2019 General Meeting

Date: Sunday 2nd week, Trinity 2019 (2019-05-05)

Agenda

Trinity Term 2nd Week Agenda

 

1. Matters Arising
2. Amendments to Governing Documents
1. Creating working group on divestment (BB)
3. Motions Relating to Financial Matters
1. Partially funding House of Improv at the Edinburgh Fringe (EM)
2. Funding wheelchair accessibility for Plush (MY)
3. Funding arts week (TL)
4. Welfare week (CR/CRJ)
4. Any Other Motions
5. Appendices

 

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• Matters Arising
• Amendments to Governing Documents

 

 

a) Creating working group on divestment (BB)

 

This JCR notes that:

1. There is a growing international campaign for fossil fuel divestment around the globe. In total, more than 5.2 trillion (USD) of invested funds have committed to divestment. In January 2018, New York City announced that it would divest 5 billion (USD) from fossil fuels.
2. Within this university, many Oxford colleges are currently exploring full fossil fuel divestment, following successful student motions. In 2015, the university divested its endowment’s direct holdings from coal and tar sands, a first step but not enough.
3. Oxford University Endowment Management (OUem) reported that of the £1.6 billion Endowment Fund, approximately 3% is invested in the energy sector. This translates to approximately £2,000 per student.
4. 25% of Balliol’s endowment is currently invested in OUem. The majority of the rest is invested in diversified holdings with no clear commitment to avoiding unsustainable investment.
5. This is a matter of concern because investments in fossil fuels are not compatible with a just and stable future. In September 2013 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that in order to stay below a devastating global temperature rise of 2°C, cumulative carbon emissions cannot exceed a “budget” of about 800 gigatons. [IPCC]
6. In order to reach this target, around 80% of current fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground. Despite this, the top 200 coal, oil and gas companies continue developing even more reserves.
7. The university has a commitment to reduce its carbon emissions 33% by 2020/21. Clearly it understands that reducing fossil fuel emissions is the responsible action for current and future generations, and should implement those principles in its investments rather than profiting from hypocrisy.
8. Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that divesting from fossil fuels does not impair portfolio performance, most recently in this Journal of Ecological Economics article.
9. Now is the time for Balliol to join this growing movement and align its investment with its ethical commitments.
10. Moreover, Balliol has received donations from fossil fuel companies – notably Exxon.

 

This JCR believes that:

1. Investments made by the college into fossil fuel companies are socially irresponsible and inconsistent with the educational objectives of the University.
2. Divestment is an effective means of protest against unethical corporate behaviour.
3. Actions taken by this college can attract substantial national media coverage. Divestment here (as evidenced by the momentum generated by other divesting colleges) would encourage other colleges in Oxford and the university to divest.
4. Accepting donations from fossil fuel companies is a way for them to clean up their image and attract job applications: Balliol should not be a part of this.

 

This JCR resolves to:

1. Create a working group on divestment, mandated to meet with the bursar and relevant committees to discuss options for Balliol’s investment, and new policies on donations, with the aim of coming to a resolution that ensures that Balliol’s investments are compatible with the goals of the Paris Peace Agreement, at minimum.

 

3. Motions Relating to Financial Matters

 

a) Partially funding House of Improv at the Edinburgh Fringe (EM)

 

This JCR notes that:

 

1. The House of Improv (HoI) is a troupe founded by and for Balliol members in January 2018. Although it now admits members from all colleges, it remains majority Balliol.
2. HoI provides free workshops aimed at beginners in Balliol every week, and since its inception it has put on regular free shows in Balliol bar and Balliol MCR. These are the only free shows and workshops it offers.
3. HoI is taking its first show to Edinburgh Fringe this summer; as it is the first show it is taking there, it is predicted to make a large loss.
4. In order to reduce cost to participants, the troupe is putting £800 towards this show. This money will go towards publicity (£135), our contribution to the Free Fringe Society (£65), show registration (£295) and the remaining £300 towards accommodation. This results in a £2480 shortfall, owing to the price of accommodation.
5. Our show is ‘free’ and we will do a bucket collection at the end each night. Venue capacity is 35, and the Fringe Society suggests projecting 1/3 ticket sales, so if each person gave an average of £3, we project taking £36 per performance, for 11 performances. Split between six people, this will hopefully cover living costs and contingency.
6. Three Balliol JCR members are involved in this Edinburgh show (as well as three Balliol MCR members). Eliza will be staying for 14 nights; Calvin and Vidy will be staying for 7 nights each.
7. This results in a cost to Eliza of £493 (£413 for accom., approx. £80 for travel), and £287 for Calvin and Vidy (£207 for accom., approx. £80 for travel).
8. All three JCR members have applied for the Floreat Grant from College, for a total of £100 each. Eliza does not anticipate receiving this, as she has already received money from the Floreat Grant this academic year.
9. Balliol JCR gave £825 for Fringe in 2017, and £250 in 2018 (despite this production only including one 5th year Balliol student).

