Student Council Minutes Tuesday 31 January 2012 at 6.30pm in Francis Bancroft Room 1.02.6, Mile End Chair: Eleanor Hallam Mile End Officers present (14): Ben Richardson (Student Representative) Caz Parra (Secretary) Chris Smith (Student Representative) Ciara Squires (Student Representative) Darcie Tyler-Henley (Volunteering Officer) Donald MacKinnon (LGBT Officer) Edoardo Palombo (Welfare Officer) Ellen Kiely (RAG Officer)
Michael Gilbert (Postgraduate Officer) Ozzy Amir (Campaigns Officer) Shaun Ramanah (Students with Disabilities Officer) Tom Voice (Ethical and Environmental Officer Wanda Canton (Women’s Officer) Wilson Wong (Societies’ Officer)
Barts and The London Officers present (9): Amy Coulden (Entertainments Officer) - part Andrew Smith (Student Representative) Jeeves Wijesuriya (Vice-President London) Jon Cramphorn (Vice-President Barts) Mandi Pal (Secretary) – part
Richard Donovan (SSLC Rep) Salem Al-Sawaf (Entertainments Officer) Sam Chequer (Welfare Officer) Tim Foster (Clubs and Societies’ Officer)
Barts and the London Officer apologies (1): Adnan Aslam (Dental Representative) Faculty and Year Representatives present (3): Alex Schpektor (Humanties and Social Sciences Faculty Representative) Karishma Chouglay (Science and Engineering Faculty Representative)
Nicolas Meier (Year One and Foundation Representative)
Faculty and Year Representatives apologies (1): Andrew Williams (Medicine and Dentistry Faculty Representative) - proxy Executive Officers in attendance: Sophie Richardson (President) Dominic Bell (Vice President Activities) George Ryan (Vice President Association)
Oscar Williamson (Vice President Education and Welfare) Sam Creighton (Vice President Communications)
Union Staff in attendance: Melissa Snyder (Communications and Marketing Manager) Philip Gilks (Student Voice and Development Manager) Tom Sutton (Representation and Democracy Co-ordinator)
1.0
Apologies Apologies were noted and accepted.
2.0
Chair’s Welcome Announcements Chair welcomed members to the first meeting of the semester. 2.0.1
Resignations Noted the resignations of Nabil Najjar (Student Representative) and Andy Kanyemba (Black Students Officer)
2.0.2
System for administering Candidate Budget for the Students’ Union Elections 2012 Noted the system for administering the Candidate Budget for the upcoming Students’ Union elections. The budget will be administered with an expenditure form provided to all candidates at the candidate meeting. This will be required to be returned one hour before the close of voting.
2.1
Student Representative and Part-time Officer Attendance Noted Bye-Law 9.17.2 and received the record of Student Representative and Parttime Officer attendance at Student Council meetings. 2.1.1
Student Council voted against Velyana Borisova (International Officer) retaining office. - 0 members voted for - 17 members voted against - 8 members abstained
2.1.2
Student Council voted against Ben Hughes (Technical Officer) retaining office. - 9 members voted for - 10 members voted against - 6 members abstained
3.0
Minutes from the meeting of Student Council held on 13 December 2011 Noted and approved as an accurate record.
4.0
Officer Reports Noted.
5.0
Executive Action Plan Student Council received the January update of the Executive Officer Action Plan. 5.0.1
Question Ozzy Amir asked for an update from Theme 1 D2 Branding Redevelopment. - Oscar Williamson replied that re-branding may take place in Summer 2012.
5.0.2
Question Ozzy Amir asked a question on Theme 2 F You Talk. We Listen. - what was the outcome of You Talk. We Listen? - Oscar Williamson replied that the purpose of the exercise was to increase the visibility of Executive Officers and to inform their work and decisions.
5.1
President Action Plan Student Council received the January update of the President Action Plan.
5.2
Vice President Communications Action Plan Student Council received the January update of the Vice President Communications Action Plan.
