Student Council Meeting Agenda

05h February 2013 6:00pm-8:00pm Newton Park, Main House MHG.15

Tel: (01225) 876159 Website: www.bathspasu.co.uk Bath Spa University, Students’ Union

Newton Park Campus Newton St Loe Bath, BA2 9BN

Appologies

Democratic Procedures

Minutes of previous Meeting: 04 December 2012 (end of document)

Matters Arising

Chair’s business

Item No. Item Description Presenting

Supporting Document

Time

SC13/01 English as a Second Language

- A vote on a policy about

support for international

students

SH 13/01 15 Minutes

SC13/02

The Future of the Union - A presentation and update

from the Union’s CEO on its new strategic plan – building redevelopment etc..

SD

20 Minutes

SC13/03 Twin Bath Spa Uni with Palestine - A vote on a campaign to twin

BSU with a university in Palestine

SK 13/03 20 Minutes

SC13/04 Changing the name of ‘Black Rep’ - A vote on whether to change

the name of Black Students Rep

LW 13/04 10 Minutes

SC13/05 Build a Chapel - A vote on a Union stance on

prayer space

SH 13/05 20 Minutes

Items for receipt

All subcommittee minutes are included on the Bath Spa Students’ Union website:

http://bathspasu.co.uk/representation/content/782903/

AOB

Date of next meeting: 12th March 2012 MHG.15 6pm-8pm

SC13/06 Elections - Why you should run for the

SU Elections and how to do it

DG 15 Minutes

Bath Spa University Students’ Union

Student Council notes:

Bath Spa University wants to have internationalized university in coming future.

Internationalized means having different students with different language and ability.

Some tutors are quite strike about the English written rather than the content

Student Council believes:

Having a conversation with some heads of university by considering the fact that international students are coming to this university with IELTS 6-6.5 which shows their ability to study at BSU, it should be clear to tutors that they should be much more concern with the content of the essay rather than English.

Student Council resolves:

Council would agree with this.

Students’ Union officers and Black rep should present this motion to the registrar and ask him to ask all heads of schools and departments to ask their tutors to consider the fact that international students are doing their works with the second language, and tutors should be more concern with the content of the essay rather than English

To:

Student Council

From: Sharareh Houshmandyar- Black Students’ Officer

Prepared By: Sharareh Houshmandyar

Date: 5th Feb 2013

Subject: English Language as the Second Language of Black International Students

13/01

Bath Spa University Students’ Union

Student Council notes:

Twinning the university can raise awareness of the situation for students in another country. With there being an on-going conflict in Palestine, it can be determined to be important to build bridges with the students in this region who may not currently have the kind of contact with a Western university as could be offered by the students at Bath Spa University;

Palestinian students are denied their basic right to an education though a series of checkpoints, roadblocks, harassment, even building an illegal wall through a university campus and numerous closures of educational establishments despite international pressure. 10% of Al-quds University's students are in Israeli prisons for example;

As students we can campaign to twin our universities with those in Palestine such as Al Quds or Bir Zeit. Bir Zeit University runs a highly commendable "Right 2 Education” campaign to defend the Palestinians' right to an education, which is severely undermined by Israel building walls through Palestinian universities and otherwise preventing them from functioning, despite international condemnation;

The Vice Chancellor is aware, and fairly supportive of, the campaign to twin Bath Spa University with a university in Palestine;

Other Unions in Britain that have twinned with Palestinian universities are: o Middlesex University Union, which twinned with Al-Quds Union in November 2011; o UCLU, which twinned with Unions of Al-Quds and Al-Azhar Secular Secular

Universities in the West Bank and Gaza in 2008; o University of Manchester Union, which twinned with An Najah Union in March 2007;

3 universities have been contacted in Palestine so far: the Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza University, and Al-Najah National University;

A meeting between Sarah Kanan and the Vice Chancellor will be held on Friday 1st February about twinning the University with a Palestinian university.

To:

Student Council

From: Sarah Kanan Environment & Ethics Officer

Prepared By: Sarah Kanan Environment & Ethics Officer, Simon Jilley Religions & Beliefs

Liberation Representative

Date: 5th February 2013

Subject: Twinning of Bath Spa University with university in Palestine

13/03

Student Council believes:

It is important for the university to be a part of the wider, international community;

Twinning with a Palestinian university would give the opportunity for the Palestinian students, in an area of ongoing conflict, to be connected with our university;

Through being connected with a Palestinian university, we would be able to offer support and publicity when and where needed, if possible;

Twinning the University/Union with a University/Union in Palestine could bring the Union one step closer to being a conflict-free Union;

Twinning the University/Union with a University/Union in Palestine will help the Union in gaining a fuller understanding of global citizenship, which will be crucial in the years to come with the university expecting a strong influx of international students;

A fuller understanding of global citizenship will also help the Union in preparing for other future events like the Multicultural Festival.

