Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Today, 6th February, is the 60th anniversary of HM The Queen's accession to the Throne. Her Majesty is only the second British monarch to reign for so long (Queen Victoria was the first).

The Queen has released a Diamond Jubilee message: http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2012/TheQueensDiamondJubileemessage.aspx

I hope we will all join in celebrating 60 years of the Queen's reign and thanking Her Majesty for so many years of service to her people in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The focus of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will be around the long weekend of 2-5 June, with parties and events taking place across the country. Look out for an announcement of how we will be celebrating at Connaught Hall!

Facebook policy

My policy on residents as Facebook friends:

I will always accept friend requests from residents if you want to add me, but I will never send an add request to a resident. 

That leaves the choice completely yours; nobody is made to feel uncomfortable, nobody feels obliged to accept, and nobody is discriminated against by not getting a request from me.

(If you're a future resident - i.e. I don't know you yet - you're still very welcome to add me, but please drop me a quick message with your add request, telling me that you're coming to Connaught, as I don't accept those completely random friend requests that we all get!)

I will also never "un-friend" current residents; nor will I be offended if you "un-friend" me. I may have to tidy up my contacts from time-to-time and clear friends who left the Hall more than 12 months ago.

My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrianclarkmbbs.

Consultation on banning subwoofers

Only one response (in favour) was received to our consultation about banning subwoofer speakers in Hall.

This was the consultation text:

Subwoofers are special speakers that specifically output sound in the 20-200 Hz range. These are very low bass sounds. Sounds in the 20-200 Hz range transmit through walls, floors, and ceilings much more than higher frequencies. The overall volume of music might be reasonably low, but the bass will still cause a vibration in rooms next door, above, and below. For this reason, subwoofers will be banned at Connaught Hall by a change in the Supplementary Regulations from 1st September 2012. Subwoofers will then be at risk of confiscation if they are found in a room subject to a noise complaint.

I should like to consult current residents on whether this ban should be introduced earlier - from 3rd January 2012. Or it may be that raising awareness (through this consultation) that subwoofers can cause problems for your neighbours will be enough for this year.

Changing the regulations part-way through the year often leads to some residents feeling unfairly treated, so with only one response to the consultation, I do not think there is enough weight of opinion in favour of this change for the ban to be introduced this academic year. The change in the regulations will therefore take effect in September 2012.

If you have - or plan to acquire - a subwoofer speaker, please remember it can be disturbing to your neighbours either side, above, and below. For your neighbour's benefit, please turn if off at 11pm and be prepared to turn it off at other times if your neighbours complain about it.

Milk theft

Unfortunately, theft of milk and sugar from the new coffee machine has proved to be a problem already.

In the last 48 hours, 34 drinks have been sold - many were hot chocolate or fruit teas which do not require milk.

In the same period, 60 milk portions have been taken.

The drink prices on the machine are set just to cover our costs on the optimistic assumption that nothing would be stolen. We cannot afford to subsidise this level of milk theft. We have to do something: the options are (a) the restrict the supply of milk; (b) to increase the cost of drinks to factor in the losses due to theft; or (c) acknowledge that the Club has to subsidise this cost and use our money on milk instead of parties, televisions, newspapers, sports, and games.

I have replaced milk with powder whitener in the hope that this is perhaps slightly less likely to be stolen, and because whitener sachets are less expensive than milk, so our losses will be smaller. If this does not work, then milk will be placed behind reception and one tube of milk given upon request after a drink has been purchased from the machine.

I am sorry this has been necessary.

Freshly filtered / brewed hot drinks in reception

Staying in Hall this holiday season?

Try our new speciality Flavia hot drinks machine in reception: fresh brewed tea, coffee, Galaxy hot chocolate, and herbal infusions.

Introductory price 30p for standard teas, coffees, chocolate (50p for cappuccino / latte / caramel swirl hot chocolate, which use 2 sachets). Introductory prices available until 6 January.

The machine is owned & operated by the Residents’ Club.

