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Oxford University cuts links with Conservative association
1 Sep 2009A university has severed links with its Conservative association after students were embroiled in a race row.
The Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) has been asked to change its name following the scandal in June when electoral candidates were asked to tell "inappropriate" jokes during hustings.
Among the jokes bandied around during what was alleged to have been an alcohol-fuelled meeting was a remark about a black person hanging in a family tree.
One Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) committee member resigned following the controversy.
Students present said there was "a great deal of noise" at the hustings for the junior officer positions.
Now the university has forbidden the society from using its name.
A spokesman said: "Following an investigation about complaints of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by members of the Oxford University Conservative Association, the university has taken the decision to withdraw the university name from the association and withdraw their right to appear at the Fresher's Fair for the coming academic year.
"The university would like to reiterate that this behaviour does not reflect the way the overwhelming majority of our students think or behave, and the individuals concerned have resigned from the association.
"The university strongly condemns any form of racism and discrimination and reaffirms its commitment to promoting good race relations."
Two students were suspended from the Tory party in the wake of allegations.
A Conservative spokesman said at the time: "People who behave in this disgusting and reprehensible way have no place in the Conservative Party."
While the university has cut ties with the group, members can re-apply for its affiliation.
But the society must demonstrate "improved conduct over a period of time" before it can apply to get its name back.
The association, founded in 1924, is one of the oldest and largest student political organisations in the country.
It has a current membership of almost 700 and past presidents include Margaret Thatcher, Edward Heath and shadow foreign secretary William Hague.
Reader views (3)
R Wright - you don't appear to have read down as far as the bit that said:
Two students were suspended from the Tory party in the wake of allegations.
A Conservative spokesman said at the time: "People who behave in this disgusting and reprehensible way have no place in the Conservative Party."
...or more likely, you were just in so much of a hurry to slag off the entire voting population that support the Conservatives that you just didn't get around to reading beyond the headline.
- Rogan, Irving, 02/09/2009 06:04
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I am sure that inappropriate comments were made by people trying to make jokes which turned out to be offensive. Dumb comments about the nasty party are also inappropriate. Presumably Mr. Wright is a member of that blood red party run by the Scottish jaw wagger, whose role is to extract your life's blood through your wallet.
- Coylum, vancouver, Canada, 01/09/2009 22:49
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No matter how much PR David Cameron employs people like this demonstrate that the Nasty Party has not changed. As Dave, Boris and George show nothing that people do at Oxford University, no matter how reprehensible, stops them getting to the top of the Tory Party.
- R Wright, Acton England, 01/09/2009 15:42
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