Minutes
In attendance – President, Treasury, Secretary, Lindsay, EMOs, International, IT, Housing, Entz, E&E, Women’s, Foodies, CAFGO, LGBTQ+, Disabilities, Bike Rep, Welfaries
Charities Update
Charity reps meeting with Trinity to plan a joint social with them and Catz – table-tennis tournament. Within colleges first and then intercollege, provisional date is Friday week 6. Please give any recommendations for the charity. Trinity has £150, will buy pizza for event, might work with TTSOC to run event.
Oxford Mutual Aid reached out to Charity reps, Balliol has previously donated to them, idea of optional levy of 2 quid? Reps are meeting on Sunday with their director. Treasurer happy to add to list optional levies. Note that they’re a nonprofit not a charity. Officers cannot give to charity.
Bike Rep
Asks for some bike repair items for £8, passes unanimously.
Update on EFMOs
EMOs decided to rewrite the motion, will reach out to minorities using Bame Facebook, reach out to other colleges to hear how they do it.
Discussion of projects
Coffee vending machine – could lease it, would cost around £200 - £300 a term, would be leased. Treasurer open to ideas, but needs proof that it will actually be used. President to find out at Prescom how useful it actually is, how nice etc. Still a work in progress. Secretary to hopefully do some research on this if he’s not too lazy.
Mural – In discussions with Art and Picture reps, working on cost estimate.
Lockers with bodcard access for people with sports, those living out – in talks with domestic bursar for feasibility, costs.
Picnic benches/tables and chairs in Jowett courtyards – could be nice, pinned down, adds to community environment. To be considered further…
LGBTQ+ Rep Update – Anti-trans speakers
Michael Biggs spoke at Sociology Department as part of LGBTQ+ History Month earlier this week, Catz put out a statement on this before event. Discussed with President about whether to hold Emergency GM – decided not to due to potential welfare issues from debate, the event was already happening by this point.
Helen Joyce is speaking at Balliol tonight. Already been deplatformed. Not associated with Balliol JCR but we support it, 30 people bought tickets and not coming, 20 people bought tickets and will walk out.
Times journalist has reached out and asked for a statement. Will be looking for a story – unlikely to paint us in a good light. How to approach this? Difficult considering mainly a Welfare role, hard to write a message for all JCR.
Consensus for President to make a statement replying to Times reporter on how the talk, although it is being held at Balliol JCR, doesn’t necessarily reflect our views. Respect the right to free speech and the right to protest. Our priority is to ensure the welfare of all our members as far as possible. Try and keep it neutral to maintain JCR reputation and avoid reporting that paints us unfavourably.
Other points raised include:
- Daisy – No need to necessarily share our views with reporter. Worried about attending – to not say anything against, it is a statement of support, if walks out, statement against. Unsure about statement being made for sake of it. Helen Joyce focuses on gender – potentially harmful not only for trans, LGBTQ+ people, maybe even for femininity and masculinity.
- Felicity – Cautious about speaking to her, may twist her words. Editorial perspective. Risk of losing support of those who actually are affected by this.
- Elsa – pro-Emergency GM to make our views clear, so this doesn’t reflect on us, maybe bring Hannah to avoid welfare issues. Even if people attend event, don’t need to speak to reporter.
- Nikita – An email from Callum making an internal statement to JCR about event could clarify our views and provide support. LGBTQ+ Rep – may not be necessary, have been in communication with LGBTQ+ people to ensure welfare support for those affected.
- Arina – Times reporter is here primarily to monitor if there is any protest and to see student reaction to event.
Welfare Week
Most of subcommittee have confirmed events.
EMOs – Chai and Chat (I think), Disability – Bubble Tea, Women’s – Beats and Booze, temporary tattoos, maybe Just Dance, International – tea, a big map to put somewhere in JCR, people can put pins of where they are from and labels.
Movie night on Sunday? President’s suggestion of ‘About Time’ reveals he is very right wing, anti-woke and sexist.
Funding – £200 for Welfare Week specifically, to be used alongside committee budgets. Can see budgets on chat.
No reply on the llamas. But there is some competition held by a library which if we win we may get a llama. If we do fill in the form, we have a good chance of getting a llama. President to send out an email.
Other stuff
Updates on housing to come soon.
Rents and charges meeting – likely rise is 6.86% (contested – may be 6.82%)
Bop went well.
Meeting adjourned.