Corpus Christi has come under fire due to its antiquated rules on room guestsDiliff

It was at a regional conference where I was ‘sold’ Cambridge through their description of an idyllic college system. It was meant to be “an academic community that’s there to support you”, as one student stated. When I last went to speak in a school encouraging students to apply to Cambridge, I was in the midst of relaying the clichéd advantages of the collegiate system when I was challenged by a student stating: “isn’t that a bit isolating?” This led me to be believe that the collegiate system really isn’t as pivotal in people’s application to Cambridge. In fact, I can’t help but feel there’s a lot that might be valid in criticisms of colleges that aren’t automatically great places.

“‘Cambridge’ seems to be such a prestigious word that it repels negative criticism that might lead to reform for the better”

Since I have realised that the collegiate system is not necessarily perfect, everywhere I look their flaws become more obvious. Take Corpus’ invasive and archaic policy on room guests, for example. This reveals how colleges fail to live up to the standard as supportive institution. The problem is that these cases aren’t just isolated episodes: they’re part of a toxic culture which seems not just to be part of Cambridge but part of the college system.

I am not attempting to argue that the collegiate system is inherently flawed, rather I want to show that there are valid, and real criticisms of the collegiate system which sometimes are ignored under the banner of ‘tradition’. This argument is aimed at those who act like they’re somehow immune to criticism because their of age and prestige. ‘Cambridge’ seems to be such a prestigious word that it repels negative criticism that might lead to reform for the better.

Colleges can be helpful to their students, but they can also be pretty horrific. Last week’s revelation about Corpus is a case in point, an intrusive policy that means that students must declare any guests sleeping in their room and they are then spied on by their bedders to ensure that this rule is being obeyed. This seems to epitomise how the University of Cambridge wasn’t actually designed to be attended by real humans. I feel like some colleges are begrudging of giving students anything that doesn’t directly relate to work and study. I imagine some Senior Tutors and Deans thinking: “We have a library, we give them beds and we even have a dining hall, what more do they need?!” God forbid that they might do what humans do and form relationships with other humans. Maybe a world in which people only need food, books and sleep would be lovely, but it isn’t the world we live in.

I’m exaggerating here, but there is still a core truth that Cambridge doesn’t seem to be able to tolerate anything other than a devotion to work. I know one DoS at my college actively discourages his students taking up any kind of extra-curricular activity. After all, “you come here to work”. Why would you have any interest in socialising, or maintaining your mental health, or pursuing those things you’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance to till you get to university?

A counter-argument is often touted to which goes something like “Why are you here, then? Surely you knew it would be a challenge?” To those I’d say we expected a challenge, but we also expected a life. We want to be treated like we’re actually paying for our rooms and for our degree, not like robots or children, like we’re able to live reasonably private and enjoyable lives. Colleges are pressurised environments which can develop in less direct ways. First, the geographical proximity to the library: walking past the library and seeing everyone else working can induce serious guilt pangs. Then, in Easter (or helpfully named ‘exam’) term, living in college can feel like you’re trapped in a pressure cooker.  Then, there's the academic competition within colleges. If you’re in supervisions with the same people every week it’s easy to feel constantly ranked and compared with them. The smallest differences or mistakes can feel soul-crushing for new freshers who are used to be being at the top of their class. On top of all of this, if you feel bad about work the system won’t let you do anything else. The whole system of colleges can make escape seem impossible.

This isn’t to say that every college or even most has any of these characteristics. Nor do people experience pressure equally within the same college and the same set of circumstances. Some people thrive while others simply can’t. Some DoSes are fantastic, but that doesn’t make it excusable for some who are truly awful. It might seem obvious, but there needs to be a realisation that ‘support’ is different from pressure and that a supportive academic community can easily become a suffocating one.