Vote Made Void
Constitutional blunders continue to plague St Peter's College amid controversy over its potential disaffiliation from OUSU.
At the end of last term, the college held a referendum to determine their future with the student union, in which OUSU Executive Officer Matthew Richardson paradoxically led the campaign to disaffiliate. The subsequent referendum was, however, marred by allegations of electoral malpractice and unfair procedure.
Controversy emerged following the decision of the Returning Officer, Harriette Luscombe, to allow people to vote by proxy, that is, on behalf of others.
Helen Lewis, former OUSU co-chair for two campaigns and former JCR Vice-President, lodged a successful complaint on the grounds that no safeguards were being imposed on the circumstances in which proxy votes were obtained.
Specific allegations surrounded the conduct of Richardson, with claims that he unfairly exploited the proxy voting rule by collecting signatures against the motion, using Haribo as a bribe.
JCR President Rosalind Morgan told The OxStu that "a written complaint was brought to the JCR executive committee. We called a meeting and unanimously agreed to uphold the complaint. As a result we were forced to declare the referendum void."
Richardson launched a retaliatory poster campaign against Morgan with captions including "Cheated" and "OUSU lies".
"Ros doesn't know what she's doing. She's not a politico, she's a boatie. She tries really hard though", Richardson told The OxStu.
Helen Lewis said: "I'm sorry that the whole thing became so personal. I got the feeling that Matthew Richardson launched the anti-OUSU campaign in a fit of pique after being censured."
It is unclear whether a second referendum will be held amid reports that the JCR constitution had never been correctly ratified. Exploiting the constitutional vacuum, JCR committee member and former OUSU Executive Officer Greg Stafford comically proclaimed himself Emperor of the JCR.
The revised JCR constitution will be submitted to Governing Body tomorrow for ratification.
15th Jan 2004