TT20 Week 7 motions (1)

Motion condemning the behavior of Christ Church JCR and demanding apologies and restructuring of their JCR

This JCR notes that:

 

Racial inequality is a problem we all have a duty to fight

College administrations, JCRs, MCRs and SCRs together are representative of Oxford University as a whole

Any incident of potential discrimination, whether it be because of race, sex, gender, disability or other protected identity must be investigated in an open and transparent manner

Christ church JCR TT20 Cake hustings candidate (Redacted) made a crude, callous and insensitive analogy about George Floyd

When a member of Christ church JCR, Ms. Melanie Onovo, attempted to speak up on the issue she was told by the RO that it was not “appropriate to use hustings to make political points”

When later contacted by the Junior Censor, Ms. Onovo was first asked of the ‘rationale’ behind making the incident public before any concerns about the student’s wellbeing

Ms. Onovo has suffered bullying detrimental to both her mental and physical health as a result of the lack of support offered to her

 

This JCR believes that:

 

When one college fails to uphold the principles of equality, other colleges have a duty to call it out

In making their inappropriate racial comment on George Floyd, the Christ church JCR candidate exhibited exceptionally poor judgement

The Christ Church JCR President and committee failed to deal with this issue appropriately

Christ Church JCR committee and the Christ Church censors have sought inappropriate and wholly oppressive measures against a student who sought to challenge a racist and insensitive comment

The statement provided by Christ Church on this matter failed to adequately apologise for their efforts to other and shame Ms. Onovo into keeping quiet about the incident for fear of their own reputations

This incident exposed lack of welfare and support for black students at a College and university level

 

This JCR resolves to:

 

Condemn Christ Church JCR president and other committee members who were negligent in their duties

Condemn the Christ Church deans for their handling of the situation

Affirm their support for Ms. Melanie Onovo and demands that Christ Church college check on Ms. Onovo’s wellbeing

Request the public and wholehearted apology of Christ Church JCR for their actions

Request an apology from the Christ Church Senior and Junior Censor for their negligence of duty and vilification of a student within their duty of care

Request infrastructural changes to be made in the Christ Church JCR constitution and to student welfare provisions so racially offensive incidents are justly dealt with in future