General Meeting – 28th February 2016, 9pm
Apologies: J. Freeman, B. Sheridan
1. Access Roadshow
The JCR Notes:
 Statistics
show that the correlation between wealth and quality of
education is a severe issue in the UK. For instance, 20-1 are the
odds of someone at an independent school of getting a place at
Oxbridge before the age of 19. Those odds are 2000-1 for a state
educated student who is eligible for free school meals.
 Many potential applicants have misconceptions about Oxford life, be
it that we are all posh or that there are enforced curfews and we
all have to walk in single-file.
 Many potential applicants miss out on access work as their schools
do not believe it is worth the time.
 Three of Magdalen's link areas-- Sheffield, Barnsley and
Rotherham-- are located in South Yorkshire.
The JCR Believes:
 The
correlation between wealth and quality of education is unfair
and should be addressed.
 One of the best ways to address the issues outlined above is by
taking access work on the road, in order to both dispel myths and
reach applicants who may not have had direct contact with Oxford
before.
 The proposed Target Schools & Magdalen College Roadshow in
September 2016 is something that should receive college wide
support, both financial and voluntary. .
 That the college should assist with funding the Roadshow.
The JCR Resolves:
 To
contribute £200 to the costs of running a week long Roadshow
around South Yorkshire, pending the final approval of the
Roadshow by college authorities.
 To encourage JCR members who live in or around South Yorkshire
to link up with the team delivering the Roadshow throughout the
week.
 To mandate the JCR Access and Admissions Trustee and JCR
President to encourage as much support from the college office as
possible, including additional financial support.
Proposed by Sam Sherburn
Seconded by Nazeerah Akbar
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Target schools sent us a really nice email, happening in a few
colleges in their various link regions
We spoke in Nottingham last year and one applicant got an
interview this year from there
The money is not a lot
You can stay with SS if you take part in the roadshow and there will
be a dinner
Money will be taken from GM fund
In clarification: how much will the money given cover? Target
schools are organizing funding and College are helping out too.
This money is used to cover our expenses
Voting on the motion:
For – 22
Against – 0
Motion Passed with Quorum
2. Saturday GMs.
This JCR notes that:
1. GMs are held on Sunday evenings every two weeks
2. GMs are held in the OKB
3. The OKB is frequently used by formalgoers after dinner on Sundays
4. There is no formal on saturday
5. A saturday GM was held in 5th week of this term and was the only
meeting this term to achieve the quorum of 40 voters
6. Section 56 of the constitution stipulates that 4 GMs be held a term,
with a week's notice provided, rather than which day of the week they
take place on
This JCR believes that:
1. Saturday GMs will not be disrupted by formalgoers
2. Saturday GMs received a successful trial two weeks ago
3. Saturday GMs are less likely to clash with members' dining
arrangements
This JCR resolves to:
1. Hold General Meetings on saturdays instead of sundays from now on.
Proposed by: Jack Evans
Seconded by: Sam Sherburn
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More convenient to hold GMs on Saturdays, Sundays are a bigger
deal for going out
Might be better for all concerned, but we wanted to get feedback to
see if Saturdays would be as convenient as we think
In clarifications: what about Bops? Hold them early – world’s most
boring predrinks – or co-ordinate so they’re on different weeks
Could hold GMs in the JCR if necessary
Saturdays of 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th weeks will be used – this is
constitutional
Points against: predrinking will happen before Bops in JCR
Would be co-ordinated anyway then
No-one does anything on a Sunday? The problem is formal – causes
disruption
We could have them early on a Sunday but attendance would be
bad as people are dining
Free drinks can get confusing with bar staff – would make it more
efficient
The previous GM would not be representative because everyone
came to see Scilash pass
Only 5% of the JCR are here tonight – Sundays aren’t working so
we could give Saturdays a try. If this is a problem we can revert to
Sundays without fanfare
You can go and be with people on a Sunday so it’s not as bad
GM is the highlight of my week
What about reintroducing pizza?
