2017 General Meeting

Date: Sunday 7th week, Trinity 2017 (2017-06-04)

Agenda



Trinity Term 7th Week Agenda

1. Matters Arising

2. Amendments to Governing Documents

3. Motions Relating to Financial Matters

   1. Funding for Oxford Review of Books

   2. Funding for bosu ball

   3. Items for Gender Expression Fund

4. Any Other Motions

1. Class Officer (Second reading)

1. Appendices

1. Matters arising 2. Amendments to Governing Documents 3. Motions relating to financial matters

1. Funding for Oxford Review of Books- John Maier and Anna Watkinson

 

1. This JCR notes:

   1. Balliol has a long history of supporting cultural, literary, and artistic causes.

   2. The Oxford Review of Books (ORB) is a new literary review, intended to provide a platform for long-form writing, book reviews, essays, and interviews in a way that does not currently exist at Oxford.

   3. The magazine also holds events. This includes one with Oxfam about the war in Yemen in Third Week and a poetry event in Sixth Week. These are free and open to the entire Oxford community.

   4. The ORB has already been able to garner a Facebook following of nearly 1,000 people and been able to attract several dozen submissions for its first issue, (to be distributed Friday 9 June).

   5. The magazine has secured some money through sponsors, but JCR money will be needed in order to bring the publication to print.

   6. Several members of the ORB team are members of the JCR.  

2. This JCR believes:

   1. Balliol should continue to support student interests, and this includes the work of the artists, writers and editors who have collaborated in producing this new student magazine.  

   2. There is proven interest in the ORB and the niche it provides for writers and readers who wish to engage in work with a literary and cultural focus. Other publications in Oxford do not currently support this focus in the same way.

3. This JCR proposes that:

   1. The JCR donates £200 towards the ORB in exchange for 30 copies of the ORB’s first edition.

 

b) Funding for bosu board- Alistair Nicklin

 

1. This JCR notes that:

i. You can buy commercial bosu boards for £139

ii. Bosu boards are multifunctional pieces of gym equipment

iii. The college gym is well used by the JCR and good value for money

iv. Most gyms have a bosu board

B. This JCR believes that:

i. The college gym is not very well equipt, and any effort to improve it should be encouraged
ii. The gym is important as a healthy body leads to a healthy mind

iii.  A bosu board would be a welcome addition to the college gym
C. This JCR resolves to:
    i. To buy a commercial bosu board for £139

 

c) Items for Gender Expression Fund- Cole Horton and Pallavi Ojha

 

1. This JCR Notes That:

i. Gender dysphoria is a feeling of distress that can occur when there is a disconnect between a person’s biological sex or perceived gender, and their actual gender identity.

ii. Gender dysphoria affects students at Balliol and throughout the university.

iii. A recent report from OUSU on Student Welfare, Mental Health and Support revealed that LGBTQ+ students experienced higher levels of anxiety and stress than their cisgender or heterosexual peers. Gender dysphoria is a contributing factor to this.

iv. Obtaining items such as binders, concealing underwear, and breast forms can help prevent gender dysphoria and improve the mental health of transgender or gender non-conforming students.

v. These items are often cost prohibitive, making it difficult for people who might benefit from these products from purchasing them. For example, the average binder costs £30 and good quality breast forms may be upwards of £60. In addition, many of these are manufactured outside of the U.K. and have to be shipped internationally.

vi. Other colleges, including Exeter, Somerville, and St. John’s, have established funds to alleviate the financial burden for students who purchase these items.

1. This JCR Believes That:

i. Any student who may benefit from these items deserves access to them, regardless of their ability to pay.

ii. It is particularly important to support the welfare of marginalised and underrepresented students like those in the transgender and gender non-conforming communities.

iii. A fund to aid the purchase of items for gender expression would alleviate a financial burden for students, while also helping to target the gender dysphoria they may experience.

1. This JCR Believes That:

i. To pass £400 to be used by students for the purchase of items aiding in gender expression, such as binders, concealing underwear, breast forms, etc.

ii. Mandate the LGBTQ+ Officers to reimburse students from this fund on a case-by-case basis up to £60 per student.

iii. That the LGBTQ+ Officers to explore the possibility of creating a levy in MT 2017 to ensure the continuity of the fund.

 

Amendment 1

Strike resolves 1 and 2 and replace with create a restricted reserve and transfer £400 into it for use by students for the purchase of items aiding in gender expression, such as binders, concealing underwear, breast forms etc. with a suggested limit of £60 per student per term and update standing policy to reflect this

4. Any other motions

1. Welfare Subcommittee Role of a Class Affiliations Officer (Calum Holt, Izzy Howden, Isis Kearney) - SECOND READING

 

1. This JCR notes:

   1. In 2015/16 55.7% of the intake of undergraduates at Oxford University attended state schools; this is the lowest it’s been in five years.

   2. Students at Oxford are 1.4 times more likely to achieve firsts if they haven’t been flagged at application, than if they have. Students who were flagged at application are also less likely to complete their degrees on time. Flagged applicants include

      • Applicants from schools which have low Oxbridge admission rates.

      • Applicants from postcodes which are considered socioeconomically deprived.

      • Applicants who currently live or who have lived in care.

   3. Balliol college has a welfare subcommittee, which provides support and representation for a diverse group of students – including students with disabilities, BAME students, suspended students, International Students, LGBTQ+ students, students who identify partially or fully as women.

   4. Social mobility is a topic people in the UK are becoming increasingly aware of, with the gap between the poorest and the richest widening, rising housing prices, and increasing strains on public services due to austerity.

