JCR Committee Minutes Meeting on 28.11.2021 at 14:00 UK time ________________ List of Committee members Name, initials and pronouns Role and attendance Zachary Aw Zheng Quan (ZA, he/him) President Kit Edgecliffe-Johnson (KEJ, he/him) Vice President Annie Huang (AH, she/her) Treasurer Dominic Bielby (DB, he/him) Secretary Ben Mulley (BM, he/him) Welfare* Annie Willis (AW, she her) Welfare* Toby Mayhew (TM, he/him) Welfare Jamie Charles (JC, she/her) Academic and Access Sophie Mance (SM, she/her) Green George Stokes (GS, he/him) Catering, Accommodation and Facilities Geethana Yogarajah (GY, she/her) Sports and Societies Eimear Pickstone (EP, she/her) Ents* Anitta Sibin (AS, she/her) Ethnic Minorities Giorgi Melia (GM, he/him) International Students James Walker (JW, he/him) LGBTQ+ Nell Ivimey-Parr (NIP, she/her) Gender Equalities Claire Collins (CC, they/she) Disabled Students* Izaac Mammadov (IM, he/him) Computing* ________________ Agenda 0. Administrative matters 4 1. Active Policies (KEJ) 4 2. UCU Industrial Action (DB) 4 3. Catering Issues/Varsity Article (GS) 5 4. College Masterplan (KEJ) 6 5. University Challenge Tryouts (ZA) 6 6. Handovers (ZA) 7 7. Stash (AH) 7 8. Constitution (ZA) 7 9. AOB 8 Summary of key points: 1. The Committee agrees to send all Active Policies about to lapse for renewal at the Open Meeting next week, excluding the DSO Officer policy, as that has been incorporated into the Constitution. 2. The Committee votes to send out information regarding the UCU’s industrial action and to maintain its previous stance on recognising the UCU’s aims and protecting student welfare interests. 3. The Committee notes that the Varsity article covering Corpus catering was strange, but normal catering service should resume soon. 4. KEJ provides an update on the College Masterplan, including the plans to make College facilities more accessible. 5. ZA notes that University Challenge tryouts are ongoing. 6. ZA encourages members of the Committee to conduct their handovers as soon as possible. 7. ZA and AH provide updates on stash orders, which should arrive mid-December, if all goes well. 8. ZA and KEJ provide an update on constitutional reform, noting that the process is ongoing, following a constructive dialogue with College. ________________ ________________ 0. Administrative matters Meeting begins at 14:16. AW, BM and CC are absent with notice. EP and IM are absent without notice. ________________ 1. Active Policies (KEJ) KEJ notes that we have Active Policies[1] to be renewed every two years. Five need to be renewed this term. (1) Access to College during Easter Term, (2) Use of College Lawns during Easter Term, (3) Undergraduate Room Heating (under which the extension of background heating has to be approved during Open Meetings, with some adjustment needed for inflation), (4) CSU Referendum Debate Procedure (which has been adjusted to reflect changes to CUSU and engagement), and (5) Funding of Food and Drink for JCR Societies. The DSO Active Policy will be allowed to lapse as its provisions have been incorporated into the Constitution. GS asks whether engagement with the CSU is defined in the relevant policy. KEJ notes that it is concerned with the procedure of the referendum, not the substance of engagement, which ZA says is delineated in the Constitution. KEJ says that an Open Meeting[2] will be held in the coming week where these Active Policies can be re-approved. ________________ 2. UCU Industrial Action (DB) DB notes the previous policy regarding UCU[3], in which the JCR recognised the aims of the UCU, whilst affirming its primary concern for the pastoral and academic welfare of students.[4] KEJ asks whether this should go to an Open Meeting. ZA notes that the aim of the messaging was for internal information. GS suggests that the right stance is that the JCR should remain neutral in the matter. DB further explains the rationale of the industrial action notice previously, insofar as it was to provide a view appropriate for the classically apolitical JCR, whilst recognising the real concerns of academic staff. ZA reads the previous position of the JCR. Discussion follows as to whether it is appropriate for the Committee to take a position on the matter, considering the varying positions of the JCR Committee under Harry Taylor[5] and DB.[6] KEJ notes that any position which the JCR takes will be political, with TM noting that it should be clear that the view is that of the Committee rather than the JCR as a whole. KEJ considers that staking of a neutral position is inherently political and therefore is worth putting to the Open Meeting. ZA and NIP ask what the JCR considers what its main role on the matter. KEJ, DB and GS discuss how neutral the Committee can be in staking out its position, especially when neutrality will be seen as a political stance.[7] Vote: Committee votes unanimously to send out information regarding the UCU industrial action.[8] Vote: Committee votes 8 in favour and 4 against, with 2 abstentions, to adopt the view that the Committee recognises the aims of the UCU. ________________ 3. Catering Issues/Varsity Article (GS) GS and ZA note that the Varsity article[9] covering Corpus catering issues was strange[10] and that while it raised some important issues, they appeared to largely relate to events a year ago. GS expressed cautious optimism based on his recent communication with College that the catering operation would be on a more normal footing by the start of Lent Term. Summary: The Committee notes that the Varsity article covering Corpus catering was strange, but normal catering service should resume soon. ________________ 4. College Masterplan (KEJ) KEJ notes that College is planning to change existing facilities over the next 5-10 years, plans for which have been heading through the Building Committee, with BM, CC and JC being included to discuss physical accessibility. Plans include increasing accessibility, opening a cafe, adding new shared spaces, and moving the JCR room, potentially. KEJ notes that the Domus Bursar has been very active in promoting this plan, which is a very positive proposal. The Committee incoming next term should be diligent to make sure that these proposals are followed through during the following year.