Oxford offers places for cash
Helen Barratt London
Oxford University is once again at the centre of controversy after a report in the Sunday Times which claimed that one of its colleges was prepared to offer a place to a student in return for a cash donation.1 An undercover reporter, posing as a wealthy banker, was allegedly told by senior staff at Pembroke College that they could create an extra place for his son in return for a donation of £300 000 ($430 000; õ490 000).
John Platt and Mary-Jane Hilton, the two fellows of the college involved, both resigned with immediate effect from all offices at the college. According to the article, in a covertly taped meeting, Platt agreed to create an extra place on the law course and hinted that similar deals had been struck in the past. The pair, who were not authorised to make admissions decisions, recommended that the donation be paid through a secret trust fund in order to avoid leaks to the press. Despite being one of the oldest colleges at the university, Pembroke is known to be one of the poorest.
Giles Henderson, the master of Pembroke College, said, "The speed and decisiveness with which the college has acted on this serves to underline Pembroke's commitment to the selection of students being made solely on the basis of academic merit and potential. The college will review its procedures for ensuring that all admissions decisions and business are conducted only by those personnel authorised to do so."
Colin Lucas, vice-chancellor of Oxford University added, "There must be only one criterion for winning a place at Oxford, and that is individual excellence. We will not accept any dilution of this university's commitment to merit."
However, this is not the first time the university's admissions procedures have come under the spotlight. Three months ago, Trinity College turned down the son of a banker because he was not clever enough--despite a £100 000 donation to the college. The university was also fiercely criticised by the government for being elitist when it rejected comprehensive school pupil Laura Spence, who went on to win a place at Harvard.
studentBMJ 2002;10:131-170 May ISSN 0966-6494
- Calvert J. Revealed: degrees for sale at Oxford college. Sunday Times 2002 March 24:1.
