Vanbrugh is one of the most varied and widespread colleges at the University. With accommodation blocks stretching from the plush sought-after Donald Baron blocks on the edge of campus, to the older buildings of Le Page and Eric Milner at the centre of campus, to the much maligned Fairfax House sitting on Heslington Road, Vanbrugh has something for everyone. With one of the few remaining successful college bars around, V-Bar, and with their football team being the current College Cup holders, Vanbrugh students are a proud bunch who wear their hearts on their sleeves, as displayed by their purple mascot, ‘Duck Norris’.
The stats: A mixture of 33, 39 and 41 week lets, Vanbrugh offers accommodation priced at £90 – £123 per week for self-catered and £115 – £122 for catered rooms.
Vanbrugh Chair: Matt Stephenson
1. Why did you pick your college?
I chose Vanbrugh because it is the college which offers the most opportunity to students. There’s an amazing social life, a close-knit community feel, quality sports teams and chances to get involved in college music as well!
2. What’re its distinguishing features?
Vanbrugh gives everyone the chance to have fun, get to know everyone else and get involved in everything the college has to offer. We do so much in Vanbrugh, from quality Volume events which have been seriously popular so far, to massive trips out. The college spirit is really strong, which really distinguishes Vanbrugh from some other colleges.
3. What’s the accommodation like?
The accomodation is really varied, which means there’s a lot of choice for everyone. Ranging from Donald Baron and Barbara Scott courts (which have huge kitchens and en-suite provisions) to Eric Milner, Le Page, Fairfax House and Old Wentworth, which offer cheaper accomodation with less focus on quality. But believe me, the community spirit seriously makes up for it!
4. Sum up your college in 3 words.
Simply the best.
5. Best thing about the college?
Vanbrugh is a great laugh, and you get to know everyone else in the college really quickly thanks to all the events that are put on by the JCRC. There’s never a dull moment in this college!
6. Worst thing about the college?
I guess the accomodation blocks are quite spread out, which can make things harder for people.
7. Describe a typical student in your college.
Friendly and outgoing.
8. College member most likely to say:
“What is Duck Norris doing?”
9. College member least likely to say:
“I bet I can have more fun in ____________ college”
10. What do you wish you had known as a fresher?
Tricky question! I guess I wish I had known from the beginning just how important it is to get involved in everything while you can. First year is the perfect time to do all the things you’ve wanted to, so just go for it! Work takes up a lot of your time as you get properly into your degree, so trust a boring 3rd year on this one.
11. What is your biggest freshers memory/regret?
Probably better to ask my lawyer for that story. Let’s just say that it involved an interesting walk back from Willow.
12. Why do you love being College Chair?
I love being Chair of Vanbrugh because I am so pasisonate about everything that this college does. I want to make sure that every Vanbrugh student gets the chance to enjoy their student experience as much as they possibly can, and being part of (hopefully) making that happen is the most rewarding part of what I do.
Vanbrugh Student – Rachel Longhurst
1. Why did you pick your college?
Vanbrugh didn’t seem to have a strong stereotype and I hoped that would lead to having a varied mix of people in the college. Also, the central location and self-catered accommodation were what I was looking for. The proximity to the campus costcutter, bus stops and the college bar (V-Bar) definitely swayed my choice.
2. What’re its distinguishing features?
The diverse variety of the college’s students and the location, which is quite spread out but still extremely central. Vanbrugh just has a really nice and welcoming atmosphere that I felt from the very first day of Freshers week.
3. What’s the accommodation like: How many to the average floor/flat/bathroom? quality? location?
New Vanbrugh (Donald Barron/Barbara Scott Courts) is very modern with some of the biggest and nicest kitchens on campus shared between only 12 people. The rooms also being en-suite makes these blocks luxury compared to some of the other accommodation on offer. Location-wise they are also the closest to town (just!) but still feel so close to everything else on campus. The older blocks see a lot more people sharing a floor, kitchen and bathrooms which in terms of quality are less up-to-date than the newer blocks. However, the community in these blocks is some of the best in the college, alongside Fairfax House, and their location is second-to-none.
4. Sum up your college in 3 words.
Varied, Central and…Purple?
5. Best thing about the college?
The Ents team and block reps work really hard to ensure that there’s always something going on and to improve the college events. The college’s community spirit can be seen in events such as ‘Vanbrugh Loves You’ and mural painting. There is a really great, welcoming feeling in Vanbrugh. And, we have a purple duck as a mascot.
6. Worst thing about the college?
Some improvements could be made in the older accommodation when its compared to the new blocks. Also the porters isn’t open 24 hours a day which, when combined with late nights and lost keys, becomes a much bigger deal than it may seem!
7. Describe a typical student in your college.
Someone who studies hard and can play hard to match. They are also normally involved in some sort of society, likely to be musical too.
8. College member most likely to say:
“It’s Sunday…Revs?”
9. College member least likely to say:
“I wish I was in Langwith”.
10. What do you wish you had known as a fresher?
How much I’d enjoy Uni – I wish I wasn’t as nervous as I was in my first weeks! Also I wish I’d known that you can never bring enough DVDs and Boxsets to halls. First term without your favourite TV could be a bit of a shock to some and it makes a great (and cheap!) evening in activity.
11. What is your biggest freshers memory/regret?
My best memories of my Fresher year are most of the events of Freshers week where I met so many great people and later at Vanbrugh’s Christmas Ball where we all had such a great night. My biggest regret is possibly not completing my plan to go out every night in Freshers Fortnight – I crashed after day five!
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