The latest college accounts, obtained by OUSU under the Freedom of Information Act, show that spending on teaching and staff increased significantly in 2007.

Yet the University remains riven by financial inequality, with huge endowments allowing some colleges to supplement their income, giving them a major advantage over poorer institutions.

The accounts reveal that colleges spent £244 million in 2007, with over half going on staff costs. Their combined incomes totalled almost £8 million more than this, meaning that overall the colleges made a slight profit on 2006.

Over £125 million was spent on staff, a rise of over 7% since last year. Yet as colleges look to raise money from tourism, conference facilities and fund-raising, spending on academics is lower than that for other staff, such as caterers, managers and IT experts.

Overall, colleges have capitalised on hiring out their premises as conference facilities during vacations, making over £24 million.

Poorer, newer colleges with more modern rooms have been keen to take advantage of this new source of income, with St Anne’s and St Catherine’s making around £1.6 million a year.

Hertford and Keble do almost as well from conference income, but Christ Church makes the most, receiving almost £2 million.

Christ Church has also been the only college to make a significant amount of money from tourism, making around £800,000. No other college except Magdalen has be able to make more than a six figure sum for admission charges.

Christ Church and New have also tapped in to another lucrative form of income not available to other colleges, together making £3 million from their choir schools.

The biggest division between the colleges continues to be the size of their endowments. Most colleges take in around £2-5million in interest per year, some of the biggest earners being Magdalen, Jesus and Christ Church.

Tracts of agricultural land puts St Johns in a league of its own, bringing in £6 million a year on top of £5 million from financial assets. All Souls is funded almost entirely by endowment income, as it receives nothing from tuition fees.

While historic Oxford colleges are worth hundreds of millions of pounds, they are one of the biggest drains on college finances.

Almost £6 million was spent on maintaining premises in 2007, while tending gardens cost just over £2 million. Wear and tear of buildings means that their value depreciates over time, at an estimated cost of nearly £12 million last year.

Almost every pub in central Oxford has banned trashed students, while one pub is even refusing to serve anyone wearing a gown, as part of a new Pubwatch initiative.

The decision is aimed at reducing both the cost of cleaning up after trashing, and the disruption caused to residents.

Darren Kent, the chair of Pubwatch and landlord of the Turf, described the initiative which involves pub managers across the city.

He said, “together with the Proctors, we’ve decided to clamp down on trashing.”

“All [tourists] can see is flour and disgustingness…[students] have no reason to go as far as they do” he added.

Kent said that the proctors’ treatment of trashing had been hampered by stretched resources and “they asked us to help them with the clampdown.”

A recent email from the Proctors condemned food abuse and noted, “two people broke limbs last year by slipping on flour wet from champagne and eggs, including a woman who skidded and crashed on her bicycle in New College Lane.”

Other pub managers have supported the move. The manager of the Wheatsheaf said, “we don’t want people coming in covered in baked beans and cat food and getting it all over our furniture.”

The landlord of the Bear Inn added that his staff had to spend up to two hours jet-hosing down areas of the pub.

The King’s Arms has gone even further, banning any student with gowns and balloons from entering around exam time.

The manager of the King’s Arms denied that the measure was extreme. He said, “it’s a precaution against their [students’] behaviour.”

Students have reacted angrily to the new initiative, though they insist it will not deter trashings.

One student, who recently trashed a friend with a water pistol full of mayonnaise, cast doubt on the stringency of the Pubwatch ban.

“I got into the Turf covered in flour and I got egged in the Turf. They’re not going to turn away ten people just because one of them is covered in flour,” he said.

The student also denied that there was much evidence of a major clampdown by proctors. He said, “I’d be fairly deterred from [trashing] outside exam schools,” but claimed he managed to egg a friend undetected on High Street.

Students have also reported that exam locations further from the centre have “no proctor presence.”

A spokesperson for the Oxford emphasised that this was an initiative by pubs, not the University, but added, “the University is supportive of this.”

Nightsafe, which coordinates an initiative to reduce violence in Oxford, endorsed the move by Pubwatch.

The manager of Nightsafe said that Oxford is a “tourist town” and “[the tourists] don’t want to sit in flour and eggs.”

VIDEO: Finalists get trashed

Video by Rachel Fraser

The Bodleian library will hold an exhibition to celebrate the University’s treasures this summer.

