Thursday 08-06-2023 - 09:35

 Melissa Rumbold, Assembly Media Observer, reports from Assembly, Thursday 25 May

Chair: Aalaina Khan

Highlights:

Secretary’s Report

Nuclear Weapons Policy Task and Finish Group

NUS Conference Update

NUS Liberation Conference Update

Officer Updates

Committee Updates

Association Updates

Proposed Student Group Governance Changes and Policy Review

Chair Aalaina Khan began the meeting by welcoming members and attendees. Minutes from the last Assembly meetings were approved.

Secretary's Report

Gareth Hughes (Secretary to Assembly) gave a presentation about Assembly and its Committees in the 22/23 academic year. He spoke on various issues that have happened throughout the year, including low engagement, low voting numbers in the membership elections, and the non-functioning of committees. Assembly was asked to aid the situation in future years.

Nuclear Weapons Policy Task and Finish Group

Jack Ballingham (Opportunities Officer) submitted a written update to about the success of the new nuclear weapons policy group. He explained that the group had had some successful meetings since its formation, with useful opinions and strategies shared.

NUS Conference Update

Joe McGarry spoke on behalf of Joshua Freestone (Undergraduate Academic Officer) and shared that several Durham students had attended NUS Conference. He explained that Durham’s housing policy, which was submitted to the Conference, was discussed by students from all over the UK.  The policy calls for more student rights regarding housing. Joe noted that the SU has also been urging NUS to lobby to protect students on this and other issues.

NUS Liberation Conference Update

Laura Curran (Welfare and Liberation Officer) gave an update on the recent Liberation Conference run by the NUS. She shared that the conference discussed accessibility, trans rights, and the protection of international students. Laura noted that the NUS is also forming liberation campaigns. Read Laura’s recent article on the NUS Liberation Conference here.

Officer Updates

Joe McGarry (SU President) has been discussing policy regarding exams with Joshua Freestone (Undergraduate Academic Officer) and Tony Fawcett (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education). The SU has been supporting the marking boycott and industrial action as a result of the referendum earlier in the year.  The University has sent out communications with Joe about the effects of the boycott, including interim degrees, to students. He has also been working with JCR PresComm on common room sustainability.

Laura Curran (Welfare and Liberation Officer) has recently attended the trans and non-binary café events, which she organised alongside the LGBTQ+ Association and the university’s EDI Team. The space brought together communities, and it was noted that more events will be held where information will be shared about trans-friendly spaces and other issues. Laura also appeared at the Northeast LGBT Conference, the first regional conference that spoke about LGBT issues, and she led a talk which involved students in the conversation. She has also been working on consultations regarding sexual harassment, regulating sexual health at university, and providing greater access and availability to university policies. There has been a push for active bystander training and an assessment of staff-student relationships.

Apologies were received from Jack Ballingham (Opportunities Officer) and Joshua Freestone (Undergraduate Academic Officer).

Committee Updates

JCR PresComm have been working with Joe McGarry (SU President) on the recent successful petition and referendum to support the financial stability of JCR common rooms. Beyond this, they have met with representatives from UCU regarding the boycott and discussed how best to support students. As well as considering classism and how best to tackle the issue with the Vice Chancellor.

Assembly Procedures Committee have been preparing the Assembly meeting, as well as discussing the Durham Union Policy.

Student Groups Committee have approved thirty new groups and have also been looking into delayed grants for societies. They have also been discussing how the committee will move forward.

Apologies were received from Academic Affairs Committee, SU Rep Committee, MCR PressComm, and D.U.C.K (Durham University Charity Kommittee). 

The Officer Scrutiny Committee members have not yet been elected, so no update was provided.

Association Updates

Durham People of Colour Association (DPoCA) has been organising their ball, as well as carrying out some anti-racism work and workshops including making these mandatory for freshers. DPoCA has also been working with Women for University and investigations into Durham regarding gender issues.

Working Class Students’ Association thanked DPoCA and JCR PresComm for their work on classism. They have been discussing funding and scholarships, including Team Durham funding. Alongside this, they are also currently working on elections for next year.

International Students’ Association has been working on supporting students with their exams and are currently working on elections for next year.

Trans Association has elected a Welfare Officer and is planning a general meeting for next year’s exec. They has welfare sessions up and running and are looking into events to bring the community together.

Apologies were received from LGBT+ Association, Students with Disabilities Association (SwDA), Women’s Association, and Mature Students’ Association (MATSA).

Proposed Student Group Governance Changes
Laura Curran spoke on behalf of Jack Ballingham (Opportunities Officer) about a consultation that was held with student group members on making changes to the Student Group Agreement last academic year. As the Agreement requires the document to be annually reviewed, changes may be made by a joint resolution of Assembly and the Board of Trustees. Assembly approved the changes that were put forward as a result of the consultation.

Policy Review

Each year, Assembly Procedures Committee recommends policies for removal that have become redundant or for which the implementation has been fully completed. Assembly approved the Committee’s recommendations for the removal of several policies.

Assembly separately debated whether the policy to Condemn the Actions of Durham Union Society should also be removed.

Various members of Assembly spoke both for and against the removal.

Members who spoke in favour of removing the policy claimed that the Durham Union Society is hoping to recover relationships with students, including by having a  new exec, an overhauled approach to EDI, member safeguarding, an Equalities Committee, exec training on inclusion, and Nightline training for exec members.

Those who argued against the removal of the policy spoke of the unacceptable conduct of Durham Union Society’s members in the past, including racism, and provided testimonies that this continues to happen regardless of new measures taken. They also claimed there was a lack of a complaints process.

Assembly voted not to remove the policy.
The next Assembly meeting will be in the next academic year 23/24.