Key Actions of Council s Meeting 12 February

Transcription

1 Union of UEA Students Purpose: To enrich the life of every UEA student Key Actions of Council s Meeting 12 February Approved Darts changing from a Club to a Society Adopted resolutions to send to NUS National Conference on: working with the Competition and Marketing Authority to strengthen students rights, campaigning against the marketisation of higher education and against austerity, on providing better advice for student reps on how to tackle bad organisation and management in universities and to lobby for more funding and resources for universities student support services, Approved a boycott of Starbucks and of Tate and Lyle products Agreed policy against reduction of Taught Programme Modules Approved a new set of Election Regulations Extended the boycott on the Sun to the Daily Star Agreed policy to oppose nuclear armaments Agreed policy on the SU s written submission to the Quality Assurance Agency s review of UEA Agreed policy to protect the student experience in merged Schools Agreed a new Fair Trade policy for the SU and to lobby the University to adopt Fair Trade A proposal to change the title of the Ethnic Minorities Officer to Black Students Officer was withdrawn to allow wider consultation

2 Minutes of the SU Council Minutes Subject: 12 February 2015 Produced by: Claire McCoy To: Council Date: 23 February 15 Action: To approve Paper: UC1537 Purpose: Record of Decision Making Voting members present or online: O Alfridijionta (Games); T Antoniou-Phillips (Non Portfolio Officer); M Arnold (Darts); E R Athey (Ice Skating and Hockey); R Attfield (LAW); H Baker (Circus); E Barker (MTH YR2 UG); T Barker (HIS School); L Barnes (Dr Who); R Benjamin (Trampolining); B Bishop (Feminist); J Brinded (AMA PGR); G Cerboncini (DEV SSLC); C Chappelle (Labour); S Clarke (AMA YR1 UG); K Collis (Mainstream Media); R Drury (UEA:TV); R Edwards, (IFR PGR), T Etheridge (Non Portfolio Officer), M Feng (Chinese Students and School); E Folan (HIS Other year UG); J Geller (Deviant); J Gillespie (Conservative); S Glakousaki, (International Officer); I Goddard (Environment Officer); M Gray (Pharmacy 3rd); S Gunn (NBS PG); C Gyesi (BIO YR3); R Harding (Illustration); A Hood (Judo); E Horton (Dharma); J Hunt (Kayak); S Jackson (LDC School); J Jameson (Concrete); C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer); S Jones (PSI YR2 UG); D Julian (ECO Other Year UG); R Kaloyerou (Knitting); E Kitching (ENV School); C Lancaster (Korfball); M Levene (Students with Disabilities Officer); G Macnaughton (Debating); Y Malinowski, (Lib Dems); H Mallett (Food Co-op); L McCafferty (PG Education Officer); D McGhee (Coscraft); C Mellowes (PPL YR1 UG); E Morris (MS); T Mpedzisi (Actuarial); I Nenkov (Bulgarian); J Norrington (Anime); D Nyimanu (BIO SSLC); C Odey (Tennis); D Ogunrinde(Women s Officer); S Panthaky (Taekwondo); A Patel (Nightline); R Purtill (HUM Foundation); C Rand (UG Education Officer); F Redfern (Ethnic Minorities Officer); A Rust (PSI); E Sciville (Cheerleading Stunt); E Silk (Green Growers); T Southerden (Non Portfolio Officer); B Sparks(LDC PG); R Staniforth (Computer Science); H Staynor (Welfare, Community & Diversity Officer); D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG); L Thacker (Stop The Traffik); V Vazquez(Maths); K Walker (Cheerleading Dance); T Walker (Fetish), H Wareham (Ballet), E West (UEA Pride); J Wilson (Ethical Issues Officer); R Wishart (ECO SSLC); D Wrigglesworth (LGBT+ Officer), Y Yu (Activities and Opportunities Officer); E Cooper (Waterski and Wakeboard); A Edwards (People and Planet UEA); M Lach (Model UN); S Leaver (Shotokan Karate); K Murray (PHA YR2 UG); B Ransome (RAG & Ultimate Frisbee), V Patel (PHA Other Year UG) In attendance: J Dickinson (Chief Executive), J Clare (Head of Student Engagement), T Moore (Democracy and Governance Coordinator) Chair: S Lane Apologies for absence:

