Council Agenda 1st Week Michaelmas 2007

a.    Minutes of the Previous Meeting

b.    Matters Arising from the Minutes

c.    Ratifications in Council

d.    Elections in Council

e.    Reports from the Sabbatical Officers

f.    Reports from the Executive Officers who wish to make reports

g.    Questions to Members of the Executive

h.    Emergency Motions

i.    Passage of Motions Nem Con

j.    Motions of No Confidence or Censure

k.    First readings of Motions to Amend the Constitution or Standing Orders

l.    The Budget or Amended Budget

m.    Motions Authorising Capital Expenditure

n.    Other Motions

i.   motions affecting ousu members as ousu members

ii.  motions affecting ousu members as students at Oxford University

iii. motions affecting ousu members as members of the student movement

iv. motions affecting ousu members as residents of Oxford

v.  motions affecting ousu members as residents of the United Kingdom

vi. motions affecting ousu members as citizens of the world

o.    Any Other Business

m.    Motions Authorising Capital Expenditure

1.    OUSY

Council notes:
1.    That Council voted in 5th Week Trinity 2007 for the creation of Ousy, the OUSU mascot. In a further meeting in 8th week apparently”offensive parts of the manifesto were removed but Ousy remained
2.    The circumstances relating to the particulars discussed were riddled with untruths concerning the prices of mascot suits and the size of the OUSU publicity budget
3.    OUSU exec’s failure to authorize the £700 payment for the Ousy suit – a significant discount garnered through haggling – has left Ousy in bureaucratic limbo and his non-appearance at Freshers’ Fair has already caused consternation

Council believes:
1.    OUSU should fufil its obligations and not devalue completely the deicisons of council.
2.    OUSU will struggle to present itself as a professional organization that holds to its promises if Ousy dies in the red tape he was  created to dispel.
3.    Ousy may prove to be a high profile image with which to tag on the serious reform that is clearly needed and that has been promised.
4.    Without a proper mascot suit Ousy does not work in the manner intended – which has been made clear from the outset – and OUSU will appear once again to have failed to act on its promises

Council resolves:
1.    To approve a one-time payment of £700 towards the manufacture of the suit from professional mascot makers Creature Comforts Ltd

Proposed: Max Seddon (Magdalen) Seconded: James Macadam (Keble)
 

n.    Other Motions

1.    Target Schools

Council notes:
1.    The Target School Campaign’s 25th Anniversary.
2.    The Target Schools Review Memo produced by the VP Access and Academic Affairs.
3.    Target Schools has had many successful projects over the past 25 years, but that some of its work now duplicates the efforts of other access organisations.

Council believes:
1.    The Target School Campaign’s goals, to widen participation to Oxford, and to work with state schools to dispel myths about Oxford to raise applications, remain valid.
2.    Target Schools should cooperate with other access and widening participation organisations, such as the University Student Fund and
3.    Access Office, University Admissions Office, AimHigher, individual common rooms and Cambridge, to maximise the effectiveness of its work.
4.    Target Schools should campaign to raise aspirations of state school pupils towards Higher Education, as well as Oxford.

Council resolves to:
1.    Reaffirm their support for the goals and work of the Target Schools Campaign.
2.    Mandate the VP Access and Academic Affairs to support the Target Schools Campaign in the following projects:

a.    Create an admission support website, to include tips from a student perspective of making applications and the interview process. Target Schools should also explore the possibility of providing online video examples of either mock interviews or mock tutorials to help dispel myths about the process.
b.    Distributing the Alternative Prospectus with the official University Prospectus to all UK State Schools.
c.    Working with Cambridge University Student Union to establish a summer visiting scheme, where Oxbridge students visit local state schools to dispel the myths about Oxbridge and encourage students to apply.
d.    Welcome the OUSU Mentoring Scheme back within Target Schools and supporting the expansion and development of this scheme, including greater use of E-Mentoring and University facilities to help raise aspirations among students in local schools.
e.    Work with OUSU Equal Opportunity Groups to support separate Womens’, Black, Minority and Ethnic Students’, and Students with Disabilities Open Days taking place at different colleges, but all on the same day to ease schools sending groups of students to Oxford.
f.    Support the work of Common Room Access schemes by providing training to Access Reps and facilitating meetings to share and coordinate ideas and projects.
g.    Recruit new Target School Co-Chairs who will be responsible for leading the school visiting campaigns in different UK Regions.
h.    Cooperate with the Student Funding and Access Office in providing and training volunteers for regional conferences, but no longer running Target School conferences in Northern Ireland.

