In my capacity as the Queer Portfolio Holder of the USU Board of Directors, I have been conducting a Queer Representation, Engagement and Leadership Review to update, improve and extend what we offer to the queer community at the University of Sydney. This has been an ongoing project that I have conducted whilst working on other Board projects, such as the Programs Review that Tim Matthews blogged about last week.
It is hoped that this review, and the thirty odd recommendations contained within, will help change the way queer students engage with the USU and make our service offerings much more relevant and supportive. Members have been consulted at every point of this review, be it at the series of forums hosted during Pride Week or in discussions with queer leaders on campus. This review has been produced by and for queer students.
Please read the report and if you have any questions, concerns or general comments, please send in a written submission to r.magyar@usu.usyd.edu.au by Friday 15th November.
In you email, please indicate whether you wish to submit anonymously, as these submissions will be included in the final report tabled for discussion at the Board meeting on Friday 29th November.
Please be constructive in your responses.
Robby Magyar
Queer Portfolio Holder of the USU Board of Directors
06 November 2013
01 November 2013
Programs Review
We all get involved in the University of Sydney Union community for different reasons. For some it was finding your niche in that club you joined at OWeek, for others it was a party or festival during Semester that caught your eye. The USU’s Programs Department is responsible for the wide gamut of parties, festivals, and events which make up such a large part of our contribution to this vibrant student experience. Earlier this Semester, Robby Magyar and I compiled a review for Board on the scope and activities of the Programs Department, with a view to providing the most dynamic and diverse programs offering possible in 2014.
We began with a quantitative analysis of the performance of the Programs Department activities for the period January 2012 – July 2013. Here is an insight into what we found:
There are some things that you should look for coming out of this review, that hopefully will expand and diversify the programs offerings:
We would love your input on which direction you would like to see us take your student programs in 2014. Please don’t hesitate to email me at t.matthews@usu.usyd.edu.au with your thoughts!
We began with a quantitative analysis of the performance of the Programs Department activities for the period January 2012 – July 2013. Here is an insight into what we found:
- The USU ran a total of 261 events in this period, which were attended by 30,954 people. Another way to think about this is that the USU ran events on more than 7 of every 10 days in 2012.
- Of the five largest events in this period, four were during OWeek.
- During Semester, many of our most successful events involve partnerships with our diverse and active Clubs and Societies Program.
- Attendance rates at our events are, on average, 130% of our projected event attendance (with the average event being attended by 119 students).
- The events that we run come in all shapes and sizes – with 30 performance events, 16 art events, 12 lecture events and 12 parties run by the Programs Department in this period. We were incredibly proud of the diverse event offerings coordinated by the USU in this period.
- The USU ran 87 events in this period (or one third of all events) intended to build a community of International Students on campus. These events include a weekly film screening and pool competition, as well as an Australian Discussion Group where International Students from non-English speaking backgrounds are invited to socialise and practice their English language skills.
There are some things that you should look for coming out of this review, that hopefully will expand and diversify the programs offerings:
- We hope to offer renewed International, Interfaith and Indigenous programs, that will coordinate more regular events under these programs throughout semester.
- We are hoping too coordinate some new initiatives as well, around health and wellbeing, and sex and consent.
- We are looking into ways to run more consistent events at the start of Semester – so you can build on the networks and connections you make at OWeek.
- We are currently consulting with students and clubs and societies about how we can expand and diversify our Programs offerings for Postgraduate students in 2014.
- We are looking to integrate more events for queer- and female-identifying students into our regular festival lineup in 2014.
11 October 2013
University of Sydney 2013 Senate Elections
What is the University’s Senate?
The Senate is the governing authority of the University of Sydney and oversees all major decisions concerning the conduct of the University, including staff appointments and welfare, student welfare and discipline, financial matters and the physical and academic development of the University. It awards all degrees and diplomas and is responsible to the Parliament of NSW.
