Bruce Hall
Encyclopedia
| Bruce Hall, Australian National University | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| class="toccolours" style="padding: 0; width: 100%;" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> | |
Happy is he who is able to discover the reason for things
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC , was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created...
Bruce Hall is a residential college of the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, housing about 336 students. Bruce Hall is notable for being the first co-educational residential college in Australia.
The Hall's motto is "Felix Qui Potuit Rerum Cognoscere Causas" which means "Happy is he who is able to discover the reason for things". There is also a tradition of striving for excellence in sports and the arts, and for encouraging each resident to achieve their own personal best in all aspects of life.
Description
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, along Daley Road, in the Dickson Precinct. It currently consists of 7 wings, which are North, South, East, West, Central, Extension and Packard.
Among Bruce Hall's facilities are two common rooms, music rooms, a darkroom, an art studio, laundry rooms, various function rooms, tutorial rooms, kitchens, a computer lab and a library. Bruce Hall also runs a buttery
Buttery (shop)
In the Middle Ages, a buttery was a storeroom for liquor, the name being derived from the Latin and French words for bottle or, to put the word into its simpler form, a butt, that is, a cask. A butler, before he became able to take charge of the ewery, pantry, cellar, and the staff, would be in...
which sells snacks and alcoholic beverages to residents.
All residents, with the exception of residents in Packard Wing, are fully catered, receiving a 21-meal per week under the meal plan. Packard wing residents, as well as non-resident guests have the opportunity to purchase individual meals from the hall, which are held together with normal catered meals. Meals, as well as major functions, are held in the W.P. Packard Dining Hall, which is also notable for being home to Leonard French
Leonard French
Leonard William French OBE is an Australian artist, known principally for major stained glass works.French was born in Brunswick, Victoria...
's Seven Days of Creation series.
Catered Wings
All wings other than those in the Packard wing consists of single rooms each with a single bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and washbasin. The rooms are centrally heated and carpeted and are the largest rooms available on ANU campus.http://accom.anu.edu.au/Accomm/Halls/Bruce.php There are a limited number of disabled access residential rooms, as well as cheaper non-standard rooms which may not contain all fixtures present in standard rooms.The catered wings are generally occupied by junior undergraduate students of the Australian National University.
Self Catered Wing
The Packard wing provides studios, both single and double occupancy, with individual kitchens and bathrooms for postgraduate and later year undergraduate students. Each room has either a single or double bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, fridge, kitchenetteKitchenette
A kitchenette is a small cooking area.In motel and hotel rooms, small apartments, college dormitories, or office buildings a kitchenette usually consists of a small refrigerator, a microwave oven or hotplate, and, less frequently, a sink...
and bathroom facilities. The rooms are centrally heated and carpeted.http://accom.anu.edu.au/Accomm/Halls/PackardWing.php
The Packard wing is predominantly occupied by senior undergraduate students and postgraduate students of the Australian National University.
History
Bruce Hall is the oldest undergraduate residential hall on the Australian National University campus, being officially opened in 1961 (The oldest resident hall is University HouseUniversity House, Australian National University
University House at the Australian National University is the oldest resident hall in ANU. It opened in 1954 for the faculty, staff, and postgraduate students of ANU. Traditional Oxbridge formal dinner has recently revived for its member students and faculty on every Wednesday night but the...
opened in 1954 but exclusively for doctoral students). It originally consisted of just 5 wings, North, South, East, West and Central.
Bruce Hall was named after the former Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC , was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created...
.http://campusmap.anu.edu.au/displaybldg.asp?no=40
The first warden was Bill Packard OAM. He was instrumental in shaping the Hall's culture, developed Inward Bound
Inward Bound
Inward Bound is an endurance and orienteering running competition held between the residential halls and colleges of the Australian National University. It is a unique event combining aspects of both orienteering and rogaining while challenging personal endurance. IB is the most prestigious...
, the ANU's premier inter-Hall sports event and continued to support the Hall's activities until his death in 2009.http://accom.anu.edu.au/Accomm/Halls/PackardWing.php
The hall's capacity was expanded with the completion of Extension Wing in 1971.
In 2004, Packard Wing was completed and houses mainly later-year undergraduates and postgraduate students. The Packard Wing was named in honour of Bill Packard OAM, the founding warden.
Admissions
Admission to Bruce Hall is through the Australian National University's University Accommodation Services http://accom.anu.edu.au/Accomm/Halls/Halls.php. Prospective residents apply through that office, and are allocated places at the various halls and colleges on the university based on preferences.Administration
Bruce Hall is administered by the Australian National University's Accommodation Service (UAS) in conjunction with the Facilities and Services Division. The University Accommodation Service appoints a Head of Hall and a DeanDean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
. Various students are appointed as sub-deans and Senior Residential Scholars, who are residents of the hall assisting the administration team in the day to day operation of the hall.
