Trinity Hall MCR
Graduate students and Postdocs at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
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Your MCR
Your MCR Committee
Hall of Fame
Constitution
Last revised in 2009, the constitution is available in Word and PDF formats. The McMenemy guidelines also form part of the Standing Orders.
Committee Meeting Minutes
The MCR
The MCR also refers to the graduate common area as well as the graduate student body in college. The common room itself consists of two adjoining rooms: the Red Room (the one with the red walls and sofas) and the Blue Room (thankfully no longer actually blue). The latter also contains a small kitchen. In the Red Room, you will find computers connected to the university network (and of course, the internet). These require your PWF password for access. The general policy on these machines is that if you are alone in the room, you may use them as long as you like; however, if there are other people waiting to use the computers, please be courteous and remember that this isn’t the time to beat your personal best at Robot Unicorn Attack. You will also find in the Red Room a television offering the standard UK freeview channels (BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5, and many more). Strewn about both rooms you will find a selection of Britain’s finest broadsheets and magazines for your perusal. The Guardian, the Independent, the Daily Telegraph, the Times, the Financial Times, and the Economist as well as a few foreign weeklies are all…
MCR Gallery
MCR Freshers Guide
Welfare
Mental Health
Physical Health
Sexual Misconduct
Disability Support
The Trinity Hall MCR is here to fully support students with disabilities in any way. We are sure that you will fit in to our community and have done and will do everything in our power to make you comfortable. Hopefully the information will be of help to you. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to contact anyone on the MCR Committee, especially the welfare officers. Location of Trinity Hall Location: Two minutes walk to City centre. 5-10 minutes to University Library, 10-15 minutes to Sidgwick Site, and 15 minutes to Downing Site and New Museums Site. Traffic: Located in quiet road off Trinity Street. Beware the two blind corners and fast bicycles. Walking on pavements is difficult, as they are generally uneven, with few dropped kerbs and lots of parked bicycles. Parking: Parking on site extremely difficult, especially due to bollard restrictions in town centre. Parking available at new Wychfield accommodation block. Several disabled bays are located on King’s Parade. Life in the College Trinity Hall MCR Alum, Stephen Hawking. The MCR has a long history of disability support. General: 359 undergraduates and 233 postgraduates. Even sex distribution. Small, friendly College, located on a quiet street…
Women’s
The Women’s Officer is here to help with any women’s welfare problems and to promote the equality of women in the College and the University as a whole. Contact the Women’s Officer for any issues related to sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination.
LGBTQ+
Fostering a safe and accepting community is important to the entire MCR. If you have any questions about life in the queer community at college or in Cambridge, or if you would like to discuss problems you’re facing–whether in or out of “the closet”, your LBGT officer is here to help! More information can be found at the University Student Union LGBT page.
College facilities
Aula Bar
Suffering from an unfortunate resemblance to something between an airport departure lounge and Limbo, our very own college bar at least offers reasonably-priced drinks. With its plastic art-deco stools and concrete/glass countertops, it is also testament to the wonders of contemporary interior design. Frequented by JCR, MCR and SCR members alike, “the bar” is the go-to place after any big college event, and also doubles as the venue for the JCR’s Vivas. Wendy (the barkeeper) is open to suggestions with regard to the drinks list, and a good person to keep on side if you plan on coming here frequently. This is also where you’ll need to buy your wine for (Grad) Superhalls. Opened in 2009, the bar includes several draught beers and ciders (from £1.90), including Becks, Staropramen, Murphy’s, Bass, Gaymers (apple and pear) and a few guest ales. There are also bottled beers, ciders (apple, pear and pink), a selection of wines (from £4.00; £1.30 by the glass) and a full cocktail bar (from £1.60). Juices and sodas are also available (from 70p). No hot food is served, but there are plenty of snacks available. Cigarettes, matches and lighters are also on sale, but bear in mind that…
Sports
The sports fields at Wychfield can be used for croquet, football, cricket etc. Beside them sits the Wychfield Sports Pavilion, which contains four sets of changing rooms (with lockers), a small kitchen, as well as a communal area with large tables and benches. This communal area also houses the table-tennis table, which, along with ping-pong rackets, can be booked out from the Porters’ Lodge. The Pavilion contains a gym with a running machine, two rowing machines, a step machine, a Swiss ball and some exercise mats. You can also bring your own CDs to play on the stereo there, or listen to the radio. Note that you will need to do a gym induction at the start of the year in order to gain permission to access the gym. The key may be signed out on a per-hour basis from the Porters’ Lodge. The gym is basic, so if you desire a fully equipped gym, (i.e., with free/machine weights) you’ll have to join a commercial one. The Pavilion also has two squash courts inside and two adjoining tennis courts outside (which double as a basketball court)—these areas can be booked out in advance at the Porters’ Lodge.
