Wednesday 14-05-2025 - 14:43

Ellen Hodges, the SU's Media Observer, writes about her recent experience with Issues to Action on 6 May 2025.

Issues to action was held in Leech’s Hall in St John’s College. As always, pizza arrived, and we began moving between the different discussion tables. The key discussion points were:

• Basic financial needs
• Responding to the University cuts
• The University gender policy
• Commuter students and subsiding societies

Basic financial needs

Moi Ganguli, the Community Officer, ran this discussion table to explore additional ways Durham SU could support students with their financial needs.

What was discussed?

• Plans for a microwave to be put in the Calman Centre
• Advertising the SU Student Pantry scheme and community kitchen
• Looking into what the role of colleges and catering on campus could be in ‘Too Good to go’ schemes
• Increasing the knowledge of instant access hardship funds
• Educating students about energy costs
• Looking into extensions of the range of students who receive the Durham grant
• Improving knowledge of access to free birth control and menstrual products
• Advertising colleges as warm spaces during colder seasons
• Working on a part-time workers' extension policy

What are the next actions?

• Motion to make the University more affordable and work on the part-time workers extension policy

Responding to the University cuts

Dan Lonsdale, SU president, responded to questions about the current University cuts and the planned (now withdrawn) MAB (Marking and Assessments Boycott).

What was discussed?

• Recognition that cuts are inevitable due to the funding model and historic financial decisions but will work to help students [1]. This includes:
  • Working to increase the opening hours of the business school to non-business school students
  • Advocating for cuts in different places
  • Working on reversing the closure of the breakfast club, or taking it up in the SU
• Will support and run protests if asked by students
• Continue to support the UCU and their right to strike

What are the next actions?

• Asking both sides to communicate their goals, plans and intent to students

University gender policy and response to the Supreme Court ruling

What was discussed?

• What the implications of the Supreme Court ruling mean for students

What are the next actions?

• Make a map of gender-neutral bathrooms across campus
• Ensure the University makes a statement about suitable facilities for students

Commuter students and subsidising societies

What was discussed?

• Rewriting the definition of commuter students, which is currently based on ‘a student living further than a 40-minute walk or 20-minute car ride from the University and not living with other Durham students' [2]
• Ideas of travel subsidies, bike racks and more parking for commuter students
• Improving the knowledge of available subsidies for societies

What are the next actions?

• Rewrite the commuter student’s policy with a revised definition

[1]- Industrial action- update from SU president. Available at: https://www.durhamsu.com/articles/industrial-action-update-from-su-president

[2]- Policy hub at Durham SU. Available at: https://www.durhamsu.com/policy-hub#:~:text=Policy%20mandates%20our%20SU%20Officers%20to%20work%20on,and%20updates%20on%20the%20progress%20made%20so%20far.