Oriel Split with OUSU
ORIEL JCR PRESIDENT Dave McCormick described as "an utter shame" his college's decision last weekend to disaffiliate from OUSU. The decision, taken in a routine referendum, saw 83 students vote for disaffiliation, with 63 preferring to stay in OUSU. Other colleges could now follow Oriel's lead.
The Oriel decision was taken in accordance with the Education Act, which states that institutions must discuss whether to reaffiliate to their Unions every year. McCormick chose to do this through a "complete and unbiased" referendum, describing it as "the best way to give all students a choice".
According to JCR rules, any motion needs a two-thirds majority to pass. McCormick had originally proposed the issue as a question of whether Oriel should disaffiliate, but he was presented with a petition to change the wording to "This JCR would continue its affiliation to OUSU in the next academic year." A simple majority was not enough to pass the motion and disaffiliation therefore followed.
Among the proposers of this new referendum was Marcus Walker, JCR Treasurer and President of OUCA, who told the OxStu that the wording was altered to be more in line with the Education Act, and to bring the idea of disaffiliation "into sharper focus in people's minds".
The turnout for the referendum has been described as "fairly representative". McCormick claims that "there had been feelings of unhappiness with OUSU", and he anticipated the result. Once disaffiliated, Oriel members will have to pay market rates for OUSU publications, entry to Freshers' Fair, and will no longer receive advice to JCR officers or access to the OUSU shop. OUSU will, however, still provide the college with general representation to the University, and students will, as individuals, be allowed access to welfare services.
Though one of the main reasons given for disaffiliation was anger at the cost of OUSU, a full package of OUSU publications, plus a ticket to Freshers' Fair, would cost £700 more if not affiliated.
McCormick fears this will lead to a decision not to invest this in the first years: "I can't see how they'll be able to justify spending this when their reason was to save money." He would deeply regret the loss of Freshers' Fair - "one of the pinnacle points of the first term; it makes college look extremely bad" - and the looming lack of student support, including the new Nightbus.
Incoming JCR President David Follows seems unconcerned at the prospect. He believes disaffiliation will "not make a big difference" to his job, adding, "I'm sure we'll be able to manage." He was confident that the JCR would pay for Freshers' Fair. Marcus Walker agreed, adding "what we lose out on won't be central to our lives". Neither he nor David Follows share McCormick's concerns that disaffiliation will give "completely the wrong image" of the college to potential students: "we have had quite a bad image over access in the past, and we have been struggling hard to combat it."
Steph Gray, OUSU VP (Finance) was unmoved at the prospect of Oriel having to pay for provisions for their Freshers. "People pay subscriptions for a reason; it would be unfair on other students if Oriel were allowed a free ride."
Reaction to the news in other colleges was mixed. Merton has also called for a referendum. Trinity decided to reaffiliate without a referendum in Michaelmas, and "a disaffiliation motion would fall flat on its face in Christ Church" according to JCR President Dan Rumney. Alex Grouet, President of Teddy Hall, believes that "the Oriel disaffiliation might foster motions in other colleges, but I doubt they will be successful. The loss is greater for Oriel than it is for OUSU."
At Oriel, Walker hopes to reaffiliate one day. Describing OUSU as "run by and for a clique of left wing students", he commented "I hope OUSU reforms itself to enable us to do so." McCormick has other worries: "My problem now is getting the same representation and amenities that OUSU provides. I don't want to see us out of OUSU much longer, because we're missing out."
31st May 2001