guild council motions 6th december 2011

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  • 8/3/2019 Guild Council Motions 6th December 2011

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    8a: Active Opposition to Racism and Fasc

    GC.12.11.8a

    Author Name:Azeema Farooq

    Purpose:

    Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    Mandate Officer(s) or Committees(s)

    Summary:

    Active opposition to Racism and Facism

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    2.1. Belief and Commitment Title or Bye Law

    2.2 Proposed Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and Commitment)

    Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1. Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    Active O osition to Racism and Fascism

    The Anti-Racism Anti-Fascism (ARAF) Officer

    For the ARAF Officer to arrange a training event at least once a term for students wanting to beactively involved in ARAF campaigns, and to work with organisations such as Hope not Hate andUnite Against Fascism to achieve this.

    If the English Defence League (or any other no platformed organisation) plan to demonstrate inthe Birmingham area and a counter-demonstration has been called, for the ARAF Officer to

    promote the counter-demonstration and help co-ordinate any students who wish to join it.

    By end of 2011/12 academic year

    The Guild currently has a no platform policy towards the English Defence League and otherracist/fascist groups and is committed to combating all such instances of bigotry anddiscrimination. However there is still much more that can be done to build a student movement

    against racism/fascism. Last October the English Defence League held a demonstration inBirmingham City Centre yet the counter-demonstration was poorly attended, and there was nomeaningful student organising to oppose their marching in our city. The Guild should use itsresources to build a strong anti-racism/fascism campaign on campus and in the wider

    community.

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    8b: Peaceful Protest

    12.11.8b

    Author Name: Sebastian Egerton-Read

    Purpose:

    Amend Existing Policy

    Summary:

    Amend guild of students beliefs and commitments section 18, to include a statement

    on an individuals right to protest, which is currently absent from the current

    statement.Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section One: Amend Existing Policy

    1.1. Title of Belief and Commitment

    1.2. Proposed Amended Text (normally no more than 200 words)

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    Please explain the rationale for your motion. Please ensure that your statement does not

    contain any profane or derogatory language.

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    18. Student Protests

    The Guild supports peaceful direct action and protest, within the law of the land andin line with Guild policy.

    The Guild of Students believes in individuals rights to carry out peaceful directaction. The guild will not distance itself from legal non-violent protest, although itmay not in all cases explicitly condone it. The Guild shall do all it can to protect its

    activists from being subjected to violence and intimidation, and provide guidance to

    them about their rights in protest situations and how to diffuse potentially violentsituations.

    Guild Policy (18) is currently very vague. A more specific and more clearly worded

    belief/commitment is needed given the current political climate with heavy cuts tohigher and further education. Furthermore, Guild Policy (18) makes no mention of anindividuals right to peaceful direct action. This would seem to be a serious omission

    given the waves of direct action that have been occurring in the last 12 months. This

    amendment corrects this by stating that the Guild of Students believes in anindividuals right to take peaceful direct action, though it is not forced to explicitly

    condone it.

    It should be noted that this brings Birmingham Guild of Students policy closer to thecurrent NUS policy (Amendment 301D on page 11 of the list of motions from the NUS

    Conference 2011 in Newcastle). That policy states:To support the peaceful direct action including UK Uncuts occupations of high street

    stores of companies guilty of tax evasion such as Boots, Vodafone and Topshop andstudent occupations on campus against cuts and fees.

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    8c: Freshers Fest Committee

    12.11.8c

    Author Name: Tim Lucas

    Purpose:

    Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    Summary: To amend the Bye-laws to include the Freshers Fest Committee, which has

    existed since 2009.

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section Two: Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    2.1. Belief and Commitment Title or Bye Law

    2.2 Proposed Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and Commitment)

    14. Freshers Fest committee

    14.1 Purpose14.1.1 To represent the views of students in the organisation of theFreshers Fest package

    14.1.2 The committee shall be responsible for direction, decision

    making and evaluation of Freshers Fest each year.14.1.3 The committee shall not be responsible for the actual

    operational delivery of Freshers Fest. This shall be the job of relevantdepartments of the guild of students.14.1.4 The committee shall vote on all decisions relating to thedelivery of Freshers Fest but where necessary the venues manager

    may veto a decision by the committee if;

    A decision is against the best financial interests of the Guild of

    Students.

    A decision may adversely affect the reputation of the guild of

    students.

    14.1.3.1 The trustee board retains the ultimate responsibility for all

    legal. Financial and reputational matters for this event.

