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Around a hundred students held a protest on the front quad of
Wadham College in response to college rent rises.
Around one hundred students assembled in Wadham's front quad today to protest against rent increases.
The 'sit-in' was part of a rent campaign organised by the college's Student Union President, Leonora Sagan. She claims that students have not received fair representation in rent negotiation.
Sagan, who spoke over a megaphone to assembled undergraduates during the sit-in, claimed that there had been a 46% rent increase in the past six years.
Addressing the crowd, she said, “the rent increase is far out of line with national interest rates.”
Wadham SU President Leonora Sagan claimed that the college had
ignored her request for student representation in rent discussions.
Students chanted slogans including Union anthem 'Solidarity Forever' at the protest, which ran for over an hour on Thursday lunchtime. One third year at the event called for “a rent revolution.”
The increase in rent for Wadhamites in the academic year 2008-2009 remains at 4%.
Che Ramsden, a first year English student, agreed with the SU President.
Ramsden described the rent increases as “absolutely ridiculous”.
“It is an access issue, as students have to rely on money other than student loans to pay battels,” she added.
Third year historian Robin Clyfan complained that Wadham had failed to justify the rent increases.
He said, “there has been no reasonable explanation for the increases.”
Wadham Warden Sir Neil Chalmers went to view the protest. He denied any suggestion that students had not been consulted.
“We have had extensive discussions with students over a long period of time,” he said.
“Our governing body has come to a decision about next year’s rent that is fair both for this generation of students and for future generations.”
» 8 comments
1"headline"
on Thursday, 15 May 2008 12:56
they're protesting, but they missed the opportunity for a \\\'rent strike\\\'.
2"SU President"
on Friday, 16 May 2008 00:14
She can stay at mine rent-free.
3comment
on Friday, 16 May 2008 00:17
nice video, snappier than some of the others.
4"Chants"
on Friday, 16 May 2008 11:26
Great video. Shame the chants weren't very original.
5"More money"
on Friday, 16 May 2008 11:28
We want more money!
You know, give us some of that internet money! MORE MONEY!
6"L"
on Sunday, 18 May 2008 01:20
God I want to bang Leonora Sagan senseless, she looks so damn fine. Can protest in my bed rent-free anytime she wants.
7"Too late"
on Monday, 19 May 2008 07:58
That joke has (basically) already been made.
8comment
on Monday, 26 May 2008 01:34
Seems like a lot of rather posh students complaining that their college isn't inclusive. The irony obviously lost on them there.
PS. I feel that the singing at the end rather undermines the cause.
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