Lincoln JCR defeat planned rent hikes
Following a success in a recent rent dispute with the college's financial committee, Lincoln JCR start the term in fine spirits.
Following a silent protest by over two hundred Lincoln students outside the Governing Body's final meeting of last term, fellows of the college sided with the JCR, rejecting the proposals for differentiated rates for college accommodation.
The JCR had railed against the proposed switch. Representing the student body, JCR President Mairi Brewis objected at the meeting of the Governing Body on the grounds that the proposal masked a steep overall rent hike.
A specific objection focused on the fact that 75 per cent of rooms were to be classified as grade A, the most expensive category, leaving only a small number of less expensive rooms for students with low family incomes. By comparison less than 50 per cent of rooms in Oriel, where differentiated rates are charged, are classed as grade A.
Tim Knowles, the bursar of Lincoln, told The OxStu that he did not think that the rejection of the proposal would cause financial problems for the college.
The action by the JCR has surprised many given Lincoln JCR's traditional reputation for apathy.
22nd Apr 2004