Union Executive Committee Report to the University of
Plymouth Students’ Union Annual General Meeting
December 2014
Overview of UEC – Tim Saiers – UEC Chair
The UEC has been productive so far this year, in two meetings the UEC has made many
adjustments and amendments to UPSU Bye-Laws in order for matters to run more smoothly and
productively at the student’s union. Equality between the liberation forums and the general forums
has been a priority from the outset. Matters have been decided on such as support for the free
education demo and early proposals from the forums that effect the student’s union and the
University on a larger scale are being discussed such as sexual harassment policy and campaign
proposals. Currently the UEC is looking to amend some election bye-laws to be more practical and
in line with the vision following the referendum. Discussions are in motion regarding a forum
awareness campaign and also the potential for the student’s union being eligible for the ‘good
night out’ accreditation that will confirm that the student’s union is a responsible venue that favours
equality and safety.
Sarah Bowman – UPSU President
My priority campaigns for 2014/15 are to encourage and lobby the University for greater
transparency and improved timetabling and space allocation. As well as this I aim to raise
awareness and engagement amongst students in preparation for the upcoming General Elections.
I’m also developing the campaign ‘Exec on Tour’ where it’s our priority to have a physical
presence in different locations around campus and in our Partner Institutions, so that we can talk
to you about your views and feedback which will influence our work and campaigns!
University transparency is something that’s on everyone’s minds lately! So I’m working closely
with our VP Education to develop ways for the University to communicate openly and honestly
about their finances. This will be progressed through online information and open Q&A sessions
where you can ask the Universities Chief Executive Group all the niggling questions that you might
have.
The General Elections are fast approaching and it’s so important that we utilise our right to vote!
My aim in the lead up to the elections is to ensure that registering is easy and accessible for
students and to encourage and empower you to use your vote! I am working with different
Societies to organise incentives, activities, debates and competitions; including registration days
on campus and Q&A opportunities with prospective parliamentary candidates and student panels.
Furthermore I’m working with students and the University to improve timetabling and space
allocation by facilitating different focus groups, so that your feedback shapes the work we’re doing!
Richard Skipper – VP Welfare
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
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Begin our vendetta against the landlords/agencies of Plymouth! (We don’t like them and
they will not like me).
Better provisions for sexual, mental, dental and general health! (Including those awkward
to get forms for free prescriptions/dentistry saving you £££).
To build a stronger, more integrated and fairer student community! (A bit like what you see
in the generic American uni films only without all the clichés).
Emily Hamilton-Peach – VP Sports and Societies
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
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Promote sponsors and partners – Why? More funding, experiences, facilities and
opportunities. How? Train committees, personally manage larger sponsors/partners.
Heighten awareness of all clubs (Sports & Societies) – Why? Raise participant numbers.
How? Organise student run taster sessions and advertise facts about individual clubs.
Help committees succeed – Why? Ensure correct equipment, training and facilities. How?
Better training, make facilities available, and invest in students.
Ruth Titmuss – VP Education
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Lobby the University for better and consistent feedback for both coursework and exams,
improving your confidence with exam performance.
Making University costs transparent and campaigning for support with your course costs
such as printing, core textbooks and field trips.
Helping you build academic societies, improving your University experience and enabling
you to share knowledge, support and advise each other.
Will Holmes – VP International and Outreach
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
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Generate more society involvement with Partner Colleges, encouraging local college sign
up and arrange performance tours and sports matches to more distant ones.
To create an international team of students to give extra support to international students.
To embrace more foreign cultures in the SU; creating a monthly international food market
and hosting festivals in the SU such as Oktoberfest and Holi.
Tim Saiers – Chair of Academic Forum
Transparency of University spending:
A primary concern with the University raised by students is a lack transparency with regards to
spending. Without this in place students are unable to raise concerns about the choices made on
their behalf. With this in mind my goal is simple, an aggressive move toward a student friendly
breakdown of spending. An essential first step toward students being able to generate a
productive discourse on how University money is spent, actively allowing students to have more
influence to where money is spent.
Improvements to the Digital Learning Environment:
The DLE is a new resource that all students have access to, how effective this is as a learning
peripheral can vary wildly from course to course. It is clear however that it would benefit everyone
if more resources are available through it. To this end, I believe it is beneficial to everyone to
encourage tutors to import any material from the previous learning websites and to take the
initiative on the opportunities the creative formats for teaching material available on the DLE.
