Freshers Guide - Final Draft - Peterhouse JCR
Freshers Guide - Final Draft - Peterhouse JCR
Freshers Guide - Final Draft - Peterhouse JCR
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<strong>Peterhouse</strong> <strong>Freshers</strong><br />
The <strong>Guide</strong><br />
2012/13<br />
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Welcome to <strong>Peterhouse</strong>!<br />
Congratulations, you have found the <strong>Peterhouse</strong> freshers’ guide! If all went<br />
according to plan, you have been directed here by the letter you received from<br />
me in late August/September. This letter introduced you to: (1) me - your<br />
freshers’ rep, (2) the College families system in operation at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>, and (3)<br />
where to turn for further information.<br />
In this guide you will find “everything you need to know” about arrival at<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> and your subsequent life here - it is divided into four sections. The<br />
first section includes information about packing, arrival and support. The second<br />
explains about <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week, and the boring (but nonetheless important)<br />
things that need to be sorted out on arrival. The third section contains more<br />
general information about life in Cambridge both at a college and university<br />
level. This is information of less importance at this stage, but we still recommend<br />
you read it all to familiarise yourself with some of the quirkier parts of university<br />
life in Cambridge. The final segment contains both specific information (e.g.<br />
information targeted at LGBTQ and international students), and miscellaneous<br />
bits and pieces such as a map and dictionary.<br />
Whatever your preconceptions of Cambridge I can assure you that <strong>Freshers</strong>’<br />
Week will be one of the best weeks of your life, and that you will love <strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
from the minute that you arrive.<br />
Further updates (e.g. the <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week timetable), will be posted in two<br />
locations; (1) my page of the the <strong>JCR</strong> website, and (2) the official Facebook page<br />
at “<strong>Peterhouse</strong> (Cambridge) <strong>Freshers</strong> 2012”. Further questions can be directed<br />
towards either your College parents, Facebook or me (details below).<br />
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in late September,<br />
Sam Mackrill<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Rep 2012/13<br />
Contact: sm906@cam.ac.uk<br />
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/freshers
Contents<br />
Welcome from the <strong>JCR</strong> President<br />
Part 1 – Settling In<br />
What do I need to bring?<br />
What do I do when I arrive?<br />
Where can I turn for help?<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ committee members<br />
Part 2 – <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week<br />
Checklist<br />
Part 3 – Life in Cambridge<br />
Money<br />
Academic<br />
Food and drink<br />
Accommodation<br />
Facilities<br />
Sports<br />
Chapel<br />
Going out<br />
Drama<br />
Miscellany<br />
Part 4a – Specific Information<br />
Internationals<br />
LGBTQ<br />
Part 4b – Other<br />
The parents’ guide<br />
Map of Cambridge<br />
Map of <strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
Who’s who<br />
Dictionary<br />
Contact details
Welcome from the <strong>JCR</strong> President<br />
All undergraduate students at <strong>Peterhouse</strong> (including you once you’re here) are<br />
members of the <strong>Peterhouse</strong> Junior Common Room (<strong>JCR</strong>). The <strong>JCR</strong> is served by the <strong>JCR</strong><br />
committee, introduced here by our <strong>JCR</strong> President:<br />
The <strong>JCR</strong> committee exists for your benefit. We represent your wishes and<br />
opinions, or are there to help you with any problem you might have during your<br />
time at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. I meet with the powers that be, both within <strong>Peterhouse</strong> and<br />
in CUSU (Cambridge University Students' Union) on a regular basis to represent<br />
the views of <strong>Peterhouse</strong> students, assisted by my Vice-President Adam.<br />
We have two fantastic Academic and Welfare Officers, Pete and Hannah. Their<br />
job is to be there for you: nothing is too trivial, or too serious for them to have a<br />
chat about. They put on stress-busting welfare events and provide welfare items<br />
such as condoms, pregnancy tests and bike lights. Ollie, the Access Officer,<br />
organises our access commitments and represents any minority groupings<br />
within College. International and LGBTQ students have their own<br />
representatives – you will hear from Alba and Rosie later on in this guide.<br />
Rachel is our Charities, Campaigns and Environmental Officer. She is responsible<br />
for a range of things, from recycling to raising money for charity appeals. Then<br />
there are our crucial administrators: Kayleigh – the Treasurer, Natasha – the<br />
Secretary, and Josh – the Webmaster. George, as Ents Officer, sorts the parties;<br />
Tom, our Bar and Buttery Officer, handles recommendations, complaints or<br />
general comments about the quality of food and drink in the hall and bar, and<br />
James, our Amenities Officer, makes sure there are amusing things in the <strong>JCR</strong><br />
itself. And you have already encountered Sam, our First Year Officer, who will be<br />
available to help you settle in throughout your first year.<br />
As I said in my opening, we are here to help you with any problems or issues you<br />
may encounter during your time at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. Please never hesitate to<br />
approach us: the more informed we are, the more effective we can be, and the<br />
better able to cater to your needs. Our whole purpose is to be at your disposal.<br />
Rhys James<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> <strong>JCR</strong> President 2012/13<br />
Contact: rhj25@cam.ac.uk<br />
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/president
What do I need to bring?<br />
Don’t worry, I am not going to patronise you by reminding you to bring your<br />
toothbrush. The following list focuses on things that you might not be sure<br />
whether to bring, and niggly little things that you will forget unless I remind you.<br />
But none of the items are compulsory, just recommended.<br />
Food stuff:<br />
(All food is provided in hall, but you may want to<br />
make yourself a few meals/snacks)<br />
• Cutlery, bowls and plates<br />
• Microwaveable bowl/plate<br />
• Snacks<br />
• Drinks<br />
• Glasses/mugs<br />
• Tea/coffee<br />
• Tin opener<br />
Bureaucracy:<br />
• Passport<br />
• Driving licence<br />
• NI number<br />
• Student loan assessment form<br />
• NHS card<br />
• Passport photos<br />
Easy to forget:<br />
• Phone charger<br />
• Washing powder<br />
• Spare coat hangers<br />
• Pins (for notice boards)<br />
• Batteries<br />
• Cheque book<br />
The big things:<br />
• Clothes – see below<br />
• Bed linen – including duvet,<br />
pillows and covers – see below<br />
• Computer/laptop – highly<br />
recommended (a printer can<br />
also be useful)<br />
• Stereo/speakers – not necessary,<br />
but nice to have some music<br />
• Bike – see below<br />
For your room:<br />
• Extension/adaptor lead<br />
• Desk lamp<br />
• Pictures/posters<br />
• Alarm clock<br />
• Laundry bag, spare cushions<br />
• Stationery<br />
Do not bring:<br />
• Kettle – provided in the gyps<br />
• TV – unless you want to pay for a<br />
TV licence<br />
• Pots & pans – there are no hobs<br />
on which to use them<br />
Note: Any electrical items will need to be PAT tested when you get here.<br />
Clothes:<br />
Everyone knows that Hitler was defeated in Russia by its winter. Less well known<br />
is that Hitler could never therefore have conquered East Anglia, as our winter is<br />
even colder. Remember this when you pack your clothes.