Proposed: James Lamming (Merton)   Seconded: Martin McCluskey (St Hugh’s)
 

 

2.    SAS Review

Council Notes:
1.    The “Women and Welfare” Working Group Report of Trinity Term 2007.
2.    The results of the referendum of 6th Week Trinity Term 2007 regarding replacing the position of Vice President (Women) with a full time Student Advisor.

Council Further Notes:
1.    That discussion have taken place in OUSU over the Long Vacation as to how best to improve the Student Advice Service in order that the SAS continues to effectively support students.

Council Believes:
1.    That the debates surrounding the Student Advice Service in Trinity Term 2007 highlighted the heavy workload of the SAS and the need to reconfigure the service in order to provide a better service.
2.    That while the “Women and Welfare” Working Group Report presents some constructive proposals, it does not fully account for the many possible options in reconfiguring the Student Advice Service.
3.    That a full and frank review of the Student Advice Service has to take into account all possible options and the views of all students.

Council Resolves:
1.    To invite proposals for restructuring the Student Advice Service, to be submitted to the OUSU President no later than Monday 4th Week MT07.
2.    That proposals shall be accepted from:
a.    Elected OUSU Officials
b.    OUSU Campaigns and Committees
c.    Common Room Presidents
d.    Common Room Officers
e.    An entire Common Room acting under a policy passed in a CR Meeting.
3.    That proposals shall go forward to an extraordinary meeting of Council in 4th Week.
4.    That proposals accepted by this Council shall go forward to an indicative poll on Thursday of 6th Week.
5.    That the results of the indicative poll shall form the basis of a referendum to be held in Hilary Term 2008 on the new structure of the Student Advice Service.

Proposed: Louise Randall (LMH)   Seconded: James Lamming (Merton)
 

3.    Student Adviser

Council Notes:
1.    That council, in its meeting of 1st Week Trinity Term 2007, resolved to hold a referendum in Michaelmas Term 2007 on the replacement of the position of Vice President (Women) with a full time Student Adviser.
2.    That subsequently, the adoption of a motion supporting a referendum in ten Common Rooms saw a referendum on whether to replace the Vice President (Women) with a full time Student Adviser take place.

Council further notes:
1.    The Student Advice Service is a vital resource, independent of the Colleges and the University, where students know they can receive confidential and impartial help and support.
2.    The Student Advice Service provides a distinct service for students from the University Counselling Service, local medical provision and College Welfare systems.
3.    The ex-officio members of the Student Advice Service have between them significant casework responsibilities that can at times compromise their effectiveness in other aspects of their portfolios.
4.    The employment of a full time Student Adviser would add significant extra capacity to the Student Advice Service and will help the four existing ex-officio Vice President positions provide more and better quality support to students.
5.    The employment of a full time Student Adviser would also add additional expertise, experience and continuity to the Student Advice Service to help improve the quality of student support.

Council resolves to:
1.    Mandate the OUSU Executive to lobby the University into granting funding for the appointment of a full time Student Adviser.
2.    Cancel the referendum on replacing the Vice President (Women) with a full time Student Adviser scheduled to take place in Michaelmas Term 2007.

Proposed: Louise Randall (LMH)  Seconded: James Lamming (Merton)
 

4.    Governance Working Group

Council Notes:
1.    That following a referendum in 6th Week of Trinity Term 2007, OUSU is now in the process of incorporating as a Charity.
2.    The Charity Reform Paper of June 2007 produced by an internal OUSU Working Group
 
Council Further Notes:
1.    That an internal Governance Discussion Group has worked over the Long Vacation to formulate proposals for the composition of OUSU’s new Trustee Board and the procedures for selection and nomination.
 
