A Brief overview
Below is an overview of the official House Rules of Common House Elliott. These are enforced by the members of the Elliott Board, who will determine the necessary consequences if there are violations.
- English is the official language of the Common House. All public conversations must be held in English.
- Only UCR students, faculty and staff are allowed in the study lounge, mensa and bar of the Common House.
- Students can be asked to present their student ID card at any point whilst in the Common House.
- General misconduct in or around this facility (in word or behavior) will not be tolerated and will lead to consequences as determined by the Elliott Board given the severity of the situation, including, but not limited to, being asked to leave the building or facing blacklisting.
- Any directions given by any member of staff (including volunteers and Elliott Board members) must be respected/adhered to at all times.
- Entering the building whilst intoxicated is strictly unacceptable and any individual found doing so will be asked to leave.
- The Nuisance Reduction Agreement (NRA) as stated in the appendix of the “Exploitatievergunning” (exploitation permit) should be adhered to by all visitors at all time. This is mandatory for Elliott visitors to adhere to due to a court case Elliott was involved in. A copy of this NRA can be requested from the Elliott Board and can be found on the website.
- Smoking is not allowed in or around the building, apart from the designated smoking areas. Smoking indoors is strictly forbidden.
- Bicycles may not be parked in front of or behind the Common House.
- Alcoholic beverages may not be brought into the Common House.
- Own consumptions may be not consumed in the Common House.
- Possession, redistribution and/or usage of any psychotropic substance (i.e. drugs) is unacceptable within and around the Common House.
- Weapons of any kind are not allowed. In case of violation the police will be notified.
- Animals may not be brought into the Common House (with the exception of service animals).
- The aquarium is not to be touched by anyone outside of the Elliott board without permission.
- No damage may be done to Common House property and theft is forbidden. The full replacement cost must be paid for any abuse, theft, or willful destruction of property.
- The Common House Elliott Foundation nor any of its board or staff members can be held liable for any personal injury, loss of or damage to your personal possessions/belongings incurred in the Common House.
- Quiet hours start at 23h on the street. Visitors to Elliott must respect these, also in the streets surrounding Elliott.
- Harassment, inappropriate behavior, and other unwanted touch is not tolerated within Elliott.
- The Board retains the right to give official warnings or to blacklist individuals who do not adhere to these rules. Blacklisting means that the individual is not allowed to enter the Elliott building except for any classes they have in C-19 or C-20. The Board has a two week period to decide on the appropriate consequence from the moment they are made aware of the situation. This decision will be communicated via email. UCR is not (legally) involved in these procedures, but they may become involved at the request of the Elliott Board. If the police must be called to settle a situation, blacklisting for at least the remainder of the semester is the suggested consequence.
Court Case
As previously mentioned in the history of Elliott section, Elliott was involved in court cases with the neighborhood of Lange Noordstraat, as there were many concerns about the behavior of students in and around Elliott. While Elliott was able to keep our permits in the end, we also came to agreements to ensure a pleasant relationship with the neighbors. This is called the Nuisance Reduction Agreement (NRA).
Therefore, we urge students to be as quiet as possible when arriving at and leaving from Elliott, particularly at night. There are people who need to work the next morning or who have children (or your fellow students may have class!), so take care to adhere to quiet hours.
You can find more info on the court case here (in Dutch):
Therefore, we urge students to be as quiet as possible when arriving at and leaving from Elliott, particularly at night. There are people who need to work the next morning or who have children (or your fellow students may have class!), so take care to adhere to quiet hours.
You can find more info on the court case here (in Dutch):
| 20150403_uitspraak_rechtbank_omgevingsvergunning__wijzigingen_nra_.pdf |
Nuisance Reduction Agreement (Full)
- Visitors may enter and exit the premise only through the front door.
- Foundation will take sufficient action to ensure that no nuisance is created as the result of, for example, smoking students/visitors in the proximity of the Common House.
- Every head bartender is to be trained with a focus on Nuisance Reduction and responsible use of alcohol.
- The Foundation has to make use of a surveillance team in the neighbourhood of the premise, with as main focus the enforcing of the NRA and ensuring that students keep quiet and keep moving. This concerns the area consisting of the Lange Noordstraat, Hofplein, Achter Het Hofplein, Korte Noordstraat, Lambrechtsstraat, Sint Antheunisstraat, Blindenhoek, Lombartstraat, Latijnse Schoolstraat, Bachtensteene, Stadhuisstraat and Sint Sebastianstraat.
- A surveillance member has to be present at the exit of the premise, who also enforces the NRA and keeps students quiet and moving.
- A system shall be used through which only once per 10 minutes a group of students can leave the Common House. The surveillance team will guide students out of the proximity of the Common House.
- Visitors of the premise may not park bikes in front of or behind the Common House. Bikes are to be placed in the designated bicycle parkings next to Stadhuisstraat 2.
- A 'neighbourhood phone' has to be in use, by which the person responsible for each bar night can be reached.
- The Foundation participates in neighbourhood meetings.
- The Foundation will reach out to the neighbourhood at least once per quarter to evaluate the situation concerning disturbances and atmosphere in the neighblurood.
- The Foundation has to make sure that in case of violation of the house rules, the permits regulations, or any other misbehaviour in the premise or proximity of the Common House, suitable (disciplinary) action shall be taken.
- Alcohol will, in principle, only be served after 18:00.
- While alcohol is served, there has to be present: either a manager with a 'Sociale Hygiene'-certificate or a bartender with the mandatory responsible use of alcohol certificate.
- Bartenders shall a) be at least 18 years old, b) have a certificate displaying their completion of the responsible use of alcohol training, and c) be registered as such with the Foundation on a list.
- Alcohol can only be consumed in the designated areas of the Common House.
- Visitors displaying aggressive behaviour or other misbehaviour will be denied access by a manager or a bartender.
- Managers and bartenders may not drink alcohol during their shifts.
- The Common House shall not encourage games which (implicitly) stimulate the drinking of large quantities of alcohol.
- Consumption of non-alcoholic drinks is to be stimulated, amongst others by offering these drinks for a cheaper price than alcoholic drinks.
- The 'bestuursreglement' and the list of bartenders have to be on display in the Common House.
