the Junior Common Room (JCR)
JCR stands for 'Junior Common Room', and every student becomes a member of the St Anne's JCR. It's not a room, and it's certainly not common. It's a democratic body comprised of every undergraduate member of the college. The JCR is basically a mini student union, and every college in Oxford has one.
Committee
The JCR is run entirely by students. The committee is made up of second years, who are responsible for every aspect of student life in college, so as well as the President and Vice President there are reps for welfare, sports, academic affairs, charities and so on. It is their job to represent the views of students to the outside world, staff and governing body of the college. They've all been elected, and are keen to help by organising events like Arts Week, formal dinners, themed nights, and the infamous college 'bops', and also have a say in what drinks are sold in the bar and what food we eat in the dining hall.
Meetings
JCR meetings take place every other Sunday evening during term, and anyone can use this time to propose a motion (and if a majority agrees, your wish is our command) or discuss issues that affect us - from what time the back gate to college is locked, to whether or not to allow Ali the kebab man honorary JCR membership. Plus, there's free food. Democracy at its finest.
Money for student groups
The JCR also hands money out to students to fund college clubs and societies. Many of the sports teams, music groups and drama productions you'll come across here (and there are lots!) will have money from the JCR, but there's plenty of cash for new initiatives. So if you have a good idea that you think would benefit from JCR funding, you're welcome to apply.
Hartland Room
Our common room - the Hartland Room - is in Hartland House, the oldest building in St Anne's. Open till 2am everyday, people come here to read the daily papers (everything from The Sun to the Financial Times), play pool (it's free!), watch the telly, play on the SNES, check email and waste time. If you come to interview at St Anne's you'll spend a lot of time here, eating biscuits and talking to students. You'll have to fight for a seat when shows such as X Factor or The Apprentice or the Rugby comes on.
OUSU
OUSU (pronounced ow-zoo) is the Oxford University Student Union.
Individual college JCRs tend to provide a lot of the functions of a student union at Oxford, so the main task of OUSU is to co-ordinate all the JCRs to provide one unified student voice.
OUSU is an organisation that seeks to promote the wellbeing, opinions and welfare of students. Like most uni SUs in the UK, OUSU hires students taking a year out to be Sabbatical Officers, but is partially staffed by full-time students as well. These elections take place in michaelmas term.
It costs us each about £5 a year to be members (Paid by the JCR). For that, they offer you lots of services including extensive welfare support to all students. They also campaign on issues like anti-racism and gay rights, and represent students' opinions to the university on issues from top up fees to exam celebration regulations. OUSU also publishes the OxStu (Oxford Student Newspaper), runs Oxide Radio and loads of club nights in partnership with Pulse, an Oxford student club-night promoter. OUSU also has a massive charity fundraising element called RAG (Raise and Give) which runs charity events and street collections around Oxford.
The OUSU offices are opposite the Westgate Centre, in Thomas Hull House on Queen Street. Upstairs is a world of excitement. And mass photocopying. Unlike other universities, the student union is not a main building where all the students hang out and the majority of students would never really have a reason to go to the OUSU offices.
OUSU hosts Freshers' Fair, which is really useful. Every society you can think of will have a stand there, and all the freshers go and sign up for loads of things.