The Junior Common Room
is the students' body in college. Every Aidan's student is a member of the JCR, and can take positions in the various committees that it consists of. The JCR is run by the college President and their Exec committee, with meetings two or three times a term chaired by the Steering committee. The JCR exists to provide facilities such as the bar and shop, as well as events including Balls, Formal meals and Aidan's day. It also forms an important part of student welfare in college.
Exec
Pinski - President
El Presidente, Numero Uno, the big cheese, the almighty all-powerful all-good. Heads up the Executive Committee and is an ex-officio member of every JCR committee. Represents members of the JCR on college and university committees. They also do a shed load of admin, do the room allocation for freshers, arrange college families, organise the Ski Trip, Old Boys and the staff-student party (you'd be surprised, the catering staff rock the joint!) and generally support all the other members of the exec.
Jack Caswell - JCR Vice-President
Vice President is officially to Keeper of College Spirit. They play a perfect counterfoil to the president, the yang to the president's yin, the omega to the president's alpha, Sam Tyler to Gene Hunt. Their main responsibilities include running the JCR's Charities Committee (aka Give Com), arranging and distributing college stash and photographs, and organising the Informal Ball in Epiphany Term and the College Picnic after exams. They also take the reigns when the president takes a well deserved rest.
Ben Conti - JCR Treasurer
In charge of the JCR finances and heads up the Finance Committee. Wherever vomit is unleashed in college, there is the JCR Treasurer to be found paying the invoice for it to be cleared up, where cutlery is being held in the evil clutches of students, there is the Treasurer funding replacements for the servery. Day to day, they are the guy that pays the invoices, submit the yearly accounts to BAS, pays the taxes, produces annual budgets etc. Probably the most time consuming job on the exec, and a pretty thankless job, but a helluva thing to have on your CV at the end of the day.
Helen Jones - Welfare Officer
The smiliest person in college and the person to go and talk to about any welfare related issue whatsoever. The Welfare Officer and their Assistant have both received welfare training so are the best people to go and talk to about any worries or problems. They also have a generous supply of welfare goodies from condoms and dental dams to pregnancy tests and lube.
The welfare officer in conjunction with welfare committee run a number of campaigns throughout to year to raise awareness about welfare issues that particularly affect students, they also put on a few events, like the pamper night before exams and even a welfare formal from time to time!
Douglas Long - Services Officer
The life of the Services officer is never dull. Blowing up balloons, writing out names in fancy handwritting, painting ooooooh so much painting... The Services officer is responsible for putting together the glorious formals that occur about three/four times a term. This involves a lot of organisation but creates some of the most memorable nights at Aidan's. They are also responsible for representing students on issues like college food and college facilities. They keep a supply of blowup matresses that can be borrowed when you have guests to stay.
Cal - Bar Steward
King of the Swingers, the bar steward is a sabbatical position like the President. This means they are a former student who has graduated and come back for a year without chains for fun and frivolity. The bar steward runs all things bar, on a day to day basis and is the coordinator of the annual Beer Festival that takes place after exams. Being rudely awakened at unreasonable hours to take deliveries from the Carlsberg man is all in a days work, as well as having your head thrumming with profit and loss figures and gross profit margins. They usually have a bit of a reputation, but we'll see how this one pans out...
One of the great joys of Aidan's bar is that it is run by students for students, and any profits the bar make get reinvested into the JCR, half in Part II (the all purpose account) and half in part III (the projects account).
Chris Waddell - Shop Chair
Shop Chair, in charge of all things great and small in the shop. Inside the Shop, they are everyone and they are no-one. We have survived by hiding from them and running from them, but they are the gatekeeper. They are guarding all the doors, they are holding all the keys which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them.
But more seriously, if you want to work a shift in the shop, they can fix it for you, if there is anything the shop doesn't stock, reccommend it to them as the shop is always looking for fresh ideas. They also help put on Jazz Rock and Cocktails, the shop's infamously chilled evening in, which is a massive hit every year. The Shop is run as a non profit organisation by the students for the students, and its a great way to get to know people as well.
Rebecca Smethurst - Social Chair
Social Chair - Head of Soc Com, Aidan's premier events organisation committee. The Social chair is in charge of overseeing all the events put on by soccom, including but not limited to, newcastle nights, trips to sunderland dogs, megaformals (in conjunction with services committee), Jingle ball, Aidan's Day, and Summer Ball. The Social chair generally gives these events a direction, and calls the shots when it comes to what ents are being included with them.
