New Straw controversy
Will Straw has been accused of abusing his position, in his capacity as ex-JCR President of New College and OUSU President-elect in relation to a controversial motion.
He proposed a motion to the JCR concerning the distribution of the living out fund to those not living in college accommodation. This was amended by Christopher Garman, JCR Treasurer, to give this money to the hardship fund. The amended motion was then passed, albeit by a slim majority.
During the meeting the question of whether the motion had been so radically changed as to be a different motion was raised. The question was referred to the JCR Committee who voted by a majority that it had not for the motion was about disbanding the living out fund.
However, others, including Straw, thought that, although not unconstitutional, the motion had changed and there hadn't been an adequate chance to debate this.
Will Straw then arranged to attend a JCR Committee meeting, as allowed by the constitution which he re-wrote last year, to air his concerns over the motion and suggest that the committee may want the motion to be resubmitted to the next JCR meeting. The committee voted, although not unanimously, that the motion could be resubmitted in an open-ended form giving a choice as to whether the money goes to the hardship or living out fund.
Catherine Finney, New College JCR President, said: "New JCR constitution stipulates that 'the ex-president shall be an ex-officio, non voting member of the committee' and I was perfectly happy for my predecessor to attend and raise his concerns."
Will Straw takes up the role of OUSU President next year. He will have to liaise with all university JCRs and reflect their opinions to the wider world and some thought it was perhaps misguided, then, for the President-elect to appear to be dictating any particular JCR's policy or abusing his position to sway the JCR Committee.
Will Straw stated: "As far as I am concerned the matter has been dealt with in an admirable and commendable fashion by the JCR Committee and I look forward to redebating the matter at Sunday's JCR meeting."
Chris Garman, when asked for his response, said, "This is pretty dull stuff - I can't imagine your average OxStu reader could really give a monkey's."
14th Feb 2002