VP Charities likely?
A motion at OUSU Council this Friday will propose the amalgamation of RAG and OUSU. OUSU President Ruth Hunt will propose the motion, which has been under discussion for some time.
RAG (Raise and Give) is currently independent of the university and the student union. Currently the organisation is headed by the RAG sabbatical Rob Hoyle and his salary is funded by proceeds from RAG.
If the motion is successful, a new post will be created, which will lead to an expansion of the role of charity within the university. Any elected VP (Charities) sabbatical officer would be responsible for centralised charity information and the overseeing of all RAG events. He or she would chair a charities group attended by college representatives and would take on an advisory role for other charitable clubs in the university, a responsibility that currently rests with VP (Finance).
HEFCE funding will be needed to cover the salary of a seventh OUSU sabbatical officer and allow them to keep all existing sabbatical posts. Hunt was optimistic about the outcome of the motion and said that "it makes sense" for the two organisations to be combined. "Hopefully this would encourage more students to get involved in charity events as well as raising the profile of OUSU" she said.
If the motion is passed, it will ensure that next year, should funding be available, the new OUSU president, Will Straw, will have to bring a motion of constitutional change to create the new position. The long-term goal is to have the VP (Charities) post up and running for 2003-2004.
13th Jun 2002