HOUSE RULES AND SAFETY REGULATIONS OF THE COLLEGIUM HUNGARICUM, LEUVEN

(HONGAARS HUIS VZW)

1. The Collegium: Introduction

1.1. The Collegium was founded by a Hungarian Jesuit, Fr. István Muzslay and is upheld by the Hungarian Province of the Society of Jesus through a Belgian non-profit association (Hongaars Huis VZW). Therefore, the program and goals of the Collegium reflect an Ignatian character. The following House Rules also represent the above-mentioned spirit and they are meant to provide help to the residents to become a real community.

1.2. The Collegium is a home and community of students, researchers and scholars with academic interests. We believe community spirit, trust and order are the conditions for community life of any kind, being founded on mutual respect, friendship and love. We are well aware that faith is a gift of God, and no one is required to be Christian, however it is expected from the residents to respect Christian values and the spirituality of the Collegium.

2. Collegium Membership

2.1. The Collegium Members are selected by the Admission Board of the Collegium consisting of the current director of the Collegium and an active member of the Collegium, delegated by the community of the students. Members of the Board of the Collegium can be present as well with voting rights. Their decision is submitted to the Delegate of the Provincial in the Governing Board or another Board Member is agreed upon in the Board of the Hongaars Huis vzw. for formal approval. In case of transitional period, the future director of the house and the abdicator director both take part in the decision. The Admission Board is not obliged to justify the rejection of applications, its decision cannot be appealed.

2.2. The selection process is based on two rounds:

*             The first one is a written one requiring specific documents (Curriculum Vitae, Video of Introduction) and sending the Application form. If an applicant's material is deemed worthy of support by the Admissions Board, the applicant will be invited to an online interview.

*             The online interview will be held by the Admissions Board. Their decision cannot be appealed.

2.3. The membership is for one semester which can be prolonged, implicitly or explicitly, by mutual consent of the member and the director.

2.4. Passive membership is also available for the members. Passive status should not be initiated during the semester, but the member should inform the director in a written form before the beginning of each semester. Passive status enables the member to return to the Collegium and reactivate his/her membership without starting the application process again. Passive status can last maximum for one academic year. After this period expires, the membership is lost, therefore the application process has to be started again in order to get Collegium membership again.

3. Life in the Collegium

Living together in the Collegium requires some rules. Violation of these rules can result in loss of membership and eventual expulsion.

3.1. General behavior

3.1.1. In the Collegium some 20 people live together in one House. Community living with others is not always easy. Residents will avoid conflicts and will make sure not to cause a nuisance. Respect the privacy of others and keep to agreements made.

3.1.2. Residents will respect the Christian and Ignatian values and spirituality of the Collegium

3.1.3. All residents` clothing should respect the etiquette and good taste in the house. Residents must at all times be properly dressed when using the common spaces. Underwear, towels, transparent clothes, night cloaks and swimming suits are not allowed. Neglecting this rule can result in the loss of membership, and eventual expulsion.

3.1.4. The peace and quiet of the other tenants must be respected. Keep it quiet in the Collegium. Attention should be paid not to disturb other residents or neighbors in their work and rest. Especially between 11 pm and 8 am, and certainly during study/exam periods, we shall remain quiet in the Collegium. Neglecting this rule can result in the loss of membership, and eventual expulsion.

3.1.5. For evening discussions, the use of the library, the movie room or the living room is suggested.

3.1.6. Drug use is strictly forbidden in the premises and results in immediate expulsion from the House, and exclusion from active and passive membership. Repeated, immoderate drinking might have the same consequence.

3.1.7. Residents are obliged to inform the director about any disease or mental illness that might put other residents in danger or could influence the community life and community programs. Neglecting this rule might lead to an immediate expulsion of the resident.

3.1.8. Sustainable energy consumption:

Avoid wasting electricity and heat. Do not hang anything on the radiator to dry.

Keep your windows closed when the heating is on. Turn off electrical appliances completely in good time. Even on standby, appliances often still use energy. Turn off cooking appliances and ovens completely after use.

3.1.9. A (technical) defect or problem is immediately reported to the director.

3.2. Common spaces:

3.2.1. The common spaces are to be treated with respect and be kept tidy.

3.2.2. It is forbidden to place rubbish, bin bags, bicycles, shopping trolleys, furniture, etc. in the corridors.

3.2.3. All the house equipment and furnishings are the community’s property, their protection being each resident’s responsibility and duty. Valuable, delicate or exceptional equipment (e.g. piano) can be used exclusively with the director’s permission, and the user will be personally responsible for any damage. All damage to the common parts will be charged to the person(s) responsible. Residents are also responsible for damage caused by their visitor(s). Non-attributable damage is borne jointly and severally by all residents. Illegal dumping will also be charged.