It will include previously unseen objects, documents and artifacts including a 14th century bishop’s  mitre made of silk and pearls belonging to William of  Wykeham, the founder of New College;  an illuminated Psalter belonging to Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII; and Samuel Johnson’s gruel mug.

The exhibition will also honour benefactors like William Gray and Lord Nuffield.

‘Beyond the Work of One’ will begin on 24 May and runs to 1 November, in Catte Street.

The trial of well-known animal rights activist Mel Broughton has been postponed until Thursday 12 June.

Broughton, who was a founding member of the SPEAK organisation, faces charges of conspiracy to commit arson against property owned by the University of Oxford, possession of articles with intent to destroy or damage property and keeping an explosive substance with intent.

A jury for the trial is yet to be picked.

JCRs are debating this week whether OUSU should hold a referendum on who should vote in its minority reps.

Students have argued that it is undemocratic for OUSU to decide who should be allowed a say in selecting OUSU’s future LGBT and ethnic minority representatives.

However others have argued that the referendum would support universal voting, and that the majority would therefore eclipse that of minorities.

The controversy arose again in the Fifth Week Council meeting, and continued into an Extraordinary Council meeting on Friday of Sixth Week.

Tom Haynes, OUSU rep for St Catherine’s, is one of the students behind the recent campaign for a referendum.
Haynes took the issue to his JCR, proposing a motion “request[ing] that OUSU holds a referendum in Hilary 2009 to determine whether or not [restricted voting] should continue.”

Haynes claims he hoped to trigger a referendum by getting nine other JCRs to pass similar motions, and sent an email to all the other OUSU reps, urging them to agree that a “referendum was the best way forwards.”

He argues that no conclusion has been reached because JCRs have not been consulted, and that a referendum is “the most democratic” solution to the issue. He said it would enable discussion on “the most final way to resolve this long running dispute”.

However Merton’s OUSU rep, Joshua Monahan, initially agreed with Haynes, but has since declared, “I’m withdrawing my support.”

Monahan admitted that he backed Haynes “for the sole reason that I thought the issue was being wilfully ignored,” but now believes that debate has pushed this issue forward.

Joseph Edwards, OUSU rep for Jesus College, agreed with Monahan.  He said: “Referenda are not the only way, or even the best way, of ensuring that the voice of Oxford students is heard.”  He went on to say that it would be a waste of OUSU’s time and resources to hold the referendum.

Luke Tryl, former Union president, who is rumoured to be running for OUSU President, said: “We should have as many referendums as possible.” He pointed out that responsibilities in OUSU often overlap, and that even a position like Vice President for Women is responsible for pro-choice policy, which affects men also.

Haynes’ campaign for a referendum has been halted when, after consultation with other colleges, further issues were raised. He claims that OUSU have decided to “re-open our discussion…early on in Michaelmas.”

An Oxford restaurant has been taken over by a BBC reality series on entrepreneurs. Sahara, an eatery on Blue Boar Street in Oxford city centre, is one of eight diners that will be featured in Raymond Blanc’s ‘The Restaurant’.

The show sees couples attempting to impress the celebrity with their business skills. Couples have to complete a number of challenges, including cooking and serving meals, drawing up menus and attracting consumers.

The winning pair are then rewarded with a restaurant financially supported by Blanc.

A Christ Church student booked to perform at the college’s Commemoration Ball next week has accused the Ball Committee of sexual discrimination and unfair treatment.

Iona Bain, President of the Christ Church Music Society said that she has “notified the college authorities to a potential case of sex discrimination against herself.”

Bain claims that she offered her services to the Ball Committee, but that problems emerged when College asked her to perform on a secondary stage, at the same time as the main act.

Bain has argued that her band has been “downgraded to a secondary stage” because “I don’t conform to the male indie stereotype.”

She was notified that her three band members from Wadham would arrive at the ball, perform and would then have to leave the premises immediately after their performance.

Bain said, “I didn’t expect my other band members were to be treated like gatecrashers after performing for free, especially with half the band having bought tickets.”

She added that it was common practice for performers to be allowed to enjoy the ball for free without being “promptly escorted out by bouncers.”

She continued, “I can only assume that the committee has handed out so many free tickets to committee members and other cronies, and paid so much for their guest acts whatever they are, that they are having to treat me and my band members in this shabby way.”

However, Bain’s claims have caused outrage amongst Christ Church students.

