So that Womens Officer motion I mentioned...
It failed to pass. But only by a margin of 56, with 71 abstaining.
My Facebook news feed is filled with rejoicing women. But rejoicing in a terrifying fashion:
'Feels bittersweet; am not really comfortable with the fact that half of the people who voted actually thought it was a good idea to abolish WomCom. Although given the poison people have been spewing on the debate pages lately, maybe I shouldn't be surprised.'
'by FIFTY? Well done everyone, but I somehow don't feel like this is much of a win. I hope that the people who come up with the Times uni rankings don't see this and realise how thick our student population is.'
Some members of WomCom and others are worried that it'll be brought back next year ('The best part is that it now can't come up again this academic year (which would have been permissibile if quorum weren't reached). The horrendous part is the margin.'), but I'm intrigued to see what would happen.
I do agree with this post though:
'If between now and next year a male society was founded to represent male gender issues that occasionally met up with womcom do you think the motion would be put forward again?'
'So glad this motion didn't get passed! Women are under-represented in the union as it is. Michael, I think it would be good if there was a society to discuss male gender issues that occasionally met up with womcom! Just don't think womcom needs to be binned in order to do that - when you've got a good productive thing going, add on to it, don't demolish and re-build something different.'
Idk, I'm just a bit terrified by the amount of anger and ferociousness that this motion brought about. Apparently there have been attempts to set up a 'ManCom' style committee to match WomCom, but that doesn't seem to have got anywhere.
Maybe I'll just keep my apparently radical opinions to myself.