We have set our prices to just cover the actual cost of the machine and drinks; any small profit that might be made will be put directly back into social, sports, and entertainment events, or improving the common rooms in Hall.

Any losses due to theft or damage will also be borne by the Club and will reduce the money available for events, recreational facilities, and parties. We have installed this machine as a service and benefit for you. Please take care of it.

Please only take milk and cups to use for drinks purchased from the machine.
The drinks sachets are designed only to work with the high-pressure system inside the machine: they cannot be cut open and used to make drinks without the machine.

16 different drinks are available now, with more coming soon!

The selection so far:

"Light & smooth" smooth roast coffee

"Light & smooth" medium roast coffee

"Medium & balanced" Colombia coffee

"Medium & bright" Papua New Guinea coffee

"Dark & intense" Sumatra coffee

Smooth roast decaffeinated coffee

Galaxy hot chocolate

Any of the above can be combined with either a cappuccino/latte swirl or a Mars caramel swirl.

English breakfast tea

Strong English breakfast tea

Earl Grey tea

Lemon herbal infusion

Peppermint herbal infusion

Select green tea

Coming soon: Espresso roast coffee, hazelnut flavoured coffee, "medium & bright" Ethiopia coffee, raspberry herbal infusion, decaffeinated English breakfast tea, and gree tea with jasmine.

Christmas dinner speech

Good evening everybody! Are you enjoying yourselves?

Of course we couldn’t do this without a huge amount of work from the kitchen staff and all the
residents who gave up their time today. Let’s say a big thank you to them.

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 hope you have found this Hall has a real sense of community. 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 German night, and the Residents’ Club have organised lots of sports activities, a pub quiz, pool and table football tournaments, 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 our community is your family here in London.

Of course, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. So I would urge everyone once again to remember that this Hall community can only be what we collectively make it.

Nice sofas, quiet nights, clean toilets, and fridges where you can safely leave your food can only be products of us all working together towards those things. 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. It’s definitely an achievement to be proud of.

Almost every civilisation in history has recognised the need to stop at this time of year and celebrate the fact that we are halfway out of the dark. As we approach midwinter and the shortest day of the year, we can be cheered by the knowledge that soon the days will start getting longer
again.

For centuries before Christianity came to the British Isles, we put evergreen plants and trees inside our homes as symbols of life and continual rebirth in the bleakness of midwinter. And of course, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ – who Christians call the light of the world.

Whatever your beliefs, this season is all about hope, light, and life amid the cold and the dark.

None of us is immune from sadness, disappointment, stress, or loneliness. Yet all of these things are temporary – they really are. Just as we know winter will turn into spring, just as we know the days will get longer after the solstice and the darkness must give way to light: so should we be assured that hard times will always give way to new good times.

And here in this Hall community, 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. After 14 years of living in this Hall, I still find that incredibly exciting.

Now, let’s get on with pudding. I’m sorry that our singers who were scheduled to perform in-between courses tonight have been unwell and are not able to perform for us. Let’s hope
they are feeling better soon.

After dinner, please help us to clear things away. Remember to come up to the tree to have your photograph taken and then stick around for carol singing. Afterwards, we can all put on our masks and go to the Christmas ball from 8 o clock. I hope you enjoy all of that.

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.

Vandalism of sofas in the basement

Last night four sofas in the bar and common rooms were vandalised: the seats have been ripped up in a way that can only have been deliberate. They are irretrievably damaged and will have to be thrown away. We cannot afford to replace them.

I am extremely disappointed by what has happened.

We will review CCTV footage from the basement to look for leads in finding out who did this. If you have any information that might help us identify the culprit(s), please speak with me any time, Harriet in the Bursar’s Office during normal office hours, or the Duty Senior Member in the evenings – or email wardens.team@connaught-hall.org.uk.

Make sure we have the right email address for you, check your spam settings, and add us to your contacts!

