Clubs and Societies
A wide variety of clubs and societies - musical, cultural, social and recreational - contribute to St Cross's lively social life. Each year in Freshers Week we hold a Sports and Societies Fair in the Common Room, where representatives of College clubs and societies answer questions and entice you to join. But most societies take new members year-round, so please see the list of clubs and societies below for more information and contact details.
Contact email addresses for society representatives can be formulated using the names and partial addresses shown followed by .ox.ac.uk
Oxford University Dancesport Club
Oxford University Dancesport Club offers classes in ballroom, latin american, salsa, rock n roll, argentine tango and zumba, and has one of the most successful university dancesport teams in the country.
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The classes are taught by professional coaches and cater for everyone from complete beginners to experienced competitive dancers. You do not need to bring a partner or wear special shoes. Non-members of the university are welcome.
The OUDC team is represented in the team matches at inter-university competitions including the annual varsity match against Cambridge. the beginners team represents OUDCin the beginners events at these competitions.
Every year numerous members of St Cross join both the social classes, the beginners team and represent Oxford to earn their blues in the varsity match. For more info contact James Moore.
Chess
There is an annual chess ladder available for all St. Cross members to participate in. Chess sets are available in the common room and in the bar. For more information, please contact: philip.littlewood@stx
China
A society for those from China, interested in China, or studying China. We have a weekly Mandarin table (Mondays 12.30-2) at lunch for mandarin learners of all levels to mix with native speakers Plus a termly China party, a social for Chinese new year, and film nights. To get involved contact jie.yang@stx
Choir
Every year, Saint Cross College has a carol service, held in the Chapel of Pusey House by kind permission of the Principal of Pusey, Father Jonathan. And every year we form a choir from College members and partners and friends to lead the singing of carols and to perform special Christmas music, just like all the great college choirs of Oxford and Cambridge have done over the centuries. It's good fun and is done on the most economical of rehearsal times, leading up to the service on 4 December, which is followed by a College party and Hall in the College dining room.
We will be having the first practice for those who want to become part of the choir for the carol service at 1.30 on THURSDAY 25 OCTOBER. All practices start promptly on Thursday of each week at 1.30 and last no more than half an hour. We meet around the piano in the College bar. Meeting really will last no more than half an hour, honest, and we will work hard. If you are a bass, baritone, tenor, alto, soprano, please come; you will be made very welcome!
And it would be very helpful if beforehand you could email diarmaid.macculloch to say that you're interested. But even if you don't mail, come anyway. Diarmaid will be harassing you in various ingenious multi-media ways in order to secure your cheerful participation.
Literature
This society has been set up to let students at St Cross know about the many literary events happening in Oxford, from poetry readings and book signings to lectures and plays. We usually run a theatre trip each term, and a visit further afield towards the end of the year. Please contact thomas.birkett@stx for more information.
Quiz
St. Cross puts on pub quizzes in the bar every few weeks. In addition it puts a team together for the Oxford intra-university quiz competition and to compete on the University Challenge television program. For more information, contact thomas.birkett@stx.
Punting
St Cross has a punt available on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge during the summer months, typically May-October. The punt can be reserved for a maximum of 4 hours at a time. To book, ask for a compliment slip at the St Cross College office and bring it to the Cherwell Boathouse (Bardwell Rd). Happy Punting!
Baking
As wonderfully put by Baking Society Rep. Danielle: "Our monthly baking sessions, run out of my own kitchens, are enjoyed by all...not only is baking delicious...it's therapeutic. Drawing our members from St. Cross and Wolfson Colleges, all of us are Graduate Students, doing MPhils, DPhils and the like; research seems to go on for ever and the achievement seems so far off...it can be disheartening. That's why making a cake, a bread or a pie is so wonderful: with the help of some friends and a bit of elbow grease you can indulge your creative side, get some therapeutic kneading in, and have not only a delicious treat to munch on at the end of it, but a sense of achievement and pride to boot. Baking is great fun, and it's serious business. It's part science and part art, and it's open to everyone." More more info, contact Danielle, or visit the Baking Society Blog and Facebook page.
Other Wolfson College facilities and clubs
St Crossers are invited to attend the activities fair at Wolfson College (the date of which should appear on the Freshers Week schedule). To see a list of Wolfson's clubs and societies, visit http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/clubs/. There are countless other University clubs as well; most will have stalls at the big Freshers' Fair in the Examination Schools in Freshers' Week.
Didn't find the activity you were looking for? We may be able to help you find it elsewhere in the University, or you can start your own St Cross club or society! For more information, contact the St Cross Sports and Societies Representative (paul.kelly@stx) in the first instance.