Access and Academic Affairs to be split
THE MOTION to split the Student Union sabbatical role of Vice President (Access and Academic Affairs) into separate positions passed through its first reading in OUSU council last week. The motion was proposed following a report last year which acknowledged: “The V-P has a range of portfolios that constitutes too heavy a workload.” These currently include sitting on seven committees in addition to the role of coordinating and supporting other representatives.
The motion quoted an ex- Vice President (Access and Academic Affairs), Louise McMullan, who often felt the two halves of her role were in conflict: “In academic affairs casework and sitting on University committees I see this place at its worst; racist, sexist, socially elitist. If you're then faced with a group of particularly cynical prospective students from South Yorkshire, it's rather hard to sell the place.
The motion was passed by a majority, and will now have two more readings, at Termly Council this term and in Trinity Term.
Linsey Cole, the current V-P Access and Academic Affairs, told The Oxford Student she was pleased the Council had shown their support for the motion: “If and when the split occurs, it will ensure that current students can have a full-time, dedicated officer to deal with any academic difficulties that they may face, who also acts as a representative to all university committees.
“The access position will allow the Student Union to take a greater role in widening participation to Oxford, whilst lobbying the university to ensure that its admissions procedures are fair.”
24th Feb 2005