The post room is full of parcels, the dining hall is reverberating with the sounds of happy diners, and some extremely well dressed new Somervillians have recently been sighted on their way to the Sheldonian. It can all mean only one thing: we are back!
The familiar rhythm of the beginning of the academic year has been joined by a new beat this year in the form of our new initiative to give our freshers two extra days at the start of term for sessions to help bridge the gap between school and university. Inclusivity is a value at the heart of Somerville, and this is inclusivity in action.
You can see it too in our Sanctuary work, which we are extremely proud to report goes from strength to strength: there are now 8 refugee and displaced scholars studying at Somerville, the most to date. In our wider college community, our fellows Professor Noa Zilberman and Professor Louise Mycock with assistance from DPhil Student (2022, Engineering) took underrepresented students under their wing and gave them valuable experience of the postgraduate research world as part of the UNIQ+ scheme. If there were an extra, unofficial Somerville motto, it might be that actions speak louder than words!
The new Somerville Choir lineup for 2023-24, coming soon to a carol service near you!
We can't really put into words how fun our Family Day this summer was, so here's a picture instead.
Our South Western alumni reunion
Somerville's students and fellows went head to head in the BBC R4 quiz show '3rd Degree'
Our Berlin alumni reunion
Our Director of Chapel Music William Dawes and Somerville student Amy Moynihan perform in Berlin
The Somerville Boat Club's Women's first boat show off their new craft ahead of its debut performance
Philippa Foot's blue plaque is unveiled
Blue Plaques commemorating Somervillian philosophers Iris Murdoch and Philippa Foot were unveiled this summer
Spring Meeting 2023 room shot
Our Tutors and Fellows Professors Noa Zilberman and Louise Mycock supervised students under the Uniq+ scheme this summer. The initiative gives students from underrepresented backgrounds a chance to experience a postgraduate research environment.
Somerville signed the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy pledge, promising as an employer to create opportunity and reduce inequality and disadvantage
We launched the Savitribai Phule Graduate Scholarship for Indian students from the most underrepresented backgrounds and marginalised communities
The Progress flag flew above the college in February to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. We also published a series of reflections on our website to celebrate the occasion.
Oscar helps with maths teaching at St Frideswide's school as part of our twinning scheme