5.2.1
Question Ozzy Amir asked a question on B1 Sabbatical Question Time - why did only twenty-one students attended the Executive Officer Question Time event? - Sam Creighton conceded that promotion for the event was poor and started late. Planning for next event will start earlier.
5.2.2
Question Ozzy Amir asked a question on B3 Fees and Cuts – why did only two students attended the Fees and Cuts Meeting? - Sam Creighton replied because the main interested party QMUL Stop the Cuts sent a delegate opposed to attending themselves.
5.2.3
Question Ozzy Amir asked for an update on D Community Radio. - Sam Creighton replied that the process for applying to be a community radio station was lengthy and would take time.
5.3
Vice President Student Activities Action Plan Student Council received the January update of the Vice-President Student Activities Action Plan.
5.4
Vice President Education and Welfare Action Plan Student Council received the January update of the Vice-President Student Education and Welfare Action Plan. 5.4.1
Question Jeeves Wijesuriya asked a question on D Research Led Decisions - what was an evidence base? - Oscar Williamson replied that is was a term used for making decisions on evidence.
5.4.2
Question Darcie Tyler-Henley reported that students in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) claimed they had received no correspondence from the Union regarding the proposed staffing restructure. - Oscar Williamson replied that he was doing all he could to make contact with SBCS students.
5.4.3
Question Chris Smith asked a question on C1 Pre-Printed Reading Packs – what are you doing for students that don’t have reading packs? - Oscar Williamson replied that for he was arguing for subsidised textbooks for those courses that had a single core textbook.
5.7
Questions for the Vice President Association Student Council received a verbal report from the Vice President Association.
5.6
Researching the need for a Students with Disabilities Representative for Barts and The London Student Council received a draft of the student survey requested by ‘Researching the need for a Students with Disabilities Representative for Barts and The London’ policy passed at the Student Council meeting held on 13 December 2011.The draft was approved with the following amendments: - The ‘Do you consider yourself to have a disability’ question is moved to be the first question. - A definition of disability is added to the ‘Do you consider yourself to have disability’ question.
5.5
ATMs on Campus Report Noted.
6.0
Formalising the Executive Committee Sophie Richardson spoke for a motion to create an ‘Executive Committee’ Bye-Law outlining the role and remit of the Sabbatical Trustee committee. She argued that the Bye-Law formalised the role of the Executive Committee. Sophie Richardson waved the summation. Student Council voted for the motion. - 25 members voted for - 0 members voted against - 1 member abstained
7.0
Opening up workspace for students during the Examination Period. Chris Smith spoke for a motion proposing that the Executive Officers lobby for the opening class rooms and other spaces for student s during the exam period. He argued the motion gave support to the Vice President Education and Welfare who was already working on the matter. Chris Smith waved the summation. Student Council voted for the motion. - 26 members voted for - 0 members voted against - 0 members abstained
8.0
Staffing at the Griffinn Post-Refurbishment Jeeves Wijesuriya spoke for a motion proposing additional terms for employment of staff for the Griffinn. He argued medical and dental students should be given preference for staff posts in the re-opened Griffinn because their teaching patterns mean they have difficulty obtaining other part-time work. Sophie Richardson spoke against the motion. She argued to ‘positively discriminate’ on these grounds was potentially unlawful. To do so would lead to a larger staffing pool which would produce unnecessary costs. Jeeves Wijesuriya spoke for the motion. He argued a similar policy was in place at other students’ union bars. Sam Creighton spoke against the motion. He argued the extension of the believes outlined in this motion would mean Mile End students should be given staff posts in Drapers which he was against. Jeeves Wijesuriya spoke for the motion. He argued Mile End students were already given preference for staff posts in Drapers. Dominic Bell spoke against the motion. He argued that the Union should employ the best students to carry out the jobs. Jeeves Wijesuriya spoke for the motion. He argued if the motion would lead to increased costs, the Union should review the cost-effectiveness of training. Dominic Bell spoke against the motion. He argued that many students faced difficulty obtaining part-time work not just medical and dental students. Jeeves Wijesuriya gave the summation for the motion. He argued that the Union should do what it could to give medical and dental students that have difficulty obtaining part-time work a job.