    14.2 Membership/ Composition

    14.2.1 The Freshers Fest Committee shall consist of:Chair - Vice President (Housing and Community)

    Vice President (Democracy and Resources)

    Vice President (Activities and Development)

    2 Full members elected by guild council.

    3 Residents Association Committee members elected at

    ResExec (At least 1 must be a member from a non-Vale

    residence)

    Venues Manager

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    Freshers Fest Committee

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    8c: Freshers Fest Committee

    14.3 Main Duties

    14.3.1 To Provide a package of social activity for new students duringthe welcome fortnight.14.3.2 All members to bring ideas regarding design, delivery and

    evaluation of the event.

    14.3.3 Staff and Student member will routinely and jointly engagewith resexec regarding the design and delivery of the event.

    14.3.4 Report to guild council on developments, its activities and

    decisions.14.3.5 To ensure an effective evaluation of the event is conducted.

    14.3.6 To meet on a weekly basis or at the discretion of the chair.

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)First of all the distinction between Freshers Fest and welcome week must be made clear.

    Freshers Fest is the entertainments package run by the Guild of Students that forms

    part of welcome week. This motion does not relate to any other activity conducted bythe guild of students in welcome week (i.e freshers fair, societies fair etc etc).

    Three years ago a large number of students campaigned for Freshers Fest to be studentled and for students to be at the heart of the planning process. As a result of the hard

    work of a body of students, with the popular backing of many more via a petition, in

    agreement with senior management the Freshers Fest committee was set up in 2009.This committee had an agreed terms of reference with senior management that are

    essentially identical to the criteria laid out in this motion.

    Since the setting up of this committee Freshers Fest has sold more packs than previousyears, raising the guild more money than ever before and has seen the guild stop

    outsourcing the events delivery to Vodbull. As a result Freshers Fest is currently the

    guilds largest single money making event, raising well in excess of 100,000 each yearfor the guild.

    Currently this committee is not part of the guild of students by-laws meaning that the

    committee and students themselves are not protected by the guild by laws.Unfortunately since 2009 this committee has been gradually side-lined, which is

    disregarding the will of students and has caused problems with the planning and

    organisation of Freshers Fest. The committee of 2010 had three elected students(elected from resexec) and two students appointed via an open application process. Thishopefully shows that the committee already has an emphasis on openness and

    democracy.

    To ensure that this committee is protected and supported for years to come it is VITAL

    to formalise the committee in the guild by-laws. This will ensure that the student voice,

    which has proven time and time again to be so vital to this event, is not sidelined andignored. With this formalisation the full committee can be elected, increasing itsaccountability and democratic relevance in turn.

    Students are a vital part of the events organisation and delivery therefore it is essentialto keep them at the heart of the planning processes. Fortunately the guild itself

    recognises this input with the freshers fest website stating Fresher's Fest 2011 is theultimate introduction to life at University and is designed by the Guild of Students andstudent members to ensure you have the time of your life.

    Many students have fought so hard to set this committee up, and to keep it alive. It is

    now important that we recognise their efforts by formalise this committee into the guildby-laws.

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    8d: Community Business Practic

    GC.12.11.8d

    Author Name: Sean Farmelo

    Author Email:[email protected]

    Author Phone Number: 07972610148

    Purpose:

    Add New Policy / Bye-Law

    Mandate Officer(s) or Committee(s)

    Summary:

    The guild should endeavour to keep business ventures within the community.Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    2.1. Belief and Commitment Title or Bye Law

    2.2 Proposed Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and Commitment)

    Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1.Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    GUILDCOUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    The Guild believes, where possible, it should own and run new business ventures or

    work with businesses in the local community. If a national or multinational company

    is to be invited to operate out of the Guild of Students, the Memberships judgementshould be consulted through the Guilds democratic structures and taken into account

    when making decisions.

    Community Business Practices

    VPDR

    To look into setting up a tendering process which will, firstly consider the possibility

    of running the project ourselves then tendering out to the local community and

    finally, if unavoidable, going to a national or multi-national company.

    Next Guild Council

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    8d: Community Business Practic

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    The Guild is a place where students spend lots of time and consequently spend lots ofmoney. I feel that the highest percentage possible of money that we invest in theGuild via financial transactions should be ploughed back into its operation. At first

    inspection it seems that a company run by the Guild would be more of a financial

    asset than one which takes a cut of profits for itself, and the guild should seriouslyinvestigate this every time it considers new business ventures. If for some reason the

    Guild finds after the investigation that it is not feasible to run the venture itself itshould consider the opening / opportunity with businesses in Selly Oak and

    Birmingham.

