Living Rooms and Lounges

The lounges and living rooms in the residence halls are open to the Mount Holyoke community for meetings. Building residents can reserve main-floor lounges and living rooms for private events (see Small Private Events).  Early in the fall semester, each residence hall community will meet to discuss how residents prefer to use the lounge space in the hall and what type of availability will be in place.

Anyone looking to reserve a residence hall common space must seek the approval from the building Hall President (HP).  Resident use has priority over community use. To foster an environment conducive to rest and study, all hall social or meeting must end by 2:00 AM. No social event will occur after the first reading day of the final exam period.

The possession or consumption of alcohol in residence hall public space (e.g., residence hall corridors, stairways, elevators, bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, basement, trunk room, laundry rooms, etc.)  is prohibited, unless the event is a registered SPE.  Possession or consumption of alcohol in unapproved areas will result in disciplinary action. For more on the use of alcohol on campus, please refer to the Alcohol Policy in the Student Handbook.

Fire Limit Capacities in Residence Hall Common Areas

Residence Hall                      Fire Capacity
1837                                     200
Abbey                                  170
Buckland                              200
Brigham                                130
Dickinson                               50
Ham                                      200
MacGregor                           225
North Mandelle                     200
South Mandelle                     200
Mead                                     200
Pearsons                               200
Pearsons Annex                     30
Porter                                    125
Prospect                               180
North Rockefeller                  200
South Rockefeller                  200
Safford                                  150
Torrey                                    250
Wilder                                    200
3 Park Street                           50
24 Silver Street                       50
17 Morgan Street                    50
57B College Street                  50

Small Private Events
A small private event (SPE) is defined as a planned gathering (e.g., birthday) of not more than 50 individuals in a residence hall main-floor public area (e.g., lounge, living room). Students can only host Small Private Events in the residence hall in which they reside. Students who would like to host a small private event must register the event with the HP no less than five working days prior to the date of the event. The HP will work with the host(s) to adhere to our program guidelines. SPEs are only approved on Friday and Saturday nights.  SPE registration form and guidelines are available from your Hall President or in the Office of Residential Life.

As a general rule, residence hall community spaces are not the appropriate venues for events larger than 50 and campus-wide parties. Events sponsored by student organizations, include the use of a band or DJ, require an entry fee, or use wide spread advertising are not small private events.  These types of events require a public venue and the authorization of the Office of Student Programs. For more information, contact the Office of Student Programs.

Guidelines for Hosting an SPE:

1.   At least one of the hosts must be a resident of the hall.

2.   Events held in residence hall first floor lounges must adhere to College local fire safety standards and must not exceed facility occupancy levels.

3.   You can’t have an SPE on a “school night.” If there are classes the next day, your request will be automatically denied.  SPEs are approved for Friday and  Saturday night’s only. SPEs will not be approved during 24 hour quiet hours.

4.    SPEs cannot be advertised. SPE’s should have an intended guest list in which mass advertising is not needed.  Hosts cannot post on facebook page, myspace, confessional, your room door or by yelling  “I’m having a party” down your hallway.

5.    Hosts can not charge guests for admission, food, entertainment or beverages.

6.    No DJs or live music.

7.    Events must end in compliance with the hall’s quiet hour policy.

8.    Events may not be approved during reading days, or the final exam period.

9.    For the duration of the event and clean up period, the host(s) is responsible for any property damage in the hall caused by any guest.

10.  The host(s) is responsible for event clean up and restoring the lounge/living room to its original condition.

11.  Only host(s) who are 21 years of age or older can host an event where alcohol will be served.

12.   Hosts serving alcohol must clearly outline how they will adhere to the policies for serving alcohol at small private events on the event registration form.

13.   The host(s) is responsible to inform all guests of MHC policies and community standards.

14.   Events that do not adhere to registration guidelines and/or policies for serving alcohol at small private events may be closed by any member of the Hall Committee, the AD, Public Safety, or the Dean on-call.