The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Stephen Toope, described the student gathering on Jesus Green for Caesarean Sunday as “disappointing” and “a slap in the face” in an email sent to students yesterday (05/05).
Caesarean Sunday, aka ‘C Sunday’, is named after Jesus College’s drinking society, The Caesareans, and historically included a fight between Jesus drinking society and the Girton Green Monsters, an aspect of the event which has now been banned.
The 80-year-old event takes place on the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday at the start of Easter term, and also normally represents the last big event of the academic year before exam season.
BBC News
Published
image captionHundreds of students gathered on Jesus Green for a Caesarean Sunday celebration
Cambridge University has condemned a mass gathering of students on a city green as a slap in the face .
Despite Covid-19 restrictions allowing gatherings of no more than six people, hundreds gathered on Jesus Green on Sunday for Caesarean Sunday .
In a message to all students, seen by the BBC, vice-chancellor Prof Stephen Toope said gathering in such numbers. is deeply irresponsible .
The BBC has contacted the university for further comment.
Caesarean Sunday has become a traditional spring celebration for some students - often involving fancy dress, drinking and wrestling - but in the past local residents have complained about them urinating in public, stripping off and bad language.
Cambridge University students gathered in their thousands on Jesus Green, Cambridge, for annual tradition
Eight-decade old event is seen as the final blowout on bank holiday before they take exams in summer term
Students went ahead despite it going against the Covid restrictions which ban large outdoor gatherings
It has been criticised and faced ban threats in the past years for causing antisocial behaviour and littering