Alcuin College, York

Coordinates: 53°56′57″N 1°02′56″W / 53.94927°N 1.04898°W / 53.94927; -1.04898

Alcuin College
University of York
Seebohm Rowntree Building, Alcuin College
Location Siward's Howe, Heslington West, York
Motto Panto Nos Postulo (Latin)[1]
Motto in English "All we need"
Established 1967[2]
Named for Alcuin of York
Head Paola Zerilli
Website http://www.york.ac.uk/univ/coll/alcuin/
Student association http://www.alcuincollege.com

Alcuin College is a college of the University of York located on Siward's Howe.

It is one out of 9 colleges at the university, being the nearest to the library on the Heslington West part of the campus.

History

Alcuin College is one of the University of York's first colleges, established in 1967[2] alongside Vanbrugh College. It was officially opened in 1969 by Lord Clark, the Chancellor of the University.[2]

It is located on Siward's Howe, making it the highest elevated college in the University. It is also believed to be the burial site of Eric Bloodaxe,[2] who was King of Northumbria and of Norway.

Alcuin Separatist Movement

From early days of the college an uproar for secession of the college from the remainder of the university has been present.[3] It is a self-styled Separatist Movement and at times presented as a running gag at the University of York about Alcuinites.

Buildings and Services

For many years Alcuin College was very much the outcast on the university campus, the only college physically separate from the others except for a bridge from the library, a narrow bridge from Langwith (demolished over Easter 2008) and a walkway to the chemistry department. Overlooking University Road was Alcuin's bar. In 1995 this was transformed from a traditional British pub style bar to a 1950s American theme bar - the only themed college bar on campus. The bar was decorated in American 1950s paraphanelia such as busts of Marilyn Monroe and a full-size pink cadillac that appeared to be crashing through the wall. The bar's terrace overlooked University Road and was immensely popular with students in the summer. The bar incorporated a burger bar and the staff all wore uniforms of stars and stripes.

Alcuin College (2010)

In the new century, the bar was renamed B Henry's, after Brian Henry, a college porter of many years who had recently retired, and on opening was immensely popular despite its relatively distant location compared to the rest of campus. In 2007 the bar once again went under transformation, being revamped as a "B Henry's. The Cocktail Bar". In 2008, a move by commercial services to close B Henry's triggered a large campaign to save the bar.[4] This campaign had the backing of the whole college and the students union as a whole, but it was unsuccessful.[5] In 2013, the Student Union took over the running of the outlet and named it The Kitchen at Alcuin.[6] Most recently The Kitchen at Alcuin has taken to being open longer hours, now closing at 8pm and having a pizza 'dinner' style menu. Recent events such as YUSU's Keep Cool at exam time campaign, the Alcuin 50th Anniversary and Envirocuin have seen The Kitchen at Alcuin being used as a more general venue for activities outside of normal opening hours.

Sometimes referred to as the "Ensuite-Elite", Alcuin is perhaps best known for the ensuite bathrooms that come as standard with every room and the general quality of the rooms, most of which were recently built.[7]

It currently does not possess a bar, but has two food venues, the Alcuin Bistro and The Kitchen at Alcuin café. The college accommodation is divided into blocks; E, F1, F2, G, H, J1, J2, K, L, M, N, P and Q. There are also several teaching blocks (East Wing and the Seebohm Rowntree building) and is home of several departments including Economics and Chemistry, as well as the University Library.

Following Vanbrugh B and C block's conversion to offices, the uprooted residents moved to the newly made P and Q blocks (which were built on time) and referred to themselves as Valcuin members. In addition to P and Q blocks, a new JCR building was built, and an extra launderette near the JCR (to try to add to the four washing machines for the whole of Alcuin). The JCR was opened in May 2006, six months later than planned.

The Seebohm Rowntree Building was added in 2002, and contains teaching facilities.[8]

CSAC - The College Student Association Committee

Coat of arms for the Alcuin CSAC

Like the other York colleges, Alcuin has its own Student Association. The Student Association takes on the responsibility of the day-to-day running of the college activities and is responsible for supporting students, providing social, sporting and cultural activities and developing the College community.[9]

The 2018 CSAC committee executive are:[10]

  • Samara Jones, President
  • James Taylor, Secretary
  • Mia Holley, Treasurer
  • Emily Ferriby-Gotts, VP for Entertainment and Activities
  • Bethan Williams, VP for Wellbeing and Support
  • Chris Oldnall, VP for Business and Marketing
  • Morgan Steigman, VP for Environment and Ethics

Student Events

Alcuin College is notable for hosting many popular student events. The CSAC hosts its regular pub quizzes at The Courtyard, the local campus bar. Over the past years the Alcuin CSAC have branded their events by incorporating 'AL' into the title, examples include 'TropicAL', 'AnimAL' and TerritoriAL'. More recently however, this tradition has been discarded with the coming in of newer CSACs. Popular past events include 'Das Sexy Sexy German Teckno Disko Party' and its subsequent follow ups 'Das Sexy Sexy German Teckno Disko Party' parts zwei, drei, vier and fünf. Continuing with a music theme Alcuin has introduced Alcuin Live Lounge over the past few years, where current and ex-students of Alcuin attend The Kitchen at Alcuin for a chilled night of live music given by students and members of the community. Alcuin hosts a yearly winter ball, which is the most heavily attended Alcuin event of the year.

Traditionally a spring ball was held with the most recent being a Masquerade ball in 2017, however 2018 saw the introduction of a new Alcuin led event, 'Event X,' whereby the event is to change theme each year but be held on campus as an alternative to a formal in the Spring Term. The first Event X: Prom was a success bringing together not only students from Alcuin, but other colleges in Hendrix Hall with free Pic'N'Mix and a live student band.

Event X Titles

  • 2018; Prom
  • 2019; TBA

Furthermore, Alcuin is also notable among the rest of the university for its often superior wellbeing events, being able to cater for those students who do not enjoy club nights is seen to be extremely important and has led to recurring events such as 'Exam Refuge' in which the CSAC provide free food and a relaxed environment to alcuinites during the exam period. Alcuin is also famous for hosting the event 'Nuzzlets' where a variety of animals are brought in for students to pet, this event has been particularly popular over the years.[11]

Notable people

Notable alumni include:[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Constantine and Derwent launch motto competitions". Nouse. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "History of Alcuin". Alcuin College. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Alcuin Separatist article Archived 26 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ http://www.nouse.co.uk/2008/11/08/yusu-pledges-full-support-to-%e2%80%98save-b-henry%e2%80%99s%e2%80%99-campaign/
  5. ↑ Teh, Grace (2010-02-23). "B Henry's faces an uphill struggle". Nouse. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  6. ↑ "The Kitchen at Alcuin @ University of York Students' Union". www.yusu.org. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  7. ↑ York, University of. "Alcuin - Accommodation, University of York". www.york.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  8. ↑ University of York Press Release 6 June 2002
  9. ↑ "Student representation - Alcuin College, The University of York". www.york.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  10. ↑ "Student Association". ALCUIN COLLEGE. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  11. ↑ "Events". ALCUIN COLLEGE. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
  12. 1 2 "Notable Alumni". YorkSpace. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Aníbal Cavaco Silva". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2015.

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