Redbrick, send a few Oxford graduates to New South Wales by all means. We could do with a few of Britain's finest to ease our skills shortgae, and what's more, they probably speak English.

John, Townsville, Australia (Part of British Empire)

I don't think that green is a good colour for 'redbrick'

Mike, Oxford,

Darren from Norwich, we don't care that you're "not impressed" with our common sense (by which I presume you mean lack of?). Oxford finals were once considered to be the second hardest exams in the world, after the entrance exams for the chinese civil service. However, the chinese civil service exams were later phased out, because they were so difficult that they were found to contravene human rights laws. Many students will have spent between twelve and fourteen hours per day in the library for the preceding year, if not three years, so please forgive us for not displaying the common sense which you so sternly demand immediately upon completion of the hardest exams in the world. I may only presume, Darren from Norwich, that you have never had to face the hardest test of its kind in the world, or experienced the relief and elation which follows. Comments such as your's add nothing to the debate as they demonstrate a complete ignorance about the impetus for students to celebrate.

Lorna, Oxford,

Louise, "Tarquins and Lavinias" is how "Redbrick" from Sheffield describes all Oxford students who are coming out of finals. Your point about people who are victims rather than perpetrators of trashings being fined is an excellent one. I understand that students who were not prepared to identify those who'd "trashed" them were subject to large fines themselves.

Lorna, Oxford,

i might be the only one in saying this, but this is pretty funny!

come one, we're only young once, and i'm sure everyone complaining about "hooligans" has at some point in their younger years acted immaturely!

Imaad, Bradford, UK

I find the comment referring to Oxonians as "Tarquins and Lavinias" rather distasteful. I also fail to see how celebrating 3/4/6 years of work can be described as a "downward spiral".

That said, if "Redbrick" from Sheffield would like to fund a large scale exodus to a warmer climate, where students may avoid such prejudice, I'm sure he would find many takers.

Furthermore, posting pictures on facebook is akin to the days before digital media when such pictures might be kept in a photo album. I would like to see anyone defend proctors searching through physical photo albums for evidence of "trashings"

Paul Stevenson, Glasgow/ Oxford,

The photos were placed on the Oxford student network, which the proctors who are demonstrably not oxford students gained access to. Obviously they didn't break any rules but their connivance and skulduggery offended most of the student community. As for Redbrick, his anachronistic attempts at being a class warrior are slightly embarrassing and offensive to the thousands of oxford students who reached the university through perseverence and academic toil

Daniel, Oxford,

Quelle surprise! Oxford students are mentioned in a newspaper and straight away people take advantage of one of the few groups in society that one can stereotype with virtual immunity. For some there is no greater pleasure than pulling apart people more successful than themselves. Many hacks seem to enjoy nothing more than looking down on "stupid" Oxonians at every opportunity. Methinks the green-eyed monster is at work.

These people have worked extremely hard, Pete. Some Oxford students study for over 60 hours a week, especially in finals term, when many spend every day and night (even Fridays) in the library (unlike most people their age). But you wouldn't know that. They have been working for this all their lives and deserve to be able to let their hair down at the end. A bit of fun says nothing about the standard of "academic" in this country.

They ARE the smartest young people in the country, but that doesn't mean they can't be incredibly silly when they have earned it.

William Waynfleet, Oxford,

I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what are Tarquins and Lavinias? What concerns me is that fines are levied fairly indiscriminately - whilst I have no wish to be covered in gunge after finals if somebody throws flower over me I could be subject to a large fine - I fail to see how this is fair. Having narrowly escaped a fine in the past, despite personally not breaking regulations, I am aware of how little defence students have - simply the balance of probabilities is enough to justify the levying of a large fine.

Louise, Oxford,

It seems to me that many who have commented on this issue are somewhat uninformed of the concept of Facebbok. As a social networking site, it is open only to your 'friends' or if you have allowed your privacy settings to open your page to others of the same network. As such, it is essentially a page that is to be shared between you and your friends and a medium within which to contact others. I find the hilariously ignorant and right wing descriptions of ''spotty tax dodgers' and 'good for nothings' somewhat ironic when these writers only contribution to date seems to be embarassing themselves in an equally public forum (i.e this website). Whilst I don't advocate the behaviour, I resent even more this culture of condecension and criticism. If you have ever had any noteworthy successes in your youth, then please try to remember the euphoria....

