Paul Nicholls

This Weekend…

Ok folks this is it, in just a few hours the last exams will be over and summer will officially be here (even if the weather is now letting us down). There are frankly a ridiculous amount of things going on in the next three weeks to tell you about so stay tuned to your social e-mails to learn more. I'll also be producing a “Summer Social Calendar” detailing all the events taking place in and out of College very soon, so look out for that… You can of course always find a full calendar online too at mildert.co.uk/calendar

To Kick off the Summer Festivities, this weekend we have…

• Summer Ball Launch Night
• Cellar Door Launch Weekend
• Party on the Lawn
• Jazz Soc Jam Night at Fishtank
• Bar Quiz
• Apprentice Final
• Festival of Sport
• Sports Ball – Cancelled
• Pendulum at Loveshack
• Staff Function

Summer Ball Launch Night

When: Friday 5th
Where: Mildert Bar

Yes the moment you've all been waiting for, the highly anticipated launch of this year's Summer Ball. The secrets will finally be revealed so come along to the bar from 7pm to learn more…

Cellar Door Launch Weekend

When: Friday 5th – Sun 7th
Where: Cellar Door (next to Jack Wills)

The Cellar Door welcomes you and your friends to help celebrate the launch of Durham's newest and most exciting places to eat, drink and dance… The Cellar Door has a lot to boast about: a great location, a beer garden down to the river, a quirky interior, good food and drink and most of all: a great music policy!

Friday night sees the launch of NOW HERE THIS! a brand-spanking-new clubnight, Saturday night is the 'Future Sound of DUrham' DJ competition, hosted by number one Newcastle MC Aems; and Sunday there is an all day “Reggae Roast” BBQ accompanied by music through the night.

Entry is free all weekend and drinks are at student-friendly prices.

Party on the Lawn

When: Saturday 6th
Where: Tees Lawn

The sun will be shining, exams will be over so what better way to spend a lazy afternoon and evening than sitting around on the lawn enjoying some feelgood music. Entry is free and there'll be poi and other entertainment too, look out for more info coming soon from Pooja.

Jazz Soc Jam Night

When: Sunday 7th
Where: Fishtank

Jazz Society returns with the famous jam night, with a special summer special…Come to Fishtank on Sunday 7th June at 8pm for some awesome sexy summer jazz.

As always FREE PIZZA and cheap drinks for everyone…FREE ENTRY for all members, only £1 for everyone else. Bring your instrument, bring your friends and come play or just sit and chill out to some amazing live music.

Bar Quiz

When: Sunday 7th
Where: Mildert Bar

This week at the earlier time of 7pm, apart from that, standard bar quiz this week hosted by Jam Night Society.

Apprentice Final

When: Sunday 7th
Where: JCR Lounge

This Sunday DUCK are hosting an Apprentice Final Party in the JCR from 8pm.

Dress to impress – we want pencil skirts, power suits and Ben-style braces! DUCK have laid on classical music, casino tables and a chance to win some amazing prizes. The Live FINAL will be shown in the Bar and the JCR from 9pm.

Entry to the JCR will be free but we are asking for donations and will be running a raffle. Put your tickets in Kate or Yasmina's box – only the winning contestant's box will be drawn at the end of the night! Your luck depends on theirs!

I even hear talk of an Apprentice Final Drinking Game – with non-alcoholic alternatives and sensible consumption levels obviously…AND… we will be selling cakes to raise money for this year's new DUCK expedition to Romania!

Hope to see you all there!
DUCK love, Lizzy xx

Festival of Sport

When: Monday 8th
Where: Maiden Castle

Whether you are taking part or just want to support our fellow mildertians, the Team Durham Festival of Sport is taking place this Monday.

Last year over 3,000 Durham students took part in a record breaking event at Maiden Castle. This year we hope to make the day even better. Weather permitting outdoor entertainment will also take place throughout the day. This will include a bouncy castle, a sumo wrestling ring, a bungee run and music.

All of the results from the Festival will contribute to the overall College Sport Points Table that has been running throughout the year. An up to date College Sports Points Table can be found here: College Sport Points Table

Sports Ball – Cancelled

Due to poor ticket sales the external Sports Ball has been cancelled, an alternative event is being worked on, look out for more details soon.

