Cannabis & smoking

I have been made aware recently of several complaints about the smell of cannabis smoke along corridors in the Hall, or coming in through windows from rooms below or either side.

 

It is difficult to prove that smoke is from cannabis rather than tobacco, even if most of us can recognise the difference. Because cannabis is so strong-smelling and diffuses very widely, it can also be very difficult to pin down exactly which room the smell is coming from. I do not want to see a situation where members of staff walk along corridors knocking on everyone’s door until they find the culprit, as I feel this is unduly intrusive for everyone concerned.

 

In light of recent complaints, however, I should like to draw everyone’s attention to the following.

 

1. The Intercollegiate Halls of Residence Licence Agreement 2012-3 prohibits both smoking and the use of cannabis:

 

9.6 You must not use illegal drugs. 

9.7 All the halls operate a strict non-smoking policy which includes the interior of the accommodation and covers the balconies (where applicable) and the courtyard areas in some halls. Please check the individual hall handbooks for confirmation. For avoidance of doubt, smoking whilst leaning out of windows is not permitted.

 

2. The Connaught Hall Residents’ Handbook v. 4.0.4 includes this warning:

 

14.5.2 Drugs & discipline: Unauthorised possession and use of controlled drugs is illegal and is a serious disciplinary offence. Residents using or possessing illegal drugs in Hall, or allowing others to use or possess them in Hall, are liable to be dismissed without notice and may have the matter referred to their college or to the police. Any guests will be required to leave immediately. Anyone found to be supplying drugs in Hall will be reported immediately to the police and required to leave the Hall within 24 hours.

 

3. The Law: Cannabis is a Class B drug in the UK – it is illegal to possess cannabis or supply others – and you can still be arrested for possession.

 

The penalty for possession is up to five years in jail. Supplying someone else (which includes giving it away to friends) can get you fourteen years and an unlimited fine. 

If the Police catch you with cannabis, they’ll always take some action. This could be a warning, a reprimand, a formal caution, a fixed penalty or an arrest and possible conviction. A conviction for a drug-related offence could have a pretty serious impact. It can stop you visiting certain countries – for example the United States – and limit the types of jobs you can apply for.

 

4. The Residents’ Handbook warns against smoking in Hall (section 15.5):

 

Smoking damages paintwork, furniture, curtains, and carpets. If we find evidence of smoking in your room, an extra cleaning charge of £50 will be deducted from your damage deposit. 

Cigarette smoke can set off the smoke detector in your room. Anyone who causes a false alarm in this way will be interviewed by the Warden. If you smoke in your room and cover your smoke detector to avoid being caught, you will place yourself at risk of expulsion from the Hall.

 

5. Cannabis smoke has a much greater propensity to set off the fire alarm than does plain tobacco smoke.

 

 

6. Some health facts about cannabis from FRANK:

• Cannabis can cause feelings of anxiety, suspicion, panic and paranoia.
• Regular cannabis use is associated with an increase in the risk of later developing psychotic illnesses including schizophrenia.
• Regular use makes it difficult to learn and concentrate; research has linked cannabis use to poor exam results. This is a potentially serious risk if you’re young, when the brain is still developing. People who take a lot of cannabis can also find they lack motivation.
• Smoking cannabis can make asthma worse, can cause wheezing in people without asthma and can lead to lung cancer, coughs, chest infections, and heart disease.
• Frequent use of cannabis may affect fertility.

 

7. I see drug use as a health & welfare matter, not purely a disciplinary issue. If you are concerned about your own or a friend’s drug use, either in Hall or elsewhere, please approach me in confidence. If you come to me genuinely seeking help, I will offer the confidential support you need in a non-judgmental way. If, on the other hand, we “catch” you using drugs, I will pursue a disciplinary route and push for your expulsion.

 

 

Given the sharp rise in complaints about this matter recently, we cannot allow things to continue as they are.

 

​If you are smoking in Hall and/or using cannabis here, please STOP immediately.

 

The cleaners have been instructed to be vigilant for signs of smoking and cannabis use in every room, and to report all suspicions to me. The Senior Members, likewise, will monitor for signs of cannabis use on their daily duty rounds.

 

If you are in the great majority of residents who do not smoke or use cannabis in Hall, then I urge you to exert what peer pressure you can to discourage smoking on your corridor and by your friends, and to report to me if you know who is responsible.

