JCR accounts display massive disparities in Common Room wealth across the University, with annual spending in different colleges amounting to some £90,000 variation.
The average JCR Budget is around £32,840 per annum, although some JCRs are directly responsible for college sports funding which burdens this budget. Those JCRs with the largest budgets primarily come from student-run money-making enterprises, such as Hertford’s bar.
Hertford College has an annual JCR Budget of approximately £100,000 compared to Oriel’s meagre £9,300 a year. Hertford’s Entz budget of £10,000 a year is therefore greater than Oriel’s entire budget. This allows the JCR to provide discounts, including subsidised £1 tickets to the popular student Wednesday club-night at Lava & Ignite.
Their wealth also allows Hertford to provide a large amount of money for welfare. Its welfare budget of £10,000 is more than double the funds provided by every other college surveyed, while St Peter’s budget is around the £500 mark.
Other JCRs have claimed that financial difficulties have led to the decision to disaffiliate from OUSU. Oriel JCR Treasurer, James Pickering, commented on how disaffiliation has freed up funds. He noted that by “being disaffiliated from OUSU we have been able to cut such costs as welfare and Michaelmas expenditure significantly.”
OUSU membership costs can be expensive. When Trinity JCR disaffiliated in Hilary Term 2007, one of the arguments in favour of disaffiliation cited that the costs involved in affiliation amounted to around a third of the JCR Budget.
This problem may be resolved if OUSU goes ahead with proposed changes to its funding structure.
The accounts show that JCRs vary extensively in their spending priorities. One notable difference is the amount donated to charities. Queens was found to be one of the most charitable colleges, giving away around £11,000 a year. This is only £3,000 less than St Peter’s entire JCR Budget.
Comparing charitable giving is difficult as it can further vary term on term. For example, instead of its usual termly contribution of £1,100 to its chosen charities, St Hilda’s JCR outlined plans to donate £1,400 straight off to the Haiti earthquake cause.
Oxford University denied that it would ever consider a centralised funding system as a way of ridding the current collegiate funding system of variations in JCR budgets and college wealth.
A spokesperson said that “any variations are outweighed by the benefits to students of the college system.” They further commented that “colleges do participate in a wealth redistribution scheme already.” They went on to say that all students receive the “same treatment in essential matters” in terms of courses, lectures, and library resources.
Every JCR that responded to Cherwell investigations was keen to stress its commitment to making the most of whatever funding they have available to them.
Mark O’Brien, St Catz Treasurer, stressed that the JCR committee’s main role was “to bring their enthusiasm and passion” to the job by “giving as much of our time and effort as we can, not by how much we spend.”
St Catz has turned to entrepreneurial techniques of raising capital. The college sought support from local restaurants and businesses to provide for events in Freshers’ Week. The JCR also intends to implement a discount card based exclusively for St Catz students by working with these businesses.
The evidence of JCR disparities comes just weeks before colleges publish their annual accounts.