The Committee’s Music and Entz rep, Laura Spiers, claimed that no free tickets have been given out, apart from those reserved for four executive members of last year’s ball committee, and current committee members.

She said, “Any performers who have received tickets have been given tickets as a form of payment instead of cash.

“Iona and her band were also offered these tickets as payment but declined them saying that they would rather do it for free and in service of the college, a decision the ball committee respected.”

One second year from Christ Church, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Bain has “forced her way into playing at the ball” and has upset a lot of people.

“We have definitely not been giving away tickets to anyone.”

Frances Baird, the Committee’s marketing representative, claimed that Bain and her band were granted a slot on the secondary stage rather than the main one because there are “other bigger, and more high profile acts already filling the schedule on the main stage”.

Baird defended the decision to move Bain to a secondary stage: “it’s a slightly different atmosphere and it was better suited for her performance and it would better suit her band.

“It’s not secondary in that we think it’s any less valuable; it’s just an alternative for people who don’t want to be at the main stage so we thought it was more appropriate.”

Lord Patten, Chancellor of the University, has criticised the government in a recent report over its attempts to “push deprived teenagers into higher education.”

The report surfaced after the Chancellor spoke at the launch of the £1.25 billion fund raising campaign last Wednesday. The Times newspaper labelled it an “attack” on the government’s policies.

The Times quotes Lord Patten in the report as saying, “We can’t in higher education mend these problems by lowering our standards […] We have to maintain our standard and hope that we will get more young people with the right qualifications applying to Oxford.

“If you’ve only got a third or 40 per cent of young people staying on at school post-16 in some areas, it’s very difficult for universities to broaden access. Poverty of aspiration is a real challenge.”

A press officer for University of Oxford said, “[…] the Chancellor was answering questions at a press conference on the occasion of the campaign launch.

“The Times chose to focus on a particular angle – whether Lord Patten actually ‘attacked’ the government in the way it was reported I am not so sure.

“The University recognises that teachers play a very important role in advising their pupils on career and university choice, and has therefore been running a number of initiatives to keep teachers up-to-date with relevant information for their students.”

The Chancellor currently endorses a number of access opportunities in place at Oxford for teachers as well as pupils.

Tom McGrath outlined St John’s access scheme, saying, “Our work with Education Leeds is a good example of a project which supports the best and the brightest. The Elland Road conference is an introduction to Oxbridge which attracts over 250 state school Year 12 pupils.

“This is followed up by residential events in Oxford in early July (around 90 pupils attend either the Oxford or the Cambridge one) and then we run an event at a central Leeds school/college for any state school students in Leeds who are applying at the start of Year 13, talking about interviews, personal statements, wider reading and such.”

Study weeks held specifically for teachers are well-established. A regional conference held in February was attended by teachers from 52 different schools and colleges from the South East.

Two teachers’ conferences are scheduled to take place on the 20 June in conjunction with Jesus, New and Christ Church colleges. Subject-specific conferences are also due to take place, such as a four-day conference for Physics and Chemistry teachers.

When asked whether students specifically prepared for Oxbridge interview fare better, the University spokesperson said, “It is no question that those students who are well supported in their application have an advantage over those who are not – this applies to both independent and state schools students.

“The University does what it can to provide comprehensive information to applicants. This includes information on the web, a dedicated walk-in centre […] blogs and podcasts.”

Neither Lord Patten nor the Vice Chancellor were available for comment.

Oxford University has appealed Oxford City Council’s rejection of planning permission for a £29 million Bodleian book depository amid fears that failure to succeed will lead to the loss of a multi-million pound donation.

The City Council turned down the University’s proposals for a depository with a capacity for eight million books to be built on the Osney Mead industrial estate, last year.

If the appeal fails, it is unclear how the University will use a £5 million donation given by Julian Blackwell last March. The donation was given for refurbishment of the New Bodleian which was expected to begin in 2010 and finish by 2012. However the renovations cannot go ahead until the Bodleian can free up some space in the library by building the depository.

If the appeal fails the depository will not be built and the University will not be able to spend Mr Blackwell’s donation in the way they originally intended.

In rejecting the University’s original plans for Osney Mead councillors listed concerns over possible flooding and the impact of the building on the city skyline.

Colin Cook, Labour city councilor of Jericho and West Oxford, said, “The height of the building will be damaging to the city’s skyline; the bulk and mass of a building of such size will be damaging in protective view and in its proximity to city centre; the building does not meet energy efficiency requirements; and does not meet the sequential test against flooding dangers.”