3 W Temple (Cricket); M Steele (Quiz); R McKenzie (Co-opted); L Cody (Non- Portfolio Officer) Council heard a presentation by the Vice-Chancellor on the University s new Corporate Plan MEMBERSHIP Council informed that new names have been entered in to the register and if there are any spelling issues to contact Anthony Moore: anthony.moore@uea.ac.uk 1660 MINUTES OF THE MEETING 22nd January 2015: To be acknowledged in the minutes that the following councillors where present in the meeting on 22 nd January 2015: Present online: T Southerden (Non Portfolio Officer) Present: T Walker (Fetish), K Collis (Mainstream Media), E West (Pride), Y Malinowski (Lib Dems) Voting takes place and minutes are approved MATTERS ARISING None CLUB AND SOCIETY CONSTITUTIONS UEA Darts to proposal to convert from a club to a society. T Walker (Fetish) asks to confirm the difference between a club and society, to which Y Yu (Activities and Opportunities Officer) responds that the primary difference lies in the need of a SAM (Sports Association Membership) card which covers students under the SU's insurance for undertaking activities such as training and competitions. Voting to approve proposal takes place and proposal is approved NUS NATIONAL CONFERENCE PRIORITY BALLOT Council heard from NUS National Officer M Dunn (Higher Education) on the work of NUS and of National Conference. - A Motion to HE Zone: Students aren t consumers but they do have rights. C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) explains that following the Competition and Markets Authority consultation on students contractual and obligatory rights, there have been shocking statistics, 58% of students had experienced a change of some kind on their course and of these 26% felt that at least one of the changes had a significant impact on them. Which, a consumers pressure group, found that 1 in 5 higher education providers use terms that they consider unlawful and 3 in 10 use terms that they consider bad practice.

4 Students get walked all over in terms of contractual obligations and rights, by saying no to students as consumers but yes to student rights, students would be empowered to stand up for bad practice. Voting to include motion. Motion included. - A Motion to Conference: Looking Past May Fighting Fees and Cuts After the General Election. C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) explains that every major political party in the upcoming general election is promising policies based on some form of fees or cuts. Every political party with a reasonable chance of holding power has a poor track record on fees and cuts. The SU has consistently voted against tuition fees and cuts so after the election we have to work tirelessly to end austerity and the experiment with tuition fees with the help of NUS. Voting to include motion. Motion included. - A Motion to HE Zone: Bad organisation and management makes for a bad student experience. C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) notes that conversations with SSLCs, students and reps over the course of the year has shown that organisation and management are integral parts of the student experience. Students who find vital parts of their degree ruined because of poor organisation and poor management have made their views known in the National Students Survey. A short term focus on delivering good quality organisation and management of courses is what institution staff should be focusing on. Voting to include motion. Motion included. - Amendment to 301 Supporting for Success Welfare Zone Motion. H Staynor (Welfare, Community & Diversity Officer) explains that the amendment is an addition to a policy that Welfare Committee will be submitting to National Conference, the amendment makes it more robust. Original policy is about Student Services and making sure that they are doing the things that they say that they will do. Amendment looks to review resourcing annually to deal with those waiting six months for counselling, begging for grants and other issues. Looking to make the resolves more student focused, looking at efficacy and retention. Voting to include motion. Motion included UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORTS None SOC REPORT H Staynor (Welfare, Community & Diversity Officer) gives the SOC report: C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) led the way in Goats for Votes, getting 1000 students registered to vote. The launch of the Nap Nook has gathered a lot of media attention and was fun for students. C Rand

