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Welcome to the Hilary term edition of exeter matters – the termly electronic newsletter for exonians. If you would like further details on any of the information featured, please feel free to contact the Development Office, or visit our website at www.exetercollege.net.

rector’s NewsAs I head for a term of leave of absence – a break at the midpoint of my seven years with this College – my main feeling is how much remains to be done. True, we have had one tremendous success this term. We won planning permission for a new development at exeter House on the Iffley Road, for a scheme designed by Anthony Pettorino which will eventually give us a total of 102 new rooms for our graduate students.

At present our graduates, two-thirds of whom come from overseas, live mainly in a rabbit warren of rooms, some large, some small, and hardly any with en suite bathrooms. In future, they will have light and airy rooms, some arranged in flats, overlooking an interlinked series of gardens. There will be a good-sized common room, and an elegant gatehouse. Given that graduate students now account for more than one-third of all our students, it is high time we began to house them comfortably and well.

One other bit of good news is the acquisition of a new Fellow in economics, Professor martin ellison. He is a rarity in the world of economics – a macroeconomist, and has a lively interest in policy and financial markets. A generous donation by Sir Ronald Cohen has made it possible to hire Martin straight away, without waiting for the University to help us fill the post. Sir Ronald has challenged others to provide the remaining third of the cost of the post, and hosted a dinner for some of our most successful PPE graduates. Martin gave the guests a lively commentary on the rocky state of financial markets and the world economy.

Our undergraduates have done well in a number of ways. In February, two Exeter students, Yi Ming Lai and Timea Bagossy, went as part of Oxford’s 13-strong delegation to the Harvard Model United Nations Conference in Boston. Timea led the delegation, which won two awards. The conference was attended by students from all around the world who debated international issues ranging from “sovereignty and the right to intervention” to “evaluating the role of the IMF in emerging economies”. Two other Exeter law students, Michael Firth and Alexander Mehra, were in the Oxford team that won the UK Jessup Championship this year. The Jessup moot is the world’s largest mooting competition and involves 600 universities all over the world. Michael and Alexander will go to Washington DC with the Oxford team to represent the United Kingdom for the 2008 Jessup World Mooting Championship.

More frivolously, the boat that did best in this year’s torpids was the Men’s 3rd VII, crewed by an imaginative group of finalists, who dressed in different costumes every day. In their final race, dressed as robots, they bumped Wolfson – and one triumphant crew member rose to his feet precariously to perform a robotic dance of triumph.

Frances Cairncross

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In this issue:

• Development Office• College News• University News• Old Members News• events• and Finally

Development OfficeThe Rector and Katrina Hancock, Director of Development, will travel to the Usa at the beginning of April for the North american reunion in New York City. They hope to see many Old Members and Friends at a Reunion Dinner for Exeter College on Saturday 5th April at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (see our website for details). Exonians in the DC area should look for information shortly about a drinks reception to be held when the Rector and Katrina are there the week following the reunion.

We’re very pleased to welcome a new member to our team in the Development Office. Joining us as the Information Officer, Liz Spicer brings with her both experience in the University setting through work at the Bodleian and also a background in the commercial side of a publishing house. Liz will be working with data and database management, finance, and research. Contact Liz if you wish to set up, change or enquire about your donation to the College; or to inform us of changes to your contact or other personal details.

The College was delighted to receive generous a gift from rosemary Peacock given in memory of her late husband the reverend Canon Dr arthur Peacocke (1942, Chemistry) to create the arthur Peacocke Graduate studentship in science and religion, to be held at Exeter and in the Faculty of Theology. This Studentship will cover the full cost of University and College fees as well as providing a very generous living allowance. We hope to welcome the first Scholar to Exeter in October 2008.

This term we launched a campaign to endow a Fellowship in economics. Sir Ronald Cohen has made a gift of £1m if others will contribute to the remaining £500k that is required to endow this post in perpetuity. We hope that all those who studied Economics at Exeter, or who have followed a career in the financial sector, will consider supporting this campaign. This is a vital way in which Old Members can help to protect the tutorial system and help the College to maintain its independence in choosing which subjects to teach. Please click here to donate online now.

