Pembroke graduates play a wide range of sports for the college and the university. In particular, Pembroke is the Oxford rowing college par excellence; in 2003 we won both the Men’s and Women’s intercollegiate regatta – an historic first in Oxford. But recent Pembroke graduates have also competed at Rugby, Polo, Ice-hockey, Handball and Boxing at the highest level. The MCR fields its own highly competitive soccer football side (named the Smurfs for their bright blue kit), and cricket team (named the punishers after John Pym's Ship of State).
Artistically, the college has been particularly successful in debating and oratory, with two recent presidents of the Oxford Union, but the MCR’s contribution to the arts is more diverse. Each term, Sunday exhibitions and acoustic nights are complemented by at least one soiree; a night of poetry, music, comedy and oratory held in the Wood Room or outdoors in the summer. As a result of this tradition, the Pembroke MCR has reputation as a springboard for Oxford poets and songwriters.
Academic life for Pembroke Graduates finds its focus in combined SCR and MCR seminars, where graduates and fellows of the college meet in the Senior Common Room to debate topical scientific and cultural issues. The most recent of these included the renowned neurologist Baroness Greenfield and philosopher Professor John Armstrong discussing the nature of love. The diversity of disciplines being studied makes for an at times heady academic environment. Each year opens with a freshers’ academic dinner where students meet other students and lecturers in their field at Pembroke. In addition, each graduate is assigned a college fellow as an advisor. Advisors are chosen from the broad field of your studies and are there as a sounding board and source of advice in addition to any supervisors appointed by the faculty. The R.G. Collingwood Prize is awarded annually for academic excellence in the Pembroke Graduate body and the Pembroke Prize is awarded for service to the community. Senior scholarships are awarded to people who perform brilliantly in their first year of graduate study. Traditionally, Pembroke has been known for its poets and writers, and more recently for its linguists, but almost all disciplines, from history to bio-chemistry, are represented.
Chris Watkins, MCR President 2004-2005
