Scouts across the University have spoken out about their low pay and poor treatment by colleges.

Many scouts noted that although they enjoyed working at the colleges, they felt that they were not being paid enough and suffered from a lack of respect from college authorities.

One scout from Balliol who wished to remain anonymous said, “the cost of living in Oxford is expensive – house rental especially. Wages don’t reflect this.”

Another scout from Balliol suggested the same. They commented: “[the cost of] accommodation is too high in Oxford. Transport is too high. Food is too high.

“The Oxford City Council tax is going up again and again. I think if our pay could be raised up to £7 per hour we will manage some of the cost of living in Oxford.”

Scouts at other colleges have also voiced concerns about a lack of respect from college dons. A scout from Hertford who did not wish to be named said, “people need to realise that cleaning is hard work.

“Just because we haven’t got great qualifications, it shouldn’t mean that a cleaning job is poorly paid.”

Another added, “we need a greater basic civility between fellows and scouts who pass by each other in quads or outside college daily (e.g. good morning). That means basic good manners and rightful respect of fellows to scouts.”

The petition for higher pay has been backed by students who have set up the Oxford University Living Wage Campaign, part of a wider campaign, involving trade unions and city councillors, to make Oxford a Living Wage City.

The Living Wage campaigns claim current wages fail to reflect the high cost of living in Oxford and the rising costs of global commodities, often forcing scouts to take second jobs to cover costs and leading to many scouts living in poverty.

The Living Wage, which is based on an index of costs of things such as accommodation, transport and food, is calculated using a method developed at York University. It has been estimated at £7 per hour for Oxford, far below current levels of pay for scouts.

Despite the pressure and despite the council recently agreeing to increase its salaries and pay its employees a Living Wage, many colleges are resisting reform, claiming current pay is adequate and above minimum wage levels.

Liam Taylor, who runs the Living Wage Campaign at Balliol, said there was widespread concern among scouts at the college about the level of pay and the rising costs of living in Oxford.

He said, “at Balliol College, scouts (the people who clean student rooms) are currently paid £6.05 an hour, well below the Oxford Living Wage of £7 an hour.

“This puts Balliol in the bottom 15% of all Oxford colleges in terms of how much it pays its staff. Last March, 38 low-paid workers in Balliol signed a petition asking for higher wages.”

Taylor said that despite widespread support from students and the Balliol JCR, which has passed several unanimous motions in favour of a Living Wage, college authorities had rejected the petition without consultation.

“The College Executive Committee last week rejected our proposals to set up a working party on the Living Wage in Balliol College, citing a lack of funds to raise staff wages. They rejected the issue out of hand without attempting to explore compromise solutions.

“There is no forum where workers at Balliol can negotiate for higher wages – the scouts do not even know at which meeting their wages are discussed – and the next staff consultative meeting is not until October,” he added.

Univ JCR President Stefan Baskerville also backed the Living Wage campaign. He said the cost of living in Oxford was close to that of London.

He said, “The University currently employs large numbers of low-paid staff through contracts with cleaning companies, many of whom are migrant workers who are paid at or just above the minimum wage, £5.52 an hour. As a result many cleaners live in poverty and some cleaners work up to fifteen hours a day, for multiple employers, to support themselves and their families.

However, Elizabeth Crawford, the domestic bursar at University College, suggested that hourly rates of pay do not accurately reflect the wages of scouts.

Crawford said, “at Univ the hourly paid staff have free bus travel (an annual season ticket) the value of which varies according to the contracted hours, an annual bonus and additional pay for long service.”

“I am certain that the College’s basic rate is well above that described as the Living Wage, when relevant benefits are considered,” she added.

Coucillor Joe McManners, who introduced the motion in November last year that led to the adoption of the Living Wage by the City Council, said that their was too much inequality in Oxford.

He said, “better pay for the lowest pay enables them to participate more fully in society and also reduced the impact of poverty on public resources.”

An investigation into the funding of stage shows in Oxford has revealed that unaccountable student companies have kept money intended for re-investment in University drama.

Most plays put on in Oxford are underwritten by Cameron Mackintosh, a West End production company that promises to reimburse students for any losses they may incur.

In return, the shows’ organizers must sign a contract agreeing to re-invest any excess profit in future productions.

