Have your say.
JCR GOVERNANCE
MEET THE EXEC
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I’m Millie, this year’s JCR President.
Last year I was a student in college, but having graduated over the summer with a degree in Anthropology and Sociology, I am very excited to be elected into this position for 2025/26! I work as a representative for the students of Stephenson and do lots of behind-the-scenes work to keep our Junior Common Room running.
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Hi I’m the Treasurer. My role this year will be to support all the other JCR officers manage their budgets, and to handle all of our finances. Part of my role will be to make sure my work is transparent so JCR members know what is happening with their money.
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Hello, I'm Logan (3rd Year Law Student), and I am your JCR Chair for this year. I'm a lover of constitutional law, and my goal this year is to improve democracy and the JCR Constitution.
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Hi! I’m Kate, this year’s communications officer for Stevo. I’ll be running the JCR’s social media accounts and marketing. I love reading and hanging out with friends. I’m super excited to meet you all!
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Hi I’m Louis, I’ll be your societies officer this year. I am in far too many societies but I run the book club and minecraft society as well as being a member of the college jazz band ‘The Flaming Steamos’! I’ll be your go to person if you have questions about anything to do with societies including setting them up or joining any! I look forward to meeting you all this year so please say hi if you see me!
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Hi I’m Seb, I’m a second year classical civilisation student, and I’m going to be your senior welfare officer this year! I’m excited to be running events throughout the year and I’m always up for a chat if you see me around - most likely in Stevo central playing cards, Fabs, or Klute.
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Hey! I’m Natalya, your International Officer for the year. As an international student myself from Egypt, I love meeting new people and hearing stories from around the globe. When I’m not planning events that celebrate different cultures, you’ll probably catch me at DU Art Society or at Platform 2 playing pool, feel free to come say hi, I’m always up for a chat!
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JCR Meetings
WHAT HAPPENS?
JCR meetings are where we discuss important issues, review and vote on motions, listen to husts (speeches) for prospective Executive and Non-Executive Officers, and ensure the elected officials running the JCR are effective and held to account. As a democratic body, the JCR meetings are ultimately a forum in which the members deliberate on issues that impact our community.
In a typical year, there are around 3 JCR Meetings per-term, excluding the exam period.
Minutes from our previous meetings are available here along with any motions to review before the next meeting.
HUSTS
One of the most important elements of the JCR meetings is that of the husts, which are held prior to any elections being held by the JCR. Husts are in essence speeches that provide election candidates the chance to expound on the ideas presented in their manifestos and answer questions from the assembled members. This is a crucial part of the election process as it acts as a moment of direct communication between the candidates and the electorate!
In a typical year the JCR will hold 2-3 series of elections, with the single largest being our General Election, held in Feburay-March, in which all Exec and Non-Exec positions are up for grabs. You can find out more about JCR elections here.
ASK THE EXEC!
Ask The Exec! sessions are an opportunity for the current students to ask questions of the JCR Executive Officers. This is a good opportunity for our students to remain informed about what the Exec Officers have been doing and keep them accountable with questions. In a typical year, ‘Ask The Exec!’ sessions are held at the end of each term and are chaired by the JCR Chair.
DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS
As a democratic organisation, it is vital that important issues are debated and discussed by the members, and our JCR meetings are the point at which these debates and discussions can be held. The issues being discussed can be of any magnitude, ranging from issues purely relating to Stephenson College or the JCR, to issues that are prominent across the university and occasionally the wider UK.
MOTIONS
Motions are formal recommendations and suggestions put out by members of the JCR on improving our student body. Proposed motions are then discussed in JCR meetings, to which members then are able to vote for or against. If the majority votes for the proposed motion, then it becomes ratified and applied to JCR standing orders.
If you would like to submit a motion please contact the JCR Chair on stephenson.jcr-chair@durham.ac.uk or fill in the Motions Submission form below. The full terms of the substantive motion are to be placed on the agenda paper together with the names of one proposer and one seconder. Such motions shall be submitted to the JCR Chair in writing at least 4 days before a JCR meeting unless it is a procedural motion. Further information can be found in the Standing Orders.
APOLOGIES
Attending JCR meetings is compulsory for first-year students who live in college. If you are not able to attend, an apology with the reason for your absence must be submitted to the Chair with the reason for your absence at least two hours before the meeting.
Governing Documents of the JCR
As an organisation, we have two foundational documents. The DSO framework broadly dictates how we operate as a Durham Student Organisation (many other JCRs are also DSOs), while our Constitution and Standing Orders outline how things work specifically within Stephenson College. You are welcome to have a read, and if you take one thing away from them, it should be that we are a democratic, student-led organisation, with our policies and activities decided and championed by our community and members.
The Constitution & Standing Orders as of 19/6/2025:
