Glossary

​Battels
The charges made to a member of a college for accommodation, meals, etc. The college will contact you about this.

Bleed Green
Jesus College’s go to slogan for anything to do with Jesus, especially with relation to sport, competitions and college rivalry.  Competing in a college sport? Repping the college at an Open Day? Then you will undoubtedly #bleedgreen . Useful instagram caption if you can’t think of anything wittier.

BNOC
BNOC stands for Big Name on Campus. You would call someone a BNOC if they're famous (or maybe infamous) around college. More of a jokes thing than a serious social status.

Bod
The Bodleian Libraries are 40 libraries that make up the University of Oxford. One of these is the Bodleian Library, which is a 4 minute walk from Jesus. You can access these libraries with your bod card.

Bod card
Your University card, commonly known as a ‘Bod card’ (after the Bodleian Library) is your ID card around Oxford University.
Among other things, it is used for:

• Taking out library books

• Identifying yourself at exams and formal University events

• Paying for meals in college

• Getting discounts- many businesses in Oxford will accept a university card as eligibility for student discounts

Bops
Stands for Big Organised Party - lots of alcohol, cheesy music and crazy fancy dress involving many cardboard boxes. At Jesus we have bops twice a term and they take place in the JCR! We have our own sugary concoction of boptails (a punny take on "cocktails") too!

Collections
Collections refer to both the informal exams that take place at the start of every term AND an annual meeting check-up with the principal of the college (also known as Principal’s Collections, see below). The college will let you know when they are.
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Formals
​Formals are a three course meal served by the waiting team in hall. Each college has their own way of doing formals (some colleges have them every night with gowns, some only have them once a week) At Jesus they take place every evening apart from Saturdays and Mondays. You must book online for these, and can take up to 2 guests per meal. The meal starts at 7.15 but get there at about 7 to get a seat. Bring your own wine. Only on Thursdays are gowns required. 

Halfway Hall

This is an annual tradition at Jesus, a formal Hall event for the second years which happens on Wednesday 4th week of Hilary- to celebrate being halfway through your time at Jesus! Some excellent speeches and awards are presented.

Hassan's
There are many ways to classify a college: age, size, geography - but perhaps the most appropriate is by Kebab Van. Hassan's is a kebab van that parks on the Turl St / Broad St intersection and is surely the staple ending to every night out (and first thing you feel when you wake up). Few are adventurous enough to try their excellent burgers though few miss out on a warm box of chips to keep the study fuel burning and the hunger at bay. However there are a rogue band of individuals that happily eat a full Hassan's while sober. We shall not comment on this heresy.

JCR
The Junior Common Room. Each Oxford college has a JCR, and as well as being the formal undergraduate student organisation of the college, it is also a physical location in college which is the hub of social activity!
 
Matriculation
Matriculation confers membership of the University on those students who are enrolled at the University of Oxford and following a degree-level course. Your matriculation ceremony will be on the Saturday of 1st week and you will need to wear subfusc. You’ll have individual photo and a year group photo at Jesus, and then make your way to the Sheldonian where the ceremony takes place. After the ceremony there'll usually be a spot of champagne, day-time drinking and pace yourselves - because there'll definitely be events going on at some club in the evening.
 
Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity
The names of the three terms at Oxford, in that order. Each term is eight weeks, which isn't very long but we pack lots in - plus most people come up in 0th (nought-h) week, so it's sort of like nine weeks!
 
Mods
Honour Moderations are first year university (or in the case of Classics, second year) exams. They are the “First Public Examination” for the degree of B.A. Results are classified as Firsts, Seconds etc., Not all students take Mods - some take Prelims, depending on the subject in question.
 
Oxfess/Oxlove/OxRow
Facebook pages consisting of anonymous angry messages/confessions/admissions of love. Very good form of procrastination (writing and reading them!)
 
Periodicals
Part of the Meyricke Library at Jesus. Walk into staircase 17 and it is on the right. A more relaxed part of the library, you can eat food in here and talk. The location of many essay crises and hours on end of procrastination. Also contains periodicals believe it or not…. And theology books.
 
Pidge
A glass room in the porters' lodge where every student has their own 'pidge'. Small deliveries/letters will be 'pidged' to you and sometimes you'll need to 'pidge' your tutor problem sheets/tute work etc.

Prelims
Preliminary examinations are first year examinations and are awarded on a Pass/Fail/Distinction basis. They are normally taken at the end of the first year, although there are exceptions.
 
Principal's Collections
These 'Collections' are at the end of term; they really aren't a big deal - a three minute meeting with Nigel and the Academic Director to discuss your progress over the term.

RadCam
The Radcliffe Camera is library/tourist attraction/snapchat filter which is a 4 minute walk from Jesus (walk out of Jesus Turl Street entrance, turn right and then go down Brasenose Lane on the left). It is one of the Bodleian Libraries and an amazing place to study!
 
Scholars
When you join Oxford, you are a ‘Commoner’ (except for choral and organ scholars) but may be elected to be a scholar if you perform at first-class level in Prelims/Mods. Scholars are entitled to wear a scholar’s gown and read the Latin grace at formals. Scholars also get a few perks at Jesus including free formals on Wednesdays and Fridays and some money off their battels.

Stevens/Barts
The second year and third/fourth year accommodation annexes.
 
Stash
Clothing (often a jumper or puffer jacket) with the logo/crest of the college/university sports club. Great for flexing on your friends at home, and also they're always really comfortable. The stash rep organises this for Jesus every term, and will definitely be in contact via the Jesus mailing list.

Sub fusc
Formal attire worn by students and academics on formal occasions, including matriculation, examinations and graduation. It is made up of a dark suit, skirt or trousers, a white shirt or blouse and a white or black bow tie, black full-length tie or black ribbon, worn with a black gown and a mortar-board. The name derives from the Latin sub fuscus, meaning dark brown.
 
Tutes (tutorials)
Frequency of tutes depends on your subject/tutor, but you will have at least one hour-long tutorial every week, either on a one-to-one basis or with one or two other students. In your tute you will discuss the week’s essay/problem sheet/topic.