Doctoral Researcher President Team’s Post (December 2018)
Written by Leah Henrickson and Hugh Tawell.
This blog post is part of a series of monthly posts detailing the activities of the DR President’s Team (President: Leah Henrickson; Vice-President: Hugh Tawell).
Note: This post refers to PhD/EngD Students as Doctoral Researchers (DR) and Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs). This is because the University uses the former language, and the Union uses the latter.
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Welcome back to Loughborough, folks! We hope your Christmas break was full of hot chocolate, cheesy films, and relaxation.
December was a calmer month for the DR President’s Team – partly because everyone started trickling home, but mostly because sugarplums had begun dancing in our heads and we were looking forward to the holidays.
Here’s a list of what we did in the 21 days the University was open during December:
Doctoral College Induction
Both Hugh and Leah welcomed some of our new doctoral researchers at the Doctoral College’s induction on 5th December. The Doctoral College runs inductions multiple times a year, and we attend all of them to introduce ourselves and tell new members of our community about the PGR Rep system and the social activities we plan with Kamal, the LSU Postgrad EO.
PGIF: Karaoke Special
Every Friday at 6PM, Kamal hosts PGIF – Postgrads, it’s Friday! – in the Graduate House Training Room. During this time, board games are available and FIFA is set up, so that postgraduates can relax in an informal and friendly space that’s just for them.
Collaborating with Kamal and the PhD Social & Support Network, on 14th December we co-hosted a special PGIF in Cognito (on the ground floor of the Union). We still had the regular board games, but we added something special: karaoke! More than 50 postgraduates joined us for a night of banter, Spice Girls singalongs, and cheating at Monopoly.
PhD Social & Support Network Festive Social
We didn’t organise this one, but we had a great time with our friends at the PhD Social & Support Network at their annual Festive Social on 20th December. There were Christmas songs, board games, wintery snacks and drinks, and wonderful people.
We admit, though, that it was a bit difficult to stand up after eating so many mince pies. #noregrets
We’re excited to get planning our events for 2019. Get excited for a great year, everyone!
To keep up-to-date with what we’re up to, join the ‘Doctoral Researchers of Loughborough University’ Facebook group and follow us on Twitter. If you’re a London student, join the ‘Loughborough Students’ Union London 2018-2019’ Facebook group.
Leah and Hugh.