Arthur Peacocke (Photo credit: Gillman & Soame

Oxford, UK)

A glimpse of the repaired external stonework of the

chapel.

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This year’s Telethon campaign has already been extremely successful. Over £80,000 has already been raised, and we are only at the half way point of the calling. Thank you if you have already made a gift. The funds raised over the course of the campaign will be used primarily to provide student hardship bursaries, maintain the tutorial system and fund an Economics Fellowship. The students have had many enjoyable and interesting conversations with Old Members and Parents, and they are very much looking forward to speaking to many more over the next week.

We are delighted to announce that the exeter College travel scholarships 2008 have been awarded to Ursula Hackett (North America/Canada) and Mehmet Noyan (East Asia/Australasia).Ursula is a second-year undergraduate studying PPE. She has always wanted to visit North America, and is especially excited about having the chance to make the trip in this Presidential election year. Mehmet is a third-year undergraduate reading Physics and Philosophy. Curious about the difference between cultures since childhood, Mehmet is

looking forward to travelling throughout Asia and Australasia. If you would be interested in offering hospitality to either of our Scholars – perhaps a meal or a bed for the night – please get in touch with anne millar in the Development Office.

College NewsBen Sutton (2005, Earth Science) is organising an Oxford University expedition to the tien shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan. On this six-week expedition, six students will travel to the remote Borkoldoy range, located just north of the Kyrgyz-Chinese border, to explore and establish base-camp in the unvisited Cholok-kanchigai valley. They will attempt to climb first ascents of several of the surrounding peaks, which are 4600 to 5170m high. The expedition will be paid for through fundraising, and the group is currently looking for sponsors. To find out more about the expedition, visit their website or email Ben sutton.

With a best throw of 20.66m, 23-year-old Rhodes scholar Garrett Johnson (2006, Migration Studies), won the shot put at the Norwich Union World Indoor Trials in Sheffield on February 9th. This was the 4th longest throw in the world this year and beat by 3cm the 31-year-old championships record set by Geoff Capes (three-time European champion and the most capped British male athlete of all time). From here, Garrett should have a clear run to the Olympic team.

Exeter put forward several solid crews to race in this year’s torpids on 20-23 February 2008. Our Men’s 1st VIII had a net gain of one place, moving up from 7th to 6th position in Division 1 while our Women’s 1st VIII held their position of 4th in Division 2. Several of our other crews bumped three out of the four days, and our Men’s 3rd VIII bumped all four days including a double-bump

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to move up to 3rd from 8th position in Division VI.

exeter lawyers have had tremendous success this term even beyond the accomplishments of the 2nd year students mentioned by the Rector. Hannah Mycock is reading for the BA Jurisprudence (Law with Law Studies in Europe) and spent the last year in Paris, where she was awarded the Certificat Supérieur de Droit Français - Mention Bien from l’Université de

Panthéon-Assas (Paris II).

Anyone who has been to an Old Member’s event in Hall over the past few years will not be surprised to hear that exeter College’s Chefs were awarded ‘Highly Commended Main Course’ at the British Universities Chef’s Challenge 2008 held in Blackpool over 10th-11th March.

Construction is due to begin on Exeter’s new student accommodation in July 2008, the exeter House site on the Iffley Road, will have 102 en suite rooms when completed in September 2010. Along with the new buildings a full refurbishment will take place of the existing Villas, old School House and Chapel which will include an upgrade of its current IT provision and the creation of a large common room with a quiet study area above. Click here to see the ground floor plan.

University NewsThe largest single cash donation made to a university library in the UK has been given to the Bodleian Library so the public can see its treasures. Julian Blackwell, President of Blackwell’s, has donated £5m towards the redevelopment of the New Bodleian Library in Broad Street. The renovation, expected to start in 2010 and be completed in 2012, will transform the housing of the Bodleian’s priceless collections and will open up its treasures to the public.

Oxford’s total external research income for the 2006–7 year was the highest of any UK university at £248.2m, up 16.5 per cent on the previous year. The University is also the number one recipient of Wellcome Trust funding for medical research, receiving one fifth of all funding given out.

