OUSU

Hello! The point of this page is to detail the goings on in OUSU Council. Council meets on Friday afternoons of odd weeks and works more or less like JCR meetings writ large. Anyone can come along although only JCR and MCR Presidents, OUSU Reps and designated Third Votes can vote. If you'd like to be the third vote because you have specific interest in a motion or would just like to find out a bit more about OUSU then let me know! Also, if you have any thoughts, views or questions you can email me at joshua.monahan <at> merton.ox.ac.uk.

Trinity Termly Council (held before 7th week Council):

Agenda: http://www.ousu.org/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/council-agenda-termly-trinity-2008/

Second Readings of constitutional changes from SAS Review Group and on Electoral Reform.

Report: Both passed.

 

TT 7th Week Council:

Agenda: http://www.ousu.org/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/council-agenda-7th-week-trinity-2008-1/

SINGLE-SEX ACCOMODATION: To ensure all colleges have single-sex accomodation available for those that request it.

WOMEN'S PAY: To raise awareness for the gender pay gap.

BOPS: To advise college welfare and entz reps on the potential welfare issues involved in bops.

BUDGET:  Available here http://www.ousu.org/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/main/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/budget_08_-_09_tt08_v2.pdf

TIMING OF OUSU COUNCIL: To change the time of OUSU Council form Friday afternoons to another time when science students and graduates can attend.

OUSU BUSINESS MANAGER: To mandate the Exec to look into the feasibility of replacing the yearly role with a permanent business manager.

CROSS DEPARTMENT COURSES: To improve the cohesion of joint honours courses.

FIRST REPORT OF THE POLICY PROCESS WORKING GROUP: To accept the report's recommendations on a new committee based policy development structure. Report available here: http://www.ousu.org/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/main/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/6._policy_report_final_tt08.pdf.

STUDENT WRITTEN SUBMISSION PRELIMINARY DRAFT CONSULTATION: Student written submission on the University as part of the QAA audit available here: http://www.ousu.org/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/main/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/swspd3.pdf

GRADUATE STUDENTS' AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' FEES AND FUNDING: Generally to make fees and funding fairer. Specifics to be found here: http://www.ousu.org/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/main/democracy/ousu-council/agendas/grad_int_students_fees_funding_policy_tt08.pdf

DARC MOTION: To get student representation on the committee that decides on the ethics of accepting donations.

JOINT WORKING GROUP ON OUSU FUNDING: To reduce funding from common rooms and to increase it from colleges and the university.

Report: A mammoth if ever there was one. Sorry the agenda wasn't available before the meeting, I received it on the morning of Council. All motions passed.

 

TT 6th Week Extraordinary Council:

Agenda:

ELECTIONS

Standing Order changes to allow online and text voting, fewer campaigning restrictions, more stringent financial limits, liberalised slate rules, more and earlier info for prospective candidates, and by-elections to be held by cross-campus ballot rather than in Council.

POLICY-MAKING

To implement the Policy Working Group's recommendations on policy-making structure to include: the setting up of policy-making committees responsible for consulting widely before bringing coherent policy to Council; setting up of scrutiny committees; petitions of 50 to bring a motion to Council as an alternative to going through the policy committees; Council to be able to send policy back for further work (as opposed to current pass/fail). Further info is here: www.ousu.org/change.

Report:

JCR policy passed in OGM of 6th week was to seek an amendment to the effect that everyone can stand and vote in all elections (with the exception that only women may stand in the election for VP (Women)). Dani submitted such an amendment but it was voted down because only one other college had got a mandate on the issue (no one else knew what their common rooms thought about the issue - strange but true). [Update: Catz OUSU Rep is looking for support for a referndum on this issue for next year. There will be a JCR motion to this effect in 8th week]. Other amendments were put forward, most of which failed except one to make it easier for common rooms to call for a referendum. In the end, discussion was curtailed and the proposals voted through because the meeting was approaching the four hour mark. I abstained as the motion did not include the amendments Merton JCR wanted. Dani had had to leave early and there was no third vote. The policy-making motion was postponed until Council of 7th week.