College bulletin: 12 January
While students have been away, actor David Mitchell was welcomed to College to film a new BBC drama, the Cripps Porters’ Lodge has closed and a new Lodge has opened, and one of our Fellows cracked the mystery of how MS spread across Europe – just a standard vacation period for St John’s!
Read on for everything from this term’s Buttery, Café and Bar opening hours to a list of exciting events coming up this term.
Do contact us if you’d like any news to be considered for inclusion in the weekly Bulletin.
College news
Ancient DNA reveals reason for high multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s rates in Europe
In case you missed it…. 12 tales from St John’s in 2023
Honorary Fellow who transformed the study of intellectual history dies at the age of 99
Diamonds and rust help unveil ‘impossible’ quasi-particles
David Mitchell comedy crime-drama filming at St John’s
St John’s is taking another star turn in the world of TV and film as a location in Ludwig, an upcoming BBC One comedy crime-drama starring Cambridge alumnus David Mitchell.
The comedian and actor was in College filming a ‘montage’ scene on Monday for the Cambridge-set six-part series, which is due to be aired later this year.
College disciplinary policies and procedures
The start of term is a good time to remind members of College about the updated student disciplinary policies and procedures that were issued at the start of this academic year, and can be found in the Guide to Student Behaviour.
Comprehensive information about the support available to anyone affected by sexual harassment, misconduct or violence is on the College website and posters displayed in prominent places have links to key contact details.
The College would welcome any feedback on these updated arrangements or on scope for further improvements. You can provide comments by email or, for students, through your SBR/JCR reps if you prefer. If any substantive further changes are proposed, there would be consultation before they are introduced.
Fellows and staff are reminded that the College’s Dignity at Work policy can be found in the Staff Handbook on the intranet.
One of the improvements to welfare support introduced alongside these new policies and procedures was to appoint three Fellows as Student Advisers on Reporting and Supporting Options (SARSOs). When a student has a serious concern such as harassment or sexual misconduct by another St John’s student, they will be directed to one of Professor Mete Atature, Dr Georgina Evans, and Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri for expert advice about reporting options and the support available to students.
Last term, compulsory bespoke consent worktops were organised for all undergraduate freshers. Eight College facilitators were trained to deliver the workshops including SBR and JCR committee members, Fellows, and staff.
The workshops were delivered as a pilot designed by the University Harassment and Violence Support Service (HVSS) in conjunction with Beyond Equality. The SBR also developed compulsory online consent training for all new postgraduate students based on the pilot programme. The feedback was extremely positive, and these workshops will now not only be delivered annually to new St John’s students, but we understand that they will become a model for consent training workshops at other Colleges.
New Porters’ Lodge opens its doors
The Porters’ Lodge has opened in the revamped Northampton Street premises, providing a new evening route into College from the Cripps Building side of the site.
The iron gates by both the Northampton Street building and the former Cripps Lodge, which has now shut, are closed from 8pm until 7.30am. Entrance during these times is either through the new Lodge and along the lit path to Merton Court and the School of Pythagoras or down the Cripps driveway and through the former Cripps Lodge door. Students’, Fellows’ and staff University cards can be used to gain access at both entrances.
Philosopher elected to French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences
St John’s Fellow Professor Alexander Bird has been elected to the French Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
Professor Bird, Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy, was made a ‘Correspondant’ of the academy, which is one of the five academies constituting the Institut de France, last month in Paris.
The honour is comparable to being elected a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy. Membership of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques is strictly limited, meaning new members are only elected when an existing correspondent dies. Professor Bird takes the place of Evangelos Moutsopoulos, the Greek philosopher who died in 2021.
Student Services lead the way in staff photography competition
Stephanie Kingsnorth, Student Services Officer, has won the 2023 Staff Photography Competition, run by the Library, with her photo Metalmorphasis (shown below). Second prize has gone to fellow Student Services Officer Fay Page. Stephanie wins £100 and Fay receives £50.
Buttery, Bar and Café opening hours in Lent Term
Opening hours for the Buttery, Bar and Café are changing from this weekend onwards for the term ahead.
Buttery
Lunch: Monday-Friday 11.30am-1.30pm; Saturday (brunch) 11am-2pm; Sunday 11.30am-1.30pm.
Cooked breakfast: Wednesday 8-10am.
Dinner: Monday-Sunday 6-8pm.
Café
Monday-Friday 8am-4.30pm.
Saturday-Sunday 8.30am-2.30pm.
Bar
Monday-Thursday 4.30-11pm
Friday 4.30pm-midnight
Saturday 3-11pm
Sunday 3-10.30pm.
Quiet please! for College tests
College members are requested to keep noise levels at a minimum during College Progress Tests, which are taking place between Monday 15 January and Wednesday 17 January in the Fisher Building, Old Divinity School and Chapel Court.
