General Meeting 1 HT26 — 01.02.2026
Key:
TN = Toby Naldrett
ME = Maddy Evans
JS = Jon Soepadmo
ZO = Zee Obeng
CT = Callum Turnbull
GB = Gabriella Bedford
LD = Lana Dissanayake
MF = Millie Freeman
Officer’s Reports
Avrah Pernica: housing stuff is underway — feel free to raise issues with me and Jade.
Jade Bennett: I approve this message.
Reuben Dowthwaite: All motions are within budget.
Questions to Officers
No questions to officers.
Discussion of Motions
JCR motion to grant £3,500 to the JCR’s Garden Party, 9th May 2026
ME: I’m the garden party president, the theme reveal was on friday. Theme is folklore! Garden party is on 9th May. Bit like a ball but much smaller, 3-10pm daytime event. Opportunity to dress up, with food, drink and entertainment included. Asking for £3500. The JCR had a surplus after covid. In 2022 and 2024, this surplus was used to fund garden party. Now we’re making ann effort to move away from this to the garden party not being JCR-funded, but thats a big jump so there would be a big deficit or high ticket prices if we don’t get funding this year. Asking for money to fund the running of the event e.g. waste management. We will have to raise ticket prices and delay tickets coming out if we don’t pass this motion.
Points of support and debate:
Liv Barber: as someone on garden party committee, we could definitely do with the extra support. We need a toilet!! And things like litter picking, etc. — it will be a nicer event with the money, and more accessible ticket prices, so everyone benefits.
Reuben Dowthwaite: Funding the garden party has been sustainable up to now because of the surplus, but if we keep doing this, it will really squeeze the budget. Doesn’t benefit everyone, since not everyone attends the garden party. Money would have to be taken from elsewhere e.g. june jamboree (general laughter). Can’t set a precedent unless we’re willing to reallocate funds from elsewhere.
Will Gulliford: Accessibility will be improved by funding the garden party. Tickets ~£70 are much more accessible than if they cost ~£140.
Why are we still funding june jamboree?
TN: June jamboree is a good idea, and we can work on making it better than last year. This motion isn’t about funding june jamboree, but someone else could put forward a motion to defund it, although I wouldn't support this.
ME: We’re tapering off the funding, not asking for as much as the last event. So eleven if the next garden party gets no funding, it will be a smoother transition.
Passed 46–0.
Motion: Payment of £200 to support Oxford University Racing
JS: Requesting funding for Oxford University Racing, design and build a car every year to race. Lots of Balliol people involved. Asked for £500 last year, but had to reduce request to £300 due to budget constraints. Used the money to buy materials and parts, the car is currently being built. More manufacturing to be done. Need £200 to make up the cost.
TN: Where do you race?
JS: Silverstone.
Passed 39–2.
Motion to fund Greyjoy
ZO: I was in a play called Greyjoy, which finished today, please help fund it!
Points of support and debate:
Polly Oberg: I went, it was a good play.
Beth Pearson: I’ve been told it was a good play.
TN: What was your role in it?
ZO: I acted in it.
Passed 35–2.
Motion to give £150 to It Happens Here: Oxford’s Anti-Sexual Violence Campaign
CT: Tanya and I are asking for for funding for the society It Happens Here, which helps survivors of sexual harassment, which affects you not only in the moment but also in the future. Funding would go towards raising awareness, putting on events.
Eve Richardson: Not associated with a charity? (Charity law means we can’t fund charities.)
CT: No.
TN: Everyone get motions in on time please… (CT did not.)
Eve Richardson: I’m not a pushover I pinky promise — you must get motions in on time!!
CT: “Time is relative.”
Passed 35-0.
Motion: £120 funding for the printing of The Oxford Student newspaper
GB: Requesting £150 to fund the OxStu, which recently went indy from the SU, so lost SU funding. Need funding from colleges. Also, listen to the podcast online!
Arthur Taylor: Why did it go indy?
GB: More journalistic independence — now it’s independent from the uni, which funds the SU.
Passed 34–2.
Motion to allocate funds to The Stubbs Society for Defence and Foreign Affairs
LD: Asking for £100 to fund free talks by ambassadors and diplomats, if you’re interested in IR or diplomacy. In dire need of funding — very small society, at risk if we don’t get funding.
Avrah: What society?
LD: Stubbs — defense and foreign affairs.
CT: Who are the speakers this term?
LD: You can find them on the instagram.
Passed 33–4.
Motion: Funding for La Voix Humaine
MF: Asking for £50 to fund the play La Voix Humaine. It’s a french play, we’re using an english script. 4th week in the Burton Taylor, funding will go towards production costs — set, costumes, etc.
Passed 35–2.
JCR motion to grant £50 to Full Moon Theatre’s Translations- Pilch Studio, Hilary, week 6
ME: Asking for money to fund a production of Brian Friel’s Translations. Tickets are out. In the pilch, very cool. If you live in Jowett, come watch!
Jade Bennett: When is it on?
ME: 26th feb opening night.
TN: What’s your role?
ME: I’m doing welfare.
Big play in Ireland, lots of people study it for a-level.
Points of support and debate:
Liv: Sounds awesome.
Passed 37–1.
AOB
TN: This term we’re trialling a raffle — one entry for each time you attend a GM. Prize draw at the next GM, for a £100 Amazon voucher (or a different voucher if you don’t like Amazon). So come to GMs for a chance to win!
*Secretary’s note: excellent in-person attendance today.*
Meeting adjourned.