However there is little formal supervision to ensure this takes place. Oxford University’s Drama Officer, Sam Sampson, acknowledged that he “[is] aware of the problem.”

In response to Cherwell’s allegations, he said: “contractually, producers are obliged to put the money back into the system. Unfortunately, they don’t always do this.”

Sophie Ivatts, a member of the University Drama Society’s committee, said: “there probably does need to be a more accountable framework in place to check how the money is used. If students sign a contract with Cameron Mackintosh, they are using that underwriting facility to cover any potential losses, so they shouldn’t then use the system for personal gain.”

She admitted that “the issue has been raised at committee meetings. However, it only affects a small proportion of plays, since many make a loss – and of those that do not, only those staged at the Playhouse have a chance of turning over more than a couple of hundred pounds.”

Toby Pitts-Tucker, who has been managing a production of The Tempest this term, said: “I think it’s up to the JCRs and other societies to decide what to do with their money. After all, they are free to debate whether the production deserves funding. However, I agree there should be more safeguards and accountability in an ideal world.”

The University Drama Officer told Cherwell: ‘I’ve been making an effort to contact all those finalists who’ve had production companies, to encourage them to re-invest in Oxford drama, or donate to college and University funding bodies.”

Pitts-Tucker, however, suggested that this was not always the case. He said, “I see the drama officer every week, but he doesn’t have much to do with the financing of my play. Though he does provide fantastic and invaluable advice to many other productions.”

He continued: “I think [Sampson] does more to scrutinize the accounts of plays staged at the Playhouse, who have a chance of turning over a large profit.”

However, another second year producer, who did not want to be named, claimed: “there’s plenty of informal oversight of all producers’ actions in Oxford. The Drama Officer is very thorough in following up on people.”

The student continued: “people who want to get into drama have an incentive not to keep hold of the money.

“They want to be trusted and sow the seeds of a future career. Most producers I know have re-invested money in future shows.”

Furthermore, Ivatts pointed out that “students who do not have underwriting are entitled to keep the proportion of any profit they make from their own investment. The problem comes when your company has been set up ‘to further the cause of Oxford Drama.’”

When asked whether there were any producers that he was currently watching, Sampson responded: “I’m not going to name any specific examples, but there are people I’m in contact with. I think it’s a problem student drama has always had, and will probably continue to have.”

The average Oxford graduate will start on a salary nearly four thousand pounds higher than the average university leaver, according to statistics released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

The latest figures, for the year 2005/2006, show that degree leavers from Oxford earned an average of £22,450 in their first year of employment, compared to the £18,504 average for all higher education leavers.

Despite this large difference, Oxford still falls behind UCL and Cambridge, where graduates earned an average of up to one thousand pounds more than their Oxford counterparts. UCL leavers averaged salaries of £23,614 whilst Cambridge graduates received £22,910.

The statistics, for full-time first degree leavers entering full-time paid employment or self employment, suggest that an Oxford degree is highly valuable to graduates looking for work. OUSU President Martin McCluskey said that the figures were a testament to the quality of the education Oxford provides.

“Oxford graduates are widely recognised by employers as some of the most able and this is clearly reflected in these statistics from HESA. Oxford’s teaching style and the emphasis on independent learning obviously create graduates who are attractive to employers for the depth of their knowledge and sound analytical skills,” he said.

He added that students should be attracted by this high standard of teaching and not the lure of a large pay packet.

“I’d hope that applicants are drawn to Oxford not for expected starting salaries after they graduate, but for the educational experience while they’re here,” he said.

Finalists looking to move in to jobs in the summer may be cheered by the suggestion that their degree will lead to rewards in the world of work.

Thomas Smith, a history and politics student who finished Finals last week, said, “I think the fact that the average starting salary for Oxford graduates is some four thousand pounds higher than the national average does show that an Oxford degree is still a significant asset when going out into the world of work.”

But the extra thousand pounds earned by the average UCL leaver suggests the long hours and numerous essays may not be worth it. Oxford law students work up to 15 hours more each week than those at UCL, according to figures released by the Higher Education Policy Institute, but this is not reflected by graduate salaries.

One finalist at St Peter’s said the University should look to improve its Careers Service to ensure Oxford graduates get the jobs they desire.

