2017 Committee Lunch

Date: Wednesday 3rd week, Michaelmas 2017 (2017-10-25)

Attendance

Present: Hubert Au (President), Frederick Potts (Vice-President (Administrative)), Hannah Williams (Secretary), Zachary Leather (Treasurer), John Watson (Lindsay), Ele Saltmarsh (Dr. WHO), Alexander Fuller (Dr. WHO), Leah Mitchell (Foody), Alastair Nicklin (Sports Rep), Luke Chester (Academic Affairs and Careers Officer), Finn Conway (Academic Affairs and Careers Officer), Calum Holt (Access and Admissions Officer), Isobel Howden (Access and Admissions Officer), Rishem Khattar (Charities and RAG Officer), Juliet Flamank (Student Disabilities Officer), Marianne Cain (Student Disabilities Officer), Steven Rose (Entz Officer), Ellen Cropley (Entz Officer), Felix Heilmann (Environment & Ethics Officer), Amrita Khandpur (International Students Officer), Antonia Siu (Website & Computing Officer), Laura McMillen (Women's Officer), Monique Keane (Women's Officer)

Absent with apologies: Alexander Toal (Foody), Leon Kidd (Charities and RAG Officer), Richard Ware (Design & Maintenance Officer), John Maier (John de Balliol), Stephen Hawes (John de Balliol), Joshua Jones (Environment & Ethics Officer), Simran Uppal (Ethnic Minorities Officer), Alexander Gruen (International Students Officer), Julia Davis (Housing Officer), Cole Horton (LGBTQ Officer), Pallavi Ojha (LGBTQ Officer)

Absent without explanation: Kathryn Husband (Sports Rep), Suwanja Srikantha (Ethnic Minorities Officer)

Agenda







Matters Arising

Plodge Security

JdeB co-options

AOB

Minutes







1. Matters arising 

Plodge (Amrita and Juliet) 

Juliet said that we want to improve lodge safety and security as there have been incidents where students have been followed by non-Balliol people into college. We are thinking about ways the porters could impose extra security and even if this only benefits two people it would be worth it. There are two main suggestions. 1. The person says to the porters that they have lost their bodcard and want to check out the fob and need to be let into the plodge to do this. 2. The person asks the porters if they’ve seen a specific code-name person e.g Benjamin Jowett and the porters are aware that this means the person needs help. 

Hubert asked if the porters prefer one option and Juliet replied that they seem to prefer the first as it allows students to go around the back and be let into the plodge. 

Zach suggests that there could be two possibilities, for different situations depending on the urgency. 

Hubert said that on last week’s Exec meeting there was discussion to install barriers in the porters lodge and he will keep everyone updated. 

There was agreement that both suggestions are good and perhaps both should be used to have a range of possibilities for people who need it. 

 

JdeB co-options 

Juliet asked if the position could be kept empty until next elections due to concerns from the current welfare sub-committee about doing the vetting process again. This has put a lot of pressure on welfare sub members and many people are anxious. 

Ste said that any backlash on welfare sub would be muted as many of the old members of the JCR have left so there wouldn’t be the same problem. 

Hubert added that constitutionally people can’t be stopped from running if they want to. 

 

Vidy then said that he and Nick would like to drop out as they think Aidan and Will will do a good job and they only wanted to show the freshers what the role was. 

 

Aidan and Will

They said that they would like to do this role in the most sensitive way and have many good memories of bops and the JdeB. They have taken part in JCR discussions and charity things and will work with welfare sub. They want a laugh and not to make people feel anxious. They are not out to cause a scandal and believe it would be a shame to lose the JdeB.

Amrita asked if they know the contents of the motion passed last term and Will replied that although he read it at the time, he can’t remember the exact details and would like it to be refreshed to him by the Drs Who. 

Izzy asked how would they open up the JdeB to the wider JCR. Will said he thinks this is helped by the more stringent welfare rules to make it more inclusive. Aidan added that although he and Will are friends they do operate in different circles and could get input from a wider field. 

Zach asked if they think there is anything procedural that needs to be changed. Will replied that they want to work with welfare as much as possible and there is no point putting in lots of jokes that will end up being problematic. 

Hannah asked on behalf of Caitlin if the pair, being a pair of men, would be able to appreciate the concerns raised last year that were primarily of a gendered nature. Aidan said that although he knows this is problematic, they will work with welfare to have a more inclusive process to making and vetting the publication. 

Zach asked if they think inclusivity is just about involving more people or about the way material is acquired. Aidan said that he feels inclusivity is actively created and the pair have been talking about people contributing a segment to the JdeB rather than just pieces of gossip. 

Izzy asked if they would be organised enough as it can be a burden. Will said that he always does his washing up and Aidan said all of this deadlines fall on a Wednesday so he would be able to dedicate time to the JdeB. 

Juliet asked if they would be happy to not include an CU content from the outset. Will said that they had considered adding some content, but only from Will’s perspective and if it upset the other parties involved, he would not do it.

Laura asked what the pair would do if they didn’t get any submissions. Will said they already have some ideas which would hopefully be enough to carry them through this bop.  

Will and Aidan left the room. 

Some things discussed among committee were that it was agreed the intentions of the two are good and it would be good to have a good legacy leaving the committee that the JdeB was not eliminated. It was agreed that trying new people would likely be productive, although the stresses for welfare sub were acknowledged. 

After a paper ballot vote, Will and Aidan were duly elected as JdeB Officers. 

 

AOB 

 

OUSU Meeting agenda (Mick)

Mick said that he is attending the OUSU meeting tonight and wanted to share the agenda with committee, which is to include talk about Movement for Justice, a charter about student cycling and voting for people on committee. 

Monique suggested that Mick be mindful of minority candidates when thinking about who to vote for, although it is most important to choose the most competent person for the role. 

Mick asked if the committee has any ideas about what to do to integrate the JCR more with the MCR. 

Juliet said that in the past we have seen reluctance by the MCR to get involved with the JCR but last year was different and grads got involved with the Ball etc. Also, the Junior Deans and Jowett Wardens integrate. Maybe we could extend welfare teas to the MCR and Mick should talk to the Jowett Wardens about doing this. 

Luke said that he finds it difficult to get help from the MCR regarding academic affairs.

Mick said that he is meeting informally with some grad students this week and will bring this up to see what they think.