have you seen suspicious behaviour?

Electoral Malpractice
Election Officials
Electoral malpractice includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:
Making false or misleading claims intended to influence the election
Bribery · Intimidation · Distributing physical campaign material
Making slanderous or libellous statements about a candidate
Using a vehicle to convey members to the Poll · Campaigning from or to a Nexus e-mail
account · Creating websites or promotional videos · Claiming to represent or be supported
by any political, racial or religious group
Candidates marking manifesto booklets · Hindering the Returning Officer or his deputies
Unauthorised access or attempted access to another’s personal electronic files
To see a complete list, please consult Rule 33,
www.oxford-union.org or the Returning Officer.
Any breach of this rule or complaint regarding the conduct of a
candidate in the election should be reported to the Returning Officer, at
the Oxford Union.
HAVE YOU SEEN SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR?
CALL HACKSTOPPERS ON (01865) 241 353
Michael ‘‘Deuterium’’ Flagg
Collegium Sancti Hugonis
Returning Officer
DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICERS
Ronald “6th Amendment” Collinson, Ex-RO, Ex-CCC, Ex-Standing, Balliol College
Ryan “Burger King” Ng, Ex-RO, Merton College
Martine “Matron” Wauben, Ex-RO, Ex-CCC, Pembroke College
Joshua “Hermit” Atkinson, Ex-RO, St. Benet’s Hall
Wharton “Excel” Chan, Ex-RO, Pembroke College
Thomas “ERO” Reynolds, Ex-RO, University College
Robert “Hack Whisperer” Boissonneault, Senior DRO, Keble College
Nathan “Prof. Oak” King, The Queen’s College
Stanislas “Cherwell” Lalanne, Merton College
Peter “Mackerel” Corden, Oriel College
Will “Who is Mr.” Barnes, Hertford College
Ceri “The Queen” Smith, St Anne’s College
Jamie “Stella” Lagerberg, Corpus Christi College
Joseph “Traitor” Miles, Ex-Standing, Wadham College
Oxford Union Elections
Poll Date: Friday, 6th March, 2015
Where to Vote
Polling takes place in the Union’s Goodman Library (the room on the ground floor,
next to the marble staircase), from 9.30am to 8.30pm precisely. Please bring your
membership card to assist the Poll Clerks.
How to Vote
For each post, simply number your preferences against each candidate from 1, 2,
3, 4, and so on until you have finished expressing your preferences between the
candidates. Expressing later preferences in no way harms your earlier preferences.
For Example:
Common Welsh GREEN 2
Swedish SHORTSNOUT
3
Chinese FIREBALL
1
Hungarian HORNTAIL
4
the Oxford Union
Michael D Flagg
Collegium Sancti Hugonis
Returning Officer
Design & Content © The Oxford Union 2015.
Unauthorised reproduction or copying is prohibited.
Candidates’ Claims in Manifestos
Ensuring that candidates’ claims allow for fair elections
The Returning Officer has ensured to the best of his ability that all claims made in manifestos are true: he advises, however, that Members acquaint
themselves with the commonly-used terms below in order that they are not misled. The list begins with five standardised terms for the most substantial
claims and ends with seven for the least substantial. Members may wish to consider other similar words used as holding the same meanings and draw
inferences from the fact that a candidate has been unable to make the most substantial kinds of claims.
Weaker Claims
Stronger claims
Raised - the candidate must have produced a contract on which they have been the primary
signatory, to claim to have raised a sum of money.
Brought - the candidate must have produced an acceptance e-mail or letter addressed to them,
to claim to have brought the Society a speaker.
Confirmed - the candidate must have produced written evidence either that a contract is being
drawn up for a confirmed sum of money or that a speaker has accepted an invitation and
provided a date.
Organised / run - the candidate must have produced substantial evidence, such as contracts,
correspondence and testimony, that they were in control of an event, its inception and its
development.
Responsible for - the above, or the candidate, must have proven primary responsibility for the
content of a claim
Assisted / helped - to raise / bring etc. The Returning Officer deems there to be sufficient proof
that a candidate has contributed substantively, but insufficient to prove that they have had
primary responsibility.