Chris , Leeds,

"Redbrick" makes a number of shockingly ignorant and ill-informed comments. However, the worst is perhaps the implied assumption that all Oxford students involved in meeting their friends from exams and congratulating them are spoilt little rich kids. I have been a student at Oxford for nearly three years, having come from a Stoke-on-Trent comprehensive, and know neither Tarquins nor Lavinias. Of course, the Oxford system is far from perfect, but it is a meritocracy, and those her who might be "posh" by "Redbrick's definition, also happen to be outstandingly clever. The days of letting someone in just because daddy's rich are long gone, and the assumption that Redbrick makes is both insulting and, well, just plain stupid. What's more, I suspect that transporting the brightest 0.5% of young people in the country to New South Wales would have something of a negative impact on our economy. In case you were confused, we're not living in a Dickens novel, that doesn't happen anymore.

Lorna, Oxford,

We (sitting finals last year) always felt that the Proctors should prevail upon the colleges to add a £5 charge to the battels of all those who are sitting exams - it would soon raise the necessary money. Furthermore, we found it hard to believe that it cost £10,000 to clean up Merton Street, given some industrious students could have done the job in a day. Perhaps some lateral thinking is called for?

Eleanor, Oxford,

An excellent approach from the university authorities, although the fines are inadequate. These good-for-nothings post evidence of their anti-social antics to impress their fellow Tarquins and Lavinias and will doubtless - every one of them - continue in their downward spiral unless awarded custodial sentences and/or fines of £50,000-plus. Alternatively, transportation to New South Wales would work a treat.

Redbrick , Sheffield, UK

How on earth can the student's union claim that the proctors actions are "a disgraceful intrusion into student's privacy" when these antics were placed in the public domain on Facebook ?

paul, York,

In response to the comments above, it should be noted that "egghurling" and "fluid spraying", where it happens at all, is directed at the STUDENTS (or spotty tax dodgers, as some might have it), not at people's property.
The tradition of trashing represents an end of sober, quiet study, and is a precursor to a freer future, at least in the short-term! Students who are not studying reward and decorate their friends. Mainly this involves a little sprayed champagne or water, and some balloons etc.
Occasionally there are those who get out of hand, but these are in the minority.
In any case, the cleanup bill is largely, it has to be said, for students' suits and exam wear, and the problems of the city from any (small) debris are largely solved each time it rains which, being the UK, is fairly frequent.

Hannah, Oxford,

I don't think that fining is necessarily appopriate but shame on the students for putting it on facebook. everyone can see that. EVERYONE. It's a public forum. I don't have pictures of my, erm, extracurricular activities on my page because i know that some of my professors have pages themselves.

Jessica, Dallas, tx

The so called brains of our country partaking in a moronic celebration. Says a lot about the standard of academic coming through the system. Just because you have studied hard does not give you the right to act like five year olds.
Whatever happened to accepting success with good grace?

Pete, St Albans, England

I'm a student at oxford and I've trashed lots of people. I wonder whether the procters/gestapo will track me down through this public forum

Minesh, Oxford,

More fool the students for putting it on an openly available web forum. It can hardly be an 'intrusion' into their privacy when anyone can see it.

If some spotty tax dodger egged or otherwise my property, they would deserve all that comes to them.

The Oxbridge institutions are supposed to be the pinnacle of academia in this country, but from what I've seen, I'm not impressed with their common sense.....

Darren, Norwich,

Perhaps this will teach these students basic respect. Why is it that these silly traditions are so coveted when they are so totally brainless?

Jonathan, London,

Sounds like a good revenue generator for the university
lots of money for little effort

Ian, manchester, uk

What do you expect from a bunch of Oxonians?
Greetings from Cambridge

Michael, Cambridge, U.K.

As a student at the university, it seems to me that the proctors of one of the supposedly leading academic institutions in the world are missing a basic psychological truth. Imposing disproportionate fines for celebrations following the hardest academic period of the students' lives is bound to do nothing but encourage more of the behaviour that brings the tradition of "trashing" into disrepute. Rather than disallowing it in general, the proctors should accept the celebrations and crack down only on the more extreme behaviour.

Jayson S, London,