Outraged students at Greyfriars have attacked the Hall authorities’ decision to permanently close without consulting any members of the student body.
Greyfriars, one of the University’s seven Permanent Private Halls, is to close next year following a national review of the Capuchin Franciscan Order’s ministries.
Students at the PPH, who first heard the decision on Tuesday, will be transferred to Regent’s Park in October next year to complete their degrees.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Hall’s governing body explained that the closure was largely motivated by a shortage of friars, as well as considerable financial difficulties. They claimed their decision was not based on a scathing University report published in September that criticised the ethos and practices of PPHs.
“The Hall is already highly subsidised by the Capuchins, and has become a financial burden to their other areas of activity within the UK. It therefore became apparent during the course of our review that there is no long-term future for Greyfriars Hall as a ministry of our Province,” they said.
Former JCR President Ellaine Gelman was highly critical of the PPH’s actions and felt measures to ensure students needs were being met were insufficient.
“Many of the freshers present at Tuesday’s meeting were crying, and the feeling was: why did they accept us if they knew this was going to happen? Some students who don’t want to go to Regent’s Park are now looking into moving to colleges instead. I think Oxford’s losing an important part of itself,” she said.
“They claim that everything they’re doing is in the interests of the students. If this was the case, they should have consulted the JCR president. It’s quite insulting to be kicked out of your own college and community. My personal opinion is that the Capuchins no longer want the students there. If it was just a financial issue then they could have found the money somehow,” she said.
Gelman added that the general feeling among students was one of great sadness at the College’s closure.
“Everyone knows each other’s name at Greyfriars, it’s such a tight-knit community. We feel our sense of identity is being taken away from us. Some of us will be spending our third year in what feels like a foreign institution,” she said.
Greyfriars MCR President Sheridan Taylor agreed, “We’re all in a state of shock. It’s very saddening that part of our family, the friars, are going to be separated from us. I love it here, it’s so vibrant, and adds so much to the diversity of the University as a whole.”
The Hall is to keep its student accommodation operational for two years after students are transferred to Regent’s Park.
Greyfriars JCR President Jonathan Hamill commented, “[We are] understandably disappointed. As a student community it offered a very special place to study with amazing academic and social opportunities. The closure of the Hall, for reasons beyond the student’s control, is an issue that provoked great sadness.”
Staff at the Hall will have their positions reviewed in the coming year, although it is hoped many will continue teaching in conjunction with other colleges.
Communications Officer for the Order Barry Hudd explained, “There is only a handful of staff at the Hall and one permanent staff member. The majority of people working there won’t be affected.”
OUSU President Martin McCluskey said he was impressed with the University’s response to the Hall’s closure. “Given the circumstances, we’re pleased with how the central University are handling the situation and we’re confident that the move to Regent’s Park is in the best interest of Greyfriars students and their academic experience at the University.”
The University has issued a statement, explaining that they are unable to influence the Hall’s decision to close. “The University of Oxford is bound by the decision of the Capuchin Fraciscan Order that their ministry at Greyfriars can no longer continue after the end of this academic year. We regret the loss of Greyfriars as a Permanent Private Hall but respect the Order’s decision.”
Amen, Greyfriars
