Heythrop students hold new referendum on merger

The students of Heythrop College are to vote in a second referendum on a proposed partnership with St Mary’s University, Twickenham, west London.

An earlier referendum found 60 per cent of students against the plan with 40 per cent in favour. The second one was due to take place earlier this week.

The Heythrop student body totals around 650 and the first referendum saw a turnout of 30 per cent. The president of Heythrop Students Union, Alexander Jozsa, said students are keen to see that the distinctive mission of the Jesuit-run college continues, including the “formative approach” to education in one-to-one tutorials. On 16 April the governing bodies of Heythrop and St Mary’s will meet spearately to decide on whether to proceed with the partnership. Mr Jozsa and the vice president of the union sit on Heythrop’s governing body.