[11] The proposal which is likely to be carried through first is Ashton House, for which College wants to combine the Newnham and Ashton Houses, notes ZA and KEJ.[12] Summary: KEJ updates the Committee on the College Masterplan, which aims to significantly improve College facilities over the next 5-10 years. ________________ 5. University Challenge Tryouts (ZA) ZA notes that UC tryouts have started and that there may be some assistance needed for the organisation of the future tryouts. This is supposedly in the next week when this must be done, ZA notes in response to a question by GY. The deadline may have passed, but ZA notes that the producers have been flexible in their approach to submissions. The Committee goes on a bit of a segue, noting that the CSU Debate and Open Meeting also need to go ahead this week, with only Zak Coleman[13] speaking in favour of re-engagement so far.[14] Summary: ZA will see through University Challenge tryouts. ________________ 6. Handovers (ZA) ZA asks the Committee to do their handovers as soon as possible, for which he suggests a document outlining what the relevant officer needs to do. A reasonable timeline is to get this done over the Christmas vacation. GM asks whether this can be done in January, which ZA and KEJ approve, provided that it is before the start of term. Summary: ZA reminds the Committee that handovers should be completed before the start of the next term ________________ 7. Stash (AH) ZA says that the puffer jacket people have replied to him after there was some confusion in the email, even though ZA strongly affirms that his email was very, very clear.[15] Shoutout is given to AH and IM. ZA says that he will gather the jackets in his room for Lent. NIP asks when the jackets will arise. AH notes that the producer has said that this may be before the end of term, although ZA notes that there have been some stock issues - the latest date for arrival should be around 15th December. The Committee goes on another segue, noting that the handover lunch will happen in January, says ZA, after handovers have occurred.[16] Summary: ZA and AH affirm that stash orders have been completed and are on their way. They should arrive by mid-December. ________________ 8. Constitution (ZA) The Senior Tutor, Senior Treasurer and Dean have given the JCR a list of proposals to change with the proposed Constitution, relays ZA. The former Constitution needed significant reform, but hopefully, the next Committee will be able to commit to these proposals and this should be carried through by the next Committee, for which ZA and KEJ state will give their support, should a new constitutional committee be needed.[17] AH notes that a bank account should be changed, for which SM notes that there is a list of banks being boycotted by other Cambridge and Oxford JCRs for environmental reasons, which should be avoided for a future change. Summary: Updates are given on JCR constitutional reform, which is ongoing, but which is following a constructive dialogue with the College. ________________ 9. AOB Vote: Committee vote 11 in favour, with 2 abstentions, to approve an outstanding one-off purchase for GM’s purchase of ice-cream in Freshers’ Week, worth £27.80. The Committee discusses at considerable, considerable length when it will have a Committee Dinner[18] and when the Open Meeting will take place: the Open Meeting will take place on Thursday 2nd December at 17:00. Meeting ends at 15:06. ________________ [1] The current Active Policies can be found here. [2] It was determined later in the meeting that this meeting will take place on 2 December at 17:00. [3] This is the University and College Union, the primary trade union in the UK for further and higher educational staff. [4] See JCR Committee Meeting Minutes 4 February 2020, Agenda Point 12 ‘Industrial Action’. [5] Former JCR President, and current holder of the position Admiral of the Punt, notwithstanding the current lack of Corpus punt. Under his Presidency, information on the strikes did not include a statement recognising the aims of the UCU. [6] This discussion involves a frankly decadent degree of semantics, which no doubt confuses all of the poor Committee members already knackered by term. [7] This high-level discussion is briefly interrupted for a JCR group photo to be taken. [8] This vote is carried with a gratuitous, but intensely gratifying, use of the Parliament ‘Aye’, at the suggestion of JC. The simple pleasures of the JCR Committee. [9] This article can be found here, for those interested in Varsity’s take on recent catering issues. [10] JC concurs, with ZA also noting that he was not asked to comment and asks the record to reflect that. Ask and the minutes shall graciously provide. [11] At this juncture, TM notes that whenever he hears the name of the Master, he thinks of Grace Kelly, which is assumedly a compliment. [12] GS leaves due to prior commitments, not out of disgust at the proposal to merge the once mighty, independent Newnham House with Ashton. [13] An HSPS-er from Jesus, serving in a long line of CUSU/CSU Presidents that did HSPS at Jesus - what do they feed them at that College? [14] Not to be confused with our very own President Zachary Aw, cf. ‘Evil Zac be like: “We should re-engage with the CSU!” ‘ Yes, the Committee has gone a bit frenetic at this point. [15] ZA invited all Committee members in attendance to view this email, with the Committee concurring that the suppliers had mugged off the President a touch. [16] Entropy at work at the end of term, perhaps? [17] As a former member of the original Constitutional Committee, I offer them all the best in this titanic endeavor. [18] You see, Corpus JCR politics isn’t that different from the world of Westminster.