KUSU AGM
27th February 2014 3-5pm
Venue: Clattern Lecture Theatre
Chairs: Kathy Stanley-Quist (KSQ), Harriet Baggley (HB), Noor Khan (NK)
Tim Cobbett (TC) introduced meeting and outlined timetable.
KSQ chaired ‘Question Time’ event with Denza Gonsalves (DG), Julius Weinberg (JWb), Julian Welles (JW), Colum McGuire (CM).
Finances
HBintroduced finance reports. Mark Horne (MH) outlined auditors.
Approved.
MH then outlined: risk management, the Union reserves policy and charity accounting.
The headline figures for 2012/2013 wereshown. MH explained current financial situation; there will be another deficit this year with fall in student numbers and University cuts to sports funding.
MH outlined the union’s financial threats including: funding to faculties cut, falling student numbers, upcoming move of the Union; where/when and what service s will still be provided, concerns around commercial spending and facilities spending and facilities.
Approved.
Point of order- motion to move forward planning and surveying motion before the officer reports.
Passes.
Motion: Closure of the School of Surveying and Planning
Speech for motion: Will Franden (WF)
WF outlined the serious concern for large number of students and explained there is a petition of over 800 students over proposed closure of school of surveying and planning. Current level 4 students will transfer to new course or institutions. Students will not complete the course they chose. Redundancy of academics means students will be taught by other staff. Proposal will go to Academic Board, April 9th.
WF suggested KUSU begin immediate dialogue with KU with the aim of keeping the school open and remain in close communication with NUS and UCU.
Proposition of amendment to the motion: Jack Etches (JE)
JE proposed to add new believes 7: ‘The decision to suspend the Head of School is an attempt to silence opposition to the closure of the school’.
JE proposed to add new resolves 8: ‘This proposal is a concern for all KU students as it sets a dangerous precedent for more course closures’.
JE proposed to add resolves 5: ‘To lead the campaign against the closure of the School of Surveying and Planning. This involved using all available resources’.
JE proposed to add resolves 6: ‘To publicly condemn the closure of the School and the suspension of the Head of School.’
Speech for amendment:
JE explained this was an amendment to strengthen motion. The VC will not arrange meetings with students, answer emails, engage in dialogue. A strong stance needs to be taken.
Question to proposer of amendment: what does public statement mean?
Press release e.g. to The River or Surrey Comet. KUSU should pool lobbies of the Board of Governors, organizing demonstrations etc.
Question to proposer of amendment: Should it not be ‘appropriate’ resources in resolves 5?
JE accepted change.
Amendment passes with change made.
No speech against motion.
Summation: Nick Beers (NB)
NB argued this closure will lead to reduction to value of courses for students due to dispersion. Student’s employability will be limited; students will not graduate with required level of experience. Potential loss of current staff members could lead to poorer quality of learning.
Motion passes.
Annual Reports
HB introduced video for officer reports.
Question for Lizzie Carse(LC): Are you aware of growing population of Muslim students?
LC explained she was aware but needs evidence for meetings with the University e.g. petitions, emails. Prayer space was not under her remit but she has an interest after feedback from students.
Motions
Motion for Date Change of AGM
Speech for motion: WF
WF explained that officers could compile a more comprehensive report for students by the second semester.
Question to proposer of motion: Is this not in second semester already?
This is second AGM- had to have first part in first semester to comply with bye-laws.
No speech against motion.
Summation: WF
WF reiterated that more comprehensive reports could be given in the second semester.
Motion passes.
Motion for Public Challenge of ‘Student Rights’
Speech for motion: Bashir Ibrahim (BI)
BI explained that the organization, Student Rights, write inflammatory articles against Muslim students. The group claim to support freedom from extremism, yet have supported talks by BNP. BI outlined their links to the Henry Jackson party. The SU should release public statement against marginalization of Muslim students.
Question to proposer of motion: What has been said by this group?
Omar Malik (OM): This year alone at least 3 articles have been published, claiming there have been extremist speakers on campus. Student Rights have made out the Islamic society to be an extremist group, though all speakers have been approved by SU. Quote by president of Henry Jackson Society: “conditions for Muslims across Europe need to be made harder”.
Question to proposer of motion: What topics were being spoken about that were classed as extremist?
One was talking about prayer and how Western Muslims could learn sincere prayer.
Proposition of amendment to the motion: Francesca Manning (FM)
FM proposed to add notes 4: ‘We are seeing a rise of racism in society generally and of Islamophobia specifically’.
FM proposed to add believes 4: ‘That we should stand against all racist scapegoating, including Islamophobia’.
FM proposed to add resolves 4: ‘To support and publicize the national demonstration against racism and fascism on 22nd March’.
Speech for amendment:
FM outlined that politicians have been attacking migrants and there have been fire bombings of mosques. There is an economic crisis and the mainstream media blame migrants for this. The SU should support demo against scapegoating and Islamophobia.
Amendment passes.
No speech against motion.
Summation waived.
Motion passes.
Two remaining motions referred to Executive Committee.
AGM Closes