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BISHOP GROSSETESTE STUDENTS’ UNION
MINUTES OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY 11th MAY 2015
Item
Action
1.
Welcome
and Apologies
2.
The Chair welcomed Council to his final meeting as
Chair. The Chair opened Council at 6.05. Gareth
asked Jamie whether we were quorate and Jamie
confirmed that we were.
Minutes of the last Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed
to be a true record of the meeting.
3.
Matters Arising
3.1
No matter arising to report back on following the
last meeting.
Formal Business: Motion Proposal 1: Eduroam
Presented by Lewis Smith (See annex 1).
3.2
Lewis proposed the motion to Student Council
highlighting that students have complained about
the downtime on the internet. The university have
told us to go to library. AB have gone and now
have a new provider planned for the next academic
year. Eduroam is currently on campus solely there
to do academic work, as an academic back up.
Eduroam could be implemented in halls as a back up
with a few new terminal points quite easily and be
an effective back up if the Wi-Fi goes down for
academic purposes.Access to Netflix and Facebook
can be deactivated. All halls would be included in
the motion.
Speech against by Peter Stewart highlighting that
if we keep lobbying the University for random
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things, it will cost the University money which
could be better spent on other things that we
really need. Why not just walk to the library and
use the library.
It was highlighted that In 24 hour suite, there
are 20/30 computers, there are over 200 in halls.
How would everyone fit? Why are we talking about
this again in Student Council, when you are in a
house you can have your own internet. Most of your
work doesn't have to be online, it's not an issue.
The Chair called for a vote to be taken on this
motion proposal.
Votes for 15
Votes against 15
Abstentions 5
No clear majority motion so the motion was not
passed.
3.3
Formal Business: Motion Proposal 2: Policy Lapse
Postgraduate Policy Presented by Jamie Caress (see
annex 2).
Jamie proposed the motion explaining that policy
lapse for council happens every year if you wish
to retain a motion proposal document for an
additional year. Jamie explained the motion
arguing that the Postgraduate Policy would be
carried out by the Postgraduate Officer to improve
the Postgraduate experience.
One council member argued that we shouldn’t vote
on this as there are no postgraduates here? Jamie
argued that the lack of Postgraduates here
highlights the need for the postgraduate policy
and explained that the policy resulted from
consultation with postgraduate staff and students
originally. It was highlighted by a council member
that we are only voting for a renewal of the
policy and not speaking on behalf of the
postgraduate students.
The Chair moved council towards a vote where a
clear majority in favour was received meaning that
the motion passes.
4
4.1
Presidents Report
Chris delivered the presidents report (see annex
3).
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5
Any Other Business:
6
The Students’ Union President and Vice President
delivered there leaving speeches to Student
Council and received questions on their reports.
Meeting Closed at: 7.40
The chair thanked everyone for attending and
closed the meeting. Next meeting to be confirmed.
Annex 1:
Name of Proposer: Lewis Smith
The Union Notes:
1. Students have frequently complained about the downtime
of internet provision within Halls of Residence when it
comes to completing academic work and meeting deadlines,
with the inconvenience of having to travel – potentially
from off campus – to the library in order to complete,
and/or, submit work.
The Union Believes:
1. The recent motion passed regarding the petitioning of the
University against the use of ABInternet Ltd. for the
provision of internet within the Halls of Residence
reflects the belief that inadequate internet provision is
being provided for students.
2. Many students have had to recently use their mobile data
allowance, or pay additional charges, in order to
complete and/or submit work due to inconvenience of
having to use campus facilities outside of their Halls of
Residence.
The Union Resolves:
1. Introduction of EduRoam access terminals in on-campus and
off-campus Halls of Residence (Wickham, Constance
Stewart, Crosstrend House) as short-term support to
ensure that academic studies aren’t majorly affected by
the on-going long-term issues with ABInternet.
2. This motion makes a formal request on behalf of the
Students Union for the introduction of EduRoam terminals,
with restrictions in place, until the long-term issue of
sustainable internet is resolved.
3. The introduction of EduRoam terminals into Halls of
Residence means that an alternative internet service
solely as an ACADEMIC BACK-UP for students is available.
4. To ensure stability of this system, filters would be
introduced to prevent the use of streaming services and
large downloads – similar to how many public networks
(E.G. Train Services) work to ensure the system remains
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up.
5. The Students Union, and the University within their
contract for the Halls of Residence, will make it clear
to students that the system, and the filters in place,
are there for solely ACADEMIC purposes and aren’t
intended for downloads and streaming. They’re there to
ensure that academic work isn’t affected should the
internet go down.
6. This would be a low-cost temporary fix to be implemented
as soon as possible to allow for a suitable long-term
internet provider to be found without rushing to ensure
we aren’t in a similar position in future years.
Annex 2:
Name of Proposer: Jamie Caress
The Union Notes:
1) That the Postgraduate Policy passed in May 2014 hasn’t
been implemented due to not having an active officer in
role.
2) BGSU recognises that Postgraduate students are typically
less engaged with the Union than Undergraduate students.
