Student forum agenda: 9/4/2025
Introduction - Explanation about voting and indicative voting
Mini sab update - Covered below.
Network leader update - 2 minutes each
Ideas and petitions debate topics:
Idea / petition Information
Students in Demand of Transparency for University Severances, Society Fees and Accessibility- Rose, Mya and Hollie
As students at Bangor University, we expect to have a sufficient level of knowledge regarding how our finances influence the University's and Students Union's activities. Whilst the University claims to have been “transparent” with informing staff and students about their finances, there has been a deliberate omission of detail surrounding the following issues. The issues noted within this petition are the severance of staff, the difficulties in accessibility experienced by disabled students as well as the proposed fees placed upon previously free societies and clubs.
Firstly, we believe that the proposed alterations to the membership system will disproportionately disrupt smaller societies as well as sports and athletics clubs that typically have higher associated fees. Particular concern regards dwindling membership numbers as well as the financial impact these changes may have upon lowincome students. Ultimately, the lack of clarity from the SU in their announcement of society membership fees has caused confusion and distress among students and a transparent system formed by consulting
Actions /minutes
General update to be given by Rose followed by Clubs and socs related update by Mya and Hollie.
Ask if Student Forum want to vote on whether the Sabbs should work on this issues/ does Student Forum want sabbs want to work on it?
Voting to be done on three demands separately
students and societies is required.
Demand: Low (or no) fees for students and transparency on the expenditure of the Student's Union.
Likewise, we wish to voice our concerns regarding the voluntary and involuntary severances of two hundred staff members. It is without doubt that staff that maintain the university and provide our education are the cornerstone of this University. It is disturbing that there is a viable opportunity for the University to effectively uproot their livelihoods.
Demand: greater support for staff and the university execs to provide evidence of their own commitments to reach their £15million cut.
There have been a multitude of accessibility issues raised by students recently, particularly concerning the lack of health and safety training from the Halls staff and Corvus security team that have led to multitude students experiencing seizures within university grounds being neglected and “advised” to not return to University Halls of Residence. This is a serious safety issue for students and adequate health and safety training and facilities must be
Free rape Kits and drink covers- Rose
made to protect them.
Demand: appropriate health and safety training, better support on-site for students with accessibility and health issues.
The aim of this petition is to open a dialogue with the relevant sources within the University’s administration. We intend to host or attend an in person meeting in which we will parlay on behalf of the student and staff voices unheard.
Spiking is a major issue in the Bangor, to prevent it we ask that cup stickers be available if people want them to prevent spiking. We also ask that Rape kits be available for free to students. Rape is severely under-reported, and the process to report and have a rape kit done by the police is often invasive and can be uncomfortable as it's mostly males present for the whole process. Rape kits will give students a way to feel safer and for rape to be reported more frequently. These kits would also help LGBT+ members as study's have proven recently by Criminologist cases of rape for Gay men and Women who have been raped or assaulted is just as under reported if not reported less than rape on cis women and happens at a similar frequency as cis women.
More research needs to be done, but these kits would not just help women but LGBT+ people and would hold people accountable. Another issue people face if they
Rape kit-Cannot pass as is due to serval issues in it and ongoing conversations- vote
Drink covers- to be voted on
Develop a truly Sustainable Careers Policy to keep fossil fuel companies out of our careers fairsRose and Mya
feel safe enough to go to authority's is there is backlog on rape kits done through them. While more often than not when they do get tested the DNA is to old and or destroyed this would help solve the issue on backlogged kits as it gives some relief to they system. It also gives a chance for students to come to terms and report in a more comfortable and supportive environment by their own means at their own disposal and can easily be sent in for test without using the police who are also severely understaffed. please push this through.
“We are calling on Bangor University to develop a Sustainable Careers Policy which prohibits companies involved in the fossil fuel, mining, and arms industries from attending careers fairs, and advertising their jobs on CareerConnect.
To be voted on
Bangor University has made commitments to environmental, social, and economic sustainability1-3, and continually uses these for marketing purposes. However, the University’s Careers Service promotes and endorses companies which are involved in the fossil fuel, arms, and mining industries. We do not believe that this aligns with Bangor University's values or commitments and that it adds legitimacy to the idea that these companies are an acceptable part of our society and our future.
Bangor University’s Executive Committee recently agreed to the creation of a Sustainable Careers Policy but have refused to stop inviting companies involved in the fossil fuels, arms and mining industries to careers fairs and promoting them on CareerConnect. It is unclear what this Sustainable Careers Policy will consist of, but without the removal of these companies it will be perceived as greenwashing, as it will lack the meaningful changes necessary to protect our planet and its people. As such, we call on the university to act in a way which aligns with their sustainability commitments by committing to cease promotion and endorsement of companies which engage in unsustainable activities.
The operations of fossil fuel, mining, and arms industries cause massive environmental harm, accelerating the climate crisis, destroying ecosystems, polluting land and sea destroying entire landscapes and increasing natural disasters. On top of this, these industries also cause social harm, displacing people from their homes and lands, destroying sacred indigenous sites and leaving workers and communities with health problems. We believe that promoting careers within these industries suggests a lack of commitment to sustainability and shows a lack of solidarity with the people who their operations harm.
