Maya Bewley It’s that time of the year again, and as we approach the end of 2024 we’re challenging you to put your alumni knowledge to the test in our York themed quiz. With 5 rounds of University history and campus trivia, do you have what it takes to be an alumni expert?
There’s one point for every right answer, and answers are at the bottom of the article. No cheating!
1. University History
Let’s get things off to an easy start. In which year was the University founded?
- 1957
- 1963
- 1965
Which famous visitor opened Langwith and Derwent college in 1965?
- Jimi Hendrix
- Queen Elizabeth II
- Sir Winston Churchill
Which band notoriously caused a crowd surge in Central Hall in 1985, costing £1000 worth of damage?
- Pink Floyd
- Bob Marley & The Wailers
- The Boomtown Rats
What year did the University officially go live on the internet for the first time?
- 1987
- 1994
- 2002
You may know Long Boi, but who was the most popular duck on campus in the early 2000s?
- Trevor, also known as Fit Duck
- Glinda and Elphaba, two ruddy duck sisters
- Chonky Boi, the chonkiest of them all
2. Famous faces
How well do you know the alumni who went on to become famous after graduating? No multiple choice this time!
- Which former English student went on to appear on the 2023 series of Great British Bake Off?
- Philosophy alum Samantha Harvey was named the Booker Prize winner for 2024. What was her novel called?
- York alum Daron Acemoglu won a Nobel Prize earlier this year. What subject was it in?
- Which award winning mystery writer and York alum became famous for his series of ‘Alex Rider’ books?
3. Spot the Santa hat
Somewhere in these wintery images of campus we’ve hidden a Santa hat. You get one point for every Santa hat spotted!
4. The view from 2024
2024 was an eventful year for the University, but how well do you know the news that made York?
- Which York alum and Dragon’s Den star received an honorary degree from the University in January?
- BBC’s Question Time was hosted at the University earlier this year. Which building was it held in?
- In September, a bronze statue was unveiled in memory of famous campus duck Long Boi. Who was the celebrity that came to campus to unveil it?
- Which famous bond star became the patron of the University’s Macular Degeneration Fund?
5. Finish the headline
Below is a headline from a student media outlet taken from every decade since the University was founded. Can you guess the missing word in each headline?
How well did you do? Let us know by telling us in the comments. If you’re meeting up with any fellow York alumni over the winter holidays, why not get together as a group and see who reigns supreme!
Answers:
- University History:
a) 1963
b) Jimi Hendrix played what was then Langwith dining hall in 1967, but it was Queen Elizabeth II who opened Derwent and Langwith college in 1965!
c) All of these bands held gigs on campus, but it was The Boomtown Rats who caused chaos in Central Hall! d) 1994
e) Trevor, also known as ‘Fit Duck’
2. Famous Faces
a) Rowan Claughton
b) Orbital
c) Economics
d) Anthony Horowitz
3. Spot the Santa Hat
a) Santa Hat is on top of the red banner on the bridge, to the furthest left of the bridge
b) Santa Hat is on top of the sledge to the furthest right
c) Santa Hat is on the poster in the top left corner of the image
d) Santa Hat is on the skates of the ice skater on the far left of the image
4. The view from 2024
a) Sara Davies
b) Ron Cooke Hub
c) Greg James
d) Dame Judi Dench
5. Finish the headline
a) ‘A damp squib feels through’
b) ‘Magic York Win!’ after York won the Roses that year
c) ‘Dirty Rats‘, after the Boomtown Rats damaged Central Hall
d) ‘Do they know it’s Christmas? Yes, I think they probably do…’ Nouse writers ranking various Christmas hits from the 1990s
e) ‘We have a pirate president’ After Tom Scott (now a notable YouTuber) became president of York SU where he acted as a pirate
f) ‘Willowing in self-pity’, a review of the iconic ‘Willow’ nightclub in York, known for its free prawn crackers and cheesy music
