1st Week Michaelmas 2007 Minutes

 
Council Minutes

a.    Minutes of the Previous Meeting

No minutes

b.    Matters arising from the Minutes

No matters arising

c.    Ratifications in Council

No ratifications in Council

d.     Elections in Council

James Lamming explained what divisional board reps are.

MPLS Graduate
Kanika Uberoi husted.
Manifestos were received from Alok Gupta (Hertford) and Alison Baxter (University).

MPLS Undergraduate
Undergrad: Claire Bendix (St Hilda’s) no manifesto but no affiliations, Flora Malein (Balliol) manifesto.

Humanities
ShinWoo Kang (Christ Church)

e.    Reports from Sabbatical Officers

Martin McCluskey highlighted developments with CCTV and elections in sixth week.

The sabbatical officers introduced themselves.

f.    Reports from any Executive Officers

No reports from the Executive

g.    Questions to Members of the Executive

No questions to the Executive

h.    Emergency Motions

1. David Irving and Nick Griffin at the Oxford Union

Martin McCluskey proposed this motion.

Poses a threat to free speech. Supported by Jewish Society. Do not want to give respect or credibility to racist speakers. Academic freedom and freedom of expression are rights, but David Irving has been discredited and challenged time and time again. Some believe that this will be an opportunity to crush a debate. But instead this is giving such speakers a platform. Quoted from the Jewish Chronicle. This will not extend free speech and poses a welfare threat to current students, in this room now. There will be people here who do not want Oxford’s name to be connected with these speakers. We want views from across Common Rooms, with good debate.

Lewis Iwu (New) Asked about point 3 - what others?

Martin McCluskey: Everything we do will be dictated by our policy. This is no more extreme that what we have done in the past.

Carol Byron (St Catz): what will happen if we vote now and then vote in Common Rooms?

Martin McCluskey: this has come as a result of huge attention. We have no specific policy about David Irving so is up for discussion today. If another discussion needs

Philip Rosmary (Wadham): what sanctions can be taken against the Union?

Martin McCluskey: theoretically things are possible later

Alex Stafford (St. Benet's): how does it affect Oxford University Society members who were never members of OUSU?

Martin McCluskey: no impact.

James Macadam (Keble): what sanctions? Why are we waiting until later?

Martin McCluskey: it is always possible to go further, but all I wanted to do today was pas this motion. Oxford Union their own society. Up to Council.

Speech in opposition.

Lewis (New): no platform a separate issue, this is a separate society. Not sure about Council believes 2. Amendment to strike part 2. Seconded by ?

Claire Addison (OUSU): disagrees. It’s just a Council believes. This is not controversial.

Hannah Roe: keep point 2. Comparing our reputation with other universities - we need to be seen as just as supportive and inclusive as elsewhere.

Daniel Ox (St Anne’s). Criticise Lewis’ analogy with parents and children. There is a difference between a school conversation and a platform.

James Macadam (Keble): we should be the odd ones out. Our students should be clever enough to take on fascism.

Alex Stafford (St. Benet's): this is a private members’ club

Jeremy … (ChCh): we want to be able to say that OUSU does not support a platform for such people.

Sarah Hutchinson (St Cross): as a student organisation we should say, yes you may be a separate organisation but we don’t support this. Had threats at last university from the BNP.

James McDaid (Corpus Christi): these people have been invited to talk about free speech specifically.

Richard Hardiman (OUSU): move to vote on amendment. 2/3rd vote.

In favour of the amendment to strike: 17
In opposition: 32

Kirian Hutchinson-Dean (Wadham): we can express our disapproval and we should not be naïve to think that all they will talk about will be free speech.

Jason Sarfo-Annin (St Hugh’s): letting them speak will give them a platform, but so will not letting them speak. 

Rich Hardiman (OUSU): move to vote on the motion. Everyone has their views already.
Luke Tryll: wants to continue

Luke Tryl (Magdalen): thanks Martin for bringing this motion for discussion. Speakers have not been confirmed. There will be three other speakers. Don’t make these speakers martyrs. Have faith in Oxford students to crush these people.

Claire Addison (OUSU): students can’t crush speakers. (Luke: it’s a forum). Constant confusion between the Oxford Union Society and OUSU. We don’t want people to confuse us. Student safety: we have policy on this. We do need to condemn.

Tom Lowe (Hertford): this discussion should be had in the Union.

Paulo Wyatt (Jesus): move to vote proposition. We need to vote.
Chris Thursten (PMB): we don’t know what to say, as this is an emergency motion. This Council is not capable.

Move to vote: 40

Martin McCluskey (OUSU): restating policy we already have, this is summing it all up.
John Maher (Keble) We should be ignoring them. Why are we afraid of them?