The hall also appoints residents to IT positions, who are charged with the administration and maintenance of the hall's physical computing and network infrastructure, as well as the upkeeping of the Hall's internal and external website. Buttery staff are also drawn from residents, who coordinate and staff the buttery during the term, as well as organises events held around the bar, specifically bar nights. These personnel are collectively termed Residential Scholars.
For 2006 Bruce Hall, and the other Halls of Residence at the ANU, were administered under the portfolio of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (University of Community) then held by the current Dean of Students. However, the arrangement lasted for little more than a year and, in 2007, primary administration of the Hall fell once again to UAS.
Association of Residents
Bruce Hall has an association of residents whereby the objective of the association and the committee are to serve and represent the members in all matters, to promote within the Hall a community spirit by means of cultural, sporting and social events, and to advance the interests of the Hall as a whole.It stands as the main organising body of the Hall, arranging most of the Hall’s cultural, sporting and social events. The committee, an elected group of fourteen residents, is the organising arm of the Association.
The committee also publishes a year book called Ouroboros, encompassing all the activities and events of the year.http://brucehall.anu.edu.au:16080/students/life/RA.php
The first committee was established in 1961, and has been known under three names since.
Junior Common Room, 1961-2004
The first Bruce Hall association of residents was established in 1961 as the Junior Common Room.Bruce Hall Residents' Association, 2005-2006
The name of the committee was changed in 2005 with the adoption of a new constitution, with the original intention of a possible incorporation, which did not come to fruition.The Residents' Association largely carried out similar duties to the original Junior Common Room.
Bruce Hall Common Room, 2006-current
Under directive from the Australian National University legal office in anticipation of Voluntary Student Unionism legislation, at its annual general meeting held on 11 October 2006 the committee removed the word association from its title to avoid any perceived confusion with student unions and renamed itself to the "Bruce Hall Common Room Committee."Again, the change of name is purely cosmetic, and does not change the method in which the organisation is run.
Learning Communities
Bruce Hall provides Learning Communities for residents who may desire assistance in their areas of learning, as well as other areas of interest. A variety of processes are in place to help residents with university courses, and the advancement of other issues.http://brucehall.anu.edu.au:16080/students/life/ILC.phpThere are currently five Learning Communities:
- Asia-Pacific
- Middle East
- Rhetoric
- Arts
- Sustainability
The learning community also has its own internal publications:
- Ignis Draconis, the hall newsletter
- Cross-sections, the Bruce Hall Academic Journal, featuring works by residents of the hall.
Bruce Green
Bruce Green is an organisation of individuals interested in environmental and sustainability issues within the hall. Bruce Green also seeks to spread awareness regarding environmental issues via events such as debates and meetings.Bruce Hall Players
The Bruce Hall Players is a group of residents who produces and acts out an annual Bruce Hall play.Previous plays include:
- 1991: The Importance of Being Earnest
- 1992: Charley's Aunt
- 1993: The Mouse that Roared
- 1995: Twelfth Night
- 1996: Don's Party
- 1997: Antigone
- 1998: Picasso at the Lapin Agile
- 1999: Little Shop of Horrors
- 2000: Accidental Death of an Anarchist
- 2001: Kiss Me, Kate
- 2002: Death By Chocolate
- 2004: The Highway Man
- 2005: Psyche and Persephone
- 2006: Robin Hood, People in Tights
- 2007: League: The Musical
- 2008: The Bruce Brothers
- 2009: Brucegate
- 2010: Sandora's Box
- 2011: Grimmly Spectacular [The Brother's Grimm Spectaculathon]
Sports and Arts
Bruce Hall has a tradition in inter-collegiate sports and arts, having won the inter hall sports shield in 1998, 1999 and 2000,http://brucehall.anu.edu.au:16080/students/life/sport.php and the inter hall arts shield in 2004 and 2006. In addition to organised sports and arts events run by the inter hall community, the hall also has opportunities for social and informal sports and arts events, as well as inter wing competitions.As reflected in the Sports Ethos,http://brucehall.anu.edu.au:16080/students/life/sport.php the hall prides itself on participation more than success, and places high emphasis on standards of sportsmanship.
A number of residents, both current and former, have proceeded into a higher level of sporting achievement, notably Frank Farina
Frank Farina
Frank Farina OAM is a retired Australian football player. He most currently coaches the Papua New Guinea national football team....
, former national football coach.
Cross Sections
In 2005 the first edition of Cross Sections: The Bruce Hall Academic Journal was published. The project arose after discussions with residents and then dean Dierdre Pearce. The Journal seeks to be an inter-disciplinary work with both undergraduates, honours students and postgraduates contributing.Since its inception the Journal has been funded wholly by the University, which ensures all residents receive a copy free of charge each year. Works submitted have been both written and visual pieces with all written works submitted for review by a University Academic. A panel of resident editors is appointed each year to oversee the project.
Since 2006, publishing of Cross Sections has been through Epress the ANU's publishing unit and the work is now available as a free on-line download or in a physical form on a pay-per-copy basis.