• SGM 12 11 09 - 1

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► SGM 12 11 09 - 1

Faraday A Lecture Theatre – 6pm

Chair: Luke Young - SUSU President

Minutes from the last Student General Meeting ( SGM ) 06 10 09 were distributed along with Luke Young’s Report (attached) and blank sheets of paper for question submissions.
The meeting was invited to read a joint letter that had been published in the Guardian from several Student Union Presidents. This was displayed on the OHP.

Welcome, Minutes of last meeting and Declaration of Interests The Chair welcomes the meeting and invites questions to be submitted – there had been a complaint after the last meeting that it had been too easy to just raise hands and for Sabbaticals to avoid giving full answers. The Chair also explained the OHP being shown regarding the protection of personal information – “be careful what you do on Facebook – you don’t want to end up in the Daily Mail” – a free booklet entitled “Your personal little book about protecting your personal information” was available from the front of the meeting.

Luke introduced himself and the minutes of the last SGM were examined in sections. They were accepted as a true record. Declarations of Interest were invited from the attendees. None were declared.

Sabbatical Reports
Luke Young – SUSU President
Luke Young – SUSU President – prepared his report in advance in advance and invited the meeting to read it and ask any questions they wish to hold him to account.

Raechel Mattey – Societies and Services Officer
The last couple of weeks has been a period of transition – a new Ents assistant had started and there would now be a greater level of support available for student societies. A Society Questionnaire was being past round to each society representative – honest responses were invited – changes are in the process of being implemented. Raechel Mattey explained that she wanted to know what societies wanted her to do in order to assist them. Fresh ideas were also invited to encourage involvement in societies and the Students’ Union.

Andy Patton - International Officer
The International Officer informed the meeting that he was continuing to work on the Leonardo motion passed at an SGM last year. Andy also explained that he was working not just for overseas student but also for those students from the UK – encouraging overseas placements and promoting the learning of new languages. He declared his belief that all these opportunities promoted a greater understanding of, and tolerance for different cultures. Andy continued to work with the English Language Training Service (ELTS). There will also be a focus on Alcohol Awareness over the coming months with the aim of promoting responsible drinking. Andy also announced that there was now extra staff at the Student Advisory Service, that he had attended meetings in Birmingham that concerned student mobility and that he had also gone on a trip to Amsterdam with Ross Gillman.

Lance Horsey – Welfare Officer
Lance informed the meeting that he had attended several training courses one of which was on Mental Health issues. The Welfare Officer reminded the attendees that it was getting darker much earlier and that great care should be taken when walking through the park. He had also attended a Welfare conference in Manchester that had covered responsible drinking and multifaith issues.
SHAG week will be beginning on November 30th and that there would be “something for everyone”. Lance invited questions on any aspect of his work.

Ross Gillman – Education Officer
The Education Officer informed the meeting that the Education Committee had it’s first meet last week and it had been a great success. Ross emphasised his wish that a conversation take place and also that minutes were available for inspection. The Education Officer had also attended a Mental Health training course that had been “interesting but daunting”. An email address had been established for Part Time and Post Graduate students in the same way as has been done for Student Parents. Questions were invited via email. Ross had also attended a Higher Education conference in Manchester that had dealt with, among other things, the National Student Survey. There had been a Course Representatives meeting and training and that it had been a great success. Ross Gillman and John Follett SUSU’s Research and Representation Advisor attended a NUS Training day for training course reps and got new ideas on representation. As NUS NSS Ambassador Ross had attended many meetings across Wales.

Raegan Healy – Womens Officer
The Womens Officer informed the meeting that Self Defence classes have been arranged and held, hosted by a top class kick boxer – held every Monday between 12pm – 1pm. A range of surveys are also being undertaken – please fill them in – Safety perception survey, Women in Sport survey and JC’s / Divas toilets. Fitness and keep fit classes have been established and work has been carried out with the Welfare Advisors on eating disorders. The Womens Officer had attended a national conference on global women’s issues. A forum is also in the process of being established to examine student parent issues.

Executive Reports
‘Ginger’ Steve
Steve invited students to hold him to account via Facebook and other media. The use of Facebook in the library has recently become an issue and Steve invited views on whether access to Facebook should be limited or blocked entirely. It was announced that there had a spate of burglaries in Uplands recently and that students should take care to lock doors, close windows and keep valuables out of sight. Steve also stated his intention to create a leaflet in the near future to advise students on financial matters – budgeting etc.

Motions
The Chair was passed to Raechel (Societies and Services Officer) to allow the President to propose a motion. The nature of emergency motions was explained and the manner and circumstances in which they can be submitted.

EMERGENCY MOTION TO SGM – 12.11.09
Higher Education Funding Review 2009
This Union believes
1. That the Government’s long awaited review into the funding of Higher Education and Tuition Fees has been announced.
2. There is only one student representative on the fees review panel.
3. Several Vice Chancellors in the United Kingdom have already stated they would like the outcome of the review to be a rise in fees.
4. The review is committed to looking at alternative funding models for Higher Education.

This Union further believes
1. The Welsh Assembly Government has taken a distinctly different approach Government in England with regards to HE funding and the principles that underpin its decisions.
2. That a rise in Tuition Fees in England will have wider repercussions on Higher Education Institutions in Wales and will shape the decisions made at a welsh government level.
3. The quiet consensus between the main political parties on HE funding is to the detriment of students and Higher Education as a whole.

This Union Resolves
1. To reject the continued attempts of some in the sector to further push the marketisation agenda in Higher Education.
2. Lobby Assembly Members, Parliamentary Candidates and Members of Parliament to pressure their parties into having a commitment in their manifestos to not increase fees in the term of the next Parliament.
3. To challenge all Parliamentary Candidates to commit to voting against further rises in Fees in the next Parliamentary term.
4. Link in with National Union of Students (NUS UK) on their work on the fees review.
5. To send this text as an emergency motion to NUS Wales Winter Council and replace the heading words “This Union” with “NUS WALES” and delete Union Resolves point four as appropriate.

Proposer
Luke Young
Student President

Seconded by
Simon Darvill

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