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Student Council Executive 14 November 2011 Teviot Row House, Middle Reading Room

Present:- Mike Williamson, Emma Meehan, Phillippa Faulkner, Claire Rackley, Stuart Tooley, Mike Shaw, Sophie McCallum, Hugh Murdoch, Callum Leslie In Attendance:- James Beaven, Craig Stewart, Andrew Clark Apologies:- Matt McPherson, Abi Barr Meeting Opens: 5:30pm 1. EXPENDITURE REQUEST LGBT ACTIVIST TRAINING JB explained the benefits of this event for EUSA, namely that it will highlight national concerns in an Edinburgh context and give an insight into how LGBT campaigning is run at other universities, identifying best practice. It will also be good for networking with other universities on LGBT issues and give a good grounding for new reps interested in this area. The request was passed with the proviso that the most economical means was used. 2. REPORTS a. Sabbatical Reports Action

JB

VPAA o Report in print. o Special thanks to Craig Stewart (EUSA Democracy & Engagement Co-ordinator) for his work on the Teaching Awards. o With regards to universitys plan to replace taught students email system Microsoft 365 is preferable because of its better capability. VPSA o EM reported that the new c-card scheme will be ready to go as of next week, the volunteers have been trained and the coordinator briefed. This campaign has been extended to Pollock Halls and the first two hours of The Big Cheese to raise awareness of EUSAs long term commitment to telling people about freely available contraception. o EM, ST and Sheona Lawson (EUSA Policy & Public Affairs Co-ordinator) attended a meeting with Edinburgh City Council and Lothian & Borders Police about EUSAs proposed march from the Scottish Parliament to the Scotland Office, EUSAs views and aims were put across and permission was granted. EM will now consider special provision for vulnerable students on this march. o Currently working on expanding accessible learning in the university. o Attended academic societies meeting with class reps with an aim of building relationships within the various schools. o Working with the community council on a student groups collaboration. o The Korean Society has recently received a substantial donation from the Korean Embassy and they are keen to use this to support other societies international events.
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VPS

o Accommodation - meeting on Tuesday to finalise the Student Charter and set


objectives; a new accommodation finder will also be produced. Still considering whether to apply for funding or do it in-house. o Kings Buildings - bad feedback about the food has been received; usage needs to be assessed. o The Sustainability Awards launched today and EUSA is looking to incorporating sustainability ideas into their catering.

b. Forum Reports
CR o Organising class rep training for the Law School Conference. Amongst comparators, Sheffield University stand out in the Russell Group so will examine their NSS results and present examples of best practice to Dai Hounsell (Vice Principal for Academic Enhancement). Personal Tutors as an alternative is being considered. SM

o Looking at DoS system in light of recent attendance at Higher Education Zone

o The Careers Service visited the last Postgraduate Forum meeting and a useful
discussion took place with many suggestions proffered.

o First screening of PhD movie was successful and a future screening is planned
which will have greater capacity.

o The Postgraduate Festival is approaching and event planning is underway.


HM

o Study space campaign study space map under development; David Hume Tower is
open for studying.

o An exam stress pack will be distributed. o Unfortunately the Hugh Robson Building computer labs will be used for exams so
will be unavailable during the exam period. meeting tomorrow - study space sub committee, strategy on study space to estates committee o Rescheduled Academic Experience Forum on Thursday, HM encouraged Executive to invite as many people as possible. o CL

o The joint Welfare/External Forum on housing was well attended and produced many
viable ideas that should be considered.

o Wellbeing Week and Disability Day are coming up at the end of the month. o Accessible learning will be the focus of the next Welfare Forum meeting.
3. MATTERS ARISING a. Budget The current state of the budget was examined and it was suggested that money may be transferred from the main budget to the conference budget to sustain future conferences. CS indicated that the I Will Lead course expenses will come out of the Sabbatical Training budget and that the third person sent to the Black Students Conference was funded out of the Action Groups own budget. b. London demonstration review
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The demo was deemed to have gone smoothly however the policing was conspicuously high. It was noted that the organisation and aftermath of the march was confusing to many. Concern was raised over whether the message of the march had been obscured by the fact that the media focused on the marchs relative peacefulness instead of the issue itself. Executive decided that a march debrief should be produced by both James McAsh (March Organiser) and Sheona Lawson (Staff Support) which will include guidance for the future. Executive viewed EUSAs involvement as important to the cause and it is commendable that EUSA was one of the largest contingents to take part from outside London. c. RUKidding update External Forum decided at its last meeting to change the route of the march, the march will now start at the Scottish Parliament and finish at the Scotland Office. EM, ST and SL attended a positive meeting with Edinburgh City Council and Lothian & Borders Police where the march was approved and the Police assured that they had a different approach to policing protests than the Metropolitan Police. An estimated number of 500 people was given to the Police. Disabled student provision has not yet been decided but about 20 stewards will be required and ST as Chief Steward asked Executive if they would be willing to assist in this role. HM suggested that the role be advertised on the EUSA volunteering site. ST stressed that maximum awareness and involvement was key therefore reps should try to spread the word through lecture shout-outs, canvassing and facebook. CR suggested that reps should be organised into a rota whilst HM stated that it was important that reps take part of their own accord. CL suggested that reps drop-in to the office to pick up materials and go out and talk to students when they are free. Executive agreed to invite Mike Russell (Scottish Education Minister) to speak at the march, failing that Marco Biaggi (MSP for Edinburgh Central and Education Committee member). Both will however be introduced as contributors to the decision to increase fees. Also individual students will be encouraged to put across their points of view about the increase and how it will affect them. HM postulated that if they could get some SNP MSPs to vote against the increase then the government may reverse their decision. MW considered this unlikely. CL expressed opposition to the teaching grant cut, believing it to be unjustified. CR highlighted that it was students in Scotland that were important not just Scottish students. 4. SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS AT BIRZEIT MOTION This motion was brought to Executive for approval prior to going to Student Council. Executive passed the motion. 5. STUDENT COUNCIL AGENDA AND FUTURE MEETINGS Student Council accepted the proposed agenda for Student Council on Tuesday 22nd November. Nigel Brown (Senior Vice Principal) will be in attendance to represent the university and its decision to raise RUK fees. 3 motions plus the one approved earlier in item 4 will be going to Council. On the issue of increasing the number of meetings, in the short-term this is not possible because room bookings have been made and the use of any university or other accommodation will incur a charge. In the long-term the constitutional change means that Councils workload will be spread out and the issue will have resolved itself. MW stated that he will investigate the issue and inform Executive and Council of his
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JM, SL

All reps

RUKidding Campaign

findings. Alexis Cornish has been invited to Student Councils December meeting but due to time constraints it will be more expedient to include her in a future Executive meeting instead. AGM: CS asked Executive if they could act as counters at the AGM on Wednesday 23rd November. There are 5 motions to be debated at the AGM; the deadline for amendments is Wednesday 16th November at noon. Also PF will present the annual accounts of the organisation in a more detailed format than previous years.

MW

All

All Meeting Closes: 7:05pm

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