This JCR believes that:

 

1. Through regular free workshops and shows, The House of Improv gives considerably to the Balliol community.
2. By going to Edinburgh Fringe, the troupe will return with more skills and experience, and so will be able to even better serve the Balliol community.
3. The arts should not be limited to those with the ability to self-fund, and that the opportunity to go to the Fringe should not be dependent on your personal financial circumstances.

This JCR resolves to:

 

1. Give a total £500 to The House of Improv to help cover their costs of going to Edinburgh Fringe.

 

b) Funding wheelchair accessibility for Plush (MY)

 

This JCR notes that:

1. Plush is Oxford’s only club for the LGBTQ+ community and provides it with a safe space for LGBTQ+ people to be themselves.
2. Prior to its move, Plush was the only level-access club in Oxford, not to mention the only level-access LGBTQ+ venue in Oxford.
3. LGBTQ+ people already struggle to find safe spaces, adding disability to the mix makes this even harder.
4. Although efforts have been made to increase Plush’s accessibility where it can, in light of limited funds, such as providing a ramp indoors and a disabled toilet, a key piece of infrastructure is missing - a chair lift.
5. Plush was forced to move premises recently and repurposing the new venue to make it accessible inside cost a lot of money. Despite this, it has already put £5,000 towards the new chairlift, which it has got the Oxford Union to match.
6. Even with this huge contribution, Plush is financially unable to fund a chair lift for over a year as £8,500 is still needed.
7. Extensive discussions with Plush, in consultation with LGBTQ+ Society, LGBTQ+ Campaign, including our Disability Reps, have come to the conclusion that accessibility for wheelchair users is indispensable and an immediate priority.
8. This has led to the decision for a fundraiser to put in a chairlift as soon as possible, as otherwise there would be a delay of over a whole year.
9. Money raised in this motion will go towards building the chair lift and buying house wheelchairs for those whose wheelchairs can’t go down the stairs.
10. ‘'Wheelchair users constantly have to ask "but is it accessible?" whenever invited out, and choose whether to be left out of the nightlife or risk injury trying to get into an inaccessible space, either by climbing, being carried, or walking. Adding a stair lift to Plush’s new venue will mean no wheelchair user or ambulatory disabled person in Oxford has to sit out another night, or be hurt trying to get in. Inclusive spaces are invaluable to the queer community, and too often disabled people get left out of the equation. Not in Oxford.’ - Testimonial from Quin, LGBTQ+ Society Rep, and wheelchair user
11. ‘Much of the fundraising initiative has been about whether the LGBTQ+ community should be required to pay for accessibility. What this fails to grasp, though, is that able-bodied people who are allies to the disabled community - including LGBTQ+ able bodied people - should help their disabled peers remove structurally oppressive barriers to their full participation in social life. This is not about whether the LGBTQ+ Community should be paying for accessibility. It is about whether able-bodied allies to disabled people should be willing to contribute to the removal of a major obstacle to disabled people. To that question, the answer is an unequivocal yes.’ - Testimonial from Alex, LGBTQ+ Campaign Disability Rep

 

This JCR believes that

1. Diversity and inclusion are core values of this JCR and worth striving for.
2. Disabled people should not be excluded from LGBTQ+ spaces, and that making these spaces accessible once again is a priority.
3. That showing solidarity and support for a wheelchair-friendly Plush would benefit both students and the local community and be in line with Balliol college’s core principles and beliefs.
4. Given that it would take Plush over a whole year to raise enough funds by itself (after its expensive forced relocation), able-bodied and LGBTQ+ allies need to show solidarity by donating, so disabled people are not forced to pay for their own accessibility.

