2015 Committee Lunch

By admin, 30 March, 2022
Date of Meeting

    2015 Committee Lunch

    Date: Wednesday 6th week, Michaelmas 2015 (2015-11-18)

    Present: Duncan Shepherd (President), Aisha Simon (Vice-President (Administrative)), Daisy Cutts (Secretary), John Clark-Maxwell (Treasurer), Richard Ware (Lindsay), Thomas Posa (Dr. WHO), Amy Ford (Dr. WHO), Gaetano Iannetta (Foody), Michael Wrathall (Foody), Ryan Diamond (Academic Affairs and Careers Officer), Jess Poole (Academic Affairs and Careers Officer), Alice Farrell (Access and Admissions Officer), Xavier Greenwood (Access and Admissions Officer), Cealach McKeating (Affiliations Officer), Emily Webb (Charities and RAG Officer), George Badger (Charities and RAG Officer), Florence Hardy (Design & Maintenance Officer), Jack Wheatley (Design & Maintenance Officer), Molly Rogers (Student Disabilities Officer), Laura Wills (Student Disabilities Officer), Matthew Lynch (Entz Officer), Charles Bertlin (Entz Officer), Daisy Pearson (Environment & Ethics Officer), Calum Jacobs (Environment & Ethics Officer), Oliver Johnson-Munday (John de Balliol), Colm Britchfield (John de Balliol), Anne Williamson (Ethnic Minorities Officer), Cameron Kigonya (Ethnic Minorities Officer), Indigo Wilde (LGBTQ Officer), Samuel Gibb (LGBTQ Officer), Alex McKenzie (Website & Computing Officer), Kathryn Pritchard (Women's Officer), Charlotte Suttle (Women's Officer)

    Agenda


    Agenda

    1. Elections [Duncan]
    2. Christmas Dinner [Charles]
    3. DOOM [Duncan]

    AOB

    Minutes


    1. Duncan asked committee to come to hustings for committee elections, and to be sure to vote in committee elections. 

    2. Charles said that he had spoken to Rachel Quarrell about Christmas Dinner, and he wanted to chat to committee about the things that she said. She suggested that we have a thankyou for hall staff at some point during dinner. Rachel will be at the dinner. Charles said that in the future it might be a good idea to move Christmas diner from the same day as the bop, and he thought it would be a good idea to encourage people to wear their own clothes to the dinner. The SCR have suggested that we make the Christmas Dinner black tie. Charles asked for Committee's thoughts and ideas for Christmas Dinner.

    Charlotte asked what Charles meant when he described the dinner as a Committee event with the JCR invited. Charles explained that Rachel wanted some people to be accountable, and she wanted the JCR Committee to be at the dinner in their capacity as Committee members, in positions of responsibility.

    Xavier said that the party bags might be the thing that encourage the rowdy behaviour that we want to discourage. Duncan said that the SCR also get party bags, and he didn;t think the party bags were a problem.

    Alice said that she really didn't like the idea of a black tie dinner. Matt ensured her that it definitely will not happen. Alice said that because of what happened last year, the older years are aware of what kind of atmosphere Christmas Dinner will be this time around. Matt asked if Duncan thought it was a good idea to send around an email explaining what happened last year. Tom said that he thought it was a bad idea to send such an email. He said that the older years set the tone of Christmas Dinner, and that this would be enough.

    Tom asked what Charles meant when Rachel said the committee members might be 'nominally in charge'. Charles said that informally, the committee would be expected to help the event run smoothly, and would set a good example to the rest of the JCR by behaving appropriately throughout the dinner. Charles asked committee to be of assistance during Christmas dinner, especially in terms of getting guests in and out of the hall efficiently.

    Tom said he was concerned about JCR committee members being held responsible for the actions of others. Duncan said that committee, aside from Annie, Duncan, Matt, and Charles, will not be held responsible for the actions of others at Christmas Dinner.

    Aisha said that she thought maybe committee members would be considered responsible, to sme extent, for the actions of others at Christmas Dinner, becuase this is what happened last year. Aisha suggested that we send out an email stating exactly what is expected of people's behaviour at Christmas Dinner.

    Matt said that he didn't want a no hands dessert.

    Kat suggested sending out a 'how-to-do-a-dinner' email. Annie suggested drawing parallels between Freshers' Dinner and Christmas Dinner in this email. 

    Duncan said that we as a committee will set the tone to the rest of college at Chrsitmas Dinner. Aisha said that during the dinner, she wanted Rachel Quarrell to get involved if she needs to be. Duncan said that if committee members saw people misbehaving, they could try to sort this out themselves. If this does nt prove effective, Duncan invited committee members to report any behaviour which they deemed inappropriate to either himself, Annie, Charles or Matt, who will take responsibility for dealing with the person and if necessary, asking them to leave Christmas Dinner.

    John said in his first year at Balliol the JCR President declared a no hands dessert. He said he thought that some people at th dinner would still be expecting the event to be quite rowdy, despite what happened last year. He also said that he heavily objects to having the responsibility of keeping his friends in line.

    Xav asked if there will be a declaration of the end of the dinner. Duncan said that this will happen after dessert.

    Charlotte said that what happened last year was really horrible, but the JCR Christmas Dinner is very special, in that it is an informal dinner in hall.  

    Duncan said that in his first year, Christmas Dinner was not as rowdy as it has become over more recent years. John said the key difference was between rowdy, and rowdy and disrespectful. Duncan said it was the culture around Christmas Dinner that was the problem. He said that John was right - we need to make a step change in the dinner atmosphere. Balliol is very proud of it's Christmas Dinner as a communal, informal meal. He said that  it has to be the case that someone has to take responsibility for the JCRs actions last year. Duncan said that wine is no longer going to be put on the table - it will be served by staff. 

    Tom said that the JCR does need to take some responsibility. However, if something does go wrong, he does not want to be held responsible, even unofficially, for the actions of others. 

    Annie said that we should tell people to wear appropraite Christmas clothing. Duncan said that if someone turns up dressed inappropriately, the Junior Deans will be on the door to ask them to change.

    3. Duncan explained that the council had promised that their upcoming boundary review would be based on the number of students who were registered to vote in the general election, but instead they have decided to base it on the number of currently registered students. Since the registrations are wiiped each September, the current number of students in Oxford registered to vote is very very low. Therefore, the votes in our constituency will be diluted. Duncan has ordered 'register to vote'  coasters, pens, tablecloths, and posters from OUSU. He urged committee to encourage other students to register to vote. Kat asked if there will be a protest against the council's actions. Duncan said that this will not happen. Cealach suggested Duncan marketed this as a students vs council battle. Duncan asked for up to £50 for 'well-done-for-registering' gifts. Richard asked if the boundaries under discussion are for council elections or general elections. Duncan said he didn't know the answer to this. 

    AOB

    • Cealach thanked Daisy, Iggy and Sam for bop clean up, and Emily who also stayed to help. Aisha said she wants to bring a motion to a GM about reforming bop cleanup. She asked any committee members who had thoughts on this to get in touch with her.
    • John announced that the JCR are getting a debit card and online banking. John said that the card will stay in the committee office. Richard asked when the cards will arrive. John said the cards will arrive at some point this week. 
    • Duncan said in general, people should keep doing their jobs.
    • Molly asked for someone to put stickers up in staricases 17 and 22. Molly also asked for money for stickers to put up in Jowett. We passed this money.

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