THE UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING STUDENTS UNION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
4 October 2013
MINUTES 1
There will be a meeting of the Students’ Union Executive Council on Friday the 18thth of October
2013 from 11am in the Ian King Room. In order to ensure the meeting is kept to time please ensure all
attached papers are read in advance. Apologies should be emailed to [email protected] no
later than 5pm on Thursday the 2nd of October at 5pm.
1
IN ATTENDANCE
1.1
Members Present
Rebecca Gracey
Jade Love
Johannes Butscher
Jack Day
Graham Swann
David Allum
Danny Robertson
Stuart Kenny
Romain Maradan
Becky Benson
Paige Turner
1.2
RG
JL
JB
JD
GS
DA
DR
SK
RM
BB
PT
In Attendance
Ian Glen
1.3
Sports Union President
LGBT Officer
Union President
Sports Union Vice President
Brig Editor
Highland and Island Officer
Air 3 TV Manager
Sports Union Communications Officer
Air 3 Station Manager
Communities Officer
Marketing Officer
IG
Democracy and Policy Coordinator
Observers
N/A
1.4
Apologies
Richard Raymond
Lucy Harvey
Cal Munro
RR
LH
CM
1.5
Absent without Apologies
2
MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING
3.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Vice President Education & Engagement
Vice President Activities & Development
Health Promotion
3.1
RM: Expressed his thanks to the Brig & Air 3 TV for their efforts for the 24hour event. It
was a positive event and would like to share with the Executive Council that there is a joint social
event on Thursday 10 October 2013.
3.2
JL: Indicated that there is a LGBT event happening on Thursday 10 October 2013 in aide
of ‘Ally week’. It is a photo campaign to also mark National Coming Out week and JL mentioned
that she would liaise with the Brig to promote the event. Stall in Atrium and all encouraged to
attend.
3.3
RG: Scottish Student Sport Consultation happening on the 8th October 2013.
3.4
PT: There is no disability sport within the University. The Sports Union are running a
campaign and are trying to raise awareness of the event. Dates are 30 November 2013 & 30
April 2014.
3.5
DR & RM: Film Quiz every Friday in the MacRobert with free tickets on offer to winners.
4
REPORTS
4.1
Union President
~ Presentation to Senior Management, University Court and Head of Schools on NSS survey
results and other work that the Union is doing. Established Policies: ‘Let’s scrap 300+ policies’
and currently working on a new environmental policy. President has been working on officer
reform.
~ Comment on the American mink which is on campus. Meeting street pastors and will attend
Executive training with NUS on 9 & 10 October 2013.
RG: Asked the President about the feedback from the event.
JB: The feedback has been very good. Audrey-Clare Burns and the President have a meeting
with the Principal and the University Secretary next week to discuss strategic development.
RG: Asked about the Block grant and how will it increase?
JB: Three main areas to tackle the low NSS score for the Union: Improve facilities; change
student perceptions and; Highlands & Islands.
4.2
Vice President Education and Engagement
~ Several projects on going and two policies have been completed (Course Rep training & Loan
Shark policy);
~ Been involved with meetings about ESEC, World Mental Health Day and also been meeting
with School Officers;
~ Attending NUS training on 9 & 10 October 2013 and planning on going to Stornoway in the near
future.
DA: Highlighted some issues regarding his role as Highlands & Islands Officer. They were
broadly happy but issues relating to quiet town, nothing being open on a Sunday but overall
commented on a contented student group.
4.3
Vice President Activities and Development
~ Entry Level Job Initiative in operation. Introduced the Clubs & Societies accreditation scheme.
On going projects include: Students as Researchers; Student Leadership Programme; RAG
Development; Officer Restructure & Activity planning for the year.
~ Met with the University court; Ian Simpson about the StAR project in the Natural Sciences and;
Graduate Skills and Employability Committee. Also been involved with the fresher’s debrief.