Several residents have not received recent important emails from the Hall.
If you have changed your email address since you applied for accommodation (or if you gave your parents' email address on your application form because you were away during the summer), please write to info@connaught-hall.org.uk with your current email.

Please also check your junk / spam folder for mail from info.halls@london.ac.uk & warden@connaught-hall.org.uk and make sure we are on your safe senders list.

GMAIL, HOTMAIL & YAHOO USERS are almost certainly not receiving some important emails from the Hall. Please add warden@connaught-hall.org.uk & info.halls@london.ac.uk to your contacts today.

If you don't receive email from us, you won't be able to claim rebates on your Hall fees over Christmas, will miss payment deadlines and risk debt collection action, and miss out on social events and other opportunities available to residents.

Away from Hall duties until 8th December

I have been unwell for the past week and am on sick leave (rest prescribed by my doctor) from both my hospital job and my Warden duties until 8th December.

For welfare or disciplinary matters (including noise complaints), please contact the Senior Member for your floor, who is able to contact me or the warden of another hall for help & advice if necessary:
Ground & lower ground – ilk.ghavami@connaught-hall.org.uk;
First floor – zack.ferguson@connaught-hall.org.uk;
Second floor – tom.smith@connaught-hall.org.uk;
Third floor – alyson.mercer@connaught-hall.org.uk;
Fourth floor – john.hodgetts@connaught-hall.org.uk.

For matters relating to the Residents’ Club Committee / entertainment / sports / events (including Christmas dinner), please email committee@connaught-hall.org.uk and the relevant officer of the Committee will help you.

For matters relating to the Facilities Committee, please email facilities.committee@connaught-hall.org.uk and Alyson Mercer will be able to help you.

For building, maintenance, safety, financial, or accommodation problems, please contact the Bursar’s Office at info@connaught-hall.org.uk.

If you have any suggestions or complaints about any Hall services, including catering,
write to suggestions@connaught-hall.org.uk.

If you want to know about Foundation Day, please check your post pigeonhole for a ticket – if you have not yet received a ticket, it is unlikely that the University will be able to allocate you one at this late stage. In October, I emailed all 30 residents who applied for tickets; if you didn’t receive my email, please check your junk/spam folder for this email and others from warden@connaught-hall.org.uk.

For all other matters, I will try to reply as soon as I can when I return to work.

Please accept my apologies if this causes any delays in dealing with issues.

Possible case of mumps in Hall

There has been a possible (unconfirmed) case of mumps in the Hall within the last few days.

Mumps is an infectious disease that most of us are vaccinated against in childhood. Symptoms begin with a headache & fever before swelling of the parotid glands in the cheeks.

Mumps is usually unpleasant but not serious, although rarely there can be complications including swelling of the ovaries or testicles, meningitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, nerves, joints, or heart. It is because of these possible complications that public health measures are taken when a case in confirmed.

Please read the suggestions below to help reduce your chances of catching mumps.

Mumps is spread through saliva and droplets from the nose. It is spread about as easily as the ‘flu. People with mumps remain infectious for about five days after the parotid gland swelling appears.

There is no specific treatment for mumps. Management of cases is mainly directed at preventing spread of the disease by asking patients to isolate themselves for five days and encourage strict hygiene measures. The local public health authorities must, by law, be notified of any cases.

Handwashing with liquid soap, and warm water is very important. We all should pay extra attention to washing our hands after using the toilet, before eating or handling food, and after visiting anyone who is unwell.

Coughing & sneezing easily spread infections so it is important to cover mouth and nose with a tissue, then wash your hands after disposing of the tissue.

Vaccination is important. Please check with your doctor that you have had two doses of mumps or mmr vaccine in your lifetime. If you have, your chances of catching mumps are cut by about 95%.

Thanksgiving speech

I am very sorry that, due to illness, I may not be able to deliver my speech for Thanksgiving tonight. The text of my speech is below.

This is the first time we have held a Thanksgiving event at Connaught Hall. It's one of a series of celebrations from all over the world that we want to mark here at Connaught this year. We have a German culture night next Saturday, lots of Christmas activities, and a Chinese New Year celebration in January, with more to follow later.