Computing
Internet Access Within Accommodation All graduate rooms have internet access either via ethernet wire or wireless, and in some cases both. There is a push for every room to have access to wireless internet but, for now, that should be treated as an event in the hazy future. Connections cost £20 per term, which is included in the room rent. The connection costs are mandatory. We are happy to say that enabling your connection is automatic upon plugging in; there is no waiting on paperwork. Trust me, during your first week at Cambridge, having one thing be simple and paperless will feel like a relief. You may transfer up to 12GB per term. Anything beyond that costs just .18p per GB. Warning notices are sent when you incur charges, and you can check your bandwidth use online. If you need more than 12GB for your academic work, contact the computing officer. Public Computing Areas The college provides several computer areas open to the general college public. To access these you will need to apply for a PWF account. There are 18 PCs available for use on the top floor of the Jerwood Library as well as two Macs all of which have nice…
Music
There are three music practice rooms at Trinity Hall: the David Sheppard Room and Old Porters’ Lodge at Wychfield and the Music Room at Central Site. There is a Kawai grand piano in the Music Room, and an upright in the David Sheppard Room. To access any of these rooms, you will need to first join the Trinity Hall Music Society for the princely sum of £5 per annum. Members can then book the various rooms for up to two hours a day.
Function rooms
If you want to book a room in college for a supervision or a society’s function, please use the college’s Room Booking Form. Leslie Stephen Room The Leslie Stephen Room, AKA the LSR, is named after Trinity Hall alumnus and father of author Virginia Woolf, Sir Leslie Stephen. Located above the college kitchen, this room is often used for MCR functions such as the McMenemy Seminars and our recent Wine Tasting event. It is a lovely room for lectures or more peaceful functions and can be booked by members of the college for appropriate activities. The Leslie Stephen room is best reached by a staircase located directly across the hallway from the dining hall. A plaque on the wall will guide you in and up. Bridgetower Room From the Junior Bursar: the “Bridgetower Room” is named after the classical violinist George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower. This child prodigy made his debut in April 1789 in Paris to rave reviews at the age of only 9 or 10. In 1791 at the age of 11, the Prince of Wales placed him under his protection and he became the first violinist in the Prince’s private orchestra. During 1802 he made friends with Ludwig…
Punting
Trinity Hall has two punts which are available from May until the start of October and from dawn until dusk (except in May Week when they may be taken out overnight) at a cost of £7 per punt per hour. They may be booked up to one week in advance through the Central Site Porters’ Lodge.
