Sunday, 21st April 2013 (TT Wk 1) 4pm in the JCR

SU Meeting: Agenda

A: Officers Reports B: Motions Constitutional Motion: Second reading N.B Due to the number of amendments being made across the document, the constitution as it stands and with changes is attached to the same email that this agenda was attached to. Email su.vicepresident@wadh.ox.ac.uk if you have this agenda but not the copy of the constitution, or if you have any questions. On the copy of the new constitution, amendments are highlighted in green. This SU notes: 1. The amended constitution, attached as a separate document This SU believes 1. That a functioning, consistent and up to date constitution is necessary for the efficient and correct operation of the SU Officers and Meetings 2. That this is not provided by the constitution as it stands This SU Resolves 1. To accept the amendments to the constitution detailed in the attached document Proposed by: Alexander Cibulskis Seconded by: Jahni Emmanuel Zero Tolerance Motion This SU notes 1) Intentionally touching someone else sexually without a reasonable belief in their consent is a type of sexual assault (Sexual Offences Act 2003) 2) That Wadham SU has a responsibility for the welfare of its members.

3) That 68% of female students experience sexual harassment at university or college. (NUS Hidden Marks report) 4) That 1 in 7 women will experience sexual assault during her time at university. (NUS Hidden Marks report) 5) That this week The Oxford Student reported that 17% of female students at Oxford had been assaulted and 34.5% had been sexually harassed. 3.7% of men have been assaulted and 6.8% harassed. 6) That women are commonly blamed for this treatment. 7) That victims of sexual harassment and assault are generally left with few options with which to tackle this behaviour. 8) That sexual harassment and assault are both crimes.

This SU believes 1) That sexual harassment and sexual assault can have many harmful effects. 2) That victims of sexual assault and harassment are never to blame for their experiences.

This SU resolves 1) To implement a Zero Tolerance policy in for all bops, Wadstock and Queerfest (see appendix A at the bottom of this agenda) 2) To mandate the President to inform any security companies employed of this policy and instruct them how to implement it. 3) To mandate the President to inform the dean and sub-deans of this policy and instruct them how to implement it. Equally, to assure that this information goes into the Queerfest and Wadstock handbooks. 4) To mandate the Welfare Officers to ensure that this policy is advertised in the entrances to these events as well as in the bathrooms. 5) To mandate the Welfare Officers to inform the college harassment officers (currently the Tutor for Women and the Chaplain) of this policy. Proposed by: Sarah Pine Seconded by: Maeve Scullion

Lucy Meadows Motion This SU Notes 1) That on the 20 December 2012 the Daily Mail newspaper printed an article written by Richard Littlejohn. This article attacked Lucy Meadows on the basis of her gender identity after her transition to reflect her gender identity. 2) This article consistently misgendered Lucy Meadows. 3) Richard Littlejohn called Lucy Meadows selfish and claimed that her transition would have a devastating effect on students. 4) That The Sun Newspaper Published an equally poisonous article on the 19th December 2012 Sir becomes Miss. This article had no byline. 5) That Lucy Meadows was harassed by the press and the public as a result of these articles. 6) That trans* people suffer far worse mental health than the general population due to transphobia. 7) That Lucy Meadows died on the 19th March 2013, possibly as a result of the harassment she experienced as a result of Richard Littlejohns and The Suns actions. 8) That Trans Media Watch has expressed significant concern about the representation of trans* people in The Daily Mail1 9) That gender identity is not covered by hate speech legislation2

This SU Believes 1) That deliberate or lazy misgendering is inherently offensive, especially to trans people 2) That the gender identity of ordinary members of the public is a private matter and it is not in the public interest to investigate them as 'news'. 3) That no-one deserves to be misrepresented in the press, either individually or collectively, either deliberately or through negligence. 4) That trans* people have the right to live freely from shame, stigma and hate speech. 5) The actions of Richard Littlejohn and the subsequent harassment of Lucy Meadows constitute transphobia. These actions are indefensible and abhorrent. This SU Resolves
1

http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Supplemental-Submission-by-TransmediaWatch1.pdf 2 Race and religion are covered by the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 but these are the only protected categories.

1) To oppose transphobia in all its forms. 2) To issue a statement of support to trans people in general, and teachers in particular. 3) To mandate the LGBTQ Officer to write to the Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, calling for Richard Littlejohn to be fired on behalf of Wadham. 4) To mandate the LGBTQ Officer to write to Sun Editor Dominic Mohan, expressing our distaste at the article on behalf of Wadham. 5) To encourage members to write to their MPs about this matter. 6) To affirm Wadham as a trans-inclusive space. C: Matters for discussion: College Rent Price negotiations (Proposed by Jahni Emmanuel) D: OUSU Appendix A Zero Tolerance Policy Definitions of sexual assault, harassment and physical assault (taken from Oxford University Student Union zero tolerance contract with Varsity Events): a) Sexual assault: Intentionally touching someone else sexually without a reasonable belief in their consent (Sexual Offences Act 2003). b) Sexual harassment: Unwanted or persistent advances of a sexual nature, or advances that cause the recipient to feel threatened; for example, exposing ones genitals; unwanted sexual comments about your body; persistent or aggressive invitations to engage in sexual activity. c) Physical assault and battery: Threatening to, or actually engaging in, the application of unlawful force (which includes physical harm) to someone In any case of the above 1. All complaints of sexual assault, harassment and physical assault will be investigated as follows: If the alleged perpetrator of the assault or harassment can be identified, either by the complainant or by other witnesses, the alleged perpetrator will be swiftly ejected from the club. 2. This will be treated with respect by the staff 3. Ignorance of the Zero Tolerance policy will not be treated as a valid defence; nor is ignorance of the impact of ones actions a valid defence. Students will be made aware of the policy and thus will be responsible for their own actions. 4. When the Zero Tolerance Policy is enacted to eject an alleged perpetrator, a record shall be kept of the ejection. For the purposes of continuity, these will be sent to college harassment officers. There are no exceptions to these rules.