Formal items of dress:<br />
1. Gown – You will need to wear this at formal hall and at other special<br />
academic events such as matriculation. This can be purchased from the<br />
porters when you arrive, new or secondhand. Write your name in it – they<br />
all look the same.<br />
2. Lounge suit/smart dress – This means a normal (business) suit and tie for<br />
guys, and equivalent for girls. You will need these for formal hall, as well as<br />
various occasions where smart dress is required.<br />
3. Black tie – A special smarter suit with bow tie for the lads, and a dress that<br />
covers the knee for the girls. Black tie is interchangeable with the lounge<br />
suit until the final term, when it is required for May Balls. Many people<br />
choose to hire these as and when they are required. You will ultimately<br />
need to decide whether it is worth owning one (if you don’t already).<br />
4. Matriculation – Matriculation is an event on the Monday of <strong>Freshers</strong>’<br />
Week, where you officially become a member of the university. Gowns<br />
must be worn, plus a lounge suit for the guys, and a black dress with white<br />
blouse for the girls.<br />
It is possible that some May Balls at the end of the year will require evening tails<br />
(white tie) – but don’t worry about buying or bringing these in first term.<br />
Bed linen<br />
The college only provides a mattress (no pillows or other such luxuries) – the<br />
rest is up to you. Remember a duvet – I suggest a thick one.<br />
Bikes<br />
Cycling students are one of the most famous Cambridge archetypes, but it is up<br />
to you to decide whether you need a bike. <strong>Peterhouse</strong> is very central, with the<br />
town less than ten minutes’ walk away, and nearly all lectures and practicals<br />
similarly near, whatever your subject. However, you may be required to visit<br />
more distant colleges for supervisions and sports fixtures, and medical students<br />
may need to visit Addenbrooke’s for some lectures. So day to day a bike is not<br />
really necessary for a Petrean, but you will still find one very useful on many<br />
occasions, and you should definitely bring one along if you can get hold of one<br />
easily. Also, remember lights, a helmet and invest in a solid D-lock.
What do I do when I arrive?<br />
You should all (with a few exceptions – you will know who you are) be arriving on<br />
either Saturday 29th or Sunday 30th September, ready to establish yourself in<br />
your new home with cart-loads of stuff.<br />
Parking (for this weekend only) is provided between Saint Peter’s Terrace and<br />
the William Stone Building (see map below). The turning you want to take is onto<br />
Grove Lane, off Trumpington Street. Grove Lane is opposite the restaurant,<br />
“Browns”, and at the entrance there is a very noticeable red telephone box.<br />
The first thing you should do when you arrive is walk over to the Porter’s Lodge<br />
and collect your room key. There will a group of us waiting to greet you in the<br />
Porter’s Lodge and show you to your room.<br />
Then, try to get hold of your College parents, who should hopefully be around to<br />
help you. If you can’t find them at first, anyone will be happy to lend a hand or<br />
advise you as to what’s going on, but the <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee especially will be<br />
around and ready to assist (photos overleaf).<br />
An inevitable fact of teenage life is that everyone finds their family<br />
embarrassing, and you may want to be rid of yours as soon as possible. Make<br />
sure they have seen the “Parents’ guide” section here, which provides some<br />
suggestions for what they might like to do with their remaining time in the city,<br />
and where to stay if they don’t live within day-trip distance.<br />
The William<br />
Stone Building<br />
Parking Area<br />
Porter’s Lodge<br />
Browns Brasserie<br />
St. Peter’s<br />
Terrace<br />
Phone Box<br />
Note: Access via this end of Trumpington St. only - one-way system
Where can I turn for help?<br />
College parents:<br />
All new students at <strong>Peterhouse</strong> are looked after first and foremost by their<br />
“College parents” – a union of second years who have elected to care for a family<br />
of “College children”. They will write to you between now and your arrival, and<br />
from then on they are the first people you can rely on to answer your questions,<br />
give advice and buy you drinks.<br />
Either your “College mother” or<br />
“College father” will study your subject,<br />
so you can also depend on them if you<br />
get stuck with your work. Moreover<br />
they will counsel you on the mundane<br />
lectures and appointments that must<br />
be attended to in your first week, such<br />
as filling in forms, sorting out your web<br />
connection and registering with a GP’s<br />
surgery. For medical students there<br />
are a number of inoculations that you<br />
will need also.<br />
Subject reps:<br />
Subject reps are responsible for attending to all those who study their particular<br />
subject. This means answering your questions, advising you on module choices,<br />
buying you even more drinks, and ensuring that their subject-brood don’t get<br />
lost on the way to lectures. They will introduce themselves at some point over<br />
the week at your ‘subject tea’ (probably Tuesday morning), when they will tell<br />
you all about your subject and then show you around the department and<br />
lecture theatres.<br />
House reps:<br />
Over the first few days, in addition to College parents, a select few second years<br />
will be responsible for organising some events within your St. Peter’s Terrace<br />
houses (for those of you who live in the William Stone building, there will be a<br />
rep there as well). They will be getting you out of your rooms and meeting your<br />
fellow freshers, perhaps organising some small sports tournaments in the Deer<br />
Park and trips into town to see some of the sights and try some of the cafes.<br />
They are also yet another face to turn to if you get confused.
