JCR Report

religious writing by medieval women from the Low Countries, German-speaking lands and the British Isles engages with the liturgy by way of the medieval art of memory. She has written an article for The Conversation UK, ‘Coronavirus: Advice from the Middle Ages for How to Cope with Self-isolation’, focusing on parallels between the lives of medieval anchorites and modern lockdown.

Lauren Burgeno works in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics. The overall goal of Lauren’s research is to gain a better understanding of how neurotransmitter systems work on a moment-to-moment basis to control decision making.

Beth Romano holds a stipendiary Junior Research Fellowship co-funded by Somerville (through generous donations from alumni and friends) and the Maths Institute. Beth’s work is in Pure Mathematics, focusing on Lie Algebras. In one of Beth’s projects, she is working with Dan Ciubotaru (Tutorial Fellow in Pure Mathematics), working on ‘unipotent representations of p-adic groups’.

Belinda Nicholson works in the Department of Physics. Her research focuses on detecting and characterising exoplanets using ground-based and space-based telescopes. Belinda’s team follow up planet candidates found through the citizen science project, Planet Hunters TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), and make follow-up observations to confirm or reject the existence of specific exoplanets. In addition, Belinda uses the MINERVA facility in Australia to make detailed observations of the planetary system around the young star DS Tucanae.

DR STEVE RAYNER, Senior Tutor

This year has been a very interesting year for the JCR with both successes and difficult challenges to overcome. In particular, the JCR has worked together with College to implement a number of positive changes that will benefit current and future Somervillians such as improved welfare resources, free membership of the college gym, making the college more accessible through a disabilities audit and in outreach schemes such as mentorship schemes for BAME students. The access work carried out by students has been incredible; Somerville is attracting students from a wide range of backgrounds, with our inclusive values shining through in the work we do.

The JCR have been working hard on a number of fantastic projects. This year we hosted BAME Formal which welcomed over 200 BAME students in the first event of its kind and magnitude. It proved to be a magical night of poignant discussions and wonderful memories. We have assisted with productions through the provision of JCR arts funds with a number of our students playing lead roles and winning awards for their work in production roles. Smaller projects such as introducing free pool into our lovely Terrace and engaging in ways we can make Somerville a greener community, such as reducing our meat consumption and moving towards divestment, have kept our students busy!

Our JCR has always had students with talents in sport and this year was no different. Somerville-Corpus women’s rugby achieved notable success with a Cuppers victory, with the ice hockey team doing the same. Individuals have shone in their own sports with members going on to play for the University blues teams and making us at Somerville very proud.

One challenge we did not anticipate was Covid-19 but the JCR has come together in so many beautiful ways of which I have been immensely proud. Throughout what has been a difficult period for all staff and students, the spirit of community has shone through. A number of our students have worked together on fundraisers for charities doing fundamental work during the pandemic and our JCR have done our utmost to support in every way we can. Remote term has not been easy but efforts from students, committee and non-committee, to make the time pass and bring us Somerville away from home have been invaluable.

There has been much tragedy during this pandemic, and what happened to George Floyd and the resultant protests and deaths has weighed heavily on our hearts. Five First Year students set up a fundraiser in aid of a charity supporting Black Lives Matter in the US which raised over £100k, demonstrating the power of true activism. As a JCR, we have reflected on ways in which we must evaluate our policies and conduct to ensure we firmly take an anti-racist stance and make our community one where every student, no matter their race or background, can thrive. We have done so in conjunction with College and the MCR, as only together can we achieve meaningful change.

This year has not been a quiet one at all; lots of noise has been made over important issues. As a college, we were founded on values of progressiveness and inclusivity, and the JCR has shown that these values are just as important today as they were when this college first opened its doors. I am confident that this work will continue and wish the incoming President Fabio Rossi, the Committee and the JCR the best of luck for the next academic year.

TALISHA ARIARASA, JCR President 2019-2020