I am pleased to welcome you to Hatfield! My name is Joseph Most, Hatfield’s Senior Man, which is the same position as JCR President in other colleges (by convention and tradition it’s called the “Senior Man” at Hatfield). I have just completed a degree in English Literature here at Durham and have taken this role on as a Sabbatical position for a year – it’s a nice excuse to spend some more time at Hatfield! When I’m not: standing on a chair being drowned out by the noise of spoons; coordinating the executive committee; or representing the JCR at meetings, you can find me chilling in the Hatfield Café. 

Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on getting into Durham University – you’ve worked incredibly hard to be here, and I hope you get all you want out of your university experience, and more. As you will soon learn, Durham is a special place which is made unique by its collegiate system. The JCR (Junior Common Room) is the body of undergraduate students at Hatfield. Within this, elected representatives will often run social events and activities, as well as providing welfare services, and an avenue for voicing student concerns about college affairs. It is essentially a smaller-scale Student’s Union for undergraduate students in our College, and creates a sense of community through events, sports, societies, volunteering, outreach, democratic processes, debate, and opportunities to take on an array of roles in various committees that form part of the JCR infrastructure. It is also part of the governance of the College and helps to maintain many of the facilities around Hatfield (JCR Common Room, Gyms, Bar, etc.).

One of the most popular parts of being a member of the JCR is joining some of our many sports clubs and societies. We are lucky to have the opportunity to participate in a club/society at almost any level of commitment, experience, or skill! From rugby to rounders, cheerleading to singing, pool to ping pong, there really is something for everyone to get involved with. We encourage everyone to try something new, you never know you could end up loving it! However, if the activity you were looking for isn’t on offer, as a JCR member, you can set up your own club/society with help from the JCR.

There are also many JCR-run events, such as Hatfield Day, Lion in Winter Ball, Michaelmas Ball, and smaller events such as a Eurovision watch party in the Burt Room, quiz nights, and themed bops. The JCR is run by the elected JCR Executive Committee which consists of the following student roles in addition to my employed role: Vice-President (Discipline), Welfare Officer, Treasurer, Compliance & Governance Officer, Facilities Officer, Communities Officer, Sports and Societies Officer, Events Officer, Secretary, and Chair. Whilst we all have our individual roles, the main job of the Exec is to represent the views of the JCR at College and University level and coordinate the activity of the JCR. Alongside the JCR Executive Committee there are also over 80 appointed positions which JCR members can apply for to get involved in coordinating every aspect of college life.

As with most things in life, JCR membership comes with a price tag – a one-off levy of £220 - but it is definitely worth the money! As a JCR member, we think you will soon agree that you are part of a buzzing community, engaging in various opportunities and roles, as well as having some unforgettable experiences. 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and I look forward to meeting you in September. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at hatfield.seniorman@durham.ac.uk.

Best wishes,
Joseph

First things first, a huge congratulations to all of you incoming Hatfielders-to-be. Getting into Durham is a huge achievement and Hatfield is so excited to have you joining our College community!  

Now, let us introduce ourselves: we are Isha Ghosh and Robbie Jansen, your Senior Freshers Representatives (or Freps for short) for this year. Over the coming weeks you will start to hear a lot from us as our number one priority is to help you guys settle into your new home. Since the beginning of June, we have been working hard to plan the best Induction Week possible to give you the best start to life at Hatfield and Durham.

Induction Week is a chance for you to settle into our community, meet new people, and discover all the opportunities available to you in both Hatfield and Durham. It is also the perfect chance to become accustomed to some quirky traditions and meet the wonderful Frep team (students in second, third and fourth years), who will likely become good friends as your time at Hatfield progresses.  

Starting University is an exciting time, but it can also come with challenges and worries. If there is anything we can do to make your time easier, please do not hesitate to drop us an email or speak to any of your Freps. We are all here to help. You can ask us questions through:

• the official Hatfield Freshers’ Facebook page (Hatfield Freshers 2024/25 Official);
• Hatfield Freshers’ Instagram (@hatfieldfreshers);
• or email us at hatfield.induction@durham.ac.uk.

Again, no concern, question or worry is too big or small so please do let us know if we can help in any way.

Frep love,
Isha & Robbie