Adopted on 2nd June 2017 by majority vote of a referendum of the MCR, to go into effect alongside the new Constitution. Last amended on February 6th 2022.
General
1.1 These Standing Orders shall be observed by all members of the MCR.
1.2 Amendments to the Standing Orders shall be subject to the provisions of the MCR Constitution.
Fees
2.1 The termly contribution for graduate, 4th year undergraduate and mature Members for the following year shall be set by a majority vote of the MCR Executive Committee at the end of Hilary Term, to increase yearly by no less than 2%”. Members who choose to opt out, as specified under section 2.8 of the Constitution, can do so by notifying the Secretary and the College Finance Office prior to the publishing of that term’s battels.
2.2 All Associate Members shall be levied a subscription fee with the rate set for the following year by a majority vote of the MCR Executive Committee at the end of Hilary term, to increase yearly by no less than 2%. A discounted membership fee as specified by section 7.3 below may be applied to those eligible.
2.3 Punting shall be provided in Trinity Term and the Long Vac for Members following annual payment of punting subscription fees.
MCR Committee
3.1 The additional posts elected to the EC shall be a Vice President, up to two Bar Managers, an MCR Manager, three Social Secretaries, and two Welfare Officers, one of whom will be male, the other female.
3.2 The Vice President, one Social Secretary, and one Welfare Officer shall be elected in Trinity Term, in accordance with section 5.4 and 6.5 of the Constitution.
3.3 EC positions not elected in Trinity Term shall be elected at the first Assembly of Michaelmas Term.
3.4 The Vice President shall assist the President with his or her duties and shall be acting President in the absence of the President.
3.5 In the absence of the Vice President, the Secretary shall be acting Vice President; in the absence of the Secretary, the Vice President shall fulfill the duties of the Secretary.
3.6 The EC may combine the roles of Secretary and Vice President into a single role, without a need for a vote at a GA, should one of the positions remain unfilled following an election.
3.7 The Social Secretaries shall arrange social events for the MCR.
3.8 The Welfare Secretaries will work together to organise welfare provision for MCR members and liaise with the relevant authorities to that end. It is expected that both Welfare Officers will attend the University Peer Support Training Programme. The candidates for the positions of Welfare Officers must expect to remain enrolled in the University for at least one further year after the election.
3.9 The Bar Manager shall stock, run and see to the accounts of the MCR bar. The bar accounts shall be presented at an MCR general meeting once a term.
3.10 Additional positions elected to the MCR Committee shall include representatives and officers for the MCR bar, Oriel Talks, Equalities and Diversity Officer, Second Desserts, Environment, Sports, Social, Welfare, Mature Students/Families, LGBTQIA+, and International Students Liaison Officers.
3.11 These positions and offices to be elected under section 3.10 shall be subject to review and amendment by majority vote of an Assembly.
Procedure at General Assemblies
4.1 General Assemblies shall be held in accordance with section 3.1-3.10 of the MCR Constitution.
4.2 Upon the MCR Secretary’s notification of a General Assembly, members are invited to submit motions to be included in the assembly’s agenda and to be voted on. The deadline for submission of motions will be midday of the day 48 hours prior to the assembly.
4.3 The MCR president is the default chair of all assemblies; in the event of their absence, the chair will fall to the MCR Vice-President. In the event of the Vice-President’s absence, another present member of executive committee shall chair the meeting.
4.4 The chair presides over the assembly and their responsibility lies in ensuring that all MCR members engage in conversation and debate in a manner that is respectful to everybody present. The chair, with the agreement of the Vice-President (if applicable), maintains the right to cease all irrelevant and/or hostile conversation and, if necessary, dismiss members that they deem to be behaving in a way that contradicts the aforementioned expectation of conduct.
4.5 Only motions submitted prior to the assembly and included in the assembly’s agenda may be brought forward and voted upon.
4.6 Upon completion of the assembly’s agenda, there will be some time dedicated to “any other business (AOB)”, during which members are invited to raise ideas and/or concerns. In accordance with clause 4.5, no completely new motions may be brought forward or voted upon during this section, although any new motions arising in AOB relating to the motions discussed in the agenda may be voted on at the discretion of the chair.
Procedure at Elections
5.1 Elections shall be held in accordance with section 6.1-6.8 of the MCR Constitution.
5.2 Election of an EC during Trinity Term shall be held by online vote. All other elections shall be held at an Assembly, with the singular exception of when voting on motions is to be held online due to the circumstances laid out in article 3.8 of the constitution.
5.3 A candidate for a post may not canvass for support in a systematic manner (including, but not being restricted to, mailings, posters, online campaigning, and use of email lists), or permit others to canvass on their behalf.
5.4 Quorum for the purposes of an election held online is considered to be identical to that for Constitutional amendment, as specified in section 7.2 of the Constitution.
5.5 Quorum for the purposes of an election at an Assembly is considered to be identical to that for that for any other motion at that Assembly, as specified in section 3.2 of the Constitution.
5.6 Should no candidates be forthcoming for a committee position, the election of that officer or representative shall be re-held at the following GA. Should no candidates be forthcoming at the second GA, the position shall be considered suspended for one year, to be reinstated at the beginning of the next academic year.
