Straw blows in wind
OUSU president Will Straw has backtracked on his decision not to discuss international motions, after receiving significant criticism last week.
Straw announced in a press release: "I oppose international motions but I will attend those debates."
This statement follows a week of vacillation both in the student and national press over Straw's perceived "conflict of interest" which left him facing threats of steps to remove him from his post.
Last week, Straw argued that his decision not to participate in a debate on Iraq was a pefectly legitimate one. While Straw dismissed the threat of a no confidence motion from OUSU delegate Laura Santana, and received the support of the VPs for Women, Welfare and Graduates, he now appears to have caved in to the pressure for his presence at any debate over UK/US policy on Iraq.
When asked for her response to Straw's change in attitude, Santana told the OxStu: "I am very pleased to hear the news."
The President's statement remains adamant however that the decision to be present at international debates does not mean his previous refusal to oversee such mandates a breach of his election pledge.
Instead, Straw declares: "I made it clear in my manifesto my opposition to international motions in OUSU... I will oppose any such motions but I will fulfill any mandate, within the law, that I am given."
31st Oct 2002