Exam sitters may legally request cake and ale

[garibaldi 20]

Here is a story - purported to be true - someone found regarding examinations at Cambridge University . It seems that during an examination one day a bright young student stood up and asked the proctor to bring him Cakes and Ale. The following dialog ensued:

Proctor: I beg your pardon?

Student: Sir, I request that you bring me Cakes and Ale.

Proctor: Sorry, no.

Student: Sir, I really must insist. I request and require that you bring me Cakes and Ale. (Shades of Conquistador)

At this point, the student produced a copy of the four hundred year old Laws of Cambridge, written in Latin and still nominally in effect, and pointed to the section which read (roughly translated): "Gentlemen sitting examinations may request and require Cakes and Ale." Pepsi and hamburgers were judged the modern equivalent, and the student sat there, writing his examination and happily slurping away.

Three weeks later, the student was fined five pounds for not wearing a sword to the examination.

[Beardie 11]

http://www.snopes.com/college/admin/cakesale.asp

[Bell the cat 430]

when I was at Cambridge, there was an American called Thadaeus doing his English Tripos and he insisted on doing so in a pink polkadot miniskirt and high heals. The University statutes seemingly couldn't stop him as he was wearing banns and a subfusc (gown and white tie with clerical front) and the Sun newspaper photographed him and had him on the front page showing his bum to them. Class!

 

NB: my one is true. I actually knew Thad and was a student there at the time.

[BattalionBoy 17]

I always wondered what happened to Billy Bunter and what university he went to after graduating from Greyfriars.

[HEM 11,165]

 

Three weeks later, the student was fined five pounds for not wearing a sword to the examination.

That's what comes of trying to be too clever by half...

[sighted 3]

 

At this point, the student produced a copy of the four hundred year old Laws of Cambridge...

Surely it's not allowed to bring any paper into an exam with you??