5 (Undergraduate Education Officer) launched the petition for the library printing allowance and has been supporting Defend Education with the petition online about accommodation fee rises. H Staynor (Welfare, Community & Diversity Officer talks about the Never Okay campaign which was launched earlier in the semester with a presentation shown to council. The campaign is trying to shift the culture around sexual harassment and what constitutes sexual harassment. Looking to establish an equality strategy following shocking statistics from the NUS. There is the aim to help people feel more confident about reporting sexual harassment with a culture shift. The Good Night Out campaign includes giving training on how to deal with sexual harassment to all staff, students have been able to engage with the campaign too. Posters around campus, video made by UEA TV and a website has also been launched. Consent workshops to come and students are encouraged to speak about the campaign. Councillors are reminded to keep talking during Council to a minimum. Voting to approve SOC Report. SOC Report approved REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES D Wrigglesworth (LGBT+ Officer) updates Council on the list of gender neutral toilets which is now online and also informs Council of their attendance at an NUS training event. Caucus met and talked about looking into getting some more media for LGBT+ students in the shop. Discussed the issues at the Sportspark, a student had a bad experience so the caucus discussed what could be done in regard to this. Positive responses to Pride with increase in socials, and also for the changing views towards welfare and the LGBT+ community. Looking into new ways to be inclusive too. R Attfield (Law) explains that there are four gender neutral toilets in the Law School. D Wrigglesworth (LGBT+ Officer) responds that the list published the toilets that are not as well known. F Redfern (Ethnic Minorities Officer) has been looking at new ways to engage with ethnic minorities on campus as turn out to caucus was not great. Recently has been looking in to why members did not attend and aiming to improve relationship with ethnic minorities on campus. D Ogunrinde (Women s Officer) shares that the caucus was really productive and they discussed improving the accessibility of the SU elections. Women and Leadership was included in discussions and looked at running events to encourage more women to stand in the SU elections and the committee elections for the clubs and societies that they are in. Also talked about projects that are happening across UEA regarding women s issues such as the Women's health: A Worldwide Perspective Conference that is coming up. D Ogunrinde met up with other women s students that are going to the NUS National Women s Conference and are taking a nationwide proposal of the sanitary products motion and also a motion for Time to Talk about Women which looks at the provision for mental health services for women on campuses and mandating them to look at

6 this issue. Sarah Priestley ran a women in power workshop and there is to be a free self-defence taster session. M Levene (Students with Disabilities Officer) notes turnout was not great for the caucus but there were some good ideas including looking at improving access to new buildings. Looking to get a guest speaker for a talk and also discussed how to get more people involved. S Glakousaki (International Officer) informs council that Go Global is in week 7 which is the International Students party and encourages councillors to attend. R Drury (UEA TV) explains that UEA TV have been working on an It s Gets Better video which will be released the following day. Voting to approve Reports from Representatives. Reports from Representatives approved. Council notes receipt of a statement from the GSA Committee and Referendum Working Group Representatives. H Staynor (Welfare, Community & Diversity Officer) explains to Council that the referendum on the Improving the PG Experience did not go ahead because they the General Meeting called as part of the referendum process was not quorate AMENDMENT TO THE BYE-LAWS: CHANGE OF TITLE FROM ETHNIC MINORITIES TO BLACK STUDENTS OFFICER Motion withdrawn. F Redfern (Ethnic Minorities Officer) explains that this motion has been withdrawn and deferred to the next council so that there is more time to for councillors to conduct research and to also consider what students would want DODGY SUGAR IN MY DODGY COFFEE (STARBUCKS AND TATE & LYLE BOYCOTT) S Jones (PSI YR2 UG) explains that in a list of the top ten tax avoiding companies in the UK, Starbucks is number 1 and Tate and Lyle is number 5 and last year did not pay any tax at all. The Shop stocks both Starbucks and Tate and Lyle. Starbucks paid 8.6m in corporation tax in the UK over 14 years and nothing for the last 4 years despite sales of 400m last year. Tate and Lyle declared 379m profit from their UK sales figures in 2013, but 0 in profits from their UK arm, giving and effective 0% corporation tax rate. The standard UK corporation tax rate on profits of 300,000 is 21%. Jones explains that tax avoidance is immoral and deprives the state of democratically set revenue that could be used to fund higher education, the National Health Service, emergency services and other public services. Policy 1436 resolves to avoid those who engage in tax avoidance or evasion. Starbucks and Tate & Lyle fall under these remits and should be replaced with alternative products. There have been some queries regarding price rises but if these products are replaced with own brand products then the prices should be cheaper than current prices.

