An Introduction to Oxford University

To man the words 'Oxford University' conjure up images of colleges, academic excellence, fine buildings and quaint customs. In fact, 'The University' is rarely present physically. There is no campus which can be labeled 'University', yet all around are buildings which house students, teachers, libraries and laboratories. In the governing statutes it is defined as "The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford, in this City assembled".

In its broadest sense the 'University' is an umbrella organization which comprises all the colleges and separate teaching institutions and their members. In its strictest sense it is the central authority which binds together the colleges and administers the libraries, museums, laboratories, lectures and examinations.

Government of the University is in the hands of its teachers. The nominal head is the Chancellor elected for life, and the executive head is the Vice-Chancellor, who is appointed for a four year period. Congregation – a body which comprises most of those working in the University – is the main legislative body and all business is governed by the University Statutes which until 1969 were still published in Latin, once the official language of all University business.

The difficulty experienced in identifying the University is compounded by the fact that no clear starting point can be fixed for the founding of the institution. From 1096 to 1200 teachers and students are known to have existed in Oxford. The first Chancellor was Robert Grosseteste, Rector of the Oxford Franciscans in 1224. Endowments to the University began in 1214 and continued to the 15^th century, and it acquired its first buildings in 1320, with the construction of the Congregation House and Library at St. Mary's Church.

Today the University accepts all public money, arranges the content of undergraduate courses, awards degrees and maintains many of the buildings in which teaching and study take place.

The Colleges

Oxford University is an association which comprises thirty six colleges. Each college has its own distinctive character. Some are known largely for their academic achievement; others are also famous for their sporting prowess. There are differences of size, wealth and age. Christ Church, New College and Magdalen have famous choirs. Exeter College has traditionally strong connections with the West Country, Jesus with Wales, and Queen's and Brasenose with the north of England. All students are members of a college, which selects them, feeds them, accommodates them and supervises their studies.

Although each college has distinguishing features, there are similarities. Each college has a gatehouse, chapel, library, hall, kitchen and accommodation. The governing body consists of a Head of House and the Fellows, who are responsible for the electing the Head and new Fellows. Like the University, there is no single date which marks the foundation of the thirty six colleges. In the earliest days of the University students lived in hostels, halls and lodgings.

In circa 1263, John de Balliol provided money for the maintenance of a community of scholars. Similar money had been given to the University in 1249 for four Masters to live and study together in a hall which later became University College.

The foundation of a community of graduates by Walter de Merton in 1264 led to a change in the character of these institutions. Merton envisaged a permanent foundation with a common head, or Warden. Through the Middle Ages endowments were given for the founding of other colleges on the Merton model.

The number of halls declined in the face of the increasing wealth of the colleges; after 1500 the colleges admitted fee-paying students, as well as those scholars supported by the original foundation.

The number of colleges rose rapidly during the medieval period. Others were founded over the years up to modern times.

Town and Gown

The number of teachers and students increased steadily during the 12^th century.

By 1200 masters and scholars had formed themselves into associations, like guilds, to protect themselves from traders in the town. Whilst students were scattered about the town, the area around St. Mary's Church became a focus for the early university. The Congregation House in the Church was the first meeting place for the masters.

The student population derived into two main groups, the Northerners and the Southerners. Rivalries between them added to the friction that existed between the student body and the townsfolk. Assault was a common crime, exacerbated by the large quantity of ale that was brewed and sold by many Oxford householders.

The earliest riots recorded were in 1209 and such events continued for a century and a half until the great riot and massacre of St. Scholastica's Day, 1355, which went on for three days. This dispute arose from a disagreement between a landlord and some students at the Swyndlestock Tavern near Carfax and resulted in the students setting fire to the town, the townsfolk plundering the students' hostels and sixty-three scholars being killed. If there was a winner it was the University. For years after the event, the Mayor and 63 citizens were obliged to pay a penny fine each and bow before the Vice-Chancellor. The ceremony was only abolished in 1825.

Books and Libraries

Books were expensive items in the medieval period. Each had to be copied by hand, by clerks and scriveners. Parchment-makers, illuminators and bookbinders clustered around St. Mary's in Catte Street.

The newly founded colleges – Merton, University and Balliol – each had libraries in which books could be read, though by graduates alone. Only Merton allowed books to be borrowed.

The University library at this time was a small collection of books locked away in a chest. During the 15^th century, Duke Humfrey of Gloucester donated his collection of manuscripts to the University. This prompted the University to provide a building above the Divinity School to house them.

A printing press was established in 1478 and by 1486 nearly twenty books had been printed. Despite the spasmodic printing of a few books, the University press wasn't revived until 1584 and confirmed by Letters Patent in 1632. Today it is one of the world's largest publishing houses.

CHECK YOUR COMPREHENSION

Exercise 17. Answer the following questions to the text:

1) What images do the words 'Oxford University' conjure up?

2) What does the University present in its broadest/strictest sense?

3) How is the University governed? Give the definition of Congregation.

4) How was Oxford developing?

5) What are the peculiarities/similarities of the colleges in Oxford?

6) Why did the masters and scholars form themselves into guilds?

7) Who did the student body have rivalries with? What were the results of the great riot and massacre of St. Scholastica's Day?

8) Were books largely available in the medieval period?

9) Who enlarged the collection of books in the 15^th century? What did this act lead to?

10) When was a printing press established in Oxford?

MATCHING

Exercise 18. Match the following words with their definitions: campus, gatehouse, chapel, accommodation, hostel, hall, lodgings.

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