Wednesday 04-11-2020 - 16:21

Max Kendix, Assembly Media Observer, reports from the first Assembly of the year.

The first Assembly meeting of the academic year, held on Zoom, saw elections, updates on the Democracy Review and Student Trustees, a new Culture Commission announced, and an amendment to the SU’s core position on Equality & Diversity.

A new year for Assembly

Assembly started with a message from former Assembly Chair Jonny McCausland. Recalling a turbulent year in student politics and for universities generally, he argued that “members of Assembly last year lost sight of what needed to be done” but went on to promote a message of unity in difficult times. The former Chair emphasised the significance of Assembly as a forum and wished the next Chair the best of luck.

Several competitive elections took place. Silas Welsh, Panagiota Karadimitriou, Caitlin Kay Guibout and Redrei Visaya were elected to open places, with Kate Little and Yash Raju elected to the Governance and Grants Committee. President Seun Twins chaired as a lack of nominations saw the election for Chair postponed to the next Assembly meeting.

Student Trustees

Reporting back from a meeting of the Board of Trustees, the governing body of the SU, Opportunities Officer Anna Marshall said that student trustees would be appointed by election in February. The previous plan for an appointment process was rejected following consultation with students.

A Culture Commission

Seun Twins announced that she is launching a report on Durham’s culture, which will take six to eight months. The President reflected that the report came out of her being “hyper-vocal about the Respect Commission and its shortcomings,” saying that “it’s time to address Durham’s culture as thoroughly as we possibly can.”

In her report to Assembly, Seun Twins vowed to “give Durham Students a chance to shape Durham University not only in their image but also in the image of what they should be,” noting the “dominant narrative of ‘the Durham Culture’” in the media and on campus. The commission will involve a mass student survey and focus groups leading to detailed recommendations for “long term, sustainable and systemic cultural change.”

Ten key commissioners, who will “direct the shape of the report”, have already been selected by the President.

Democracy Review update

Anna Marshall provided an update on a review of the SU’s democratic processes and structures. Having completed research over the summer, a survey is to be launched this term to gauge student views on “the purposes and priorities of democracy,” with over 1,000 participants expected. Ten brand ambassadors and a student researcher are being hired to help engage a broader demographic and give “enough contextual awareness of Durham.”

This will lead into designing “a whole new system” for the SU and “implementing changes to the way that formats like Assembly work.” The new models for democracy will then be taken to further student consultation, before being presented in a campus-wide referendum.

Amendments

Two amendments were presented to Assembly, both passing by an overwhelming majority. The first allowed Assembly to meet online in future, while the second added to the SU core position on Equality & Diversity. 

It added a commitment to “promote a whole-University approach to dismantle the existing structural inequalities and injustices which systematically oppress minority groups” and to “actively condemn any behaviours, languages and beliefs which further victimise underrepresented groups.”

Presenting the amendment, J Smith said that the SU should recognise that “the instances that have occurred should not be treated as isolated moments but a visual manifestation of systemic inequalities, injustices and prejudices." The amendment passed, with 90% voting to change the position.

The next Assembly meeting will be hosted on Zoom on Thursday 26 November.

 

If you're interested in running to be the next Assembly Chair or for a position on Governance and Grants Committee, these positions are still open. You can read more about the roles here (only the Assembly Chair position and Dovernance and Grants Committee remain open). The deadline has been extended until Monday 23 November.