The Senate is the governing authority of the University of Sydney and oversees all major decisions concerning the conduct of the University, including staff appointments and welfare, student welfare and discipline, financial matters and the physical and academic development of the University. It awards all degrees and diplomas and is responsible to the Parliament of NSW.
The senate is made up of 22 Fellows, some who are appointed by the Government and others elected by members of the University community such as graduates, staff and students.
Who is Unify?
Unify is a group of Alumni who have combined to run for Senate together under the same core policies, which include fighting for a fully independent and viable USU.
Who is Unify?
Unify is a group of Alumni who have combined to run for Senate together under the same core policies, which include fighting for a fully independent and viable USU.
Unify is made up of: Jane Spring (CEO NSWIS), Bruce McWilliam (Commercial Director, Seven Network), Peter FitzSimons (writer and columnist), Verity Firth (former Minister for Education) and Peter King (former UNESCO Chairman).
Jane Spring and Peter Fitzsimons are current Fellows seeking re-election.
Who is USUAF?
The USU Alumni and Friends association (USUAF) is one of the University’s 40 alumni chapters and was founded in the 1990’s specifically to help us prepare to fight against VSU (which, the first time round when we won). Subsequently, the USUAF has provided invaluable assistance over a range of issues including fundraising and lobbying, particularly in relation to VSU and SSAF.
The USU Alumni and Friends association (USUAF) is one of the University’s 40 alumni chapters and was founded in the 1990’s specifically to help us prepare to fight against VSU (which, the first time round when we won). Subsequently, the USUAF has provided invaluable assistance over a range of issues including fundraising and lobbying, particularly in relation to VSU and SSAF.
USUAF are supporting Unify in their campaign.
Why was a Unify Member Mail sent on Wednesday (9 Oct) afternoon?
The USUAF sent an email to create awareness about the Unify ticket and its strong support for an ongoing independent and viable USU. Unify has also expressed strong support for the ongoing independence and viability of the SRC, SUPRA, CSG and SUSF.
Why was a Unify Member Mail sent on Wednesday (9 Oct) afternoon?
The USUAF sent an email to create awareness about the Unify ticket and its strong support for an ongoing independent and viable USU. Unify has also expressed strong support for the ongoing independence and viability of the SRC, SUPRA, CSG and SUSF.
Who can vote in the Senate election?
Only graduates of the University of Sydney can vote in the Senate elections. Undergraduates are not able to vote. We apologise for the confusion caused as a result of the special Member Mail sent on Wednesday.
Only graduates of the University of Sydney can vote in the Senate elections. Undergraduates are not able to vote. We apologise for the confusion caused as a result of the special Member Mail sent on Wednesday.
How can I vote in the Senate Election?
If you are a graduate you should receive your ballot papers in the mail, which were posted on Wednesday 9 Oct. To ensure your details are up to date, you should contact the Alumni Office.
If you are a graduate you should receive your ballot papers in the mail, which were posted on Wednesday 9 Oct. To ensure your details are up to date, you should contact the Alumni Office.
Where do I get more information about the candidates?
This information and more is available on the University’s website.
03 October 2013
Special Meeting of the Board- Date Change
As the USU Board wishes to ensure due processes are
followed, and recognises the importance of ensuring all Board Directors can
attend the meeting, the date of the Special Meeting of the Board has been
changed to-
Friday, 11 October, 1pm
Withdrawing Room, Holme Building
Due
notice has been issued of the meeting to all Directors, with the motion on
notice being:
That by special resolution, Vice President Tom
Raue is found guilty of serious misconduct and shall cease to hold
office.
01 October 2013
Further information concerning the Motion being put to Board this Friday
In light of the recent online discussion
surrounding the motion being put to the Board this Friday, here is a statement
clarifying the rationale behind proposing this motion:
Why is
this motion being proposed?
This motion is being proposed because it is the
opinion of the remainder of the Executive that Tom has breached the USU's Regulations and
Directors Duties by deliberately disclosing confidential information to Honi
Soit. We
consider Tom to have breached his fiduciary duty to the USU as well as made an
improper use of information, both of which are serious breaches of the duties
he is bound by as a Director of the USU.
