Campus residents will be permitted to request overnight guests and parties from November 1st, after “extensive lobbying” to lift the ban that has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic.
A memo circulated to members of Trinity’s Living With COVID group, seen by The University Times said: “As the country and The University continue on the path to full reopening, the Warden [of Trinity Hall] and the Junior Dean recommend that from 1 November 2021, the temporary prohibitions on overnight guests and parties in student residences should be removed.”
Residents were updated about the rule change via email this afternoon.
An email signed by Junior Dean Philip Coleman said that residents should read the guidelines in conditions of occupancy concerning overnight visitors and parties. “Prior notice needs to be given in all cases, and other stipulations may also apply”, he said.
In March 2020, overnight visitors were banned due to advice from College Health and HSE guidelines.
Pre-pandemic accommodation rules will return for both on campus accommodation and Trinity Hall.
Guests at Trinity Hall must sign in before 10.30 pm. Guests in campus accommodation may be signed in electronically before midnight through a form on the resident’s online accommodation account. Parties are not permitted in Halls apartments.
Residents will be responsible “at all times for the behaviour and actions of their guests”.
In an Instagram post Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) said: “After extensive lobbying by the SU, College have revised their COVID accommodation regulations and overnight guests will now be permitted, as will approved parties from November 1st.”
Finally after continuous lobbying by @TrinityGSU on behalf of students residing in campus accommodation, we have reached agreement with @tcddublin that regulations can return to having an overnight guest from November 1st. Both student unions have worked hard to achieve this.
— Gisèle Scanlon President Trinity College GSU (@GoddessGuide) October 28, 2021
Last Friday, campus re-opened to the public. Students and staff no longer have to swipe in and out at College entrances or book library spaces.
Previously, the only visitors permitted to campus were for work-related purposes and had to comply with visiting rules.
In November last year six residents in Trinity Hall were fined €250 each for hosting an indoor gathering, which was forbidden under the complex’s coronavirus restrictions.
Earlier that year, Trinity announced that residents who allow guests into their apartment – during the day or overnight – may face eviction.
Last October, eight students told The University Times about a culture of intimidation and fear at Trinity Hall during the coronavirus pandemic. Students faced evictions and threats of fines worth hundreds of euros if they broke the complex’s strict rules, making residents feel afraid, unwelcome and as if they were in “prison”.
Isolation and loneliness was a common theme among the interviewees – all of whom had only recently moved up to Dublin. They felt that the College was not taking the mental health of students into account in its policing of Halls.
One of the interviewees who had broken coronavirus rules by visiting a friend told this newspaper that their only flatmate frequently travels home on the weekends, leaving the student alone for much of their time in Halls.
Last September, The University Times reported that Halls residents sharing an apartment will be considered to be members of the same household if one of the flatmates catches the coronavirus.
Correction: November 1st, 2021
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Prof Philip Coleman is the Registrar of Chambers. In fact, Prof Dónall Mac Dónaill succeeded Coleman in the role earlier this year. Coleman is the Junior Dean.
Correction: 05:53pm, October 28th, 2021
An earlier version of this article stated that overnight guests and parties would be permitted in campus accommodation from November 1st. In fact, residents must request to have an overnight visitor or a party. Overnight guests may book in on the day of their stay, and requests for parties must be submitted seven working days in advance.
