Silent hall’ protests were staged across the University yesterday in response to colleges’ attempts to impose coordinated inflation-busting rent increases. The remarkable act of solidarity was intended to show that the student body will not allow individual JCRs to be treated harshly by their colleges. Trinity, Pembroke, Jesus, St Hugh’s and St Hilda’s staged silent halls with some students tying grey helium balloons to their wrists to represent the “ball and chain” of higher charges. Up to six other colleges aim to sport the balloons in show of support for those colleges that have or are planning to go ahead with protests, while Keble students boycotted hall altogether. Sarojini Mckenna, Trinity JCR President, told Cherwell “If, as appears, colleges go ahead with these rent increases then it is great that OUSU and JCRs are fighting back. I’m impressed with the level of coordination.” Rent rises proposed to date include 58% at Trinity, 37% LMH and 54% at St Hilda’s. While the increases in each case are over a number of years the rises still far exceed the 2.4% by which student loans are set to rise in the next year. Ryan McGhee, Pembroke’s President, said “It’s about time we got together to protest against a dangerous precedent in rent setting.” The cooperation between JCR Presidents followed a motion of support that was passed at last Friday’s Student Union council. Student anger has particularly followed from fears that colleges are acting in concert to raise rents across the University at a time when losses may be blamed on the stock market. Conspiracy theories have been fuelled by evidence that the committee of college bursars has commissioned a report into rent levels but has refused to make its findings public. At present students do not have representation on the committee or on the Council of Colleges, leading to fears that these bodies could be used to discuss coordinated rent rises. At LMH, where students plan to cap on the quad, JCR President Euan Fitzpatrick said, “This is an opportunity for JCRs to hit back. Unified support is what we need.” Omar Salem, a Funding and Finance Campaign’s co-chair thinks that there are grounds to suspect collaboration between domestic bursars. He said, “we expect the report will say that the Bursars will increase rent on the grounds that students are being given some kind of subsidy. All we know for certain is that they seem to be going ahead without consulting us.” However, Rupert Abbott President at Greyfiars told Cherwell “I’m a little sceptical of silent hall protests. A university-wide protest would be better since then it would not look as if we are targeting our SCR individually.” Abigail Green, Wadham President said “Wadamites do feel sympathy toward Trinity, but it has to be a legitimate protest. I must be able to carry my constituents with me. It’s easier to protest if your JCR is ‘at war’ with its SCR. Wadham enjoys exceptionally good relations with its SCR”.
ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2003
JCRs Unite over Rent Rise
