventually joined by Lion in Winter Ball. All three have been merged into the Summer Ball, which is taking place in Easter Term. Not resting on their laurels, the JCR events team organised a number of unique events including variations on the theme of Formals. The JCR gave money to members to eat out at a restaurant or obtain takeaway if they dressed up and looked the part. The team also arranged a series of online events, with in person versions for livers in, which brought some variety to an otherwise dull November lockdown calendar. The team are now hard at work on Summer Ball.

Epiphany Term was rather like the end of Michaelmas Term and as such facilities in College were restricted in use. Jonathan Cherrett, JCR Facilities Officer, doggedly worked to keep as much open as was possible. The gym remained open as a household exercise area for many weeks and spaces such as the Little Burt Room were available for light relief courtesy of the dartboard. In the final weeks of Epiphany, through working with College Office, the JCR was able to open the Birley and Little Burt Rooms as additional study space to help with overcrowding at the Bill Bryson Library.

A consistent theme of the year was the increase in disciplinary issues owing to Covid regulations. As Vice-President (Discipline), Jonathan Leung represented the view of the student body in disciplinary hearings. The volume of these was incredibly high. Working with the Acting Vice and Assistant Masters, Jonathan ensured the difficulties of student life under Covid were considered in decisionmaking whilst also advocating for community responsibility. Owing to a lack of expenditure, Max Hart’s tenure as Treasurer was relatively quiet. Max, eager as ever, did not simply accept a large surplus. He has set out in detail where the surplus funds are to be spent in Easter Term. He also helped the JCR solve a number of long-term bookkeeping issues and improved the JCR’s financial planning documents. Not necessarily the most glamorous, but necessary and important, work. Throughout the pandemic, Cassie Baptiste, JCR Chair, ensured members could make their voices heard and that the JCR’s democratic processes continued. JCR meetings were streamlined with the introduction of written reports and standardised agendas. New segments

aimed at livening up meetings were well received and the experience gained led to my victory over the Chad’s President on Chad’s Day. During the lockdown in November, the JCR held a referendum on its governance. Cassie led the way chairing online debates and producing informative material. The result was that the JCR will register as a charity. Cassie is continuing to work on charitable status in the JCR’s newest Exec position – Charity Framework Officer.

The past year was certainly not the year the Exec signed up for. Despite this they didn’t merely keep College life on life support; the Exec sought to constantly do as much as was safe to do, to do as much for others as they could and to reimage old events and traditions for the Covid era. They are the best Executive I have served with and I am incredibly proud to have led such a fantastic, dedicated team. Looking ahead the JCR is in a strong position to help relaunch College life. With a new Exec on-board and ready to go, we will start as we mean to go on with a bumper Easter Term. Rebuilding College life will be difficult, but if anyone can do it, it’s this Exec and their teams. I am confident that next year’s Record will feature a report with College life looking as it normally does but augmented with improvements from the Covid era. Normal service to resume shortly; watch this space…

Sam Goring

Sabbatical Senior Man

Left: Freps Dom Cornfield and Joe Burnage taking a well earned break on Chapel Green Right: Fresher signing College Matriculation Book at Covid-safe mini matriculation in Hatfield Chapel