People often ask how the University’s history is recorded. The answer is that it is watched. This page explains the method, and the scale on which each record is rated.
The watching
The Historian attends every event, at a slight distance. He does not participate, he does not comment, and he does not leave. In some cases this has been mistaken for absence. It is, in fact, the opposite.
The notebook
What is watched is written down. The Historian keeps a single notebook, which is now too large to be lifted, and which he adds to at intervals. Selected entries are published in the Notebook.
Reliability of records
Each record in the History section is rated according to the following scale.
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Confirmed by the Historian | The Historian was present, watched and has said so. This is the highest standard. |
| Confirmed by nap | A group of students agreed on a version while asleep. Considered very reliable. |
| Reported by staff | A member of staff observed it and reported it, usually while doing something else. |
| Overheard | Heard from another cat, in a corridor, at 03:00. |
| Plausible but unverified | Nobody can confirm it, and nobody has denied it. It is included on the strength of a good story. |
| Disputed by the Registrar | The Registrar has looked twice and has concerns. The Historian has noted them. |
What is not recorded
A small number of events are not recorded, at the request of the University, the Registrar or the Historian himself. They are not listed. The Historian has noted that their absence is itself a record.
How to contribute
If you have a record to add, write to staff@gnarp.eu.cc. The Historian will see it. It may already be in the notebook.