Executive positions

• President
  • Anne Henow
• Vice President
  • Olivier Grouille
  • Jiho Han
• Secretary
  • Richard Gunning
• Junior Treasurer
  • Megan Stanley
• Social Secretary
  • Jacqueline Topsy Davis

Non-Executive Positions

• Welfare (Female)
  • Dafni Glinos
• Welfare (LGBT+)
  • Isobel Hambleton
• Accommodation Officer
  • Jason Murray
• Clareity President
  • Magda Sznurkowska
• Green Officer
  • Aleksandra (Ola) Lewicka
• Mature Students Officer
  • Ridhwaan Suliman
• Fourth year Officer
  • Pavlo Shopin

We are still welcoming nominations for:

• Social Secretary (x1)
• Bar Managers (x2)
• St Regis Officer
• Sports Officer

Manifestos

President

•  
  

  Anne Henow

  Proposer: Felix Stein
  Seconder: Ross Buckingham

  It is a privilege to be nominated for MCR President this year. I am Anne, a first year PhD student at Clare, studying Political Economy. The past months I have enjoyed discovering the bright minds (you!), loving people (also you!) and creative characters of this beautiful College. Our amazing time at Clare was made possible because the previous committees have worked hard to forge the MCR as it is today; clearly the prettiest and most comfortable space at Cambridge University with endless supply of coffee, tea, and (when our treasurer is in the country) biscuits. It is a space where we have worked, danced, befriended, and nerded around. As MCR President I want to preserve the qualities of our MCR. In addition, I would like to enhance this space and diversify the activities we offer. This includes promoting more day-time activities (free yoga!) and other non-drinking events as suggested by the recent postgraduate poll. Another important role of the MCR committee is to carefully manage our resources. Particularly for this year, the MCR will be moved upon Clare Old Court’s redevelopment. The proposed plans so far have placed the MCR in the basement. As MCR president I want to lead a transparent negotiation process with the College. My professional experience as a project manager and researcher on financial markets will be of particular use; I was a part of a small team in which I held politically sensitive negotiations with government officials from the UK and abroad. As a team, we will discuss your visions with the College Bursar, the Master, and the Investment Committee to ensure your perspectives on the issue are represented. The new committee has the opportunity to catalyse the tradition of an eventful and exciting Clare MCR and it could shape a new College identity for the next 150 years to come. I would be honoured to lead the process.

Vice President

•  
  

  Olivier Grouille

  Proposer: Maria Harvey
  Seconder: Megan Stanley

  My top four aims:

  1. More non-drinking social events.
  2. Greater transparency and consultation on how the Committee spends your money.
  3. Protect the character and location of the MCR during the Old Court redevelopment plans.
  4. Fight to keep Formal Hall and accommodation prices as low as possible.

  How I will work with the new President to deliver those aims:

  1. Support and encourage the entire Committee to organise events and initiatives.
  2. Put a renewed focus on the MCR Constitution and public meetings.
  3. Monthly newsletters to tell you what we’re planning and to seek your ideas and input.

  Other improvements I want to make to activities in the MCR:

  1. Hold regular non-drinking evening events such as movie nights and quizzes.
  2. Protect the bar’s reputation as the best whisky and beer collection in Cambridge.
  3. Support, fund and encourage people who want to run more weekend daytime events such as tea parties, playing with puppies and book clubs.

  My MCR Committee experience:
  I’ve previously been Men’s Welfare Officer, Treasurer, Bar Manager, Admiral of the Punts and
  also been involved in supporting the MCR representation to the Master regarding the planned
  redevelopment of Old Court.
  The understanding I have of those other jobs means I know how to work with and encourage
  the rest of the Committee, allowing the President to focus on setting the vision and
  maintaining good relations with the college authorities. I’ve seen good and bad on past
  Committees, and can advise the new President in how to run things efficiently and inclusively
  and to deal effectively with the quirks and challenges of the College Council/Committee
  system.

