College Profile: Derwent

Widely recognised as York’s most sociable college, Derwent doubles in size this year, engulfing the old Langwith College blocks to the North West. Derwent are famous for having the best attended college events around as well as rounding off the year with the biggest party around – Big D, which this year was headlined by Reverend and the Makers and Roll Deep. With the departure of Langwith, Derwent is now the oldest college left on the original University campus, and this year celebrates its 47th anniversary, having been opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1965. What Derwent is despised for in its infamously questionable accommodation standards, it more than makes up for in its social side.

The stats: 39 week lets, although postgraduates can take up 51 week alternative. Prices range between £90 – £117 per week for self-catered and between £115 – £122 for catered accommodation.

Derwent Chair – Francesca Knight

1. Why did you pick your college?
Everyone from York I asked said it was the most exciting and active college on campus with the best events and that it hosts the largest event ‘Big D’ at the end of term. It was an easy choice for me, I wanted to be part of the most sociable college and have the best Freshers, which I definitely did in Derwent!

2. What’re its distinguishing features?
Our college bar is one of the very few on campus which is open for more than 12 hours daily.
Our Club D events which take place in D Bar a few times each term, where students from all three years of Derwent come together in ridiculous fancy dress.
We’re known for our commitment to sports: we won the Sports College Cup this year, as well as Sports Day, and we boast the best college rugby team on campus. All our college teams are competitive and enthusiastic, and players of any ability can get involved, even just for our Wednesday night socials!
The college is also right next to Heslington Hall which is beautiful if you’re lucky enough to get a view from your window! When its sunny the green areas outside are always full of students relaxing by the lake, where we have plenty of barbecues and open ground for people to sunbathe and socialise on.

3. What’s the accommodation like?
I loved the communal living aspect of the college, with large blocks that allow students to move between all levels (in comparison with some college accommodation in which key cards are required to enter at different floors). Our large blocks have around 70 people spread between 3 floors, and around 5 bathrooms per floor, though there are smaller blocks as well. I won’t lie, the rooms are typical of ‘student living’ and our buildings aren’t the most attractive on the outside, though a lot of the rooms are very large and who needs high spec furniture and en-suite rooms as a student? Most of your time will be spent socialising in your kitchens, and in the newly refurbished D Bar that is practically just downstairs (or literally if you’re put in A block!) If you want to be in Derwent and are looking for more luxury then our recently rebuilt D block has fantastic facilities that rival the new campus on Hes East.

4. Sum up your college in 3 words.
The best college.

5. Best thing about the college?
Our college spirit! We’re known for loving our college the most and Derwent students stay involved all through their three years at university; it’s a college not just first year accommodation! I can’t overstate how much better Derwent is for sociability than other colleges. Due to its spirit, layout and integration between years you will meet so many people if you join Derwent!
Also brilliant is our proximity to Heslington village that has the student friendly pubs, the Charles and the Deramore and Browns which is the best sandwich shop ever!

6. Worst thing about the college?
The hangovers after Club Ds.

7. Describe a typical student in your college.
The typical Derwent student is hard to categorise, we have such a diverse mix of people and that’s part of what makes our college so special. Though if I had to generalise I’d say we tend to be friendly, passionate, interested, outgoing and always looking for fun!

8. College member most likely to say:
The college song which is played at the end of Club D’s to the tune of ‘I love you baby’:
“I love you Derwent and if it’s quite alright I love you Derwent we’re gonna drink all night I love you Derwent…trust in me when I say DCUK!!”

9. College member least likely to say:
“I’m bored.”

10. What do you wish you had known as a fresher?
To get involved as much as possible in student life, there is so much happening on campus and your first year is the best time to try new things. Whether it’s sport, events, charity work or any of the huge number of societies available it’s the best way to meet new people.

11. What is your biggest freshers memory/regret?
The Club D’s are without a doubt my favourite memories of Freshers. Having club nights that takes place on your doorstep that everyone in the college attends is just amazing. Getting ready in some crazy fancy dress costumes and singing the Derwent song at the end of the night were the best moments of my year!
Another brilliant moment was when Rob our college provost came out clubbing with us after our sports awards dinner!

12. Why do you love being College Chair?
I felt really welcomed into Derwent when I was a fresher and so it’s great being involved in making sure new students feel the same when they come. At the moment I’m organising Freshers Week with the committee and I’m thrilled to be able to make sure that new Derwent students get the best start to their university experience.

Derwent Student – Georgina Strapp

1. Why did you pick your college?
It was right next to where all my lectures would be… but mainly Big D and the Club Ds looked fun.

2. What’re its distinguishing features?
The buildings might be grim but it has one of the prettiest parts of campus to overlook with the quiet place and Heslington Hall. We also tend to be the best at everything from charity to parties. And if another college beats us at anything, then that was only to make them feel good about themselves… D-Bar with £2 doubles also definitely counts as it’s what draws most of the rest of the Uni to Derwent. Most distinguishing though is probably the people in Derwent and running it, especially those on sports teams or the JCR. Their dedication and Derwent love gives the college a personality that has dominated the University quite effectively.

3. What’s the accommodation like?
The refurbished blocks are nice and clean if small, with good heating; the ones that aren’t refurbished at least provide plenty of grime for students to bond over. Whilst the buildings aren’t pretty they look over one of the prettiest part of the Uni and for Politics or English students you won’t have to stumble far to find your lectures. It will be slightly different next year in different blocks but generally with over 20 people to a floor there is no risk of you not meeting plenty of people to start drinking with as soon as you’re parents have said goodbye to you.

4. Sum up your college in 3 words.
Best. In. York.

5. Best thing about the college?
The atmosphere, everyone is really close and there are loads of things to get involved with throughout the year. And it’s only a 3 minute walk to get a Brown’s sandwich.

6. Worst thing about the college?
It’s a whole 3 minute walk from getting a Brown’s sandwich.

7. Describe a typical student in your college.
They’ll generally live in their freshers T-Shirt and have honed their hangover skills to seem perfectly happy, friendly and awake when they are actually dying inside as they prepare to go out again in a few hours.

8. College member most likely to say:
“Derwent ‘till I die”

9. College member least likely to say:
“Got with someone from Langwith last night.”

10. What do you wish you had known as a fresher?
Derwent showers will never get body paint off in less than 5 washes.

11. What is your biggest freshers memory/regret?
Biggest freshers memory is doing some proper floor bonding (by which I mean emotional bonding with people on my floor… nothing kinky) with my now housemates, to Rizzlekicks at Live and Loud. Also being dressed up as an alien and drunkenly walking through the snow to the centre of York to collect money for charity on a Saturday morning for Rag Parade is definitely up there.

Biggest regret is never getting organised enough to run for anything on the JCR, would definitely run for something if I could go back in time.

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