    The University is a vital part of south Birminghams economy and local companiesoperating out of the Guild would only help the area to flourish, money spent in these

    businesses would also go directly back into the community.

    National and Multinational corporations by definition deplete local economies of theirresources, money taken as profit will not enter back into our local economies let alone

    our Guild.

    This isnt constructive and unless there is a really good reason inviting corporationsinto our guild this option shouldnt be considered at all, if however it is necessary

    Membership should be consulted. The democratic structure of the Guild represents the

    body of students that will be the consumers of the products and are therefore bestplaced to judge whether or not the corporation is one they would be happy having

    operating out of the Guild, no executive decisions should be taken before Membershiphas been consulted as it is only right that the democratic bodies of the Guild can voicetheir opinion on the companies operating out of it.

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    8e : Disciplinary Polic

    12.11.8e

    Author Name:

    Purpose:

    Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    Mandate Officer(s) or Committees(s)

    Summary: The guild believes that its disciplinary policy for officers and students should be

    as democratic as possible

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section Two: Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    2.1. Belief and Commitment Title or Bye Law

    Please write the title of your proposed new Belief and Commitment or Bye Law. Please

    remember that all titles should be explicitly descriptive of the specific Beliefs and

    Commitment or Bye Law proposed

    2.2 Proposed Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and Commitment)

    Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1. Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    Through Mandates Guild Council shall have the ability to mandate any Guild of Students

    Officer or Committee.

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    All mandates shall establish a date for the mandated to have completed all actions. This

    date shall be within one calendar year of the Guild Council meeting the motion is being

    discussed.

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    (2.2) the guild believes that its disciplinary policy for officers and students should beas democratic as possible.

    Disciplinary policy

    VPDR

    Next guild council

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    8e : Disciplinary Polic

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    Mandates shall be solely concerned with mandating a specific Guild of Students Officer

    or Committee to carry out certain actions. Please make sure to avoid conflicts with Guild

    of Students Governing Documents or the Laws of the Land.

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    Please explain the rationale for your motion. Please ensure that your statement does not

    contain any profane or derogatory language.

    To submit a version of the Birkbeck disciplinary policy that fits into guild structures

    while keeping all the democratic fundamentals such as the complaints and disputescommittee and the option to take disciplinaries to referenda.

    Attached is the disciplinary policy from birkbeck student union, as an ordinary studentI dont have the time or knowledge of legal structures to rewrite it for the guild. What

    it shows is that having a completely undemocratic disciplinary policy is not a legalnecessity but a choice. I call on the VPDR to implement a democratic disciplinary

    policy based on the one below

    http://www.birkbeckunion.org/pageassets/aboutus/rules/Disciplinary-Complaints-and-Disputes-Regulations.pdf

    http://www.birkbeckunion.org/pageassets/aboutus/rules/Disciplinary-Complaints-and-Disputes-Regulations.pdfhttp://www.birkbeckunion.org/pageassets/aboutus/rules/Disciplinary-Complaints-and-Disputes-Regulations.pdfhttp://www.birkbeckunion.org/pageassets/aboutus/rules/Disciplinary-Complaints-and-Disputes-Regulations.pdfhttp://www.birkbeckunion.org/pageassets/aboutus/rules/Disciplinary-Complaints-and-Disputes-Regulations.pdfhttp://www.birkbeckunion.org/pageassets/aboutus/rules/Disciplinary-Complaints-and-Disputes-Regulations.pdf
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    8f: Belief 9 Higher Education Fundi

    12.11.8f

    Author Name: Simon furse

    Purpose:

    Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    Summary:

    The Guild of Students opposes cuts to higher education funding

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section One: Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    1.1. Title of Belief and Commitment or Bye-Law

    1.2. Proposed Amended Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and

    Commitment)

    Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1. Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    Through Mandates Guild Council shall have the ability to mandate any Guild of StudentsOfficer or Committee.

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    All mandates shall establish a date for the mandated to have completed all actions. This

    date shall be within one calendar year of the Guild Council meeting the motion is being

    discussed.

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    Belief 9 Higher Education Funding.

    The Guild of Students opposes cuts to higher education funding, believing that they will damage the education of

    students and the job security of university staff and diminish the UKs global standing in higher education. The

    Guild will work at both a local and a national level to oppose them.

