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Ordinary General Meeting - 7pm Monday 28th April 2008 - Faraday Lecture Theatre
As many of you know during this year's sabbatical elections, a referendum was held to adopt a new constitution. Under the 1994 Education Act and as a requirement from the University, LUSU is required to have a constitution. This document is central to the way your Union exists and outlines its main purpose, responsibilities and decision-making structures. As required every 5 years, our constitution has been reviewed by elected to officers to see if it still meets the needs of the membership and complies with any legislative changes concerning education and charities. This review suggested constitutional change and all members were asked to consider a proposal at a referendum on Thursday 6th March.
The referendum narrowly failed to hit the 1500 quoracy needed to vote in favour of a change [1405 votes cast in favour], 88% of voters were in favour. A motion to adopt a new constitution is now being put to an ordinary general meeting of the Union.
OGM Notice
As of 16th April 2008, notice of a LUSU OGM has been given.
The schedule of business is as follows:
Motion 1 - New Draft Constitution
Do you agree to the following resolution with the delegations it entails:
To repeal the constitution of Lancaster University Students' Union and replace it in its entirety with a new Constitution as recommended by the current Students' Union Council and Constitutional Review Committee and as required for the Union to retain its status as an independent charitable organization subject to:
i] the power of the Union Council to approve minor amendments should they be needed:
ii] the agreement by the current Union Council of an implementation date and proper transition process to take no longer than twelve months from approval of the University Council:
iii] a review of Union Bye Laws subject to the approval of Union Council, to be led by Constitutional Review Committee:
iv] a review of sabbatical officer positions subject to approval by the current Union Council, to be led by the Union President in consultation with relevant officers.
A new draft constitution has been prepared.
Motion 2 - Creation of a Male officer
This union notes:
1) That some men at this university will have problems.
2) That there are 2 women’s officer positions (one paid sabbatical and one non sabbatical) on the council who fight exclusively for women’s issues who have a budget set aside to help run said campaign. Yet nothing is set aside for men.
3) That there are college male and female exec positions but not on union council.
4) That there is a women’s working group but no men’s working group.
5) That over 47% of men 16-24 conduct in heavy drinking which is significantly higher than women.
6) That young men have statistically higher rates of smoking and drug use than women.
7) That in last year’s union referendum over twice as many students voted for the male Ed and welfare and female Ed welfare than voted to keep the current system.
8) That most years there are no men in the advice centre for men to speak to about male issues. Of the last 16 Education and Welfare officers the position has only seen 5 men hold the post to 11 women.
This union believes:
1) That equality works both ways
2) That some men are more likely to seek help from other men than women due to their pride, upbringing, culture or self image.
3) That a co-ordinated effort will allow the sharing of experience and techniques that will help improve the service offered to men.
4) That there are currently no funds set aside for exclusively male education and welfare campaigns and no one to organise it.
5) That some male students at this university will suffer from legal and or illegal substance abuse.
6) That exclusively male issues will not get the representation or funding without an officer to highlight organise and champion them.
7) That sexism comes in many forms.
8) That this union believes we should do everything we can to support all of its students.
9) That the creation of a Men’s non sabbatical officer might help to end the need for women’s officers to continually justify the need for their position.
This union resolves:
1) To create a non sabbatical male officer position on union council who
Would stand up for male equality and run male issues/ed and welfare
Campaigns and as well hold an office hour and a male forum. The candidates for the position would be men and be voted for by men
2) To create a campaigns budget for the male officer in line with those held
by the other liberation officers.
3) To create a male committee to liaise with male education and welfare college officers on male issues and organise male campaigns. The forum would include the male officer, college's male Ed and Welfare officer and any other men who wish to join the forum.
Proposed by Mark Hinson
Seconded by Zita Duffy
Motion 3 - Election Systems
Motion for the creation of free and fairer elections.
This union notes:
1) That of the last two years only two non sabbatical candidates (Gareth Coleman and mark Hinson) has won elections from the bottom of ballot.
2) That the last two referendums have failed because of student apathy rather than there not having a clear indication of how students were voting.
3) That of the last 3 ordinary general meetings the union continues to fail to reach quoracy.
This union believes:
1) That student apathy is a major factor in student elections, and that Lancaster University has an apathy problem.
2) That our union should have free and fair elections open to all, and that the ballot paper and electoral system should not advantage any candidate over another. However the electoral results of the last two years of non sabbatical elections Cleary shows that our single ballot system favours those on the top of the ballot.
3) That we are often asking students to vote on around 100 candidates over their collage and union elections on Thursday of week 8 in Michaelmas term, this is not necessarily the best way to get an informed electorate.
4) That our elected officers should be elected based off the quality of the campaigns and the calibre of the candidates not where they are on the ballot.
5) That to combat student apathy we first need to see how big the problem we have, the success of the college system is easy to gage, however by having our student union elections at the same time we do not know how many students are actually interested in LUSU, except when we have the fan fare and hype around our sabbatical elections.
6) That to get a better student union, you have to start with its foundations.
This union resolves:
1) To introduce a double ballot system for LUSU non sabbatical elections, thus allowing one set with candidate A on the top and one set with candidate B one the top.
2) To separate the main non sabbatical elections in week 8 of Michaelmas term from college and GSA elections in week 8 of Michaelmas term. Thus hold LUSU non sabbatical elections in week 7 of the Michaelmas term.
3) To move Hustings and sign up dates for non sabbatical elections in Michaelmas forward one week.
Proposed by Mark Hinson
Seconded by Samantha Johnson
Grad Ball Discussion
Officer Reports
Any other motions recieved
If anyone wishes to submit an amendment to a motion, they must do so in writing to the General Secretary gensec@lancaster.ac.uk not later than Wednesday 23rd April at 5pm. This OGM is governed by the existing Constitution Section 14.5 and the Union Bye Law 6.