Worcester goes quackers
Many JCR Presidents receive perks to entice the best candidates to the job. Certain colleges provide their elected student leaders with the best room in college or a roomy office.
However, Worcester JCR have officially handed their President with the highest college accolade - honourary ownership of the college ducks.
Worcester is famed for its extensive grounds and picturesque lake. In Sunday's JCR meeting the student body unanimously decreed the ducks of Worcester lake should henceforth be the property of all future presidents. The JCR resolved to amend their constitution following the meeting.
The motion was justified with reference to the status of the Queen. By law her majesty owns all the swans in England. It was asserted, "ducks are as important to Worcester as swans are to the Queen" and President James Rae is the "Queen" of Worcester JCR.
Mr Rae spoke exclusively to The Oxford Student following the JCR meeting. "I'm thinking of it as more of a guardian-type honourary role," he told us, "I will be upholding the rights of the ducks with perhaps the odd ticking off if they do something especially bad."
He has already developed an emotional bond with his subjects and the trauma of parting company when his incumbency ends is already worrying the president. "It may well be emotional - I don't really want to think about it. I'm sure as their first owner we'll hold a special place in each other's hearts."
However, there are worries that James Rae may not be the most suitable guardian for Worcester's beloved birds after reports of his fondness for Peking crispy duck came into the public domain. Some at the meeting called for the president to promise not to eat duck in hall.
Mr Rae refuted any suggestions that his penchant for eating his feathered friends will compromise his position, "My interests are with the thousands of ducks whose life ambition it is to feed the masses and give pleasure to many and I wouldn't want to put them out of the job.
"I will be ensuring, however, that all the ducks come from sustainable sources and the decorative Worcester ducks are never treated in this way."
27th Jan 2005