However, a press officer for the Bodleian argued that the Osney Mead site was proposed by planning officers for the City Council themselves.

“The site was initially recommended by planning officers for the City Council. We took their recommendation and examined the site with various organizations such as the Environment Agency, found no fault with the site, and drafted a plan that will sustain various dangers.”

Leigh Lanocha, a Reader of English said the Bodleian serves too important a role to be denied a depository in close access to the central libraries.

“The University is such a central part of the city and the Bodleian is at the heart of the institution. It does so much than just providing books; it’s a place that has archives of major works of literature, of all time.”

“It needs to have the donation invested for refurbishment to upkeep its service and its important collections, and it would be a shame for the Bodleian to possibly lose that,” she said.

Councillor Cook has instead proposed a depository located further out of Oxford, saying that it is unnecessary to have a depository to in such close proximity to city centre, as the building will simply house books which are “not referred to on a regular basis.”

“One possibility in lieu of Osney Mead would be to follow the model of the British Library in London, which houses its collections and books that are not in frequent usage, in a depository in York,” he said.

The depository development plan stresses the need for a location that is close enough to Central Oxford, to be able to continually service reading rooms of central libraries.

Lanocha echoed this need, commenting that it is difficult to determine which books are in regular usage and which are not.
“People are requesting books all the time, both the obscure and the non-obscure titles and if books have to be shuttled around 20 miles out of town, or however far the depository is going to be, how efficient will that be?”

Concerns regarding improvements to the Bodleian were raised recently in a report by Sir Ivor Crewe, incoming Master of University College. He criticised “the combination of closed access… and very slow fetching times” in Bodleian libraries.

Dr. Sarah Thomas, Bodley’s head librarian had said in a press release at the time of the council’s rejection, “The City’s failure to approve the proposal will rapidly have serious consequences for our readers in the University and beyond, for the long-term future of the Bodleian as a world-class library and for the benefits such a library brings to the local community.”

The University acquires 5,000 new titles a week and stores millions of books at a disused salt mine in Cheshire and at a Bodleian store in Nuneham Courtenay.

The Bodleian holds the papers of six British prime ministers, a Gutenberg Bible, Lord Of The Rings author JRR Tolkien’s papers, a quarter of the original copies of the Magna Carta, and more than 10,000 medieval manuscripts in its collections.

A spokesperson for the University refused to comment on the appeal, citing legal issues at hand.

Oxford University has awarded King Abdullah II of Jordan an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law.

The diploma was presented to the king at a ceremony in the Sheldonian theatre on Wednesday. He also received an Honorary Fellowship at Pembroke College where he studied international affairs for a year in the 1980s.

The Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Patten, warmly welcomed King Abudullah II,describing him at one point as a “a peacemaker in the Middle East.” He added, “Your reputation is built up by achievement… you build bridges of understanding between the Christian and Islamic worlds a peacemaker in the Middle East.”

Upon receiving his honorary degree, King Abdullah II addressed academics, several London-based diplomats, students and the media in the Sheldonian Theatre, focusing on the “urgent need to understand and act upon the threat facing the Middle East today,” and “the need to prevent global disaster by preventing regional disaster” through making Jordan “a contributor to world stability, rather than a source of radiating crisis.”

Particular references were made to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. “Our region is in the firing line of extremist ideologies that seek to divide and control,” the king said.

“We meet here today, on a day- June 4th- that resonates in the ears of every Arab. 4 June 1967 marks the last day a Palestinian lived free of occupation… [the start of] 41 years of whip-lashing violence, invasive settlements, a crippled economy and harsh and multiplying restrictions on life. For Israel, it has been 41 years of incessant conflict,” he added.

“While the conflict continues, people on both sides lose. It is time to help people win. For Palestinians, justice and a future, in an independent, sovereign, and viable state. For Israelis, recognition and security.”

Addressing the University directly, King Abdullah II said, “Jordan has taken risks for a future of peace in our region and the world. I hope we can look to the members of this university for intellectual, moral and practical support…I treasure this honorary degree as a symbol of the close relationship between Oxford and the Arab world.”

King Abdullah II also made a visit Pembroke college. A student of the college, Omid Alavijeh commented, “I think it is great that such a busy and excellent king has retained contacts with the university.

“He also is a man who is always pushing for democracy and economic reform. An ally of the West is an ally to Oxford I guess.”