Reports
SCR & MCR
MCR
Matthew Kirk on life within the Middle Common Room
This year in the MCR has been a year of traditions , both resurrecting old and strengthening new . Over the last few years , we ’ ve acquired several more – a Thanksgiving dinner , in the true American style ; bringing out hidden talents in the MCR with our Art Show ; and this is the third year in a row where the MCR has stayed up through the night to follow British democracy in action ( who knows whether this last tradition will prove to be “ strong and stable ”…?). But we ’ ve also been bringing back old ones – for what I believe is the first time since 2007 ,
SCR
Alan Martin is back with this year ’ s SCR report the MCR Presidents ’ Guest Night is making a comeback . I ’ m very pleased to be bringing this event back , as there is no other opportunity to really celebrate the MCR community , and all that its members contribute . On the academic side , the Postgrad mentor has done excellent work continuing the Postgraduate Seminar series this year , giving everyone a chance to discuss an issue they are passionate about . The highlight of this series was a day long mini-conference , which in association with the Vice-Master was the first success story of the colleges new crowdfunding endeavour , and allowed for posters to be printed and prizes to be passed out . Of course no MCR year would be complete without a variety of trips and events – this year we ’ ve learned to bounce at a trampoline park , had food for thought with our start of year trip to the
The College Senior Common Room had another strong year in 2016-17 . Highlights included a number of Sunday talks on topics as varied as Alexander the Great , Gravitational Waves and Border Ballards . As always , these were preceded by Sunday lunch , during which excellent conversation was had by members , the speaker and their guests . During the year , the SCR were treated to two excellent concerts . In October 2016 , piano duet Antonina Lax and Alla Levit played to both Grey and Van Mildert College SCR ’ s , in which they performed Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov and selected scenes of Petroushka by Stravinsky . During the performance a variety of images where shown that the music depicted . In February David Clappison gave a classical guitar recital in Grey . A number of the SCR , together with postgraduates from the Middle Common Room enjoyed what has become our annual outing to Wallington Hall . This included a behind the scenes tour of the house and a croquet match . As always , we enjoyed attending formal dinners , and particularly the termly guest nights , when we welcomed many members and their guests to College . The new Board Games evenings also provided an opportunity for a different selection of members to attend events in college .
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Baltic and an all-you-can-eat buffet , and following serious determination by one of our members , completed a Durham city college bar crawl !
RIGHT Grey students Alice Harfield and Sophie Leigh at The Informal Ball , Grey ’ s only costumed Ball . This year ’ s theme was “ Forever Young ”