The term JCR stands for ‘Junior Combination Room’, and it consists of the entire undergraduate student population of Newnham. This is distinct from the JCR Committee; a student-run team that is elected annually to represent the JCR and to provide certain services and entertainments to the student body. Confusion can arise via the term ‘JCR’, as this is often used around College to refer specifically to the Committee. Another potential source of confusion is the ‘JCR Common Room’, which is a room within College that is often referred to as just the ‘JCR’.
Our purpose is to act as a middle ground between the SCR (Senior Combination Room – Fellows and Tutors), MCR (Middle Combination Room – Grad students) and JCR. In addition to this, we provide certain services to the undergraduates, such as setting up this lovely website, the organisation of recycling around college, and providing free welfare advice and condoms, to name but a few.
However, by far our most important role is to act as a platform for expression of student opinion. If there is something that you feel needs to be brought to people’s attention or needs changing then we are here to provide you with a means of informing and liaising with the JCR, MCR and SCR. Issues can range from a faulty heater to College smoking policies to what theme to have at the next bop!
In addition, we relay information from the College Authorities to the undergraduate population. This often takes the form of a posting on the website or an e-mail, so it would be good to get into the habit of checking your e-mail regularly when you arrive here – we aren’t the only people to use e-mail as the main means of communication!
At the end of Lent (second) term, you will have the chance to stand for a position on the JCR Committee (or indeed earlier than this for certain positions). It is well worth considering, as it allows you to really get involved in all aspects of College life and put something back into Newnham. But that’s something to consider at a later date!
We would like to encourage you to get in touch with anything you have a query about – our contact details can be found under the 'Committee' page on the website. We only function well as a Committee when we have people coming to us with ideas or problems, so please do make use of us – we are here for your benefit after all!