~ Holding internal meetings and taking part in Nus Training as well as meeting with Macrobert to
discuss working more in partnership.
4.4
Sports Union President
~ Been working on a range of projects. Sports Union intern has been appointed and has begun
their work. Club accreditation scheme, Clubs Council, Presidents Forum and ‘No class on a
Wednesday policy’.
~ Working on the Disability Festival which will be held on 30 November 2013; Sports Ball Planning
and Stirling Games Planning.
~ Been working on the SSS strategy and holding a consultation on 8 October 2013.
Discussion: There was a discussion following the report about which sports would be included in
the disability week (SK)
GS: asked for an update on the Wednesday Policy following the general meeting to which RG
replied saying they will look to get it passed for the next GM.
5
DISCUSSION AND DECISION TOPICS
5.1
General Meetings
JB: Apologised about the General Meeting, said it was the first time and impressed that things
will run smoother but was keen for feedback.
JD: Stated that it was ok, not moving fast enough but this is part of the democratic process. Was
frustrating as had 67 and enough for a quorum but generally ok.
JL: Too many big topics on the agenda and, in particular, the officer reform was not discussed
enough. JL mentioned that she felt stifled and suggested this could be improved by more regular
meetings or having less topics to discuss in future. RG agreed with JL regarding having too
many big topics.
RM: Wanted to highlight the positives. Many positions were filled and mentioned that often JB is
reasonable and mentioned that many of the issues that JL raised, could be discussed in Forums
for example.
JB: Echoed this sentiment and was pleased that the membership was engaged & elected. We
also got a quorum.
PT: Wants to make more people aware of what topics were going to be discussed, when they
were going to discussed. SK reflected this sentiment and returned to the idea of covering less,
but more often.
JL: Raised issue about the time of the meeting.
JB: suggested that he was keen to have different times of the meeting to cater for all the students
and was open to suggestions. PT: Suggested that if it were too late that is not great for full-time
students but was aware of the balancing act needed in order to accommodate other students.
Mentioned that it may be an idea to alternate it which JL supported.
GS: Mentioned that above all, it was important to have structure and clarity in order to keep
people interested and there for the votes. RG understood GS point once believed that a specific
agenda which could cater for certain groups attending for policies could be an option.
JL: In regards scrapping 300+ policies, how do the officers plan to conduct the vote? Block or for
each policy?
JB: Block vote but people can object to any policy that we have included in the list. Details were
on the Union website and welcome contact. The council then discussed whether these events
were publicised by the media outlets, to which there was no puiblicity. Discussion then turned to
the Executive council’s desire to conduct a Pathfoot Disco…
5.2
Officer Restructure
JB: Following the General Meeting, it was clear that more consultation was needed regarding the
structure of the changes. JB offered to create a Liberation and Sport forum to go over the
specific issues of each zone.
RM: The media were supportive of the proposed zones.
5.3
Environmental & Ethical Policy
JB: This was prompted following a student coming to us regarding the plastic bag usage of our
Freshers sponsor, Dominoes, which resulted in many bags being littered around campus. JB
went on to say that he was coordinating this policy with members of Union Staff and hopes to
share policy for student consultation before taking it to the General Meeting.
5.4
Highlands & Islands
JB: Once again said how good it was that DA made it down for the meeting and asked about
whether the Council and DA wanted to raise any issues.
DA: No broadband in halls which is disappointing. Mentioned that upon investigation with the
University that rent for accommodation is line with inflation and not over-priced.
GS: asked about feedback on the Brig to which DA mentioned that none was mentioned but it is
in the library in a prominent space to encourage usage. JL asked whether there any LGBT
events planned or indeed needed in the campuses? DA offered JL the chance to pass on details
and if he can help in raising awareness then happy to help. DA also mentioned that there were
no avenues for him to contact students en masse. JB said he will look into this.
9
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Friday the 18 October 2013
10
RESERVED BUSINESS
There was no reserved business