Likewise such terms as: facilitated, coordinated, supervised, oversaw.
Invited/contacted - proof has been provided
Weaker claims will be used often in manifestos even by good candidates: usually only candidates for Office will be able regularly to make “stronger claims”. The distinction is nonetheless
worth making.
Candidates’ own spelling, punctuation, and grammar have not been corrected in manifestos.
Candidate for President
Michaelmas
Trinity 2015
Candidate for Librarian
Michaelmas
Trinity 2015
with overall responsibility for the Society and for arranging its debates
with responsibility for the Library and for arranging individual speaker addresses
Charlie VAUGHAN
St John’s College, Librarian
Robert HARRIS
New College, Secretary
The Union is a closed shop because it fails to communicate effectively with members. I have
the experience and dedication to fix this.
CONFIRMED: BUZZ ALDRIN, GERARD WAY, PROFESSOR JOHN NASH, BILL
MAHER, Founder of PayPal, SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS, Christine O’Donnell, CHRIS
HUHNE, Robert Fisk; organised EDWARD SNOWDEN debate, made paper speech.
KEEPS PROMISES:
• The driving force behind the electoral rules changes, making our elections more open,
transparent, and meritocratic, and introducing Re-Open Nominations.
• Wrote impeachment rule, holding our officers to account.
• Designed and implemented new complaints procedure, ensuring that professionals and
not committee members deal with serious allegations.
INNOVATIVE:
• Establishing partnerships with charities to bring their celebrity ambassadors to the Union.
• Founded charitable foundation raising £75k+.
PLEDGES:
• Redesign communications system, effectively using email, social media, and our website.
• Implement a development scheme to reduce the cost of membership.
Candidate for Treasurer
Our Union’s about speakers – I’ll bring the best.
Competent:
• CONFIRMED 14 SPEAKERS, including: EU President, Nicky Morgan, Lord
Ashdown, Helena Morrissey, David Baddiel, YouTube founder, ‘House of Cards’
creator.
• Facilitated Eric Schmidt, Michael Sandel, Anna Wintour.
• Managed £33,000 budget.
• SINGLE-HANDEDLY organised sell-out ‘Night in Paris’ Ball.
Debater:
• Competed at Cambridge and LSE.
• Organisational Committee for UK’s LARGEST competition.
Enterprising:
• Helped draft RULES CHANGES.
• WON Jailbreak – reached Tokyo!
Pledge: establish long-term relationships with agents to attract best speakers all year
round.
Michaelmas 2015
Trinity 2015
Candidate for Secretary
with responsibility for the raising of sponsorship and buildings maintenance
with responsibility for the term’s social events and for minuting standing committee meetings
Verity HUBBARD
Lady Margaret Hall, Standing Committee
Olivia MERRETT
St John’s College, Ex-Chair of the Consultative Committee
We often turn speakers away due to lack of funds – this needs to change!
Let’s bring the Union’s communications into the 21st Century
Organised:
• CHIEF OF STAFF and former Chair of Union’s largest committee – facilitated
EVERY debate this term.
• Coordinated every Michaelmas speaker event, social and debate.
Experienced:
• Facilitated OVER 50 SPEAKERS including Stephen Fry, MORGAN FREEMAN,
Naomi Wolf.
• FOUR terms as Union Official.
• Member of Wines & Spirits and Library Committees.
• Actually aware of responsibility for updates – Facebook, Twitter, Website.
For Trinity:
• More high quality affordable socials - Cocktails and Cupcakes, Summer Garden
Party.