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee Members<br />
The <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee aid the <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Rep in the organisation of <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week.<br />
They are also responsible for your welfare and are happy to talk to you about any<br />
problems or questions you may have:<br />
Alba Godfrey<br />
<strong>JCR</strong> International Rep<br />
James Ellis<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee – Ents<br />
Miranda Bain<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee – Welfare<br />
George Johnson<br />
<strong>JCR</strong> Ents Officer<br />
Jenni Reid<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee – Artistic<br />
Charlotte James<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee – Ents<br />
Rosie Shewell-Brockway<br />
<strong>JCR</strong> LGBTQ Rep<br />
Hannah Laidley<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee – Welfare<br />
Siana Bangura<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Committee – Ents
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week<br />
Your first week in Cambridge is <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week. During this week we will<br />
introduce you to the city, the College, and university life in general. There will be<br />
formal dinners, a pub crawl, various club nights, sports tasters, nights in the<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> bar and many more social events. The timetable will be finalised<br />
over the summer and through September, and constantly updated. The most<br />
recent version of this document should be available on my page of the <strong>JCR</strong><br />
website (www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/freshers), and a final version will be<br />
posted on the Facebook page – “<strong>Peterhouse</strong> (Cambridge) <strong>Freshers</strong> 2012” – in late<br />
September.<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week Checklist<br />
1. Meet:<br />
i. College parents – these should write to you before you arrive, and<br />
represent one of your first points of personal contact with the college.<br />
They should give you means to contact them when you arrive. Please<br />
contact me (Sam Mackrill – sm906@cam.ac.uk) if you have not heard<br />
from your parents by September 18th 2012.<br />
ii. Your tutor – times for these meetings will be posted just outside the<br />
servery.<br />
iii. Your DoS (Director of Studies) – they should contact you about this.<br />
iv. The Dean – times for these meetings will be posted just outside the<br />
servery.<br />
v. Subject reps – these should contact you via email/pigeon holes about a<br />
subject tea/drinks party, probably held on the Tuesday morning.<br />
2. Establish your internet connection – details of how when you arrive.<br />
3. Register with a GP – many nearby (Newnham Walk, Trinity Street and<br />
Lensfield Road practices).<br />
4. Ensure your student loan has hit your account.<br />
5. Sort any more College bureaucracy (e.g. exam certificates). DO NOT PANIC<br />
ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – EVERYBODY ALWAYS DOES. You will<br />
receive emails/letters from the college with forms to fill out and lists of things<br />
to send in. Do what you reasonably can, but the majority can be sorted once<br />
you are here and settled (I know a lot of you don’t receive exam certificates<br />
until later in the year – school-issued declarations of results are sufficient in<br />
the meantime).
Life in Cambridge<br />
We are now past the essential information. This section of the guide provides<br />
background information about College life and living in Cambridge. Familiarising<br />
yourself with this will help make many things a lot easier and less confusing for<br />
you in your first few weeks.<br />
Money<br />
This is a practical guide to how much <strong>Peterhouse</strong> will cost you (aside from the<br />
obvious tuition fees). Of course it depends vastly on how extravagant you are, so<br />
take anything I say with a pinch of salt. Note, there are many things that you<br />
may have to/want to purchase at the start of you time here (e.g. a gown/bike)<br />
that are not recurrent costs.<br />
Accommodation – Range from £720 – £1,645 per term, but can be anything<br />
between £700 and £1,500 per term in the most extreme cases. You will have<br />
chosen already between categories A (showy), B (standard) and C (frugal), but<br />
otherwise get no more choice in your first year.<br />
‘KFC’ – Everyone has to pay a flat rate of £165.77 a term just to keep the kitchens<br />
going, on top of whatever you pay College for your accommodation.<br />
Food – A meal in hall tends to cost £3–5, but this can vary a lot according to taste<br />
and appetite. Those who eat twice/three times a day in hall can rack up bills of<br />
£400–600 per term.<br />
Books – Depends on your subject. Scientists can get away with never buying a<br />
book in their lives, while lawyers have to spend as much as £50 on each, with<br />
about ten books needed in the first term. Always ask second years if you can buy<br />
their old copies on the cheap. Your subject reps will have more information on<br />
this. The college does have book grants available.<br />
Phone – Personally, I couldn’t function without a smartphone. Getting all my<br />
emails/calendars/internet in one place is incredibly useful, and in subjects such<br />
as law where a number of events are on a first-come-first-served basis they can<br />
be a great advantage. Be aware, “three” mobile coverage in College is awful.
Other costs – If you like to go to the theatre, eat out, go clubbing, go to formal<br />
dinners, or just buy lots of snacks from Sainsbury’s these all cost money. This is<br />
entirely dependent on how you want to live. General toiletries and clothes also<br />
cost a bit too if you are watching the pennies. Don’t, for the sake of your<br />
housemates, choose another pint over a new can of deodorant.<br />
Academic<br />
Your most pressing question will be how much you are expected to work, but<br />
sadly this is one that I cannot answer as the volume and type of work depends<br />
vastly on your subject. It might shock you to hear that whatever subject you<br />
have chosen, you will be expected to work very hard. But don’t worry, you will<br />
have plenty of time to enjoy yourself – “work hard, play hard” is often bandied<br />
about incessantly to new students.<br />
Your subject reps will try and answer all your questions about your particular<br />
subject in due course; if they cannot, then go and see your Director of Studies,<br />
who will be happy to help.<br />
The sciences:<br />
Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, Maths, Economics.<br />
The dominating characteristic of the sciences is a very structured life, not unlike<br />
that which you were used to at school, just much harder. This comes with the<br />
often mentioned disadvantage of regular 9am starts, but the other side of this<br />
highly regulated lifestyle is that so long as you keep rigorously to your timetable,<br />
your requirement to self-motivate beyond it is quite easily fulfilled.<br />
Your work will consist of three components:<br />
1. Lectures – 10–12 hours per week, and these will probably be much as you<br />
expect. And yes, you really must attend them: they are sequential, and if you<br />
miss more than a couple without very carefully working through the notes,<br />
you will rapidly fall behind. Take notes and write them up on the same day.<br />
2. Practicals – These can be a terrifying prospect until you arrive in Cambridge,<br />
but they are nothing to get worked up about. The instructions take you<br />
through them step-by-step, and there is ample help available from<br />
demonstrators if you get stuck. You will find some of them very interesting<br />
and some of them mind-numbingly tedious, depending on how much you<br />
were lying when you told your interviewer that you “love your subject”.<br />
3. Supervisions – These are what make the Cambridge education unique. They<br />
are generally hour-long sessions of dedicated contact time where you will go<br />
through lecture and practical material to ensure that you fully understand it.
You will also be set work to complete for the next week. They are compulsory.<br />
Make sure you ask plenty of questions so that you can leave with no gaps in<br />
your knowledge. If you prepare and make sure you have a grasp of the lecture<br />
material beforehand, you might even enjoy them!<br />
The arts:<br />
History, English, Classics, History of Art, Politics, Law, MML, Arch & Anth, Theology,<br />
Architecture, ASNAC, etc.<br />
Despite the fact that you will be told, repeatedly, by officious science students,<br />
quite possibly as you are on your way to an actual lecture, if not even in one,<br />
that 'you have no lectures', this is an evident fallacy. Arts students do have<br />
lectures. They run daily, omitting the weekend, from 9am through to 1pm. They<br />
are less essential for academic success than for a scientist, although the truth of<br />
this varies from subject to subject; you may find that some lectures are<br />
compulsory, depending on your subject and paper choice.
