Oxford Union elections hit by 'sexism, hacking and blackmail'
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The undergraduates of Oxford University are often seen as the future leaders of this country, but new evidence has shown that their conduct has been far from exemplary.
The campaigns to get elected to the Oxford Union have been marred by allegations of sexism, hacking and blackmail.
Former Secretary-designate of the Union, Cai Wilshaw, resigned just days after being appointed over the allegations.
They come after nine emails were leaked to senior members of the Oxford Union committee.
Taking the form of printed and annotated screenshots, the emails contain three memes of librarian candidate Amelia Hamer accompanied with the text: "Only girl - comes 4th”, "Vote Amelia – tribbed”, and "gets sponsorship - Prize: BJ.”
Hamer said she “felt personally victimised by the sexist and misogynistic nature of the memes, especially as one of the few women on standing committee at the time.”
The emails also reveal how Wilshaw sought to "assert a degree of surveillance over the actions of his co-workers.” An exchange with a correspondent known as ‘A.J’ shows Wilshaw inquiring: “HOW do I get the files of people with Macs?” before subsequently receiving a detailed reply.

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