Gonville and Caius is shutting its underbar until Easter term after the room was left in “a very poor state” by students.

The underbar was reopened in early February, following several months of renovation. The works included “unblocking a 14th century sewage pipe, redoing the floor, and furnishing the Underbar with lots of equipment for use,” students were told in an email on Friday 7 February. This followed a launch party the previous evening.

The underbar became the College’s new JCR, equipped with a Wii, sofas, a pool table, table football, and a dart board. Students were encouraged in the February email to “please use it responsibly, and leave it as you would hope to find it”.

However, in an email sent to students on Wednesday (19/03), Caius’ Domestic Bursar, Karen Ball, revealed that there had been “continual problems with the condition that the space is being left in by students, [with] drinks spilled on the floor, glasses left in the room and so on.”

Ball wrote that, on that particular morning, the underbar had been found “in a very poor state,” with “significant damage to the stone staircase”. She told students that, because the staircase is part of a “grade one listed building,” permanent repair to the staircase would be “a difficult and likely very expensive job”.

The email explained that the College had “reluctantly taken the decision that the room is to be closed until the beginning of the Easter term,” adding that CCTV will be installed in the room “so that in the future the enjoyment of all is not spoiled by the poor behaviour of a few”.

Listed buildings are buildings of special architectural or historic interest with legal protection; Grade I buildings are of “exceptional interest” and make up just 2.5% of these. In order to ensure their character is preserved, carrying out works on listed buildings requires consent from the Local Planning Authority.

One Caius student told Varsity: “The Underbar is such a gift, so to see it being closed because of the reckless behaviour of a few is desperately sad.” Another said: “I’m horrified but not surprised. It is always disappointing to see just how little care people seem to take in their behaviour towards College buildings and rules.”

Another student told Varsity: “It’s so disrespectful of a bunch of students to damage the stairs to such an extent,” adding: “I was quite excited to have access to the facilities there and a few students have totally ruined it.”

This incident comes after Corpus Christi students were issued a two week formal ban after “unacceptable behaviour” at a dinner in January, including walking into Fellows’ rooms and vomit, faeces, and smashed bottles being left in bathrooms.

Gonville & Caius College were contacted for comment