Financially Responsible:
•Finance Committee delegate
•Arranging finance conference with University banking society for Trinity
•Worked in Treasurer’s Office over the vacation to secure corporate sponsorship
•Helped with £377,000 membership drive
Dedicated:
•Organised FREE SPEECH DEBATE; confirmed Shami Chakrabarti
•Co-organised historic MALCOM X DEBATE
•Confirmed Cornel West
•Facilitated 20+ events, including SIR IAN MCKELLEN and Geir Lippestad
Pledge:
• Development scheme to improve access and increase speaker budget
Candidates for Standing Committee
Trinity 2015
members of the Society’s governing body, to assist the Officers and plan social events
Ssuuna GOLOOBA-MUTEBI
St John’s College, Secretary’s Committee
DEBATER: spoke in RACISM DEBATE, assisted
POLICE DEBATE, facilitated FEMINISM and
STATE SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS DEBATES
DEDICATED: facilitated MICHAEL SANDEL,
Xavier Rolet, RICK EDWARDS
DAPPER: Oxford’s Best Dressed (twice), Oxford’s
Best Clubber (steamy), Entz Rep
The Ssuuna you vote the better!
Zuleyka SHAHIN
Balliol College
Decade’s EXPERIENCE:
• Head Booker: Major agency
• Creative Director: Fashion
• Interviewed by Russell Brand
• Tabloid front page with Russell Crowe
• Panelist “8 out of 10 Cats”
• Judged Miss Universe GB with Bacary Sagna
FRESH:
• Graduate transwoman of colour
PLEDGE:
• #HOLLYWOODnames
Kirsty SIMKIN
Somerville College, Secretary’s Committee
CONFIRMED: SIR RICHARD EVANS,
SIMON ARMITAGE, Jane Corbin; facilitated
GERARD WAY
COMPETENT: cocktail mixologist at Ball;
attended bop as a boob
CHARITABLE:
• Fundraising and Events Officer for University
largest charity network
• Coordinated Jailbreak
• College Peer Supporter
PLEDGE: Summer Pimm’s Social
Nikolay KOSHIKOV
Exeter College, Secretary’s Committee
Committed
• Co-organised Putin Debate
• Prepared over 50 invites for next term
• On toilet duty during the Union Ball
• Distributed headsets before Le Pen’s speech
All-rounder
• Valentine’s Fashion Model
• College Premier League Footballer
Pledge:
• Better opportunities for graduates and MBA
students
Niamh COOTE
Pembroke College, Secretary’s Committee
Competent: Confirmed NICK JONAS, facilitated
every debate
Caring: Charitable fundraiser, on Access
Committee, helped arrange Union’s partnership
with Scope
Contortionist: Performed splits in Bridge
Clued-up: Impromptu tour-guide for 100+ Miss
World contestants
Consistent: I’m a hoot, vote Coote!
David BROWNE
Merton College, Standing Committee
Elect the most experienced candidate!
Reformer: Key Architect of Election Rules
Changes; Co-wrote Impeachment.
Debater: Spoke most Thursday nights
including NINETEEN Main Debates
Oxbridge Debate PAPER SPEECH;
arranged the debate.
Dedicated: Library Committee veteran;
Secretary to Finance Committee
Noah LACHS
Lincoln College, Secretary’s Committee
CONFIRMED: Stephen K Amos, Steve
Backshall, arranged US Racism Debate; facilitated
AL SHARPTON
DEDICATED: blacktie binman at ball, training
for London Marathon, edits oldest UK student
publication
FORWARD-THINKING: on Access Committee,
founded Students of Oxford
PLEDGE: Laser-Tag Social
Candidates for Secretary’s Committee
Trinity 2015
to assist with running social events and distributing publicity
Callum TIPPLE
Hertford College
Sorrel EVANS
New College
Stephen OSUOBENI
Harris Manchester College
Salacious sportsman; got rekT with
teachers: slut-dropped headmistress;
sometimes sensible: Treasurer, Freshers’
Committee. If you have a nipple, vote
Tipple!
Rebellious rooftop climber (got Deaned);
co-founded feminist society; accidentally
smuggled gun into country (got
“Deaned”). Deeply immoral, vote Sorrel!
Saudi born Nigerian prince. SecretaryGeneral of OxIMUN – extensive
debating experience. Jazz and poker
aficionado.
VOTES OR BANK
ACCOUNT DETAILS PLS.