Student Council voted for the motion. - 22 members voted for - 2 members voted against - 3 members abstained 9.0
Sports Representation at Barts and The London The motion was withdrawn.
10.0
Student Area in the Shield Jeeves Wijesuriya for a motion proposing to give students the space to eat packed lunches in The Shield. He argued students required a space to eat packed lunches. 10.1
Clarification Sophie Richardson clarified that the Union’s Venue Manager supported the proposal as long as students ate packed lunches and not pre-packaged food purchased from other non-union outlets. - Jeeves Wijesuriya claimed that that some pre-packaged items still constituted a packed lunch.
Darcie Tyler-Henley spoke against the motion. She argued that students should support students’ union business and should not be permitted to eat pre-packaged items from any other outlet in students’ union venues. Chair moved to a vote. Student Council voted for the motion. - 24 members voted for - 0 members voted against - 2 members abstained 11.0
Hot Desking of Student Councillors in the Student Union Office Wilson Wong spoke for a motion proposing that the desk available in the Blomeley Centre be made available to Student Representatives and Part-time Officers. He argued student representatives and part-time officers could make effective use of the desk left vacant. 11.1
Clarification Sam Creighton clarified that the desk may not be available once a number of staff appointments have been made. The desk would also be unavailable for the duration of the elections.
Wilson Wong waved the summation. Student Council voted for the motion. - 18 members voted for - 4 members voted against - 4 members abstained 12.0
Representation at upcoming SBCS meeting Ozzy Amir spoke for a motion proposing to mandate the President and Vice President Education and Welfare to attend a meeting with students in the School Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) regarding a proposed staffing restructure. He argued it was important that the Union’s leaders attend. Oscar Williamson argued against the motion. He argued the meeting was for SBCS students to meet with department managers not Executive Officers. He was already planning to attend, the President had booked annual leave on the day of meeting. Ozzy Amir spoke for the motion. He argued it was important for both Executive Officers to attend and show their support against the staff restructure proposals.
Sam Creighton spoke against the motion. He argued it was unnecessary to have both the President and Vice President Education and Welfare in attendance, that was part of the reason having Vice Presidents. Ozzy Amir made the summation for the motion. He argued the President’s presence at meeting would contribute to showing stronger Union support. Student Council voted against the motion. - 6 members voted for - 10 members voted against - 10 members abstained 13.0
Striving for a bolder future for QMSU online Ozzy Amir spoke for a motion proposing a review of the Union’s website. He argued the motion was to formalise the work that had been started working with relevant members of Union staff. Wanda Canton spoke against the motion. She argued a motion was unnecessary if work had already been started. Too many motions had been submitted to Student Council that could have been undertaken immediately without policy. Chair moved to a vote. Student Council voted for the motion. - 22 members voted for - 1 member voted against - 3 members abstained
14.0
The Publication of Executive Officer Calendars retitled Mahoosive Union Calendar Oscar Williamson spoke for a motion to create a large calendar of Union events and activities. He argued it was a fun visual tool to promote the Union. 14.1
Amendment Noted Ozzy Amir’s amendment to delete all and insert a re-worded motion.
Sam Creighton spoke against the motion. He argued the measure could have been undertaken immediately without policy. Chair moved to a vote. Student Council voted for the motion. - 18 members voted for - 5 members voted against - 3 members abstained 15.0
The Union Budget made simple Ozzy Amir spoke for a motion proposing the publication of the Union’s Budget and details of expenditure. He argued it was important these details were made accessible and easy to interpret for students. 15.1
Amendment Noted Ozzy Amir’s amendment to delete all and insert a re-worded motion.
Chair moved to a vote. Student Council voted for the motion. - 25 members voted for - 0 members voted against - 1 member abstained
16.0
Respecting Democracy Ozzy Amir spoke for a motion proposing an amendment to the Elections Bye-Law that prevents Executive Officers playing an active role in the campaigns of election candidates. He argued Executive Officers had high levels of influence through holding office and should not be used to influence the outcome of the election. 16.1
Amendment Noted Ozzy Amir’s amendment to delete all and insert a re-worded motion.