Council Believes:
1.    That the process of Governance Reform and the introduction of a Trustee Board require serious thought and consideration.
2.    That the process should involve OUSU’s key stakeholders.
3.    That the process should be open and democratic.
4.    That it is essential that in forming a Trustee Board,
 
Council Resolves:
1.    To form a Governance Working Group, to be elected at Council in 3rd Week of Michaelmas Term.
2.    That the composition of the Working Group shall be:
a.    The OUSU President
b.    2 Sabbatical Officers elected by the full Executive
c.    1 Part Time Executive Officer elected by the full Executive
d.    1 JCR Member elected by Council
e.    1 MCR Member elected by Council
f.    2 Specialists appointed by the Group (1 Legal Adviser and 1 Charity Adviser)
3.    That the terms of reference of the Working Group shall be:
a.    To consider the proposals of the Governance Discussion Group.
b.    To propose to Council a structure for the new OUSU Trustee Board
c.    To evaluate the methods of selection and / or nomination for members of the Board.
d.    To propose to Council a method of selection and nomination for members of the Board.
e.    To propose a criteria for the selection of external members of the Trustee Board.
f.    To propose procedures for the interaction between OUSU Council, the Trustee Board and any nomination process.
 
Proposed: Martin McCluskey (St Hugh’s)  Seconded: James Lamming (Merton)
 

5.     College Contribution Scheme

Council notes that:
1.    The College Contribution Scheme (CCS) was created in the 1960s with the express aim of increasing the endowments of the poorer colleges to a certain level
2.    The original scheme taxed college wealth, so that richer colleges would pay a small percentage of their wealth to aid the poorer colleges
3.    Since the scheme was introduced, the richer colleges have become disproportionately richer than the poorer colleges
4.    Many of the poorer colleges have been unable to attain the endowment levels originally proposed in the 1960s, and reaffirmed in the 1970s and 1980s
5.    The CCS is up for renewal this academic year, and that the College Contribution Committee is due to publish a report into the scheme

Council further notes that:
1.    The current CCS taxes colleges’ conference income separately to college wealth

Council believes that:
1.    The CCS has failed to achieve its original aim
2.    The university as a whole has an interest in ensuring that all colleges attain a certain minimum level of endowment income
3.    The widening gap in endowments between the rich and poor colleges is leading to different types of experience for undergraduates and graduates at different colleges
4.    The CCS should be continued and strengthened

Council resolves to:
1.    Call on the colleges to reaffirm the CCS
2.    Demand that all colleges pay a fair contribution to the scheme, based primarily on their wealth
3.    Establish a working party to look into the issue of college contributions, consisting of no more than 5 members including the OUSU President, to be selected by the OUSU President, to be established by the 15th October 2007
4.    Mandate working party to report back to Council by no later than 5th Week Council
5.    Demand a reduction in the taxation colleges have to pay on conference income
6.    Mandate the OUSU President to represent the wishes of Council with colleges and the central university

Proposed: Tom Lowe (Hertford)  Seconded: Alistair Wrench (St Hughs)
 

6.    University Masterplan

Council Notes that:
1.    The central university is planning to development the Radcliffe Infirmary site
2.    This development will include a rationalisation of a number of faculty libraries (philosophy, history, and a number of others) into one large library
3.    This development will create new teaching rooms, and new lecture rooms
4.    The development will open up the Radcliffe Infirmary area to tourists and visitors

Council Further Notes that:
1.    The document produced giving details of this ‘masterplan’ included no explanation of how the cost of redevelopment would be met

Council Believes that:
1.    Redeveloping the Radcliffe Infirmary site is in the interest of the university
2.    Students should hold some reservations about the project if it is part of a central university plan to take away teaching autonomy from the colleges

Council Further Believes that:
1.    Approval for this project should not be forthcoming until detailed costings are produced, along with explanations of where funding for the project will come from

Council Resolves to:
1.    Approve the redevelopment programme at the Radcliffe Infirmary Site in principle
2.    Call on the central university to publish detailed costings for the proposal
3.    Offer our support for the redevelopment programme in full once we are satisfied that the central university have the funds to pursue the programme

Proposed: Tom Lowe (Hertford)  Seconded: Tom Zawisza (Hertford)
 

7.    Burma

 
Council Notes:
1.    The events in Burma in recent weeks.
2.    That the military junta have continued to violently suppress protest against     their regime. That the junta have kept the democratically elected leader of Burma – Aung San Suu Kyi – under house arrest since 1988.
 