7 SPEECH AGAINST: D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) states that the Union has a policy of promoting Fairtrade and the coffee is Fairtrade- and a policy against tax avoidance and these two seem contradictory. To stop selling Starbucks would be to take money away from those who grow it. In addition to this, Stephens questions if it necessary to ban everything that people disagree with or find morally disagreeable and since the Shop is losing money so would it necessarily be a good idea to remove profitable products when it is already losing money. Stephens also comments that since tax avoidance is immoral, the SU as a charity must be immoral since it engages in tax avoidance. Not against the banning of Tate & Lyle but that of Starbucks so would like to reject this now to return with a different proposition. C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) as the Chair of the SU s finances clarifies that the Shop is not losing money. D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) continues to disagree with this stating that the records are unclear as to which part of the SU is losing money. S Glakousaki (International Students Officer) explains that the SU is a charity not only because of the access to clubs and societies offered but many other facilities offered in Union House. D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) replies that they are not doubting the charitable status of the SU but tax avoidance includes the legal means of avoiding taxes which is what the SU is doing. There are different types of tax avoidance and there needs to be more care when using wording. E Folan (HIS Other YR UG) questions the process taking place to which S Lane (Chair) clarifies that council are asking questions of the person who has made the speech against the motion. J Wilson (Ethical Issues Officer) comments that the SU does not boycott McCoy s and questions where this came from, as well as explaining that we do not have a policy on Fairtrade at the moment as it is due to be brought to a council soon. D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) responds that although not currently the SU did attempt to boycott McCoy s and that evidence of this can be found. T Etheridge (Non Portfolio Officer) clarifies that Tate & Lyle are also Fairtrade which D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) acknowledges. C Lancaster (Korfball) asks if there is a need to debate this issue if there already is an old policy. S Jones (PSI YR2 UG) comments that this policy has not been implemented so thought that there should be a policy that explicitly states this. C Jarvis (Campaign and Democracy Officer) explains that the original policy was regarding events in Union House, there was not a blanket ban on tax avoidance companies in Union House. E West (UEA Pride) asks when the policy was originally put in place as Starbucks where in Union House last year and S Jones (PSI YR2 UG) replies stating that it was November 2013 and that the policy was a response to that event.

8 T Barker (HIS) comments that you can be Fairtrade and not avoid tax, so another product can be chosen. SPEECH FOR: Y Malinowski (Lib Dems) comments that corporate level tax avoidance is costing the UK economy 69.9bn a year, which can be equated to 70% of the NHS budget or 65% of the budget deficit. The major political parties, except UKIP, have committed to shutting down these loop holes that are exploited by Tate & Lyle and Starbucks, demonstrating a commitment to fix the problem, and we should do the same. Tate & Lyle pay nothing in tax but they are a UK company, 100% of their sales are carried out in the UK. Could sound like an idealistic motion but this is wrong and it is in students best interest to wipe out these practices that are wrong. We could take a stand and join the fight on dodgy financial practices, dodgy coffee and dodgy sugar. K Collis (Mainstream Media) proposes a procedural motion to move this to a referendum. There are options on campus so companies that individuals wish to avoid can be avoided but for those that would like they can have them. This is an issue that affects the greater student body so it should not be taken lightly. C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) comments that there has just been an attempt to have a postgraduate referendum and they failed to meet quorum and would not want a serious issue like this to not being discussed because of a failure to meet quorum again and councillors have had time to consult their constituents about it. Voting on proposition to move to a referendum. Proposition to move to referendum fell. SPEECH AGAINST: D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) argues that students should be able to buy what they want from the Shop as it is their choice. They are not the same products and it would be difficult to find another company that sells a similar product that are Fairtrade and not avoiding taxes. Stephens questions if we should ban Amazon from delivering packages to campus as they avoid almost all taxes, and where the line should be drawn for on banning things that are disliked. The motion needs some amendments. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) clarifies that this is a boycott, not a ban, and therefore makes the Amazon comment redundant. D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) says that they could choose not to accept their parcels. S Jones (PSI YR2 UG) comments that the SU does not have the power to ban students from using Amazon. D Stephens (CMP Other YR UG) acknowledges this but was using Amazon as an example of additional large companies that avoid tax, Stephens believes that it would be difficult to find stock that students would like to buy from companies that do not avoid tax. C Lancaster (Korfball) asks of the criteria for companies who have to pay corporation tax and whether they have to be in the UK only as Starbucks is an American company.

