Nouse.co.uk » Goodricke JCRC chair expelled over summer

Goodricke JCRC chair expelled over summer

October 14, 2008
Raf Sanchez

Goodricke has become the second college to lose its JCRC Chair since June after Joe Clarke was expelled from the University at the end of last year.

Clarke was sent down for academic reasons and was advised that by the University that an appeal had little chance of success. Speaking to Nouse, he said: “Their response was cold and quick considering the number of hours a college chair puts in for the University. I don’t think it was even taken into consideration the amount of work I put in.”

Clarke admitted that balancing his chairmanship with academics had often left him “overstretched”. He said: “I think that the people who get into position of college chair are people who want to take on a challenge and do everything they can for their college. When given that amount of work they do it because they want the best for the college but in hindsight you realize it probably is too much for one person.”

Clarke’s responsibilities have been split between former Vice-Chairs Katie Saunders and Becky Turnbull. Clarke clashed with Saunders last term when Saunders attempted to bring a vote of no confidence against the JCRC’s Social Secretaries after a trip to Belgian lost £2,000. The vote failed after the meeting in which it was proposed was inquorate.

Following the meeting Nouse received an anonymous letter listing a number of serious accusations against Clarke. The letter, believed to have been written by a member of the JCRC, read: “I have passed this on to you as I believe the University and the College must be made aware of the conduct of this Goodricke’s Chair since being elected. I believe most people would be shocked with polices and remarks that have been made [by Clarke] this year.” None of the allegations in the letter could be substantiated.

Clarke dismissed rumours of a no confidence vote, saying “I fully engaged what was going on in the college. I think if a vote had been made it would not have succeeded. The issue was sorted out an open meeting and the feeling there was that everyone was happy with the outcome.”

Goodricke Treasurer James Smallwood said: “It was a big shock that Joe left but the committee came together over the holidays and got everything sorted for Freshers’ Week. Hopefully things should all be fine this term.” Smallwood said there was “no chance” Clarke would have faced a vote of no confidence if he had remained at the head of the JCRC.

Clarke said the University did not recognize the work done by college chairs. He said: “On an institutional level I don’t think the work of a college chair does is recognized at all by the university. I think very few people at the higher levels of the University have any idea what college chairs do.”

Clarke becomes the second college chair to be removed from their position after James Chair Chet Khatu lost a vote of no confidence in June. Khatu was voted out by a margin of 10-2 following a public falling out with James Provost Dr Neil Lunt. He had previously been embroiled in controversy after taking part in an event in which a stripper was brought to the JCR and subsequently refused to apologise.