For some subjects, like history, lectures are supplementary to your working<br />
week. Far, far more important is the time you put into self-motivated private<br />
study. Indeed, this is what will, or should, comprise the bulk of an arts student's<br />
day, as you read and note-take for your one/two essay/s a week.<br />
This sort of independence can be very scary, and one can often, initially, feel<br />
adrift. To a certain extent this is a rite of passage: as one supervisor was heard<br />
to say: 'The first term is always a car crash… and there are no survivors'. The<br />
important thing is to speak to someone if you are feeling frustrated or anxious.<br />
Talk to second and third years in your subject , as they have usually just been<br />
through what you are currently experiencing. You can also speak to your<br />
supervisor or Director of Studies to clarify any comments on essays, what you<br />
should do in order to improve, how to go about things if you are not sure and do<br />
not feel you are being told, etc.<br />
The focus point of every arts student's week is their essay deadline(s) and<br />
supervision(s). A supervision is normally an hour long and will usually be either<br />
one-on-one with your supervisor or with one other person from your subject<br />
year group. Part of it will be spent discussing ideas and themes pursued in your<br />
essay and part of it will be taken up with introducing you to new ideas and<br />
themes to deepen the way you understand and approach a text/issue. The first<br />
supervision is, of course, terrifying, but you needn't worry – supervisors are<br />
there to engage you and get you to think, not to spend an hour mortifying you<br />
with how much more than you they know. Soon this should become a highly<br />
enjoyable part of your week, a place to wrestle with points of interest, and with<br />
challenging themes and the intricacies of a text or problem with those who are<br />
the best in the world at what they teach.
Food and drink<br />
Hall:<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> is fully catered, with every meal<br />
available in the hall with the exception of<br />
Sunday breakfast and lunch. Meals are<br />
served canteen-style, and are paid for with<br />
your College card. The menu can become<br />
repetitive but the general quality is high<br />
and there is a good choice. Our food is<br />
considerably better than at most colleges,<br />
and it is a very convenient system<br />
compared to other universities.<br />
Meals are served at:<br />
Breakfast: 8.15 – 9.00am<br />
Lunch: 12.30-1.30pm<br />
Dinner: 6.00-7.00pm<br />
Our small size does come with its drawbacks: each individual meal is not too<br />
expensive (generally a little under £5), but the lack of economies of scale<br />
manifest as the “kitchen fixed charge” of £165.77, which must be paid at the end<br />
of every term on the College bill to help maintain the kitchens throughout the<br />
year. 35 sign-outs for dinner are permitted per term. A meal taken in the Servery<br />
must cost at least £2.35 for it to count as a meal for the purpose of reckoning<br />
sign-outs. Excess sign-outs will be charged at £4.00. Up to ten excess sign-outs<br />
may be carried over from one term to the next, within a given academical year,<br />
to accommodate uneven dining patterns.<br />
Payment:<br />
Purchases in hall, including for formal hall, and in the bar, are made on your<br />
College card. The balance is then paid off at the end of term, alongside other<br />
charges such as your rent, on your College bill.<br />
Formal hall (7.30-9:00pm):<br />
This remains the unassailable Cambridge<br />
institution. For the princely sum of £5.85 you<br />
are treated to a three-course meal with<br />
waitered service, in the candle-lit beauty of<br />
what is repeatedly and mechanically quoted<br />
as “the oldest building in Europe still used<br />
for its original purpose, excluding religious<br />
buildings”. There is a list available in the<br />
servery that can be used to sign up. You can
either pay when you make your booking, or just before you enter. If you change<br />
your mind and do not wish to attend you can cross yourself off the list, but you<br />
will be charged if you forget to do this. You can bring up to six guests too but<br />
they must pay a slightly higher price (£7.85) because they do not contribute to<br />
the KFC. There are super halls a few times per term which cost around £15 when<br />
the kitchens pull out all the stops for a delicious four-course meal. Super-halls<br />
tend to sell out quickly, so make sure you get your name down early.<br />
Your gown is the only item of clothing that must be worn, but a reasonably<br />
formal level of dress is expected – girls always do this anyway, and guys, please<br />
do wear a suit.<br />
While the Fellows are in the room, formal hall etiquette must be carefully<br />
observed. You must endeavour to remain in your seat at all times (if you<br />
desperately require the services of the beautiful upper-hall loo painted with the<br />
College crest then this is excusable, but certainly no getting up to banter with<br />
your mate at the other table).<br />
There is a special freshers’ formal in the first week (probably on the Thursday –<br />
see the timetable for details). This is your first chance to try it out, and you need<br />
to sign up in the usual way (i.e. the list in the servery).<br />
Gyps:<br />
All College accommodation includes a few small kitchens known as gyps. Most<br />
contain a fridge, microwave, toaster, and often a sandwich toaster. Do be aware<br />
of this before you enthusiastically pack your saucepan (there are no hobs).<br />
The bar:<br />
The bar is nestled in the corner of Old Court and is open every evening in full<br />
term. It serves a range of beers, ciders and wines, as well as almost every spirit<br />
imaginable. It is good value (a pint is around £2.50), and is open every day from<br />
7pm, shutting at 11pm, and 12 on Fridays and Saturdays. Although our bar is<br />
small, so is our college, and it is the perfect size to build up an atmosphere<br />
without getting too crowded.<br />
Eating out:<br />
Cambridge is serviced by all and every restaurant chain imaginable. Italian is<br />
particularly abundant, and a walk along Bridge/Sidney/Regent Street will<br />
demonstrate the full hand of identical pizza restaurants from ASK to Zizzi.
Accommodation<br />
When it comes to accommodation, <strong>Peterhouse</strong> has an edge over all other<br />
academic institutions. You will never have to go through the fuss of locating a<br />
flat for your second and third years, nor will you ever have to deal with an<br />
external landlord, as you are provided with excellent accommodation by the<br />
college for the duration of your degree – almost all within five minutes’ walk of<br />
the college.<br />
While on a per-week basis it is pricey, the yearly cost works out cheap, as you do<br />
not rent your room through vacations. The drawback is, of course, that you must<br />
clear out all your belongings at the end of term. This can create particular<br />
problems for international students – discussed by your International Rep (Alba<br />
Godfrey) in her section of the guide.<br />
All first years will live either in St. Peter’s Terrace (SPT) or in the William Stone<br />
Building (WSB), which are right next to each other. In all cases, showers and gyps<br />
(small kitchens) are shared between approximately five people. All rooms come<br />
with internet access, included in your rent.<br />
St. Peter’s Terrace:<br />
This is where the majority of you will live for the duration of your first year. It is a<br />
beautiful terrace of seven houses set back from the road, with around ten<br />
luxurious rooms in each.<br />
The William Stone Building:<br />
Known imaginatively as “WSB”, it stands in the midst of the beautiful Scholars’<br />
Garden and closely resembles a multi-story car park. Having been renovated in<br />
2008 it is very comfortable inside and the rooms are spacious. They are all ensuite<br />
including shower, but this does make them more expensive.