We chose Thanksgiving for November for two reasons: First, it's celebrated by Americans and Canadians - and although the dates are different, the concept is similar. So this event will be welcomed by a sizeable number of Hall residents. Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends and togetherness. Most of our North American residents don't have the option of being with their families this Thanksgiving, and that can feel lonely. So I hope our togetherness tonight can help alleviate the homesickness that they might feel at this time of year.

The other reason we wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving is this: if you take away the historical context of native Americans helping settlers in a bleak winter on a new continent, the concept of stopping for a moment to give thanks for the things that really matter to us is universal. We all depend on the support of others. Yet it's so easy for us to take our family, friends, homes, and safety for granted; and so I feel it's important that sometimes we stop and say thank you to the people who support and sustain us in life.

At times like this 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, others in our local community, or even farther afield, can we do more to make others happier and safer?

So, in closing, I hope you will join me in taking up this challenge: to think now about those who have helped us and cared for us, the things that sustain us, and to say thank you for them - where we can, say thank you TO them. And tonight, let’s consider what more we can do to make the lives of others in our community happier so that next Thanksgiving, maybe someone will be saying “thank you” to you.

Consultation on banning subwoofers

Subwoofers are special speakers that specifically output sound in the 20-200 Hz range. These are very low bass sounds.

Sounds in the 20-200 Hz range transmit through walls, floors, and ceilings much more than higher frequencies. The overall volume of music might be reasonably low, but the bass will still cause a vibration in rooms next door, above, and below.

For this reason, subwoofers will be banned at Connaught Hall by a change in the Supplementary Regulations from 1st September 2012. Subwoofers will then be at risk of confiscation if they are found in a room subject to a noise complaint.

I should like to consult current residents on whether this ban should be introduced earlier - from 3rd January 2012.

It may be that raising awareness (through this consultation) that subwoofers can cause problems for your neighbours will be enough for this year.

What do you think? Should we ban subwoofers from January?

Please respond either by a comment on this post or by email to warden@connaught-hall.org.uk.

Noise complaints, November 2011

I have received several complaints in the past few weeks about noise. Most of these complaints relate to loud conversations in the corridor, and sometimes inside bedrooms, rather than music.

For your own benefit and that of your neighbours, please take a few moments to read section on noise (pp 38-9) in the Residents’ Handbook. Being unable to sleep or work when you need to can make you annoyed and stressed, and can seriously impact on a person’s quality of life. I know you do not want to inflict those feelings on your neighbours.

Remember:

Noise travels further than you think, so talk quietly in corridors; don’t run or shout. It only takes one loud shriek down the corridor in the early hours of the morning to wake up all your neighbours. They don’t thank you for it. So please give extra consideration to how loud your
conversations might be between 11pm and 7am.

The walls between rooms are thin; and the floors and ceilings transmit sound very easily. Please make a conscious effort to think about your neighbours if you have visitors in your room at night.

The best place to meet friends at night is the common room, since there are no bedrooms nearby.

Our doors make a bang when they close. Please try to pull your door closed quietly at night so you don’t wake up your neighbours.

If you are being disturbed by noise, follow the advice given in the attachment for reporting the problem: tell someone straight away – so we can deal with the noise immediately – then send an email to make sure I get to hear about it.

I know that none of you is intentionally noisy, so I hope this gentle reminder will be enough to make you think again about your neighbours and make sure they are not disturbed.

Response to complaint about noise & diversity issues

I have received several replies by email and on Facebook to this post about a complaint made in a response to my "two quick questions" survey for November:

http://connaughthall.blogspot.com/2011/11/cultural-diversity-noise-complaint-in.html

The anonymous complainant said:

"I would recommend more strict enforement of after hour silence and
have a corridor monitor on most nights. The balance is too much towards
having mindless fun and this needs to be changed by the weak leadership. 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."

I have considered this complaint in light of my own observations and the replies to my previous post. My response follows.

