New campaign to force OUSU to address 'student-only' issues
A campaign to limit drastically Student Union policy has prompted a fierce exchange of views over whether political campaigning has become irrelevant to Oxford students. Seven student JCRs and MCRs have debated a motion, which states: “OUSU should have no policy on issues which do not directly affect Oxford students in their capacity as students unless approved by a majority of common rooms affiliated to OUSU”.
It was passed in meetings at Trinity, Mansfield, Wycliffe Hall and Hertford and rejected by Keble and St Peter’s. As five JCRs are required to pass a motion in order to force a referendum, the outcome was dependent on the decision of the Queen’s meeting yesterday. After a heated debate, the motion was defeated. JCR President Sushrut Yalamanchili told The Oxford Student: “Given the phrasing of the motion, it was the right result.
?? Whether the referendum takes place now depends on 500 signatures being presented prior to the deadline for election nominations. The debate has provoked strong feelings. Part-time OUSU executive member, Tom Packer, explained that action needed to be taken after years of Council discussion on topics such as whether or not to ban Coke or condemn the Armenian genocide.
He said if successful the referendum would reduce the business of Council and focus discussion on areas like fees, welfare and academic problems rather than international and political issues.
His thoughts were echoed by St Peter’s student Timothy Bennett, also behind the move, who said: “It’s hard to say exactly how it started but I guess it was a feeling among a number of executive officers and JCR presidents that, while OUSU does many good things, it could be improved by not devoting time to political campaigns which put a lot of students off OUSU.
?? He added: “People should be free to campaign on such things • but they should not use the resources of the Student Union to campaign on non-student related issues unless they can get the support of a majority of common rooms.” His arguments were rejected by current OUSU President, Emma Norris, who said: “Look at past Council agendas • I believe every single motion was relevant to students.
There are one or two issues a term about wider political issues but 90-95 per cent of discussion does directly affect students.” She argued that it was important to recognise that students are also citizens. “OUSU policy is not just about Council. Some of our most popular campaigns, such as the environment campaign, do not directly affect students purely in their capacity as students.
?? Norris also rejected the claim that the proposed changes would make the student policitical process more democratic by engaging student members of JCRs across Oxford rather than just their representatives at Council. “This motion does not represent democratisation • it’s stopping JCRs decide what’s relevant and takes away the power from ordinary students.” She also suggested that the motion had deliberately been put to JCRs perceived to be unsupportive of the Student Union.
“If this is about empowering JCRs and students why hasn’t it been taken to all Common Rooms? There’s nothing democratic about putting a motion through Wycliffe Hall rather than a college with a large student body.” Despite this opposition, Packer said he believed students broadly supported the motion and that those proposals would be successful, if not now then in the near future.
3rd Nov 2005