Oxford Left Wing students have responded to the election result by initiating an anti-austerity movement, whilst Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) has written an open letter thanking Ed Miliband.

Various left wing groups wishing to oppose the government gathered at the Wadham Refectory on Wednesday at an event entitled ‘Oxford Fight Back’, which was organised by Oxford Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century (rs21).

Representatives from Trade Union Unite, OUSU’s LGBTQ Campaign, Oxford Antifascist Network, Mind your Head and Amnesty all attended the meeting.
The group described themselves as “overall anti-austerity” and as “trying to build increased community links and protect the community from the Tory government”.

LGBTQ Society trans rep Rowan Davis, who was chair of the meeting, commented, “In the face of five years of Tory cuts to civil liberties and the welfare state, hundreds of students and community members came together to channel the very personal anger they felt into organising a political resistance and filling in the gaps that Tory austerity will leave in its wake. The meeting successfully brought together a variety of disparate groups and I for one can’t wait to see what the new working groups come up with.”

The group at the meeting did declare, however, that they were wary of creating yet another “patronising” student group that claims to want to reach out to the community.

They plan to “tap into the traditions of Oxford protest” and involve themselves in other activism.

They also showed interest in national demonstrations, particularly ‘End Austerity Now’, which will take place on 20th June in London. 

Maryam Ahmed, President of the Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) commented, “I am disappointed and upset at all the ad hominem attacks flying around on social media right now. As much as I might disagree with Labour, Lib Dem, Green, UKIP or even BNP policy, I really do believe that people of all political leanings have fundamentally good intentions.

“We’re all in this because we want to help people, we just disagree on the methods. And so I’d never dream of referring to an opposing party as ‘scum’, ‘bastards’ or any of the other unsavoury terms I’ve seen people using against the Conservatives. We’re better than this, guys.”

Meanwhile, Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) has written an open letter to ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband, thanking him for the work he did during his five years as Leader of the Opposition.

Miliband resigned as leader last Friday after Labour’s worst election result since 1987, which left the party on 232 seats, a loss of 26 seats from 2010 and nearly a hundred seats short of David Cameron’s Conservative majority of 331.

In his resignation speech, Miliband apologised for Labour’s poll-defying defeat, saying he took “absolute and total responsibility for the result”.

Madalena Leao and Loughlan O’Doherty, OULC’s current co-chairs, commented, “For the Labour Club, and indeed the Labour movement at large, Thursday’s defeat was both unexpected in its magnitude, and immensely difficult in its implications. We are all of us dreading what a Tory government will do to this country.

“However, we are also concerned that in the aftermath of the election the Labour Party regroup as quickly and effectively as possible.

“In particular we are concerned that the loss of the election will prompt a rightward movement within the party and a loss of interest in some of what we consider to be highly important issues, and in particular a concern with the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

“The letter itself makes clear why we think that Labour lost as it did. We do not, as of yet have any preference for a particular leader, we do however have strong opinions on the move the party needs to take.

“We believe that the party needs to continue to build on its policies that target inequality and injustice within our society.

“Growth is only valuable if it works for those at the bottom end of society, similarly business is only valuable if it benefits all, and in particular its least well paid employees.

“This is not a case of ignoring middle class voters. Greater equality, a stronger NHS, a better education system, a society in which people don’t have to visit food banks, all these things benefit the whole of society.”

Elizabeth Ramey, a former Oxford postgraduate student, has failed in her attempt to force a judicial review of the University’s harassment procedure.
She had claimed that the University’s policy only to conduct an enquiry into allegations in extremely limited circumstances was unlawful.

Ramey, who now lives in the US, had reported an assault in 2011 and waived her right to anonymity. While there was a police investigation, no one was ever prosecuted due to evidential problems.

Consequently, she brought forward a claim through the University’s complaints procedure, but, she argues, the University did not investigate properly and took no action against her alleged assailant.

Following a further appeal, her claim to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator of Higher Education was partially upheld and the adjudicator issued a recommendation that Oxford clarify and amend its policies.

According to Ramey’s legal representatives, the revised harassment policy allegedly still does not oblige the University to investigate most allegations of serious sexual assault, leading them to the High Court in London last week seeking a judicial review.

Ramey’s case was supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has funded her case, and the End Violence Against Women coalition.
A University spokesperson told Cherwell, “The University has noted the outcome of last week’s hearing and welcomes the decision not to proceed with a judicial review of its harassment policy.”

Mr Justice Edis, who presided over the case, said, “It appears to me that it is inappropriate for the claimant to be granted permission to bring judicial review to question not the terms of the policy itself, but its application in circumstances in which it has never actually been applied.”

This leaves open the possibility that someone who has used the new procedure since it was put in place might yet be successful in the High Court at gaining a judicial review.

Louise Whitfield, Ramey’s solicitor, shared with Cherwell comments that she had made after the decision, stating, “My client is very disappointed with this result and the fact that more women must be the victims of serious sexual violence before it can be established that the university’s policy is unlawful, that it discriminates against women and creates a hostile environment in which they are expected to study with no redress against those who assault them.”

