OUSU election fiasco as prospective V-P Graduates given right to stand
THE ELECTION for Vice President (Graduates) of the Student Union has been brought into disrepute after OUSU President John Blake ruled that fourth-year Magdalen Chemist Oliver Russell did qualify to stand for the position. Blake's ruling was upheld by OUSU Council last Friday with the required two-thirds majority.
The ruling was made based on Article K of the OUSU Constitution which states: “‘Graduate' means any Student Member holding a degree or other qualification from a degree-awarding body recognised by the university, or otherwise registered as a graduate student of the university.” Russell presented a letter to Junior Tribunal, signed by the Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, which states that, Russell: “is a graduate of the university entitled to supplicate for a degree.
Russell's nomination had previously been declared invalid by Steve Harper, the Returning Officer. However, computer records, including those of Magdalen College Office, describe Russell as an undergraduate. Despite the ruling, nominations will not be reopened as the Junior Tribunal ruling is deemed to be part of the same election cycle. In a statement, Russell told The Oxford Student: “obviously I am very happy they came to the decision that I qualify to be a candidate for the position.
With respect to whether nominations should be re-opened, I do not think this is necessary.
24th Feb 2005