A Grad-ual Solution

By Unknown Author

Catherine Sangster's decision to resign this week, effective from the end of this term, has left five thousand graduate students in Oxford potentially without representation.

Whilst Ruth Hunt appears certain that a replacement VP (Grad) will be quite easily found, we must take a closer look at the state of elections for VP (Grad) in Oxford. Sangster was only appointed after a successful loon candidate, R Adam Storch, was no-conned in OUSU council. He won his post after standing unopposed in an election that did not have a RON option.

Though in the past few months Sangster has more than proven her ability and suitability for the post, she too was the only candidate in a pre-RON election. No-one stood for the post of VP (Grad) in the OUSU elections last term - a by-election will be held shortly.

A VP (Grad) represents graduate students in a way sabbatical officers who have only studied at an undergraduate level are simply not able to do. The requirements of graduate and undergraduate students will inevitably be different, and the VP (Grad) is an essential bridge between graduate students and the other sabs. The role helps to make OUSU work for all its members, not just the eighteen year olds - in the words of Jason Dorsett, the second VP(Grad), the job "transformed the attention given to graduate problems".

But in recent years it has been extremely difficult to find someone able to fulfil the role. The powers that be in OUSU need to look at the problem in greater depth. Why do fewer graduates than undergraduates see a year as an OUSU sab as viable? Is this symptomatic of graduates generally feeling apathetic towards OUSU? If this is the case, would the needs of graduates be better represented elsewhere?

The dreaded Storch wanted graduate students to be represented in a body seperate from OUSU. If this would make graduates more likely to get involved, would it not be worth considering? It's a question OUSU must consider if it is serious about giving graduates the best possible representation. Sadly, the only person qualified to address these questions has just resigned.

14th Feb 2002