Established: 1969
Atop Siward’s Hill, thumbing its nose at the rest of the Heslington campus, sits one of the University’s oldest colleges. Established in 1969, Alcuin has always been home to a sense of style, panache and wit. In decades past this was exhibited through the Alcuin Separatist Movement (a joke campaign to cut the college off from the rest of the University). Alcuin’s superior accommodation has been much mocked by others on campus with labels such as ‘Ensuite Elite’, and calls of “Gap Yah”. But this flamboyance is now embodied more in the stellar standard of its student body, a (sadly underused) cocktail bar and the legendary flair of the college provost Tony Ward.
Alcuin Chair – Lizzie Bartholomew
1. Location?
Alcuin is across the library bridge away from the main parts of campus. While you might have to get up 5 minutes earlier for lectures, the college has a really homely, community feel which is hard to find elsewhere on campus.
2. Why did you pick the college?
I picked Alcuin because it was clear it had a really strong college spirit and looked really fun. I have to admit that the added convenience of an ensuite bathroom may also have helped with the decision.
3. Distinguishing features?
The expanse of grass around the college and the glass fronted blocks make it pretty hard to miss. Also look out for people huddled round the barbeques outside the blocks in all weathers. Oh and the rabbits of course.
4. Best thing about the college?
Undoubtedly the college spirit. From your very first day in Alcuin you become part of an amazing community and as our college provost, Tony Ward says, ‘You’re Alcuin ‘til you die’. It says a lot that two years on I still live with fellow Alcuinites who I met in my first week.
5. Worst thing about the college?
There’s only one – there’s too many people to meet and too much to do to ever find time for sleeping!
6. College member most likely to say?
“I accidentally locked myself in my ensuite last night. My bad!”
7. College member least likely to say?
“What are our college colours again?” (They’re black and red…)
8. Why you love being College Chair?
I love getting to know our students when we have college events and hearing exactly what they want from their college in the future. I really enjoy working with our wonderful Alcuin JCRC, the other college chairs and YUSU on how we can improve the college experience for all York students.
9. What animal would your college be and why?
A tiger, because they carry off black stripes so well – very important for Alcuin facepaint!
10. Best college memory?
There are so many, but if I had to choose one, it would be walking into town singing Alcuin chants
very loudly during the bar crawl in Freshers’ Week.
11. What you wish you had known as a fresher?
Relax, enjoy yourself and make the most of every opportunity during your first year. It’s all over too soon!
Alcuin Student – Alysia Judge
1. Location?
Over a bridge, on a hill, lording over the rest of the University.
2. Why did you pick the college?
Honestly, because I looked on the website and there were lots of really smiley people in the Alcuin photo.
3. Distinguishing features?
A cocktail bar that doesn’t do cocktails – that’s pretty special.
4. Best thing about the college?
The gorgeous accommodation and people…and Brian the cat!
5. Worst thing about the college?
The scary cleaner lady that yells at you if she finds “borrowed” For Sale signs in your kitchen.
6. College member most likely to say?
“You coming out tonight, Tarquin? We’re literally thinking pre-bangers and lash at our abode, a tactical chunder in the ensuite then out for some cocktails at Evil Eye – yah?”
7. College member least likely to say?
“So what if Derwent has asbestos?”
8. What the college website says?
“The accommodation blocks are labelled alphabetically starting at E.” This has never been explained, for university-educated scholars we have a hard time grasping the basic fundamentals of the alphabet.
9. What the students say?
“Alcuin is an amazing college, a proper little community. Any introverted sterotypes are complete rubbish – the more spaced out accommodation, if anything, means we go the extra mile to integrate and make friends. I’ve made lifetime friendships here.”
10. Best college memory?
At the Alcuin fete: lying with my flatmates on the grass next to the bouncy castle, having just had my face painted. It was blazing sunshine, we ran a stall doing a cake icing contest, and it was just a really fun day where you really felt the college spirit.