OUCA "unruly"
Oxford University Conservative Association is in turmoil following the disruption of last term's election by a small band of disenchanted OUCA members who interrupted the proceedings and attempted to steal the ballot box. The election was held in the Three Goats' Heads pub, next to the Oxford Union, as the society had been banned from using Union facilities for what one Union source described as "systematic unruly behaviour" involving alleged rude behaviour with Union staff and late payment of bills.
It is understood that an unspecified number of protesters stormed the room where the proceedings were taking place and made off with the ballot box, throwing it into a waiting taxi. The taxi-driver, however, is understood to have refused to move off as the door was open, allowing OUCA representatives time to attempt to recover the box. The article was eventually recovered after a fight but with the seals broken.
OUCA President, Stephen Doody, confirmed that disciplinary measures were taken against several people who are to be fined for their roll in the incident. Doody commented, "All this shows us is that some people don't take elections as seriously as other people."
The Oxford Student has learnt that a number of students were summoned to an OUCA disciplinary meeting by Matthew Kirk, himself recently suspended from the Oxford Union after being found guilty of intimidating a female member of the Union. The accused were not informed of the details of the allegations against them, and were invited to "give evidence" rather than to defend themselves. Doody is understood to have been absent from the proceedings due to "other commitments." However an OUCA source described the proceedings as resembling a "kangaroo court."
The farcical events are the latest in a series of incidents involving OUCA. A spokesperson for the Oxford Union defended the decision to ban OUCA from using its premises, telling the Oxford Student, "the Union should in no way be associated with OUCA: it's a non-political members' organisation." Doody denied that there was any truth in reports that the society is facing financial problems. The Oxford Union also confirmed that OUCA does not owe it any money.
Doody has also moved to defend the organisation's honour. In response to the allegations of "consistently unruly behaviour," he said, "I don't think OUCA is unruly at all. The meetings are all terribly orderly, and attended by terribly respectable people. If you want to see unruly behaviour you should look in the street at the yobs hanging around kebab vans."