Facilities<br />
Libraries:<br />
The Ward Library contains books – lots of them. It is quite possibly the best<br />
College library in the university, especially for historians, but like all College<br />
libraries, it usually houses only one copy of each book, so sharing, children, is<br />
necessary.<br />
Alternatively, it will be necessary to visit your respective faculty libraries, which<br />
your subject reps will identify to you. These not only contain a greater range of<br />
books, but often more that one copy of key texts. There is also always the<br />
magnificently bleak University Library (UL). Being a copyright library it has a copy<br />
of every book ever published in the United Kingdom. It now lends to all students<br />
at the university.<br />
Your College card is essential for withdrawing books and often for gaining entry<br />
also – this is especially true of the UL.<br />
Laundry:<br />
Like me, many of you will never have used a washing machine in your life until<br />
you arrive at university. It turns out, boys, that there is no such thing as a<br />
laundry leprechaun who does your washing – it was your mother all along.<br />
Washing is about as easy to understand as a cannibal tribal-island god, and<br />
washing machines are indeed similar to them in many ways. They too require a<br />
sacrifice, although in this case not of human flesh but of a £1 coin and 2 x 20p<br />
pieces. They also require a source of food, known as washing tablets. The drying<br />
machines likewise require an offering of a 50p piece, and they are vengeful<br />
masters, liable to shrink your clothes if you offend them, or turn them up too<br />
high.
Make sure you shut the door properly on your way out, as thefts have been<br />
reported in the past. If there is no available machine and you must empty one<br />
that has finished, put the clothes in the bag that the owner should have left in<br />
front of it. If there is no bag, put them on a chair, but please do not ever dump<br />
them on the floor, as it is about as clean and hygienic as a Latvian<br />
slaughterhouse.<br />
Computer room:<br />
The computer room is located under the theatre and contains a few PCs and<br />
Macs. You need your card and PWF password to use this room. It also has a<br />
colour and b&w printer, useful for those without.<br />
Sports<br />
In addition to the countless clubs and societies that are open to all university<br />
students, there are many that are based exclusively within <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. We have<br />
some limited facilities within the college, including a squash court (right next to<br />
the first year accommodation) and free pool table. We also have access to a<br />
sports’ ground (Grantchester Road) and our own boat house, fifteen and ten<br />
minutes’ cycle ride away respectively. Those wanting to use a gym to work on<br />
fitness or weight loss should try the university gym, Fenner’s (15 minutes’ walk<br />
from <strong>Peterhouse</strong>).
As might be expected from a small college, competition for team places is<br />
negligible, where it exists at all, and anyone with the necessary enthusiasm<br />
is welcome within almost any sport. At College level the emphasis tends to be<br />
more on having fun than on competition, but most first teams still reach a<br />
decent standard. Limited access to players has not prevented us from achieving<br />
notable victories in the recent past, particularly in pool and rowing. The<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> Boat Club is a big part of College life for some people and there is<br />
separate information that will be available to you about taster sessions during<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week.<br />
Those wanting to compete at a university level at any given sport should go to<br />
the <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Fair and talk to the club rep, as procedures vary between sports.<br />
Chapel<br />
Services:<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> Chapel is above all a friendly and inclusive community – and a<br />
vibrant one at that. People come from all denominations and none: some are<br />
committed Christians, some are curious enquirers, others simply come to enjoy<br />
the aesthetics of the sung services. Most importantly, everybody is welcome.<br />
Even if you are not interested in Christianity per se, seriously consider attending<br />
at least a couple of Sunday Evensong services in order to experience the unique<br />
blend of a candlelit 17th-century Chapel and our excellent choir. Our visiting<br />
preachers are normally of extremely high quality, ranging from leaders of<br />
various Christian denominations through to prominent political figures. Apart<br />
from services, there are many other opportunities to meet over food and/or<br />
drink such as the Dean’s port parties or the splendid termly Chapel Feasts. For<br />
further information contact either one of the Chapel Officers or the Dean, Dr<br />
Stephen Hampton, who will all be happy to entertain you.
Music<br />
As we are constantly being reminded, <strong>Peterhouse</strong> is the smallest college in Cambridge<br />
which means that everything within it is on a smaller scale, including music. However,<br />
there are plenty of opportunities for people of all abilities. As with other colleges the<br />
focus in on choral music, but we also have our own orchestra, and solo<br />
instrumentalists are always wanted for informal concerts.<br />
Chapel Choir:<br />
Singing in the <strong>Peterhouse</strong> Chapel Choir is special for two main reasons. First of<br />
all it’s tiny; made up of only 16 voices. Second, it is organised and run by the two<br />
organ scholars (with a little help from our choir librarian). The combined effect is<br />
that it is more friendly and relaxed than the average Cambridge choir. That<br />
doesn’t mean to say that the standard is any lower, or the perks any fewer. If<br />
you are looking to sing to a wide and varied repertoire of sacred music to a<br />
really high standard, but with a reasonably low time commitment, then<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> is a fantastic place to be. We sing evensong twice a week, with one<br />
extra rehearsal, and for that commitment singers get three free meals in formal<br />
hall per week, several free feasts throughout the year, free singing lessons, and<br />
one heavily subsidised tour (this year we went to Paris and sang in Notre Dame<br />
and Chartres Cathedral, among other venues). There are a few choral scholars<br />
each year, but those without choral scholarships can audition for the choir at the<br />
beginning of the year and I would encourage anyone at all interested to give it a<br />
go. It really is a fantastic opportunity and the camaraderie in the choir has been<br />
one of the best parts of my year. For more information go to<br />
www.srcf.ucam.org/petcc/w/Main_Page
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> Singers:<br />
If, however, you think the chapel choir is a bit too serious for you but you still<br />
love singing, then <strong>Peterhouse</strong> Singers may be a perfect fit for you. It is the<br />
College’s informal singing group and sings a truly diverse selection of music,<br />
from Vivaldi to Disney and everything in between. Everyone is welcome, whether<br />
they've sung before or not, no audition necessary, and while you might find sight<br />
singing helpful it is by no means necessary. The group rehearses every Monday<br />
evening, but attendance isn’t strict, which makes it a great break when you feel<br />
like a brief respite from work.<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> Players:<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> Players is our orchestra. This is unauditioned too, although players<br />
should be comfortable with sight reading up to a reasonable standard. The<br />
orchestra tends to play largely baroque and early classical pieces in keeping with<br />
its small size and string-heavy composition. Unfortunately at the moment there's<br />
not a lot on offer within <strong>Peterhouse</strong> for wind players, although as anyone can set<br />
up a new music group, that could change. College musical groups perform in the<br />
College concerts that take place at the end of each term. Soloists are often<br />
included in the programmes for these concerts, although many soloists prefer to<br />
perform at the informal coffee concerts that are put on every two weeks, so<br />
there is no shortage of solo opportunities.<br />
University Music:<br />
Those wishing to expand their musical horizons may wish to join one of the<br />
university-wide music groups, some of which are auditioned and some of which<br />
are open to all. There is a wide array of these, from orchestras CUMS and CUMS<br />
2 to CU Show Choir and CU Jazz Band. It’s a good idea to join the Music Society<br />
mailing list early on to stay on top of auditions and concerts, or get in touch with<br />
a particular group at the <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Fair.<br />
Eavan Prenter<br />
Contact: ep388@cam.ac.uk
Going out<br />
There are five clubs in Cambridge: Cindies (Ballare), Fez, Life (The Place), Lola Lo,<br />
and Vodka Revs. Each night tends to have a particular club associated with it,<br />
that you will become alarmingly used to, and that is where all the students will<br />
go – we will acquaint you with this cycle. There are also a huge number of pubs<br />
in the city, some of which you will sample on the pub crawl. The indisputable<br />
highlight is The Regal, the largest Wetherspoons in the country, where you can<br />
sample their selection of £3 pints of real ale – that is unless a lairy pikey on the<br />
dance floor knocks you out with a broken table-leg first. Also notable is The<br />
Eagle, where Watson and Crick went to celebrate the discovery of the structure<br />
of DNA. The pubs closest to College are The Anchor and The Snug, both popular<br />
watering-holes should you feel energetic enough to stride forth beyond the bar<br />
for an evening pint.<br />
Cindies:<br />
Cindies is the name of a club that has now been officially called “Ballare” for over<br />
12 years. It is a tribute to the stubbornness of Cambridge undergraduates that<br />
we still refuse to accept its rebranding, just as old-fashioned individuals continue<br />
to hold on to the dream that Starburst will once again be known as Opal Fruits.<br />
If you thought formal hall sounded lame, wait until you consider the idea of a<br />
packed club reverberating every Wednesday night to the sound of S Club,<br />
B’Witched, Journey and other such atrocious balladeers from our youth (and<br />
indeed, the youth of our parents), but it still holds a dear place in all our hearts.<br />
There will be a night here during <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week.
Drama<br />
The Cambridge drama scene is probably the best of any university in England. There<br />
are literally hundreds of shows each year at venues all across Cambridge, catering<br />
for all, from the first-time enthusiast to the experienced campaigner with<br />
professional aspirations. Actors, directors, musical directors, producers, writers, stage<br />
managers, costume designers, lighting designers and set designers are all constantly<br />
in demand, so no matter what you are interested in doing there will be something for<br />
you here.<br />
University drama:<br />
The ADC (Amateur Dramatic Club) is the main theatre company in Cambridge. It<br />
puts on shows in both the large ADC theatre near Jesus College and the Corpus<br />
Playrooms, a small studio theatre which is directly opposite King’s College. There<br />
are two shows a week at these venues, a main show and a late show. Smaller<br />
companies across Cambridge will also fund shows in these venues and put on<br />
shows in their own theatres.<br />
The best way to get involved is to go along to as many auditions (for actors) or<br />
interviews (for people on the production side) as possible. The way to do this is<br />
to sign up to the actors’ list and the production list at the ADC stall at the<br />
<strong>Freshers</strong>’ Fair. These are email lists that go out twice weekly with details of<br />
auditions and interviews for upcoming productions. Don’t worry if this all seems<br />
a bit confusing, it was all a bit much for me when I first came, and it now seems<br />
much the norm. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to get in touch with me<br />
and I’d be more than happy to show you around the theatres and help you get<br />
to auditions in the first week. Perhaps the best opportunity for newcomers are<br />
the two freshers’ shows in week 6, where assistant direction and production are<br />
done by freshers and all the actors will be freshers as well.
College drama:<br />
The College drama society is the Heywood Society, which puts on a show once a<br />
term. This provides a great opportunity for people who are new to drama to get<br />
involved in some capacity as there are always people needed to help out.<br />
University card:<br />
James Ellis<br />
Contact: je319@cam.ac.uk<br />
Miscellany<br />
This is used to pay for meals in hall and drinks in the bar. It is also the<br />
only university-approved form of ID (required for exams etc.).<br />
The porters:<br />
The porters function as the day-to-day contact point between the college<br />
authorities and the students. They are responsible for security and generally<br />
keeping the life of the college running smoothly. Should you require any advice<br />
on where to find something, how to get there etc. the porters should be your<br />
first stop, as they know everything there is to know about the city.<br />
They are based at the Porter’s Lodge, or ‘Plodge’ at the main entrance to first<br />
court which late at night is the main access to <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. It is where post is<br />
delivered, and it also functions as a general focal point of the college. It is<br />
therefore often used as a convenient meeting point.
Term:<br />
"Full Term" runs from a Tuesday to Friday - exactly eight weeks of lectures and<br />
study. Lectures start on the Thursday after Full Term begins and end on the<br />
Wednesday before the final Friday. “University Term” refers to a longer period<br />
that extends a week or so either side of “full term”, and represents the period for<br />
which you are provided accommodation without special permission. The first<br />
term is known as Michaelmas Term, the second as Lent Term, and the third as<br />
Easter Term (or Exam Term). There is no half-term or “reading week” at<br />
Cambridge. You can find the term dates on the university website (google:<br />
Cambridge Term Dates).<br />
May Week:<br />
This is the name given to the period at the end of Easter term once exams are<br />
over; it is neither in May, nor exactly a week long, yet the name persists. This is<br />
the time at which all our pent-up over-worked frustration is released, with the<br />
Daily Mail never failing to publish a photo of an unconscious student or two. The<br />
May Balls, for between £60 – £170 will show you for one night only that<br />
hedonism never died.