3.2.4. Fire hoses, fire escapes and fire extinguishers are to be used only in emergencies and appropriately.

3.2.5. Smoking and any use of open flame (candles, incense, etc…) are forbidden in the entire house. Use of candles and incense is only allowed in the chapel, and only when there is at least one person present.

Smoking is allowed only on the terrace and in the garden. Neglecting this rule might lead to an immediate expulsion of the resident.

3.2.6. Going up to the roof of the building is strictly forbidden for the own safety of the tenant. Neglecting this rule might lead to an immediate expulsion of the resident. If the tenant notices any malfunction which is possibly related to the roof, the tenant should inform the director about it.

3.2.7. The garbage should be collected selectively following the City of Leuven’s regulations. Bring glass to the glass container regularly. Any charges by the city hall for inadequate garbage selection are to be paid by the resident who was on duty to take out the trash that morning.

3.2.8. Parking of bikes is possible in the backyard. In rainy weather bikes should be lifted and carried in order to prevent dirt in the living room. Dirt caused by bikes must be cleaned right away. If the bikes are left in the living room and/or entrance hall, 50 euros removal fee will be deducted from the deposit.  

3.2.9. When leaving the house, doors and windows should be carefully closed to prevent rain damping the common and private rooms.

3.2.10. Leaving our room or the community spaces, in case no one else is there, the lights must be turned off.

3.3. Eating and food

3.3.1. Residents can eat in the dining room on the ground floor. Eating occasionally in the rooms is allowed on the condition that plates and dishes are never stored in the rooms under any circumstances.

3.3.2. Cooking is only allowed in the kitchen; any electric cooking devices are prohibited in the rooms. After eating, everyone is required to clean after themselves: clean the table, wash their dishes and plates).

3.3.3. Food cannot be stored in the rooms, only on the assigned fridge shelves, kitchen cabinet and section in the cellar. The fridges are shared among the residents. When absent for more than a week, food is to be removed from the fridge, as well at the definite departure from the Collegium. In case of noticing any rotten food, throwing that away is allowed and recommended. Other than this you are not allowed to take food from another resident.

3.3.4. The cleaning of the fridges is the duty of the residents. Before final departure, the tenant has to clean his/her fridge shelf and kitchen cabinet. If he/she neglects to do this cleaning, a 30-euro cleaning cost can be deducted from the deposit.

3.3.5. The operator/manager/Director of the house shall not be held responsible for any damage or issue (e. g. food poisoning) caused by residents. Every resident holds full responsibility for him- or herself.

3.3.6. Avoid blockages. Do not pour dirty water, fats and food leftovers into the sink. Pour dirty water down the toilet or pour it down the drain, dispose of (cooled) oils in a suitable bottle and leave food leftovers in the appropriate waste bag. The back of the waste calendar contains a detailed overview.

3.4. Rooms:

3.4.1. It is the residents’ obligation to keep their room in a state that is in accordance with the hygienic and aesthetic requirements. It is strictly prohibited to remove furniture from the room or take furniture from another room, or to move any pieces of furniture inside the rooms, especially the bigger pieces like wardrobes. For reorganizing the rooms permission and help is required by the director, to prevent any kind of damage that could occur during the process. It is also prohibited to hit nails or screws into the walls or the furniture, or to stain them in any way. Sticking posters to or anything else on the walls of the room with any damaging material (glue, tape) is strictly prohibited, the use of the yellow Tesa tapes being the only acceptable solution.

3.4.2. Devices (e.g. routers) cannot be added to the network that detract from the quality of the connection or saturate the network with abnormal usage. If there is a problem concerning the internet, connection or the network, the resident will discuss this problem with the Director, about what can and cannot be done to find together a solution for better internet. When no common solution can be agreed upon, the decision of the Director is final.

3.4.3. In the room it is forbidden

*             to cook or heat food

*             to use candles or scented sticks or similar (incense)

*             To smoke. Smoking is only allowed on the terrace and in the garden.

*             It is strictly prohibited to wash or dry in the rooms, because the high air humidity leads to mold on the walls. Washing and drying are only allowed in the washing machine and the dryer in the basement.

*             to use electric heaters, fan heaters or any other high-power devices anywhere in the institution. Neglecting this rule might lead to an immediate expulsion of the resident.

3.4.4. Rooms must be aired daily to avoid mold on the walls.

3.5. Cleaning

3.5.1. Cleaning the house and keeping it clean is the duty of the residents, all of them being obliged to do their part in the process. Tasks will be assigned according to three different systems:

*             kitchen duty (alternating on a daily basis),

*             Weekend house cleanings,

*             The cleaning of the bathrooms/toilets.

All residents are asked to check their upcoming duties in due time on the lists which can be found on the notice board in the kitchen.

3.5.1.1. The daily kitchen duty

This should be finished after 10:30 pm.

