Art, drama, societies & sport

Interest in the visual arts is very strong at Jesus. The College is the home of the University Visual Arts Society, which organises regular presentations and talks by noted contemporary artists and sculptors. The College regularly purchases new pieces to adorn the grounds and organises the biennial “Sculpture in the Close” exhibition. New works are also purchased annually by the JCSU Art Collection. This is a unique resource, containing a wide range of paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints by a variety of artists, many well known. For a small deposit, students can borrow pieces from the collection to decorate their rooms.

Jesus College Drama Society (JCDS) is a thriving institution. Although the College does not yet have its own theatre (so that a venue must be borrowed for some productions), the Chapel provides an atmospheric ‘theatre in the round’, the Fellows’ Garden a beautiful open-air venue and the Forum a more contemporary and flexible performance space. Most dramatic societies in Cambridge, including JCDS, open their auditions to the whole University, so that drama provides an excellent way to get to know people from other Colleges.

Jesus plays host to a multitude of student societies and clubs. Some, such as the Law and Science Societies, are closely linked to given subjects; others, such as the Current Affairs Society and the Photographic Club, cater for more general interests and hobbies. All receive funding from the Jesus College Student Union (JCSU), so, if none of the existing ones appeal, you can always set up one of your own.

You’ve probably heard of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and, maybe, the Varsity Rugby Match. Sport has a glamorous image at Cambridge, and, to some extent, this is reflected within the Colleges. College first teams and boats are enthusiastically supported, and the competition to get into them is keen. There are just as many opportunities to play purely for fun, and a large proportion of students get involved in sport at some time or other.

The sporting facilities at Jesus are excellent: large playing fields surround the College; there are all-weather and grass tennis courts and squash courts on site, and the College boathouse is just a few hundred metres away. The main team sports (football, hockey, rugby, cricket) are all popular with undergraduates and graduate students – and very successful.

The Jesus College Boat Club (JCBC) is traditionally strong and organises the Fairbairn Races, the main rowing event of the Michaelmas Term. Rowing requires no previous experience, and many students give it a try, making JCBC the largest College sports club. Some find it boring, painful and time-consuming, and retire gracefully after a term or two to nurse their blisters, while others find it completely compelling.

The Football Club runs at least three teams for men and one or two for women. The first teams ride high, while the lesser teams enable everyone to struggle enthusiastically. The Hockey Club has enjoyed considerable success in recent years and fields several men’s, women’s and mixed teams. There are a couple of men’s rugby teams, the 1st XV being traditionally strong, and women’s rugby is gaining popularity every year. Cricket is hampered by the end of term occurring in early June, and fixtures are often dampened by the weather and the proximity of exams. Nevertheless the College fields two men’s XIs, a women’s team, and a graduates’ team which is able to play throughout the summer.

The College also fields teams for many other sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, cross-country running, netball, squash, swimming, tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball and water polo. For the more cerebrally inclined there are bridge and chess teams. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to play many of these sports and others, such as croquet, darts, snooker and table tennis, outside the competitive environment of organised leagues. A wide range of University clubs and societies cater for those whose sporting enthusiasms extend into more obscure realms. Anyone for korfball?