Alex Schpektor spoke against the motion. He argued that Executive Officers should be be entitled to express their views and opinions on the subject. Jeeves Wijesuriya spoke for the motion. He argued Executive Officers became more distanced from students during their time in office and should not express a view or opinion. Alex Schpektor spoke against the motion. He argued that the motion would be hard to enforce as policy as the Union or students can’t monitor Executive Officers all the time. Their experience in the role could give useful insights to help students make their decision. Ozzy Amir made the summation for the motion. He argued Executive Officers had excessive influence and should not be permitted to influence elections. Student Council voted for the motion. - 22 members voted for - 1 member voted against - 3 members abstained 17.0
Ensuring the Election of Students to the Barts and The London Board is fair George Ryan spoke for a motion proposing that the election of five Barts and The London Board positions are subject to the Elections Bye-Law. He argued that this was to ensure the elections for these positions were subject to the same regulations as the main elections. George Ryan waved the summation. Student Council voted for the motion. - 24 members voted for - 0 members voted against - 1 member abstained
18.0
External Speaker Interim Policy The motion was withdrawn.
19.0
QMSU support for a London wide student manifesto and campaign on the the London Mayoral and GLA Elections. Ozzy Amir spoke for a motion proposing Union support for the London Student Manifesto. He argued the Manifesto drawn up with other London Unions would help get students out to vote and focus GLA and Mayoral candidates on students’ issues. 19.1
Amendment Noted Ozzy Amir’s amendment to delete all and insert a re-worded motion.
Ozzy Amir waved the summation. Student Council voted for the motion. - 25 members voted for - 0 members voted against - 1 member abstained 20.0
Time, date and place of next meeting 6.30pm on Tuesday 28 February in the Milton Lecture Theatre, Garrod Building.
2.1.1
2.1.2
6.0
7.0
8.0
officer:
position:
Ben Richardson
Student Representative
X
Caz Parra
Secretary
X
Chris Smith
Student Representative
X
Ciara Squires
Student Representative
X
Darcie Tyler-Henley
Volunteering Officer
X
Donald Mackinnon
LGBT Officer
X
X
X
Edoardo Palombo
Welfare Officer
X
X
X
X
Ellen Kiely
RAG Officer
X
X
X
X
Michael Gilbert
Postgraduate Officer
X
X
X
X
Ozzy Amir
Campaigns Officer
X
X
X
X
Shaun Ramanah
Students with Disabilities Officer
X
X
X
X
Tom Voice
Ethical and Environmental Officer
X
X
X
X
X
Wanda Canton
Womens Officer
X
X
X
X
X
Wilson Wong
Societies Officer
X
X
X
X
for
against abstain
for
against abstain
X
against abstain
for
against abstain
for
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X
for
X
No record
against abstain
X X
X X
X
X
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
officer:
position:
Ben Richardson
Student Representative
X
X
X
X
X
Caz Parra
Secretary
X
X
X
X
X
Chris Smith
Student Representative
X
X
Ciara Squires
Student Representative
X
Darcie Tyler-Henley
Volunteering Officer
Donald Mackinnon
LGBT Officer
Edoardo Palombo
Welfare Officer
Ellen Kiely
RAG Officer
X
X
Michael Gilbert
Postgraduate Officer
X
X
Ozzy Amir
Campaigns Officer
X
X
Shaun Ramanah
Students with Disabilities Officer
X
X
Tom Voice
Ethical and Environmental Officer
X
Wanda Canton
Womens Officer
Wilson Wong
Societies Officer
for
against abstain
for
against abstain
for
X
X X
against abstain
for
against abstain
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X X X
X X
against abstain
X
X X
for
X X
15.0
officer:
position:
Ben Richardson
Student Representative
X
Caz Parra
Secretary
X
Chris Smith
Student Representative
Ciara Squires
Student Representative
Darcie Tyler-Henley
for
16.0 against abstain
for
17.0 against abstain
X
for
19.0 against abstain
for
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Volunteering Officer
X
X
X
X
Donald Mackinnon
LGBT Officer
X
X
X
X
Edoardo Palombo
Welfare Officer
X
X
X
X
Ellen Kiely
RAG Officer
X
X
X
X
Michael Gilbert
Postgraduate Officer
X
X
X
X
Ozzy Amir
Campaigns Officer
X
X
X
X
Shaun Ramanah
Students with Disabilities Officer
X
X
X
X
Tom Voice
Ethical and Environmental Officer
X
X
X
X
Wanda Canton
Womens Officer
X
X
Wilson Wong
Societies Officer
X
X
X
X X
X X
19.0 against abstain
for
against abstain
2.1.1
2.1.2
6.0
7.0
8.0
officer:
position:
Amy Coulden
Entertainments Officer
X
X
X
X
X
Andrew Smith
Student Representative
X
X
X
X
X
Jeeves Wijesuriya
Vice-President London
X
X
X
X
X
Jon Cramphorn
Vice-President Barts
X
X
X
X
X
Mandi Pal
Secretary
X
X
Richard Donovan
SSLC Representative
Salem Al-Sawaf
Entertainments Officer
Sam Chequer
Welfare Officer
Tim Foster
Clubs and Societies Officer
for
against abstain
for
against abstain
for
No record
against abstain
X X X
against abstain
for
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
for
X
X X
against abstain
10.0
11.0
officer:
position:
Amy Coulden
Entertainments Officer
Andrew Smith
Student Representative
X
Jeeves Wijesuriya
Vice-President London
X
X
Jon Cramphorn
Vice-President Barts
X
X
Mandi Pal
Secretary
X
Richard Donovan
SSLC Representative
X
Salem Al-Sawaf
Entertainments Officer
X
Sam Chequer
Welfare Officer
X
Tim Foster
Clubs and Societies Officer
X
for
against abstain
for
12.0 against abstain
for
13.0 against abstain
for
14.0 against abstain
for
against abstain
No record X
X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X X
X X
15.0
16.0
17.0
19.0
officer:
position:
Amy Coulden
Entertainments Officer
Andrew Smith
Student Representative
X
X
X
X
Jeeves Wijesuriya
Vice-President London
X
X
X
X
Jon Cramphorn
Vice-President Barts
X
X
X
X
Mandi Pal
Secretary
X
X
X
Richard Donovan
SSLC Representative
X
X
X
X
Salem Al-Sawaf
Entertainments Officer
X
X
X
X
Sam Chequer
Welfare Officer
X
X
X
X
Tim Foster
Clubs and Societies Officer
X
X
X
X
for
against abstain
for
against abstain
for
against abstain
for
19.0 against abstain
No record
X
for
against abstain
officer:
position:
Alex Schpektor
Humanities and Social Sciences Representative
Andrew Williams
Medicine and Dental Representative
Karishma Chouglay
Science and Engineering Representative
Nick Meier
Year One and Foundation Representative
2.1.1 for
2.1.2 against abstain
X
for
6.0 against abstain
X
No record X X
X X
for
7.0 against abstain
for
8.0 against abstain
for
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
against abstain
X
10.0
11.0
officer:
position:
Alex Schpektor
Humanities and Social Sciences Representative
X
X
Andrew Williams
Medicine and Dental Representative
X
X
Karishma Chouglay
Science and Engineering Representative
X
X
Nick Meier
Year One and Foundation Representative
X
X
for
against abstain
for
12.0 against abstain
for
13.0 against abstain
X
for
X
X
14.0 against abstain
for
X
X X X
against abstain
X
X
X
X
X
15.0
16.0
17.0
19.0
officer:
position:
Alex Schpektor
Humanities and Social Sciences Representative
X
Andrew McWilliams
Medicine and Dental Representative
X
X
X
X
Karishma Chouglay
Science and Engineering Representative
X
X
X
X
Nick Meier
Year One and Foundation Representative
X
X
X
X
for
against abstain
for
against abstain
X
for
against abstain
No record
for
X
against abstain