Money decides Rhodes won’t fall

£1.5m worth of donations to Oriel College have allegedly been cancelled already


Oriel College has announced that it has decided not to remove the statue of the British imperialist Cecil Rhodes, just days after the Union voted by 245 to 212 for the statue to be removed.

This decision goes back on the college’s earlier claim in December 2015 that it would enter into a “structured six-month listening exercise…seeking the views of students and staff” to see whether the Rhodes statue should be removed or not, and that it would seek “consent” to remove a plaque next to the statue that glorifies his actions.

The change of heart was reportedly sparked by furious donors who threatened to withdraw gifts and bequests worth more than £100 million if it was taken down. Oriel’s governing body, which owns the statue, allegedly ruled out its removal after being warned that £1.5m worth of donations have already been cancelled, and that it faces dire financial consequences if it appears to be conceding to the Rhodes Must Fall campaign.

A leaked copy of a report prepared for the governors and seen by The Telegraph shows that wealthy alumni angered by the “shame and embarrassment” brought on the 690-year-old college by the debate surrounding the Rhodes statue have now written it out of their wills.

At a meeting on Wednesday the governing body was told that because of its ambiguous position on the removal of the statue, “at least one major donation of £500,000” that was expected this year has been cancelled. The college now fears a proposed £100m gift – to be left in the will of one particular donor – is now in jeopardy following it’s proposal in December to consult with members of the university, including staff and students, about the future of the statue.

The college said after “careful consideration” it had decided the statue should remain but that it would add “a clear historical context to explain why it is there”, and claimed that ““the overwhelming message we have received has been in support of the statue remaining in place.”

The statement continued: “The College believes the recent debate has underlined that the continuing presence of these historical artefacts is an important reminder of the complexity of history and of the legacies of colonialism still felt today. By adding context, we can help draw attention to this history, do justice to the complexity of the debate, and be true to our educational mission.”

Meanwhile, Ntokozo Qwabe, leader of the RMF movement wrote on his Facebook page: “The decision by Oriel College to unilaterally reverse its public commitments on Rhodes, without any consultation, basically reminds us that black lives are cheap at Oxford.”