Benefits of being an Officer

After less than a year as a Senior Computer Technician at the Faculty of Oriental Studies I have now been eleveated to the ranks of the Academic Related Staff and metamorphosed into a Computer Officer. The University of Cambridge being the wonderfully traditional and long-established place that it is, there are certain benefits that attach to Academic Related Staff that are denied the lowly ranks of the Assistant Staff.

As explained to me by my boss, these comprise:

You will be of MA status and allowed to wear the MA gown without strings (whatever that means). If you stay the course for 3 years then you can be given a real MA (I'm not sure whether that means you can add the strings to your gown...).

You will eventually become a member of the Regent House (sadly they only admit new members each November so you will be disenfranchised for most of your first year) and will be entitled to attend Discussions and vote in ballots.

You can use the University Combination Room (one of the most beautiful coffee bars in the world) which is in the Old Schools.

You can borrow 12 books (I think it's 12) at a time from the University Library.

One fun thing is having to go to the Old Schools and signing The Book, which is the roll of Officers. It gives you a nice sense of tradition, when you think of who else has signed it (Newton, Darwin....).

And a pay rise too! I don't quote all this to ridicule Cambridge and its ways. I revel in the sense of continuity and tradition with which the place is imbued and I'm a firm believer in the importance (necessity, even) of ritual. What I hope to do, in some small way, is to elucidate and humanise these arcane matters. Watch this space.