It is requested that any noisy works be avoided until the tests are over.
Vigil to commemorate murdered student
A vigil is being held to mark the eighth anniversary of the abduction and murder in Egypt of Cambridge PhD student Giulio Regeni.
Cambridge University Amnesty International is organising the vigil on Thursday 25 January outside Great St Mary's Church at 6pm.
Giulio, a Girton College student, was doing field research for his PhD on Egyptian trade unions when he was kidnapped, tortured and killed in Cairo. The vigil will show support for Giulio’s family and Amnesty International’s Truth for Giulio campaign.
Try public speaking at law society’s mock court hearing
The St John's Winfield Society annual moot is now open for registration.
A moot is a mock court hearing, where participants analyse a given legal problem, research the relevant law, prepare written submissions, and present an oral argument. It is open to anyone interested in public speaking, looking to become a barrister/advocate and those with a general interest in law.
The event is open to first-year lawyers and non-law students from any year and is beginner-friendly – no prior experience or legal knowledge is required. The first round takes place on Saturday 3 February with the final round on Saturday 2 March.
The deadline for applications is Saturday 20 January. For more information, email Wajeeha.
Postgraduate to scale new heights in fundraising challenge
Rosa Mueller, a second-year PhD student in Chemistry at St John’s, is taking on two athletic challenges to raise funds for charity.
She is running the Cambridge Half-Marathon in March and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in August to raise money for Dig Deep, which supports the improvement of the drinking water supply system and basic hygiene situation in Bomet County, Kenya.
Rosa (pictured below) is trying to raise £2,950 by mid-June. Half the money plus additional donations will go directly to the charity and the rest will go towards her expedition costs.
“With as little as £50 more than 1,000 litres of clean water can be made accessible to the local community, so every little bit will have a great impact. I highly appreciate any support,” said Rosa.
Donations can be made via Rosa’s fundraising page
Dry January offer
The Bar is running a Dry January offer all this month. To support those who decide not to drink or wish to reduce their alcohol consumption, the Bar will offer a free Carlsberg 0% or a 16oz draught soft drink upon purchase of a pizza.
What’s on
Chapel
Student Communion – Sunday 14 January, 8.30am
Gather in the small chapel in the Ante-Chapel for a half-hour service of Holy Communion (aka the Eucharist) with sermon, then go to Hall for cooked breakfast (which is subsidised). This appeals to a real cross-section of the student community.
Epiphany Carol Services – Saturday 21 January & Sunday 22 January 2024, 6pm
A candlelit service of readings and music for the season. Music by Dove, Joubert, Kirbye, McGlade, Marsh, Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Sweelinck, Tallis, Tavener and Victoria.
Applications for tickets are now closed.
For all other regular services, see the Chapel webpage.
The Chapel team is always keen to hear from more volunteers to read in services or assist in other ways: please contact the Chaplain, Andrew.
Other events
College Bar quiz – Monday 15 January, 8.30pm
Bar.
Open to all, admission free.
Aquila rehearsal – Tuesday 16 January, 5.15-6.45pm
New Music Room.
Aquila is a friendly a cappella singing group for female students, Fellows and staff, led by Music Director Dr Chloe Allison. It welcomes new members – no audition is necessary, simply drop in to one of its weekly Tuesday evening rehearsals to try before joining.
For more information and events, visit Aquila’s Facebook or Instagram @johnsaquila
Upper Library opening – Wednesday 17 January, 2-4pm
Enter via E staircase, Second Court.
Open every Wednesday afternoon in term time, view manuscripts and rare printed books from the collections in the Upper Library. Requests for material to be exhibited can be emailed to Special Collections and they will do their best to accommodate these during the term.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
Palaeography for beginners – Friday 19 January, 3pm
Via Zoom (link below).
Weekly sessions for anyone interested in reading handwriting from c1500-c1700, using documents from the College’s institutional archives. Sessions are informal and aimed at beginners, or those with a little experience who wish to practise their skills.
Sessions are held on Fridays at 3pm and take place online using photographs of the documents. To join, or to make an enquiry, email the archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby. If you aren’t sure until the last minute, join anyway.
Open to all, admission free.
What’s On in the coming weeks
Drop-in dissertation support group – Monday 22 January, 2.30-4pm
Library Seminar Room.
Weekly group run during term by Harriet Edwards, Library Graduate Trainee, offering an informal setting for students to work on their dissertations and other pieces of coursework alongside other students going through the same thing.
There is support, encouragement and the opportunity to ask questions about study skills such as researching, referencing and time management. The group is mostly for undergraduate students but postgraduates are also welcome if they think it would be helpful.
Email Harriet if you have any questions.
Short Book Club for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff – Monday 22 January, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, to discuss January’s book, Baba Dunja's Last Love (2015) by Alina Bronsky. It's a romance set in post-nuclear accident Chernobyl. In a novel about families, risk, resilience and what it means to love a home, Baba Dunja is an unforgettable character.