    The guild supports the principle of a public education system set out in a response to the government white

    paper written by thecampaign for the public universityhttp://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-

    content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdf. The guild views the white paper as a double

    attack on this generation of students who will be faced by the twin burdens of record public and private debt.

    The Guild believes it has the duty to back NUS supported demonstrations and protests, and believes it has the

    duty to play a significant part in the mobilisation for aforementioned demonstrations and protests.

    President

    9thDecember

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdfhttp://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdfhttp://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdfhttp://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdfhttp://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdfhttp://publicuniversity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Response_to_White_Paper_Final.pdfmailto:[email protected]
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    8f: Belief 9 Higher Education Fundi

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    The president will release a statement on behalf of the guild criticising the vice chancellor for his part in theBrowne review and calling on him to defend the interests of his students and staff by standing up for the principleof public education.

    The guild needs to articulate a clear alternative to the governments white paper. Luckily a document outlining abetter system of delivering education has already been created. The idea of a public education is usually criticisedwith the assertion that it costs too much, however if we look at the costs of the marketised system set out in thewhite paper we see that it will cost even more. By 2015/16 the governments own estimates predict that the size ofthe public debt from student loans will triple from 24 billion to 75 billion. This is based on an average universityfee of 7,500 which is not going to happen and so underestimates the cost of the debt. A report by the Public

    Accounts committee suggests that the funding gap will cost the taxpayer an extra 95m a year. In this context it isworth standing up for a public education system that costs less than the governments plans and produces moresocially beneficial results

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    8g : Theres Something about Swear

    12.11.8g

    Author Name: Vici Royle (Satellite Sites Officer)

    Author Email: [email protected]

    Author Phone Number: 07841870791

    Purpose:

    Mandate Officer(s) or Committees(s)

    Summary:

    To mandate the Chair of Guild Council to enforce a disciplinary policy for the fair use of

    language in Guild Council Meetings.

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1. Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    VPDR and the Chair of Guild Council

    For the Chair of the Guild Council to amend the Guild Council guidance notes to

    include a yellow and red card system whereby if any attendee at Guild Council uses

    inflammatory or derogatory language (including swearing or offensive language) during

    a meeting in any context, excluding direct quotations, the individual will be warned on

    first instance then on second instance, by the same individual at the same meeting,

    asked to leave.

    For the Chair of Guild Council to enforce the yellow and red card system using discretion

    for what constitutes unacceptable language.

    As soon as possible

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    8g : Theres Something about Swear

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    It is already generally accepted that using inflammatory or derogatory language

    (including swearing or offensive language) during a Guild Council meeting is

    inappropriate and the Chair does remind those who use such language to refrain fromfurther doing so. However, there is nothing yet in the Guild Council guidelines that

    acknowledges this. To have a clear written rule of the fair use of language with a system

    that punishes those who go against it would remind attendees that the Guild Council

    meetings are not intended to be intimidating or offensive and would remove attendees

    who insist on using unacceptable language.

    Though the Chair currently reminds attendees not to use offensive language, there have

    been instances whereby swearing has been used without regard to those who would be

    offended by such language. This shows that there is a need for a rule and disciplinary

    policy. The yellow and red card system would not restrict free speech and debate during

    Guild Council meetings and may encourage more Guild Councillors to participate in

    debate knowing that intimidating language is officially against the rules.

    This particular system is fair in that a first instance may be a slip-of-the-tongue or mistake

    and, as such, would be unlikely to result in the individual being asked to leave the

    meeting. It also gives fair warning to those who deliberately use offensive language: if an

    individual who has received a yellow card warning continues to use offensive

    terminology they would be justifiably asked to leave the meeting in order to remind Guild

    Council attendees that the meeting is a safe space for free speech that does not

    intimidate or cause offense.

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    8h : Home Student Officer Classifica

    12.11.8h

    Author Name: Joshua Henwood

    Purpose:

    Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    Summary:

    To revise the classification of a Home Student in order for all Home Students to be

    represented by the Home Students Officer

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section One: Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law1.1. Title of Belief and Commitment or Bye-Law

    1.2. Proposed Amended Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and

    Commitment)

    Section Two: Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    Please explain the rationale for your motion. Please ensure that your statement does not

    contain any profane or derogatory language.

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    8.8.12: Home Students' Officer (who would be expected to be a Full Member that has

    entered the University of Birmingham from a local educational and home background)

    8.8.12: Home Students' Officer (who would be expected to be a Full Member that has

    entered the University of Birmingham from a home background)

    - The Home Students Officer shall:

    -- Campaign on issues of interest/concern to Home Students.

