Hall for none and none for hall

Magdalen JCR sets up soup kitchen as they launch two week boycott of college catering


Magdalen students are relying on a soup kitchen and other colleges’ generosity after they went full steam ahead with a two-week boycott of college catering.

The JCR-led boycott comes after Magdalen Governing Body imposed a £240 catering charge on students.

Henry Watson, Magdalen OUSU representative and ex-JCR Vice President, told The Tab: “This highly-regressive charge will price poorer students out of Magdalen. An increase in living costs of £240 per annum, on top of large rents and further rent rises, is outrageous at any College at any time, but is particularly inappropriate at Magdalen, considering the £13 million profit they recorded last year.”

Magdalen students surviving the strike and raising money for local charities (photo: Tom Edkins)

In an e-mail early Monday morning JCR President Meg Trainor reminded the JCR of the boycott and the alternative food provisions Magdalen students will have during the boycott. These included:

 • A soup kitchen serving students from an undergraduate’s window (with profits to local charities)
 • Members of the college cooking en masse in the self-catered JCR dining room
 • The St. Hilda’s dining hall

She added that other JCR Presidents around the University have been mobilised, and that students from other common rooms have been “urged to show their support” by inviting their Magdalen friends to dine at their college facilities.

The Magdalen soup kitchen (photo: Tom Edkins)

Student participation in the protest has been enthusiastic. Students not only boycotted eating in Hall but many have also volunteered to provide alternative food arrangements.

Tilda Ferree, a volunteer who yesterday started the soup kitchen from her window, said: “The response has been really positive – yesterday we sold 30 bowls with several people saying they’d come back every day, so that’s pretty darn good.

“We are strongly opposed to the catering charge which is unnecessary, unfair and will damage Access at Magdalen.”

When contacted for comment by The Tab, Trainor said: “’At the General Meeting on Sunday 7 October, Magdalen JCR voted to go on Hall strike from 22 October until 4 November. As College did not change their position on the charge in the interim, the strike began on Monday.

“All JCR members have been boycotting Hall, and many have volunteered to provide alternative food options during the strike. On Monday 22 October, JCR volunteers served over 80 portions of homemade lunch and dinner to fellow JCR members.

“We are also extremely grateful for the generous and invaluable support of students across the University, many of whom have invited Magdalen members to eat at their own halls during the strike.”

One lucky Magdalen student is fed by the makeshift soup kitchen (photo: Tom Edkins)

Leslie Bailey, a student at Magdalen, said that the JCR’s response to the boycott was “overwhelming.” “It sends the message to the Governing Body that the JCR should have some form of voice in the whole Magdalen community, and I am really heartened that other colleges have also extended a helping hand.

A student tucks in to food at the JCR self-catered dining hall (photo: Tom Edkins)

“The boycott does no doubt cause some inconvenience, but if we really get the message across, that will be a very good start.”

James Ferguson, a third year at Teddy Hall, said: “I do know people at Magdalen and have invited them to come over for dinner. The entire situation is obviously rather unpleasant, soup kitchen student movement and all, but as Gandhi has said, ‘be the change you want to see in the world’”.

The strike is planned to span two weeks, with the last day of strike on 4 November.