Pendulum and Brookes Brothers

When: Tuesday 9th
Where: Loveshack

Subotica present a fantastic double headliner of Pendulum DJ Set + MC Verse, PLUS The Brookes Brothers.

There is no need to state just how monumental this line-up is. Pendulum will be joined on stage by none other than the Brookes Brothers + the very best in Durham talent – you lucky people! Come celebrate the completion of the last academic year, or just celebrate. This event has sold out every time – so secure your ticket early to avoid any tears.

Tickets are £10adv and are available from The Cellar Door, Fat Buddha, www.seetickets.com and www.skiddle.com. For more info checkout http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=81301587996&ref=ts

Staff Function

Due to an annual college staff function, the JCR Lounge will be closed on Tuesday (9th) all evening. We apologise for any inconvienience this causes! 

And that's all, look out for a full calendar soon!

Cheers,

Paul x 

Hello and Welcome to the Last Bulletin of Term…

Everything is starting to wind down now, and if you're not facing end-of-term summatives then here's what you can be enjoying yourself this week:

• PSP Raffle
• Re-Freshers Night Tonight
• St Patricks Day Formal and Bar Party
• Hill Orchestra Concert
• Ceilidh
• Silent Disco at DSU
• End of Term Party
• Mother's Day

Primary School Project Raffle

In aid of the Primary School Project there will be a charity raffle drawn during the St Paddy's Day Formal.  Tickets are £1 a strip and are on sale at Dinner times from outside the hall. Prizes include:

*Free sunday lunch for two at the Queens Head
*A box of Le Beado jewellery worth £30!
*One bottle of Famous Grouse Whiskey
*One bottle of Red Wine
*One bottle of White Wine
*One watercolour painting of Durham worth £30!
*One large bar of award winning FUDGE!!
* £75 worth of milkshake bar vouchers!!!

Re-Freshers

Date: Monday the 16th.Time: 7:30 onwards

At 7.30 the Fresher's DVD will be previewed in the  JCR so be there to laugh at all the stupid stuff you guys did in freshers' week then we are off to loft along with the whole of freshers' committee for a night of ReFreshing lash and partying! Freshers Committee will be wearing yellow t-shirts and hopefully exec will be there too!
Loft will cost £1 and is open to all years not just the freshers!. 

St. Patricks Day

Tuesday is the legendary St. Patrick's day formal, which means I'm afraid early tea for liver's in. After the formal there will be a St. Patrick's Day party in the bar, and the usual Disco in the JCR, this week featuring another new Mildert DJ! Louise'll let you know more soon…

Hill Orchestra Concert

This Wednesday the Durham University Hill Orchestra will be performing in the Dining Hall from 7:30pm, entry is reduced for Mildert students.

Ceildh

Law Soc. and Folk Soc. team up to present a St Patrick's Day Ceilidh!
This will be held on Wednesday 18th March, from 8.30pm in the DSU Fonteyn Ballroom.
Entrance will be just £1 (Folk Soc/Law Soc members) / £3 otherwise,
come along for peanuts, crisps, rapper, and live music from our own Durham University Ceilidh Band! 

Silent Disco at DSU

The one and only Silent Disco at the DSU is back on Thursday 19th March for a big END OF TERM FINALE! Tickets are on sale (£6) at the DSU shop! Go crazy before Easter! As always there'll be:

• Text request so you don't miss out on your favourite tunes!
• Photography to capture the craziness!
• Silence!

End of Term Party

For general celebration and merriment there will be some kind of big party thing on Friday night in the bar, where everyone gets a bit tipsy then wakes up at 9am on Saturday hungover, without having packed and their parent's set to arrive in moments…

Again, Louise'll let you know more later in the week…

Mother's Day

OK, so this isn't really a social event.. but don't forget about it!

And that's it, enjoy your Easter holiday…

Paul x 

Hello All and welcome to Arts Week!

I apologise again for this e-mail coming through this morning, after mine and Jule's retirement yards of cocktail in the bar last night I didn't trust myself to e-mail the whole of college…

This week is of course Arts Week, which in keeping with the 48hour production – Grease – is 50's themed, there's a range of free 50's themed events throughout the week as well as other opportunities to get involved and try new things!