Student Council resolves:

To formally support the twinning of Bath Spa University with a university or educational institution in the occupied Palestinian territory following the efforts of students in the Bath Spa University to Palestine twinning initiative pioneered by the Sarah Kanan, Environment & Ethics Officer;

To work towards twinning the Union with the Union of the chosen university(s) with immediate effect.

Bath Spa University Students’ Union

Student Council notes:

- Various black students have suggested to change the Name of the Black Rep To Ethnic Minority Rep because they feel misrepresented by the role of the Bath Spa Students Union Black Rep since the current Black Rep Sharareh is not black.

- A number of Students of various ethnic minorities feel treated unfair since there is Black Rep but

no Rep to represent other ethnic minorities .

Student Council believes:

- The student body is made up of a range of people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. With such diversity it is essential that we represent our students in the most effective way possible.

Student Council resolves:

- That the council should change the Name of the 'Black Rep' to 'Ethnic Minority Rep' to effectively promote diversity at Bath Spa University.

To:

Student Council

From: Leon Wankum Equal Opps Officer

Prepared By: Leon Wankum Equal Opps Officer

Date: 5th February 2013

Subject: Changing the Name of the Black Rep

13/04

Bath Spa University Students’ Union

Student Council notes:

The university is aiming to have multi-cultural body in future.

This means that we will have more students from all over the world with different beliefs and tradition.

One of the most important of this tradition is praying and have a suitable place to pray.

Student Council believes:

Unfortunately at the moment BSU does not have any area for praying and some students have come to and ask me where they should go for praying. Also, SU believes that this is their right to have a place to practice their tradition such as praying.

Student Council resolves:

Agreement of the council.

Present this motion to the Vice-Chancellor by Black students’ rep and Union officer to suggest to have a chapel or a place for praying in their building map.

To:

Student Council

From: Sharareh Houshmandyar, Black Students’ Officer

Prepared By: Sharareh Houshmandyar

Date: 5th Feb 2013

Subject: Building a Chapel

13/05

Student Council Minutes of Student Council

Meeting held 4 December 2012: 18:00 – 20:00 Newton Park, Main House MHG.15

In attendance: Chair: Amy Dawson (SU President) Deputy Chair: Amy Stringer (VP Activities & Participation) Clerk: Dani Glazzard (Representation and Welfare Assistant)

Name Representing Name Representing

Emma Weskin SU Vice-President Welfare & Campaigns

Kym Gribble Art & Design Officer

Hannah West Clubs and Socs Officer

Sarah Kanan Environment & Ethics Officer

Izzy Shepherd Media Officer Luke Galloway SpaLife Radio

Lindsay Horler Women’s Rep Sharareh Houshmandyar

Black Students’ Rep

Simon Jilley Religions and Beliefs Rep

Kay Panisales International Rep

Daisy Holder Disability Rep Abigail Maskill Mental Health Rep

Shaun Herrington Art & Design School Rep

Sarah Horsman Education School Rep

Sean Sloan Humanities and Cultural Industries School Rep (and Debating)

Heather Copeland Music and Performing Arts School Rep

Grace Llwellyn Polo Beth Nelder Equestrian

Richard Feist Hockey Naomi Partridge Yoga

Georgie Turle Sign James Gambs Clay Pigeon Shooting

Lee Millington Welsh Jonathan Bayes SPArinters

Benjamin Perrett Squash Harriet Formby Enterprise Observers: Sarah Dawes (CEO), Chris Lyne (Ultimate Disc) Apologies: Annabelle Hoyle (Netball), Matt Coot (SpaLife TV), Chris Hutchins (Men’s Football), Ailbhe Ni Chaoimh (Samba), Tom Chivers (Labour), Maggie Coll (LGBT), Nathan Jones (Debating), Georgie Keyes (Cheerleading), David Kernich (Tennis), Nick Parish (SpaLife Marketing). Minutes of previous meeting: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. They can be found on the Student Council page of the Union website.

Matters Arising

Demo2012: Bath Spa took a coach to NUS Demo 2012 – Bath Spa had twice as many people as Bath Uni (wahey)! Further local action will be planned for next term. Training was offered to all attendees as requested by Student Council.

On-line sign-up: Vice-President Activities reported that online sign up had been discussed in the societies subcommittee (minutes online) and the review was on-going.

Sion Hill bus: SU President reported that she had asked the University to put up more publicity. She also noted that the charge for the shuttle bus had now been introduced and they would need to see how this affected its use. The Art & Design Officer commented that it seemed to have dropped.