As we gain a greater understanding of these industries and the harm they cause, more people are turning away from careers in these fields, including graduates. Many young people see the fossil fuel industry as the most unappealing sector to work in, and are even taking action to oppose fossil fuel recruitment. In response to this, these industries have turned to greenwashing, sweeping their harmful practices under the rug and marketing themselves with sustainable practices which in reality, make up a tiny proportion of their activities27.
As previously mentioned, the university has a commitment to sustainability and has a strategy to help it achieve this2. In addition to this, the university has signed People and Planet’s Fossil Free Declaration, which declares that they will not invest in fossil fuels. Nowhere in these strategies, however, does the university consider their role in promoting unsustainable industries to students, resulting in them not acting in line with their commitment to sustainability by inviting companies active in these industries to careers fairs, and advertising them on their CareerConnect platform, including RWE, Europe’s #1 polluter and one of the most egregious examples of greenwashing28.
Withholding the endorsement of these companies not only allows the university to comply with its commitment to sustainability but
also pressures these unsustainable organisations to become more sustainable. This message to unsustainable organisations becomes louder with every university that makes these commitments. So far, 10 universities have made similar commitments, including 3 in Wales with Aberystwyth being the latest and leaving us as the only university in North Wales without such a commitment. We are at risk of falling behind the other universities in Wales, and having Aberystwyth look better than us.
As such, we are asking the university to commit to stopping the endorsement and promotion of fossil fuel, mining, and arms companies as part of their Sustainable Careers Policy, due to their harmful social and environmental impacts. We are also including companies that contribute to these industries, such as banks which finance fossil fuel extraction and surveying companies which find fossil fuels and minerals for fossil fuel extraction and mining companies. These industries are deeply interconnected, and taking a comprehensive approach such as this is therefore necessary to ensure the university aligns with its commitment to sustainability. This would not prevent students from going into careers in these industries, and careers advisors would still be free to give guidance to students who wish to work in these sectors. These companies have vast resources to invest in independently promoting careers in their fields,
PAT test the lights in JP Hall- Mya
so students are likely to be aware of the job prospects in these industries without Bangor providing them a platform to recruit using greenwashed promotional material.
To conclude, Bangor’s commitment to sustainability is to be celebrated, but commitment without action is greenwashing. If Bangor University truly wishes to be sustainable, it must take measures to ensure that its activities align with its commitments. The University’s refusal to stop promoting companies involved in the fossil fuel, mining, and arms industries means that they have, and will continue to, endorse companies directly and indirectly responsible for the climate crisis, pollution, human rights abuses, and more. Withholding our endorsement of companies in these industries would have numerous benefits for the University, it is our request that Bangor University makes a commitment to do this through their Sustainable Careers Policy to prohibit fossil fuel, mining and arms companies from the careers fair and to stop promoting them on CareerConnect.”
“Using JP Theatre for our rehearsals and performances is a vital part of our student experience. Every evening of the week there is a student group rehearsing on the stage for their next performance which they work on for a whole semester
and the space is frequently used by film students for projects in their courses as well as film soc projects. Being part of a drama or dance group that use the space is so important for students to make friends and build community. Being part of these groups also boosts employability, with many students who have been part of theatre societies going on to be professionally involved in theatre outside of university.
The space needs to be looked after better with regular PAT testing being carried out and maintenance of the stage floor. This year 7 student led shows will be seriously affected as students are no longer allowed to use the stage lights for their shows as PAT testing was not carried out in time (which breaches the universities health and safety policies). Now these 7 shows have to be drastically changed with short notice, with the audience being lit and no blackouts for the show.
The theatre is such a valuable space, celebrated as a part of Bangor's history, and needs to be cared for so that the lack of care doesn't affect students who have worked so hard all semester to put on a show.”
SU Response: “The Students' Union has brought up this petition and comments made by students regarding the maintenance of JP theatre with the University Executive Board. We have had confirmation from the head of the university estates management that the lights will be PAT tested on Friday Morning. All comments have been taken
Volunteering among international students-Mya
Update on ‘Have radar keys available for disabled students to take so they can access all accessible toilets”Rose
Update on Making Bystander Intervention Training Mandatory - Rose
Monthly fee instalments for international students – Rose
note of, if you have any additional concerns about JP Theatre please email mya.tibbs@undebangor.ac.uk
We recognise that this has caused a lot of stress towards student groups and has affected upcoming shows. We will work with the University to ensure that this space is up to standard and is taken care of in the future.”
Update to be provided about recent progress and successes by Mya
Welsh Language Students’ InsightGwion
Action points from last Student Forum:
Nida to get radar keys for disabled toilets
Nida to ask where disabled students can get radar keys from
An indicative vote was carried out in the last SF on “Should Bystander intervention training be mandatory and centrally timetabled?”: Yes – 12, Abstain –0, No – 0.
There is a keen interest in lobbying the university for monthly fee instalments for international students to make it easier for international students to pay fees. Nida has been leading on this will be givng an update.
The results of the survey are almost ready, and an update will be given by Gwion
Culture and Sports update - Hollie
Hollie to update on the general culture surrounding Varsity and successes and any further updates.
Easter event update- Rose
Sabb Elections
Open slots for debating topics
Update and results to be provided
Are there any national issues that students wish to take to the National union of students or NUS Wales (Rose to speak after NUS Cymru)
Additional notes: