Despite launching a “Get Involved” campaign and measures to inform students about “what OUSU does for you” there is still very low student participation in the election process. Only four students turned up to a major hust at Exeter on Monday evening where both presidential candidates were speaking. Tuesday’s central hust, held at Magdalen, also failed even to fill the auditorium.

Sam Smith, Pembroke JCR committee member, commented, “The impression I get is that OUSU is quite inaccessible and has a reputation of being very ineffectual.”

A number of positions, including major sabbatical ones like VP for Welfare and Equal Opportunities and VP for Access and Academic Affairs, are uncontested. No candidate is running for the position of VP Graduates.

One graduate at Wadham, who was also at Oxford during his undergraduate days, said, “I’m not well-informed about it at all – OUSU really can’t be very effective if I don’t know about what it

does.”

Following the news last week of OUSU’s debt problems, St Catherine’s College MCR co-president, Ben Britton, commented,”It is no surprise that there are so few candidates willing to run a broken institution.”

OUSU election rules are notoriously strict and have resulted in the fining of two candidates over the past week.

Presidential candidate, Jake Leeper, was fined 5% of his publicity budget for an article he wrote for the OxStu before he nominated himself. Will McCullum, former Wadham SU President and candidate for VP Charities and Communities, was also fined for providing quotes in his capacity as media contact for Climate Camp.

Red tape surrounding OUSU elections has prompted some students to suggest that it may be off-putting to those who may otherwise want to nominate themselves, and could contribute to the image of OUSU as unapproachable.

But OUSU Returning Officer, Oliver Linch, has reiterated the importance of election rules, “Elections must be conducted according to Rules, and the OUSU Electoral Rules are designed to level the playing field and guarantee that everyone that wants to run has an equal opportunity.”

Elections are due to take place Tuesday – Thursday in 6th week, with all students being emailed personalised voting numbers to enable them to vote online. Last year, elections were beset by technical problems when personalised voting codes only arrived half way through the two-day window for voting.

The election itself was also set back an entire week after OUSU’s publishing arm failed to print the manifesto of presidential candidate John Maher in the Joint Manifesto Booklet.

Elections this year already got off to a flying start with a “technical glitch” meaning that candidates’ lists could not be published online until last Saturday, the day after they were released. However, Linch assures us, “We have spent hours ensuring that the list is accurate this time”.

A specialist care home for the elderly near Abingdon is to close after St John’s College, the landowner, raised the rent 900%.

Southmoor House, near Abingdon, which cares for 24 residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, cannot afford the financial burden of both the college’s rent rise and the costly building repairs it needs to keep running. A spokesperson said it is “financially impossible” to keep the home open.

The family-run care facility has been open for more than 60 years, with some residents having lived there for more than ten. It employs 25 carers, who have specialist training in caring for dementia patients.

In response to the closure, St John’s College explained it “regrets the loss of any business tenant but, as a charity, the college [has] a duty and legal responsibility to make best use of its assets to support its programmes of education and research.”

According to Julie Dabrowski, a senior carer at the home, staff were given a month’s notice of the closure. However, it is now expected to stay in operation until February. She explained that the home had attempted to renegotiate the deal with St John’s, but this fell through.

Dabrowski went on to say that she was very concerned for the well-being of the patients at the home, given that specialised care of the type offered by Southmoor House is difficult to find. Some of the patients are in the home privately and some through the NHS, and she was particularly worried about the possibility of finding new homes for those on government funding.

In addition, the upheaval is likely to be harmful to some patients – one resident is too frightened to leave the building, and she is anxious the trauma of a move may lead to the death of one or more elderly patients. In light of this, she said losing her job was a “secondary concern”.

A DPhil student at St John’s, Jonah Rosenberg, expressed confidence in the college’s decision, saying that “though it’s certainly not the most pleasant transaction … [I] trust that this will have been a necessary part of keeping the college economically healthy. St John’s academic mission cannot be valued as more or less worthy than the care of the elderly; in an ideal world, both would be feasible.”

He added that he did not believe the ninefold rent increase was arbitrary, “but rather the result of the college not having revalued the property for some time.”

The Women’s Institute (WI) has experienced a year of heightened student interest, with the establishment of first two University branches and requests to set up a branch in Oxford.
The WI, which is an organisation established to provide women with educational opportunities, has been already established at Goldmith’s University and King’s college London.

There have been many positive responses to this news in Oxford. A representative of Oxford Women in Politics, Marta Szczerba, stated that she is “positive about the idea of Women’s Institute cooperating with Universities around the UK” and praised the fact that “Women’s Institute has been a force in campaigning against women’s violence”. Other current national campaigns include ‘Women and Climate Change Campaign’ and ‘Care Not Custody’ for the mentally ill.

