Why I'm glad we're staying out of OUSU

By Unknown Author

In the light of our success in remaining unaffiliated to OUSU, it should be made clear why Oriel JCR has chosen to keep to this path, to defend us against some criticism from others.

I'd like to make two things clear from the outset. Firstly, I can't speak for the JCR as I'm not a representative any more, so I can only state what I believe and I hope that anything I miss will be mentioned at a later point by other JCR members. Secondly, I'm not at all anti-OUSU, in spite of having this label foisted upon me in the press lately and working on the 'No' campaign in Oriel.

I put a lot of work and time into OUSU and believe that a reformed OUSU could benefit us all. I voted no to affiliation.

For three years now, almost half my time in Oriel, we have been unaffiliated to OUSU. It's not just a question of saving money, which we do and needed to do, but also of what services we think OUSU needs to provide and of encouraging reform.

It's true that we're not paying for a lot of services, but then we're not using them either. The main exception is Freshers' Fair, for which we do pay an extortionate rate considering it made over £40,000 profit last year, and is predicted to make even more next year.

The ideology that Oriel JCR's money can best be spent to the benefit of Oriel students by its own students' union (the JCR) is, I believe, the main reason for most people voting 'No' to affiliation. I am not one of those voters although I agree with that point.

I believe that a central students' union in addition to the common rooms is a good thing for certain campaigns but I don't think a bundle of extra 'services' are necessary in a collegiate university.

I don't think they provide value for money and I don't think campaigning is an expensive business; from experience, volunteers' time is more important than common rooms' money here.

Before disaffiliating many of us here did try for reform from the inside and got very short shrift indeed. By staying out, even if only a few common rooms do it, there is a constant reminder of the need to change but still the opportunity to take part in the debate on how it should be done. I attended all the 'Future and Finance' meetings in Michaelmas this year.

It's not true that other common rooms subsidise services we use because we don't use them.

The Nightbus costs only £1,800 a year to run and might be considered an exception, except that Oriel donated a lot of money to help set it up in the first place.

Our subscription would only amount to 0.34 per cent of OUSU income next year so it's hardly putting pressure on other common rooms. If you don't think your common room should pay for OUSU services, then why try to blame Oriel when you too can disaffiliate?

If you do think you should pay, then do, but don't ask others to foot the bill if they don't want the product.

OUSU is after all an external organisation; it's not the only one but it's one that keeps asking us for money.

Common rooms can affiliate to any organisation they like but shouldn't necessarily expect others to do the same.

Of course, if a lot of common rooms all disaffiliate then eventually OUSU will have to consider how it spends its money and reform must follow.

This is unlikely, but the consequent reform would be no bad thing, and many students from a range of colleges seem to agree, judging from what I read in the press here. Ultimately it's up to each common room to decide for itself whether or not to affiliate to OUSU.

We don't try to put pressure on other common rooms to disaffiliate and don't expect others to pressurise us. I know one thing I can say with confidence about Oriel students - we won't be bullied into deserting our principles.

27th May 2004