 

As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this or any other matter.

 

 

Contact details of organisations that can help with information, advice, and treatment for drug and smoking-related problems

Health	NHS CHOICES & NHS DIRECT High quality information about health conditions both online and over the telephone	www.nhs.uk
		www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
		0845  4647
	HELPGUIDE “Helps you to help yourself with health challenges”	www.helpguide.org
Alcohol, drugs & smoking	TALK TO FRANK The National Drugs Helpline	www.talktofrank.com
		0800 77 66 00
	DRUGSLINE Support, counselling and information about drugs	www.drugsline.org
		0808 1 606 606
	SMOKEFREE NHS help to stop smoking	smokefree.nhs.uk
		0800 022 4 332
Mental wellbeing	LONDON NIGHTLINE Student volunteers offering telephone support	020 7631 0101
		www.nightline.org.uk
	MIND Support for people with mental health problems	www.mind.org.uk
		0300 123 3393
	CENTRE FOR ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH	bit.ly/LGM7we

Class of '78 reunion

I am always pleased when I see former residents visiting the Hall: last year, a large group of residents from the class of 2001 met up at Connaught Hall and joined us for dinner and a drink in the bar. They had travelled here to London from three continents to meet up again. I remembered them all so it was a lovely chance to catch up.

Now, the class of 1978 (academic year '77-'78) are planning a reunion. They are not all in touch with one another on Facebook, so I'd like to try and help the organisers spread the word and maybe find a few of those they are missing.

If you were at Connaught Hall in '77/'78, please get in touch with me or Adrian Day: https://www.facebook.com/#!/adrian.day1.

Happy Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on 10 February and marks the start of the Year of the Snake. It is a time to reflect on old wisdom and relish the challenge of new beginnings; to honour one’s family and community, and to look forward to a joyful and prosperous New Year.

The predominant colours of the fifteen-day long New Year celebration are red, for good luck, and gold, for wealth and happiness. It is a spectacular festival of sound, bright colours, and exotic flavours. I hope everyone will take part in our celebrations here in Hall, and I encourage you to visit Chinatown to experience some of the exciting events taking place there.

I wish everyone celebrating this special festival peace, prosperity, and good health in 2013. May you realise your ambitions and all your wishes be fulfilled.

Gung hay fat choy.

This message is available as a video here: http://youtu.be/0l-UKCyxOUc

A New Year's wish

I hope and pray that 2013 will be filled with happiness, love, and kindness for each of us; that we will find in ourselves a humble spirit of inner strength and the joy of serving or giving to others; and that we will each dedicate ourselves to making the world around us a better place: that we may find individual contentment in the happiness of those in our families, friendship groups, and communities.

Vomiting illness

We are aware of at least five cases of a vomiting illness in Hall in the past 36 hours. If you are or have been unwell this weekend with a fever, diarrhoea, and/or vomiting, please let us know at info.connaught@london.ac.uk and warden@connaught-hall.org.uk so we can gauge how many people are affected and whether outbreak control measures are required.

Meanwhile, please remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap & water after using the bathroom. If you develop vomiting or diarrhoea, try not to mingle with others until 48 hours after your last bout of illness.

Further information will be posted at http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/vomiting.html as soon as possible.

Christmas speech - delivered 14 December 2012

Well done: we’ve all survived our first term together! I hope you have found Connaught Hall to be welcoming and friendly, and that you have now fully settled in and are calling this place “home”. I know many of you have made friendships here already that will endure long beyond your time at University.

We have enjoyed lots of freshers’ events together, a great Hallowe’en party, a really fun and festive night of decorating the Christmas tree last week, and a sophisticated night out at Senate House on Foundation Day. We’ve hosted a Thanksgiving dinner and a Diwali celebration. The Residents’ Club have organised a bingo night and trips out for fireworks and a carol service. I hope events like all these help you to meet people you otherwise would never get to know and reinforce your sense that this place is your home, and that our community is your family here in London.

This Hall can only be what we collectively make it. It’s up to all of us to think what kind of environment – both physical and social – we want to live in and make our own positive contributions towards making that happen.