This support was echoed by Cynthia Chang, a DPhil student at Christ Church, and a representative of Females in Science, Engineering and Technology. Chang said that women often “need a network” and that there would probably be a “significant proportion” of women students at Oxford who would be interested in “producing things with their own hands”.

However, some students were less enthused. Rachel Harrison, of Christ Church College, pointed out that the organisation carried the negative stereotype of “being for old people”. Sara Stafford, also of Christ Church, thought that it was “not a good idea” and probably “wouldn’t be very popular”. She went on to say that she felt Oxford “has enough volunteering groups”.

Many Oxford students have agreed that the opportunity to engage in activities such as learning how to make tie-dyed sustainable shopping bags and how to knit iPod cases fills a niche not currently occupied by the various clubs and societies in Oxford. Angharad Scott, St Anne’s College, enthusiastically supported the idea of an Oxford group, and said that she thought it sounded “really cool” as long as it had nothing to do with “tea towels and cabbages”.
While the image of the WI may not fit in with that of the typical student society, India Volkers, the founder and President of Goldsmith’s WI, emphasised the benefits of membership. “Starting a WI has meant that my friends and I are able to learn useful practical skills that we may not otherwise have been taught.”

The President of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes argued that getting involved with the WI could provide women with key skills pointing out, “students are under increasing pressure these days to have additional skills as well as their degree, and the WI offers women the chance to learn new skills that they wouldn’t normally have access to.”

Oxford’s departmental libraries made almost £150,000 from library fines last year, Cherwell has learnt.

Oxford University libraries raked in £146,085 from late returns in the academic year ending July 2009. This figure does not take into account the money raised by college libraries.

Oxford University Library Services (OULS) operate a standardised fining system in the majority of their libraries, charging 20p per day for standard loans, £1 per day for short loans and 50p per hour for overnight loans.
These tariffs do not apply to the Continuing Education Library, Health Care Libraries, Latin American Centre Library or the Said Business School. Loan periods also vary between libraries.

James Shaw, Library Services Manager at the Radcliffe Science Library explained that the income gained from library fines is not used for “a specific purpose as such; they contribute towards the general running of OULS.” The maximum fine for a book from an OULS library is generally £10, yet many students reported higher figures, with one student complaining of a total of £160 owed for lost volumes.

“There needs to be some sort of incentive for students to return books on time”

College income from library fines varies greatly. St. Peter’s collected £2756.08 in fines last year, while St. Anne’s raised £650 and Somerville received £430. The highest possible fine at St Peter’s is £20.
Some libraries, including Lincoln, Queen’s, Brasenose, Wadham and Jesus do not charge students any library fines. Jesus Librarian Sarah Cobbold explained that the fact that fines are not charged “is not born of philanthropy, rather of pragmatism.” One Lincoln student agreed that the system was effective, “Lincoln library doesn’t fine but puts you on a blacklist instead, relying on peoples’ consciences…and it works!”

Other consciences are not so clear. One third year Wadhamite admitted that since the college does not have a Librarian present at all times and does not charge fines, students “just take [books] without checking them out and keep them forever, so half our books are missing.”
The variation in cross-college attitudes towards library fines has frustrated some students, with one third year commenting, “Fines should be standard across colleges. If lots of libraries can survive without charging fines, why does mine have them?”

Jonny Medland, OUSU VP for Access and Academic Affairs agreed that fairness needed to be an important consideration, “There needs to be some sort of incentive for students to return books on time and proportionate library fines can have a role to play in this. It’s important that fines are capped, so that students can’t rack up huge bills if their books are a few days overdue. Colleges should look at what they do in this area and see if it’s truly effective – if some colleges are far harsher than others then it’s a problem.”

Colleges that do not operate a fining system can still charge for lost books. Worcester charged £217 for lost books last year, while Lincoln collected a total of £42. St. Anne’s estimates the cost of unreturned books to the library at around £100 each year. Susan Griffin, Hertford College Librarian said, “I am afraid I don’t know [the amount] because students steal so many.” Harris Manchester Library claims one student still owes them £600 worth of books.

The Oxford Union charges 10p a day for overdue books and £1 a day for overdue audiovisual items, with a limit on both of £10. If a member fails to return a book after being contacted twice by the Union, they are banned from borrowing from the library, their name is posted on the library notice board and their Union membership could be suspended.

Libraries will usually waive fines in extenuating circumstances. Most cite illness as a valid reason for a fine to be waived and some colleges take examinations into account. David Smith, Librarian at St. Anne’s College said, “People actually taking exams when books fall due are exempt from fines.”

James Smith of OULS pointed out that around 60% of library users are taking exams every Trinity so “we can’t treat them all as special cases.” He pointed out that some libraries offer extended loans during exam periods. 74% of students surveyed by Cherwell don’t think students should be allowed to return books late during exams, many pointing out that examination periods are a crucial time for everyone to have access to books.

