New batteling 40% rent rises
RENTS FOR NEXT year's freshers at New College are set to rise by 40%, after the SCR decided to take the unpopular at the end of last term. The decision has been opposed by both the JCR and MCR.
The battels sub-committee put forward a policy document to fight against the decision to remove the subsidy on students' rents, opposing the extremely large rent rises proposed and to prevent differentials between rooms and years from being introduced.
Following this second meeting, it was conceded that the prices would not be varied between years or rooms, but maintained that the blanket subsidy would be removed.
Jonny Holliday, JCR Treasurer, said: "The powers that be seem pretty decided on this. They made a couple of fairly good concessions, but at the end of the day the rents will be rising." When asked what action would now be taken he replied: "We can't do anything until we know what the JCR want to do. It may be that there will be a rent strike, but I doubt such drastic action will be taken."
The final resolution sees rents rising to £62.50 in 2001-2002, a rise of 13.2%, rising to £85 in 2004-2005. After this rents will rise by the Van Noorden Index. This compares to the Bursar's original proposal of £77.50 for first years in 2001-2002.
Will Straw, JCR President, stated in an email sent to members of the JCR during the Easter vacation that it was important to understand that New College is reasonably unique as an educational institution which subsidises rooms, but that this may not be a "convincing reason for its removal".
Jonny Holliday said: "I feel the SCR may have passed these policies as they believe that other colleges will be doing a similar thing." He added that he has received some emails from New's student body expressing their anger, but he stressed that these were "of a minority" at the moment. However, the impact of the decision will only fully be seen in Trinity when the JCR and MCR decide what, if any, further action to take.
New College JCR and MCR may benefit from the recently-launched OUSU website providing advice on battels negotiations. The 'OUSU Battels Pack' can be found at www.ousu.org/battelsbuster/
26th Apr 2001