Page 12 - Luce 2012

Junior Co mmon Roo m

From the Student Club Vice-President

“Face time”: that eternally valuable contact which each of us has the capacity to make,
is supposedly slipping through our fingers. But not within the humming, vital confines
of Janet Clarke Hall. 2012 inspired particular reflection on the broader implications
of our existence and the result is that ‘we’re doing alright’. When interaction with
someone in a stairwell is interrupted by what a stranger in Toronto thinks on Twitter,
we naturally kick up a fuss about how hopelessly complex this new world is, how
impossible it must be to ever regain true focus, slowness of thought and to put aside
time to appreciate the belly of an Encyclopaedia.

Janet Clarke Hall in 2012 was a hubbub of eager conversations, mist-tainted bicycle
sing-alongs and late night hilarity inspired by shared party-mix lollies. We embraced
the fresh-faced ‘newbies’, showed them the ropes and, from the Student Club
Executive’s perspective, let them lead themselves (and us!). Solid friendships were
formed between students new and old. It’s a testament to how thriving the human
craving to converse really is. Perhaps the academic college is one of the last frontiers
of minute-to-minute personal and respectful human contact.

I am soon to enter St. Vincent’s hospital as a second year MD student. I’ve been taken
far away from my beloved Room 247, into the world of patient-doctor conversations
and our place in a stranger’s struggle. Two things have struck me: Janet Clarke Hall
gave me a strong communicative platform on which I now stand, and secondly, the
world does still rely on meaningful human interactions. The joy we all felt during our
Social Services Trivia Night (run almost entirely by new students) really gave us a kick Mrs Enden’s Farm
for imagining our generation could ever lose the ability to communicate with strength
and passion to a diverse group of people.

I was representing the Student Club as well as leading them. Leading is through
listening, so we’re really moving together like a flock of birds, not entirely sure who’s
following whom. We began as we do best, with a rollicking, pioneering O Week, this
time with intergalactic pizazz. Beyond week one, the rekindling of the Wednesday
‘Knit and Natter’ club was said to be ‘the epitome of JCH’. That anything can epitomise
our resolutely unique College is really something, but its basis in the sharing of stories,
skills and plans makes this beautiful. We also managed to make our presence known
in the sporting arena, particularly our netball team, while the Arts remained our
strongest field. Winning many categories in intercollegiate music and visual art was
celebrated alongside top efforts in debating, acting and poetry.

We also persevered without Dr Powell. He is heralded by students as a caring man of Imogen Stafford (right) & friends
wisdom, intelligence, moderation and strictness of morals. We honestly dreaded the
time he would spend away, doubtlessly time he deserved! The presence of Mrs Davies
and Ms Tribe at the helm was splendid and greatly appreciated, guiding us through the
darker hours until the ‘Man of Many Anecdotes’ returned.

So from the Student Club’s perspective, all is not lost. Dr Powell was lost, but found
again. The value of slow ’human-time’ persists daily in the Hall of Janet Clarke. This
College is always in the present, vivid and pulsating. Good Luck to Jacqueline Oulten
and her 2013 team as they burst into the Modern Age with stories to tell. Just as
human nature will never lose its significance, Janet Clarke Hall will only become more
important in setting a standard for the modern student experience.

Many thanks to Dr Powell, Mrs Davies, our Tutors and our golden students for a
rocking year!

Imogen Stafford
2012 Student Club Vice-President Time to dance!

Can you see it? Pool is cool Ready to party

12 LUCE Number 11 2012