Postal vote called on Congregation age-limit

The Hebdomadal Council has called for a postal vote on whether members of Congregation can retain their voting rights up to the age of 75, or only up to retirement age, usually 65, as current policy dictates. The call follows a victory by 75–12 votes in a debate in Congregation on Tuesday, 21 January, for the proposition that voting rights should be restored up to the age of 75, reversing a policy accepted, without debate, in Congregation on 28 November 1995. Voting papers will be sent out at the end of Fourth Week, for return by 20 February. Dr Alan Ryan, Warden of New College, proposing the motion, argued that the University had failed to give sufficient special notice to what amounted to an important constitutional change in 1995. He also criticised the University for what appeared to be ageism, in believing that retired dons `were less in touch with its affairs', while still allowing them exceptionally to remain on committees. He was supported by Emeritus Professor Michael Dummett, former Wykeham Professor of Logic, who retired four years ago, but was eligible to vote by dint of his protected status. He described the legislation as thoroughly `misconceived' and `ambiguous', contrasting it with the expectations of retired dons to remain members of their faculties and carry out such academic duties as marking scripts and examining D.Phils. Mrs Ruth Deech, the Principal of St Anne's, on behalf of Council, replied that such power without responsibility was not a principle for the University to follow. `Those who make our laws should be affected by them'. She pointed to the anomalies that would most likely result from the current premature retirement schemes, which might leave some 500 retired dons in Oxford eligible to dominate Congregation proceedings. Dr John Peach of Brasenose College, in support of Council, pointed out that colleges had long ago abolished life fellowships and there was a direct analogy between Congregation and college governing bodies. He urged retired dons to continue to make use of the formidable informal powers they enjoy within university circles. Finally, Mr Thomas Braun of Merton College spoke of the merits of Oxford's Athenian model, pointing out that in Athens—as in every other parliament—there was no retirement age. He cited historical examples of how the elderly, such as Appius Claudius, Pitt the Elder, and Churchill, had given wise counsel down the ages.