9 S Jones (PSI YR2 UG) answers that global or UK based companies have to pay corporation tax. Waives summation to C Jarvis. C Jarvis (Campaign and Democracy Officer) explains that the SU runs their commercial services themselves which is a great thing because of the profit received which can be spent on students but also because the students and the SU get to help pick what is sold. This means the products that make the most money can be sold and also those deemed suitable to be endorsing. Stocking things like this would be tacitly endorsing the practices in which these companies engage. The SU as a charity does technically tax avoid but it does so for charitable purposes, to enrich the life of students whereas Starbucks does not. Voting on motion. Motion passed REDUCTION OF TAUGHT PROGRAMME MODULES L McCafferty (Postgraduate Education Officer) explains that new regulations about the number of students on taught programme modules. If any module has less than 10 students then it is no longer financially viable. Questioning the rationale behind this because the number 10 is applicable regardless of the size of the school or the cost of the running of the course. Traditionally, a diverse range of modules would be preferable but institutions now increasingly believe that unless a course is financially viable then modules or courses are not running. This approach means that students will study modules that they may not enjoy but that will assure them a job. This will lead to institutions that specialise in practical career based subjects and the only people would be able to afford to study the arts would be those who are rich enough to do so. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks about the number of students on threatened modules. L McCafferty (Postgraduate Education Officer) responds that at postgraduate taught level many of the subjects in humanities are currently under 10. C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) explains that it is hard to know the answer to this as module organisers are trying to crowbar their modules under exceptions. S Gunn (NBS PG) comments that the MA Creative Writing Poetry course has 8 students on it and L McCafferty (Postgraduate Education Officer) comments that this is one of the University s flashier courses which in turn shows that they have not thought this through. C Lancaster (Korfball) asks if this is applicable to individual modules or the entire course, and L McCafferty (Postgraduate Education Officer) confirms that the regulations are set for modules but in some courses where all the modules reach less than 10 students the course would be at risk. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) explains that C Rand mentioned the exemptions to the rules and asks what these were to which C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) replies explaining that one of them involves the timescale of getting students on to the modules which is a year.

10 Voting on motion. Motion passed AMENDMENT TO THE BYELAWS-ELECTION REGULATIONS C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) explains that the amendment tidies up the current existing election regulations. The current regulations includes parts about ballot papers which are not used anymore so the byelaws are outdated. In addition to this, it removes rigidity to give more flexibility to the DRO and makes them more accessible to read. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks: In regard to 4.1 what a suitable qualified person would be defined as, to which C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) responds that it would be based on their experience of the SU and of election proceedings. In regard to 4.14, V Patel asks what would be classed publicly discussing the reason for their suspension to which C Jarvis responds would be for the DRO to decide but the more public it is, the more policed it would be also. In regard to 4.27 how individuals are meant to know who is casting their vote at any given time due to the way in which votes are cast. C Jarvis responds that this is a rewrite to the rule about ballot stations, and would be difficult to police but it would be up to the DRO to interpret. R Attfield (Law) asks for confirmation about these rules and when they would be used, to which C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) explains that these are just for the main SU elections and not for clubs and societies. E Folan (HIS Other YR UG) looks to clarify the rule that no candidate can use publicity to promote another candidate, C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) comments that this would be a DRO clarification and notes rulings in the past this has not been allowed. T Walker (Fetish) comments that RON has a budget and questions whether these means that RON can have multiple campaign managers and C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) explains that people have historically been able to run a campaign for RON and have always had a budget. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks for clarification on students using student run media to which C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) responds that a general feature on student media for all candidates would be fine but individual features would not. T Walker (Fetish) asks if the SU media teams would get sanctioned for doing this, and C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) assumes that the fault would lie with the candidate. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks about defamation of another candidate and what the policy was on this, C Jarvis (Campaigns and Democracy Officer) clarifies that this is covered in the Code of Conduct. Voting on Amendment to the Bye-Laws. Amendment to the Bye-Laws passed.