 

This JCR resolves

1. To make a gift of £400 to Plush for this specific purpose.

c) Funding arts week (TL)

 

This JCR Notes:

1. That Arts Week is a JCR tradition
2. The lack of an arts week last year
3. That money can be exchanged for goods and services

This JCR believes:

1. That Arts week is a good thing

This JCR Resolves:

1. To pass £165 for Arts Week
2. To go to all the arts Week events
3. To be artistic and forget about exams/work

 

d) Welfare week (CR/CRJ)

 

This JCR Notes:

1. That welfare week is generally held in 5th week.
2. That welfare week is especially important in Trinity exam term
3. That many fun events are being planned that can’t happen without this funding.

This JCR Believes:

1. That welfare week is amazing and helps to alleviate fifth week blues and general exam related rubbish stress
2. That it is in the general interests of the JCR for things to happen that help to keep every member of the JCR as happy and healthy as possible.

This JCR Resolves:

1. To pass up to £200 to run welfare events throughout 5th week.

 

 

4. Any Other Motions

5. Appendices

 

 

Minutes

Divestment Motion

Bee introduces her motion by explaining that Balliol may be investing some of its money in fossil fuels, partly because we don’t know what firms 25% of the endowment is invested in as it is in general oxford university investment funds. Bee says some of the other 75% could also possibly be invested. In fossil fuels.

Bee believes some of Balliol’s endowment is invested directly in fossil fuels, some indirectly and that there is a lack of transparency it could be anywhere between zero and ten percent. She says that is’s socially irresponsible and not in line with the Balliol JCR’s views. Bee has introduced the motion so it can be discussed with college. A lot of applause follows her speech.

 

Short factual questions:

Becky asks what Bee means by indirect and direct investment. Bee says that there is a management company that runs a central oxford fund. They are responsible to the university, but won’t disclose to public what they are investing in.

Cerian asks how many other colleges have supported the fossil fuels divestment movement. Bee replies that about half the colleges have passed JCR/MCR motions about divestment and that two colleges are already going through the divestment process. She notes that Balliol is thus well behind other colleges, and that this is not a radical idea.

Thomas asks what being compliant with the Paris agreement means, as this is mentioned in the motion. Bee says it’s to do with not investing in companies which use a certain value of gas and coal relative to their size, so that Earth doesn’t warm as much as 2 degrees.

 

Points of debate:

Felix argues that this is a really important issue and says that Oxford university as a whole is behind a lot of other universities, not just that Balliol is behind a lot of other colleges in Oxford.

 

Vote:

The motion passes unanimously.

 

Plush accessibility motion

Mick introduces the motion by noting that Plush is main LGBTQ entertainment space, and that he believes this is because they’ve worked with LGBTQ students more than other similar establishments and are mostly run by LGBTQ people. He goes on to explain that they’ve had to move recently but despite this have tried to cater to sensory disabilities with lights and tried to make it accessible for as many people as possible. He claims that the wheelchair accessibility is last part of this endeavour. Mick says that bringing this motion is part of a wider movement and other colleges have passed similar motions e.g Wadham who passed £1,000. If Plush were not to get any money from colleges plush will do this themselves but it will take them a year or longer. He argues that massing this motion is part of the JCR standing for equality.

 

Short Factual Questions:

Fred asks who approached who on this. Mick explains that the dialogue started before current he held his position at Balliol, but that he believes both parties thought this was something that should be done.

George asks about the ownership of plush and if it is at all owned by students. Mick clarifies that the LGBTQ society doesn’t own it, but does have influence because plush chooses to listen to them.

Daniel Rastelli asks if plush is a charity. Mick replies that it isn’t, but that it does give to charity.

Ana asks what else plush provides for LGBTQ community at large outside of the club. Mick says its put in place zero tolerance policies, and subsidies its own student nights as well as sponsoring oxford pride annually. He says they make regular donations to other LGBTQ stuff.

Fred asks how much is being asked for from colleges in total for this. Mick says they aren’t asking for a specific amount, but have so far raise £2,200 from colleges, though if pressed he would hope that four to five thousand pounds could be raised.  

George asks if Plush approached banks before colleges, but Mick isn’t sure if they had.

Thomas asks why they haven’t asked for a loan as opposed to gifts from college. Mick says he doesn’t precisely know, but knows they are in a difficult financial position.

 

Points of debate:

Daniel Gonsalez reminds people that we have lost 35,000 in last three years, which he notes is significantly more than our reserves. In view of this he thinks we should exercise restraint when giving out money at GMs.

Fred says notes that this is a private business and expresses his view that the claim by Plush that they won’t do this for at least a year if JCRs don’t give them money seems to be an attempt to take advantage of the generosity of college JCRs. He and George believe that there are a lot of other financial options. Mick says that from working personally with them he doesn’t believe that taking advantage of generosity is not something they would do and that they seem to be committed to accessibility. He thinks Plush wouldn’t want to alienate their own community by trying to take advantage of them.