3) Less Postgraduates vote in the Students’ Union elections,
few if any stand for election as officers and less
Postgraduates visit the Students’ Union or engage with
its activities.
4) Many Postgraduate students are unaware of the unions’
core services and may not know how to access academic
representation if they so require it.
The Union Believes:
1) That the Postgraduate policy provides a good starting
point for the work of the Postgraduate officer.
2) This lack of engagement is not the fault of Postgraduate
students but the result of a student culture that leaves
Postgraduate students with the false impression that
Students’ Unions are run by and for the benefit of
Undergraduate students.
3) This lack of engagement leaves many Postgraduate students
disengaged, unsure or unable to make their voices heard
to promote positive change.
4) The Union is adversely affected as the many benefits
Postgraduate students can bring to the Union through
different ideas and perspectives may be missed and the
experience of all students is affected as a result.
5) Therefore it is vital to develop a new tradition where
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both Postgraduate and Undergraduate students can turn to
the Students’ Union for representation, support and to
access union activities and events
The Union Resolves:
1) That the Postgraduate policy passed in May 2014 should be
renewed by Student Council the following term of office
to ensure that Postgraduate representation develops
further over the next academic year.
2) To ensure that Postgraduate course representatives are
elected so that Postgraduate representation extends
across the whole institution and the union has an
accurate picture of the issues and concerns that affect
Postgraduate students across the institution.
3) The Students’ Union needs a partnership approach with the
Teacher Development School to achieve this.
4) To provide a clear and precise job description of being a
course representative and incentives for being a
representative.
5) To ensure that all members of the Students’ Union
executive are familiar with Postgraduate issues and that
they are aware that they are not the sole responsibility
of the Postgraduate Officer. The Postgraduate Officer
will be responsible for training the executive team on
this issue.
6) To ensure that the union’s strategic plan includes a
section on Postgraduate engagement.
7) To promote representation as a positive role rather than
the person who just complains, meaning that course reps
feel they are supporting the institution in improving the
student experience.
8) To endeavour to work with Postgraduate representatives to
establish a minimum standard of information provision.
9) To develop an online area of the website for Postgraduate
students including a Postgraduate forum and an area where
it is made clear how the union can support Postgraduate
students, how they can get involved and provide links to
other useful services offering support to Postgraduate
students.
10)
To develop the Students’ Union handbook to include a
Postgraduate students section. Could have two separate
handbooks, one for Undergraduates and one for
Postgraduate students. The handbook should include
information from current students for perspective
students.
11)
To ensure that when Postgraduate students arrive,
and at suitable times throughout the year, that the union
provides suitable events and activities which cater to
the diverse interests of Postgraduate students.
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Annex 3:
Weirdly, it’s not been that long since we last had a student council
but we’ve managed to cram a fair bit since then.
One of the biggest things I can announce and we can now hopefully
see an end to (you’ll be pleased to hear!) is AB INTERNET! BGU are
in advanced talks with another provider to provide wifi not just in
halls, bit across campus. Our new Campaigns and Comms officers Lewis
can tell you in much more detail than me. As far as I’m concerned, a
line should be drawn under this issue now.
In April, Becca and I visited NUS National Conference, and we hope
we voted for policy and leaders, that resonate with the values we
hold here. In political terms, some very left wing socialists were
elected to national executive, and we voted for hopefully lots of
progressive and helpful policy which will help us on our campus –
not just those who can afford it.
We’ve also completed our bye-elections in these last few weeks, and
we’ve got all our societies with new exec teams and any of the
positions that haven’t been filled, will be reopened in the Autumn,
when you all return to university.
We had Fringe 2 weeks ago, and thank you so much if you came! We had
busy bar (the rain forced us in!) and we raised over £1100 for BGU
Foundation Fund, The Brain Tumour Charity and RoadPeace. If you’ve
got any feedback about the event then do let us know about that, as
we would love to improve it! All I’ll say is that we can’t improve
the weather, as much as we’d like to! Shout out to our office team
who were simply amazing in the organisation of the event!
Finally of course last week we had the General Election in which we
saw lots of students going out and using their vote. For those that
haven’t seen, Karl McCartney was re-elected of the Conservative
Party and saw his majority increase. Full results can be seen
online, on local media outlets. Only 6/10 young people voted though,
which means we still have work to do over the next five years! I
will be writing to Karl to congratulate him in the next week.
Tomorrow is Welfare day on campus! In the day we have stalls and
advice tomorrow in 3DY, followed by some animals and creatures in
there from 4.30 for you to meet! We then have bingo at 8 in the bar!
Then on Thursday we have a guide dog charity bringing some dogs into
the council chambers for students to come and pet! We won’t get
through everyone I’m afraid as we need to respect the owners and the
animals, and you’ll only get a short amount of time with them, but
we do invite you to come and de-stress with the dogs and make a
small donation to their charity. If you don’t make a donation, we
won’t allow you to see the animals, as it’s only fair!
We then have our final quiz of the year this Sunday with a minimum
prize of £50 on top of whatever entry fees we get so big money is up
for grabs! Tonight is followed by karaoke and pizza so go ahead and
let off some steam in the bar after this!