“Its obvious that Oxford students have to deal with far higher, even ridiculous, workloads than the majority of other Universities, UCL being one. I think the University needs to do more to help students find the job they want because at the moment it is being out-performed by its competitors,” he said.

Karen Barnard, Head of the UCL Careers Service, said that UCL placed great emphasis on careers advice for students.

“UCL recognises the importance of student employability and provides career development support at all levels from first-year undergraduates to final-year PhD students,” she said.

McCluskey stated that Oxford’s own Careers Service was giving first class advice to students who should take advantage of it.

“The Careers Service provides a great service to students both through the personal service at Banbury Road and through the Careers Fairs they organise regularly. Students need to be aware that they can approach the Careers Service and pop in anytime – even after they graduate,” he said.

A spokesperson for the University also said that Oxford’s own Careers Service was providing students with a valuable service.

“Oxford is keen that students find employment that suits their education and interest. To this end, the University has a well-equipped careers service that provides comprehensive information and impartial guidance.

It is one of the best-resourced and most-used careers services in the country. The Careers Service offers objective information and guidance about a full range of careers, and works proactively to advertise vacancies in all sectors,” she said.

Some Oxford finalists have stated that salaries and bonuses are not important to the average undergraduate, who is more interested in job satisfaction than pay.

Phil Moss, a Physics finalist, said, “I think people who choose a degree course and location based only on starting salary are not looking at the big picture. If people choose a degree for earning potential only, they appear to have a rather depressing outlook on life, if the power, status and satisfaction that comes from the increase in pay is their primary motivation.”

An English finalist at Worcester also stated that earnings were not a key concern.

“For those that want to earn obscene bonuses, Oxford gives them a route into the City, and limitless pocket money in exchange for their difficult degree. For most of us, job satisfaction is a higher priority, and our extra 15 hours of work aren’t being reflected because we don’t want them to be,” she said.

Vets have slaughtered 25,000 chickens after bird flu was discovered at a farm near Banbury.

The outbreak occurred just fifteen miles away from the Gatecrasher music festival, prompting health fears amongst the hundreds of students who attended the event two weeks ago.

Chickens on Eastwood Farm had been infected with the disease for three weeks, before bird flu was suspected and precautions taken.

However, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra),stressed that the risks of H7 to human health are low.
The birds have been infected with the H7 strain of Avian influenza, rather than the deadly H5N1 strain. However there have been cases in Britain where farm workers have suffered conjunctivitis and flu-like symptoms from it.

A 3km protection zone around the farm and a 10km surveillance zone have been put in place around Eastwood Farm. The laboratory results on some of the dead chickens show that the H7 strain of bird flu is still highly contagious.

Further tests will now take place to try to establish links with previously identified Avian flu viruses and where the disease could have originated. It is suspected that the disease has been spread by wild birds.

The movement of birds and bird products have been banned in the whole of the temporary zone and all kept birds must be isolated from contact with wild birds. Restrictions have also been imposed on people who have contact with wild birds.
Students who attended Gatecrasher two weeks ago expressed concern that their may be health risks.

One Keble undergraduate, who attended the festival, expressed his concern, saying, “I’m quite worried. The chicken farm was really close by as we could all smell it when we were at the festival.”

A St Anne’s third year who also went to Gatecrasher said, “I’m concerned about the whole thing, given that a bird pooed on me and that bird flu is such a big issue in the media at the moment. I haven’t felt ill or anything since the festival on Sunday, so hopefully I’ll be fine.”

However, others were less worried. Jocelyn Corner, a second year student at Pembroke, explained that she was not greatly concerned by the news. She said, “The fact that the disease can only be spread by having close contact with infected chickens means that I don’t feel at any particular risk.

“It’s certainly not going to stop me from eating chicken. If the more deadly H5N1 strain had been discovered then I’d be much more worried that an outbreak had been found so close to Oxford. I do feel bad for the farmer though, and the chickens.”

In a statement a University Press Officer said, “The University has a flu pandemic planning committee which exists to plan for any type of pandemic flu, including bird flu. If there were an outbreak various procedures would kick in depending on central government assessment of the threat level (which right now remains at low).”

The Health Protection Agency has confirmed that the risk to public health remains low. The Food Standards Agency has also confirmed that the disease cannot be contracted by eating food, but can be contracted by close contact with infected birds.

