St Catz protestors insulted by the high table in LATIN after they refuse to stand up

Hall on Monday night took a turn for the worse at St Catz – when protesters were mocked by high table in Latin.

Students protesting against new budgeting rules are said to have refused to stand up when the high table entered.

But when saying the Latin Grace, the high table is thought to have added: “The students are protesting. Let them have their fun”.

Protests began this week after the JCR declared independence from their college, in response to new controlling budget rules.

It appears the college is getting its revenge in subtle ways: students noted that knives had not been laid out in advance and were only given to them for main course.

Although it is not certain why this was the case, some think it was a dig from the college.

One St Catz student told The Tab: “No one knows whether the knives were intentionally handed out after the high table had walked in, or whether it was simply a coincidence.

“However assuming the worst, this would be extremely insulting to us all.”

The college are attempting to deny their JCR committee financial independence. Instead the college intends to control the budget, reimbursing committee members for their spending.

This means only the “rich kids” who have huge amounts of cash lying around can realistically be on the JCR Committee.

The normal system involved £5400 given to the JCR Committee per term that is taken ahead of term from St Catz undergrads as a “JCR levy” – similar to many other colleges.

The new system would favour the rich, some argue. The only other college to operate like this is Christ Church, where committee members are expected to pay out of pocket – meaning unless you have thousands of pounds in a bank account, being a committee member is impossible.

As a result, one St Catz student said: “What college is doing is instigating and encouraging social inequality.”

No money was transferred to the committee for Trinity Term and now some committee members are already owed money by the college.

Numerous other colleges have given or loaned money to St Catz, who are still trying to negotiate with college authorities. Letters from the President and Treasurer to the college have been ignored thus far.

Jack Hampton, the JCR President, wrote in a letter addressed to St Catz fellows: “We simply want to have what almost every other Student Union nationwide has. An independent JCR funded by the JCR levy paid by its own students, with financial autonomy and a good working relationship with the College.”

He added that some felt “the JCR were being held to ransom by College” for not accepting the new rules.

St Catz students believe there is no reason why the new system is needed. Hampton wrote that “nothing that Catz JCR has done is radical, shocking or against the status quo.”

The students of St Catz intend to continue their protests this week and not stand in hall for high table.