This is a good time of year to reflect, repair, and renew. We’re at the end of term 1 already. That’s the hardest bit of university out of the way. For let’s not underestimate the massive upheaval of moving home, making new friends, settling into a new way of studying, and finding your way around a new city. But you’ve done it. It perhaps doesn’t seem impressive until you stop and look back – then you realise how much you’ve been through in the last 2.5 months. You should allow yourself a little bit of pride for this alone.

Here at Connaught Hall, I believe we can all draw strength, support, and encouragement from those around us – our London family. That’s something else that maybe doesn’t seem impressive until you look back and realise none of us knew each other 3 months ago. Yet now we are all bound up together in so many ways.

Christmastime is about selflessness - about giving without expecting anything in return. Unconditional love, friendship, and respect are the most wonderful and valuable things we can give. Lets all try to embody those qualities this season and throughout the year ahead.

Some of you are leaving the Hall tomorrow, others are here for another week; some, I know, are staying in London throughout Christmas. If you are travelling during the holidays, I wish you a safe journey and look forward to seeing you back relaxed and refreshed next year.

And I wish all of you a wonderful, joyful Christmas, and a happy, successful new year.

----------

Photographs from Christmas dinner are online: http://www.flickr.com/photos/connaughthall/tags/christmasdinner2012/

Consultation on maximum sound levels

The regulations on noise in Hall state:

Excessively loud music and other noise are not allowed at any time of day. The Warden or his nominated Deputy (normally the Duty Senior Member) shall be the arbiter of whether noise is excessive, and his/her decision shall be final.

You must make no noise audible from outside your room between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am.
 

The Warden would like to make the definition of "excessively loud" clearer. We have a sound level meter (decibel meter) in Hall so it may be useful for us to employ this in deciding whether noise is excessinve or not, by comparing the noise to established normal sound levels in everyday environments.

The point of measurement would need to be standardised. Two points are proposed: 15cm away from the door of the room where the noise is being generated, and/or in the centre of a neighbour's room (both horizontal and vertical neighbours). So for example, if you complained about noise, the Duty Senior Member could come to your room and take a sound level reading from inside your room; or if the Senior Member thinks noise is excessive whilst walking around the building on their rounds, they could check the sound level at the door of the room in question.

The chart below is a FIRST DRAFT of proposed maximum permissible sound levels, charted against time of day.




A better quality version, and a pdf download, are available here: http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/welfare/discipline.html.

Your views on this proposal will be welcomed. No final decision has been made either to adopt this proposal at all, or on exactly what the maximum sound levels should be. One additional option might be to reduce the maximum permissible sound levels during the daytime, but then have a "power hour" where louder music is allowed even up to 80dB around, say, 18.00:



Please write to the Warden with your comments and ideas: warden@connaught-hall.org.uk. 

Thanksgiving speech - delivered Thursday 22nd November 2012

Welcome to the annual thanksgiving celebration at Connaught. The first thanksgiving celebration was in north America in 1621. It was only officially recognised in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation making it a national festival. This almost certainly makes Thanksgiving the most modern cultural festival that we celebrate at Connaught Hall.

And it is a festival that has a timeless relevance: for when times are good, it is all too easy to take for granted the very many people, things, and opportunities that have made us happy and safe; but when times are hard, we can find ourselves all too ready to complain about the things we feel we should have but do not. Thanksgiving reminds us that we should simply stop, recognise all the great things we do have, and the wonderful friends and relationships we all have in our lives, and say a heartfelt “thanks” for them. That way, we can be more content both in times of plenty and in times of hardship.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and togetherness. North Americans living in Hall this Thanksgiving might be physically far from their homes and families. But I hope being with your Connaught family this year can go towards making you feel just at home here.

Whilst being thankful for the people and opportunities that have brought us to where we are in our lives today, we should also think about our neighbours who might need more help or support from us. Whether they are fellow residents here in hall, students at college, or strangers, we can do more to make others happier and safer and in so doing, cause other people to be thankful for our kindness.
So let me leave you tonight with an exhortation to spend a few moments reflecting on what we are truly thankful for, and what we can do this week to give others cause for thanks, too.

Fire Practice: MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER

Weather permitting, a fire drill will be held on Monday evening (19th November).

When you hear the fire alarm:

• Evacuate the building immediately.

• Close all doors and windows behind you.

• Leave by the shortest route.

• Do not use the lift.

• Assemble on the pavement outside Passfield Hall on Endsleigh Place.