• There is no evidence that the overall balance in Hall is too far towards recreation at the expense of rest and/or study.
• There can be times when noise causes disturbance and disruption, but we have a well established, effective policy for dealing with this, set out at page 38 of the Residents' Handbook (http://handbook.connaught-hall.org.uk).
• Senior Members have responsibility for monitoring noise levels in their designated areas of the building. Moreover, sll residents are encouraged to discuss noise problems at an early stage with their neighbours, facilitied by the Warden or a Senior Member if they fell unconfortable doing this alone.
• I believe that the introduction of student "noise monitors" on every corridor would be divisive and insidious, bringing more harm than benefit to the Hall community.
• In the last three years, no complaints have been made about failures to protect the rights and interests of residents from black or ethnic minority backgrounds. Of course any such complaint would be dealt with as a most serious and urgent matter, and this responsibility would rest with me as the Warden. I am proud of our record on equality and diversity. We are the only intercollegiate hall to display an equality statement on public noticeboards: http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/documents/Connaught-Hall-discrimination%20poster.pdf.
• The Constitution of the Residents' Club already requires the Clerk to the Club & Senior Treasurer "to ensure that the Club is operated in such a way that promotes equal opportunities and without discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, creed, disability, political belief, social class, or sexual orientation". See http://constitution.connaught-hall.org.uk.
• I am not persuaded by the argument for a whole new post to monitor diversity issues but it may not be unreasonable to require the President or Secretary to take on a proactive diversity promotion role. I will consult with the Residents' Club Committee on this.

Cultural diversity & noise complaint in November "two quick questions" response

An early response to November's "two quick questions" says:

I would recommend more strict enforement of after hour silence and have a corridor monitor on most nights. The balance is too much towards having mindless fun and this needs to be changed by the weak leadership. 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.

There are some very concerning issues here. Unfortunately, the respondent has not left his/her email address, but if there are problems in the Hall with respecting cultural diversity and/or persistent, troublesome noise violations, it is very important these are properly reported so they can be acted upon.

Please email warden@connaught-hall.org.uk in confidence if you can add more details about these complaints.

If you haven't yet answered my two quick questions for November, you can do so here: http://www.connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/surveys.html.

German night: 3rd December 2011

On 3rd December at Connaught Hall we are hosting a celebration of Germany and German culture. This will be the second in a series of international cultural evenings, which start with American Thanksgiving on 24th November.

We need help! What should we organise?

I have asked the caterers to draw up a German-themed menu. Your suggestions for this will be very welcome. We have some German flags: I envisage having British, German, and EU flags
together on the stage. What other decorations could we have? Is there any particular music we should choose? Any traditional clothes, activities, or games? The bar will stock up on German beers but are there any other drinks we should have?

Post your ideas as a comment on my blog post email me, or tweet your suggestions including #connaughtgermannight in your tweet.

We will also need volunteers to help set up on the day, so if you have some free time on 3rd December, your help with decorating, etc., will be really appreciated.

Thanksgiving: 24 November 2011

This year, for the first time at Connaught Hall, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Whilst the dates and traditions are slightly different for American and Canadian Thanksgiving, the underlying values are similar so it seems sensible to include both celebrations in ours.

We need help! What should we organise?

I have asked the caterers to have an American-themed (ideally traditional Thanksgiving) menu on Thursday 24th November. We have some patriotic North American decorations and flags – perhaps better suited to Independence Day, but we can use them nonetheless as a sign to other residents that this is an American celebration. I envisage having British, American, and Canadian flags together on the stage.

Is there any particular music we should choose? Any traditional activities, games, or readings? Should there be a speech? The bar will stock up on American beers and whisky but are there any other drinks we should have?

Please post a reply to this blog post with your ideas, tweet them using #connaughtthanksgiving, post your ideas on the Hall Facebook page, or email warden@connaught-hall.org.uk.