Article 4 & Additional Licensing: Vice-President Welfare & Campaigns took the Student Council’s comments to a discussion with the University and they submitted a joint consultation on additional licensing. The Additional Licensing consultation is now closed but Student Council members are encouraged to sign the petition against Article 4, which is still open: http://www.bathspasu.co.uk/representation/content/878513/.

Chair’s Business

Snow Ball: 7th December, £12, tickets from Sion Hill reception, SU reception and on the barspa facebook page.

Quorum: The Students’ Union President reminded everyone that they needed to come to meetings or find replacements otherwise the Council could note vote on matters legitimately.

Affiliated Societies: The Students’ Union President asked society and club presidents to note whether their society was affiliated or not (10 paid members or more); those societies who are not affiliated were invited to Council as their contributions to discussion are very valuable but unfortunately their vote could not be counted.

Item Points of discussion Actions SC12/31

Strategic

Plan

Sarah Dawes (CEO) facilitated a session in which council members fed ideas into the upcoming strategic plan on flipchart paper:

SC12/32 Liberation Update

Lindsay Horler (Women’s Rep) and Simon Jilley (Religions and Beliefs Rep) updated Student Council on the progress of two papers they’d passed in 2011/12. Religions and Beliefs Rep: Simon Jilley is the Union’s first Religions and Beliefs Rep. In his role, he has focused on establishing a Religions and Beliefs Forum and a Quiet Space. The Religions and Beliefs Forum is a weekly discussion group, which has guest speakers at most of its meetings. On average, there are 6 students present but the forum has received a £400 grant from the NUS, which has allowed it to put on bigger events such as the Spirituality &Psychedelics lecture, which had over 40 attendees. The forum has been very successful – the speakers create stronger ties with the community and encourages students to engage in different beliefs systems. It ties in with the university’s equality duty (Equality Act 2010), which says that universities must foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and people who don’t. Simon is currently planning the 2013 schedule and asked for suggestions or comments from any students. A student council member suggested that the forum invite members of Christian Union. Simon reported that he had done but would look to make stronger ties now that the forum was more established. Simon has also established a quiet space twice weekly. This is a space where students can go to relax, pray or meditate. Attendance at the quiet space is quite low (on average 2.6) but the SU’s representation and welfare assistant has offered to help promote it and a creative writing student is now doing a project on it. Simon is hoping to put on a quiet space specifically for students’ union staff. Multicultural Fest: Student Council also agreed to a multicultural fest to promote diversity in Bath last year. The Liberation Reps are now beginning to organise this festival and are hoping to get as many people involved as possible. The festival will include dance, music, food, art and more from many different cultures. The provisional date is 19th April. The Liberation Reps have put out a call for volunteers as they will not be able to organise it on their own. They are also running a competition for who can come up with the best name for the festival – there will be a prize for the winner. Student Council members who are interested in being involved should give their names to Lindsay Horler in person or by e-mail lindsay.horler09@bathspa.ac.uk.

Simon Jilley to contact CU about future of forum.

SC12/33 Graduation Abbey

Simon Jilley (Religions and Beliefs Rep) presented his paper adding that since it had been written the forum had taken place. A number of concerns were raised focusing on students’ disappointment that graduation would not be at Newton Park, some students’ discomfort at the ceremony happening in a place of worship, and a discussion around a prayer/moment of reflection that normally takes place before any ceremony at the abbey. Simon Jilley stressed that the service would be secular and that it was being moved to the Abbey because it

could not take place in Newton Park due to building works. Simon Jilley asked Student Council for any comments or opinions that he could feed back to Chris Ellicott. Some students raised concerns that students within other faith groups would not be able to enter the church. Muslim students said they would not feel uncomfortable in the Abbey and that they didn’t think other Muslims would. However, the example of Jehovah’s Witnesses was cited; they would not be able to go to Graduation if it took place in the Abbey. 2 students said they would not go to Graduation if it took place in the Abbey. Others said they would be uncomfortable being surrounded by Christian iconography/graduating in a place of worship. One student said it was akin to graduating in a Mosque or Gurdwara, which everyone would find bizarre. Other students countered this by saying it was the most iconic building in Bath and that’s why it was appropriate. Some students were excited to have graduation in the abbey due to its architecture and prestige; they said they’d had the same feedback from others. They felt it elevated Bath Spa to the same status as Bath Uni in people’s minds. Other students felt somewhere more associated with Bath Spa would be more appropriate (‘Wetherspoons would be more representative!’). One student commented that some American Unis have 2 services – one religious and one secular. Students asked about other venues. The Students’ Union President stressed that other venues had been considered. The University had spoken to Bath Uni about which venues they have had most success with and Bath Uni said the Abbey. The SU President noted that Bath Uni have a greater number of international students and are likely to have a greater diversity of religions represented in their student body but as far as we know have had no significant problems with graduation. The Students’ Union President informed Council that the Guild Hall would be used for robing and photos but was not big enough for the ceremony itself. Student Council asked whether 30/40 Royal Oak, Corsham Court, Sion Hill for art students, or Hartham Park had been considered. The Students’ Union President suspected they had accessibility, parking and capacity issues but said these ideas could be passed onto the University. Some students suggested a survey and if a significant number of students feel excluded by the venue, an alternative could be looked into. Another student suggested that non-religious students could be invited to enter the abbey after the prayer. One student requested that students who did not want to graduate in the abbey be given an alternative way to collect their scrolls.

