Sarah Gardner is elected as the new MCR president. For a list of the full MCR committee please visit here.

Dear MCR,

There are 3 nominees for the role of Queens’ College MCR President.

Please find a statement from each nominee below (listed in Alphabetical order). Voting will be held on Monday the 23rd and Tuesday the 24th of May (details to follow).

SB

Sarah Gardener email:sarahliz12345 at gmail.com

Hello MCR! I’m Sarah and I would really appreciate the opportunity to be your MCR President for the coming year. I applied to Queens’ as I’d heard that it was very sociable and friendly, and that there were a lot of exciting events going on. This proved to be very true and I’ve greatly enjoyed being part of it (I have attended nearly all of the MCR events this year!). I would love to be in a position to help keep this high standard of college social life going, maintaining popular events and introducing some new ones. The newly rekindled relationship with our sister college in Oxford is something I would like to encourage, as are day trips out to nearby places of interest and ents nights showcasing college talent. I have a lot of experience both of being on committees and interacting with college authorities; during undergrad I was President of a speaking society, on the committee for the scientists’ society, student rep for the biochemistry board (2nd, 3rd and 4th year) and student rep on the college board arranging celebrations, talks and a dinner for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. I know how to arrange dinners, garden parties, guest speakers and fundraisers, and how to delegate different roles within their organisation. I’m organised, reliable and like getting to know lots of people. I would be very keen to welcome new members of Queens’, get them involved in college life and encourage interaction with current members to ensure that our MCR stays one of the most friendly and sociable in Cambridge. Please give me the opportunity to help make it happen. Thank you!

Kathryn Hesketh email:kathryn.hesketh at gmail.com

Our MCR is a vibrant community and enviable amongst other colleges. As President, I will work with the committee to ensure our MCR continues to go from strength to strength – we will maintain the high standard of provision for your academic, social and welfare needs to enrich your experience as a Queens’ graduate.

About me:
- This is my second year of four at Queens’. Two years experience gives me an excellent knowledge of how the MCR works AND where it fits within College.
- Friendly and approachable, I regularly interact with MCR and JCR members at social events and play on a number of college sporting teams.
- I am well placed to work with the SCR and senior college staff, with experience both within and external to academia, having recently returned from an internship in central government.
- I would relish the opportunity to be an ambassador for Queens’, having previously served in key roles on a number of committees including the MRC Communications and Oxford University Athletics team (don’t hold this against me!)

My priorities as MCR President would be:
To oversee and work as part of a collaborative committee, listening and being receptive to your ideas for shaping the MCR community.
To fight for more equitable representation for graduate students. As a significant proportion of the student body, college should increase the opportunities, financial or otherwise, available to MCR members. This would redress the imbalance currently favouring undergraduate students.
To focus on development of the Alumni network. You could benefit from a network of former Queens’ graduates both during and after you time at Queens’. It would allow you to explore common interests and career opportunities, with Alumni social events providing a way to maintain contact with college and your own network.

Robert Jalali email: robjalali at gmail.com

Dear MCR,
I would like to ask for your support for my candidacy for the position of MCR President. For those of you who don’t know me, please read this brief introduction. I am currently finishing a Masters in Finance at Judge Business School and will begin the long journey to a PhD degree in October. During the course of my studies, for at least for the next three years, I plan to dedicate a substantial amount of time to Queens’, through various roles, with the aim of improving every aspect of Graduate students’ experience.
For the past 7 months, I have been serving on the Committee as the First Year representative. This has given me the opportunity to work with the current MCR President, Simon Breakspear, thereby becoming familiar with the position and what is required of the person in it. Moreover, I have developed relationships with our Bursar, Graduate Administrator, Catering Manager, several Tutors and most importantly, our esteemed President, Lord Eatwell.
Prior to coming to Cambridge, I ran my own company and led a team of 16 professional through the worst financial crisis that the US had seen since the 1930s. Thanks to teamwork and perseverance, the company survived the recession and I was able to sell it to one of the employees who kept the staff intact. This has allowed me to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an academic and pursuing a life of research.
Although, there is no collegiate system in the United States, I did serve as SGA (Student Government Association) president at my Alma mater, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Furthermore, I have managed several fund raising operations for non-profit organizations.
In summary, I do not need this position to boost my CV, as I plan to become an academic. I am running for MCR president because I genuinely believe that with your help and the help of the rest of the Committee, I can make a positive impact on our College and make Queens’ the envy of every other College in Cambridge.
Please feel free to contact me for any further information, rsj32 at cam.ac.uk

Kind Regards,

Robert Jalali

Dear all,

I graduated from Queens’ last year and have started a private tuition company exclusively for Cambridge-educated tutors.

We pay our tutors between £30 and £40 per hour, depending on their qualifications and teaching experience, and offer thorough training and support.

Our website is www.titaniumtutors.co.uk – there you can discover more about our service and download some key application materials (also attached)

We will recruit our first batch of tutors by holding interviews on Sat May 7th and Sat May 14th.

If you are interested in applying and require further details, please e-mail me on jh577.

Many thanks,

Joe

Queens’ College Shop reopens at 10.00am on Saturday 10th March. The Shop, located next to Old Court Gate, is open daily from 10.00am to 4.30pm until 23rd May 2010 when it closes for the Quiet Period. It will then reopen on 26th June through to October.