    -- Support the work (which may include chairing) of any relevant RepresentationAssociation.

    -- Promote the interests of Full Members who are resident in their permanent residence as

    re istered at the Universit of Birmin ham, the Guild and wider as a ro riate.

    The current wording of this bye-law insinuates that students who class themselves as living

    at home (home students hereafter) can only class themselves as such, provided that they

    are living with their parents and/or have come from a local education background.

    Firstly, this is exclusionary to mature students and student parents as many would now beliving independently - but also class the local area, and their current residence, as their

    home. Furthermore, other students may be living independently of their parents and class

    the local area as their home.

    Therefore, to say that these sections of students who class themselves as living at home but

    are unrepresented by this bye-law have the right to representation by the Home Students'

    Officer and the Guild of Students in order for more focused representation on home

    students' issues.

    This amendment would mean that a home student is classed as such if the permanent

    address registered by the student with the University is their current residence while

    studying. This would entitle students who class themselves as a home student, but don't livewith their parents, fair representation within the Guild of Students.

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    8i: Byelaw 8.8.1 move to VPA

    12.11.8i

    Author Name: Chris Bates

    Purpose:

    Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    Summary: To amend bye-law 8.8.1 so that the President no longer has the duty of Be the

    Editor-in-Chief of all official Guild publications instead this duty should pass to the Vice

    President of Activities and Development

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section One: Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    1.1. Title of Belief and Commitment or Bye-Law

    1.2. Proposed Amended Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and

    Commitment)

    Section Two: Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    8.8.1 Be the Editor-In-Chief of all official Guild publications

    Move this bye-law to 8.8.6, duties of the VPAD

    The VPAD is the de-facto head of all student groups a position claimed throughdemonstrating that they understand the needs and concerns of groups, often through

    their own past experiences. The VPAD is the most visible member of the Guildauthority, and who the Groups turn to in need of support or advice. Our media groups

    are some of the largest groups in the Guild, involving vast numbers of students on aregular basis in some amazing activities.

    The President does not have the same connection to the media groups as the VPAD,

    which has caused conflict and consternation in the past, with the President struggling

    to understand the work of the groups in the way that the VPAD does. This motionseeks to give the power of these important student groups and their work to the

    officer who most understands them, giving more free time to the President and

    creating a more inclusive atmosphere within student groups as they see the VPAD asthe true figure of authority within their circle.

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    8j. Postgraduate Representati

    12.11.8j

    Author Name: Ben Aylott

    Purpose:

    Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    Summary: To amend the bye-laws so as to effect an increase in the number of

    Postgraduate Guild Councillors.

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section One: Amend Existing Policy/Bye-Law

    1.1. Title of Belief and Commitment or Bye-Law

    1.2. Proposed Amended Text (normally no more than 200 words in case of Belief and

    Commitment)

    Section Two: Add New Policy/Bye-Law

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    Bye-law 5 Guild Council / 3.1.5

    3.1.5 Elected Cross Campus positions open to any student 18positions, of which atleast two must be first year students and at least sixmust be Postgraduate students,elected in a cross campus ballot.

    There are 8,707 (2010-11) Postgraduate students at the University of Birmingham,representing ~33% of the total number of students. Postgraduate students areidentified by the Guild of Students as a group who are under-represented within theGuild and University at large.Compared to undergradautes they are a group from a more diverse range ofbackgrounds and personal circumstances; ~65% (2010-11) of international studentsare Postgraduates and a large number of PGs are also Mature and Home students.They also practice a wide range of modes of study and research, each with their ownunique set of issues, ranging from one year taught masters students to full-timeresearch students involved in teaching activities.

    Problems with representation for PGs are compounded by under-representation onGuild Council where they are automatically dis-advantaged in departmental and openplace elections where they have to compete directly with undergraduates, whogenerally have wider support bases and better awareness of how the Guild works.As a way of improving this situation we propose an increase in both the total numberof open place positions (from 12 to 18) and those reserved for Postgraduates (from 2to 6). The overall number of positions has increased because we believe the openplace system should be used as a mechanism to bring under-represented groups intocouncil and this will introduce more flexibility in distributing the seats .

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    8k. Bringing the Guild into Disrepute

    12.11.8k

    Author Name: Amanda Moorghen

    Purpose:

    Mandate Officer(s) or Committees(s)

    Summary:

    To mandate the VPDR and President to investigate including a mechanism for Guild

    Council to determine whether a member has brought the Guild into disrepute.