Follow the green exit signs to find your nearest escape route. Hall staff will help you.

Remember it is possible that there may be a real fire alarm on the day, so for your own safety never ignore the alarm because you assume it is a drill.

If the total evacuation time is too long, more fire drills will be held over the next few weeks – so don’t let everyone else down!

 

Diwali speech - delivered 13 November 2012

Happy Diwali!

Diwali is the Hindu "festival of lights". The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning row of lights. Hence our candlelit dinner here tonight.

Different parts of India associate different myths and legends with Diwali, but common to all is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. It is seen as a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a celebration of the many joys of life. A festival that celebrates these universal values and ideals is relevant to us all.

The light of the candles represents hope, faith, wisdom, and goodness. We find these qualities in our families, friendships, relationships, and in our community here in Hall. That is the wonderful message Diwali gives us.

So, please, enjoy the food, the music, the dancing, and videos that are all coming up. And let's raise a toast to light, hope, and friendship.

Remembrance

It was moving to share today's two-minute silence with around 30 Connaught Hall residents in reception, gathered around a screen showing the BBC coverage of the Serive of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. This is the first time I have organised a formal, collective silence for remembrance in Hall so I was pleased to see so many residents join in this national moment of reflection and thanks.

Remembrance Sunday: 11th November

The second Sunday in November is traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. This year, Remembrance Sunday coincides with Armistice Day – 11^th November – when we traditionally commemorate the end of the First World War.

 

On Sunday, Her Majesty The Queen will lead a national service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, starting at 10.30am.

 

At 11.00am, there will be a national two-minute silence. Of this, the Royal British Legion says:

“Remembrance transcends all boundaries … a rare moment when the nation can stand together and reflect on the price of freedom.”

 

Here in Hall, the ceremony at the Cenotaph will be streamed live to a screen in the reception lobby from 10.30am. I should like to invite you to join me in reception to stand and mark the two-minute silence at 11.00am on Sunday.

Sickness absence

EDIT - THURSDAY 8th NOVEMBER - I have now resumed full and normal duties in my role as Warden at Connaught Hall.

I will be away from my normal Warden duties due to sickness for the next few days.

If you need help urgently, please contact the Hall Office (Mon-Fri, 8-6) or the Duty Senior Member (all other times). They are authorised to contact the Warden of another intercollegiate hall for advice if necessary in an emergency.

For routine matters, please email wardens.team@connaught-hall.org.uk. The Senior Members will deal with straightforward issues; I will take up the more complex, but non-urgent, matters when I return to work.

I expect to continue as planned with my scheduled open office sessions: http://openoffice.connaught-hall.org.uk, but will publish an update if there are any changes to this.

Remember, you can find answers to many questions about Hall life on the Hall website - www.connaught-hall.org.uk, in the Residents' Handbook - http://handbook.connaught-hall.org.uk and in the FAQs section of this blog - http://faq.connaught-hall.org.uk.

This poster details the right people to contact for specific types of problems in Hall:
http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/documents/Connaught-Hall-help-and-advice.pdf.

This poster contains details of reputable external sources of help & advice:
http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/documents/Connaught-Hall-help-poster.pdf.

I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by my temporary absence from normal duties.

Congratulations to the new Committee

Many congratualtions to Kat Pierce, elected as President last night, and the other new Officers of the Committee: Chris Madden, Daisy Bartlett, Christopher Wongsosaputro, and Jaiminee Patel. They will decide who will take the roles of Secretary, Treasurer, Entertainment Officer, and Sports Officer at their first meeting.

The Residents' Club pages on the Hall website have now been updated: http://committee.connaught-hall.org.uk.

Well done also to everyone who stood as a candidate in the election. Each and every one of you spent the time to sign up and write a manifesto, and stood up to speak in front of more than 150 of your peers at last night's hustings. I enormously appreciate your interest and enthusiasm for your Hall and our community, and I truly hope that you will get fully involved in helping us to organise activities and events this year. Not being on the Committee is no bar - is not even a disadvantage - to being a big player in the Hall community. We need people like you!

Some the matters the new Committee will need to consider early this term include:

1. The common room TVs
2. A Hallowe'en party in Hall to complement the boat party?
3. Repairing or replacing the table football
4. New table tennis equipment

They will also be keen to start implementing some of their manifesto commitments, which you can still view here: http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/documents/election/Connaught-Hall-election-manifestos.pdf.