Newcomers always welcome. If you are interested in attending, email Vona.
Skylines – Tuesday 23 January to Saturday 27 January, 7pm
Corpus Playroom. St Edward’s Passage.
It is London between the wars and Archie and Lily live in one of the city’s first ‘skyscrapers’. Among the changing skyline, the two navigate an existence which places them increasingly further into the sky and deeper into the ground.
Written and directed by St John’s student Isabella Bottle, Skylines maps the attempts of ordinary people to come to terms with both the distance and closeness of their newly vertical lives and what it means to confront the future in a world where everything seems suspended.
Suitable for all ages. Tickets: Tuesday £6.50-£8.50; Wednesday and Thursday £7.50-£9.50; Friday and Saturday £9.50-£11.50. Buy tickets
Tour of College wine cellars – Wednesday 24 January, 11.30am
Meet in the passage between the kitchens and Hall.
A free 30-minute tour led by Jim Wocha, Wine and Provisions Manager at St John’s, for College postgraduates, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests. Part of the Sans Frontières events programme.
All 12 places are now taken; the Postgraduate Administrator will advise if any become available.
Short Book Club for undergraduates – Wednesday 24 January, 7pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, to discuss January’s book, My Phantoms (2021) by Gwendoline Riley. It's a crisp, unsentimental and surprisingly tender examination of a complex mother-daughter relationship.
Newcomers always welcome. If you are interested in attending, email Vona.
Master’s Concert Series – Saturday 27 January, 8.45pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
Two rising stars of opera, soprano Licia Piermatteo and baritone Gulio Ricco, will give a recital of arias and duets, including music by Mozart and Rossini. To be followed by a drinks reception.
Open to College members and their friends, admission free, no booking required.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 31 January, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Attendance at Postgraduates Dine with Fellows events is restricted to one event per academic year.
Free, limited places, register via Upay.
Lecture: The Life and Work of Paul Dirac – Tuesday 6 February, 6pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
With Dr Peter Goddard CBE, Emeritus Professor, School of Natural Sciences and Fellow of St John’s. The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in Central Hall.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free, no booking required.
The chemistry of wine and wine tasting – Wednesday 7 February, 6pm
Wordsworth Room, First Court.
A 45-minute talk by Dr Paul Wood, College and University Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, Director of Studies in Natural Sciences (Physical), and Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Maximum 30 people. Booking and payment details to be confirmed.
Visit to the Old Library – Wednesday 14 February, 2pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
With Dr Adam Crothers, Special Collections Assistant.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Maximum 30 people. Admission free, no booking required.
Dramatisation: David and Absalom – Wednesday 21 February and Thursday 22 February, 7.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
With Professor Patrick Boyde, Emeritus Professor of Italian and Fellow of St John’s. Subtitles will be projected onto a screen to translate the Hebrew into English.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of the Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free, booking required. Details to be confirmed.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 28 February, 7.30pm
Hall.
pen to College postgraduates. Attendance at Postgraduates Dine with Fellows events is restricted to one event per academic year.
Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay.
Final round of the annual Winfield Moot – Saturday 2 March, 1pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
Watch the final round of the St John's Winfield Society annual moot; a mock court hearing, where participants analyse a given legal problem, research the relevant law, prepare written submissions, and present an oral argument.
Open to all University members, admission free, no booking required.
Tour of the Chapel windows – Saturday 2 March, 2pm
Meet in the Ante-Chapel.
The story of St John in the College’s stained glass, presented by Professor Patrick Boyde, Emeritus Professor of Italian and Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of the Sans Frontières programme. Admission free.
How Cambridge works – Tuesday 5 March, 6pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
A talk by Richard Partington, Senior Tutor at St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of the Sans Frontières programme. Admission free.
Graduate Symposium – Saturday 9 March, time tbc
Lightfoot Room and Central Hall, Old Divinity School.
Details to be confirmed.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of the Sans Frontières programme.
Master’s Concert Series – Saturday 16 March, 8.45pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
With Annemarie Federle on the horn and Marie-Noelle Kendall on piano. To be followed by a drinks reception.
Open to College members and their friends, admission free, no booking required.
Tour of the University Botanic Garden and spring flowers – Sunday 17 March, 2pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
Professor Tim Bayliss-Smith, St John’s Fellow and University Emeritus Professor of Pacific Geography, will lead a two-hour walking tour of the Botanic Gardens.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of the Sans Frontières programme. Students should bring their University cards for free entry. Maximum 25 people. Further details to be confirmed.
And finally
The College swimming pool was coming along nicely for a while after a deluge of rain last week but it is more of a paddling pool now.
This image of the wildlife enjoying the aqua park was captured on camera by Genevieve Protiere.
