Undergraduate Student Guide 2012-2013 - Selwyn College ...

APPENDIX 4:
FORMAL HALL
Dining together in Hall is an important way in which a sense of community is established. We would
like everybody in College to be able to enjoy this aspect of our communal life. To this end, the following
set of guidelines and rules have been agreed.
What Formal Hall is:
an occasion when members of College can dine together, in formal yet relaxed surroundings.
an occasion on which members of College can invite guests, both from other Colleges and outside Cambridge,
to whom they wish to extend hospitality.
What the College undertakes to provide:
a carefully prepared meal at an affordable price.
courteous and polite service.
a congenial and pleasant atmosphere.
an agreed system for making block bookings.
What Junior Members undertake to do:
to behave reasonably throughout the meal, and not to detract from others’ enjoyment of the meal by intrusive or
anti-social behaviour.
at all times to behave courteously to the serving staff.
not to abuse or defeat deliberately any agreed system for controlling block bookings.
to take responsibility for, and to ensure the good behaviour of, any guests brought to dinner.
Scheme for Block Bookings
It is recognized that some system is needed in order to ensure that a large number of tickets for Formal
Hall is not purchased by any one member of College. The purpose of setting a restriction on the number
of tickets that can be purchased by any one person is twofold: firstly, to ensure that everybody who
wishes to has the opportunity to purchase a ticket; secondly, to prevent the dinner being dominated by a
large group of guests from outside College. The number of tickets that can be purchased by any one
person is limited to three per dinner. Any scheme for controlling the sale of tickets can be defeated and
abused; the proposed scheme relies on members of the College agreeing not to defeat the system. In the
same spirit of co-operation, the Dean and Steward expect to be liberal in granting exceptions to this rule
when reasonable requests are made. It is also proposed to continue the existing practice of making no
table reservations in the Hall.
Guidelines for behaviour in Formal Hall
Those dining are expected to behave in a considerate and well-mannered fashion, to be courteous to the staff at
all times and not to indulge in raucous or otherwise anti-social behaviour, which may affect others.
Gowns should be worn at all times and dress should be formal in keeping with the occasion. Men should wear
ties and jackets, although jackets may be removed if the Hall is too hot.
During the meal, there is to be no shouting, singing or speech-making, toasting or any drinking games.
Challenges which encourage the excessive or accelerated consumption of alcohol are not permitted. Unless
needs must, those dining should remain seated at all times to avoid accidents involving those who are serving.
Mobile phones should be switched off and photographs are not allowed.
When High Table rises, a short concluding grace is said (response ‘Laus Deo’) and the Fellows and their guests
leave. This is normally about 8.30 pm.
Once High Table has left, photographs may be taken. On special occasions, such as a 21 st birthday, permission
may be sought, via the Butler, prior to the Fellows’ departure from the Presiding Fellow for a toast to be made
or song of congratulation to be sung. Note that the Presiding Fellow will not normally give permission for more
than one such toast or song per evening. None of these activities must interfere with the clearing of Hall.
Diners will normally be expected to leave the Hall by 8.45 pm.
Members of College are responsible for the behaviour of their guests.
The Butler and his staff have authority to ensure that these rules are obeyed, and they are authorized to
require anyone breaking them to leave the Hall. Any person so required to leave will be asked for his or
her name (or the name of the host) and may be reported to the Dean.
S Selwyn College Undergraduate Student Guide 2013-14 73