Universities are trialling a new certificate giving a detailed breakdown of grades to graduates, which could eventually replace traditional degree classifications.

Students studying Biology, English, Accounting and Creative Art at eighteen universities across the UK are trialling the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). Upon graduation, they will receive a report detailing their results in all modules, as well as a summary of other activities undertaken at university.

Currently almost two thirds of graduates achieve a first class or upper second class (2:1) degree, leading to complaints that it is difficult to distinguish between them. In 2008, for example, 95.8% of Oxford History finalists attained a 2:1 or a first class degree.

Oxford University is already taking its own steps towards giving graduates more information, working to provide full transcripts for those who started their courses from 2008. A spokesperson said that the university “will consider future developments carefully, in the light of the results of the pilot study.”

OUSU’s VP for Access and Academic Affairs, Jonny Medland, said that HEARs should only be used if they benefit students. “Any decision about further expanding Higher Education Achievement Reports will have to come after we see how trialling them has worked. Like any other University, Oxford should always be working to introduce fairer methods of assessment and to improve the student experience.”

The trial was prompted by the results of a wide-ranging investigation into the degree classification system by Professor Robert Burgess, Vice-Chancellor of Leicester University. His report’s recommendations were largely against a radical replacement system for the current honours degree classification, which is well-respected worldwide. However, it did call for a system which gave employers more information about graduates.

Aaron Porter, Vice President (Higher Education)of the NUS, welcomed the trial. “It is clear that the current degree classification system is no longer fit for purpose; students deserve a more detailed acknowledgment of their overall achievement from their time in higher education.”

Nehaal Bajwa, a Balliol PPE finalist, was concerned that a HEAR would cause too much focus on academic work. “There won’t be that 10% leeway between getting a 2:1 and a 2:2 as every percentage point will count for more.”

However, some students have questioned whether HEARs will help employers choose the right candidate. There are concerns that instead of making it easier for employers to judge candidates, HEARs will make the drawn-out recruitment process even less efficient. Currently many employers do not consider applications of graduates with a 2:2 or below.

Tom Nicholson, a finalist at Magdalen, said, “This no doubt delights those who are keen to see ex-poly hairdressing students become corporate lawyers, as it obfuscates traditional (and, dare I say, pretty indicative) associations between top grades at top universities and important career-related attributes, such as intelligence. In practice employers will still look for ways to come to snap judgements within whatever system one introduces – and they’ll still hire the same candidates.”

Balliol’s Nintendo bop on Saturday was cancelled as a result of students tampering with fire extinguishers.

The Dean called off the event as a disciplinary measure after several extinguishers on the main site were fiddled with. A total of five fire extinguishers have been damaged since the start of term. Three of the items were found on one staircase, and two on another.

Not all the fire extinguishers were actually set-off. One was discovered simply with its security tag, pin and dust cover removed. The damage could cost up to £350 to repair.

The Dean set a deadline of Friday of 5th week at 9am for someone to own up to damaging the fire extinguishers. When this deadline passed, the Dean sent out a further email cancelling the bop.

One Balliol student commented, “It’s a bit stupid that the whole college has to miss out on bops, which are mental fun, just because some muppet decided to be boring and tamper with fire extinguisher tags. Given that it’s either cancellation of bops or a blanket fine on the JCR, I think the former is fair, but still highly antisocial. The search for the sly one is on.”

Iain Large, Balliol’s JCR President, was supportive of college’s decision. “The Dean informed students on Thursday 5th week that the bop would be cancelled if no one came forward about setting off fire extinguishers. I had previously sent an email warning against the misuse of extinguishers, also stating that the bop was at risk. No one came forward, and so the bop was cancelled.

“I and the JCR committee have been entirely supportive of the Dean’s decision, which was one of the few options available to deterring this sort of behaviour. My reaction to the people responsible is far less sympathetic, as their childishness has put the JCR at risk of discipline in the first place, and damaged its reputation generally.”

Sebastian Fassam, Balliol’s Entz rep commented, “It was my responsibility to inform people that the bop was cancelled. It’s an unfortunate incident. People are quite annoyed about the bop being cancelled, but most people think it’s not an unjust punishment. At Balliol, we normally take pride that we can be trusted to do things on our own. We don’t have much CCTV, especially not in the corridors, but perhaps things will have to be alarmed in future.” He added, “I don’t think there’s any chance those responsible will own up.”

William Browne, another Entz rep added, “Sadly, those responsible clearly don’t care about the rest of the JCR as no-one owned up. The theme was Nintendo and now my Bowser outfit will have to stay in the wardrobe for another year.”

Large commented, “It is, of course, sad that everyone in the JCR had to suffer for one or two individuals’ idiocy, and even more sad that no-one felt prepared to come forward for the sake of everyone else. However, I am hopeful that this has highlighted the severity of the incident, encourage a bit more maturity, as well as preventing it from happening again.”

