LGB soc in disarray
LGB SOC WAS reeling this week, after ten committee members resigned amid accusations of "Machiavellian political posturing." Two more, including the current President, are to found a new society for sexual minorities.
The mass resignation came last weekend at the society's committee meeting when Craig Knott, President, was at NUS LGB Conference in Blackpool. In his absence, committee members altered the constitution to prevent the President from appointing Returning Officers, elected two new ROs, and tendered their resignations for the remainder of the year.
Anger was expressed at an article appearing in last week's OxStu, in which Knott criticised the "poor judgment" of the ROs, Michael Stamp and Karolina Troup. Stamp cited Knott's "machinations behind the scenes" as the reason for his resignation. Other members followed suit in support.
Knott seemed unsurprised by the news. He "regretted" the resignations came "because of a critical comment made about the ROs governing a particularly difficult election", and wished to "thank them for the work they have done over the last year."
The election controversy continued as the Proctors declared the winning Presidential nomination invalid. Lee Rowley and Rebecca Eden had run on a joint ticket - but the Proctors ruled there should a sole President. The election will therefore be rerun, and Rowley is believed to be standing unopposed. Eden is not interested in standing alone, and Peter Orlov, the orignal opponent, has withdrawn. He and Knott are now set to found a new society for sexual minorities, ID Soc - one that "does not require them to conform to the strict sexual identities of Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual".
Eden described Orlov's withdrawal as a "shame", and seemed unimpressed by the proposed society: "I look forward to seeing how this edemocratic' society works, and to becoming a member", she commented. She added that LGB Soc was "in my opinion already more than capable of providing everything required". Knott responded that the "growing demand" for such a society was a measure of the "toleration and diversity" in Oxford: "This can surely only be thought of as a good thing."
Tensions in the society look unlikely to subside. Committee members describe a "hostile atmosphere", and at least one disillusioned RO is to leave the political scene. Michael Stamp commented "there's no way I'm going back into that mess - I'm hugely glad to be out of it."
8th Jun 2001