UNCONFIRMED MINUTES
Monash Association of Debaters Executive Committee
4th Meeting of 2010
Victor’s Offices, 581 Toorak Rd, Toorak, 6:00pm, 17/02/2010
Meeting opened at 2:30pm.
1. Attendance, Apologies and Absentees
Present: Kiran Iyer (chair), Gemma Buckley, Luke McGreevy (minutes), Dom Guinane, Timothy Whiting, Nicole Franklin, Ashleigh Feurtado, Victor Finkel, Julian Campbell, Mel Birch, David Barda,
Absent: Alex Kotova, Rhys Campbell
2. Confirmation of minutes from previous meeting
It was moved
“That the committee approve the minutes from the meeting 03/02/10 as a true and accurate record.”
Moved: Luke McGreevy
Seconded: Gemma Buckley
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Preamble
Kiran discussed new rules set out for discussing issues – involving respect for other people’s opinions, a speaking list and one point per person per comment rule.
4. Equity Officer’s Report
4.1 Club issues
The Equity officers, Mel and Barda, began by running through a list of issues involved in the club culture that need to be examined and changed in order to make MAD a more accommodating environment for people, especially first year students and ESL students.
Some of the issues discussed in the opening minutes involved exclusivity in the club, relating to friendship groups as well as people feeling as if they cannot be a part of MAD after missing a few events, ESL speakers not being adequately represented in our club in comparison to the proportion of ESL students on campus, intervarsity tournaments and the problems with friends always debating together and younger debaters not feeling as if they have the ability to ask an older debater to debate with them, the problems with sending small contingents to tournaments in terms of friendship circles, and the problem with MAD’s attendance at Women’s as opposed to ANU, the latter of which might be a better investment option at this point
The discussions of these issues shared ideas from all exec members, and were framed as a way to introduce these ideas now so that the rest of the year can be focused on resolving these problems
4.2 Code of Conduct
Mel outlined that MAD does not currently have a code of conduct at this point – there have been attempts to pass one into the constitution in the past that have failed. Commenting on the wording of the proposed code of conduct now, Nicole mentioned that it is worded quite negatively, so the exec would keep positive aspects in mind when making changes.
4.2.1 Preamble
There was a discussion about the wording of the preamble here. It was suggested that this is the paragraph the frames the rest of the document, and must be treated with that level of importance. The idea of adding positive language here was raised, as was the idea of defining harassment, which was moved to a specific definition section, as well as the idea of how an accused person would read this, and how to word the document to accommodate them as well.
4.2.2 Conduct requirements
The only major addition to this section was that discrimination should be viewed from the point of the victim
4.2.3 Complaint
There was a lengthy discussion relating to two main areas under the complaints mechanism – the idea of being allowed to remain anonymous when complaining, and whether or not another MAD member could raise a complaint on your behalf or be an intermediary for you to the equity officers
Anonymity
Initially, anonymous complaints were allowed under the code of conduct, with David outlining that being allowed to remain anonymous is an important part of the equity response mechanism. Gemma and Dominic because it leaves too little information available to the Equity Officers – and the accused will suffer for it, even if it is just being told they have been accused of something. After much discussion, it went to a motion
It was moved
“That we would not have an anonymous option available to those wishing to make an equity complaint.”
Moved: Gemma Buckley
Seconded: Dominic Guinane
For: Gemma, Kiran, Dom, Tim, Victor
Against: Nicole, Luke, Ashleigh
MOTION CARRIED
Other club members
It was discussed whether or not the start of an equity investigation should be if someone makes a complaint to another member of MAD, or whether members of MAD could make those complaints on that persons behalf to an Equity Officer
In the end, it was agreed upon that allowing someone to come forward with a complaint on your behalf was acceptable, and would start an equity investigation
4.2.4 Response Mechanism
Mel outlined that the Equity Officers left this area vague as it allows for the discretion of the Officers to be utilised, in order to deal with the problem in an effective, tailored way.
There was a discussion about whether or not the victim should have the ultimate power to stop an equity investigation, or whether there is a point at which the Equity Officers could run with it on their own. Furthermore there was a discussion on whether or not the accusers identity needed to be revealed
It was moved
“That the defendent must know who the accuser is before any punitive measure is taken.”
Moved: Victor Finkel
Seconded: Kiran Iyer
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
It was moved
“That the Equity Officers may require the identity of the person complaining in order to continue an investigation.”
Moved: Gemma Buckley
Seconded: Luke McGreevy
For: Kiran, Gemma, Luke, Tim, Victor, Dom
Against: Nicole
4.2.5 Tribunal
All good
4.2.6 Consequences
Include the term: ‘but not limited to’
4.2.7 Appeal Process
Julian arrives at 9:41
There was a discussion concerning whether we need to allow referrals to go to Monash Equity and Diversity as the final appeals process. It was suggested that the current situation of appeals within the club was fine, but that the Equity Officers could investigate this further and make their own recommendation.
4.2.8 Enforcement
Added that the enforcements would be by the determination of the Equity Officers
4.2.9 Conflict of interest
There were two separate discussions in this area: firstly who can call a conflict on and issue, and what conflicts are, and secondly if we allow for people to conflict themselves or others out. In the end, it was again left up to the Equity Officers to decide that.
4.2.10 Code of Conduct options
There was a lengthy discussion about how we integrate the code of conduct into MAD. The first option was only having it signed with the membership sign up, which no one voted for. The second option was to have it embedded as a document into the constitution. Julian, Ash and Dom thought this was the best option. The third and final option constituted a line in the constitution referring to a constitution passed by each exec at the start of the year, which Tim, Kiran, Gemma, Luke, and Victor supported.
In the end it was decided that the third option was the best one. There was also a motion to include a tick box on the sign up form.
It was moved
“That a tick box be added to the membership sign up forms used during Orientation Week that members would tick and consent to the code of conduct..”
Moved: Kiran Iyer
Seconded: Timothy Whiting
For: Gemma, Kiran, Luke, Tim, Ash, Dom, Luke
Against: Victor, Julian
MOTION CARRIED
5. Australs Sponsorship
5.1 Distribution of money
There was a significant discussion about how we should distribute the funding MAD offers its contingent members to Australs this year. The merits of distributing it equally, versus giving more to the highest teams, were discussed, though final decisions on the matter were postponed until a later date.
6. General Business
6.1 Circular motions
It was moved
“That we would ratify the circular motions relating to creating a new website, as well as purchasing showbags for O week.”
Moved: Luke McGreevy
Seconded: Ash Feurtado
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6.2 MAD Mini spending
It was moved
“That we would ratify the MAD Mini budget and the spending therewithin”
Moved: Kiran Iyer
Seconded: Dominic Guinane
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6.3 Keys
It was moved
“That Luke McGreevy be authorised to spend up to $50 on cutting keys for the MAD Executive, to be paid in cash and reimbursed by club cheque”
Moved: Gemma Buckley
Seconded: Nicole Franklin
CARRED UNANIMOUSLY
6.4 Posters for CnS
It was moved
“That Timothy Whiting be authorised to spend up to $10 on printing posters for Orientation Week, to be paid in personal cash and reimbursed by club cheque”
Moved: Ash Feurtado
Seconded: Luke McGreevy
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
7. To Do List
7.1 Calling Schools
Nicole outlined that every exec member needs to take part in calling the schools we sent mail to concerning our training program
The meeting closed at 10:05pm.
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monash association of debaters
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