Student Life

List of Committees & Elected Positions

Junior Common Room (JCR) Committees are at the heart of student life and governance at Massey. Each committee focuses on a different area of the College experience, from social events and academic programming to community service and equity. Serving on a committee is a great way to contribute, connect with others, and help shape the life of the Fellowship.

Most committee positions are elected, with elections held each Fall and Spring. Keep an eye on your inbox and the Don’s Newsletter for opportunities to apply or nominate yourself.

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

House Committee
The House Committee, chaired by the Don of Hall, addresses issues of concern to the Junior Fellowship. Almost all aspects of life at the College are discussed at House Committee meetings, which are open to any Junior Fellow who wishes to attend. Agendas specifying the place and time of meeting along with the issues to be discussed are posted in advance and emailed over the listserv. Meetings will also be announced at preceding dinners. At least two of the Committee’s eight members must be Non-Residents. Four of the members are elected in April, and three are elected in the fall. One of the members is appointed by the LMF and one by the Secretariat.

Lionel Massey Fund Committee
The Lionel Massey Fund (LMF) promotes social, cultural, and intellectual life within the College, and organises a wide variety of activities. The LMF provides financial support for other committees and supplements the costs of Massey events, such as the Winter Ball. The entire community contributes to the Fund by paying a levy at the beginning of the year. This budget is presented and voted upon at the Junior Fellow elections at the beginning of each term, and a second budget report is presented at the spring elections. The LMF committee is led by Co-Chairs who are elected in the spring.

Equity & Inclusivity Secretariat
The Equity and Inclusivity Secretariat advocates for equity in all matters concerning the fellowship to make sure that everyone feels welcome and comfortable in all aspects of College Life.  It is made up of the Co-Chairs of the Accessibility Committee, the Diversity Committee, Truth & Reconciliation, and the Gender & Sexual Diversity Committee.

Quarter Century Fund Committee
The Quarter Century Fund Committee manages and approves proposals to the Quarter Century Fund. The QCF enables Junior Fellows to pursue more expensive endeavours at the College. Fellows are invited to submit proposals to the QCF for purchases or services that benefit the entire Massey community. Previous successful QCF purchases include pepper grinders for the dining hall, a Zipcar membership, an AGO membership, and sleds.

Community Service Committee
The Community Service Committee (CSC) seeks to inspire a culture of volunteerism and community engagement at Massey College. Our goal is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people, both locally in our Toronto communities, and more globally in Canada and abroad. We are regularly involved at our local soup kitchen (‘Out of the Cold’), and participate in blood donation clinics, clothing and food drives. Additionally, we organise the Robbie Burns Charity Talent Auction, a lively and entertaining event, where the talents and wares of Masseyites are used to raise funds for different charity organisations. We also engage with our international community through the annual ‘Gown Run,’ to support the Scholars at Risk Program. One co-chair is elected in the spring and the other in the fall. We also welcome additional members to our planning committee.

Computing Committee
Some tech savvy JFs who have volunteered to help with general computer problems like connecting to the Wifi, joining the listserv, and managing the JFs’ printer.

Environment and Sustainability Committee
The Environmental Committee oversees environmental concerns within the College including recycling and food waste, and hosts outdoor excursions and educational events.

Health and Wellness Committee
Formerly known as the Food, Health and Sports Committee, the Health committee has the following aims: a) addresses food-related issues, events, and activities in the College, ranging from the style of peanut butter served at breakfast to special dinner menus throughout the year. It meets with the Bursar and the Director of Catering regularly to discuss the food we eat, can eat, and would like to eat; b) promotes health awareness and accessibility to health services amongst the Junior Fellows. Events include nature hikes, stress coping sessions, and mental health awareness; c) coordinates and promotes sporting activities both within the College and the broader community. Participation and spectatorship are encouraged! 

Non-Resident Committee
Non-Residents are an important part of Massey College, and the Non-Resident Committee exists to ensure they have every opportunity to participate in and contribute fully to the life of the College. The Non-Resident Committee is responsible for assigning lockers and carrels at the beginning of the year, as well as encouraging attendance at Non- Resident Dine in Hall dinners and arranging social events accompanying the dinners; many of these events are coordinated in conjunction with other committees and programs, such as the JFLS. Please contact us with any suggestions you have for improving non-res life!

Audeamus Committee
Audeamus is the annual literary journal of Massey College, a publication that brings together the poetry, visual art, and short stories (fiction, nonfiction, and those that trouble the border between the two) of the Massey community. All affiliates of the College, including but not limited to fellows Junior and Senior, alumni, Quadranglers, and writers-in-residence, are invited to submit their work. If editorial work is more your cup of tea, there will also be opportunities for Junior Fellows to get involved as members of the annual submissions-review board. Feel free to contact the Audeamus co-chair for more information in person or at audeamus.massey@gmail.com.

Junior Fellow Lecture Series Committee
The Junior Fellow Lecture Series is one of the College’s signature interdisciplinary events. Roughly once a month during term, Junior Fellows from different academic backgrounds are asked to create and deliver a short talk from the perspective of their own studies while all speaking on a common topic. Topics from the past year included “What’s In a Name?”, “The Beginning”, “War, What is it Good For?”, and the ever-popular “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll.” By challenging Fellows to think creatively about their own discipline’s relationship to the topic, we poke fun at the boundaries between spheres of the academy and try to generate unconventional dialogue between different fields of study. We are especially interested in hearing from new Junior Fellows in their first year at the College, so get the attention of the co-chairs during Orientation Week and let us know if you’re interested in speaking.

Massey Tutoring and Mentorship Program
The Massey College Tutoring and Mentorship program, in collaboration with the Toronto District School Board, is a community outreach program that provides students from nearby urban secondary schools with an opportunity to receive weekly one-on-one after-school tutoring and mentoring at Massey College. Founded in 2001, the program intersects Massey College’s founding commitments to nourish learning and serve the public good. The program committed to working with students from underserved communities. Both Non-Resident and Resident Junior Fellows are invited to participate. Please note that prospective tutors/mentors are required to submit a vulnerable sector police reference check; interested fellows are encouraged to apply for a reference check before September in order to account for police processing times. More information will be announced via the Massey College Listserv, and at an information session for all interested Fellows in the fall. The Tutoring and Mentorship Co-Chairs are elected at the spring elections.

Massey Wear Committee
The Clothing Committee provides Massey embroidered clothes and accessories for sale to the College community. Items offered in previous years have included scarves, hoodies, boxer shorts, travel coffee mugs, bow ties and cufflinks.

PCR Committee
An amalgamation of the former Committee for the Appreciation of Televised Sports and Committee for the Appreciation of Netflix and Television, this committee aims to unite Puffy Couch Room (PCR) dwellers. PCR dwellers enjoy televised movies, television, sports and gaming!  

Special Events Committee
The Special Events Committee is responsible for the management of special gifts or events donated to Massey Fellows. This frequently includes management of opera outings and concert tickets.

Massey Talks
The Massey Talks Committee promotes thought provoking discussion across the different parts of the College fellowship. Over numerous events throughout the year, we will bring together Junior Fellows, Senior Fellows, and Quadranglers to present, discuss, and explore a number of different topics in an attempt to share perspectives and knowledge across the fellowship. Previous topics have included climate change, community service, and social entrepreneurship. The whole College community is encouraged to attend and for some events, the invite may be extended to the broader community.