Rent Boys
TRINITY HAS BECOME the latest college to announce a significant increase in rents this week. The JCR is facing a choice of three years with successive 6% rises, or a one-off rise of 8% this year with no guarantee for the future.
The authorities at Trinity have justified the rises by citing last year's increase of only 4.2%, just under the Van Noorden index. Chris Cook, JCR Secretary, said that he was 'disappointed' by the lack of options offered and that he was "worried by the lack of guarantees for next year's rent under the 8% proposal as well as the massive jump in living costs." Further to this "the three-year deal would represent a 19% rise in living costs over three years."
The issue will be discussed in a JCR General Meeting on Sunday of seventh week before the JCR executives meet the college to finalise proposals later that week.
This comes in a week in which St. Hugh's JCR produced a 17-page Rent Report to present to SCR members ahead of the finance committee, and governing bodies decisions on a proposed 14% rent rise. JCR President Damian Jenkins said "I am sure we will arrive at a sensible compromise with the bursar on rent rises before we have to take any action."
The projected rent rise at St Hugh's is amongst the highest announced to JCRs this term. Rents would rise to £711 per term and students at the college would lose the four free days' residence they currently have at the beginning of term.
At a JCR meeting last Sunday a list of action, which would be taken if the college finance committee and governing body of St Hugh's were to vote in favour of a 14% rent rise, was presented to the student body. Students voted on the action and overwhelming majorities voted to withdraw co-operation with the SCR, in fundraising events and to rent-strike next year, in the event of the governing body voting in favour of the rise. "The JCR are very angry," said Damian Jenkins, "and although we would want to avoid a rent-strike at any cost, if governing body confirm this rise, we will have to act in the JCR's best interest."
LMH JCR are also continuing their stand against rising food costs. Following a demonstration last Wednesday, the JCR are now requesting that students ask their parents to write to the College Principal expressing their anger.
6th Jun 2002