is one of the constituent colleges of the
University Of Cambridge .
It was founded after the British philanthropist students and
Fellows joined the college in
1977 .
Undergraduates (20 of them) were admitted in 1979, but significant numbers only began arriving the following year. The college was formally opened by
The Queen in May
1981 .
Robinson is the newest of the Cambridge colleges, and is unique in being the only one to have been intended, from its inception, for both undergraduate and graduate students, of either sex. Despite maintaining some Cambridge traditions, such as
Formal Hall , the college has tended to avoid others: for example, it is one of the few colleges that allows its students to walk on the grass in the college gardens. Robinson is in general less formal and traditional than most of the other colleges in the university.
Designed by the Scottish architectural firm
Gillespie, Kidd & Coia , Robinson's main buildings are distinctive for the generous use of red bricks in their construction (one and a quarter million of them.) Of particular note are the library and
Chapel , the latter with stained-glass windows designed by
John Piper . Located a ten minute walk west of the city centre, behind the
University Library , near the
Science buildings in
West Cambridge and the
Arts faculties on the university's
Sidgwick Site , the college stands on a 12.5 acre wooded site. Within its grounds are Thorneycreek House and Cottage, accommodating graduate students, and Bin Brook, which once supplied water to the Hospital of St. John (now
St. John's College ), flows through the college gardens. A number of second-year students live in college-owned accommodation elsewhere in
Cambridge , most notably a terrace of six houses ("Romsey Terrace") off the city's Mill Road. The main entrance to the college is via a
Drawbridge -like
Ramp , which is accessible to
Wheelchair users. There are also some special facilities for those with physical or visual disabilities.
Because of its modern facilities and accommodation (with most of the rooms on the main college site being en-suite), Robinson is also one of Cambridge's most important
Conference centres, and always hosts a number of conferences during the summer months when the undergraduate students are away on their long vacation. Unlike some of the older colleges, Robinson does not own large amounts of land which can be used as a source of revenue, and the conferences are thus an important source of income for the college.
The
Needham Research Institute is also located within the college grounds.
Students of the college are represented by the Robinson College Students' Association, or RCSA, with members of the college elected into positions on the RCSA committee every year. Politically, Robinson is
Liberal , but its reputation normally places it amongst the more
Apathetic of Cambridge colleges, unlike
King's or
Clare , which have a more radical
Left-wing reputation. Nonetheless, Robinson, nicknamed the "car park" for its architecture, has supplied a large number of
Green Officers to the
Cambridge University Students' Union in recent years. Most recently, however, the college has supplied a president to CUSU in the form of Mark Ferguson.
Like other colleges, Robinson provides its students with social facilities such as a
JCR /MCR, TV room and
Bar . Due to its other role as a conference centre, the college is equipped with two auditoria that are available for student use during term; the larger one in particular being frequently used by the college's film society and "Brickhouse Theatre Company" (dramatics society.) There is also a purpose-built party room ("The Bassment"), dedicated to hosting college "bops" and other entertainments. Musical talents are catered for by way of the music room, CD library and chapel. A wide range of college-based societies are on offer for Robinson members, and there are also several
Sport s teams, covering most major sports; everything from
Waterpolo and
Cricket to
Rowing and
Rugby .
- College website and links followed within, particularly the "college information" section: {Link without Title}