Newspaper subscriptions

Starting on Monday 17th October, we shall receive the following newspapers to be put out in reception for residents to read in reception (please don't take them away):

• The Times (Mon-Sat)
  
• The Guardian (Mon-Sat)
  
• The Independent (Mon-Sat)
  
• The Sun (Mon-Sat)
  
• City A.M. (Mon-Fri)
  
• The Daily Telegraph (Sat only)
  
• The Sunday Times (Sun)
  
• The Sunday Telegraph (Sun)
  
• The Observer (Sun)
  
• Independent on Sunday (Sun)

The newspapers are provided by the Residents' Club using the £30/year subscription that all residents pay. Please send any queries or suggestions to committee@connaught-hall.org.uk.

I have also asked if we can receive free deliveries of The Evening Standard, Metro, and Camden New Journal but these are not yet confirmed.

Thank you to the Committee of 2010-1

On Thursday we will elect a new Committee to manage the Connaught Hall Residents' Club.

But before we get stuck into plans for a Hallowe'en party, Christmas events, restoring the newspaper subscriptions, and everything else our new Committee will want to do, I want to stop and say a great big thank you to James "Willy" Wilson, Michelle Ansah, Tom Stewart, Zac Zurybida, and Amin Yazdi who served on the Committee last year.

Zac and Michelle, though they no longer live in Hall, came back this month to help organise the fabulous welcome party on Saturday night. Being no longer resident, they had no obligation to do so but their dedication brought them back - and we must thank them especially for this.

As sports officer last year, Amin invested in equipment that residents can borrow from reception to play tennis, football, badminton, and other sports. Thank you, Amin.

Tom was the Club Treasurer last year and was appointed Bar Manager in June. He inherited a Club with a difficult financial position so his job as Treasurer has not been an easy one; but he successfully reined-in the Club's spending and although the Club still faces financial challenges this year, it should be much easier for the new Treasurer to build up the Club's depleted reserves. Tom took an interest in all aspects of the Residents' Club last year - not just the strict Treasurer's remit of accounts and balances. He has made an excellent start as Bar Manager, as is evident from the highly successful "grand opening" night and welcome party.

James has not been a good President: he has been an outstanding President. Again, he inherited a tough job with unique pressures - both internal and external - on the Club and, indeed, on the entire social fabric of the Hall. He has led by consensus; faced every challenge with vigour and good humour; and truly been a champion of this Hall's values, spirit, and community. Despite being short of money, his Committee organised events and parties throughout the year: every one was a success.

So finally, to James and Tom: thank you!

Freshers 2011

So, freshers' month is pretty much finished for another year. I hope everyone has enjoyed the events we have organised and already met lots of friends here in Hall - but although it's the end of freshers', it's also just the beginning of the rest of the year.

I certainly have enjoyed meeting everyone. This has been a very good-natured and friendly start, so I am looking forward to a good year. I have had the chance to meet many residents in the relative quiet of our Sunday afternoon teas and Senior Member floor receptions; seen and shared the fun of the bar grand opening and last night's excellent welcome party (thank you, Tom, James, Zac!); and served hundreds of glasses of wine at our two welcome dinners. And I always consider it a great privilege to have the attention of the whole Hall for my speech at the welcome buffet.

Thank you for making this one of the best "welcome" months I can remember. It's going to be a great year in Hall.

You can see all the photos from our 2011 freshers' events here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/connaughthall/tags/welcome2011/

Welcome speech - delivered 4th October 2011

Good evening.

If we haven’t already met, I’m Adrian Clark, the Warden.

Let’s thank the kitchen staff for all their hard work preparing tonight's special dinner.

And first of all, congratulations on getting into a University of London college and on picking the best hall of residence in the University!

 
We are going to spend something like the next 5904 hours of our lives living together here. If for some reason, we don’t get on, that is going to seem like one heck of a long time. But if we get it right, it will seem like no time at all before we’re packing up our things ready for the summer vacation. So we have to make the most of the 35 weeks we have together – and make this one of the best years of our lives.