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.

    Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1. Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    GUILD COUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    President and VPDR

    The President and VPDR to work with the proposer to investigate the inclusion of amechanism for GC to determine whether the Guild has been brought into disreputeby a member or officer.

    February 2011 Guild Council

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    8k. Bringing the Guild into Disrepute

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    Please submit motion [email protected] the motions deadline. Guild of

    Students Steering Committee reserves the right to amend the text of any proposed Belief

    and Commitment or Mandate to correct mistakes in spelling, grammar or procedure. This

    may include removing superfluous text. Such corrections shall not be made to yourWritten Statement.

    Should the Steering Committee feel that substantive changes are needed for your motion

    to fulfil criteria for submission to Guild Council then you will be contacted to discuss the

    issue.

    The notion of bringing the Guild of Students into disrepute is inherently subjective.

    Different people will have different ideas about the sorts of actions that harm thereputation of the Guild.

    Whilst the decision about the truth or falsity of such a subjective statement is not in

    the hands of the largest practical group of students, there is a risk that decisionsmade are not as likely to be representative of the student body as a whole as they

    could be.

    As such, the best course of action is to allow a vote at Guild Council to determinewhether the Guild has been brought into disrepute. The reasons for this are as

    follows:

    1. The more people who are involved in determining the truth or falsity of asubjective statement, the more likely it is that the decision they reach isrepresentative of the opinions of campus as a whole. Guild Council offers the

    largest feasible body to whom the question of whether the Guild has beenbrought into disrepute can be put. A campus-wide referendum would take too

    long and consume too many resources.

    2. Guild Council now takes place five times annually, which offers a large numberof opportunities for Guild Council to vote in instances where it is claimed thatthe Guild has been brought into disrepute.

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    8l: McCartney Room

    GC.12.11.8l

    Author Name: Oliver Cosentino (Northern Society President)

    Purpose: Rename the Old Mentor room to the McCartney Room

    Mandate Officer(s) or Committees(s)

    Summary:

    Renaming the Old Mentor Room at the Guild of Students to the McCartney Room.

    Please submit all motions [email protected] the motions deadline.Section Three: Mandate A Guild Officer(s) or Committee

    3.1.Person(s) Responsible For Delivering Mandate

    3.2. Completion Date for Mandate

    3.3. Mandate Text (shall normally be no more than 200 words)

    GUILDCOUNCIL MEETING

    6.12.11

    VPDR, Space Working Group

    To rename the Old Mentor Room at the Guild of Students to the McCartney Room.

    As soon as is feasibly possible

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    If h i l il il@ ild bh k

    8l: McCartney Room

    Section Four: Written Statement in Support of Motion (please do not go outside the box)

    We believe that the great name of McCartney should be honoured by renaming of one

    of the Guilds bookable rooms. A name that is synonymous with so much!

    Paul McCartney was a member of the best selling and most renowned band of all time,The Beatles! A group which has given so much to the world with their music since their

    formation in 1960. There are very few musicians today that havent been influenced by

    the Beatles and this is testament to their success and broad reaching appeal that they

    had at making defining and true music. The Beatles are also of course a band from the

    North of England with them all originating from Liverpool. With this being an inspiration for

    a lot of the music they produced. After the Beatles, Paul later went on to form the band,

    Wings where he joined up with his wife, Linda McCartney.

    Linda McCartney was a leading campaigner for many causes including animal rights

    which saw her working with and hugely supporting organisations such as PETA, The Council

    for the Protection of Rural England, Friends of the Earth, and she was also a patron of the

    League Against Cruel Sports. Not only this, Linda strove to promote vegetarianism throughher cookbooks and later on through her Linda McCartney Foods brand. A legacy witch

    still lives on today.

    On Monday 21st February 1972, Wings (with both Paul and Linda) performed an impromptu

    gig at the Guild of Students after just turning up one evening and asking if they could

    perform. Over 700 people crammed into the Deb Hall with many more trying to get in

    outside after news quickly went around of their arrival. This makes them a part of the

    Guilds long history; another reason why we should recognise the McCartney name here!

    What we have are two people that have given so much to the world. Two individuals that

    deserve to be acknowledged for their great work and the difference that they have

    made to so many people with their music and their tireless campaigning for good causes.

    Proposer: Oliver Cosentino (Northern Society President)

    Seconder: Chris Hutchinson (Northern Society Vice-President)