Apart from Art's Week (which you can find out more about here) there really isn't much else going on in sleepy Durham, but here's a breakdown anyway…

• Jazz Night
• Jive Dance Lessons
• New Writer's Festival
• Formal
• Red Nose Day
• Cheerleading Competition
• Bop
• 48 Hour Production

Jazz Night

This Tuesday Music Committee presents a Jazz Night in the JCR at 8pm

Jive Dance Lessons

On Wednesday learn how to jive dance at the beginners jive class in the hall between 7:30pm and 9pm, a great opportunity to brush up on your dance moves before the formal and bop!

New Writer's Festival 

Alternatively, head along to the JCR from 8pm for the New Writers' Festival and listen to some of your fellow Mildertians' talent in poetry, play extracts and short stories.

Formal

Thursday is formal night (sorry – early tea too), and afterwards get your glad rags on and head down to the JCR for an authentic 50's shindig, featuring performances from Souled Out and a 50's DJ set.

Red Nose Day

Friday is of course Red Nose Day, and to celebrate the bar and DUCK are working together on a night of charity fundraising, including karaoke in the Bar from 8:30pm, and an auction in the JCR… oh, and maybe some naked rugby players…

Cheerleading Competition

This Friday Mildert's cheerleaders will be taking part in the annual competition, so head over to Butler sports hall for 8pm to support them as they take on other college's squads!

Bop

Look out for details of the bop coming soon from Social Committee!

48 Hour Production

Over the weekend Arts Committee and a full cast and crew will have been busying themselves with the 48hour production, which will be performed at 8pm in the Hall. This year's production is Grease. Tickets are free so there's no excuse not to come!

Play Safe

Paul x

OK OK OK, so this is a little bit late…  but here's what else is going on this week…

• Floodlight Rugby
• Improv Comedy Night in the JCR
• Major's Gala Concert
• Wyrd Sisters
• External Ball
• DUOS Concert
• Durham FM Presents…
• Recitals
• Services Forum
• JCR Meeting
• Quiz Night
• Jazz Soc Jam Night

 Correction: The Rugby Match has now moved from the Racecourse to MC1

Floodlight Rugby

After the Rugby Club's epic win over Johns last term (remember that extra time winner?!) We are now in the second round of the Floodlit Cup which will see the leaders of both divisions going head to head in an iconic battle. However due to the awful weather recently, the match is having to be played THIS WEDNESDAY (4th) at 2PM!!
We know that this will not be 'Floodlit' however we still want as support as possible.

All your support last match really made it special for us and definately made all the difference in those last 20 minuets. It would be great if people could spare just and hour and half of their wednesday afternoon to come down and give us that same level of support.

Once again 2PM THIS Wednesday at MC1

We thank you in advance for your support. VMCRFC.

Improv Comedy Night

Also this Wednesday, in the JCR, Shellshock Improv Comedy Society present a night of standup improved comedy in Mildert JCR. Doors are 7:30 for a 8:00 start, entry is discounted for Mildert students – so take your campus cards.

Mayor's Gala Concert

There are still seats available for the Mayor's Gala concert, rather than having them empty for the concert the Mayor has kindly offered to sell them to those taking part for their partners/friends, fellow students, parents of the Cathedral Choir etc for just £5.00. This is a very generous offer and although there is only 2 days left please do your best as we want to fill every seat and raise as much money as possible for the Mayors Charity. A full house also generates a really good atmosphere.

Students can get the discount by showing their student card at the ticket office, you can all book their tikets through me by e-mail (no later than tomorrow night) or by phone (07931 743417 – leave a message with number of tickets and name if I do not answer), I will arrange for them to be held in a named envelope at the ticket office, tickets to be paid for on collection. 

The concert takes place in the Gala Theatre this Wednesday from 7:30pm and features a number of musicians from Van Mildert College.

Wyrd Sisters

Terry Pratchett takes Shakespeare's Macbeth and then turns it up 'till the knob comes off. It's all there – a wicked duke and duchess, the ghost of a murdered king, dim-witted soldiers, strolling players, a land in peril. And who stands between the Kingdom and destruction? Three Witches. Granny Weatherwax (intolerant, self-opinionated, powerful), Nanny Ogg (down-to-earth, vulgar), and Magrat Garlick (naive, fond of occult jewellery and bunnies).

OOOOK! Productions will be donating profits from the show to the Orangutan Foundation. Please come along and support this fabulous organisation.