Why is Tom Raue not being censured again?
The USU's Regulations state:
3.1.3. Failure to adhere to the Constitution,
Regulations and/or Duty Statements may be acknowledged by a motion, carried,
censuring the Director in question. Further failure by a Board Director to
adhere to the Duty Statements may be brought before the Board provided the
breach contemplated is clearly ascertainable and evidence thereto is supplied
before the Board.
3.1.4 Upon satisfaction of clause 3.1.3, the Board
may then decide:
(a) by Special Resolution only, that the Director in question
is guilty of misconduct and shall cease to hold office. This shall apply in the
case of a serious breach to the Constitution, Regulations and/or Duty
Statements, such as a breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of corporate opportunity,
disclosure of in camera proceedings, or systemic failure to attend
meetings.
Tom was previously censured by the Board in August 2012. The
Executive considers that in this instance, Tom's failure to adhere to the USU's
Regulations and Duty Statements is of a serious enough nature that warrants the
enactment of section 3.1.4 (a).
What was
the nature of the confidential information Tom leaked, and why was it
confidential?
The information Tom leaked was from a confidential
report compiled by the USU's Director of Human Resources investigating a
grievance raised by a USU staff member. Tom leaked a quote from a USU staff
member that was made during an interview with the Human Resources Director.
This report was an internal USU Human Resources document.
The USU has a Handling of Grievances policy that outlines the
processes surrounding workplace complaints. This policy exists to ensure that
staff feel safe making workplace complaints and that their privacy is
protected.
Section 2.1.3 states:
2.1.3. Everyone involved in the resolution of the
complaint (including the complainant, the respondent, support people and
witnesses) are required to keep the matter confidential. Breaches of this
requirement may result in further disciplinary action being taken.
Tom was
involved in the resolution of this complaint and was required by this policy to
keep the report confidential.
This breach of confidentiality directly undermines the assurance of strict confidence and confidentiality given by the Human Resources Director to the staff member whose quote Tom provided to Honi Soit.
Was Tom made aware that the information
was confidential?
Yes, he was. Before releasing this information Tom contacted
the President stating his intention to send it to Honi Soit, and the President
requested that he first speak to the USU's Human Resources Director to discuss
issues of confidentiality. Tom was made aware by the Human Resources Director
of the confidentiality of this report, and he was also made aware of this by
the remainder of the Executive.
What
section of the Regulations and Directors Duty Statements is Tom alleged to have
breached?
Tom is alleged to have breached-
Regulations:
3.1.1. All Board Directors shall act in accordance
with the Duty Statements for Board Directors
Duty Statements:
1.a. Directors shall comply with their roles and
responsibilities as prescribed by the law and as outlined in the Institute of
Company Directors Publication “Duties and Responsibilities of Company
Directors” viz:
(a) Fiduciary duty to the USU and its members
(d) A duty not to make improper use of
information
Fiduciary duties are not expressly defined in the
Regulations, however under common law in Australia, fiduciary duties for
Directors include:
Duty to act bona fide (in good faith) in the
interests of the
organisation as a whole
Duty not to act for an improper purpose
Duties of care and diligence
Duty to retain discretion
Duty to avoid conflicts of interest
Duty not to abuse corporate opportunities
Fiduciary duty to the USU includes complying with
USU's Constitution, Regulations, Duty Statements, policies and processes, which
are deemed to be in the best interests of the USU as an organisation. This
would also include the Handling of Grievances Policy.
Improper use of information involves using the
information for a purpose outside of which it was intended. In this instance,
Tom Raue was provided this report by the Human Resources Department to
assist in the resolution of an USU staff member grievance.
What is
the decision the Board will be making on Friday?
The Board will be determining whether Tom's
deliberate disclosure of confidential information, in accordance with section
3.1.4(a) of the Regulations, finds that he is- "guilty of misconduct and
shall cease to hold office. This shall apply in the case of a serious breach to
the Constitution, Regulations and/or Duty Statements, such as a breach of
fiduciary duty, abuse of corporate opportunity, disclosure of in camera
proceedings, or systemic failure to attend meetings."