According to a report published in BMC Medicine in February, graduates from Oxford medical school consistently outperform those from all other universities in postgraduate medical exams. The study analysed the results of over 5,827 doctors from 19 UK medical schools from 2003-2005 and showed Oxford graduates to perform above average on the multiple choice assessments of the examinations and significantly above average in the practical examination of clinical assessment skills.

Old Members NewsThe Rector and Director of Development will be travelling to New York for the North american reunion to be held at the Waldorf on 4-6th April 2008. More information on events will be published shortly - do let us know if you are going to be the area that weekend as they’d be delighted to see you.

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The exVac committee would like to thank all those who generously donated in the recent fundraising drive for enabling

the project to continue helping the disadvantaged children of Oxford. Following the success of their fundraising appeal through the College Register, they are pleased to launch the new annual donor scheme, ‘Friends of ExVac.’ Please email exVac if you are interested in becoming an annual donor.

The annual Fortescue society Dinner for Exonians who read Jurisprudence (or who now practise Law) was held in College and was an enjoyable evening for all, enabling Old Members to return to College, catch up with old friends and mix with Exeter’s present lawyers.

The College was delighted to hear the news that David Warren (1971, english Literature) has been appointed as Ambassador to Japan.

eventsFor the latest information about all our events, and to download and complete booking forms, please visit our website’s events pages. If you are interested in attending any of these events or would like a formal invitation, please email the Development Office.

Upcoming events over the next few months:

Friday 4th & saturday 5th april 2008: North american reunion in New York The Rector and Director of Development look forward to meeting Exonians at the forthcoming Reunion and hope that many Old Members and partners will be able to attend the Exeter College Reunion Dinner that Saturday night. the dinner will be held at 7.15pm in the New Amsterdam Suite of the Waldor-Astoria, following the 5.00pm general drinks party for all Reunion attendees. Invitations have been sent to Old Members in the New York region. Please see the website or contact the Development Office for further details.

Friday 11th april 2008: Intercollegiate Golf tournamentThis year, the tournament is being hosted by Corpus Christi and is again being held at Frilford Heath. You can take part either a part of the main team of 10 or in the individual 9-hole Greensome. Details will be available soon on the website, or you can contact the Development Office.

saturday 19th april 2008: College BallWith a shisha tent overlooking Radcliffe Square, a bouncy castle in front of our splendid Gothic chapel, and a magic carpet to transport you to a whole new world, College will be transformed by the smells, sounds and sights of Fantasia... There will be sumptuous medieval banquet in Hall, a hug dance tent in our secret garden, and magicians, dancers, and live music until 3am.

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Friday 2nd may 2008: exVac Dinner The ExVac Annual General Meeting will be followed by a drinks reception and dinner in Hall for all volunteers and donors, past and present, and their partners.

Friday 9th may 2008: PPe alumni Dinner The biennial PPE Society Dinner will provide the chance to catch up with old friends and meet current Exeter students over drinks, hear Sir John Gieve speak on “The BANK, NORTHERN ROCK and the CREDIT CRUNCH”, and enjoy a formal dinner in Hall.

and FinallyThinking of creating a rock garden? If you’re giving your garden a “spring clean” and are thinking of building a rockery, why not use some of the Chapel stone that has been

replaced during the renovations. There’s plenty of it! Free to a good home. Collection only.

The College is thinking about expanding its range of Exeter branded merchandise. At present we stock cuff-links, lapel pins, mugs, T-Shirts and CDs of the Choir - with all profits going to the College. We’d love to know what

else you’d like us to stock! Would you like to be able to buy Rugby Shirts, prints of the College, College Port/Wine/Champagne? Do send us your suggestions.

Today’s Budget brings good news for Charities with an announcement that Gift Aid will continue to be paid a (transitional) rate of 22% for the next three years. Last year, Gordon Brown had announced in his Budget that Gift Aid would be cut to 20% as of 6 April 2008. This is now postponed until April 2011.

As she mentioned on the front page, the Rector is taking her Sabbatical next term. Although she will still be involved with Development work she will, on the whole, not be in College. Our Sub-Rector, Ian Reid, will be ably covering in her absence - please do feel free to contact him if you wish.

Visiting this Oxford this term?Don’t forget to let us know and sign in for High Table on Wednesdays or Sundays (if you have your MA or higher degree).