JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
May 1981
May I express a mild protest at the tone of recent articles on student housing in Jericho (last two issues of the Echo)? The deterioration of the physical condition of some houses in the area owned or leased by colleges and institutions may well be a matter for concern; similarly, residents may justifiably feel aggrieved if regularly kept awake by student noise. However, the proper course for the local residents, or ratepayers association is to write to the college authorities concerned, who are responsible both for the upkeep of the buildings and for the discipline of the students who live in them not to stir up resentment by broadsides in the local community newspaper.
Oxford is a university town,and one must expect a proportion of housing to be taken up by student lodgings. The balance between the latter and privately owned houses in Jericho seems to be about right at the moment, with family occupation still in an absolute majority. Those agitating to have all houses restored to family occupancy should reflect on the national importance of Oxford as an educational centre, and on the custom and jobs created by the academic community in the city. After all Jericho itself came into being largely to house workers at the University Press.
The remarks on foreign students seemed particularly unfortunate(Echo,no.12). Britain generates an enormous amount of future goodwill for herself by educating young people from overseas, not least by teaching them english, as well as by providing A-level and degree courses. It is surely our duty to try to make them feel at home while studying here. Hostile articles in the press which, make foreigners feel alienated are simply counter-productive. If we want students to behave properly in our neighbourhood (as most of them do ), we should start by exhibiting a friendly a attitude towards them- otherwise, a vicious circle is created.
Students are young people, and must be expected to have parties from time to time. Since very few can afford cars we must not be surprised to see bicycles parked outside their lodgings. To grumble at these things is unreasonable and ungenerous. On the other hand, students can properly be expected to keep noise to a minimum late at night and to keep public squalor at bay. Having now lived in Jericho for two years, I have come to value the community atmosphere here, for which the local pubs, the Institute and Church in their different ways provide foci. One of the delights of Jericho is that it is now very much a mixed area, in which people of many different backgrounds - social, professional, ethnic - are trying to live in harmony. It would be a great pity if this atmosphere should be jeopardized by ill-considered journalism.
Author: Dr Nicholas Gendle