Oxford CCR backs sexual misconduct policy update call as university stays absent

HomeEducationOxford CCR backs sexual misconduct policy update call as university stays absent

Oxford CCR backs sexual misconduct policy update call as university stays absent

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Magdalen JCR President Isabella Taylor brought a motion before the Conference of Common Rooms during its first Michaelmas-term meeting.

The proposal asked the Student Union to press for greater accountability in the University of Oxford’s recruitment processes and its handling of cases involving employees accused of sexual misconduct.

Taylor said the motion highlighted concerns that some staff had been appointed without the checks described as appropriate in relation to previous sexual misconduct findings.

It also raised the issue of employees being permitted to resign while investigations were underway or following serious complaints that had been upheld.

During her presentation, Taylor said the experience of every woman should not become something shared by every Oxford student.

The proposal was submitted on behalf of It Happens Here, an anti-sexual violence campaign organised by Oxford students.

The campaign developed the motion jointly with Love & Power, a feminist organisation operating across the UK.

Its accompanying pledge called for the university to conclude investigations into harassment and sexual violence.

It further required successful applicants for final positions to disclose adverse findings arising from harassment proceedings and sought protection for survivors who might otherwise be silenced by anonymity orders.

Taylor acknowledged to conference members that the proposal represented only a limited part of the wider work required.

Communities and Common Rooms President Roxana Rusu said the university had been invited to attend the meeting but declined.

Human Resources representatives were initially expected to send a delegate, although the university later said it would provide a written statement instead.

Neither form of participation took place, and no reason for the absence was given.

Members also considered possible responses to an imminent talk being hosted by Oriel College with Nathan Confas.

Rusu said efforts were being made to ensure the conference handled the situation correctly.

Confas has attracted controversy for defending scientific and academic racism, as well as levelling plagiarism accusations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday.

Voting on all conference mandates was scheduled to close on 3 November, with results due to appear on the Conference of Common Rooms website the following day.

The report was first published by The Oxford Student.

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