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Sunday 5th week, Michaelmas term 2009

Motion 1: Linguists Running for committee

This JCR notes that:

• The current wording of the JCR constitution states that for students wishing to run for committee positions: all candidates must be able to satisfy the Returning Officer that they will be in residence during the whole of their term of office.
• As the term of office runs from Hilary term to the following Hilary term, this bars linguists from running for a position in their second, third or fourth years as they are on their year abroad in their third year and cannot fulfill the terms of the constitution.
• Although this means that linguists can run in first year, few freshers do, as they are unfamiliar with the running of the JCR.

This JCR further notes that:

• As a democratically run institution, any student wishing to run for office should be able to do so.
• In the past, committee members have failed to complete their term of office for one reason or another and this has not greatly affected the running of the JCR as a whole.

This JCR proposes that:

• The constitution be amended, so that it reads: All candidates running for executive positions must be able to satisfy the Returning Officer that they will be in residence during the whole of their term of office.
• This will permit linguists to run for non-executive committee positions and allow the JCR to elect a suitable replacement before their departure for the final term of the position.

Proposed by: Laura West-Wilson

Seconded by: Rebecca Staw

Motion passed

Motion 2: Room Ballot

This JCR notes that:

• Changes were made to the JCR room ballot system last year, bringing the introduction of three ballots: 'A', 'B', and 'C'.
• Those on four year courses, from now on, need to choose a year for which to be on the 'C' ballot.
• In Michaelmas 2008,
  • Accommodation could not be guaranteed to all students.
  • The ballot was conducted late in the term, at a time when most rental properties in Oxford had already been signed.
  • Only a few days notice were given of these changes to the ballot and the potential unavailability of college accommodation.
• Hence, those on four year courses in Oxford (matriculating in 2007, graduating in 2011 and studying for Bachelors' degrees) were not given fair chance to opt for the C ballot, but are being placed now on the C ballot for their finals year.

This JCR further notes that:

• All those who are sitting their first, main, undergraduate finals for a Bachelors' degree in 2011 have an equal need of convenient accommodation.
• Thus, all those finalists should also have an equal opportunity on the room ballot.
• It is unfair that, due to the way in which the previous ballot was conducted, this equal need should be neglected.

This JCR further notes that:

• It was agreed in Trinity Term that the situation was unfair, and the proposal which follows was made by the JCR President, discussed in a JCR meeting, and was thought to be fair.
• It only emerged earlier this week — as the room ballot process is already going into motion — that this is the case.
• This problem is thought to affect only six people, two of whom are planning on living in Frewin rather than the college.

Hence, this JCR proposes that:

• Those on four-year courses in Oxford, currently third years, matriculated in 2007, who will be sitting their main undergraduate finals for Bachelors' degrees in 2011, should be put in the 'A' ballot to ensure that they are well placed for their finals.
• After this year, there shall be no more exemptions or exceptions.

Proposed by: Chris Adams

Seconded by: Pippa Farrington (JCR Treasurer)

Motion passed