International students<br />
First, I’d like to wish you a very warm welcome to <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. Before giving you<br />
practical information, I just want to say that being an international student at<br />
Cambridge is a great experience. Not only can you socialise within College, but<br />
you can also meet people from outside College very easily through iCUSU – the<br />
International Students’ Union. So you get the best of both worlds! If you still<br />
have questions after reading this, please do not hesitate to contact me:<br />
ayg20@cam.ac.uk<br />
Before you get here:<br />
1) Visas<br />
Not all nationalities need to get a visa, but if you do I’d suggest you get it done as<br />
early as possible. To issue a Visa, the UK border agency typically requires<br />
passport photos, your passport and a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies.<br />
2) What you need to bring<br />
Most importantly, not too much! I know it’s tempting to pack up your entire<br />
room and bring it over here, but trust me, the less you have, the easier packing it<br />
all up again at the end of each term will be. <strong>Peterhouse</strong> offers very limited free<br />
storage for internationals over the vacation. As far as clothes are concerned, the<br />
main thing to remember is that Cambridge can get quite cold in winter time. You<br />
will need something smart to wear to matriculation and for the dinner<br />
afterwards. Kitchen-wise, all you will have is a microwave and a toaster, so there<br />
is no point in weighing yourself down with pots and pans. And Cambridge has<br />
lots of shops, so if you don’t have very much room in your bags, don’t worry, you<br />
can buy whatever you need once you get here.<br />
Once you get here:<br />
1) Arrival<br />
If you’re arriving by bus or by train, I’d recommend taking a taxi (which will only<br />
cost you about £5). Go to the Porter’s Lodge at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. The porters are all<br />
very friendly, and they’ll give you your keys and direct you to your room. I’ll be in<br />
College from early on, so feel free to contact me to let me know when you’re<br />
going to get here so I can be there to meet you.<br />
2) International <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week<br />
iCUSU organises an International <strong>Freshers</strong>’ week for all members of the<br />
university, which takes place before most other people arrive. For more details<br />
and dates have a look at: www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/freshersweek.<br />
Obviously whether you arrive here early or not and participate in any of the<br />
events is completely up to you. The international office itself organises a
useful orientation day, which you need to sign up for here: http://<br />
www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/internationalstudents/orientation/.<br />
3) <strong>Peterhouse</strong> <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week<br />
This is for all freshers in College, and I suggest you participate in as many events<br />
as you can. It’s a great way of meeting people and of getting to know more about<br />
College life, your course, and Cambridge in general. I’ll be organising a tea for<br />
international freshers sometime during the week (probably on Wednesday), so<br />
make sure you come to that (there will be cake!).<br />
Throughout the year:<br />
Even after the excitement of coming to England has died down and you’ve<br />
begun to work, there’ll still be plenty to look forward to throughout the year. The<br />
international reps from all colleges are planning to organise lots of ‘swaps’ (going<br />
to formal with internationals from other colleges), and iCUSU will be organising<br />
various events. There are also societies for virtually every nationality (you can<br />
sign up at the <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Fair). You’ll find out more about all this when you get<br />
here. In the meantime, I hope you have a nice summer and are excited about<br />
starting at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>!<br />
As I mentioned earlier, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions<br />
you may have, however trivial they may seem. Looking forward to meeting you<br />
all!<br />
Alba Godfrey<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> International Rep 2012/13<br />
Contact: ayg20@cam.ac.uk<br />
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/international
LGBTQ students<br />
Hello! My name is Rosie and I am the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,<br />
Transgender, Questioning) representative for <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. This means that I am<br />
responsible for providing LGBTQ-related support to members of <strong>Peterhouse</strong>,<br />
and also for organising social events for our LGBTQ community. I am always<br />
available if you are ever in need of support. I hold a surgery hour each week<br />
where I am available if you ever need someone to talk to (details of this will be<br />
circulated in October), and you can contact me at any time by email at<br />
rjs231@cam.ac.uk, during term or before you arrive.<br />
As well as the LGBTQ community in College, there is a CUSU (Cambridge<br />
University Student Union) LGBTQ executive for the university-wide LGBTQ<br />
community, which organises a wide range of social events and campaigns, and is<br />
also a great source of support for those in need of it. They are a brilliant network<br />
for the university LGBTQ community as a whole, and a great way to meet new<br />
people and get involved. For more information visit www.lgbt.cusu.cam.ac.uk/<br />
New last year is the CUSU LGBTQ parenting scheme. This exciting scheme is<br />
similar to the College parenting scheme, except it is university-wide and<br />
intended to provide extra support specifically to LGBTQ freshers. If you wish to<br />
take part, you will be assigned two students from later years whose job it will be<br />
to look out for you in and beyond <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Week, helping you to settle in and<br />
answering any questions you may have about life at Cambridge. Details on how<br />
to sign up should soon be posted on the CUSU LGBTQ website above.<br />
Coming to university for the first time can be scary, but <strong>Peterhouse</strong> is an<br />
incredibly tolerant and accepting college and you will feel at home here from the<br />
moment you arrive. I look forward to meeting you all in October!<br />
Rosie Shewell-Brockway<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> LGBTQ Rep 2012/13<br />
Contact: rjs321@cam.ac.uk<br />
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/lbgtq
The parents’ guide<br />
This next piece is for parents. When they have dropped you off, they may be at a loss,<br />
and without College parents or a freshers’ guide to turn to for help! This, then, is a<br />
brief guide to Cambridge specifically for them:<br />
Meet the parents!<br />
Hello Parents, my name is Sam. I am a second year medical student at<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> and co-author of this guide. In case you are not already aware, in my<br />
role as first year representative I am here to help your son/daughter’s smooth<br />
transition from home to university life.<br />
The amount that each student includes their parents in preparation for<br />
university varies greatly, but irrespective of this you are probably making some<br />
plans, and maybe feel quite apprehensive. This is an opportunity to allay any<br />
concerns you might have, and for me to explain a bit more about the weekend<br />
when freshers arrive (29th-30th September 2012).<br />
Here at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>, we operate a “College family” system that is designed to<br />
give each student a personalised induction to the college. You son/daughter will<br />
be assigned two second year students to act as their “College parents”. One of<br />
these students will study their subject. They will also have at least one “College<br />
sibling”. The College parents will write to their College children during<br />
September, and provide their source of information prior to arrival. Your son/<br />
daughter is encouraged to contact his/her College parents when they arrive in<br />
Cambridge. Meeting College parents can be an interesting and slightly surreal<br />
