Oriel

i can't add anything, except the stereotypes aren't as blatant as people make out. we're alright really.

Reply 8

granddad_bob

i can't add anything, except the stereotypes aren't as blatant as people make out. we're alright really.

I'd say the Oriel stereotype is more blatant and strong than any other college, with such a sizeable right-wing/Tory/rah contingent; only college with over 100 OUCA members and only college JCR disaffiliated from OUSU at present says it all.

Reply 9

H&E

3

Another point is that Oriel is actually very small - at 90 students a year, it's the third smallest college in the University. This means the Tory element is numerically very significant.

Some statistics:
6% of Oxford undergraduates are OUCA members; at Oriel it's nearer 40%. Similarly, whilst at many colleges less than half of first years join the Union, at Oriel it's over 80%.

That's not to say the people aren't lovely - I've been to the college quite a few times and I don't have a bad word to say against anyone I've met there. The rightwards lean should only deter someone from applying there is if that person is very strongly left leaning; otherwise I really don't think it'll make a difference. People may wear pashminas and jackets there a lot, but I really don't think anyone's been particularly troubled by that.

Reply 10

H&E

That's not to say the people aren't lovely - I've been to the college quite a few times and I don't have a bad word to say against anyone I've met there. The rightwards lean should only deter someone from applying there is if that person is very strongly left leaning; otherwise I really don't think it'll make a difference. People may wear pashminas and jackets there a lot, but I really don't think anyone's been particularly troubled by that.

Being right-wing definitely doesn't mean someone's nasty :smile:

in fact lefties can be nastier, completely intolerant of anyone who doesn't agree with them. And I know lots of very friendly pashmina-clad rahs!

Reply 11

I didn't say the stereotypes weren't true, I was merely pointing out that they are nowhere near as dominate as certainly elements of the student body like to make out. The fact that 35% of students happen to be a member of the ouca; and 70% obtain their education through an independent school, pale into insufficient when compared to other, more important factors. As for the students' union, considering the position currently held by oriel is now seriously being considered by several other college, I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of; in fact, I'm rather proud of it - independence is such a great thing.

Reply 12

granddad_bob

As for the students' union, considering the position currently held by oriel is now seriously being considered by several other college, I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of; in fact, I'm rather proud of it - independence is such a great thing.

I didn't say Oriel's stance was a bad thing; just that it being the only college at present disaffiliated from the ultra left-wing student union reaffirms the fact that it's very right-wing.

Reply 13

or that our jcr actually has a backbone when it matters. anyway, haven't christ church disaffiliated too?

Reply 14

granddad_bob

or that our jcr actually has a backbone when it matters. anyway, haven't christ church disaffiliated too?

I thought Christ Church had moved to reaffiliate for just a month in protest. Also rumours on OxGoss suggest that Jesus have disaffiliated. Don't know for sure; see OxStu this week.

Apparently a racist article by a (half Chinese!) OUCA member is front page of Cherwell tomorrow...

Reply 15

i wouldn't know, thankfully i have very little time for self-interested politics; especially when it's on such a pitiful, worthless scale. ousu should keep to organising zoo, not dictate a hopeless agenda which only represents a minority of their students.

Reply 16

granddad_bob

i wouldn't know, thankfully i have very little time for self-interested politics; especially when it's on such a pitiful, worthless scale. ousu should keep to organising zoo, not dictate a hopeless agenda which only represents a minority of their students.

Well said. OUSU's strong points are Zoo and the publications (eg the careers handbook which came out this week). I find the political agenda infuriating because it doesn't represent me, and in some cases probably the majority of students.

Reply 17

H&E

3

It's also almost completely unaccountable. Lots of people have no idea about OUSU (the "But I'm not a member of the Union" reaction when receiving one's OUSU card isn't just a cliché - I saw a second yet actually say that last week), far less its precise policies and how they operate. Theoretically it's all subject to scrutiny; however, I think any realist would accept that the idea that OUSU's campaigns have a democratic mandate from the student body is farcical.

Reply 18