Michael Crawforth - Sports Captain
Sports Captain is responsible for bigging up sport at Aidans. He represents sports teams to DUAU (Durham University Athletics Union) and helps the treasurer draw up the budget for sports teams each year. They are responsible for the upkeep and maintainance of the gym as well as training people for its use and collecting the membership fee. They also put on the Sportsmans' Ball at the end of the year, a classy coming together of Aidan's talent to reflect on the year that has past, with the giving of awards and a guest speaker. To fund raise for this event the Sports Captain puts on a couple of all sports team socials through the year which always prove to have some good interteam banter.
Gin Lowles - JCR Secretary
What exactly does the secretary do? ... That is a question that more and more of us find ourselves asking each and every day. Finally the truth can be revealed... The Freshers Handbook put together and sent to the freshers before they arrive, this is the magnum opus of the position, but they are also responsible for accurate recording the goings on of Exec and JCR meetings. They are in charge of Journo Com which is aiming to put out a publication this year, and once in a while they produce a yearbook too.
David Morris - Senior DSU Rep
DS...who...? I hear you cry... Yes that's right DSUUUUUUUUUUUU! Stands for Durham Students' Union, every JCR elects a number of DSU reps to represent them at DSU Council, the policy making body of the DSU. The Senior DSU Rep is in charge of gathering the opinion of the masses at their colleges, and coordinating his DSU reps to represent that opinion at DSU council. They are also the main advertisers of DSU referenda and elections (especially for the DSU sabbs and trustees). They sit on the Executive committee and represent the main link for information from DSU to percolate through the JCR as a whole. Also selects the college University Challenge team!
Committees
Arts
Head of Committee: Hannah Harvey - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
The loveliest committee in the world. Arts Com puts on film nights on a regular basis to culturally enrich our lives, they are responsible for putting together the college pantomime in December, and the Garden party in the summer as well as lots of random events through the year that bring nothing but joy to your life when you come across them!
Bar
Head of Committee: Cal - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
BarCom is less of a committee and more a state of mind. Less of a group of individuals, and more of a team who share one common goal. Less of a chore, and more of a way of life. The lovely lads and lasses who make up this committee are responsible for everything bar related or bar like. Lead by the very capable Sir Callum Rowlinson, they manage bar shifts, introduce new bar products, run events in the bar (the infamous bar ents in particular) and make sure all of the lines are fit for purpose, the highlight of their year (well, the highlight of everyones year) is the beer festival after exams. They know how to have a good time.
Charities
Head of Committee: Jack Caswell - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Charities committee (AKA VP Com) is the vice presidents committee, it's the VP who decides how they are going to distribute the various monies gathered via the charity levy each year. Members of this committee also support the VP in administering his remit. ie they help out with things like the informal ball, college picnic by painting or selling tickets.
DSU
Head of Committee: David Morris - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Conceived as an idea by the infamous Morgan Rees James Dickie, it's not really a com like other coms. DSU stands for Durham Students' Union. It is the overarching representative body for durham students, with the ability to represent them independently to the university on a whole range of issues. DSU Com a name put to the group of elected DSU reps (Junior and Senior) who represent Aidan's at DSU council (the policy making body of DSU) meetings. They tend to get together before the next council (usually about 5 mins before) to discuss what the mood is among the student body so that it can be represented appropriately at said meetings.
DUCK
Head of Committee: Isobelle Boltt - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
DUCK supports the main university fundraising organisation run through the DSU, Durham University Charities Kommittee. Each college elects students to coordinate with CENTRAL DUCK on events and fund raising etc. The committee does the brunt of the work of fundraising within college, although there are usually a number of associate DUCKlings, who aren't on the committee but provide extra manpower when required. DUCKs activities in Aidan's have included cocktails at events, pie people in the dinner hall, selling roses on valentines day, The Challenge the Exec evening (always shameful), DUCK party boat, the list goes on. On a university level there is a chance to get involved in everything from Rag Raids across the country, to expeditions, to bungee jumping to jailbreaking (getting as far as you can from durham in 48 hours) and taking party in the great DUCK race. The possibilities are endless.
