Beloff slams speech critics
Trinity president Michael Beloff has hit back at criticism over remarks he made pointing to the privatisation of the University within 20 years.
Beloff has denied advocating privatisation, insisting his remarks were taken out of context. "It's obviously touched a nerve," he said. "Stories get legs of their own - it took off".
In a speech given to the Headteachers' Conference in St Andrews last Tuesday Beloff slammed government 'benchmark' targets for state school admissions to Oxford, adding the University was poised to launch a fundraising campaign which could free it from the necessary government stipends.
Speaking to The Oxford Student, Beloff said a different emphasis had been placed on his comments following the Scottish conference, making him appear to advocate Oxford's future privatisation.
"The University has become over-regulated. The Government ought to help us with these outreach schemes rather than threaten us with quotas," he said.
Beloff clarified his anti-quota position, stating his belief the admissions process should begin with academic qualifications and later take into account where the students come from.
Beloff, alluding to private American universities which strike endowment bargains to admit children of generous alumni to secure necessary funds, said: "That bargain couldn't be struck at Oxford. We play it straight down the middle."
Student Union president John Blake has critisised Beloff over the remarks in the speech, accusing him of: "living in Neverneverland" adding: "Privatisation would set the colleges against one another, the academic divisions against the colleges, and everyone against the students".
However, Trinity JCR president Sophie Coulombeau expressed support for her college president: "It is one very commendable thing to improve access by encouraging application from state schools. It is quite another to wrest control from tutors who know best about their own courses and their own candidates."
14th Oct 2004