A motion calling for all Student Union e-mails within Wadham College to be addressed to ‘comrades’ has been soundly defeated.
The motion would have constitutionally mandated all officers within the SU to use the term. Last year’s SU President, Will McCallum, submitted the motion, drawing inspiration from its etymology of ‘camaraderie’ and Wadham’s traditionally left-wing heritage.
However, the proposal incited strong reaction from members of the college, who felt that the term was indicative of “the oppression of a Stalinist regime”, and should not be used, regardless of the etymology, in a “forward-looking, dynamic college”.
Other students felt it was undemocratic to restrict officers’ freedom of speech into using one mode of address. The motion was rejected by all but McCallum and five students who abstained.
McCallum apologised that the motion had provoked such strong reaction, and asserted that it had only been in good spirits.
