Students at Oxford University are launching their own version of the Whose University? campaign, first started in Cambridge earlier this academic year. 

An open meeting is today being held at Wadham College, aimed at "building upon the work of the original campaign and to start organising an Oxford version of the 'Whose University?' campaign".

Whose University? was launched in Cambridge in Michaelmas 2014. It is an independent campaign, though it draws significant support from the CUSU Women's Campaign: its founder, Daisy Hughes, is currently the latter's Campaign Manager.

The Whose University? campaign asks whether "ownership" of college spaces "in the sense of who has a right to feel at home" is being threatened by colleges' business-minded interests. 

The campaign has come under criticism for the vague nature of its aims and to what end the campaign intends to put the testimonies collected.

Controversy was sparked following the campaign's first open meeting in Cambridge when student journalists from The Tab concluded that "WU resolved to do… absolutely nothing." 

In response, Whose University? posted a statement to their Facebook page, apologising "to those whose personal experiences have been publicly shared, and those who feel threatened by (self-styled) journalistic 'infiltration' of activist space."

Oxford's collegiate system and similar practice of offering students term-based leases so guests can stay in their rooms during vacations means that many of the issues raised by the Cambridge Whose University? campaign have immediate parallels in Oxford.

However, not all reaction to the creation of the Oxford campaign has been positive.

"I think a key way to improve the student voice in these things would be if OUSU was less crap," one Oxford student told Varsity.

Whose University? Cambridge expressed their solidarity with Oxford students in their decision to recreate the campaign in 'the Other Place'.

"We are delighted that Oxford students are taking up the Whose University? campaign on their campus," they said in a statement.

"The effects of the neoliberal university and the marketisation of higher education obviously go way beyond Cambridge, and it’s great to see that our campaign has struck a chord elsewhere enough for others to take action.

"We are in touch with the Oxford organising group and will be offering them much support and solidarity as they begin their campaign."

The organisers of the Oxford campaign have so far declined Varsity's request for comment.

An official press release is expected after the event.