I greatly look forward to working with the new Committee and making this year at Connaught Hall even better than any before!

Photographs of last night's election are on our Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/connaughthall/tags/election2012/.

A video of highlights from the night will be released on ConnaughtTV soon.

Finally, I should like to express and put on record my sincere thanks to the outgoing members of the Residents' Club Committee for their work over the last 12 months: Neaty Soopaul and Matthew Bovingdon-Downe (President), Chris Madden (Secretary, re-elected this year), Adam Lupták (Treasurer), Tim Phedon (Entertainment Officer), Hafez Salameh (Sports Officer). I am sure those of you who have returned to the Hall this year will continue to contribute generously to Hall life.

Why stand for election to the Residents' Club Committee?

Connaught Hall has a reputation as one of the most sociable halls of residence in London and that reputation is owed in large part to residents who are willing to give their some of their time and enthusiasm to contribute to our Hall community. One of the main ways you can contribute is by being a member of the Residents' Club Committee.

There are benefits to being a member of the Committee:

• You will meet almost everyone in the Hall and have the opportunity to earn the respect of your peers.
• A learning experience that will stand you in good stead for committee work in other organisations.
• A very good point to add to your CV and a talking point at interviews.
• A boost to your internship and job applications.
• I can write character references for Committee members. This can mean a lot more than a reference from your college tutor, since they will only see you for an hour a week or so and can only write about your academic side: I can comment on much broader aspects of your personality and suitability for a job.
• If you do a good job, I will guarantee you a room in Hall next year.
• If you do a very good job, I will try to get you your choice of room next year.

If you feel you have the necessary time and commitment to devote to a role on the Committee, please make sure you submit your written manifesto no later than midday on Sunday 14 October, using the online nominations system accessible from election.connaught-hall.org.uk.

Thank you for an enjoyable freshers'

It's been almost a month since the first arrivals of 2012-3. We've enjoyed three Sunday teas, two welcome dinners, five floor parties, a grand bar opening, speed meeting, and finally last night's freshers' party together.

I have truly enjoyed meeting everyone I have met in the last few weeks. Every event has been exceptionally good humoured and everyone seems to be getting on really well together.

It is my sincere hope that everyone in hall has enjoyed this freshers' month as much as I have and that already the seeds of some lifelong friendships are being sown.

I am looking forward to a great year!

Welcome speech — delivered 1st October 2012

So, this is it: here we are, assembled, thrust together and about to embark on a journey just 35 weeks in duration, but one which I hope we will all hold in our memories as one of the best times of our lives.

For all of us, this 35-week voyage together will be one of discovery: discovery of self and discovery of others. Like many journeys, this is just one leg of a much longer journey. Our final destination is many years from now, but in only 5904 hours' time, we shall be packing up our things ready to disembark from Connaught Hall — so let's make the most of the time we have together.

My job in the next few minutes is to welcome you aboard the vessel in which we are undertaking this journey, introduce you to the crew, and explain how we can all together ensure that this voyage is safe, happy, productive, and fun for everyone on board.

So firstly, on behalf of the University of London and all the Connaught Hall crew, allow me formally to welcome you to the Hall. I hope you are already calling Connaught Hall “home” and I sincerely look forward to the pleasure of meeting every one of you.

Now, some introductions. The physical fixtures and fittings of our ship, as well as the provision of services like catering and maintenance, are managed and looked after by the staff in the hall office. Unfortunately, no one from the office could join us tonight, but there is a member of staff available in the office on the ground floor between 8 AM and 6 PM every week day. They are your main point of contact for any problems with accommodation, food, housekeeping, security, or maintenance issues.

As your Warden, I am responsible for the welfare and well-being of everyone on board: I am interested in who you are and how you are — physically, mentally, socially, academically . I also look after the Hall’s community and social life, discipline, and conflict-resolution. I have been here at Connaught Hall since 1997, and in my day job, I'm a specialist doctor in accident & emergency medicine at University College Hospital. I live here in the Hall alongside you, and I’m always happy for anyone to approach me – whether it’s about a problem or just for a general chat – whenever I’m in my office or in a common area like here in the dining hall. I genuinely enjoy meeting you, so never hesitate to say hello and stop for a chat even if you haven't any particular issues to discuss.