SJ & AD to feed all comments back to Uni.

SC12/34 National Scholarship Programme.

Vice-President Welfare gave a presentation on the National Scholarship Programme. She then posed the question to Student Council: should the £2000 non-cash part of the NSP be allocated entirely as student choice in 2013/14 or

as £1000 student choice and £1000 contribution to placement expenses? Student Council asked for clarification on what the £1000 for placements would cover. Many members said that they had taken part in placements and they were usually voluntary or paid so why would the university encourage students to pay for placements? If the amount was simply to cover expenses then none of them had ever encountered such extensive expenses and so thought the £1000 was excessive and would be better put towards accommodation/fee waiver/studio fees etc.. The School Rep for Education raised the concern that £1000 on placements would not be appropriate for all courses as some have placements within their course and others don’t. She commented that certainly the placements in Education did not amount to £1000. One member of the Council commented that having £1000 reserved exclusively for placements would encourage people to take work experience, which would put them in good stead for the future and that there is a work placement module open to all students. He also noted that having this sum of money would widen students’ options for placements as they could consider placements further from Bath. He suggested that there could be a smaller sum reserved for placements or that the placement option could exist within a choice of options but that students would be encouraged to use their NSP that way. Students were concerned that reserving £1000 of NSP allocation for placements would penalise students who were working and could not take on extra placements. Student Council members stressed that each student’s situation is slightly different and the student choice would best reflect that. Vice-President Welfare asked student council to take a vote on what they thought the best options were – not as a matter of Student Council policy but rather to see if there was a consensus. Students who thought that £1000 should be reserved for placements: 0 Students who thought that £500 should be reserved for placements: 8 Students who thought that all £2000 should be given over to student choice: 20

EW to feedback to Bursary Group

SC12/35 Elections

The Representation and Welfare Assistant proposed the new elections regulations and asked for any comments, feedback or amendments. Concerns were about the campaigns budget being raised to £50 as this could potentially exclude students from taking part in elections. However, the reality is most candidates are spending over £25 anyway so the raise is to reflect that and reduce complaints. Students asked whether there could be a loans or grant system for students without sufficient money. Students queried whether it was necessary to monitor all receipts and asked about students who sourced free resources for their campaign. Some Council members felt it seemed petty. The R&W Assistant suggested it was about showing a commitment from the Union to keeping the rules and that although it was petty, often candidates become petty in the stress of elections week. The

Dani to investigate possibility of an elections fund for candidates.

Union needs to be better placed to answer/consider their complaints. Resources sourced for free would be acceptable but should be logged with the Elections Committee and it will be left to them to decide whether something is acceptable. Students suggested it would be better to put a value on everything and say that students could use x pieces of A4, x bedsheets, x t-shirts etc.. The R&W Assistant said that some unis do this (St Andrews) but it can restrict creative campaigning. This should be considered as a possible alternative if complaints/violations of elections rules don’t drop this year. The Students’ Union President asked the Council to approve the Elections regulations in 3 parts. Student Council voted unanimously in favour of making NUS the Returning Officer for elections. Student Council voted in favour of establishing an Elections Committee (27 in favour, 1 abstained) Student Council voted in favour of raising the Campaigns budget for Sabbatical Officers (25 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstained). The Students’ Union Elections Regulations are approved.

DG to consider more specific candidate rules on resources for next year.

SC12/36 Job Title of Vice-President

Vice-President Welfare & Campaigns presented the paper. There was a discussion around whether it would be a disadvantage to not have ‘campaigns’ in anyone’s job titles. If it is misleading to give it to one person should all sabbatical officers have it in their titles? All sabbatical officers have it in their job descriptions. Student Council unanimously voted in favour of changing the Vice-Presidents’ job title.

There was no other business. Meeting Closed: 8.00 Date of next meeting: 05 February 2012, 6pm-8pm, MH G.15