Bonfire night

Saturday 5th November is bonfire night – or Guy Fawkes night. Bonfires and fireworks displays take place all over England to commemorate the foiling of the “gunpowder plot” plot to blow up the King and Parliament in 1605. 

Remember, remember the fifth of November: 

Gunpowder, treason, and plot. 

I see no reason why gunpowder treason 

Ever should be forgot.

Bonfire night parties often include activities like apple bobbing, and foods associated with bonfire night include parkin, toffee apples, jacket potatoes, and hot chocolate.

For more information about Guy Fawkes night: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night.
And the gunpowder plot: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot.

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There will be bonfires and fireworks displays around London this week. Some will be on 5th November; others will take place on Friday or Saturday. Here is a listing of displays:

• timeout.com/london/things-to-do/bonfire-night-fireworks-displays-in-london 

The closest display to Connaught Hall will be at Coram's Fields on Friday 6th November, and we expect this to be quite a traditional display:

• timeout.com/london/kids/corams-fields-fireworks-display

It's also free of charge!

Another free thing you can do is climb Primrose Hill (goo.gl/maps/WVa27KZK8PC2) on Friday or Saturday night. Although there is no display at Primrose Hill, from that vantage point you can often see the fireworks from displays all over London.

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* The Multicultural Students' Forum (McSF, connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/community/mcsf.html) recommended in October 2015 that we publish through our social media channels an explanation of all the cultural events we celebrate in Hall, as well as significant celebrations that are unique to the UK. The idea is that all our residents will understand what is going on and be equally able to participate in events, festivals, and celebrations.

Cultural sensitivity

"I feel that some cultures/countries where students come from are not well understood. Inadvertently some actions/events, though conducted with the best intentions, can be slightly insulting. Its not a very big or serious issue, just hope that such misunderstandings would not happen too often (though mostly ignored, it can be slightly irritating at times)."

I should really like to have some more specific feedback on this. Cultural sensitivity is something that I take very seriously indeed, so I sincerely apologise if there have been examples of a failure to respect different cultures or beliefs in Hall. We have not had any direct feedback to tell us where we might have gone wrong here: we need to know more so I can ensure we don;t see a similar comment in next year's survey!

Please contact me at warden@connaught-hall.org.uk or come to one of my open office sessions to help me understand what has gone wrong. If your concerns relate to my actions and you don't feel comfortable approaching me about it (although I can assure you I am very happy to receive constructive criticism), then email the Hall Manager at hall.manager@connaught-hall.org.uk and ask her to discus the matter with me or forward your email with the name and email address removed.

Thanks for your feedback.

This is one of a series of posts responding to the results of the residents' survey. You can see all the posts here: http://connaughthall.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Survey%202013. 

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.

Multicultural Students' Forum

The Warden established a new Multicultural Students' Forum (McSF) at Connaught Hall in September. The reason for establishing the McSF is to increase and expand participation in the Hall community by students from different backgrounds.

The need for a body like the proposed forum was highlighted in the residents' survey this year, to build on good work that had alrady started with our themed cultural nights:

I love the international nights where the food is themed, there are speeches, decorations, and activities. I would love to see an Eid celebration and a Diwali celebration.

Consider cultural events from India, Brazil, Turkey, Russia.

More events from a wide variety of different cultures. Make sure you have all the nations flags in your welcoming party and not ones that fit with British foreign policy only.

St David's Day ought to be recognised - the Hall was incapable of acknowledging this national celebration, though did choose to host a special meal, speeches and bar event to commemorate the Super Bowl. Following from this, it should be said that it is in the interests of the Hall that they should view a day of a patron saint, and therein a nation, to be at least on the same standing as a football match. It is clear that there is no ethnic equality in the representation of events - we have hosted Chinese New Year and a German evening, and it ought to be the case that people of every heritage are viewed equally should such a precedent be put in place.

Also residents of black and ethnic minority background needs to be more enfranchised and protected, maybe you could have a diversity officer on the student council.

The McSF will operate as follows:

Membership will be one Senior Member; the Warden; the Secretary and the Entertainment Officer from the Residents’ Club Committee; and any resident students who are interested in the objectives of the forum. Student representatives of any and every colour, reliogion, natioanlity, and culture are welcome.

A Senior Member will provide administration for the forum.

The objectives will be -

1. To encourage participation in Hall community life by international, overseas, and ethnic minority students (IOEMS).

2. To promote and facilitate the experience of British life and customs by IOEMS – based on the idea that if you come to London to study, we should help you make the most of your time here and experience London/UK/British life to the full.

3. To broaden the range of social and cultural events in Hall so that IOEMS can share their home cultures with other residents.

4. To review and improve the way the Hall communicates with international, overseas, and ethnic minority students.

The McSF will work closely with the Residents' Club Committee. Any funding required for the organisation of events will be drawn from the Residents' Club, with agreement from the Residents' Club Committee.

I welcome any comments on this proposal, and ideas for how the McSF can best meet its objectives. Email: warden@connaught-hall.org.uk or multicultural@connaught-hall.org.uk.