Homerton

This Monday, it was announced that Carol Ann Duffy (pictured) will become an honorary fellow at Homerton as of the new year. Working at Manchester Metropolitan University since 1996 and studying at Liverpool University, the poet was awarded the fellowship after a vote by the college council and other fellows of Homerton. Duffy was chosen on account of the highly regarded work she does with students and young members of the community.

On top of the CBE and OBE awarded to her in 2001 and 1995 respectively, in May this year Duffy took over the post of Poet Laureate from Andrew Motion. This makes her the first female and the first Scottish Poet Laureate in the 400 years the position has existed. To note the honour of the position, Duffy planned to donate the £5,750 that come with the position every year to the Poetry Society, creating a new annual prize.

Queens

Last Friday evening took an unpleasant turn as two students were badly injured during the evening’s fun and had to be taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. A student from the College commented that “although there wasn’t a disturbance at the event, it was inappropriate to host a foam party. The floor was inevitably going to become slippery and unsafe”. The event’s organiser defended the accident by stating that all the necessary risk assessment forms had been filled out prior to the ent.

Corpus Christi

Students at Corpus Christi College failed to heed the words of warning from their JCR President that featured in this column just weeks ago. A further email from the Dean and Senior Tutor reports the “disgusting state” of the bar and damage to the College discovered by the bedders on Monday morning.

A particularly busy Sunday, with a number of swaps finishing their nights in Corpus, led to numerous glasses being deliberately smashed, toilets being blocked with vomit and two large chunks of stone went missing from the walls of Old Court (pictured below), held to be the oldest court in the University. With no group or individual as yet admitting responsibility, the College’s reaction so far has beem to ban students from accessing the bar after serving time.