Five student Senior Members help me in looking after the people and the community on board. They are: KJ, on the ground and lower-ground floors; Zack, on the first floor; Marianne, on the second floor; Benny, on the third floor; and Bill, on the fourth floor. Please feel free to approach them about any problems or for a chat any time you see them. One of the Senior Members is on call at nights and weekends, to help with any emergencies while the office is closed.

Enough about us! Lets talk about you!

You are intelligent, thoughtful, talented young adults. You have been accepted to study at one of the premier universities in the UK, if not the world. You have made some difficult but very wise choices that lead you to be here with us all today. I hardly need to tell you that you can expect a right to independence and self-determination as we set out on this voyage – but if we are all to enjoy our journey together equally, we must all recognise that those rights are limited by an absolute duty to respect one another: our beliefs, our lifestyles, our needs, our possessions, and our idiosyncrasies.

Respect for others's needs for quiet time... the walls, floors, and ceilings of our cabins are thin and far from sound proof. Noise is the most common reason for conflict and unhappiness in Hall. Please, please let’s think about our neighbours: keep music and television volume turned down low, especially at night; don’t run screaming down the corridor at 3 o clock in the morning; and if our neighbour asks us to be quieter, let’s respond politely and try our best to help them.

Respect for the safety of others... We have an average of 1.3 REAL fires at Connaught Hall every single year. So let’s make sure we know how to get out if there is an emergency; and be prepared to use an escape route different from the main staircase. If the alarm sounds, get out straight away. And don’t let's mess around with smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. Covering up smoke detectors or moving and discharging fire extinguishers could endanger every single person living here.

Respect for the differences between us all... More than that, lets celebrate and cherish our diversity and the fact that together we represent almost every colour, language, continent, religion, culture, political belief and sexual orientation. So many differences, and yet we are one hall, one community, starting out on one journey together. It's exciting. Let's all use this voyage to broaden our personal horizons.

We all have a contribution to make to our community here in Hall. Some of us are very sociable and love meeting people; those sorts will be at every party and visible in the Hall throughout the year. We need people like that. Their liveliness keeps the social life of the Hall afloat.

But that is not the only way of contributing. We need observant people who notice when things are broken and report them so they can be repaired. We need sensitive people who can listen when their neighbour has had a bad day. We need organised people who can help with putting on events. We need enthusiastic people who will share their hobbies and interests with us.

Whoever you are, you are one of these people. We need you.

We are very lucky to have our own bar here at Connaught. You don’t have to be a drinker to enjoy the bar: they sell soft drinks, too! Please make the most of it: use the bar, but use it sensibly.

The bar is run by the Residents’ Club Committee, who also organise many of the big social events in Hall. Nominations for election to this year's committee will open tomorrow and you will have the chance to vote for your representatives on 18 October. I really encourage you all to consider standing for election to one of the committee posts: it’s an excellent point to have on your CV, adds a lot of weight to your application to come back to Connaught Hall next year, and is a guaranteed way of getting to meet lots of people in Hall. Come and ask me about it.

But even if you don’t want to join the Committee, you can still set up your own social events and clubs. We’ve had wine clubs, jazz bands, film clubs, table tennis tournaments… all sorts of things. It’s up to you. The Residents’ Club can sometimes help you with funding for these sorts of clubs. Talk to me if you need help setting anything like this up.

Also think about joining the Facilities Committee, where you can meet the Hall’s management and contract staff and make suggestions about catering, cleaning, maintenance, and that sort of thing. The Resident’s Handbook tells you how to get involved in the Facilities Committee.

Finally, consider making an input to our new Multicultural Students' Forum. I established this new forum this year with the dual, complementary, goals of enhancing the experience of international, overseas, and ethnic minority residents, And introducing the whole community to a broader range of cultural events, led by students who would normally celebrate those festivities at home. Speak with me or Bill for more information.

The chief message is this – we must all get involved in whatever way we can. This ship needs your participation to stay afloat. Not everyone can do or wants to do everything, but there is something for everyone here. This is your hall, your community, your journey. Please make the most of it. This section of our voyage will be finished before we know it.