Vote in favour: 37
Vote against: 24
Abstentions: 5

Motion passed.

i.    Passage of Motions Nem Con

3.    Student Advisor passed nem con

4.    Governance Working Group passed nem con

7.    Burma passed nem con

m.     Motions Authorising Capital Expenditure

1.    OUSY

James Macadam (Keble) gave speech in favour. OUSY would help OUSU’s motion. The demise of OUSY is a parable. OUSY was put through. OUSU realised that it wasn’t possible. Worried re OUSU’s structure, Labour Club etc.

Claire Addison: who supplied the original cost?

James Macadam: not sure
Rich: £200

Robert Barham (LMH): why can’t you use Alan Strickland’s costume?

James Macadam (Keble): didn’t see it. Utility belt should be added.

Alistair Wrench (St Hugh’s): when did someone decide not to go ahead with OUSY?

James Macadam (Keble): didn’t tell people when a decision was made.

Alistair Wrench (St. Hugh's): can someone answer my question.

Claire Addison (OUSU): £200-£700 - we couldn’t have spent £500 extra pounds. Financial.

Alistair Wrench (St. Hugh's): was it the exec’s intention to being it back to Council?

Martin McCluskey (OUSU): brought back today because Rich Hardiman and I met max and said being it to Council.

Rich Hardiman (OUSU): not a stealth motion. We have husts - live debates. We can’t do this, and in accordance with the standing orders with exec can make this point during the summer (and then back to Council). Not a good use of your money, we don’t have the cash. Copyright infringement.

Amendment from Martin Nelson (LMH): use OUSY to go to Burma with Max.

James Macadam (Keble): OUSY would be an emblem of vigilantism. Postpone killing OUSY. I will do my best to get a quote in the original £200. Propose a delay.

Vote in favour of a delay until 3rd week.





n.    Other Motions

1. Target Schools

Rachel Cummings amendment accepted friendly.

James Lamming: proposal speech. Affirm support for target schools and pass the ideas for the coming year in a democratic way.

Robert Barron (LMH): work in Northern Ireland?

James Lamming: yes. University is now working hard in NI. So support the University’s work. NI has the lowest rate of application. We need to use resources effectively.

Rachel Cummings: who have you consulted re open days?

James Lamming: open days are working well. Spoke to WomCam, others are about to kick off - so now coming to Council.

Jason Sarfo-Annin (St Hugh’s): why not possible to work with University access scheme?

James Lamming: that’s the plan.

Motion passed.
 
2.     SAS Review

Louise Randall: SAS has been having discussions and reviews. This is a summing up.

Jonny Headly: ? Clarify process.

James Lamming: Council will decide which ideas go to the Indicative Poll and then another Council. Hoping that there will be a clear leader.

Amendment: add f. any full member of OUSU
Proposed by Olivia Bailey.
Taken as friendly.

Alistair Wrench: why is the working group report being ignored?

Louise Randall: there are areas which need more work, wanted more consultation and engagement.

Alistair Wrench: did the working group give enough consultation?

Louise Randall: always room for more.

Jonny Medland : is there anything else in it?

James Lamming: this is the follow up from the report.

Motion passed.
 
5.    College Contribution Scheme

Tom Lowe proposed. Needs to be looked at in proper detail.

Hannah Roe: can you explain why the five members should be selected by the OUSU President?

Tom Lowe: as is traditional.

Joel (St Peter’s): conference income? 

Tom Lowe: double taxation on poorer colleges.

Amendment: strike resolves 3,4 and 5. Mandate OUSU President to demand report. Rep with CCC and discuss. Delay working party.

Martin speech in proposition: don’t have a working group now until we have investigation.
Accepted as friendly.

Motion passed.
 
6.    University Masterplan

Tom Lowe: says nothing about money.

Sara Gardner (St Hilda’s): where is the site?

Tom Lowe: at Radcliffe Infirmary

Rich Hardiman: won’t this be built section by section

Tom Lowe: we need to find out.

Amendment from James Lamming and Martin McCluskey.

James Lamming proposed amendment. No building until money. Will be built up gradually. Doesn’t take away teaching autonomy from colleges.

Tom Lowe: opposition to amendment. We do not have costings. (James Lamming: no costings, all will depend on funding and buildings). Will take teaching autonomy from colleges.

Martin McCluskey: we were consulted extensively three years ago. It was discussed extensively.

Kieran Hutchinson-Dean (Wadham): University is at the stage of a master plan. Agree with James. College autonomy is a separate issue.

James Lamming: teaching autonomy is a separate issue. Lectures etc are already centralised in some ways.

Rich Hardiman move to vote: amendment will be decided already. Further debate on this amendment is clouding our debate.
No opposition to voting on amendment.

Vote in favour of amendment: 27
Amendment passed.

Move to vote on motion: passed.

Vote on motion: 29
Vote against: 6

Motion passed.

o.    Any other business

Claire Addison - come bungee jump.

NUS Cards? Martin McCluskey explained.

Election results:

Alexander Williamson and Alexander Priest

Flora Malein

ShinWoo Kang

All elected.