Fitzbillies shut up shop without so much as a gesture towards their loyal public. A notice stuck on their shop front in after-thought sellotape explained that Pembroke College had repossessed their land after a string of outstanding rent payments. And so students were left uninformed, on the lurch and lamenting the actions of institutions they have no say or claim over.

Though the situation with the University and tuition fees is very different, the parallels are telling.

We are still waiting for a public announcement from the University on their plans to charge £9,000 tuition fees. Varsity, along with the rest of the media, is relying mostly on leaked documents and meeting minutes to inform their coverage.

The insidious tactics employed by the University smack of a casual disregard for its students’ and prospective students’ interests. Browsers are helpfully informed by the fees section of the ‘Prospective Students’ web page that "figures for 2011–12 will be published as soon as they are available." There is a distinct lack of regard for those students whom many predict will be put off by an increase to fees.

The plans inevitably induced anger from the Left, though perhaps they offered a more expedient opportunity to address the system’s provision for social mobility than many would accept. The University, as Nick Clegg piously declared, would need to prove their eligibility under scrupulous standards set by the Office For Fair Access (OFFA).

But the University have quashed hopes for reform, claiming that a change in the state school quota – from 58% to 64 % – is unfeasible. The Working Group were unanimous: the target of more than 64% was not deemed achievable without "lowering admissions standards".

This was an excellent opportunity to make the most of a poor situation; a real chance to think strategically about increasing availability from those from disadvantaged backgrounds, at the expense of the more advantaged. What’s more, it was a real oppertunity to express – decisively – the positive side of the proposals.

We wanted a rationale; instead we’ve been treated with smoke and mirrors.

And so the University remained silent. No care for the damage they will inflict, no hastily penned statement fastened to the window. The buns are fast running out and not even Stephen Fry’s tweets will save them.