SU deserves cash crisis
Sir and Madam, I just read the most recent press statement regarding the budget situation of OUSU and I cannot conceal the fact that I feel quite some schadenfreude. I remember well the second council meeting of Hilary, which I attended in my capacity as OUSU Rep, and the eagerness most council members showed to wave the budget through.
In fact, the budget had been sent to us a mere two days before the council session, and it seemed that hardly anybody had had a decent look at the numbers. Besides me, there was only a handful of people who pressed for a postponement of the discussion to the fifth week session, most people seemed to be entirely apathetic and outright bored. All we asked for was to give people a decent chance to study the budget, and then to be able to ask important questions pertaining particular aspects.
While this would not have meant that the miscalculations would have been revealed, at least there would have been an opportunity to enhance accountability. Interestingly, right after the budget “debate”, members of council deemed fit to discuss a motion as to whether or not to back the teachers union in their boycott of two Israeli universities.
This debate was much more vigorous, turned into a debate on Middle Eastern politics in general, and lasted significantly longer than the debate of the budget. It is really a shame.
Sven Greune The Queens’ College
12th Jan 2005