EXCLUSIVE: VC in shock decision to delay Class Lists vote until AFTER student referendum

After news broke earlier this week that fellows successfully petitioned to have a vote to save the public display of Class Lists, The Tab can reveal that a date has been set for a vote on the Grace, which would take place after a student referendum would occur. 

The vote will be opened on 28th November and close on 8th December at 5pm.

A spokesperson for ‘Save The Class List’ said of the news “Save the Class List is delighted to announce that the Vice Chancellor has decided to hold the Regent House vote towards the end of Michaelmas. This means the student referendum can take place before the vote in Regent House, and fellows will be able to vote bearing in mind what students really think on the issue.”

Both the Master of Trinity and the Admissions Tutor had signed the petition

As the statement mentions, this is not the only vote expected to occur in Michaelmas over Class Lists. The ‘Save the Class List’ movement submitted a petition to CUSU earlier this month with the number of names needed to trigger a referendum on the matter.

Will they be successful?

Previously, CUSU President Amatey Doku said of the referendum “As happens every year, CUSU Council will appoint members of the new Elections Committee at the first Council in Michaelmas Term and will begin the process of dealing with the petition and referendum request immediately”.

According to CUSU Constitution on Referenda, a vote should be “held in full Undergraduate term and within 21 Full Term Days of being called”. With the Fellows vote opening on 28th November and closing after Full Term has ended, it appears their vote will occur after the result of student referendum, either allowing them to keep student thoughts into account, or to overrule their opinion.

Alongside the document pronouncing the vote was a list of those who had signed the petition.

Like the Burn Book, but more professional

Notable names include  the Master of Trinity College, Sir Gregory Winter, a prominent member of the History Faculty, Professor David Abulafia and Professor Sir Alan Fersht, Master of Caius.

The important question is, would the fellows bear a student referendum result in mind or pursue their own beliefs?