Issues with the DLE have been raised which can be critical for students that it runs seamlessly, it
is important that the DLE is optimised to this end.
Support for student created campaigns:
Overall my objective is to improve every students experience during their time attending the
University, with this in mind I am keen to provide advice, support and backing for student
campaigns to improve the University.
Jessica Small – Chair of Womens Forum
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
I am applying for Women’s Rep as I would like to focus on tackling issues women such as myself
face in their day to day life on campus, as well as getting more people involved in understanding
these issues. I would like for people to see the role as one that is inclusive and tries to represent
all women, regardless of their standing in society.
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Intersectionality
Women’s rights in my perception are all about equality, and my main aim as women’s rep is to
make university life more accessible to all women, and fully inclusive to all different groups that
identify this way. It is my intention to bring Plymouth University into a new age of intersectionality,
in which everyone can bring their thoughts and opinions into the mix regardless of ethnicity,
sexuality etc. I believe I can achieve this in my role by working alongside LGBT, BME and
disability reps to ensure that I am as inclusive as possible in my role.
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Tackling Lad Culture
I would also tackle lad culture on campus and deal with issues such as sexual harassment.
According to the NUS, 37% of female students have experienced “inappropriate touching and
groping” on nights out. This is unacceptable and female students should simply not have to endure
this. If I was to become Women’s Rep I would like to work alongside the Devon and Cornwall
Police to promote their current campaign “#NOBLURREDLINES” within the students union,
encouraging the importance of consent in order to reduce the issues women may face on campus.
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Events and Campaigns
Lastly, holding events and campaigns would be a big part of my role. I would focus on holding
events based around certain issues that are important to the women I would be representing on
campus, and in association with the charities which are relevant to these issues. International
Women’s Day is a big priority for me, and I hope to run a full day of events for this such as running
a ‘Who Needs Feminism’, focusing towards why students on campus feel feminism is important to
them, as well as promoting the need for women’s rights to others on campus. I would also like to
run a ‘Reclaim the Night’ march this year to encourage direct action against sexual violence.
Essentially, my main goal is to make Plymouth a safer, less toxic environment where
people/women of all ethnicities, sexualities etc. can feel like they are valued and like their voices
can be heard. I have a lot of goals and I can only hope that this will inspire other like-minded
women to come forward with their fresh ideas to make Plymouth a more inclusive place for
everyone
Thomas Hathway – Chair of Environment and Sustainability Forum
It’s been an exciting couple of months for UPSU with the upcoming People and Planet University
League and plans on the table for the biggest Green week ever early next year. We currently fall
short on several scoring areas in the league including ethical investment and renewable energy
sources, and these are what I would like us as a forum to be campaigning on in 2015 along with
lobbying the university to fund a member of staff at the union to oversee green projects. I also
want us working with the union to incorporate sustainability education into the training of course
and school reps; because ultimately environment and sustainability isn’t something that we should
be checking on in a Forum, it’s something that should be considered at every level of decision
making and that everyone can strive to improve.
At recent Union Executive Committee meetings I’ve backed ratifying the reviewed Bye-laws, a
motion supporting the Free Education movement, and a motion to create a political forum to go
alongside our current Forums. Out of the UEC I’ve been in talks with the university to link up our
“Green week” with their “Climate Week” so that we can have one big impact before fair-trade
fortnight, and I’d like us to work on more campaigning on increasing student engagement, both
with sustainability and the running of UPSU but ultimately I need YOU and the first step is coming
to the AGM and getting your voice heard.
Esquire Emmanuel – Chair of Faith and Belief Forum
No statement or manifesto provided.
Ruibo An – Chair of Global Students Forum
The Aim of this forum is to make sure all the global students have the same education with the
local students. If any international student in Plymouth University have any problem, they can
come to Global Student Forum to ask for advice or we could guide them to where someone could
help them.
The first Global Student Forum was held on the 10th of November. We advertised this meeting to
international student through ISAS and the English Club. There were 24 students turn up on the
meeting. On the first meeting we discussed about the purpose of this forum, and some regulation
within the forum. Then divided in groups to discuss what are the ways for international student to
fit in the community comfortably. In the end we come up with an idea of making a video for helping
student understand where to go if meeting certain problems. This video will be prepared in full
discussion on the second forum meeting.
The global student forum will get in touch more with the language clubs and ISAS to get more
international student involved in the forum meeting. And hopefully we can get the most
representative group of students attending the forum for the second one.
Trevor Smith – Chair of Mature Students Forum
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
Hi, My name is Trevor Smith and I am a stage 2 Computing student. I have been in the computer
industry for more than 2 decades and have been in positions of senior management. My hobbies
include photography and keeping fit.
I have been nominated by my partner and would like to work closely with the student union and
the university in raising the profile of the mature students. We make up more than 40% of the
candidates and yet I feel we have been neglected in a few areas. I worked closely with some
younger students last year and they have seen the benefits of working with someone older.
I would like to do more with the library. Some of you have already claimed that the library, which
should be a place for learning is frequently becoming a disruptive area, with a cacophony of noise
and irritation. I would like to see more emphasis on quieter areas, maybe even expanding these
and making the library a learning resource once again.
The ‘Sum Up’ area in the library has been a success for those in math subjects or those applying
themselves in math solutions. I would like to see other drop in centres taking advantage of this
model including Computing. We all need the help, however we are not always able to make the
appointment to see the tutor, so a walk in centre would be a great resource.
As most of the events appear to be focused on the younger students, I would like to work closely
with the entertainment team to give the mature students some quality time, and I am not talking
about cheese and wine parties. Let’s give the mature a social life too and work it around
commitments that some of the younger students have yet to experience.
I will work with everyone to ensure that the role is not a title alone. Students who are in
Computing have already seen the benefits of my work, as I am also the student rep for Computing.
A vote for me is a vote for mature students.
Matthew Cox – Chair of Postgraduate Forum
The main aim for the postgraduate forum this year will be bridging the gap between the Students
Union and Postgraduate students at Plymouth University. As the chair, I feel Postgraduates are
not as thought about by the Union as Undergraduates and would like to know whether this is
wanted by Postgraduate students or not. Alongside this I want the Fresher and other events to be
promoted better for Postgraduate students as well as more event for Postgraduate Societies.
More campaigns and ideas currently circulating the Postgraduate Forum is Postgraduate Taught
Experience Survey (PTES) This survey is a possible way in which to raise the voice of
Postgraduate study within Plymouth University. See what is going well, or not, on your courses as
well as Postgraduate’s overall experience.
With the current rate of attendance to the forum, promotion and engagement is the main priority.
Voices cannot be heard if they are not being used. I aim to raise a holistic voice of Postgraduates
through the forum.
Ellen Lamb – Chair of Societies Forum
I have been involved in societies since my first year of university and I honestly believe that it has
enhanced my experience and can do the same for anyone else. Societies are a great way of
getting to know new people with similar interests to you, learn a new skill or practice an old one. I
believe that I can be a fair and unbiased representative for all societies and help every society to
continue to develop in order to be the best it can.
Alexey Vasilyev – Chair of Sports Forum
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
Sport needs to play an exceptionally important role in any student’s life. The combination of
physical and mental activities helps students to increase productivity in both areas: academic as
well as sport.
Since I joined University life I am trying to be as active as possible. Even a small role as a
committee member in the University of Plymouth’s Athletics Club has given me a large opportunity
for self-development, self-confidence and improvement. From my own experience I would like to
make changes in other student’s lives by becoming a part of the integration of University and
community.
By nominating me in the position of chair of the Sports Forum I would like to take a part in helping:
· To set up new sports clubs and facilitate their improvement and development
· To improve student’s satisfaction within the University’s Clubs
· To bring new ideas to club improvements
· To encourage sport for all by ensuring that sport is as a whole is seen as an essential part of
study and not just for the elite
Despite the fact that I am a member of University of Plymouth Athletics Club, I would love to make
a difference in the lives of other clubs and their members.
Alan Willetts – Chair of Welfare Forum
No statement was provided for AGM. The following is taken from the Elections Candidate
Manifesto:
Welfare is about your wellbeing and having a sense of belonging, you belong to a Student
Union and I will make sure that all students are inclusive without any prejudice or
discrimination.
My name is Alan Willetts and I am a first year student studying Operating Department Practice. I
have put myself forward to become chair of welfare.
So why me? What do I have to offer? I am just a first year, what do I know?
In 2012 I was a Plymouth University Student at a partner college. Whilst there I was elected by the
students to represent them as a partner college representative. This role gave me the opportunity
to work with UPSU on regular bases to make my college more included within Plymouth University.
Whilst a college representative I was also elected as the Ethics Equality and Diversity Chair. So I
have had relevant experience of a chair role.