Dining in college
Cafeteria
The cafeteria operates on a no-cash basis and you must bring your University ID card with you to pay. Meals purchased for guests carry a 60% surcharge. Dishes suitable to most vegetarians are included in all meals. If you have special dietary requirements, you should discuss this with the Kitchen Manager or Manciple. Breakfast Weekdays: 8:15-9:00Sundays: 8:45-9:30 Lunch Weekdays in Full Term: 12:30-13:30Weekdays out of Term: 12:45-13:15Saturdays: 12:45-13:15Sundays: closed Dinner Cafeteria in Full Term: 18:00-18:45Cafeteria out of Term: 18:00-18:30
Formal dinners
Grad Hall policy
Updated October 2009. Booking Booking for MCR members opens on Thursday at 10 am on HalBook. Guest booking (when allowed) normally opens on Saturday at 12 pm on HalBook. Booking closes on Monday at 2 pm. After this time, no new bookings can be made. If you do not manage to book a seat before booking closes and/or the hall sells out, you can request any tickets going spare via the HalTrade system. Requests are dealt with on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the system distinguishes between vegetarian and normal meal tickets. Please note that you cannot request tickets until after booking closes on Monday at 2 pm. Before this time, please continue to check HalBook to see if any new seats have become available. Cancelling and/or reselling tickets If you book a Grad Hall ticket for yourself or a guest that you no longer wish to use, you may cancel it before booking closes by emailing Joseph (gr241). The seat will then reappear on Halbook. After bookings close, Grad Hall tickets are non-refundable, though you may exchange unwanted tickets with other MCR members on the HalTradesystem. Please do not send such requests to the MCR mailing list. MCR Subsidy The MCR Committee subsidises Grad…
Grad Hall Booking
Aula Café
Paying for college meals
Current college residents
Green
Overview The Trinity Hall MCR is committed to helping the environment, and it is therefore expected that you’ll do the same. This involves thinking carefully about the environmental consequences of your actions, besides also making sure that you are properly informed about the challenges which we all now face. The following page provides a range of simple, practical advice which will help you to improve your lifestyle, combined with a few links to some larger and more specialised organisations. If you have any questions, concerns or enquires then please contact the MCR Green Officer, Helen Coskeran (hmc47). Recycling Recycling is as relevant to individuals as to institutions, since in purchasing goods we also contract ourselves to disposing of the remnants in the most responsible manner possible. The following information should enable you to recycle around 75% of all your waste. Most or your recyclable waste (including paper, card, glass, tins and cans, and some plastics) will be collected for you by the city council on a weekly basis. It is therefore important that you familiarise yourself with the Recycling Instructions that apply to you. Students living outside Wychfield and the Central Site can additionally find out about recycling collection dates…
Service request system
Maintenance requests for the common areas and, more importantly, for your room (e.g., for reporting that the lightbulb in your desk lamp has died, your windows need cleaning or your ethernet socket is broken) must be submitted using the form available online at service.trinhall.private.cam.ac.uk/request. Raven login is required. This system covers all housekeeping, IT and general maintenance issues and should be your first port of call for any problems you might experience with a college room.
Parties and barbecues
“Hear no evil, speak no evil—and you’ll never be invited to a party.” The rather curious college rules state that you’re only allowed to have parties on Friday and Saturday evenings; that they have to finish by 11.30pm and, even then, permission must be sought from the Graduate Tutors by way of an online booking form. You must also use this form if you wish to organise a barbecue with more than 8 people in attendance. In the event you are fortunate enough to have only 7 friends on the guest list for your barbecue, you may book the barbecue directly through the Porters’ Lodge. As ever, the exact regulations can be found in the Red Book.
Academics
McMenemy Seminars
There are plenty of opportunities for members of the MCR to bond socially over drinks or at Grad Hall. The McMenemy Seminars, dedicated to the memory of Chris McMenemy, a Trinity Hall graduate student lost at sea in the summer of 2000, are designed to allow us to mix in a more academic way by providing us with a forum in which we can present our work to one another. It can be fascinating to hear your drinking buddy suddenly start speaking knowledgably about quantum dynamics, for example. Or you might decide to better get to know another MCR member after hearing her give a brilliant talk about the use of wartime propaganda in ancient Sumeria, a topic perhaps closely related to your own. One of the primary functions of a College for graduate students is to bring together students from different departments, and the McMenemy Seminars are an important part of how Trinity Hall makes this happen. For the speakers, the talks are a great opportunity to present your work in a supportive environment, and, unlike departmental talks, they challenge your own understanding of your material by forcing you to distill it into a form understandable to a lay…
McMenemy Seminar Termcard
Marshall McLuhan symposium
All members of the MCR are also invited to participate in the annual Marshall McLuhan Symposium. Named after the distinguished communications theorist and alumnus of Trinity Hall, the Symposium provides a friendly forum for stimulating intellectual discussion in the college graduate community. Each year, a general theme is chosen (in 2010, this was “Technology and Society”) that inspires a morning of informal presentations by MCR members, followed by a keynote address by a notable member of the academic community. Entertaining debate panels on pre-determined topics wrap up the event. Prizes are awarded for victorious debate teams, and college kindly sponsors nourishment in various forms throughout the day.
