End of the Rhodes
IN THE WEEK that former Rhodes Scholar Bill Clinton came to visit Oxford, it was revealed that his alma mater was to relegate students to the basement.
According to plans currently under consideration, Rhodes House Library - which housed the Bodleian's American, African and Commonwealth collections - will be transformed into a private Common Room for Rhodes Scholars. The holdings of the library itself will be relocated to a small area in the basement, next to the toilets.
Although the University has proved reluctant to openly discuss the plans, the Oxford Student was alerted to the situation by students angry at the proposals. The move is understood to have been suggested by the Warden of Rhodes House, Dr JS Rowett, who is seeking permission from the Trustees of the Rhodes Trust. Staff and students who use the library have immediately initiated a letter-writing campaign to voice their disapproval.
About 250 Rhodes Scholars currently study a range of degrees in Oxford, most of them from America, Germany and the Commonwealth. Although every scholar is part of a college, and therefore has access to a Common Room, the plan would provide an extra Common Room, specifically for the scholars. The proposal has met with strong opposition from academics who regularly use the library. One Junior Research Fellow, who did not wish to be named, voiced the worries of many when he told the OxStu, "It would be taking provisions from undergraduates and graduates."
Rhodes House Library has been described as "one of the leading centres for the study of the former British Empire" and "one of the great libraries in the world for the study of imperialism". Last week the American collection was moved to the Rothermere Institute, opened by Clinton. The remaining sections, comprising African and Commonwealth Studies, are set to be relocated to a "limited reading space", currently used as a cloakroom, which receives virtually no natural light. Desk provision would be reduced from nearly forty to just seventeen, computer terminals from eight to one; there would be no photocopying, and reduced archival facilities. Most importantly, all open shelf access would be discontinued, "massively reducing provisions", according to one library user.
Few readers who spoke to the OxStu wished to be named, though they all expressed equal concern over the proposals. However, Patrick Mackerras, a PPE Finalist, was happy to go on the record. He commented, "it doesn't seem as though an underground library will really be able to cater for the number of people who want to read the books in Rhodes House." The letter-writing campaign has attracted support from students and staff alike, though University staff were especially reluctant to go on record before the "delicate matter" is resolved. One tutor, however, admitted to being "very concerned about the consequences".
Professor Sir Richard Southwood, Chairman of the Rhodes Trust, was abroad and unavailable for comment at the time of going to press. A University spokesperson, however, commented that the matter was "under discussion" and that "no conclusion about its future has yet been reached."
Library users remain firm in their opposition, expressing their anger that they had not been included in the decision. One reader commented that Rhodes House's "very long tradition seems difficult to square with reducing the Library to a reading area by the toilets."
1st Jun 2001