OUCA loons play race card
Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) has become embroiled in yet more loon controversy, this time over an article by ex-Treasurer Anatole Pang.
The piece was originally entitled "21 Days in a Pith Helmet", and is a somewhat tongue in cheek guide to Pang's summer holiday in India, describing the country at one stage as: "like a giant Hounslow, except hotter and smellier, although possibly slightly less squalid."
After being submitted for publication in the Association's Blueprint magazine, Avi Patchava, Junior Officer with responsibility for the magazine used Monday's weekly council meeting to slam the article, saying that it offended him personally.
He has since taken Pang to an internal OUCA Disciplinary Committee, to be held tomorrow, on grounds of bringing the society into disrepute.
Patchava, a Hindu, has also initiated Proctorial proceedings.
At the same time Pang, a former Oxford Student columnist, has also brought proceedings against Patchava, countering that he brought the society into disrepute due to his handling of the situation.
Under OUCA rules, neither member can comment. Friends of Patchava said he considered Pang to have made "a direct personal attack," in relation to his Hinduism.
Sources close to Pang claimed Patchava's move was "racially-motivated victimisation," adding: "[Pang's] Chinese family were hounded out of Calcutta in the 1960s by just such people."
One senior member of OUCAÂ said: "This is OUCA for God's sake, you're supposed to take the piss."
18th Nov 2004