New College’s most famous attraction, the Mound, has been closed to students this week following a health and safety report.

Last Thursday Michael Burden, the New College Dean, sent an email to all students stating, “The College has received a routine health and safety report which has questioned the safety of the Mound steps. The College is considering how best to respond to the matters raised, but until a decision has been reached, the College has decided that Mound should be closed.”

The Mound is a square, four-sided hillock in the College’s Fellows’ Garden which rises around 10 metres high. Three of the sides are covered with dense shrubbery, while steep stone steps rise up the front side, leading to a paved area at the top which is hidden by trees from those below. It was built in the 1500s from the waste material left over from building work on the College, and once boasted cannon at the top.

However it was the steps, which are worn and very slippery when wet, that were criticised by the health and safety report commissioned by New College. The Dean told Cherwell that the report had “raised a number of questions” adding, “The College cannot see a quick or easy way to respond to these concerns, and while it is working out a strategy to deal with the matter, feels that it is in everyone’s best interests to close it.”

When asked how he planned to tackle students breaking the new rule he said, “The Dean does not deal in ‘sanctions’ per se, but will consider reported cases on their merits.”
Students of New College who climb the old city wall which runs around the College risk being sent down, and many were afraid that similar measures would be imposed for those found climbing the Mound.

Tom Scott, New College’s JCR President commented, “It’s hard to overstate the importance of the mound. It’s so much more than a loveable hill; it’s a part of who we are, a symbol of New College’s greatness. We hope this is resolved quickly.”

One Second Year, Jon Strang, said that he was outraged by the news. “This is ridiculous,” he said, “I love the mound! Health and safety has gone too far.”

The Mound has been the scene of many adventures for New Collegians. Aside from the traditional matriculation and graduation photographs, in the last year it has witnessed late-night romantic trysts, drinking society initiations and nudity, as those having performed exceptionally badly at pool in the College bar are forced to perform a trousers-down lap of the Mound.

A number of more dangerous incidents are also known to have taken place recently. One student broke a tooth falling down the side last year and two guests at a conference taking place in the College in September had to be taken to accident & emergency department following Mound-related injuries.

Tourists have never been allowed onto the Mound, but it is considered one of the main features of a tour of the College. Guides often tell the (untrue) story of how the Mound was constructed as a Aztec burial site, and show groups the game of ‘clapping at the Mound’, which involves standing in front of it and clapping, then listening as the Mound appears to clap back.

Steven McGlynn, the New College JCR Food, Housing and Amenities Rep, said that students should not be too concerned. “These reports happen all the time and they’re always slightly ridiculous. In the past they have even recommended that we put a chairlift up there to cater for any disabled students.”

A student at Oxford University was forced to pay £80 for dropping a match on the pavement as Oxford’s ‘Cleaner, Greener City Centre’ campaign has kicked off.

Demetrios Samouris, a postgraduate student at Magdalen, described the fine as “quite harsh” but admitted, “I can’t really be that angry. I do understand what they are doing and I guess all rubbish has to be treated equally, whether it is a matchstick or a sandwich wrapper.”

As part of the campaign to clean up the streets of Oxford, Environmental Enforcement officers from Oxford City Council, Street Wardens and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) can issue on-the spot fines to anyone discovered dropping litter, throwing away cigarette butts or committing acts of graffiti. Failure to pay the fine can result in further fines of up to £2,500.

It is estimated that cleaning the city centre currently costs £1 million per year.

Councillor John Tanner, Board Member for the campaign commented, “Everyone’s getting together to make Oxford city centre even cleaner. We want people to stop dropping litter and make the city centre a no go area for litter, chewing gum and cigarette butts. No-one likes to see messy streets.”

Many students are in favour of the plans. “Initiatives like this help bring environmental action closer to home. They remind us that moving towards a safer, cleaner world isn’t just about polar bears, guilt or banner drops, but about protecting our communities and making them more pleasant to live in,” said one student.

Oliver Richards, a 2nd year St Anne’s undergraduate, thinks it is outrageous that the streets have been allowed to reach the situation they are in. “I think it is really important for the streets to be clean in Oxford. The reputation of the city is based around a prestigious University that attracts the best students; students who would be discouraged from applying should our city be covered in an elephantine amount of mess.”

The Oxford Pedestrians Association is also supporting the campaign. In their view, many people are put off walking the streets of Oxford due to the filthiness of the streets, harming local businesses.

Chairman of the group, Paul Cullen argues, “Litter on the streets is becoming a deterrent to some people to even go out.”

A spokesperson for the University of Oxford commented, “The University is aware of the Cleaner, Greener Oxford Campaign and is fully supportive of the City Council’s efforts to clean up Oxford. We urge all members of the University to dispose of their litter responsibly.”