But our community serves another, perhaps more important purpose. Moving to university in a new city is hard. There are days when even the most independent of us will feel all at sea, far from family, perhaps even a little lost. On days like that, I hope you will be able to call on your hall neighbours to be your family here in London, and always remember that the Senior Members and I have navigated these waters before: we can help.

To conclude: this is a great place to live and we’re going to have a really good time together. We are a diverse community but we share much in common. We must all strive to make our neighbour’s time here as happy as our own. We are never alone: there is always someone who can help.

Keep in touch. Read your Residents' Handbook. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Visit the Hall website and check your email regularly. There's always lots going on and I don't want you to miss out on any of it.

I hope you will quickly come to call Connaught Hall your home. And I hope that this journey we share together will be rich with friendship, good times, academic success, new opportunities, and broadened horizons.

Now, I’d like to propose a toast to every one of us and a very happy, successful year ahead. Bon voyage!

Stay safe and fit when you drink

This information is coped from the DrinkAware website: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-and-you/students/students.


University can be the best years of your life, made up of a whirlwind of parties, fun and some studying thrown in.

Alcohol often ends up being a big part of the experience too. The freedom of being away from home combined with lots of socialising means many students drink heavily.

It can be difficult to balance out a social life with essays, coursework and exams, and students often feel like they're burning the candle at both ends. As with everything at university, there's a balance to be struck. While moderate amounts of alcohol can play a part in the good times, when consumed in excessive amounts it can have a negative effect on work and could lead to unexpected and unwanted consequences.

Overview

Student life is frequently portrayed in the media and popular culture as one big party. From the mayhem of freshers' week through to the celebratory graduation ball, alcohol seems to have become synonymous with university; sadly it is now as ingrained in university culture as going to lectures and joining societies. Research shows that over half (52%) of male students and nearly half (43%) of female students drink more than the government's daily unit guidelines (3-4 units a day for men and 2-3 for women).

With cheap deals on alcohol in student unions and deals aimed at students in other bars, cost isn’t much of a barrier to drinking at university. And with those deals extending to weeknights, students can often go out anytime and drink cheaply. However, spending does add up - The National Union of Students estimates that the average student spends £675 a year on socialising.

Of course drinking at university can be fun, especially when handled sensibly, but it's not essential to enjoy the experience of student life. It might help ease those initial nerves of meeting new people, but drinking your body weight in cider is not necessarily an essential initiation into university life.

Caught up in the excitement of a night out, how you might feel the next day is often the furthest thing from your mind, but writing an essay or revising for an exam is difficult enough without the extra pressure of a hangover dulling your concentration and motivation.

Drinking too much could also lead to taking unnecessary risks with your personal safety, like taking an unlicensed taxi or walking home alone. Being drunk can increase your chances of getting into trouble when you're out. The British Crime Survey 2008 revealed that students have the highest risk of being a victim of violent crime compared with other occupations. The soundest piece of advice to help you avoid potentially risky situations is to keep an eye on your mates and try to stick within the government's daily unit guidelines.

Health risks

No-one expects students to be "tea" total.

Indeed, student life wouldn't be student life without a few trips to the Union. But to make the most out of your student experience, isn't it worth at least balancing the benefits and risks?

For example, Drinking above the Government's daily unit guidelines can damage your health in the short and long-term, not to mention the potential impact on your academic performance.

In the short term, drinking too much in one evening can cause all sorts of problems and if you drink really heavily it can lead to alcohol poisoning and even a spell in hospital. In the long term, heavy drinkers are at risk of liver disease, cancer and stroke and mental health problems like depression. University is tough enough without alcohol making you feel down too.

Drink too much at uni, and you might also experience the phenomenon of the "Freshers' 14". Students reckon they put on 14 pounds in weight when they start uni thanks to all the calories in alcohol and fast food.

Did you know there were there are 130 calories in a medium (175ml) glass of wine, and around 200 in a standard pint of beer?

Tips for smarter drinking

Remember, you don't have to drink to have a great night out. Find an activity or join a society that doesn't revolve around drinking. For example, joining a drama society could mean spending your evenings down the local theatre instead of the pub: a great alternative.
If you know you are going to be drinking alcohol make sure you eat something first to line your stomach.

Drink plenty of water and soft drinks throughout the night to keep hydrated and slow down your drinking. Perhaps you could have a soft drink after every alcoholic one?

Don't drink every day. If you've had a heavy session, give your liver a break and take a couple of days off the booze.