Isaac VIRCHIS
Oriel College
Ellen CLARKE
Jesus College
Tiphaine RAMENASON
Worcester College
Serial narcoleptic: pass(ed) out in Purple
Turtle, pass(ed) out in Bridge, pass(ed)
out in Warehouse. Not Tinie Tempah –
vote Virchis!
Bawdy ballerina... and slut-drop
extraordinaire; (almost) rejected from
Oxford... but now President of college
PPE Society. Don’t shark, vote Clarke!
Immeasurably international: FrancoMadagascan Asian (passport confiscated).
Fundraiser for student newspaper. Spirited
skier: attacked by chairlift. Use your brain,
vote Tiphaine!
Brenda NJIRU
Christ Church
Alissa KLEINNIJENHUIS
Christ Church
Charlie CAMPBELL
Trinity College
Kenyan ‘Girl-Engineer’. Christ Church
FemSoc committee member. Yonce lover.
Smiling, dimpled, vote this biscuit: BN
BN do doo dododo!
Groovy Grad studying the Marvellous
Mathematics of how to Tame the Wolf
of Wall Street. Debater. (ChCh-Social
Secretary) Organiser.
Bouncy
bagpiper;
non-conformist:
arrested in Iran, JCR finds clothing
offensive, took dad to Purple Turtle. Don’t
gamble, vote Campbell!
Dom NORCLIFFE-BROWN
St Catherine’s College
Louis TRUPIA
Brasenose College
Matt DAWE
St Hugh’s College
Compulsive chess player (even plays
in Bridge). Misunderstood: mistakenly
arrested, almost expelled three times.
Head into town, vote Norcliffe-Brown!
Lol.
Hard working GLO. Small chap who’s
a keen cox. Not Louis Trup. Form an
orderly queue and VOTE FOR LOU!
Peacekeeping
pugilist.
Unlucky:
almost bottled, almost mugged, actually
attacked. Responded with diplomacy:
joined Model UN, RAF. Get more, vote
Dawe!
Henna DATTANI
Brasenose College
Esben WILKEN
Keble College
Harrison EDMONDS
University College
Multilingual El Brigo regular, Hindu
society treasurer; rows in Chamber,
rows on Isis. There’s no dilemma, vote for
Henna!
Daring Dane: questioned by police about
fake IDs (denies everything); reached
Ljubljana on Jailbreak. Grab a pen, vote
Esben – amen!
Handsome,
Passionate
Debater.
Volunteered at Paris Ball Casino. National
Newspaper Contributor. Won Mock Trial
Competition. Guitarist.
No comparison; Vote Harrison!
Isaac KANG
St Peter’s College
Ryan TANG
Pembroke College
Jonathan TAN
Exeter College
Former regional skating champion turned
singing medic. Devoted charity worker.
Serenaded Her Majesty the Queen. YES
WE KANG!
International debater – has competed for
both England and Hong Kong; founder
of educational charity; get the hang of
voting Tang!
Spent 2 years in the Singaporean Airforce.
Speaks mandarin. Loves hiking, rowing
and good whiskey. Be a FAN, vote TAN.
Call for Returning Officer’s Assistants
Are you interested in becoming involved in the administration of the Society’s elections? The Returning
Officer and his team welcome new recruits. Becoming a Returning Officer’s Assistant is the first step on
the ladder to becoming a Deputy Returning Officer, or even eventually holding the position of Returning
Officer itself. Involvement in this side of the Union is often overlooked and yet can be hugely rewarding. No
previous experience of any sort is required to apply.
For more information, please contact the Returning Officer at [email protected]. Applications must be
submitted in time for the Returning Officer to post them on the Union noticeboard by 4pm on Friday 6th
March (election day).
Want to get involved next term?
To run for election in the Society, you must make a certain number of qualifying speeches within the public debates either in the Emergency, Floor, or After Debate. Nominations open at 9.30am, Friday 5th Week, and close at 3pm on the
following Friday.
If you would like to get involved with the administration of the Society without running for election, you can participate in the running of the Elections as a Deputy Returning Officer by applying in writing to the President by 3pm on Monday
of 2nd Week. If you have any questions about running in elections, or you need impartial advice, please feel free to contact the Returning Officer ([email protected]).