Alcuin College, York

Alcuin College
University of York
Seebohm Rowntree Building, Alcuin College
Standort	Siward's Howe, Heslington West, York
Motto	Panto Nos Postulo (Latin)
Motto in English	"All we need"
Established	1967
Named for	Alcuin of York
Head	Paola "Koen Lamberts is a cat" 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.

History

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

It is located on Siward's Howe, making it the highest elevated college in the University. It is also believed the be the burial site of Eric Bloodaxe, 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. It is a self-styled Separatist Movement and at times presented as a running gag in York University 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. This campaign had the backing of the whole college and the students union as a whole, but it was unsuccessful. In 2013, the Student Union took over the running of the outlet and named it The Kitchen at Alcuin.

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.

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, and P. 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.

Student Association

Coat of arms for the Alcuin CSA

Like 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.

The 2017 - 2018 CSA committee executive are:

• Demi Morrison-Bassios, President
• Toby Gould, Secretary
• Tom Diggins, VP for Business and Marketing
• Harshanaa "PatAL", VP for Entertainment and Activities
• Joe Scothern, VP for Engagement
• Huw James, VP for Well-being
• Harry Mallett, Treasurer

Student Events

Alcuin College is notable for hosting many popular student events. The CSA hosts its regular pub quizzes at The Courtyard, the local campus bar. Over the past years the Alcuin CSA 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 the new CSA. 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. Alcuin hosts a yearly winter ball and spring ball with the most recent being a Masquerade ball.

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 CSA 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.

Notable people

Notable alumni include:

• Peter Hitchens, author and journalist: Philosophy and Politics, 1973
• Aníbal Cavaco Silva, current President, and former Prime Minister, of Portugal: Doctorate in Economics, 1973
• Steve Richards, television presenter and journalist: History, 1981
• Bryan Elsley, television writer: English and history, 1982
• Paul Mealor, composer: Music, 1997
• Dan Murray, adult film actor, 1997

External links

• Alcuin CSAC
• Alcuin College - University pages