Monday 13-12-2021 - 16:00

Laura Sadler, Assembly Media Observer, reports on Assembly, Thursday 09 December.

Chair: Seun Twins (interim)

Highlights:

Democracy Review Update

Officer Updates

Committee Updates

Association Updates

Election Results

Review and Ratification of Expired Policy

 

Democracy Review Update

Durham SU Chief Exec Gareth Hughes presented the progress with the Durham SU Democracy Review. This is a piece of work which began last year and is focusing on re-evaluating and reforming the democratic process of Durham Students' Union to make sure it is fair, inclusive, and representative of the student body. This work is being done with the input and advice of students and is focusing on the changes that students want to see. Some of the proposed changes will be more frequent Assemblies, a split between responsive (responding to recent events and incidents) and proactive (aspirational, future change) policy and the creation of short-term Task and Finish groups to work on specific issues. The Democracy Review is currently working on the creation of new Standing Orders to implement these changes. These will be presented to Assembly for ratification in the New Year.

Officer Update

Each of the five SU sabbatical officers presented an update on their recent work. It was noted by all that since only two weeks’ have passed since the last Assembly, the Officers continue with their priorities and work as outlined here.

Jack Ballingham (Opportunities Officer) noted the creation of the Student Groups Committee which now permits the allocation of grants for Student Groups. He attended the NUS Strategic Conversation conference to engage with other SU’s.

Charlie Proctor (Undergraduate Academic Officer) spoke of his work on the Senate decision to extend online exams by two hours. He has also been involved in archiving digital resources on DUO to prevent loss in the move to Learn Ultra.

Declan Merrington (Postgraduate Academic Officer) has been attending the UCU picket lines with a focus on the experience of Postgraduate Research students as well as examining postgraduate accessibility funds and doctoral training funding.

Jonah Graham (Welfare and Liberation Officer) has been looking to assist student associations in co-ordinating a response to the recent incident at South College and spoke at the student protest.

Seun Twins (SU President) is continuing to focus on welcoming the new Vice Chancellor Professor Karen O’Brien and the welcoming of Dr Shaid Mahmood into the newly established role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion).

 

Committee Updates

Here’s an update on what some of our committees have been getting up to and are planning for this year:

D.U.C.K (Durham University Charities Kommittee)

• Preparation for D.U.C.K Christmas Live Lounge (9 December) in aid of Centrepoint

Government & Grants

• Met for the first time this year
• Discussed expired policy for re-ratification (see Review and Ratification of Expired Policy)

Student Groups

• Ratifying the back-up of applications for new societies

 

Association Updates

Here’s an update on what some of our associations have been getting up to and are planning for this year:

Womxn’s

• Bake sale fundraising for the Hassockfield detention centre campaign
• Shifting executive committee roles and changing association name
• Planning for International Women’s Month

LGBT+

• Joint association statement in response to events at South
• Day to day management of student support
• Socials

People of Colour

• Anti-racism workshops
• Housing campaign for POC students
• Art exhibition project

The Officers at Durham SU would like to applaud the work of all Durham SU associations over the past few weeks in the wake of recent difficult events.

 

Election Results

We congratulate and welcome Natasja Enthoven as the new Chair of Assembly.

We congratulate and welcome Liam Robson into the Undergraduate Open Place.

There are still open places for representatives on the Governance and Grants Committee. SU Officers emphasise that student representation on this committee is crucial to ensure a legitimate democratic process within DSU. For more information or to apply, please email dsu.governance@durham.ac.uk

 

Review and Ratification of Expired Policy

The Assembly voted to either renew or lapse several expired policies on the recommendation of the Governance and Grants Committee. These are policies which were presented, voted in and implemented in previous years. However, due to their fixed-term dates, they have now expired and are submitted for review and a re-vote.

The Assembly voted to ratify and renew the following expired policies:

• UCU Anti-Casualisation
• International Tuition Fees
• Mo Mowlam
• Support for Direct Action Against Rising Accommodation Fees
• Durham University is Institutionally Disablist
• Fight the Housing Rush
• Support Access to Free, Safe and Legal Abortions
• Lobby Landlords to Accept International Guarantors
• Declaration of Climate Emergency

You can find out more about our policies by visiting the Policy Hub.

 

To conclude the meeting, the Chair announced that due to recent developments with the pandemic, Assembly will continue online for the foreseeable future. Seun thanked everyone for their recent solidarity, goodwill, and courage in the face of adversity.