Wyrd sisters is showing at 7:30pm on the 5th, 6th and 7th of March in the Assembly Rooms Theatre
Tickets: £6 / £5 (NUS) / £4.50 (DST). To book please call 0191 6450451 or e-mail timothy.foster@durham.ac.uk

External Ball

Don't forget its the External Ball this Thursday. Contact Pooja for any questions relating to that.

DUOS Concert

the Durham University Orchestral Society presents its Epiphany term concert…

• Tchaikovsy: Symphony No. 5 in E minor
• Beethoven: Overture to Fidelio
• Mozart: Symphony No. 38 'Prague'

Elvet Methodist Church, Saturday 7th March, 7.30pm. Tickets: £8 / £5 for concessions

Reserve tickets by emailing orchestral.society@dur.ac.uk. Find out more on our web pages: www.dur.ac.uk/orchestral.society or on the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=52414698516

Durham FM Presents… 

Durham FM Presents is a live music night held in the colleges of Durham University. Two acts from within the college will perform and a vote will be held at the end of the night. The winner will win a slot The Local Line-up on Durham FM (Durham's leading radio station). The night will also feature a performer from outside of the university.

Featuring:

• Richard John Thompson – singer songwriter who has recently toured with and supported The Proclaimers, Gabriella Cilmi, Sandi Thom, Duke Special and David Ford (www.richardjohnthompson.com)
• Adam Ingram – frontman of indie band “Prodding Juliet” and former resident of Van Mildert. Adam's songs are a bitter sweet take on life, love and everything inbetween
• Twilight Fiasco – This 4-piece are residents of Van Mildert and performed at the recent Battle Of The Bands. They fuse dark and witty lyrics with an upbeat yet jazzy sound.

Entry £1. Starts from 8pm. 

Recitals 

This coming sunday Van Mildert College Music Committee invites you to the FOURTH Van Mildert College Sunday Afternoon Recital of 2008/09 in the Ustinov Room.

As this might be the last recital of the year we'd like to invite back previous performers to play again and, of course, invite new talent to make the most spectacular recital ever!

Recitals are an opportunity, open to all members of college at all standards, to perform in a relaxed, informal setting – the style we aim for is Classical / Easy listening. The audience is made up of members of the JCR, MCR and SCR. There is also a facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=51955134027&ref=mf)

And like last time there will be refeshments for the audience!

Services Forum

This coming Sunday James Reevell has organised a services forum in the JCR from 4pm. This is an opportunity to discuss all college provided services, such as meals, portering, cleaning and so on. More details to follow soon! Don't forget to fill in the big college survey on the website too!

JCR Meeting

Yes yes, another one. 6:30pm in the JCR for another fun-packed meeting, this time featuring hustings for the upcoming Exec and DUCKtator elections, along with the usual range of motions and so on. Agenda coming soon!

Quiz Night

You know what its about. Sunday 9ish in the Bar.

Jazz Soc Jam Night

The Durham University Jazz Society is hosting the first 'Jam Night' !

The event is free for everybody and anyone can come along to play or just listen to some great music. There will be a piano, bass, drum kit, and microphones provided – as well as a selection of jazz tunes from various 'Real Books'.

Horn players, guitarist, singers etc.. simply turn up on the night with your instrument/voice and bring some music if there are specific songs that you'd like to perform. It doesn't matter how good you are or how much experience you have – everyone is welcome to get up and play!

Come along to FishTank on Sunday 8th March @ 8pm to take part (if you haven't been before its just off North Road – behind Tesco)

And that's it!  Enjoy! 

Paul x 

Since the last JCR meting I have been… typing up an inordinate amount of minutes, thinking about exec productivity, toying with a new mailing list system, booking tonnes of external events at mildert, and making way too many visits to Studio. Oh, and fighting to save my degree. Matters arising over the last term or so have lead us to think quite a lot about the 'productivity' of Exec, are we actually following up on our decisions correctly and is someone checking up on that? To remedy this our amazing Webmaster has built a neat little add-on for the website which shows Exec's “to-do” list. Action points from e-mails, meetings, etc are put onto the system, so both Exec and the whole JCR can see what we're upto, what our deadlines are and whether we've been doing our jobs! It's just something we're trialling at the moment, so if you have any feedback please let me know. You can find it on the JCR Website under “What the Exec are Doing”.