'Rude' Raph resigns
Disgraced St Hugh's JCR President Raph Mokades, and his Deputy PJ Bartram, both resigned from their respective positions last week following what were seen as foul-mouthed and offensive speeches delivered at the annual St Hugh's Night Dinner.
The formal dinner, attended by members of the JCR, MCR and SCR, including the Dean and the Principal, was intended to celebrate the college's achievements and the principles on which it is founded. However, a fiasco ensued when the JCR Vice President, in a semi-drunken state, took to the stage during after-dinner speeches and grabbed hold of the microphone. Beginning with the proviso that he had not expected the SCR presence when the time had come for his speech, Bartram then plunged into a torrent of anecdotes which were described by Junior Dean, Heather Montgomery, as "foul and obscene." Intending to be humorous, Bartram related a story about a Bangkok brothel, making ample reference to 'pussies' and 'ladyboys'. Montgomery, who happens to have completed her doctorate on the topic of female prostitution in Thailand, found Bartram's speech particularly offensive.
She found Bartram's speech particularly offensive, not least because it gave the impression that he was, "advocating prostitution in Thailand."
She condemned Bartram's speech as a case of "catastrophic misjudgement."
The horrified SCR, following the Principal's lead, promptly left the hall, accompanied by raucous clapping.
The reaction of the approximately 150 JCR members present was less decisive. Around a dozen also left whilst Bartram continued his speech by delivering an impersonation of an ethnic accent and then went on to give a derogatory assessment of St Hugh's, describing how he had got a place having already applied to two other colleges first.
Raph Mokades was the next up on the podium. According to this week's edition of St Hugh's News, Mokades, "at no time entered the territory of the Vice-President," however, "personal remarks directed to the domestic staff and a liberal references to female genitalia did little to alleviate an atmosphere of controversy." Mokades explained that he had made, "one off-the-cuff remark," which he acknowledged was, "hurtful and wrong," and had since apologized to the members of the domestic staff whom it concerned.
One JCR member referred to Mokades's speech as, "slightly self-indulgent," and though delivered in a "jovial atmosphere," the timing of Mokades' speech was "unfortunate," given the controversial atmosphere created by Bartram.
In a circular letter addressed to all JCR members, dated the 19th November, Mokades announced both his own and Bartram's resignations and asserted: "It has been made clear to me that there is little point in my continuing to represent the JCR to the SCR."
Mokades subsequently urged JCR members to attend an extraordinary JCR meeting called late last Sunday night. Well over 100 students attended the meeting, though PJ Bartram was not one of them. Mokades took the opportunity to explain the reasons behind his resignation and fielded responses including those of three or four students who expressed their anger over Mokades's conduct during the infamous dinner.
Mokades and Bartram were meted out with a fine of £100 each and Bartram has been dealt a 'suspended rustication' as well as having his vacation residence cut.
This latest clash of the Titans follows a series of recent tensions between the SCR and JCR over delays in the construction of a new undergraduate accommodation block.
Though Mokades has officially stepped down as JCR President, he intends to continue to chair the JCR committee and JCR meetings whilst the President-elect, Sarah Tullis, takes on responsibility for relations with 'Joint Committee' and 'Governing Body' until she assumes full responsibility as JCR President next term.
18th Nov 1999