   5. As residents of the UK, there will be students at Balliol (and other colleges in Oxford) whose welfare in and outside of Oxford is affected by these broader problems in society.

   6. This term, OUSU have launched its ‘Class Act’ campaign which seeks to campaign on behalf of, and provide resources for, students who self identify as working class, low income, state comprehensive educated, and/or a first generation.

   7. Self identifying working class, first generation, low income, state educated students have reported a range of welfare concerns which are directly associated with their social class. These concerns include, but are not limited to

      • Feelings of isolation

      • Classist comments

      • Difficulties regarding their cost of living

      • Confusion about personal identity

2. This JCR believes:

   1. Balliol JCR is lucky to have students from a diverse range of social backgrounds.

   2. It is good that Balliol JCR provides support and representation for many students who are vulnerable to experiencing discrimination, and identity specific welfare concerns.

   3. Balliol JCR should provide support and representation for students from all marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

   4. It would be advantageous for there to be an obvious point of contact who can act as a liaison between Balliol students and those involved in current and ongoing OUSU class campaigns.

   5. In accordance to its friendly and inclusive ethos, Balliol college provides excellent financial support to students who require it.

3. This JCR resolves:

   1. To introduce a welfare subcommittee position of ‘Class Affiliations and First Generation Officer’, following a precedent set by St. Hilda’s (Class Liberation Officer), Corpus (Socioeconomic Rep) and Regent’s.

   2. The Class Affiliations and First Generation officer will have the following aims:

      • Create an awareness, particularly during Freshers Week, of the common experience when transitioning to Oxford, i.e. through events/emails/resources

      • Providing peer support for students who encounter any negative issues as a result of their socioeconomic class. Including but not limited to the issues addressed in i.7 above.

      • Providing support for students who have difficulty transitioning between home and university environments because of their socioeconomic background.

      • Representing the interests of working class or first generation students or those who have lived in care or who feel that their socioeconomic background has affected their experience at Oxford University, in committee meetings and to college.

      • Raising awareness of existing financial support that the college provides, and helping students to feel comfortable to ask for it if needed.

      • Raising awareness of welfare issues which affect these students, providing suggestions on how those who are interested in helping are able to help.

      • Reinforcing Balliol JCR’s friendly environment, by encouraging existing good interclass relations within college, encouraging discussion about socioeconomic class, and appeasing tensions where there exist areas for improvement.

      • Provide spaces and opportunities for these students to speak openly about their experiences.

      • Acting as a liaison between Balliol students and ongoing class-related OUSU campaigns.

   3. To formally introduce the role as soon as possible, with emergency elections being held before the end of Trinity Term 2017. This is so that the elected officer can fulfil their duties and ensure the smoothest transition possible for disadvantaged students before their arrival in Michaelmas 2017.   

   4. To adjust the governing documents accordingly, with the responsibilities of the Officer being listed in the Standing Orders as laid out by the above aims.

 

Amendment 1

Add resolves 5: To elect up to two people to this position

 

Amendment 2

Change iii)2.2 ‘peer support’ to ‘support’

5. Appendices

Minutes

Second reading of Class Officer - Calum and Isis 

 

No opposition to Zach ceding the chair to Zach so he can make a point on the motion. 

He says that there has been some concern about point 3.2 which states that Class Officers will provide peer support, confusion with the role of peer supporters. 

 

Calum said that they were planning on removing the word ‘peer’ and this amendment is taken as friendly. 

 

No short factual questions, no points of debate.

2/3 majority obtained. Motion passes.  

 

 

 

Oxford Review of books- John and Anna 

 

John explained that he is setting up a new literary publication called Oxford Review of Books. Its aim is to provide a place for people to engage in longer form writing, both based on books and other literary forms. The magazine is launching this Friday at Waterstones and they are looking to raise money from the JCRs of the people involved to fund the magazine, cover print costs, etc.

 

Zach asked, regarding the copies to be given to the JCR in return for the funding, will these be restricted or will people be able to remove them? 

 

John answered that he is happy to split the copies between the two. 

 

 

No points of debate. 

No opposition. Motion passes. 

 

 

Gym ball- Ali 

 

The motion is to buy a bosu board for Balliol gym as it needs one. 

 

Richard asked what the ball is for and Ali answered that it stabilises core stability muscles. 

 

There is no opposition and the motion passes. 

 

 

 

Fund for buying gendered items- Cole and Pallavi

 

Cole explained that for a lot of transgender people, there is a mismatch between their biological sex and their appearance and identity. Many people will buy items to create an appearance that matches their identity. This can be very expensive and it even can be physically harmful if the items are not good quality. People shouldn't be restricted from buying these items due to costs.
Cole said that the motion will aim to create fund with £400 for people to be reimbursed for these items. In Michaelmas term, the Officers will reconsider the fund and possibly look to creating a levy.

 

Zach recommended that they create a restricted reserve now within the fund so that it will have longevity. He proposed an amendment to strike resolves 1 and 2 and replace these with: ‘We resolve to create a restrictive reserve and transfer £400 into this… ‘

Zach asked if this would be a personal reimbursement or if it would go through Denise and Cole answered that either would be available, depending on what made people most comfortable. 

There were some questions about the limit of £60 per person and it was concluded that this would be per person per term. Richard also pointed out that it would be worth thinking about how reimbursement would work considering that there is a limit per person. He suggested that to make it anonymous, people could put receipts in the pidges of officers, however then there would be no way of imposing the £60. Zach suggested that in the long run, there may be no need for the £60 cap to be implemented. 

Ellen also pointed out that it may be embarrassing for some people to buy things on their own and so we could ask officers to do so for them and it was agreed this was a good idea. 

 

No opposition. 

Motion passes.