  Why I’m suited to deliver these aspirations:

  1. My part-time PhD status means I’ll be here and committed for the long haul when Old
     Court begins to be redeveloped.
  2. My background as a professional strategy consultant means I know how to plan,
     organise, build a team, work with diverse groups, communicate and be a good deputy.
  3. I love the easy-going and relaxed nature of life in the MCR at Clare, and I want to
     ensure it remains that way, builds on success and be ever-more inclusive and friendly.

  If you would like to discuss any of the points in this manifesto with me at any time, please
  email me at olgg2 or call/text me on 07739456755 or come and talk to me in
  the MCR at lunchtime on Wednesday 22 April.

  Thanks for considering my candidacy!
  Best wishes, Liv

•  
  

  Jiho Han

  Proposer: Ridhwaan Suliman
  Seconder: Isobel Hambleton

  Hello, my name is Jiho Han, now a 2rd year Laser Engineering PhD student. In this manifesto, I wish to explain why I am a good candidate as the Vice President of Clare College MCR. In 2013, I was nominated as one of the social secretaries of our MCR. My main drive at the time was my love for event organizing. When I was elected, I pursued several ideas with my then meticulously organized partner in crime, Georgie Frank. The role was an inspiring one and the satisfaction of knowing that we had made the night, for example, is one that I will never forget. In addition to this basic role, I also wanted encourage MCR members to actively participate in moulding the social scene of Clare College. This ranges from listening to the MCR members and facilitating what they wish to providing resources and facilities to creative MCR members who are keen to initiate events. We had some success in this; an example was putting up Christmas Decorations (2013) for which MCR members were invited. This rapidly became a highly social event in itself. But at the same time, we learnt that the challenge of actively involving the MCR members in event organization is a complex one. After a year, I can see now that involving the MCR members in the MCR matters is an important challenge not just for the social secretaries but also for the rest of the committee; after all, the committee must represent the MCR members! Given the background, the 2 main issues I would like to address as the Vice President of MCR are as follows:

  1. The resources and information made available to the MCR committee should be made readily available to all MCR members, too. Despite the hard work of the MCR committee, access to these may be less fluid for non-committee members. A highly relevant example is the upcoming plans for Old Court Renovation.
  2. The MCR committee must listen out to the MCR members if it is to represent them, at the college level. This is not to say that a poll must be made everytime a decision is required. Rather, the focus is on obtaining the best estimate of the MCR consensus through perhaps informal but certainly active engagement with the community. Again, the Old Court Renovation is highly relevant for this year, where the location of the MCR is subject to change.

  So why VP? To quote John Miller (VP, 2012), ‘the implied powers of the office are endless’. The VP is extremely well suited for my cause because it does not suffer from quite as many formal obligations as the other positions. As the VP, I would concentrate on ensuring that the MCR committee truly represents the members of the MCR. In addition, VP is to the MCR what WD40 and duct tape are to Engineers. It is sometimes the finishing touch of the MCR committee work as a whole. With my ample experience of interacting with the MCR committee as social secretary, I believe I am particularly well positioned to take this role.

  Thank you very much for reading my manifesto, and if you have any specific question, please contact me through email: jh607.

