J.C.R. CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE ­ MINORITY REPORT

     Below is the draft constitution "a)" mentioned in the introduction to the majority report. It is hoped that its brevity and readability will commend it to the J.C.R ­ brevity is especially important, for the J.C.R. constitution will have to be reprinted every year for issue to freshmen.

Draft constitution for Merton J.C.R.

           "WE HOLD THE FOLLOWING TO BE SELF-EVIDENT

1.    a written constitution is a source of disagreement, in its inception, in its interpretation, and in its revision;
2.    a written constitution is the imperfect product of imperfect minds with no claim to experience and much pretension to foresight;
3.    a written constitution supplements not common-sense, but suppresses it, and is thus an object of disparagement rather than reverence, a symbol of domination rather than authority;
4.    a written constitution discourages reasons and fosters excuses;
5.    a written constitution, lending itself to strange and divers interpretations, giving shelter to the incompetent and indolent, and aid to the evil and devious, is an instrument of misgovernment and oppression, a burden on the simple and the trusting, and an impediment to the reformer and the avenger;
   
              AND THEREFORE SOLEMNLY DECLARE

that we believe that our officers will serve us faithfully and diligently, seeking neither reward nor reputation, accepting both advice and criticism, giving reasons and not excuses, quick to admit faults and slow to rebuke the vexatious, mindful of the silent and of the patient as of the vocal and of the insistent, dealing with us all in a forthright frank and open manner, justly and wisely, speedily but not hastily, in humility but not deference, mentioning our virtues to others and our defects to ourselves, protecting the good name of ourselves and our College, of our predecessors and our successors, stirring the passive and restraining the impetuous, and doing always that which is right and proper:

             AND WOE BETIDE THEM IF THEY DO NOT"

     (signed)

   Barry Press.

The above, taking up about two-thirds of a side of A4, appeared in members' pigeonholes in February 1974, a day after the two "official" draft constitutions, a "moderate" one of about 10 foolscap pages, and a "left-wing" one of about 13 foolscap pages. The J.C.R. committee's original intention had been to put the three drafts to a vote, but it soon became clear that nearly everyone was going to vote for my draft, and so the project was quietly forgotten, and the J.C.R. continued without a written constitution for many happy years.