Jesus votes against OUSU reaffiliation as open hust fails to obtain a quorum
As voters go to the polls today the Student Union is suffering the double blow of another college wishing to disaffiliate and shockingly low turnouts at husts.
Wadham's hust was cancelled due to lack of interest and Balliol's attracted only around ten college members.
At Jesus College a motion to reaffiliate to the Student Union, which must be tabled every year, was defeated by 31 votes to 14. The result stemmed from a succession of speeches from members of the JCR challenging the Student Union's use of college subscription fees to fund campaigns perceived to be irrelevant.
Simon Motz, who spoke out against the motion told The Oxford Student: "If OUSU did not exist we would not invent it in the form that it exists at the moment. It wastes our money on frivolous campaigning when our money should be directed at projects like Target Schools that make a difference."
Jesus JCR President Kit McDonald told this newspaper: "I personally believe that it would be an error for the JCR to disaffiliate from OUSU because it is vital to be represented to the University authorities and to the government. OUSU has many more resources than individual JCRs."
Since Sunday's meeting the JCR President has received 50 signatures from JCR members and a referendum is being held on the issue today. However, if the common room decides to disaffiliate they will not be able to cut ties until next Michaelmas, as affiliation is not permitted on a termly basis.
Despite having paid all affiliation fees, and as such remaining eligible for all OUSU services, Jesus students have not received their Oxford and Cambridge Careers Handbooks.
Student Union President John Blake said: "I share some of the concerns which have been raised and am happy to take on board new ideas, but I don't think disaffiliation is a constructive way of moving forward."
On the husts issue, Blake said: "Husts are never popular. Maybe we need to work on better ways to get the principles of democracy enshrined in husts across to our members."
One candidate commented on their disappointment at the number of people in attendance at the Balliol and Wadham husts, suggesting that it was more to do with the lack of publicity within colleges than a reduction of support for OUSU.
Wadham fresher Jack Graves said: "It's not hard to work out why so many people are turned off by the whole process when you go along to an OUSU meeting and see all the squabbling and all that crap that goes on."
18th Nov 2004