Megan believes that £400 isn’t a huge amount and that some freshers won’t be able to go clubbing if we don’t speed it along. She goes further and says the thinks it would be selfish not to speed it along.

Mick briefly points out that Josh (Balliol JCR LGBTQ officer) and Jake (Balliol JCR student disabilities officer) agree with it.

Jamie points out that Plush have invested a lot of money in making the location move possible.

Cole says that he doesn’t like it that people have said that in principle they support student accessibility but won’t back this specific motion.

Fred argues that if they can afford this in a year, then surely they can accept a loan from us which they can afford to pay us back in a year.

 

An amendment is submitted to change clause 1 in the ‘This JCR resolves’ section from ‘To make a gift of £400 to Plush for this specific purpose’ to ‘Loan £400 to Plush for this specific purpose.’

Thomas argues that this gets around the problem of giving money to a profit-making business, as they can use their profits to pay us back.

Mick says that whilst he can see the logic of a loan, he believes it’s a sad misunderstanding of solidarity. In addition, he thinks a loan won’t work and that Balliol will look bad if we offer a loan rather than paying money.

Fred says a loan would do just as much as a gift for accessibility, but that this way we wouldn’t be paying money for our image.

Daniel points out that this debate has become polarised and clarifies that we don’t want to keep money for our own sake but for other important uses.

Following discussion of the feasibility of a loan, Michael O’Connor points out that the JCR regularly gives out loans, and that we have an accountant that can deal with this stuff.

After a secret ballot, the amendment passes 19-16.

 

Following the vote, mick points out that he is unaware if Plush can accept a £400 loan. Daniel says he is willing to talk to Mick to see what can work on this. Despite this, Mick would rather get a lower amount for certain rather than a loan.

Fred wants to stress that people in favour of giving a loan out rather than a gift are not against this and that he doesn’t appreciate the accusations that they don’t care about accesiblity. Becky reiterates this and says that the language used by some JCR members, such as calling her and others who would prefer a loan to a gift ‘disgusting’ because of their opinion, is inappropriate.

 

An amendment is submitted to add clause 2 to the ‘This JCR resolves’ section: ‘Give Plush a grant of £300 for this specific purpose if they refuse the loan offer.’

Thomas disagrees with the amendment as he believes that Plush will be aware that if they don’t agree to a loan they will get a grant, and that this will guarantee that they reject the loan.

Mick thinks that we all agree that accessibility is important, and that he realises that the JCR isn’t in a great financial state, but thinks that plush will act in good faith and may well accept the loan even if they know they will receive a gift if they reject it.

Arun thinks that a grant of a lesser amount is worse than a loan for accessibility and worse financially for the JCR, and so doesn’t see the point of the amendment.

 

After another secret ballot the amendment fails.

 

One more secret ballot is held on the motion as a whole (and as amended) and it passes.

 

House of Improv Motion

Eliza explains that House of Improv want £500 to help with the costs of their performance at the Edinburgh fringe. Their revenue from the shows doesn’t come close to covering their costs. Last year Balliol JCR gave £250 to some 5th year who wasn’t even in the JCR anymore, and so thinks it would be a bit hypocritical if they didn’t give money to a group that has a large number of JCR members. In addition she explains that they going to other JCRs for financial help and that they put on workshops in Balliol and even originated at Balliol.

 

Short Factual Questions:

George asks where the money will go if they do make a profit. Eliza stresses that this is an extremely unlikely scenario but that if this somehow does happen then It will go back into the troupe.

 

Points of debate:

Gonzo mentions that good budgets are very helpful, and thanks Eliza from submitting one.

Whilst many people are in favour of giving money to House of Improv for this, they worry about the message it will send if money is given to this but not for the previous motion.

Fred mentions that unlike the last motion, this isn’t giving money to a private firm, but Balliol people, and thinks it is perfectly legitimate to support this motion while being opposed to the previous one before it was amended.

Mick, who submitted the previous motion, says that he would support this motion in its entirety because he believes it is a reasonable amount for the purpose.

 

A vote is held and the motion passes

 

 

Welfare week motion

Cerian briefly explains why they need money for welfare week.

A vote is held and the motion passes

 

Arts week motion

Thomas briefly explains why he needs money for arts week.

A vote is held and the motion passes