experience; meeting someone who introduces themselves as your child’s new<br />
parents is a bit odd. But don’t fear, the College parents will be friendly and<br />
helpful, hopefully putting both you and your son/daughter at ease while<br />
assisting with carrying the assortment of bags, boxes and the like which will<br />
invariably accompany your child.<br />
While you might feel the urge to unpack and organise their new room, you may<br />
also like to leave them free to meet new neighbours - something I leave up to<br />
you.<br />
Where to stay:<br />
Many of you will live some distance from Cambridge, and so may need to<br />
arrange to stay the night and return home the following day. The full selection<br />
of Cambridge hotels can be found on the Cambridge Tourist Office Website
(www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/Home). Note also that parents of<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> students receive 10% off the best available room rate at the<br />
Cambridge Crown Plaza Hotel.<br />
Where to eat:<br />
Within a week of having to pay for their own food students will be desperate for<br />
you to take them out for any meal, but on the first night we recommend that<br />
students eat in College with all the other new undergraduates, as it is an easy<br />
way to start meeting people. In due course you will be able to eat at formal hall<br />
too; your son/daughter can invite you and your guests on any evening so long as<br />
it is pre-booked.<br />
Otherwise, if going out and about during the day to watch Cambridge life go by,<br />
visit the Copper Kettle or Aunties Tea Room on/near King’s Parade. Alternatively,<br />
drive out to Grantchester and have a cream tea in the Orchard Tea Gardens<br />
(highly recommended). Browns, right opposite St. Peter’s Terrace is another<br />
popular place for supper, and there is a Loch Fyne right opposite College.<br />
Shopping and walking:<br />
Cambridge has good shops, a combination of what appeals to parents and<br />
siblings; the specialist individual shops and the popular chain store variety. If<br />
you find you have forgotten anything, you are sure to be able to find it in<br />
Cambridge. However, beware of shops selling over-priced tourist merchandise!<br />
Walk along ‘the backs’ (of the colleges, along the River Cam); some of the<br />
colleges also have beautiful gardens. You could try punting; punt hire including<br />
someone to punt for you is available from the Silver Street Bridge (follow<br />
Trumpington Street to its far end and curve left towards Queens’ College).<br />
Although <strong>Peterhouse</strong> is not on the river, many other colleges are and are well<br />
worth a look.<br />
And finally:<br />
If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me and I will<br />
endeavour to assist. Hope all goes well – I’m sure it will.<br />
Sam Mackrill<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> <strong>Freshers</strong>’ Rep 2012/13<br />
Contact: sm906@cam.ac.uk<br />
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/freshers
Map of Cambridge<br />
This marks out all the key places you will need in your first term. Be sure to have a<br />
walk around to familiarise yourself. College parents will also be happy to take you on<br />
a little tour. Note, this map is a rough guide, and we recommend you use it in<br />
conjunction with an official map of Cambridge to help orientate yourselves.<br />
Sidgewick<br />
Site<br />
Sliver Street<br />
Fen Causeway<br />
Bridge Street Sidney Street<br />
Kings Parade<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
Green<br />
Street<br />
Market Square<br />
and Gt. St.<br />
Mary’s<br />
Bene’t<br />
Street<br />
Pembroke Street<br />
Trumpington Street<br />
Fitzwilliam<br />
Museum<br />
Gardie’s<br />
Kebab<br />
Rose Crescent<br />
Fitz<br />
Street<br />
WSB SPT<br />
Jesus Lane<br />
Grand<br />
Arcade<br />
& Lion<br />
Yard<br />
Architecture &<br />
Engineering<br />
Kings Street<br />
Downing<br />
Site<br />
tennis Court Road<br />
Christ’s<br />
Pieces<br />
Regent Street<br />
Regent Street<br />
Lensfield Road<br />
Midsummer<br />
Common<br />
Banks<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong>’s nearest<br />
cashpoint<br />
Parker’s Piece<br />
St Peter’s Terrace’s<br />
nearest cashpoint
Where you will live<br />
in your first year.<br />
Key people at <strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
Prof. Adrian Dixon<br />
The Master of <strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
Map of <strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
Who’s Who<br />
Dr Stephen Hampton<br />
Dean and Senior Tutor<br />
Mr G Meade<br />
Head Porter
Tutors – You’ll be assigned one of the college’s four tutors to assist you with<br />
pastoral concerns. For academic matters, see your DoS, for anything else, see<br />
your tutor.<br />
The Fellows – Academics associated with the college. Some teach, either as<br />
lecturers, supervisors or DoSs, while others focus more on their research, or<br />
take on specialised roles, for example that of the Senior Bursar<br />
Directors of Studies – Directors of Studies are in charge of running their subject<br />
and, in each case, overseeing the academic progress of all those studying it.<br />
The Porters – The day-to-day contact point between students and College.<br />
Bedders – Cambridge term for a cleaner. They keep the communal spaces tidy,<br />
and will clean in your room once per week.<br />
Graduate students (Grads) – Those studying for their second degree (Masters,<br />
PhD etc.) They have their own common room just opposite the bar, but<br />
otherwise are as us.<br />
Undergraduate students – Anyone studying for their first degree, i.e. you and<br />
me.<br />
Dictionary<br />
Essential guide to general Cambridge (GC), and more <strong>Peterhouse</strong>-specific (PS), Jargon.<br />
ASNaC<br />
Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. The subject or someone who<br />
studies it. GC<br />
Bop Big party in College. Three times a term at <strong>Peterhouse</strong>. GC<br />
Bunder Vomit. PS<br />
Compsci Computer sciences, or a computer scientist. GC<br />
Cuppers Tournament or competition – played for a cup. GC<br />
Ent Short for “entertainment”. Huge parties at certain colleges. GC<br />
Fitz Street<br />
Fitzwilliam Street, where most of the second years live and<br />
maybe a few of you. PS
Going up/<br />
down<br />
Gowned<br />
Arriving/leaving at the start/end of term. GC<br />
The standard disciplinary procedure, which involves you getting<br />
told off while wearing a gown. PS<br />
<strong>JCR</strong> Junior Common Room. GC<br />
Mathmo A mathematician. GC<br />
Natsci Natural sciences, or a natural scientist. GC<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong><br />
College<br />
This place does not exist. Forget it. It is just “<strong>Peterhouse</strong>”. People<br />
are more snobby about this than Hyacinth Bouquet is about the<br />
pronunciation of her surname. PS<br />
Plodge The Porter’s Lodge. GC<br />
Spade To hit on relentlessly. PS<br />
SPT Saint Peter’s Terrace, where most of you will live. PS<br />
Squash Teams/societies trying to persuade you to join. GC<br />
The Sex Club The <strong>JCR</strong> (it’s short for “The Sexcentenary Club”). PS<br />
UL The University Library. GC<br />
WSB<br />
William Stone Building, where some of you live, plus some<br />
second and third years. PS<br />
Contacts<br />
<strong>Final</strong>ly, a list of contacts that may be of use to you throughout your first year.<br />
Postal address (Post is sorted at the porter’s lodge, not sent to your room):<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong>, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RD<br />
Emails:<br />
Tutorial Office: 01223 338201 / tutorial@pet.cam.ac.uk<br />
The Porter’s Lodge: 01223 338200 / plodge@pet.cam.ac.uk<br />
The College Nurse: nurse@pet.cam.ac.uk<br />
The Dean: dean@pet.cam.ac.uk<br />
The Fresher’s Representative (me): sm906@cam.ac.uk
Acknowledgments<br />
With thanks to the following for their contributions:<br />
Authors - Sam Mackrill and Nick Dixon-Clegg<br />
Additional Material from - Ashley Abrahams, Richard Dearden, Rhys James, Karel<br />
Kabelík, James Ellis, Alba Godfrey, Rosie Shewell Brockway and Eavan Prenter.<br />
Design and Layout - Jenni Reid<br />
Proof Reading - Kath Mackrill and Dr P. Pattenden.<br />
Photography - Various Sources (special thanks to Jenni Reid)<br />
<strong>Peterhouse</strong> <strong>Freshers</strong>’ <strong>Guide</strong> © Sam Mackrill 2012