Stenton Hall JCR

General Meeting Announced to Launch Elections MMXI

Friday 14th January 2011

The first General Meeting of the Spring Term was announced today as the JCR prepare for the upcoming term. High on the agenda of the meeting is the announcement of the Executive and Officer Elections MMXI as the current Executives and Officers prepare to stand down at the end of April. The Representatives elected in November will continue in their role until the end of the Summer Term but may also stand for election. The exact positions up for election has yet to be confirmed but is expected to follow the lines of the constitution:

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Welfare Officers (one female, one male)
• Social Officers (two positions)
• Sports Officers (two positions)

This meeting will also be the first in which the JCR Committee will have reported back to the membership about what they have been doing since September. President Combstock has also confirmed that the recommendations section will see members take control of the meeting to discuss what issues are important to them.

Members can also submit items to be discussed at the General Meeting by submitting a motion or policy before Monday 17th January at 7pm. Any decisions made at the meeting are considered binding on the Committee. 

House Representatives Announced

Wednesday 10th November 2010

Results for the first ever Representative Elections were announced last night at Park Bar. The historic election saw 115 members vote across the three houses where one representative from each house (Ipsden, Jevington and Kintbury) will sit on and work alongside the JCR Committee to represent the views of Hall life for their house. A total of eight candidates stood for election in this series, with six standing for the position of Ipsden Representative which could be the most contested election in any JCR for a generation.

The following were elected:

• Ipsden Representative - Chris Daly
• Jevington Representative - Jacob Roderick
• Kintbury Representative - Michael Raimbach

Voting took place between Monday 1st November and Friday 5th November via the new Portal system.

General Meeting sees in "New Era of Common Rooms"

Friday 29th October

Stenton Hall Junior Common Room closed its first ever General Meeting on Wednesday after an intense half an hour of voting and discussion. Items on the agenda included the ratification and amendment of the Constitution, the 2010 Budget and the opening of the Representative Elections.

The Common Room also voted unanimously in favour of supporting the new pricing scheme introduced at University Bars campus wide and also that the price of the new Halls of Residence was far too high. President of Stenton Hall JCR, Simon Combstock, stated in his opening speech to the meeting that \"Stenton Hall JCR is a symbol of a new era of JCRs across Reading. Like it or not, [the JCR system] changing but our independence and commitment to our members will always remain our top priority\". Combstock further added that in light of the Browne Review \"that student economics are high on the agenda with the motions tabled [at the meeting]\".

The ratification of the Constitution passed without objection, including the organisations commitment to rebuilding Bridges Hall Junior Common Room should the time arise. Under terms laid out by the Bridges membership at their last General Meeting in February 2010, Stenton JCR would have to provide for Bridges JCR should Stenton want funding. An alternative plan would have seen the remains of Bridges JCR assets becoming tied up in a trust fund.

The JCR also opened its Representative positions on the Committee. The JCR is looking to elect one member from each of the houses, Ipsden, Jevington and Kintbury, to sit on the Committee to represent the different parts of the membership. Hustings will be taking place on Sunday 31st October in the lounge with voting commencing via the new portal system during the following week.

Stenton JCR Launches Online

Thursday 19th August 2010

Stenton Hall Junior Common Room has today launched its quadruple angle online campaign as pace picks up towards the historical Freshers' Week. The JCR has launched both a Facebook Group for freshers and a page aimed at keeping in contact with alumni after they have left the hall. The JCR has also launched a twitter site, which will undergo ''radical construction'' over the following weeks in the run up to the start of the year. The site is aimed to engage the membership in conversation about its activities and hopes to provide up to date news not only about itself, but also the wider JCR world.

At the heart of todays launch is the highly anticipated website built by IT firm Easy Desire (www.easydesire.com). President Combstock described the website as the core of all activity with Stenton not only for this year but many years to come. The real magic behind it is the simple and easy way it can be updated, even without a knowledge of websites so I hope this will do future committees well.

The Common Room is expected to follow in the foot steps of its highly regarded parent, Bridges JCR, and offer a system by where members can pay fees, buy merchandise and tickets for events. It is also expected that all voting will be online using a brand new system developed especially for Common Rooms. Stenton Hall receives its first intake of Freshers in October 2010.

Stenton JCR Approves New Constitution

Saturday 24th July 2010

Stenton Hall Junior Common Room Committee has approved a new constitution which has now established the organisation. The important document is key to the organisation's development and includes a number of individual key features unique to Stenton JCR.

The document also outlines the plan for the re-establishment of Bridges JCR when the hall is reopened. There has been no announcement from the University of Reading about any possible date. Section eight of the constitution states that Stenton JCR must "contribute [to Bridges JCR] the same amount as was received". President Combstock of Stenton JCR described this arrangement as "perfectly fair" and "an incredibly generous loan".

Other important additions include ''liaising with the local community and residents'' about issues affecting the Stenton JCR membership into the functions of the Common Room further cementing the Common Room’s commitment to playing a part in the community outside of University life. Stenton JCR is believed to be the first Common Room to take such strong action on the issue.

The Common Room has also introduced clear constitutional procedure of how to establish policy ahead of the new campaigning direction the Common Room will be undertaking in the next few years.

The Constitution has yet to be formally adopted by a General Meeting, the highest authority within the organisation, and is highly likely to be put on the agenda of the first meeting which is expected to happen as early as October.