Decide on a budget before you go out to avoid being tempted to overspend on cheap drinks. Or only take cash and leave your bank card at home.

Always plan how you'll get home from a night out and never walk home by yourself. Stick with your mates and split the cost of a taxi from a reputable firm.

Watch out for drink spiking. Keep an eye on your drink and never leave it unattended. Be careful if accepting drinks from strangers.

Help protect yourself from drink spiking

This is a re-post from February 2012:

There have been several reports recently of students’ drinks being “spiked” by the addition of hypnotic drugs to the drink that can cause severe drowsiness and amnesia. Incidents have been alleged in local clubs and bars popular with students, venues in west London, and in one case inside one of the intercollegiate halls.

Fortunately, in those cases reported by residents in the intercollegiate halls, no one has been harmed and nothing bad has happened to them whilst they were under the influence of the hypnotic drug; but drink spiking is sometimes a technique used by criminals who may abduct, rob, or assault their victim whilst they are drowsy and leave the victim with no memory of what happened.

Drink spiking is still a rare occurrence. But you can protect yourself and your friends from becoming victims by being aware of the risks and following the advice below.

· Keep your drink in your hand instead of on a surface.
· Consider sticking to bottled drinks and holding your thumb over the opening between sips.
· Keep an eye on your friends' drinks.
· Never leave your drink unattended.
· Never accept a drink from anyone you don't know or trust.
· Never take a drink from a jug or bottle that is left out on the bar.
· Don't share or exchange drinks, or drink leftover drinks.
· When possible, drink from a bottle rather than a glass because it is more difficult to spike a drink in a bottle.
· Stay away from situations that you do not feel comfortable with.
· If you go on a date with someone you don't know, tell a friend or relative where you will be and what time you will be back.
· Don't give away too much information to anyone you have just met, such as your address.
· If you suspect your drink may have been spiked:
o Tell someone you trust – in Hall this should be the Duty Senior Member; outside, it might be the pub landlord, bar manager, or a close friend.
o If you feel unwell, someone you trust should take you to A&E at the nearest hospital and tell the medical staff that you think your drink has been spiked.
o Report it to the police as soon as you can. They will need to take blood and urine samples. Most drugs leave the body within 72 hours of being taken (the date-rape drug GHB leaves the body within 12 hours), so it's important to be tested as soon as possible.

Once again, please be reassured that in the cases reported by intercollegiate halls residents, no one has been harmed. But we do advise you to take the steps above to protect yourself from possible drink spinking.

Please share any information you have about drink spiking in local venues so we can build up an idea of where this is taking place and help protect other students: report any incidents to the police immediately and to me at the next opportunity.

The Senior Members and I are available in Hall as always to discuss any concerns you might have about this or any other issues.

Proposed amendments to Residents' Club Constitution September / October 2012

It is proposed to reform the voting system for officers of the Residents' Club Committee.

	Residents' Club Constitution as it is now
	Proposed amendments to section 11 (highlighted in red)

 

At present, there are five elected Officers: President, Treasurer, Secretary, Sports Officer, and Entertainment Officer. If a resident wants to be on the Committee, s/he must decide which post s/he would like and stand specifically for that role. His/her application must be proposed and seconded by two other residents. On election day, every resident has one vote in each of five separate ballots: one for each Officer. We believe this system may have contributed to declined numbers of nominations and the increasing number of uncontested posts (meaning that somebody wins by default).

 

The proposed reforms would mean that everyone who wanted to be on the Committee this year would simply stand as an "Officer". There would be no distinction in the election between President, Secretary, etc. Every resident will be allowed to vote for up to three candidates for the position of "Officer".

 

The top five candidates in this single poll will all be elected as Officers of the Club. The candidate with the greatest number of votes will automatically be President. The remaining four Officers must then decide between themselves who will take on the duties required on the Secretary, Treasurer, Entertainment, Officer, and Sports Officer.

 

Next year, a more thorough review of the Constitution may lead to the abolition of many of these separate titles all together.

 

We need your feedback. If you disagree with these proposed amendments, please email committee@connaught-hall.org.uk no later than 12 midday on Tuesday 2nd October. If objections are received from fewer than 5% of the resident community by that time, the amendments will be adopted.

 

You can visit the Residents' Club web page here: http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/community/committee.html