James Forsdick reports on New College History Society's annual talk and dinner
New College History Society held its annual Hilary Term lecture and dinner on 17 February where members heard a brilliant talk by Professor Michael Broers entitled Napoleon: The Famous Delinquent. James Forsdick, Communications Student Ambassador and first year history student at New College, reports on the night's events.
The New College History Society is not simply a forum to host insightful, relevant, and compelling lectures and events, it also fulfils the broader purpose of facilitating relationships and discussion between past and present New College members, all connected through their interest in History.
Last term Professor Bruce Campbell, emeritus professor of medieval economic history at Queen’s University Belfast, offered a thought-provoking and highly pertinent lecture on transregional connectivity in medieval history, and most recently Professor Michael Broers gave a lecture on his specialist topic, Napoleon. Broers characterised Napoleon as a man who in his career had ‘beat bad news by a whisker’ and for whom ‘success often provided a bigger headache than failure’. These insights highlight how the History Society at New College allows all members, regardless of common room, to access topics of history which they may not have previously studied in detail through leading experts in each field.
From the perspective of an undergraduate, the society does not only excel in providing opportunities to broaden one's interests into different avenues of historical study, but also in allowing for discussions between members at different points in their studies and careers. These discussions are not only rewarding from a practical stance, for example for the discussion of entry into academia, but they also provide the opportunity for relationships to form between New College History Society members outside of supervisions, tutorials and meetings.
For example, after Michael Broers lecture last Saturday evening, the annual History Society dinner allowed for discussions between students of all years, tutors, and New College History alumni. These discussions in a more ‘informal’ environment are incredibly useful for the purpose of facilitating a community within the subject at New College, something which defines the experience of a student at Oxford.
I would finally like to thank Gilbert and Tom for the work they have put into organising the events this year and I look forward to attending the New College History Society events next academic year.
Report by James Forsdick