Ok so what exactly did I do?
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I created a tighter link between my Partner College, Plymouth University and
UPSU.
I represented the students at parliamentary meetings
Students at the partner college had no student bar/common room. NOW THEY
DO because I made that happen
I interacted and negotiated with local business for student deals
I promoted Ethics Equality and Diversity
I campaigned for Equality
I campaigned for diversity
I campaigned for human rights
I represented Plymouth University at NUS National conference.
These are just a hand full of things I did, and I want to represent your welfare because I have had
relative experience which I feel would be put to good use when representing you and your needs.
So what I want to do for you?
PROMOTION OF POSSATIVE WELLBEING - I am a strong believer in prevention is better than a
cure and if elected I will ensure that promoting a positive healthy lifestyle is continued and
available to all students. For example this could involve healthy eating. Positive promotion is the
way forward and by actively engaging with students I feel that Physical, Emotional and Social
wellbeing of the students at Plymouth University would improve.
MENTAL HEALTH/ LEARNING NEEDS – At the moment the support for students who are feeling
stressed, anxious, depressed or alone are having to wait for support. This is not
acceptable! There needs to be more support to cope with the number of students at this
university, resources are stretched, student are waiting weeks/months for their dyslexia
assessments. Plymouth University is an educational establishment and student’s needs are not
being met and this needs to change. If elected I promise to fight this issue and try and rectify it and
if unsuccessful I won’t sit on the fence I will take it further and take it to the NUS Conference 2015.
INCLUSION – we all have rights we are all equal and if elected I will lobby and campaign
for Equality and Diversity. We are part of the student community at Plymouth University. We are
part of the student union here at Plymouth University and to me that says we are united and
equal. However I feel we are not and that drastic changes need to be made I personally feel
discriminated against because I can’t vote to elect a representative for BME or WOMENS chair
because I am neither one of them. My friend cannot vote for LGBT chair because she is
heterosexual, yet her parents are both female. If elected I will fight for change and inclusion of all
students regardless of the sexuality, sexual orientation or colour we are equal let’s not forget
that.
If elected I promise you;
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I will ensure Inclusion
I will fight for student’s needs and support
I will ensure all students are kept up to date with UPSU updates and events
related to welfare.
I will listen to you
I will fight for your concerns and do whatever it takes to make your student
experience a good one
I promise not to be a picture on the wall or a name on a piece of paper; I
strongly believe interaction is needed to ensure your voice is heard. You will
see me and I will approach you, I will be there for you
Kerry Godley-McAvoy – Chair of Partner Institutions Forum
As the chair for the Partner Institution Forum, I am really excited to engage with this role and am
looking forward to working with a collective group of students.
UPSU is committed to listening to the voices of the students and I believe representing the PI’s
and working together as a force, we can achieve great results and implement changes for the
benefit of all our fellow students. Encouraging PI students to be active with UPSU, embracing our
higher education experience and engaging with like-minded people the forum aims to build a wider
student network.
The values of the PI Forum is to create a space for PI students to get together and discuss issues
related to studying away from the main Plymouth Campus and come up with ideas and campaigns
of how UPSU can better engage PI students and meet our needs.
As chair, I personally think it is a fantastic opportunity for our meetings to engage with as many PI
students as possible and have identified a meeting format to achieve this in the shape of a cloud
based communication platform allowing participants to be part of meetings and have their voice
heard from the comfort of their own environment. The purposes of the meetings are to network
with PI’s with the aim of achieving great results for this academic year.
Luke Fitzpatrick – Chair of LGBT Forum
As forum chair I hope to achieve several things in the next couple of terms. The first is to get the
date of the Pride in Plymouth event moved into term time. This is so the students of our university
can attend the event, as last year it was held in August. As we all know the majority of the
students here return home for summer break and as a result were not able to attend unless they
put in a considerable amount of money and effort. Another is to promote the gender neutral toilets
around campus, as it isn’t clear where they are and that we have them. This is so people can
comfortably use a bathroom without having to conform to binary genders and so they can freely
use them without being questioned or judged. Finally I would like to lobby the local MP to help
bring the Human Papilloma Virus vaccination scheme to sexual health clinics, for men who have
sex with men, as HPV infections are likely to continue to increase in men and it can cause several
cancers. To me my role is about equality and that’s what I strive to achieve here in Plymouth.
Chairs of BME and Students with Disabilities Forums remain unfilled.