Thanks from the JCR

Thanks

FROM THE JCR

JCR President Mei Whattam. Photo Jack Evans

As the Christmas trees go up and Oxford becomes increasingly steeped in anticipation of the forthcoming festivities, it is evident that we have a lot to be thankful for, writes Mei Whattam (2021, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History), President of the Somerville College JCR.

For the vast majority of us, this year has finally marked a return to normality, if such a thing can be said to exist. The spirits of the JCR are high. We all feel so lucky to have enjoyed a full university experience alongside all of its associated opportunities without any of the restrictions that characterised the last two years. However, we mustn’t lose sight of the continued impact and legacy of the hardships we experienced as a consequence of Covid-19. The shadow of the pandemic continues to loom large over the mental health of many individuals, and great thanks must be extended to both the college and student Welfare Team that work tirelessly to support the members of our JCR during testing times.

The scope of your support goes so much further, however. The generosity of your funding across a range of disciplines and activities has provided the JCR with a vast range of opportunities for immense personal development, alongside facilitating the study of those who encounter financial hardship during their time at Oxford.

This support is felt by a significant proportion of my fellow students, with over one in every five Somervillians receiving some form of aid during the course of the academic year and more than 130 academic scholarships and awards available to members of both Common Rooms. Nor is your help restricted to academic support. Rather, the generous Travel and Special Project Grants awarded to those seeking to broaden their academic horizons, alongside the numerous Development and Internship awards, have been incredibly beneficial to students seeking enrichment and the exploration of exciting future opportunities beyond university.

A particularly emblematic moment for me this term was the wonderful university wide BAME formal that was organised by our two JCR BAME officers, Minshu Gupta (2021, Medicine) and Tariq Saeed (2021, Biology). I feel incredibly grateful to have shared a meal honouring the beautiful diversity of our community with such aweinspiring and successful individuals; the atmosphere was electric, the feeling of warmth and celebration permeating every single interaction. What fills me with even more excitement is knowing that this is only the beginning. We have so much left to achieve this academic year, hopefully culminating in a return to Molly’s Library in Ghana in the summer of 2023.

None of this could happen without your facilitation. On behalf of the JCR, thank you. I hope we keep on making you proud to be Somervillians.