Exec
Head of Committee: Pinski - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
The Exec is a committee made up of most of the other heads of JCR committees. It is responsible for the day to day running of college in between JCR meetings and also acts as a forum of information sharing for committees.
Finance
Head of Committee: Ben Conti - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
AKA The Bureau. AKA the vanguard of the people. Finance committee meets regularly to discuss matters that affect all of the JCR accounts and to share best practice. The committee is headed by the JCR Treasurer and consists of the sub-treasurers (Eg Shop Treasurer) and other people who rely heavily on Part II. The committee can make limited decisions themselves but can make recommendations to the JCR in JCR meetings about the best way to proceed on a certain issue.
Freshers' Reps
Head of Committee: Ben Richardson - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
IT
Head of Committee: Richard Hall - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
These guys are responsible for running and updating the website code and teaching the completely technophobic exec how to use the damn thing. Also if you have any IT related problems, hardware or software, these are the guys to speak to, even if they can't fix it themselves (which is unusual) they will know who to get in touch with. Rumour on the street is that between them they can speak 30 different languages...programming languages that is... and that the IT officer sees the world in Unicode.
Journalism
Head of Committee: Gin Lowles - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Livers Out
Head of Committee: Natalie Mycroft - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Not so much a committee... more a single person. They represent the JCR on the DSU livers out committee and are responsible for communicating the latest news about living out in Durham as well as making sure that freshers don't panic and don't rush into a house for next year in first term that they are going to regret! Also and ex-officio member of welfare committee.
Other Reps
Head of Committee: Pinski - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Services
Head of Committee: Douglas Long - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Services committee are the driving force behind Aidan's primarily fancy dress formals. 'formals' are special dinners we have every couple of weeks with improved food and an exciting theme. Theme's in the past have been A for Aidan's, Under The Sea, Aidan's College of Witchcraft and Wizardry etc. Services Committee do all the backbreaking labour, blowing up balloons, laying tables, painting posters, setting out the wine. Definitely one of the the most important committees when it comes to setting the atmosphere and tone of Aidan's for the year.
They are also responsible for keeping college clean and tidy and relating any comments or suggestions about catering or housekeeping to the Services Officer who can then take it to the appropriate member of staff.
Shop
Head of Committee: Chris Waddell - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Imagine the highest tier of committee you can, Shop Com is one tier above that. A highly functional committee, Shop Com is responsible for looking after, stocking and manning the shop. Selling a whole host of goodies, brownies, biscuits, crisps, soft drinks, the shop is open 1:30-3:30 PM and 8-12 PM every day. The evening is when the shop really comes into its own and cracks open the toastie bar. This is an excellent way of supplementing your early dinner. Will I have the College Classic? The Indian? The Full English? ... I don't know I'm just too excited by the choices...
The shop is run non profit by students for students and getting a job in it is a good way of earning a bit of pocket money (not to mention you get a free toastie).
The shop also puts on the once termly event Jazz Rock and Cocktails, Aidan's premier chilled and relaxed evening of live music played by your mates. If you want to play in JRC get in touch with the Shop's Events Manager.
Social
Head of Committee: Rebecca Smethurst - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
As one of the biggest committees in college and with a budget to match, SocCom host some of the most memorable nights at Aidan's. Besides thinking up and creating the College’s social events, SocCom have an insurmountable record of Class-A socials, more banter than is probably healthy, and general kudos when it comes to re-envisaging the look of the College for themed nights. Anyone can get involved with SocCom, positions go up at JCR meetings and all you need is a bit of creative thinking and some enthusiasm!
Sports
Head of Committee: Michael Crawforth - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
Sports Com, responsible for representing sports teams to DUAU (Durham University Athletics Union). This committee can sort out things like practice spaces for teams, and is involved in collating and presenting the Sports' Budget to the JCR Treasurer. Responsible for some outrageous all team sports socials throughout the year, which provide excellent craic and are a good way of bonding Team Aidan's together. The year culminate for Sports Com in the Sportsmans' Ball, a civilised occasion in an out of college venue, to celebrate Aidan's achievements throughout the year.
Steering
Head of Committee: Greg Chambers - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
governs the democracy and running of JCR meetings and elections.
Welfare
Head of Committee: Helen Jones - Send an email - View the committee page - View committee constituion
exists to provide students with support throughout their time at the college.