College support
Subject-based Dinners
College contacts
As there is generally some uncertainty over who to contact for what purposes in College, the following summarizes the roles and contact information for various people and offices in Trinity Hall of relevance to graduate students. There are also some links to College web sites of interest. Please use this information to contact the correct person in the first instance as much as possible. Lucky for you, this also means your queries and requests are less likely to get lost! All email addresses given are at cam.ac.uk. Graduate Tutorial Office NB: All requests to the Graduate Tutorial Office for letters, documents completed and other assistance should be given with as much as advance notice as possible. Though the Tutorial Staff and Graduate Tutors do their best, it is not always possible to fulfill requests immediately. Open: Monday-Friday, 08:30-16:30 Closed one hour for lunch, typically 13:00-14:00 Enter through door at the bottom of C staircase Julie Powley, Graduate Officer Responsible for: graduate admissions, college accommodation (including sublets), ad hoc grants, certification letters (i.e. for banks, council tax), studentships, awards and grants Contact: (email preferred) jp219; Phone: (3)32517 Works: Monday-Friday Doreen Kunze, Tutorial Assistant Responsible for: Graduate mentor scheme, Post docs and…
Grants and funding
Looking for money in order to study at Cambridge? Already here but still short on funds? Need money to travel or buy books or study materials? If so, then this page should help. There are already many sites with information on funding opportunities. In an effort to avoid redundancy, it will be our goal with this page to be exhaustive instead by including links to all of those pages, rather than to replicate their information here. Money is usually given to the most competitive students, but it also often goes to the most resourceful, so be diligent and look hard. Below is a list of possible funding sources. This page will always be a work in progress, with new funding sources and information being added as we become aware of it. If you know of a funding source or some information not listed here, please contact us so that we can update it! Scholarships for everyone Board of Graduate Studies financial aid page Awards listed in the Cambridge University Reporter Cambridge University Studentships The British Schools u0026#038; Universities Foundation The Sidney Perry Foundation Gates Scholarship (UK citizens not eligible) Shell scholarships Ernst Schering Foundation Wellcome Trust Stapley Trust CSFP Scholarships (non-UK…
Your supervisor
Inviting Supervisors to Grad Hall Starting as a pilot run for the Easter 2010 term, the Graduate Tutorial Office has kindly offered to allow PhD students to invite their supervisor to Grad Hall at college’s expense once in each academic year. This is an excellent opportunity to improve/maintain/establish relations with your supervisor so please do avail of it! To take advantage of this you just need to email Joseph (gr241) with your chosen date and supervisor’s name before booking opens for the dinner in question. He will then reserve a seat for them and you can book yourself in as usual. This invitation is intended to be for your formally registered supervisor, however if you would like to invite someone else who acts in loco procuratio (e.g. your second supervisor) you just need to email Joseph their name and briefly explain that person’s relationship with you. Also contact him if you need to cancel the reserved ticket – please do not use GradHallTrade. Finally, this invitation only applies to “normal” Grad Hall, and not special dinners (e.g. black-tie events, Super Halls etc). At present this scheme is only available to PhD students, but may be reconsidered to include MPhil students…
Prospective students
Membership
As explained in the MCR Constitution, full members of Trinity Hall MCR fall into four main categories: Graduate students at Trinity Hall (e.g. those pursuing a PhD/MPhil/LLM/PGCE/other graduate degree). Those holding a post-doctoral associateship at Trinity Hall. Undergraduates at Trinity Hall who are in (or beyond) their fourth year since matriculation. Mature and affiliated students (as defined by the University) of the College. Asssociate members are defined as: “Permanent partners” (as defined by the college) of full members. Persons who have been granted associate membership status by the MCR Committee. Persons who have been granted associate membership status by the Graduate Tutor, after consultation with the MCR Committee. The full members and the associate members together make up the membership of Trinity Hall MCR. Becoming a full member Graduate studies Prospective students looking to apply to Trinity Hall for graduate studies should look at the college’s admissions page, as well as the Board of Graduate Studies’ prospective graduate students page. Post-doctoral research associateship Trinity Hall has a research associateship scheme that offers post-doctoral researchers admission into the MCR. These associateships (distinct from Junior Research Fellowships in terms of both duties and privileges) are available to researchers who have a contract within the University. The scheme is intended…