My job in the next few minutes is (1) to welcome you to the Hall and introduce the staff, (2) remind us all about the compromises we have to make living so close to one another, and (3) explain how we can all together ensure that not my Hall, but our Hall, retains its reputation as the best hall of residence in London.

So firstly, on behalf of the University of London and all the staff, allow me formally to welcome you to the Hall. I hope you are already calling Connaught Hall “home”. And I sincerely wish you a very happy and successful year and look forward to the pleasure of meeting every one of you.

The people you really need to know in Hall are Harriet Harold and Hafsi Bakari, our Deputy and Assistant Bursars.... they look after the day-to-day management of everything from food to telephones, cleaning to fixing things, and finance to accommodation problems. They are in the office 8 till 6 every day, Monday to Friday, and you can just knock and walk in any time you need them. Over the last few years, some functions like payment and room allocations have been centralised to the much larger offices at International Hall and Hughes Parry Hall; but Harriet and Hafsi will make sure you know who to contact if they can’t help you directly.

I have introduced myself already. As the Warden, I am responsible for your welfare and well-being in the broadest sense: physical, mental, social, and academic. I also look after the Hall’s community and social life, discipline, and conflict-resolution. Most of my work as Warden takes place in the evenings and at weekends; when I’m not Wardening, I am a specialist doctor in accident & emergency medicine. 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.

Five student Senior Members assist me in looking after things here. They are Tom, Alyson, John, Ilk, and Zack. They are all either postgraduate students or mature students within the university and please, please feel free to approach them about any problems or for a chat any time you see them. One of the Senior Members in on call at nights and weekends, to help with any emergencies while the office is closed.

 
I’m going to move on now to talk about those compromises I mentioned if we’re all going to get on nicely.

Everyone in this room is, by any definition, an adult. We are a community of adults – and fairly bright adults at that. That means we can all expect a right to self-determination – but that right is limited by an absolute duty to respect one another: our beliefs, our needs, our possessions, and our idiosyncrasies.

It’s traditional in welcome speeches like this for wardens to go through a long list of rules and the terrible consequences that might ensue if anyone breaks them. But we have the Residents’ Handbook for that, and it’s hardly a welcoming “welcome” speech if it’s full of threats and “don’t-you-ever”s. So I will mention only two disciplinary issues.

First: the walls, floors, and ceilings in this building 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.

Second, we all have to remember the importance of fire safety. 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 any of us 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.

 
The third and final task I set myself at the beginning of this speech was to explain how we can make this year one to remember.

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 read the handbook and posters, to explain the rules and spread news to their less organised friends.

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 bar here at Connaught. Out of eight intercollegiate halls, all of which used to have bars of their own, ours in the only one left – the others have all been shut down. I fully support our bar and value the crucial role it plays in the social life of the Hall. 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 sensibly, and don’t give anyone any excuse for shutting it down.

The bar is run by the Residents’ Club Committee, who also organise most of the big social events in Hall. You will be asked to elect a new committee next Thursday. And I would 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.

The chief message is this – we must all get involved in whatever way we can. Not everyone can do or wants to do everything, but there is something for everyone here. Please make the most of it. 

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.

I hope you will quickly come to call Connaught Hall your home, make some great friends here, and that you will look back on this year as one of the best of your life.

Please remember to check the Residents’ Handbook; please come up and have a chat with the staff and Senior Members tonight; and please do visit the bar after dinner.

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

Weekend round-up

1. Televisions / common rooms / sofas

The TV in the Bamforth Room has good reception of BBC ONE via the FreeSat receiver. Put the TV on AV input 2 and use the EPG on the FreeSat box to find one of the BBC ONE channels with a good picture.

The TV in the Bell Room has good reception of ITV1 through the terrestrial aerial. Select P3.

I have asked for a TV engineer to be called out to get all channels working on both TVs again.

During this term the Hall will buy some new sofas for reception and the sofas currently in reception will be moved to the common rooms. We also have some more comfortable chairs coming this week for the Bell Room.


