Frequently Asked Questions
Is your question not answered here? Email the Access Alliance Exec with your query.
By how much are rents going to increase?
At King’s, rents are going to go up by 8.3% + inflation for at least the next four years, according to College Council’s decision. Read Our Policy page for some real figures.
Will College throw me out?
No. College cannot afford to throw 270 people out and they would have no reasonable grounds for singling out 2 or three people to send down
either. Remember, there’s safety in numbers. This is a politically sensitive area for College and it would look bad.
Should I not pay all my college bill, or just the non-rent items, or perhaps just not the 8.3% increase?
Pay none of your bill. To have most impact, people should pay nothing. The College needs the money and cannot do without it, so our protest - even though it is primarily about rents - is stronger if you withhold all of the money.
What should I do with the money?
You can do one of two things:
- Pay money into the Access Alliance bank account. Money can be put
in to the account by either cheque or direct transfer. You will be
given a receipt within 48 hours (5 working days for a transfer). Your
money will be kept safe and you can get it back if ever you change your
mind. It will also disappear from your account, so you will find it easier to budget for the remainder of term.
- Withhold it altogether and keep it in your bank account.
How does the account operate?
These are the terms of the account, and they guarantee the security of
your money:
- It has both an Access Alliance signatory (Mat Coakley), and a College
signatory (Keith Carne, the Financial Tutor);
- Money withdrawn can go only to the College or back to the member;
- Withdrawals (either to the College or back to the member) from the
account, whether for money from this term or last, require a letter to the
Alliance (also saying whether you wish to remain a member of the Alliance)
with your signature;
- The Alliance shows the College full workings and membership lists
of the account upon their request.
How many people are on strike?
Over 270.
What were our initial demands?
Whilst it is obviously important to be flexible in negotiations, at the meeting on Monday 18th October 1999, the following policy was agreed:
- King’s rents should be kept to the national ex-London average (as identified by NUS).
- Everyone forced to pay the "College Charge" should be given a binding referendum on whether they wish to scrap it and pay fair prices in the Canteen.
- King’s should write to the Bursars’ committee requesting that those colleges going along with the rent hike should receive less of the re-allocation of the College Fee.
- College should provide open, transparent and explicit accounts and involve students in tackling inefficiency.
What is current policy?
See the Recent News page for current
developments.
Copyright © 2000 Access Alliance
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