Moving the GM to Saturday of 1st week gives a week after vac for
things immediately arising
Constitutional measures enough to handle this
Could we alternate between Saturdays and Sundays to get around
regular commitments? We would get a variety of people
Voting on the motion:
For – 9
Against – 10
Motion Failed with Quorum
CPF Applications
Paul de FontReaulx, £287 for audio equipment for a podcast
Being inspired by my nomination for ‘Best Accent’ as ‘Paul the Front Row’,
I have decided to create a podcast. It struck me how many people here in
Oxford know a lot of stuff, and that this knowledge is currently largely
kept in libraries, papers and occasional private conversations. I want to
harness this knowledge and broadcast it to a Swedish audience. My idea
is to start a regular podcast where I in 30min episodes discuss some
theme in philosophy or politics with another person with knowledge in the
area (e.g. insightful friends or tutors). The purpose is to have a relaxed
conversation where we move from some entrylevel background for
anyone to get up to speed and then try to talk our way to more
complicated issues. I intend to make it as big and professional as I can,
and hopefully to make it one of the most recognized podcasts in Sweden
(competition isn’t that stark). Please ask more about the concept in the
GM! To do this I need recording equipment, and this is where I ask you
for help. In order to host professional sounding interviews I only need two
highquality microphones and one 2way mixer. After extensive research I
have found the classic Shure SM58 (2x £94) to be the best in terms of
quality and versatility for the price by far, and a Focusrite mixer (£99) to
be the minimal I can use. All the other equipment I can afford myself, and
I therefore apply for a total of £287. Please find the Amazon links below.
We all know the world would be a little bit better with the PaulPod
(working name), and it would be awesome if you wanted to help me
create it. See you soon!
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Bring interesting Oxford conversations to Sweden – no philosophy
and politics podcast in Sweden
PDFR’s teacher got a History podcast to 3rd in the list in Sweden
Develop through discussions concepts such as the existence of
God/consciousness
Get people into engaging with intelligent debate. Want to be a high
ranking podcast within 1 year
Website and Facebook would support this
Preparation during vac, podcasts beginning in Trinity
This money is to get the bare essentials for podcast development
which will facilitate this plan
Questions: podcast in Swedish/English? The majority will be English
but all Swedes know English really
What about buying second hand stuff? Didn’t consider when I wrote
the motion but I could press the price, I’d hand any money I can
get back to the JCR.
How integral is it to have a good quality microphone to make a
podcast? To make a recognized podcast, yes. Gap between £50
and £100 microphone is large
Monika Mycroft, £600 Violin Course*
I first started to learn to play the violin when I was 5 years old. For 12
years I took violin lessons and musical theory subjects in the Karol
Szymanowski Music School in my hometown in Poland. I have performed
in numerous concerts and was one of the few chosen students to perform
as soloists with the professional orchestra on graduation. I have
committed a lot of my time during my years at school to daily practice
and travelling to get private lessons with one of the best pedagogues in
Poland. When I came to study at Oxford I continued taking violin lessons
with a professor from Royal College of Music in London since I am
considering applying for a Masters in Performance there after finishing my
degree. He has recently offered me a place at the International Violin
Mastercourse at Queenswood which he is organising during the Easter
vacation. The cost of the course is £600 and includes tuition (4 individual
lessons), accommodation and meals. I would like to apply to the Creative
Project Fund to cover the cost of this course and travel costs (flight
tickets from Poland and back) which I estimate to be around £100 in
total. Participation in that course will enable me to improve really fast,
make contacts which could help me in the future and help prepare a
recital which I plan for next term.