2. Drinking water

The water fountains were removed from reception and the dining hall on Friday. I have asked the kitchen to put out jugs of water at meal times, and will find out about replacing the water fountains this week.


3. The garden / smoking / drinking alcohol

Please remember that smoking is only allowed in the designated smoking area, not in the rest of the garden. Smoking too close to the building or under the shelter outside the bar causes smoke to go into rooms facing the garden, which isn't very nice for non-smokers!

The Supplementary Regulations also say that only alcohol bought from the Hall bar may be consumed in the garden and Bell Room from 19.00 to 23.00. This is a licensing issue; breaking this rule could lead to the licence being revoked for our bar.


4. Newspapers

Traditionally, the Club subscribes to a number of daily newspapers which are placed the reception lobby for residents to read. At present, the Club has insufficient cash funds available to pay these subscriptions for September and early October.

Newspapers will be re-started when the Club receives this term's instalment of £10/resident/term subscriptions from the Bursar's Office.


5. Fire drill

There will be a fire drill on Monday evening.

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 opposite the Hall.

Follow the green exit signs to find your nearest escape route (not necessarily via the main stairs/reception). 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.

It is a condition of residence that you participate in fire drills. If the total evacuation time is too long, more drills will be held over the next few weeks – so don’t let everyone else down!

Please contact me or the Bursar’s Office if you may need assistance to evacuate the building.


6. Events next week

Tue 04/10 - Welcome buffet 6-7pm in the dining hall

Wed 05/10 - Floor party for fourth floor, hosted by John

Thu 06/10 - Floor party for third floor, hosted by Alyson

Fri 07/10 - Floor party for first floor, hosted by Zack

Sat 08/10 - Welcome party 8pm-2am in the bar

Sun 09/10 - Postgraduate reception (second floor), hosted by Tom

Mon 10/10 - Floor party for ground & lower-ground floors and second-floor undergraduates, hosted by Ilk

FAQ: Residents' Handbook

Please remember to check our Hall Handbook (http://handbook.connaught-hall.org.uk) if you have any queries about Connaught Hall that are not answered in the FAQs section of my blog (http://connaughthall.blogspot.com/search/label/faq).

Foundation Day

As a Hall Warden, I enjoy leading a contingent of residents to Senate House on Foundation Day. Before we leave Connaught Hall, those of us attending the ceremony get together for a special meal and a drink then walk across to Senate House as a group. The residents who request tickets are always a diverse bunch and the evening is therefore a time when they socialise with a completely different group from usual.

At the presentation ceremony, we learn about the extraordinary and often inspiring lives of the graduands. But it is the reception afterwards that is really special for the students: the excitement is palpable when the Chancellor is approaching our group, yet everyone says afterwards how much Her Royal Highness put them at ease and was so interested in what they had to say. For most student residents, both home and international, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event; many can hardly wait until the official photographs are available to buy online!

Everyone who attends loves the excuse to dress up and look their best; we meet people we might otherwise never talk to; and the presence of the Chancellor makes it an evening the students remember forever.

Residents' Club finances & newspapers

In the last few years, the Residents’ Club has been hit with a number of costly repair bills for the Bar cellar as well as losses on some overseas trips and an increase in the rate of VAT. Last year (2010-1), the elected Committee worked hard to increase the Club's reserves but mid-year had to repair the cellar again, using up all the funds they had managed to save.

Consequently, the Club has very little in the bank at the start of this year (less than £1000).
It is vital that by the end of this year, the Club's reserves are at least £3000. This means most of the subscription income not already accounted for by fixed costs must be saved, and the Bar must return a profit. These will be challenges for this year's elected Residents' Club Committee.

Traditionally, the Club subscribes to a number of daily newspapers which are placed the reception lobby for residents to read. At present, the Club has insufficient cash funds available to pay these subscriptions for September and early October.

Newspapers will be re-started when the Club receives this term's instalment of £10/resident/term subscriptions from the Bursar's Office.