Council Further Notes:
1.    Aung San Suu Kyi was formerly a PPEist at St. Hugh’s College (matriculated 1966) and is now an Honorary Fellow.
2.    That large numbers of the recent protestors were students from Yangon University, who have been denied freedom of speech and subsequently incarcerated for their involvement in the peaceful protests.
 
Council Resolves:
1.    To condemn the actions of the Burmese military junta.
2.    To express its support for the protestors’ demands for democratic leadership under Aung San Suu Kyi, their democratically elected leader, and for freedom of speech and assembly for the people of Burma.
 
Proposed: Martin McCluskey  (St Hugh’s)  Seconded: Claire Addisson (Pembroke)

AMENDMENTS

d.    Elections in Council

MPLS Divisional Board (Grad)   

Kanika Uberoi (St Cross)
Alok Gupta (Hertford)
Alison Baxter (University)
Jointly Alexander Williamson, (Wadham) and Alexander Priest (St John's )


MPLS Divisional Board (Undergrad)   

Claire Bendix, St Hilda's College
Flora Malein, Balliol College

Humanities Divisional Board (Undergrad)   

ShinWoo Kang, Christ Church College
 

h.    Emergency Motions

1.    David Irving and Nick Griffin at the Oxford Union

Council Notes:
1.     That the Oxford Union is believed to be inviting David Irving and Nick Griffin to speak at their “Free Speech Forum” on 26th November.
2.     OUSU’s long-standing No Platform policy against groups or individuals who incite violence or hatred against others due to religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
3.     OUSU’s recently lapsed policy against David Irving, passed in Trinity Term 2001, at the time of his last invite to the Oxford Union.
4.     OUSU’s current policy against the BNP and National Fron (passed Trinity Term 2005) and support for anti-facist and anti-racist campaigning.
5.     That in 2001 the Union cancelled its event with David Irving following outrage from the student body led by OUSU and a number of Common Rooms.
6.     The extensive work by OUSU over a number of years in promoting Holocaust Memorial Day and raising awareness of the Jewish Holocaust and other acts of genocide.
7.     The condemnation of the Oxford Union by both the National Union of Students and the Union of Jewish Students.
 
Council Further Notes:
1.     That Mr. Justice Gray, High Court Judge, ruling against Irving in a 1998 libel case noted that: “he is an active holocaust denier; that he is anti-semitic and racist and that he associates with right-wing extremists who promote neo-nazism.”
2.     Irving served a prison sentence in Austria from February to December 2006 for glorifying and identifying with the NSDAP (The Nazi Party).
3.     That Irving’s work has been discredited by noted scholars including David Cannadine, Sir John Keegan, Hans Mommsen, Gordon A. Craig and Deborah Lipstadt.
4.     That Nick Griffin has previously denied the holocaust, referring to it as the “holohoax”.
5.     That support for this motion has been expressed by Jewish Society, the President of Islamic Society, MuJewz and Aegis Students (cross-party anti-genocide campaigning group).
 
Council Believes:
1.     That the invitation of David Irving to the Oxford Union is damaging to the reputation of Oxford and to the students of Oxford University.
2.     That student-run organisations – particularly those that rely on the reputation of Oxford University – should not play host to racists or fascists and thereby lend them a degree of respectability.
3.     That this motion serves to uphold lawful free speech as prescribed in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is the most heavily qualified of all the convention’s rights. 
4.     That we must be minded to the impact of their presence in Oxford on the welfare of individual students.
5.     That this issue requires an urgent response from the Student Union.
 
Council Resolves:
1.    To oppose the invitation of David Irving and Nick Griffin to the Oxford Union.
2.    To mandate the OUSU President to write to the President of the Oxford Union and encourage the organisation not to go ahead with the event.
3.    To work with the National Union of Students, the Union of Jewish Students and others if the event goes ahead.
4.    To encourage individual Common Rooms to express their views on this issue and to invite responses, if necessary, in future Council meetings.
 
Proposed: Martin McCluskey (St. Hugh’s)  Seconded: Daniel Bloch (St. Anne’s)