No smoke without fire at the Union
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS THE Oxford Union yet again, as members await a referendum on a proposal to ban smoking in the bar. A private business motion was passed last Thursday, reading: 'This house believes that the current arrangements for smoking in the Union have made its rooms too smoky, and that the rules should be amended to allow for generous provision of both smoking areas and smoke-free areas.' More crucially, it went on to add: 'no member may smoke on the ground floor of the Society's rooms'. By a majority of 51 (133 : 62), the motion was carried - even though it was followed by a dramatic recount to determine that there were the necessary 200 people in the chamber.
However, as soon as the vote was carried, Union members were collecting the 150 signatures needed for a Union-wide poll on the issue. All members are invited to decide the future of their bar between 9:30am - 8:30pm next week. As battle lines are drawn, the voters are set to decide with whom they agree on Tuesday, May 30th (5th week).
The proposer, Patrick Mackerras of Christ Church - claims that the debate is about "choice". He has produced a 2,000 signature petition in support of his cause - which was signed by 80% of those asked. The key argument advanced by his chief opponent, Richard Coates of Exeter, is that the change would "ultimately damage the Union." His response to Mackerras on Thursday was unequivocal, telling members that "it's not an agenda that benefits you," and accused Mackerras of using the vote as "a tool for his political aims".
Andrew Peacock, ex-Standing Committee CCC, requisitioned the poll following the motion on Thursday and supported his sentiment. He told the Oxford Student that there would be "several negative effects" if members endorsed Mackerras' proposition. He added that it would have "a devastating effect on the atmosphere." He went on to assert that it would stop people coming to the bar, saying of Mackerras' 80% figure: "I don't know where he got that evidence from."
However legal difficulties may hamper the impact of the referendum. At Monday's Standing Committee meeting Union President Jeff Bell pointed out that the current bar licence does not allow members to drink upstairs - something that smoking members would be expected to do if banned from the bar. In addition, the Bursar has raised concerns about the "practical considerations" of the change, in the light of fire regulations. Mackerras claims that all is not lost - "none of these is an insoluble problem", he says - and is quick to point out his own legal considerations. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1976, employers are obliged to take all reasonable steps to protect their staff from the effects of smoke at work. He claims that the Union may not at present comply.
The Union's smoking supporters have denied that they are against non-smoking areas, but believe that Mackerras is going about change in the wrong way. Peacock called the proposal "an extreme step". Richard Coates agreed. "I'm sure that members will realise that ours is the sensible view-point." He went on to add "Mackerras is an extremist who is not acting in the fundamental interests of the Union." Coates claimed that there was really no need for the motion given that the Union has for some time had two committees - the Heritage and Advisory Committee and the Wines and Spirits Committee. Unfortunately, members of the Wines and Spirits Committee were not allowed to comment.
The debate over benefits to the Union is also one that cannot be resolved easily by the fuming factions. Anti-smokers believe that the proposed policy will put off freshers, whilst Peacock believes that a more 'unorthodox' image will do little to help the attraction of the new Oxford community. If the Union decides to discard its bar's ash trays and look to a more healthy option, it will become the first venue in Oxford with a fully non-smoking bar.
18th May 2000