It includes cleaning the tables, work surfaces and sinks; emptying/launching the dishwashers; sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor; and taking out the trash on days indicated by the calendar. The person on kitchen duty does not have to wash the dishes for others. If the duty is not accomplished, a 25 EUR fine should be paid that will be dedicated to finance community programs.

3.5.1.2. Weekend cleaning

This must be done between Saturday 10 am and Sunday 10 pm. If a resident is not present at the weekend of the duty, it is his/her responsibility to find someone to replace him/her. If the duty is not accomplished, a 25 EUR fine should be paid that will be dedicated to finance community programs.

3.5.1.3. Bathroom and toilet cleaning

This must be done between Saturday 10 am and Sunday 10 pm. Commonly used bathrooms are used by 6 tenants. They are assigning themselves in the beginning of the semester proportionately. If a resident is not present at the weekend of the duty, it is his/her responsibility to find someone to replace him/her. If the duty is not accomplished, a 25 EUR fine should be paid that will be dedicated to finance community programs. The tasks of this duty are explained on a sheet hung out on the door of the bathroom at each floor.

3.5.2. Every resident will uphold these basic rules concerning the bathroom:

The resident will leave the toilets clean and the floor dry, and will dispose of used toilet rolls, sanitary towels, etc. in the waste bin.

It is forbidden to stand on the toilet.

The shower is rinsed out after use, the hair is removed from the drain.

3.6. Visitors:

3.6.1. Residents can receive visitors in the house between 9 am and 11 pm.

3.6.1. Non-residents who want to stay after 11 pm need the director’s permission to stay in the house.

3.6.2. In case a resident wishes to accommodate a visitor in their own room for the night, they need permission from the director, and it must be announced in the Facebook chat of the community.

In this case, a visitor pays 20 euros/night/person. In case a guest is not announced the resident might be charged 55 euros. Each resident can receive guests in their rooms for 10 nights per semester, the director can make an exception on individual request. The first two guest nights/resident are for free.

The host is responsible for his or her guest.

3.7. Security and safety

3.7.1.1. The front door has to be closed properly at all times. For the night, the doors and windows of the kitchen must also be closed.

3.7.1.2. Residents receive a key for the time of their residing in the house which they cannot give to others or make a copy of it. The Resident will not change the lock of his room. For losing the keys, residents must pay a lump sum of EUR 50 per item, in addition to the cost of replacement of the lost item. After losing them the loss has to be reported right away to the Director.

3.7.1.3. For security reasons, we should not let strangers in the house, not even those, who are waiting for one of the residents, or previous residents/alumni members. All unexpected guests are to be directed to the director politely.

3.7.1.4. The host is responsible for his or her guest. In case of his/her absence, the visitor should be asked to see the resident later.

3.7.2. For fire safety reasons, we must pay particular attention to the appropriate usage of the electrical network and to the connection of extensions. To one socket, we should connect a maximum three electric devices.

3.7.2.2. Electric heaters, fan heaters or any other high-power devices cannot be used anywhere in the institution. Neglecting this rule might lead to an immediate expulsion of the resident.

3.7.3. Before switching an electricity fuse back on, it is necessary to ascertain what might have caused the problem. Every problem of this kind is to be reported to the Director.

3.7.3. Everyone should note which fire-extinguisher, fire escape and fire alarms are closest to his/her room. It is each resident’s obligation to appropriately use these and to effectively apply all the fire safety rules as communicated in the house’s community meeting.

3.7.4.1. In case the optical smoke detectors give a fire signal, all residents must immediately leave the building, leaving behind all valuables because rescuing these might cost our or others’ lives.

3.7.4.2. In case we detect a fire in any of the rooms, we should activate the fire alarm. After doing so we should verify if there is any chance of stopping the fire with the fire extinguisher. If that seems to be impossible, we should leave the building and call the emergency number 112 without delay.

3.7.5. In case of any theft, the operator/manager/Director cannot be held responsible.

3.7.6. All fire doors are kept closed unless they are electrically operated. It is forbidden to block automatically closing doors so that they remain open.

All corridors and emergency exits are kept clear at all times.

3.7.7. It is forbidden to go on the roofs, to move through gutters, to change from one terrace to another. Neglecting this rule might lead to an immediate expulsion of the resident.

3.8. Events

3.8.1. Community events are an important part of life in the house.

3.8.2. Attendance at the monthly Collegium meetings and at a scholarly program on a weekly basis is obligatory. All events will be announced. Neglecting this rule can result in the loss of membership, and eventual expulsion.

3.8.3. Events organized by a resident, have to be announced in the Facebook group and approved by the director and the majority of the community. For these events, the dining room and the living room can be used. The organizer of the event is responsible for cleaning up after the event and putting the room back to its original order.