Accommodation
Trinity Hall guarantees accommodation for all first-year graduate students. While accommodation for any other year isn’t a promise, it’s understood that you will probably be given it if you request it. With the new buildings in service the college is overflowing with rooms to the point that we are renting some to other colleges. Don’t worry! College Accommodation for Graduates The College accommodates graduates in several locations: at Wychfield Site: New Buildings Launcelot Fleming and Walter Christie Houses Herrick House (flats for couples) On Bateman Street Grads do not normally reside on the main college site, but there may be exceptions to this (e.g. for students with disabilities — see below). Current rents for these houses are available here: Rents 2009 – 2010 Smoking Policy at Trinity Hall Students with Disabilities If you are a student with a disability and have any concerns about accessibility or proximity to college please contact Ms. Julie Powley, the Graduate Officer, at jp219 at cam.ac.uk. Arrangements, of course, can be made to suit your needs. These arrangements are handled on a case-by-case basis. It may be wise to take a look at the University of Cambridge Disability Resource Center page to see what other assistance the University can…
Renting privately in Cambridge
What to bring
Equipping yourself with the comforts of home in the comfort of your own room …is possibly not as good an idea as it sounds. Refer to the Red Book when purchasing or bringing household appliances for use in college accommodation. A contributing author to this site once endured the tragic confiscation of a mini-fridge, and heartily wishes that others not be subjected to similarly traumatising experiences. Household and kitchen appliances for those living in college: what you will need The kitchens all have hobs, ovens, microwaves, freezers, and fridges. You probably won’t find a vast amount of empty space in the latter, so if you’re driving to Cambridge, it’s best to resist the desire to accumulate a museumworthy collection of regional cheeses along the way. All of the items in the above list are supplied and maintained by college, so if something goes wrong with them, please file a maintenance request online to have the fault repaired. In addition to these items, you are likely to find that most, if not all, kitchens already contain toasters and kettles. Whilst these may belong to a particular resident, if they are not under lock and key or otherwise demarcated, it is reasonably…
What to acquire
What to acquire, and where We have every intention of leaving it up to shop windows and the diligent mailing campaigns beloved of local retailers to cultivate your consumerist impulses. Furthermore, you will already have been provided with a basic list of Cambridge shops as part of the college information pack. If, however, upon your arrival you happen to be in desperate need of a particularly obscure item, feel free to ask any of the MCR’s sage old hands. If they’re worth their salt, they will be able to tell you where you may acquire your gilded mousetrap or your great highland bagpipe (the answer is likely to be, “there is a shop on Mill Road…”). In the meantime, the sole two items we recommend purchasing with some urgency once you’re here are (1) a gown and (2) a bicycle. Your gown You will need this for matriculation (and graduation!) and various other occasions, such as formal halls. It is possible to rent MA gowns (the appropriate gown for graduate students) from the MCR. These cost £30 for the first year and £10 for each subsequent year (charged to your college account). You’ll also need to pay a deposit of…
Getting around
To and from Cambridge Airports Stansted is the closest airport to Cambridge and is easily accessible by bus or train. For travel to and from the other nearby airports (Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton), you’ll have to either take a coach or go via London on the train (and cross the capital on the underground). Trains If you’ve exhausted weather-related chat with your nearest Englishman and still wish to pursue the conversation, get him started on the trains. It is definitely worthwhile procuring a Young Person’s Railcard (for which you’re eligible as a full-time student, regardless of your age) as it does offer significant discounts on full train fares. From Cambridge train station, you can travel direct to London, King’s Cross (0h45 to 1h15 journey time) and London, Liverpool Street (1h10 to 1h20). There are also direct trains to Stansted airport taking 30 to 40 minutes. For full details, see the recently revamped (although still not massively user-friendly) National Rail website: www.nationalrail.co.uk. Coach National Express (www.nationalexpress.co.uk) operates from Parker’s Piece, and travels to destinations throughout the UK (and onwards to continental Europe). If you intend to travel a lot on National Express, it is worth buying a Young Person’s Coach Card…