Defra is considering whether any wider measures are needed.

Avian influenza

– Avian influenza (bird flu) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of birds.

– H7 is the non-deadly strain of bird flu: the risk it poses to humans remains low.

– H7 infection in humans is rare, but can occur among persons who have direct contact with infected birds.

– Advice from the Food Standards Agency remains that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

– The H7 virus is destroyed by cooking thoroughly. By contrast, H5N1 is a much more virulent and deadly form of bird flu.

Evidence of cocaine use has been discovered in the Oxford Union and OUSU offices.

Cocaine-detecting swabs used to wipe flat surfaces in the toilets in Oxford University Students’ Union’s Bonn Square offices tested positive, as did swabs in five of the eight cubicles tested in the Oxford Union.

The OUSU building is leased by the University and the third floor houses the staff of The Oxford Student and Oxide radio alongside the sabbatical offices of OUSU staff.

The cocaine swabs were used to wipe a ledge by the sink and the back of both toilet cisterns in the third floor bathrooms, revealing traces of the class A drug.

OUSU President Martin McCluskey said he was shocked by the results of the tests, saying “I can’t quite believe it.”

He continued, “I’m surprised. The building is used by hundreds of people each week… There are more people from the OxStu and Oxide here than sabs [OUSU sabbatical officers].”

Hannah Kuchler, editor of the Oxford Student, whose offices share a bathroom with the student union, also argued that the toilets were freely accessible, saying, “Jacari, UCU, the fucking Lecturers’ Union. Anyone could use it.”

McCluskey added, “I can assure you that it wasn’t an OUSU sab. We don’t have a policy towards drug use, but we’re zero tolerance. The security in this building isn’t fantastic, sometimes the doors are open at weekends.”

He emphasised that he trusted OUSU’s sabbatical staff, saying, “we spend a lot of time together and I’m sure they’re not cocaine users.”

The current President suggested that the offices were regularly used by people not involved with the Student Union, saying, “Oxide and the OxStu combined bring in more people than OUSU… We’ve got non-students based here, too.”

McCluskey did not, however, give any indication that OUSU’s security arrangements would change in the near future: “There’s very little we can actually do. This is a University building, not an OUSU building.”

Tests also revealed traces of the illegal drug at the Oxford Union. Swabs turned up positive results in over half of the eight cubicles tested in the Oxford Union, and several students have admitted to using the drug on the premises.

The tests at the Oxford Union were conducted on two separate occasions: after President’s Drinks on a Thursday evening, and on a weekday afternoon.

One Oxford Union member, who preferred to remain anonymous, commented on the results.

He said, “there are certain people, some quite senior, who definitely engage in drug use. I personally really dislike it. I don’t doubt that it happens.”

Another student, who also did not wish to be named, said, “it’s probably one of the best places to do coke in Oxford. The toilet cubicles are massive and there are no bouncers.”

He added, “there were three of us in a cubicle and no one batted an eyelid. I snorted it off the ledge above the toilet.”

Ben Tansey, President of the Oxford Union, described the findings as “really disappointing”.

He defended the security arrangements in place, saying, “we have security on the door. They’re briefed to deal with things like that. We search bags sometimes.”

However Tansey admitted that, “Obviously it’s hard to police the Union toilets 24/7.”

He denied that drug usage was a significant problem, saying, “I’ve never seen anyone do coke in Oxford. I’m quite clearly not in the scene.” Toby Shergold of Thames Valley Police warned that although the tests were positive, the drugs could have been used weeks ago.

He said, “we’ve done swabs in some licensed premises across the county, but it’s important to remember that it’s an indicator of drug use. However it’s not something that a premise should be condemned for. “It takes one person to use drugs in that cubicle, for you to take a positive result, in recent weeks. It can be positive from weeks ago.

He also stressed that swabs don’t reveal that large numbers of people were taking drugs at a given venue. Shergold said, “these swabs are not an accurate indicator of how much drugs have been taken in a licensed premise.

“We have had swabbing operations around the county and if a licensed premise has a positive result, this is a reason to work with them to stop any future drug-taking on their property,” he added.

In 2006 a Cherwell investigation found evidence of cocaine in 11 student venues, including the Union and the Bridge.