Owing to “major refurbishment” on Oriel College’s Rhodes Building, on the High Street opposite the University Church, some current second-year undergraduates will have to live in James Mellon Hall off Cowley Road in 2013-14.
This has caused concern among the JCR, although Oriel College has maintained its guarantee of accommodation for all JCR members.
JCR President, Natasha Bassett, wrote in an email to the JCR, “There has been a few panicking persons [sic] coming to me about what’s happening next year in terms of accommodation. As you all probably know, the Rhodes Building is being renovated for the whole of next year.”
In the same email sent at the end of last term, Bassett explained “What may change is where people live; for example, some second years may get to live in JMH .”
The details of how the renovation works will affect students are still under discussion.
Wilf Stephenson, Treasurer of Oriel College, said, “Handling of the knock-on impact has been discussed and agreed by a joint working committee led by the Domestic Bursar and comprised of representatives from the JCR and MCR.”
Stephenson, whose office will be affected, explained, “The Rhodes Building needs major refurbishment. This will include providing additional accommodation, better facilities and disabled access.”
The roof will also be replaced and a 1980s upper-ground floor will be demolished.
The provision of accommodation for first- and second-year undergraduates will remain unchanged.
“Freshers will continue to live on the main college site. All second years should also be able to stay on the main college site. However choice (and grade) of rooms will be more limited than usual. There will be some displacement of third years. Some additional accommodation has been secured,” Stephenson continued.
Graduate students will be hardest hit. “It is possible fewer non-fresher graduates will be provided with college accommodation than in previous years,” Stephenson added.
The Rhodes Building was erected in 1911 through funds left by Cecil Rhodes, an alumnus of Oriel.
