Girton College has spent £30,000 on “new furniture” to remodel its MCR and study lounge on its Swirles Court site in Eddington.

In an email sent last Monday (19/05), the MCR President announced the purchase, admitting that “questions have… been raised about the purpose, utility, and funding of this renovation”.

Setting out to “address some of the concerns” in the “interest of transparency,” the President continued: “Swirles Court opened in 2017. Since then, there has not been any significant investment into the facilities. After 8 years of use, the furniture in place was beginning to show signs of wear and tear.

“The recent MCR Usage survey and individual feedback indicated that these facilities were uncomfortable and unattractive, which deterred students from making full use of the spaces provided. The new furniture increases the attractiveness, capacity and variety of study options (group, pair, individual). It also creates a clear distinction between areas designated for study and social activities,” they added.

The Swirles Court offsite accommodation is reserved primarily for postgraduate students and second-years, but its MCR is open to “all students”.

Seeking to justify the cost, the email stated: “Furniture is expensive, particularly institutional-grade items designed for heavy usage. The furniture installed was custom-made to fit the layout at Swirles Court while also being disability accessible. We also chose materials that mitigated the noise from the washing machines and group discussions to reduce distractions whilst studying.”

One Girton student questioned the cost, telling Varsity that “it’s a bit of a joke. How can the College and MCR justify spending £30,000 on a few sofas? The fact our college bill is being wasted like this is really disappointing”.

Planning for these renovations began in Michaelmas term, in consultation with students. According to the email, the money did not come from the MCR budget; instead, it came directly from the College, with the funds “specifically earmarked” for these renovations. This money was not, the President said, “to do anything we […] wanted to”.

A 2023 Varsity investigation revealed that the College charges the highest rent in the University. Girton froze rent for the 2024-25 academic year at £7,752 for a standard room on a 38-week lease, but they are set to rise again next year, with the cost for an equivalent room and lease reaching £8,018.

The MCR President concluded the email defending the remodelling: “It is my job to ensure that the postgraduate community has the best possible facilities to do their work and enjoy their time here at Girton, and securing this investment goes a long way towards achieving that goal. We could have, of course, not bothered to do anything to make Swirles a better a place.”

A spokesperson for the College stated: "Girton has invested in new, disability-accessible furniture for our postgraduate facilities, as part of our ongoing cycle of refurbishment of College spaces."