Senior man

Senior man is a position held in some collegiate universities by the head of a college's junior common room (JCR, the undergraduate student body). It is the equivalent of president, which is the most senior prefects in college. The senior man acts as the chief representative of the student body, as a figurehead for the JCR and as an elected official.[1] The senior man is also responsible for leading the JCR's executive council.

Although terminology refers to the position as a senior 'man', a woman may also fill this role.[2] This reflects the history of these colleges, which were founded as single sex male-only institutions.

The position of senior man is in use at two colleges of Durham University:

St Chad's College previously used this title for its head of the junior common room up until 2018, when a motion was passed to change the title to JCR President.[1][5]

No other colleges at other collegiate universities used the title 'Senior Man', with 'JCR President' being frequently used. Similarly, no Middle Common Room used this title, with 'MCR President' also being used with equivalent duty to that of the JCR President, the only difference is that it represent the graduate students of the college.

  1. ^ a b Senior Man Leslie, Justin; St Chad's College; 19 March 2006; Accessed 9 February 2007
  2. ^ Motion to rename JJCR President Archived 2006-05-19 at the Wayback Machine; St John's College JCR; 17 March 2006; Accessed 9 February 2007
  3. ^ The JCR Exec Archived 2006-10-10 at the Wayback Machine University College JCR; Accessed 9 February 2007
  4. ^ How the JCR Works Archived 2007-02-09 at the Wayback Machine Hatfield College JCR; 2006; Accessed 9 February 2007
  5. ^ "St Chad's College renames Senior Man or Woman as JCR President". Palatinate. Retrieved 8 September 2024.