International
Welcome to Cambridge and to the UK! We hope that this page will address some of the most common concerns of international students. Do let us know if we are missing anything. Also feel free to contact your international officers–it’s what they’re there for! Societies and Organisations For international students (and there are quite a few–approximately 50% of all graduates are from outside of the UK), there are clubs and societies representing most nationalities. You can find a comprehensive list of official University organisations, most of which make an appearance at the Societies’ Fair at the beginning of Michaelmas Term. Banks We won’t lie to you: setting up a bank account in the UK is not a walk in the park. Most banks want your great grandmother’s birth certificate, your first grade report card, and three blood samples before they even consider giving you the sort of account that you had when you were 11 years old. Some banks, such as HSBC, are quite likely to reject the majority of applicants (after making you wait several weeks for an answer) and seem to deny accounts to any international students here with loans. Even if a bank will take you, it…
Eating in Cambridge
Cafes Auntie’s Tea Shop Just off Market Square, famous for their all-day fried breakfast and waiting staff attired in traditional maids’ outfits. Cafe de Paris Charming cafe on Mill Road selling a wide range of pastries and sandwiches. Clowns Coffee Bar This unpretentious Cambridge institution has friendly staff and a large assortment of delectable pasta dishes. Indigo Coffee House Very cosy and very central, with a breakfast bagel special. We love bagels. And this place. Rainbow Cafe Priding itself on its friendly atmosphere, this Cambridge favourite was the winner of the UK Vegetarian Society’s “Best Vegetarian Cafe”. It also specialises in vegan and gluten-free dishes. The usual suspects Pret, Caffè Nero, Starbucks, and Costa Coffee can all be found along or near Market Street (and in some cases elsewhere too). A newly-opened branch of Patisserie Valerie is located in the town centre to satisfy all your gâteau-cravings. The UL also has a tea room, open during working hours on weekdays and in the morning on Saturdays. Restaurants Eating out in Cambridge doesn’t have to be an expensive experience. Search online for “Cambridge restaurant vouchers” to find some pretty good deals (e.g., two meals for the price of one). This is…
Drinking in Cambridge
The legal drinking age is 18 and drinking establishments (and indeed the supermarkets) are quite strict, so if you have the good fortune to look under 30 you will be asked to prove your age at some point. Don’t forget to bring along ID when going out for drinks. Pubs Cambridge is truly teeming with public houses. You shouldn’t ever have to pay entry to a pub, unless there is some special event on (and even then, it’s very rare). Central Anchor With a patio area on the river at Mill Pond, this establishment offers prime seating for watching tourists make their first attempts at punting. The cuisine isn’t bad either. Granta Strategically placed near the Sidgwick Site, its terrace area has great views in the summer. Mediocre food. Pickerel Great for people-watching. With open fireplaces, photos of various Cambridge societies and a heated outdoor patio area, it is a great watering hole, especially in the winter months. Maypole Despite its location off the beaten track, the Maypole is always busy, always buzzing and always open late. Fountain Inn One of the few pubs with a true late licence (3am), this inn is somewhat pricey. You pay for the lively…
Other fun
Fitness Fitness can be fun, too. A major sports centre for the whole university is notable only for its absence, but the university gym, Fenner’s Fitness Suite, offers reasonable equipment and long opening hours: www.sport.cam. ac.uk/facilities. There is also the Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre, which has gym facilities, fitness classes and a wide range of amenities (including a climbing wall). The University Centre’s brand new Blue Fitness has cutting-edge training equipment and reasonable prices. The Glassworks health and fitness club is very nice but rather expensive, even with its student deals. For those at Wychfield, there is also the Chesterton Sports Centre housing an indoor swimming pool—the gym facilities here are slightly more basic than the others mentioned here, but membership is also cheaper. The public swimming pools, Parkside Pools, are opposite Parker’s Piece and next to the Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre. Visit www.everyoneactive.com for opening times and admission prices. Jesus Green Pool, one of the longest lidos in Europe, is open to the public from May to September. Miscellaneous Some MCR members have been known to enter the Fitzwilliam Museum (closed Mondays, except for Bank Holidays) for edification purposes and occasionally pleasure. The Botanic Gardens (free admission with your…
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