No money? No firsts.
The "Oxford Experience" has been labelled a myth by a recent OUSU investigation into the disparities between each colleges' provision of resources. The report claims that the differences between the colleges are so great that "the very nature of Oxford as a university is questionable".
This investigation supports the 1997 Commission of Enquiry's report, concluding that there is a certain broad correlation between college wealth and academic performance, even though there is no direct causal link. Library provision, financial support and academic achievement vary significantly from college to college, and "are all unduly influenced, to the disadvantage of students in poorer colleges, by the disparity in college wealth."
The report suggests that the current attempt to build up endowments of poorer colleges should be abandoned, and instead colleges should be able to spend the whole of what they receive from the college contribution scheme as they would income, in order to ensure "a common educational experience for matriculated students of the single University".
This research delivers another blow to a major selling point of the university as appears in the prospectus, that "all colleges are alike in offering good computing, library, sports and music facilities as well as in providing students with food and accommodation". New evidence reveals, for example, that compared with the student at St John's, the student at Teddy Hall is paying £1,037 more for the cheapest available basic costs per year. Also disturbing is that none of the bottom ten colleges for endowment income were in the top ten of the Norrington Table.
Although asserting that "the differences in provision are not as great as some have claimed", the report raises grave concerns about Oxford's reputation. Sean Sullivan, OUSU's VP (Finance), believes: "This shows that though we are one university, Oxford is failing a large percentage of its students due to unequal provision."
Pembroke - £3961 Teddy Hall - £2846 St Hilda's - £2693
St John's - £1656 Exeter - £1732 Magdalen - £1749 (the cost of three term's rent, five evening meals a week and nine days of vacation residence)
Magdalen has £195,000 to spend annually on their library, Exeter has £55,323
Christ Church has £366,002 to spend annually on scholarships, exhibitions, prizes and grants, Wadham has £38,678
IS THAT FAIR?
Your Student Union has investigated the inequalities which exist in our University and our report is now out. You can download your copy by following the links from www.ousu.org or get a copy from your Common Room or Student Union President.
The Oxford University Prospectus many of you would have meticulously read when applying claimed:
"All the colleges are alike in offering good computing, library, sports and music facilities, as well as in providing students with food and accommodation."
Indeed this is correct, and in addition every college has its individual merits, ranging from academic success and an impressive set of alumni to excelling on the sports field. Rather than attempting to infer that all colleges are similar, it should be appreciated all have certain strengths that can attract prospective applicants. Perhaps more work needs to be done in highlighting these fortés - I know of a student awarded an offer from Merton completely oblivious to its academic reputation, and another struggling to find information on the best colleges for rowing.
What however cannot be justified is the outrageous inequalities that exist regarding the financial side of things. Statistics appear to be hidden away in OUSU's Battel Pack; little did most of us know when 'coming up' that there would be such a massive disparity in cost. Whilst a fresher at St Johns or Exeter may be able to comfortably live solely relying on their student loan, this may not even cover the rent alone at Pembroke which can hit an extortionate £147 a week.
It's the same university that award us a degree at the end of the day; the inequality within our institution desperately needs to be reduced.
24th Apr 2003