APOLOGISES:Sam Bahabadi, Mehtaab Chaudhry, Thomas Dwyer, David Kirkman

Council – December 2016

PRESENT-in Person:Tommy Barnes, Alex Brinker, AJ Haseley, Hana Faber, Mike Johnson, John Lindner (Chair), Tom Noble, Michael Best Jr, Eli Goldsobel, Gina Osman, Kyle Williamson, Nick Baker,

IN ATTENDANCE:Jo Fried (secretary), Kevin Lau (minutes)

Meeting start at 8.30 PM @ MAL B36

8.30 PMJo introduced herself and what Birkbeck Students’ Union does and its services. Jo went on to explain about the recent Election and what available posts are up in the By-Election for Council.

8.50 PMStudents are now seeking nominations for the post they wish to stand in the By-Election.

9.08 PM John Lindner has taken the stage.
John explains his role as Chair of Council and how Council works, explaining the Code of Conduct that must be conducted by both members of Council and the attendees.

9.15 PMJohn formally opens Councils
John welcomes the newly elected members to Council and commends strong student turnout.
John says that he is conscious of the time and asks the whole Council to vote on the minutes of the previous Council in April 2016, knowing that many may have not read the minutes.
Vote: 19 / 1 / 1 – support to accept the previous Council’s minutes

9.23 PMJohn then invited the Disabled Members Officer, Alex Brinker, to deliver their report to Council.

9.23 PMAlex introduces themselves and talks about the significant changes that are currently involved in the Students’ Union and the Turn Around Board that they sit on with Hana Faber.
Alex explains about the various committees that they currently sit on and members of the Disability Office at Birkbeck.
Alex explains that they are currently working on the Teaching Excellence Framework and how it will impact Birkbeck students.
Alex highlights their concerns about the impact on disabilities students and how that will also be reflected on other measurements used in TEF.
Alex moves onto Disabled History Month and wishes to do some activities and events to do with it. They apologise for the lack of events, as they are expecting stuff from NUS. But their aim is to raise awareness about invisible disabiltiies.
Alex said that they would be working with the Communications and Activities Officer, Mike Johnson, on a “Healthy Body, Health Mind” campaign where they would work with Energybase to promote fitness for Birkbeck Students.

9.32 PMJohn then calls for Council to vote on whether to accept the Disabled Members’ Officer Report
Vote: 25 / 0 / 0 – Report Accepted

9.32 PMKevin, minutes, said that members can read the Report that was delivered on the Union’s website.

9.32 PMJohn then calls the Communications and Activities Officer, Michael Johnson, to deliver their report to Council.

9.32 PMMike introduces himself and talks about the recent activities that has started such as Freshers’ Fayre and the Bar Crawl.
Mike said that his main manifesto commitment on achieving sustainable Clubs and Societies at Birkbeck Students’ Union is seems to going in the right direction.
Engagement with the website is going well, with many events being populated and thanks the Pelicans Society for producing many wide ranges of events.
Mike expresses his disappointment in his failure to engage more women in sports, and says that if anyone wishes to run a women’s team, to get in contact with him.
He also wishes to see more activities and that if there was an entertainment officer elected, to work with them to provide more social events for members.

9.39 PMJohn asked the floor for Q/As.
No questions submitted.

9.39 PMJohn then calls for Council to vote on whether to accept the Communications and Activities Officer’s Report
Vote: 19 / 0 / 0 – Report Accepted

9.39 PMJo asks John for a quick word, in which Tom Noble, Deputy-Chair, takes over and delivers his Welfare Officer Report.

9.40 PMTom introduces himself and explains about some of the recent activities that he has recently done and working with the Students’ Union Welfare Manager.
Tom then explains some of the restricting that the Union is undergoing and some of his ideas that he thinks would benefit and strengthen the Union.

9.41 PMJohn then calls for Council to vote on whether to accept the Welfare Officer’s Report
Vote: 24 / 0 / 0 – Report Accepted

9.41 PMJohn then invites the Deputy Returning Officer, Jo Fried, to lead the By-Election process. The following positions that were stood for:

Caring and Responsibilities x 1
Trade Union Liaison and Employment Rights x 1
Entertainments x 2
Environment and Ethics x 1
Mature x 1
School of Arts x 2
School of BEI x 3
School of Law x 6
School of Science x 2
School of SSHP x 2
Open x 2

.Candidates were invited to give a short speech as to why the wish to stand for Council.
Jo then invited the elected members of Council in the recent Election to vote on to accept the members.
Vote: 9 / 0 / 0 – All those that stood in uncontested elections were elected.

Trans* and Strafford Officer was not elected as nobody stood in that role.
Jo recommended that anyone who wish to stand as Trans* Officer speak to the former Trans* Rep and current LGBTQ+ Officer.

9.59 PMTommy submits a motion to John to extend the Guillotine by 20 minutes. John accepts the motion and puts it to Council for a vote.
Vote: 2/3 approval to extend the Guillotine

10.00 PMJohn then invites the LGBTQ+ Officer, Tommy Barnes, to deliver their Report to Council.

10.00 PMTommy introduces themselves to Council and explains that they have recently done a million Panel Assessments with the College. Tommy explains what Panel Assessments are.
Tommy explains that they are currently working with NUS on the 2nd Trans Conference and about establishing more roles for Trans students on NUS.
Tommy wishes to do some events on Worlds AIDS Day and to do more awareness with other UK charities on raising AIDS awareness.
Tommy is doing some activities with their Pride Society and recently had a Society Dinner.

10.03 PMJohn asked the floor for Q/As.
No questions submitted.

10.03 PMJohn then calls for Council to vote on whether to accept the LGBTQ+ Officer’s Report
Vote: 22 / 0 / 0 – Report Accepted

10.04 PMJohn then invites the Education Officer, AJ Haseley, to deliver their Report to Council.

10.04 PMAJ introduces himself and explains that he is currently working on Course Representation and building an effective network.
AJ is also working with the Business and Management Society.
AJ is also working with the Academic Registrar.

10.07 PMJohn asked the floor for Q/As.
Kyle Williamson, Postgraduate Officer, said that he was recently contacted b PhD studetns who felt exploited by their contracts with Birkbeck and feel that they should take strike action.
AJ asked Kyle to speak to him and to work together with Simon Upton on how to improve all students’ academic experiences.
Some guy said that they needed more networking for students.
AJ said that he will look into that matter.

10.18 PMJohn then calls for Council to vote on whether to accept the Education Officer’s Report
Vote: 27 / 0 / 0 – Report Accepted

10.18 PMJohn said that because the Guillotine was extended only for 20 minutes, would Council like to further extend the Guillotine to talk about TEF.
Vote: 18 / 15 / 0 – Unclear but voted for small extension

10.19 PMJohn said that he will only allocate 5 minutes for TEF and that Council will resume the discussion next session, a date which has not been set.
John invited Alex and Hana to lead on TEF.
Michael Best Jr questions the logic of TEF if a good NSS scores means higher fees.
Alex agrees and said many institutions share the concerns about the linkage between NSS and fees.
Effectiveness of TEF and how it would drive standards and the marketisation of Higher Education was raised.
Jo said that it was important to get as many students aware of such significant changes and that further consultations and information would be prepared for next Council for a more informative discussion.

10.23 PMJohn everyone for attending and encouraged everyone to attend next Council when the date is set and circulated.

10.23 PMCouncil Ended.

02/12/2016 17:13:59