Freshers

Getting Around

During Fresher’s week, the JPC organises tours of both college and the wider Cambridge area so that you get an opportunity to familiarise yourself with life in a new city. However, if you would like to get a feel for the college/area in advance, or are unable to attend a tour, the JPC have compiled the following resouces:

Familiarise yourself with the map of Pembroke. Download the map here.

Map of Cambridge

The UIS (University Information Service) provide this excellent map of Cambridge.

A Cambrdige Dictionary

Bedder – A member of housekeeping. They come empty your bin and vacuum your floor once a week. Leave your bin outside your door if you don’t want to be disturbed!

Blue – Someone awarded a “blue” for playing high level university sport

Boatie – A rower, someone who loves lycra and early mornings

BOP – A party in the JP at the start and end of each term. Bring some fancy dress!

DoS – Director of Studies – they run the academic side of your life

Easter – The third and final term, aka exam term

Ents – Short for entertainments. The ents officers will be putting on events throughtout the year

Formal – A fancy three or four course meal in hall. Usually available everynight.

Lent – The second term

GP – The Graduate Parlour – a social space for graduate students

GPC – The Graduate Parlour Commitee – like the JPC but for graduate students

GYP – A little kitchen found in college staircases. Has some hobs and a microwave for preparing small meals and snacks

Hostel – A college owned house. Second and third years often live in hostels

JP – The Junior Parlour – a social space next to the café/bar, has a pool table and table football. Also, the collective name for the undergraduate body.

JPC – The Junior Parlour Committee – that’s us. We’re here to provide welfare support, put on ents, represent the undergraduate body at college meetings, and try and be as helpful as possible

Mathmo – Someone who studies maths

Matriculation – The process by which you join the college

May Week – A week in June?! Often the highlight of people’s year, this week after exams includes garden parties, May Balls, and hopefully plenty of sunshine

Michaelmas – The first term

NatSci – (Nat Ski) Someone who studies natural sciences. Often prefixed with bio (for biological) or phys (for physical) according to their specialism

New Museums – The New Museums Site – right across the road from Pembroke. Many first year maths and science lectures happen here. Convenient!

Pidge – The post room where your pigeon hole is. There are also welfare supplies in here

Plodge – The porter’s lodge. There is always a porter on duty here

Porter – These lovely people are essential to the daily running of college and are always available to help. Spend most of their time dealing with students’ self inflicted problems – whether you’ve lost your keys, set off the fire alarm, or can’t get home after a night out, these are the people to call. Probably should come with a sarcasm warning!

Sidge – The Sidgewick site – home to many humanities faculties and libraries

SU – The newly merged student union replacing CUSU (Cambridge University Student Union) and the GU (Graduate Union)

Trough – The Pembroke canteen or buttery. Sells dinner, lunch, and made to order breakfast at a significant discount to Pembroke students

Tripos – Your course or the exams counting towards your degree. The name is believed to come from the three-legged stools that were used during oral examinations