St Hugh's into Battel
St Hugh's JCR is on the verge of rebellion after the announcemnet of proposals to increase Battels by 8.7% in Michealmas 99. Raph Mokades, JCR President, is urging all undergraduates to withhold payment this term until Wednesday, 2nd Week when the issue will be discussed fully with the College Bursar and other members of the SCR.
Speaking to the Oxford Student Mokades expressed his belief that the scale of the proposed increase could be attributed to an ambitious plan to increase accomodation. Phase 1 of a new building complex estimated to cost a total of£15 million is due for completion by October. It is believed that the money needed to start Phase 2 of the scheme is unavailable, prompting speculation that College may be using Battels as a way of increasing revenue.
While admitting that the new development will lead to an improvement in the standard of rooms for undergraduates, Mokades stated the building "was built for conferences as much as for students."
As a result of the Labour Government's decision to abolish the Oxbridge College Fee, St Hugh's could face a cut in government funding by as much as £750,000. However, Mokades was reluctant to attribute the proposed 8.7% rise, as the first sign of the introduction of so called back-door Top-Up Fees by Oxford Colleges.
The mood at St Hugh's being described as "militant", a rent strike seems possible if students express their dissatisfaction at the outcome of Wednesday's meeting in a referendum. Speaking to the Oxford Student, one undergraduate commented, " With inflation at 2.5% the proposed increase is out of order, and they obviously want the money for something else, if College could not afford the new building, they should not have started work in the first place" She continued by saying, "St Hugh's JCR has already shown it is prepared to take action against Tuition Fees and we will oppose the imposition of Top-up Fees equally vigorously."
Battels strikes have been an effective method of protest in the past. Four years ago, Pembroke College responded to financial difficulties by drastically raising rents and as a result, virtually all undergraduates refused to pay. Although the protest was unable to prevent a rise still 3% above the then rate of inflation, the JCR was able to achieve greater representation on all College committees. Despite the "wound" caused by the protest, present Pembroke JCR President Rick Muir claims relations between JCR and SCR have significantly improved since the protest.