Hertford JCR members have expressed concern that the free room given to the college’s JCR President was not publicised well enough.
This comes amidst a debate in the Hertford MCR concerning the future of the free room given to the President of that common room.
Currently, both Presidents receive a room rent-free as a gesture of goodwill from the college. When contacted by Cherwell, both Presidents acknowledged that the arrangement was uniquely “generous”.
Many Hertford students approached by Cherwell were unaware of the policy. Speaking anonymously, a second-year Hertfordian commented, “I think a lot of people in college aren’t necessarily aware that they get the free room and it also means the President gets quite disproportionate benefits compared to the rest of the JCR Committee, who also work really hard.
“It is definitely a concern if most people are not aware of the free room, and there should certainly be some mechanism for informing the JCR about the benefits that committee members are granted.”
They added, “I think that the JCR Committee deserve rewards for the hard work that they do and that for many of the committee roles, having a room in college is really useful for doing their job properly; for instance, the JCR President has a set allowing them to easily meet with people.”
Another first-year Hertford student remarked, “I wonder why we aren’t made more aware that the JCR president gets a free room. Of course, they perform an important task, but important enough to elevate them above the whole JCR and have their rent waived? I’m not too sure.”
Hertford JCR President Josh Platt told Cherwell, “If JCR members believe it should be publicised more widely, as your investigation suggests, then I would be happy to discuss it at a general meeting or on any other occasion, in order to hear the full range of views.”
A number of MCR students have likewise questioned the policy. Hertford graduate student Miodrag Stamboldziev remarked, “I believe the policy is unethical on three moral grounds; first, towards the fellow colleges’ MCR Presidents, who do not receive pecuniary incentives; second, towards other MCR members who hold a leadership position and invest significant amount of time – for example, the Boat Club captains among the others – yet do not receive monetary compensation; and third, towards every fellow MCR member, as the monies could be used to fund a graduate scholarship.”
He also pointed out that given Hertford’s comparatively small endowment, it was unjustifiable to gift the Presidents with a free room when richer colleges did not operate the same policy.
Despite this, Stamboldziev clarified, “I would like to state that I am content and grateful with the work of MCR Committee, especially the President, and my views are not to be interpreted in no way other way except as a constructive feedback to the college.”
Some students are concerned that the money the college invested in providing the free rooms to the Presidents would be better invested in bursaries or welfare supplies.
While many colleges offer allocated rooms for JCR Presidents, or allow them to move to the top of the housing ballot, Cherwell is not aware of any other colleges which allow their common room Presidents to live rent free.
JCR President Josh Platt acknowledged, “The College’s policy of allowing the JCR and the MCR President to go rent free is generous. While almost all common room Presidents receive perks from their College, Hertford’s policy is probably one of the kindest in the University.”
He continued, “I think it’s important for the JCR and the MCR to debate how College spends its money, and it’s totally right that we, as elected representatives, are held to account. If any member of the JCR wished me to lobby College on this issue, or to discuss it with them, I would be more than happy to do so, but nobody in the past two terms has approached me to talk about this. I must admit, however, that it has not been a priority for me during my term in office.
“I think it is important to remember that this is not money college simply gives to the JCR for us to spend as we choose. If the rent arrangement was removed, I would be keen to make sure that the money did not simply go back into College coffers, but rather became available for use by the JCR for another purpose.”
Likewise, Hertford MCR President Robert Carlsson remarked, “The fact is that the money does not come from the MCR budget but rather the college budget; I am certain that if the college was to change the policy the money would not make it into the MCR budget. In one way or another this could be viewed as less money going towards supporting MCR students.”
He continued, “I am fully supportive of the MCR debating this matter. Even though it is not for us to decide on this matter, as it lies with college, it does affect us in one way or another and it is therefore potentially relevant to discuss.”
Hertford College was unavailable for comment.
