Students’ Club & Student Leadership Positions

Junior Deans are expected to ensure good order and respectful behaviour around the College as well as during and after College events, making sure that they end on time. Junior Deans will promptly, calmly yet insistently disperse crowds as appropriate. Likewise, it is critical that Junior Deans are confident, clear, and consistent in insisting College regulations are met as is showing discernment in knowing when to escalate matters to the Warden or his senior delegates. Junior Deans and Peer Support Leaders are listed earlier in this Handbook.

PEER SUPPORT LEADERS

Like Junior Deans, Peer Support Leaders are senior students (third or fourth year at College or University, or postgraduate students) appointed by the Warden and Chaplain to help Freshers settle in to College and university life, to be community builders, and to uphold a culture of inclusion, respect, and safety in the College. As such, theirs is an important position of student leadership within the College community.

Peer Support Group leaders will be:

• Proactive pastoral carers for Freshers in (and even beyond) their group.

• Upholders of stated College values, practices and traditions.

• Helpful in guiding Freshers with their crucial transition to University and

College life.

• Open to discussing problems of any nature (e.g. academic performance and pressures, sexuality, depression, homesickness, cultural barriers, relationships, family issues, alienation, alcohol or drug consumption etc).

• Available and approachable to talk to students who need support as and when required. This includes where students have referred friends to Peer Support Leaders or Junior Deans out of concern for their welfare.

JDs and PSLs must be committed to providing a non-judgemental and confidential environment where students can share their issues and seek help but also having the good sense and wherewithal to seek help or advice when unsure of how to handle a situation.

• Community builders through presence and participation in the broad scope of College life as outlined in this document.

• Courageous in taking appropriate action which includes seeking advice from others who hold special responsibility in the College.

• Generous with their time as required.

Peer Support Leaders are listed earlier in this Handbook. Please do not hesitate to contact your Peer Support Group leader if you have any issues on which you may need support!

ABSENCE

If you are going to be absent from College during semester time for a period greater than three days (eg. You are returning home, going on a holiday, or are in hospital), please contact the Dean (undergraduates) or The Dean of Graduate House (postgraduates). You are of course free to come and go from College as you wish however the College takes very seriously its responsibility for the safety and health of all its members. Being informed of when you are away from College allows us to do this.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

The College expects all students to do their best and aim high in their studies. The College is also here to provide you with the strongest support it can in your university study. The Senior Tutor is available to discuss with you your goals, progress, and plans. Students are encouraged to contact the Senior Tutor as soon as an academic issue arises or any other issue threatens your academic progress. Your Peer Support Leaders, Tutors, and members of college staff are also here to listen and help you achieve your academic goals and support you through any challenging times that may arise. Refer to the ‘Academic Life’ section of this Handbook.

ARCHIVES

The College Archives, on the ground floor of the Mansfield Library (the College Library), hold the records of the history of the College from its foundation in the 1850s. This is an extremely important collection, with significance for the College, the University, and Australia at large, and its conservation and integrity is to be maintained at all reasonable cost. An enthusiastic group of students and staff, led by Philip Barr and Richard Morgan, are always keen to hear from any student interested in exploring or helping with the College archives. In the coming year, we hope to investigate and display more of the College archives. Interested students should contact Philip.

For the continuation of the historical record, it is important that convenors of all student committees deposit their records with the Archives at the end of each academic year.

BALL GAMES

The College Oval provides the perfect venue for ball games. Indoor ball games jeopardise walls, ceilings, leadlight windows and light fittings.They are banned and may attract a fine. Ball games in the main Quadrangle are also not encouraged. You are responsible for any damage; the repair of leadlight windows is very expensive.

St Paul’s A to Z

BANKING

Banking facilities are available within the University: National Australia Bank and the Commonwealth Bank have branches in the Wentworth Building on campus. Westpac has an ATM on the lower ground level of the Sports and Aquatic Centre. There is a generic ATM in Ralph’s Café in the Arena Building. There are also ATMs and other banks in the Broadway shopping centre. International students will need to open an Australian bank account. If you visit one of the branches above, they will be able to help you.

BEDROOMS

College members are responsible for the physical condition of their rooms. The College appreciates the desire to personalize the room but this must be done without damage. Blu Tac is the only permitted form of adhesive which may be used. Any other fixtures must not be used as experience has proven that ALL adhesives, hooks, nails and screws damage the wall surface. (See also sections on Damage and Furniture below.)

Upon arrival, check your room for any defects or damage and report any problems to the College Office as you may be charged for any damage above reasonable wear and tear. Any maintenance problems in your room or in common areas (e.g. bathrooms and corridors) should be reported immediately to the College Office or Brad Skone; 9550 7461.

Students are expected to sleep in the bed provided by the College. Students over 6’2” (188cm), or with other medical requirements, may discuss the need for an extra-long or different bed with the Dean and the Facilities Manager. Permission for a non-standard bed must be applied for with the supporting documentation. Any non-regulation furniture for which permission has not been given may have to be disposed of at the student’s expense.

BICYCLES

Bicycles may be stored on designated bike racks or in student rooms. They must not be stored in corridors, stairwells or any exits for fire safety reasons. The College Office can advise you of suitable available areas for bicycle storage.

BUILDINGS

The College buildings include some of the oldest and some of the newest on the University of Sydney campus.

The College’s original buildings date back to the 1850s and include some of the finest examples of neo-gothic architecture and stonework in Australia. Besides being our home, they are of very considerable historical interest and value, indeed of national importance, and College Members are encouraged to think of them accordingly.

The College’s newest buildings are the Ivan Head Building, for around 100 undergraduates and staff members, and Graduate House, home to our community of women and men postgraduate students and academics ▪ Albert Wing: Named in honour of Robert Otto Albert AO RFD RD, Pauline and the College’s most generous benefactor in living memory.