Anna Bradshaw, OUSU Vice-President (Women) told Cherwell, “It is important that we listen carefully and seriously to women who come forward when they feel that an institution has failed them.

“In the period of time since Elizabeth was a student at Oxford University, the University has updated its harassment policy and procedures. I believe that the University is starting to do better at listening to students like Elizabeth, even though this particular case has fallen. There is of course still a lot of work to be done, and OUSU is working hard to improve the policies and the support around harassment that are offered by the University.”

Following an upsurge in the number of reported incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault in college, Somerville JCR has passed an emergency motion condemning “the actions which have led to this deterioration of respect in college”.

The motion, proposed by the JCR Executive Committee, was deemed necessary after the college’s Principal, Dr Alice Prochaska, sent an email to the JCR body last week, explaining, “We all share a pride in Somerville’s great traditions of fairness, diversity and tolerance.

“In recent months there has been a deterioration in this climate of respect. Many of you will not have noticed it and I believe it is confined to a small minority. But members of that minority have succeeded in making significant numbers of their fellow students feel threatened, intimidated, or simply uncomfortable.

“I have received reports of rude and sometimes threatening behaviour on a scale unprecedented in my time as Principal.

“It is profoundly worrying to find that members of the student body in Somerville have been making their fellow students feel intimidated and in some cases have been guilty of both verbal and physical assault.”

Incidents reported include jokes about rape being made in the college bar, numerous reports of groping at bops, homophobic comments being made in order to justify opposition to the JCR Equalities week budget, and pressure being put on students to assent to sexual activity.

The JCR motion resolved to mandate the equalities committee to donate £200 to Oxford Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC), to demonstrate Somerville’s intolerance of the behaviour reported in the college recently. The motion passed by an overwhelming majority, with 83 students voting in favour of the motion, none voting against, and with eight abstentions.

On behalf of the Somerville Rugby Club, undergraduate Tom Smith wrote an open letter on Wednesday, stating, “The Somerville Rugby Club wholeheartedly and fully condemns sexual assault, misogyny, and all other forms of harassment. It is hard to conceive of actions that are more horrific and their perpetrators should be punished to the full extent of the law.

“Moreover, we believe Somerville should be a supportive and inclusive environment where people feel safe and comfortable.”

The letter went on to mention how all members of the Somerville Rugby Club recently attended the ‘GoodLad Workshop’.

Shyamli Badgaiyan, the JCR President, commented, “Somerville has always been a very open, accepting community: one that values tolerance and respect in all aspects of student life. Aside from having a diverse, close-knit student community, we recently held a successful Equalities Week, boast a feminist discussion group, and regularly donate to causes that support equality and diversity both within and beyond our community.”

Badgaiyan continued, “Although very rare, these incidents of harassment and intimidation shocked many of us. I can confidently say that the vast majority of the student body deems them as absolutely unacceptable.

“Many of us have also been working closely with the college to ensure welfare provision and various workshops continue to be in place to make sure students feel both aware and protected – regardless of their age, gender, sexuality or background. Everyone must understand the harm of such disrespect, as well as feel comfortable in speaking up against it.

“While its extremely sad that these incidents have occurred here, I believe it is a symptom of a wider, societal problem that needs to be addressed immediately.”

Badgaiyan praised the College’s response to the recent behaviour reported in Somerville, saying, “I am proud to be part of a college that has been working tirelessly to take a firm step in this direction, confronting the matter with honesty as well as extreme sensitivity.

“This itself is the real Somerville culture – not our immunity from these rare instances, but our ability to stand up and face them with courage and solidarity.”

Dr Prochaska told Cherwell, “The cases we are dealing with are not numerous: just troubling enough to make us take action before the problem grows. Somerville is a lovely, welcoming, inclusive and tolerant place. Our students tell me that this college feels like home; it is a place where everyone can be themselves.

“The College is notable for its relaxed and mutually respectful climate; and we all feel proud of it. These instances of disrespectful behaviour are truly unusual.

“I am confident, now that the college community is aware, that this kind of conduct will die away. It is important for the students themselves to call out their peers on poor behaviour. Often, the people responsible may not realise the impact they are having on others; and once they do realise, I believe they will stop.”

Dr Prochaska further added, “We are acting now to try to help our students to stamp out this small growth in an undesirable culture: so that there is no lingering bad influence when our new first years arrive.

“At Somerville, we have always promoted an inclusive, tolerant and diverse ethic; and the vast majority of our students appreciate this and promote it too. Against this proud tradition, it is disappointing when any students, however small the number, start intimidating others.

“I am delighted that Somerville’s student body is speaking out about these issues. The College’s officers and the JCR are working together to address these worrying reports. Intimidating behaviour has no place at Somerville. Between us, we need to take decisive action.”

Elliot Howard-Spink, one of Somerville’s Welfare Reps, told Cherwell, “All members of the JCR have come together over the past week in agreement that any behaviours which may elicit intimidation of any kind within college are not welcome.

“It’s been good to see the JCR and College addressing reported issues surrounding harassment in a proactive manner, and we all hope that Somerville will continue to keep its reputation as a welcoming and safe college.”