5.7 Should a student express a desire to run for a suspended role after the second GA of the year, an election may be held for that position. If the candidate is successful, they shall fulfil their role for the remainder of the academic year. If the candidate is unsuccessful, the position shall remain suspended, and further elections to the role will be held at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
5.8 That no person who is not entitled to vote in a given election be permitted to speak or ask questions during speeches, question periods, or debates surrounding said election, except during special question periods specifically designated for guests to occur before members and associate members may ask their questions.
5.9 That the MCR Returning Officer shall be the outgoing Vice President, if the Vice President should fail to meet the criteria for Returning Officer, then another member of the Executive Committee who meets the criteria shall be nominated to serve in this position, in the event that no member of the Executive Committee is agreed upon or meets the requirements, then the Returning Officer shall be elected by the General Assembly early in Trinity Term of each year.
5.10 That the Returning Officer for elections shall be prohibited from standing for election to any position for which they serve in this capacity, and for any executive committee position until the beginning of the subsequent Michaelmas term.
5.11 For all elections in which online voting is conducted, the Returning Officer maybe observed by not less than two witnesses in any interactions with the online voting system, if requested by any candidate for elections over which the Returning Officer is presiding. These witnesses shall then prepare and circulate witness statements before the official results of elections are announced.
Finances
6.1 The Treasurer or President may authorise expenditures from MCR funds of up to £100.
6.2 Expenditures of more than £100, but less than £500, require the approval of the Executive Committee.
6.3 Expenditures of more than £500 require the approval, by majority vote, of the MCR.
Guests and Private Parties
7.1. Members are responsible for the behaviour of those admitted as their guests under section 2.6 of the Constitution.
7.2 Members wishing to bring more than five guests to the MCR should notify the MCR President and the Lodge in advance.
7.3 No Member may host more than two members of the JCR as guests without prior approval of the President.
7.4 Members may hold parties in the MCR. Members wishing to do so should request permission from the President at least a week in advance to ensure that the room is available and request permission from the Deans. An open invitation to all Members must be posted three days in advance. Parties organised by societies and other groups may not be held in the MCR.
Associate Membership
8.1 Candidates for Associate Membership of the College must be proposed and seconded by Members of the MCR. Associate Members shall be elected by majority vote, subject to the consent of the College and conditions authorised by the MCR.
8.2 Associate Members of the College shall be full members of the MCR under section 2.5 of the Constitution.
8.3 A discounted Associate Membership rate will be applied to partners of current MCR Members or Oriel graduates currently studying at the University, with the rate for the following year set by a majority vote of the MCR Executive Committee at the end of Hilary term, to increase yearly by no less than 2%.
8.4 The numbers of Associate Members shall be limited to a number agreed between the EC and the College, which may change from time to time.
8.5 In the event there are more Associate Members nominated by the MCR than the number agreed with the College, recommendations to College shall be according to the following priority:
- Partners of current Oriel graduate students
- Orielenses currently affiliated with the University
- Orielenses not currently affiliated with the University
- All others
8.6 Election as an Associate Member is tenable for a single year only. Members may re-nominate for a maximum of two additional years.
8.7 Former MCR Presidents shall be offered Associate Membership, contingent upon application and payment of Membership fees, for the three years following the completion of graduate study at the College.
The MCR Bar
9.1 The purchase of alcohol for the MCR and its supply must be managed by the EC, supervising the Bar Manager.
9.2 No arrangements are to be made for any person, apart from the MCR at large, to receive a commission, percentage, or similar payment on purchases of alcohol by the MCR.
9.3 The operating schedule of the MCR Bar must be published to the members of the MCR at least one week in advance of each academic term and approved by the Senior Dean or the representatives of the Senior Dean.
9.4 Only the members of the EC or Bar Staff may enter the area behind the MCR bar whilst alcohol is being served. No person not a Member of the MCR shall be a member of Bar Staff, serve alcohol, or enter the area behind the bar whilst alcohol is being served without the permission of the Domestic Bursar.
Votes and Referenda
10.1 To exercise their right to a proxy vote a Member must notify the Secretary or President in writing, before five minutes after the start time of the Assembly or during the Assembly in the event that a member must leave the GA prematurely, naming the Member whom they wish to vote on their behalf.
10.2 Any Member may hold 3 proxy votes or unlimited proxy votes in case of a College lockdown.
10.3 An Online Vote or Referendum may be called by the EC or an Assembly. A quorum for the purposes of an Online Vote or Referendum shall be the same as defined under section 7.2 of the Constitution.
Events and Activities
11.1 The EC shall arrange for Freshers’ Week events and activities, including activities in Weeks -1 and -2 for early arrivals. A budget of £1500 from MCR funds shall be provided for these events.
11.2 The EC shall arrange for termly Guest Nights, the cost of which shall be subsidised up to £750 per Guest Night to be paid from MCR funds.
11.3 The EC shall arrange an annual exchange with Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the cost of which shall be subsidised up to £1300 from MCR funds. Only Oriel graduate students or fourth-year undergraduates shall be eligible for the TCD exchange.
11.4 The EC shall arrange for an annual Committee Dinner, the cost of which shall be subsidized up to £500 from MCR funds.
The old MCR Constitution and Standing Orders may be found here.