*Monika very kindly accepted the committee’s suggestion to apply for the
college travel grant to cover her travelling expenses, meaning her
application is now only for £600
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Violin master course takes place this Spring
Played as soloist with professional orchestra, graded with distinction
Useful contacts could be obtained
I have the place but not the money
Jack Solloway, £250 Poetry Pamphlet
I am applying on behalf of several JCR members for £250 to fund a
poetry pamphlet written by students at Magdalen. Myself, Lucy Diver and
Jack Ashton are putting together a shortrun publication of 100 copies
containing modern translations of Old English poems. Nine members of
the JCR have expressed an interest in writing for the publication having
already produced OE translations. Funding this project will not only
benefit the applicants but also jcr members who choose to contribute to
the pamphlet. Current estimates have the publication at £250 for 100 A5
booklets of 32 pages long. All of the money donated by the JCR would go
towards printing, and having the full amount would allow us to make a
truly beautiful book with thick paper, calligraphy in colour, and
professional binding, rather than just another student zine. This would
make a lasting object, something members of the JCR and the public
might wish to own and treasure. Calligraphy sample cred. Jack Ashton
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80-100 professionally bound copies for £250
Need writers and publicity from the JCR talent pool
Investment isn’t in an individual or a scheme which could acquire
funding from other schemes
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Publication could go to JCR members for free/JCR could be
reimbursed for the investment/go to charity
10-12 members involved alongside Jack
Aim is to make a really beautiful object to be proud to have on your
bookshelf – not another ‘awful’ student zine. Made enough of those
already
If you like translation, invest in this. It’s gonna be awesome
Sam Norman and Ella McCarthy, £700 a musical
Ella McCarthy and I would like to apply for £700 to take our new musical,
Pawn, to the Edinburgh Festival. The money will go towards funding our
venue (total cost: £1560), the Jade Studio at Greenside Venues. We think
this application is worthy on the grounds that: a) our project is a multidisciplinary art form, grounded in music, writing and theatre; b) it is
Magdalencentric, as Ella and I are both Magdalenite first years; c) the
funding will be used in a totally transparent and crucial way; d) Edinburgh
productions tend to be expensive, so utilising every avenue of funding is
essential. ‘Pawn’ tells the bitter and bizarre tale of the 1978 World Chess
Championship. It is an entirely original musical: I wrote the words and
lyrics, Aaron King (Hertford College) wrote the score. Ella is the director,
and, having been to Edinburgh before, is taking care of a large part of the
production side as well. A full script is available upon request. We have
created a budget, which estimates that the total cost will be £5,416. The
bulk of this is made up by venue (£1,560) and accommodation (£2930,
although reduced to £830 after contributions from cast and crew). Other
costs include a registration fee, production, marketing, travel and
contingency. A full budget is available upon request. The £700, if granted,
will go towards meeting the venue cost. This leaves no room for waste
and is clearly essential. Although it is only a small part of £5,416, it is one
of the biggest blocks of funding we are likely to receive and crucial to our
purposes. Thank you very much.
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I’m here to talk to you about pawn, it’s given so much joy to us
over the last few months and we want it to give joy to so many
more people
Fringe is horrifically difficult and expensive process
Venue is integral, no room for waste or spending on things we don’t
need
Budget has changed since the preces, down to £2800, we’ve
eliminated travel costs
About a fascinating part of chess history
Already begged, borrowed and stolen the rest of the money – sunk
costs, we will go ahead with this
We will send the JCR a music clip
Magdalen Players doesn’t fund Oxford events, but we’ll apply with
them in MT 2016 as we perform in Oxford
A grant from the JCR would be invaluable
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15th-24th August this year, if you are in Edinburgh please come and
watch pawn with us
Grace Connolly Linden, £650, Printing Press
CPF Application: Etching Press: £650 This bid is part of a long‐term
project to set up a small print studio in the garage of my house. This
studio would be primarily for my own use, and for my grandpa who is also
a printing enthusiast, and anyone else who’d like to join in. I’ve worked it
out, and buying a press and equipment for myself would cost less over
time than becoming a member of another print studio, or going on a
course. I’d use the studio to make work, which would bring me a lot of
creative freedom & also go towards a portfolio for an application for a
master’s degree in Fine Art. I’d also use the press for creative projects
centred on Oxford – for exhibitions, zines, submitting to student
publications, Magdalen art events etc. I’ve done a lot of research and it is
possible to purchase a good‐size tabletop etching presses for around
£650. I’ve been saving up myself for the extra costs – blankets, plates,
inks, rollers – but it’d be amazing if the JCR could help me to buy the
press itself. I’ve attached pictures of my previous artwork here; it’d make
me super happy to be able to go on making art, and I’d be very grateful if
the JCR could help me out buying this printing press.
