Issuu

@TheOxStu

Trinity Term, Week 1 | Friday 26 April 2024

OXFORD STUDENT The

The University of Oxford’s Student Newspaper, est. 1991

Put through the Grindr: Gay “dating” in Oxford

A tale of two wheels: A dive into Oxford’s cycling culture

Read more on page 15

SU to cut Sabbatical Officer team by half Gaspard Rouffin and Martin Alfonsin Larsen

T Oxford Union building on St Michael’s street. Credit: Andrew Gainer

Oxford Union raised 0.36% of fundraising target in 2022-23 Gaspard Rouffin and Martin Alfonsin Larsen

n the financial year 202223, the Oxford Union began a fundraising appeal to raise £5m by the end of 2025. The Oxford Student can reveal that throughout this year, only £18,083 were fundraised, amounting to 0.36% of the initial target. The standing of the Oxford Union’s finances, and its ability to maintain its buildings, appears to be in jeopardy following this weak fundraising effort. The appeal started in 2022, at the occasion of the Union’s bicentenary year, was intended to ensure the integrity of its Grade II listed properties owned on St Michael’s Street. Money raised as part of the effort would be used to carry out the necessary works to pre-

serve its buildings, including its historic debate chamber. The Oxford Student understands that the structural integrity of the library roof is at risk, and that it will need to be specifically looked at as part of the renovations.

“The Union’s fi-

nancial fragility is the clear result of a flawed governance system — A former Union officer

However, in 2023, a year which saw the Union host celebrations for its 200-year history, including one stacked with high-profile alumni, the Union raised £18,083. The to-

tal amount of money set aside for this appeal at the end of the 22/23 year amounts to just £17,710. The Union writes on its website that the appeal is intended to ensure it can “continue to uphold free speech by inviting members and guests to challenge ideas in a historic setting that is fit for purpose”. A former officer at the Union commented: “The Union’s dwindling reputation and financial fragility are the clear results of a flawed governance system, where student schemes and Machiavellian moves overshadow proper management. Fundraising struggles as the Union’s image drifts from its original mission, mired more in scandal than substance, leaving oversight neglected and the building in disrepair.” Continued on page 4.

he Oxford Student can reveal that the Student Union will scrap three Vice-President Sabbatical roles, half of the elected team, for the next academic year as part of its transformation plan. The roles affected are VP Welfare, VP Equality and Liberation, and VP Activities and Community. Alfie Davis, Joel Aston, and Alisa Brown have been elected in those roles. The posts are currently held by Rosalie Chapman, Kennedy Aliu, and Mia Clement re-

spectively. These roles are not represented in the University Council, and are instead written into the SU’s bylaws, making the change at such short notice possible. SU President Danial Hussain wrote: “The reality is that the SU has spread itself too thin over recent years, leaving it unable to offer the right professional and personal support to Sabbatical Officers, and by association, to students.” These are comments from a piece written in Cherwell. In that piece, Hussain announced the laying-off of multiple staff... Continued on page 4.

Comment

Being support staff at a hierarchical Oxford Quill-Driver he first line of the University’s Equality Policy (Approved by the Council on 16th March 2020) declares, “The University of Oxford is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, …” It continues later: “The University understands inclusion to mean institutional and individual efforts and actions to foster an environment and institutional culture in

which each member feels, and is, valued, listened to and respected, able to be themselves and empowered to participate fully in the life of the University. “The University expects all members of the University community to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration and does not tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation.” The Vice-Chancellor remarks in her films... Continued on page 10.

Wellington Square University offices. Credit: Cameron Samuel Keys