Sit-in Against Men
A sit-in protest against the possibility of St Hilda's becoming mixed, resulted in the ejection of OxStu journalist James Coatsworth from the college by the Principal, Lady English, when he tried to report upon the incident.
With the debate over the single-sex status of the college hotting up following a JCR referendum on the matter held last Thursday, the protestors had lined the corridor outside the Senior Common Room (SCR) to demonstrate their views to the Fellows.
Coatsworth, who had been sent to cover the incident, was told by the Principal that his presence was "inappropriate" and was subsequently asked politely but firmly to leave.
He claims that his being thrown out was due to the actions of JCR President Penny Berrill, who, in her words "informed the lodge that there was someone there", allegedly in the knowledge that this would lead to Coatsworth's removal. The porter who fetched Lady English later confirmed to Coatsworth that he had been contacted by Berrill.
Berrill later told The OxStu she had alerted the Porter's to his presence "because he was a journalist". Berrill also stated that when she had asked him to report to the lodge, "he didn't follow me or make any attempt to leave". Coatsworth says that he was unaware that she had wanted him to accompany her and had not wanted to leave whilst the protest was on-going.
The protest is part of a wider campaign by certain undergraduates who want the college to remain single-sex, a view that was reflected by the results of last Thursday's referendum.
The vote, held in anticipation of the imminent decision to be made by the college's Governing Body on the matter, saw 57 percent of junior members reply 'No' to the question 'Should St. Hilda's go mixed?' 311 students from an undergraduate body of around 420 voted, with students overseas given the opportunity to vote by proxy.
It is as yet unclear upon whether the Governing Body will be voting on the gender-composition solely of the Senior Common Room, or alternatively of the whole student body. The college authorities have however confirmed that the vote will take place some time next week.
Photo: James Coatsworth
27th Feb 2003