Diversity Rules
Who'd have thought that Cherwell would be the first to be threatened with the proctors this term?
But, seriously, the St Benet's debacle, coming at a time when St Hilda's JCR are becoming increasingly vociferous in their bid to remain a single-sex college highlights a more general problem: both places are fighting a rearguard action against the forces of uniformity.
St Hilda's is a fully paid up college, and it seems only a matter of time before the constraints of equal opportunities policy will erode their rights to carry on in their female haven. St Hilda's prides itself on its friendly and welcoming environment, the propensity of its members to participate in the universities' societies, and its maintenance of an environment for women to excel academically.
There are many students who enjoy the single-sex environment, despite the fact that the majority were originally pooled there. The question of why Hilda's should go mixed, against the will of the JCR, when there is hardly a shortage of mixed Oxford colleges is a persuasive one. Religious and personal grounds for wanting to go to a single-sex college are interests that many feel should be represented by the University and reflect its diversity.
The same should apply to St. Benet's. Yes, the monastic element take a vow of chastity - this doesn't mean that we should discriminate against them anymore than we should against any other minority.
Our friends over at St Aldates clearly haven't taken the sentiments of OUSU's Div Week to heart. Diversity isn't just about same-sex marriage, but about providing the space for minorities, if they so wish, to study in a particular environment. If Oxford can no longer provide that sort of educational environment, then it is unlikely to survive anywhere. We think that would be a loss to educational diversity and therefore a loss to us all.
And we don't only support colleges for women and monks. After all, the Raelians have to live somewhere too.
13th Feb 2003