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Woo!
Hand printing is so much better on tabletop. Strange request but
it’s a lovely way to make art. Niche and for slightly eccentric people
like me to keep going and the JCR to fund
Art would be used for university publications and exhibitions and
projects in which I have involvement
Marvellous process to get to know, I’d love to do this more
Question: what happens to the press when you leave College? I’d
set up a studio at home but the work would be used for projects
here
Is this the fruition of a long process? I did an art foundation before I
came here and want to continue with a Masters in Fine Art, I really
enjoy it
Tom Lear, £400 Comedy Troupe
Rambling Nonsense is a new comedy duo comprising Magdalenites Ben
Kybett and Tom Lear. We’ve been acting and writing together, mainly
under the auspices of the Oxford University Light Entertainment Society
for the last couple of years, and would like to launch our productions
semi‐professionally. Between us, we’ve been in 13 comedy productions
over the last three years. Together we also wrote the script for the OULES
highly successful Michaelmas 2015 show, Fairest of them All, which sold
over 200 tickets over its three nights, and raised several hundred pounds
for charity. We will also be taking a high‐concept comedy play called
Three Layers of Meta and a Time Machine to Edinburgh this year with the
Questing Voles production company. The funding the JCR arts fund could
provide would be absolutely invaluable to us in getting us off the ground,
particularly in funding our first production, scheduled for Michaelmas
2016. This is planned as a two‐person sketch show; it will be written and
performed by us, but we will also be looking for a director and technical
assistant, and possibly producer, to shape it, positions for which Magdalen
members are certainly welcome to apply! The money would be used to
hire a venue, pay for advertising and the rest of the production costs,
after which our projects will hopefully be more or less self‐financing. Any
money left over, and profits made would be used to fund future projects.
For more information, please see our new website
ramblingnonsense.co.uk or go to our Facebook page. Bid breakdown:
Item Cost Venue hire £200 Advertising £150 Production costs (props,
costumes etc.) £50 Total £400
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Sketch show in MT 2016 in Oxford – more entertaining if it’s a
surprise
We’ll be silly, you come and see it, it will be fun
Need producer and technical assistant to keep us vaguely in order
Rupert Stonehill, £250, DJ controller
I would be very grateful for £250 towards buying some DJ controller
decks, (the exact model I'm hoping to buy is the NI Traktor Kontrol S2
MK2) which will considerably help me in my aspirations to become a
college DJ. As Entz rep, these decks would be available at all BOPS for
anyone wishing to have a go and would, I hope, encourage others to give
DJing a try. Personally at the moment, I can only DJ using electronic
softwares on my laptop (fun but very limiting), but with this controller I
will be able to make my own music, experiment, and in time, hopefully be
able to get DJ work at some of the clubs around Oxford. I was fortunate
enough to DJ at the Oxford Union Ball earlier this term and I was able to
use the decks there and practice, but in all honesty, I really need decks in
college in order to practise and develop my skills. Many Thanks!
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Part of Entz – in control of music
I’m a budding DJ
All our music now comes from Spotify
Everyone could be given the opportunity to learn how to DJ
Same price to buy brand new vs second hand because of the
software
Come along to the Bop on Tuesday
Question: is this for Entz or you? Our budget is tired, it’s for me, as
Entz music rep
I’d be over DJ-ing by the end of 3 years so they could stay here for
future people to use
Results of CPF by secret ballot:
Money awarded to Sam, Rupert, Jack & (partially) Grace
End of Meeting