11 1671 MOTION TO AMEND POLICY 1398 (MOTION TO BOYCOTT THE SALE OF THE SUN AND THE DAILY STAR FROM UNION OUTLETS, PASSED 24 TH OCTOBER 2013) A Patel (Norwich Nightline) this is a motion to boycott and not ban these papers. In October 2013 the motion was passed regarding issues around the portrayal of women in The Sun and although this deplored the objectification and sexualisation of women, it was focused on The Sun. The Daily Star poses the same problems of the content of their page 3 and their newspaper content is similar to that of The Sun. Both have had controversial headlines and post sexualised images on inappropriate media. The policy should be applied to everything it relates to. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks if this motion is to boycott both of these newspapers or any newspaper that does the same. V Patel (Norwich Nightline) clarifies that it is to amend the original policy to include The Daily Star but if another decides to do the same as these then it can be amended to include that paper. SPEECH AGAINST: J Jameson (Concrete) explains that they fully agree with the motion that the new stories published by The Sun and The Daily Star are misrepresentative of women and ethnic minorities and groups within society. However, Concrete- as a paper- cannot support the boycott of another paper and believes in a pluralism of expression and implores Council to also support this. This motion will not prevent students or other people from bringing copies of The Daily Star on to campus and discussing the issues and opinions raised in this paper. An attack on this paper is to attack a manifestation of the issue and not the issue itself. The Never Okay campaign and the campaign against sexual harassment are two really important campaign that the SU is doing and the work to solve these issues would be better than boycotting the newspaper. T Barker (HIS) asks for clarification on The Sun having discontinued page 3, A Patel (Norwich Nightline) responds that the discontinuation lasted for about 2 days and then it came back. SPEECH FOR: E Folan (HIS Other YR UG) explains that not every journalist feels the same as the Concrete representative. Folan believes that every paper is responsible for the content they publish and the impact that they have, as well as dealing with the judgements for being misogynistic, sexist, racist and transphobic. Being criticised for it is not a breach of free speech. They affect the world with their speech and while they have the right to do so they are not immune from the consequences of that free speech and it is within the right of any democratic organisation to state that they do not agree with this.

12 SPEECH AGAINST: R Harding (Illustration and Creative Writing Society) agrees with the boycotting of The Daily Star for the reasons mentioned but as a Council there is a need to pick battles. It polarises public opinion and generates objections to the SU. Need to find things that will affect debate as this is wasting the Council s time and creating antipathy where there need not be any. A Patel (Norwich Nightline) explains that this is a motion to apply a policy fairly to everything that it needs to be applied to without coming down on freedom of speech. Voting on motion. Motion passed NO MORE NUKES SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT J Wilson (Ethical Issues Officer) explains that 100bn over 30 years equates to 400,000 undergraduate degrees or paying for 150,000 nurses for the 30 years; instead of spending the money on a set of bombs 5x more powerful than those that killed 100,000 people in Hiroshima. 184 countries in the world do not have nuclear weapons, which is 95% of countries. To disarm now would give the UK the opportunity to encourage others to follow suit, to question countries that want to develop them and make the world a safer place. Student Unions will have to stand together with campaign groups to urge that this money be better spent. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks what replacing these would mean to which J Wilson (Ethical Issues) explains that these nukes have a lifespan and the UK can decide to make a new set of nuclear weapons. Voting on motion. Motion passed QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY STUDENT SUBMISSION C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) explains that the higher education version of Ofsted is the QAA and it is coming to conduct is audit of UEA in the autumn and they have a Code of Practice. There is a student submission process and this motion moves to mandate C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) and L McCafferty (Postgraduate Education Officer) to carry out consultations with students as well as looking as submissions that have already been taken and the NSS results. The submission that will be produced for the QAA will be submitted to council before its final submission. R Staniforth (Computer Science) asks when this would be expected and C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) explains that it would be the last council of this year or the beginning of the next.

13 Voting on motion. Motion passed MERGED SCHOOLS C Rand (Undergraduate Education Officer) explains that the merging of the Schools that took place on 1 st August has been problematic. This motion seeks to address this as many of the students have had their experiences disrupted by these changes and this is to ensure that the impact is limited going forward. To ensure the University consults the SU fully in any future major administrative changes and to review the merged Schools in the light of the Merged Schools report. Voting on motion. Motion passed FAIR TRADE UNIVERSITY J Wilson (Ethical Issues Officer) explains that fair trade certification although not perfect allows consumers to make a more informed choice about what they buy. As an SU we should encourage the university to become a fair trade accredited university, to stoke fair trade alternatives where possible. The policy lapsed a year ago. V Patel (PHA Other YR UG) asks if it is the SU of the university who supports fair trade policy. J Wilson (Ethical Issues Officer) responds that if both the SU and the university had a fair trade policy it would be a move to having more things that are fair trade. C Lancaster (Korfball) asks if this is about including alternatives and J Wilson (Ethical Issues Officer) agrees this and explains that the only thing that would have to be fair trade would be the staff uniforms. Voting on motion. Motion passed TIME, DATE AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING 7pm, Thursday 5 th March in Lecture Theatre 2.