  Your bottle of WD40 and roll of Duct Tape,

  Jiho Han

Secretary

•  
  

  Richard Gunning

  Proposer: Ridhwaan Suliman
  Seconder: Andy Howlett

  Hello all!
  My name is Richard Gunning, and I am a first year bioinformatics PhD student. I have been at Clare for two years, and it has been an enjoyable experience. While I am not rowing as Men’s Boat Club captain, I have been the MCR Computing Officer. Vote for me with confidence for the secretary position, because I have held similar positions previously and working as computing officer has given me the skill set to be a great new secretary. During the past year I have re-created and re-developed the entire MRC webpage to make it easier to use and more up-to-date. I worked with the previous committee to make sure that all components of the website work smoothly—from booking punts to ensuring the calendar has all information on upcoming events. I will continue this work along side being secretary, and having both positions will make it easier for the entire committee to be more transparent about meeting minutes and meeting times. As the up-coming secretary for the MCR, I want to continue working on the MCR website and guaranteeing transparency of the committee to Clare MCR members. I began this work during 2014-2015 by updating the current MCR constitution to fit the changes and needs of the community. I have pushed for the constitution to appear on the website once it has been finalized, which shows both my dedication and skill has a negotiator.
  Overall, I am a hard worker and motivated to helping make the MCR a better place for its members. All the events run by the MCR are great, and I wish to be a part of it again next year.
  Thank you for reading my manifesto!

  Yours truly,
  Richard Gunning

Junior Treasurer

•  
  

  Megan Stanley

  Proposer: Ridhwaan Suliman
  Seconder: Jason Murray

  Hi, I am Megan Stanley and I am a physicist in the 3rd year of my PhD. I am in the eighth consecutive year of my time at Clare and I feel very privileged to have been part of such a wonderful community of friendly, interesting and enthusiastic people for such a long time! In particular I believe that an active MCR community that is fully inclusive and meets the needs of all of its members is an important part of college life and has the potential to be an incredible centre of social and academic activities, as well a source of support. I would like to give something back to the community that has given me so much, and so I have decided to run for the position of treasurer on the next committee. I wish to serve my fellow MCR members by continuing the good work and help make things even better in future. If elected to the position of MCR Treasurer on the 2015 – 2016 committee, I will focus on the following main objectives:

  • Managing the MCR budget effectively, efficiently and transparently to facilitate the activities of the MCR.
  • Working to maintain low drinks costs at the MCR bar, and retain low MCR membership costs, whilst ensuring that budget will finance events and facilities representative of the entire student body.
  • Promoting inclusion of all members of the MCR through events tailored to a wide range of tastes in social activity, following calls from many members for more relaxed events with a reduced emphasis on alcohol consumption. I would particularly like to work with welfare officers to run relaxing movie-and-hot-chocolate type events, for example. In addition I would like to enable the continuation of yoga classes for MCR members and would actively seek out any suggestions for other events that are beneficial for the welfare of members.
  • Improving the existing facilities and services for current and future members of the MCR. I welcome suggestions for anything that any student feels would improve the quality of life in college. A microwave for the MCR has been previously requested and I want to make sure that is in place as soon as possible.
  • Communicating with the College in a professional manner to ensure the MCR’s needs are best met whilst maintaining strong relationships.
  • Ensuring transparency and democracy in the allocation of the MCR’s budget.

  I am highly committed to helping to create an accessible, exciting and fully inclusive, friendly MCR. I am very hard working, organised and highly competent with numbers! In addition to a wealth of experience managing a medium sized dairy farm in a previous life, I have frequently been called upon during my PhD to spend budgets of £10k and above in the most useful and sensible way. I also have a great deal of experience working as part of a team towards complex and ambitious goals, and am very capable of working with other people to find an optimal solution. On a lighter note, I will always be ready with a smile to hear what you want and act upon it, and apparently I make a good mince pie in to the bargain! I am qualified to be a highly competent, communicative and committed treasurer, so please elect me if you would like finances to be managed with efficiency for the benefit of all members of the MCR.

Social Secretary

•  
  

  Jacqueline Topsy Davis

  Proposer: Aoibheann McNally
  Seconder: Steven Lowe

  Please like me. Please. I want to be your friend. I want to be your Social Secretary. I want to throw you parties, organise you dinners, and look after your freshers. I want to help you celebrate your successes, prepare for your challenges, and generally be super amazing. I want to bring to bear my experience organising ents for the May Ball to organise your entertainment for the year. Please like me. You are so gorgeous, fun, friendly and fascinating. I want to show you a good time.