Admiral of the Punts:
The person responsible for the MCR fleet of Punts. Tends to be a very prestigious role in an MCR that loves its pimms and punting.
Ambassador
The member responsible for handling our relations with OUSU Requires that rare combination of political skill and endless patience.
Bar Tsar
The head of the bar-team that stock, market, (wo)man and manage the MCR bar. Arguably the most inmportant person in the MCR.
Battels
The termly college bill covering rent, meals, electricity, dining, JCR, and MCR charges, paid at the start of the term following the one where you racked up all the charges.
Blues
Top-level University sports teams and the ensuing games against Cambridge. A Blue is what you gain for representing the University at this level.
Bod
The Bodleian Library, the University copyright library. Don't miss the enrollment during Freshers Week.
Bod Card
Your University library card; also functions as a University student I.D. card and even gets you student discounts at certain businesses.
Bop
Oxonion for dance party.
Carfax
The crossroads at the centre of Oxford, where The High, Cornmarket, Queen St and St Aldates meet.
Collingwood Dinner
The end of year dinner where the new committee is announced and major awards handed out by the Master. Named for former Pembrokian R.G. Collingwood, historian and philosopher.
Coming Up
Arriving for the start of term.
Cuppers
An intercollegiate competition.
Don
Slang for tutor.
Eights
The biggest intercollegiate rowing regatta, usually in Fifth Week of Trinity Term. In 2003, both Pembroke Women's 1st VIII boat and Pembroke Men's 1st VIII boat were Head of the River. (The top spot in the whole University.) See Pembroke's Boat Club website:
http://www.pembrokerowing.com.
Fellow
Tutors who are members of the Governing Body of the college.
Fresher
That's you, a first-year student!
GAB
The Geoffrey Arthur Building, the housing complex by the river that mainly houses third-year undergraduates, but also the occasional graduate student.
Gaudy
An annual fancy dinner commemorating an event in the history of a college, often a reunion organized for old college members.
Going Down
Leaving at the end of term.
Hall
The large, crenellated building with stained-glass windows (completed in 1843) at the far end of Chapel Quad, where one eats meals under the oil-painted gaze of former masters, Queen Anne, and a rather dyspeptic-looking Charles I.
Herald
Ok. Unique amongst Oxbridge colleges we have a Herald, generally a Trumpeter or Bugler (occassionally a bagpiper) who heralds the beginning of the Keynote speeches at MCR Banquets.
JCR
The Junior Common Room, the name for both the undergraduate student body and their common room.
http://www.pembrokejcr.com
MCR
The Middle Common Room, the name for both the graduate student body and their common room.
OUSU
The Oxford University Student Union: represents all Oxford students, gives welfare advice, etc.
http://www.ousu.org
Paparazzi
The two MCR officers responsible for photographing and recording the years events.
Patron
Each year, at the first General Meeting of the MCR, the members elect a Patron. Past members have included King Albert the Third of Belgium (sacked for non-attendance) and a little known Australian Restauranteur.
Punishers
The MCR Cricket Team. Men and women, Pimms, passion and (mostly) foreigners trying to play cricket. Jolly good fun old chap.
RSL
The Radcliffe Science Library on Parks Road, where all the Bodleian's science books and periodicals are kept.
Schools
Also called Exam Schools, a Victorian building in The High, where exams are taken, lectures are held, and where the Freshers Fair takes place.
Sconcing
The ancient art of getting fellow collegians drunk via a complex system of toasting specific achievements or characteristics, administered by the sconce masters.
Sister College
All of the older Oxford Colleges have a sister college at Cambridge. In Pembroke's case this is Queen's College Cambridge who have proved delightful company over the centuries.
Social Squad
The Social Secretary, who sits on the executive committee, commands the social squad, whose harebrained schemes drive our social life. A place for drunks and aspiring politicians alike.
Sommelier
The person responsible for selecting the wine and fortified wines for formal dinners. They have the keys to the wine cabinet and get their budget from the Social Secretary.
SCR
The Senior Common Room, the name for both the fellows and tutors and their common room.
Smurfs
The MCR Soccer team, which recruits men and women, novices and pros, and forges them into a team to be reckoned with in the MCR league.
Sub-fusc
Formal academic dress, worn at official University occasions such as Matriculation, Exams, and Graduation. Pronounced
sub fusk.
Terms
There are three terms - Michaelmas starting in October, Hilary starting in January, and Trinity starting in April.
Torpids
The winter intercollegiate rowing regatta that usually takes place in Fifth Week of Hilary Term.
The Union
The Oxford Union, the famous debating society founded in 1823, located in St Michael's Street, with speakers, debates, a bar, food, and social activities. There is an annual or life membership fee.
http://www.oxford-union.org
Weeks
The traditional way of identifying weeks in any term, by numbering consecutively from Noughth to tenth Week. Each week runs from Sunday to Saturday. The week before First Week is known as 0th (noughth) Week.