For the remainder of the Executive, bringing this motion to the Board is a decision that has not been taken lightly. The USU Board is committed to ensuring a fair workplace where policies and procedures ensuring staff privacy are respected by all, especially Board Directors. Tom's disclosure of confidential information has undermined this.
Hannah Morris
President
President
30 September 2013
Special Meeting of the Board
Special Meeting of the Board
There will be a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors on Friday, 4th October 2013 in the Holme Building.
Motions on Notice
1. That by special resolution, Vice President Tom Raue is found guilty of serious misconduct and shall cease to hold office, effective immediately.
1. That by special resolution, Vice President Tom Raue is found guilty of serious misconduct and shall cease to hold office, effective immediately.
This is in reference to the deliberate disclosure of confidential information constituting a breach of the University of Sydney Union Regulations, Duty Statements and Handling
of Grievances Policy.
16 September 2013
Pride Week Discussion Forums
This
week marks the beginning of Pride Week, a series of events run by the SRC,
SUPRA and the University of Sydney Union. This is the first time the USU has
taken an interest in running Pride Week, and it is a great step in engaging
queer identifying and questioning students in forums and events surrounding queer
identity and queer issues.
As part of Pride Week, in my capacity as the Queer
Portfolio Holder, I am conducting a series of forums to engage members in
discussions about our programs, events, and leadership opportunities for queer
identifying and questioning students. These are being conducted in conjunction
with the Women’s Portfolio Holder, Eve Radunz.
The
topics for consideration include, but are not limited to:
Affirmative Action
Provisions for Queer Identifying and Questioning Students:
➢This
is the most contentious part of the review, and will be the most heated topic
of debate in the forums. The reason for this is because of the nature in which
proponents for its implementation have framed Affirmative Action. The Queer
Collective and non-members of the collective frame the discussion around
autonomous selection in the case of our Board elections. The way this would
work would be that the queer community would endorse candidates in the
election, and then the highest polling Queer Identifying/Questioning
individual, below the line, would be elected by the Affirmative Action
Provision. There are obvious concerns that would arise because of this, namely,
that many find the collective cliquey/overtly political and that this process
does not occur for the positions for women on Board.
Queer
Space
➢As
it stands, the Queer Space in the Holme building is set to be redeveloped as
part of the Holme Project, discussions surrounding this have considered what
more could be done to improve this space, whether the space should be moved to
a new location, and whether the autonomy of the space should be upheld. There
will need to be more consideration on the first two matters, but it is the view
of the Board that autonomy must remain intact. However, we all agree that this
is an important question that should be brought up in the forums this week. A
member concern: numerous members who use the Queer Space have requested 24-hour
access. Those who use the space believe that having access to a “safe space”
for students who experience Queerphobic abuse and violence is needed.
Queer
Coordinator Events
➢Concern has been expressed into
whether mandating events like Mardi Gras, Pride Week and Identity Programs
would be fair and whether we would have a further reduction in applicants or
perhaps an increase to the number of applicants due to the clear guidelines
within the role. These events have a huge impact on our campus and the students
who get involved in them, so mandating them is definitely warranted. However, a
side effect is that mandating events impeaches on the autonomy of the roles.
Part of this review will act to determine which events should be mandated as
part of the Queer Coordinator events and which could just be more broadly
supported by the USU.
Clique
Mentality
➢One
concern that has come out of almost all of the discussions thus far with queer
identifying and questioning students has been the nature of events and programs
offered by SHADES and by the Queer Coordinators, to be cliquey. It seems that
the people left out of these events more often than not are queer wom*n
identifying or questioning students. This review should address these concerns
and implement new programs to support those who have been left out of our
existing offerings.
There
is obviously a lot more to be discussed, and members are invited to bring up
issues and concerns that they believe need to be brought to the attention of
the Board.
So come along to one of these forums and have your say!
Forum
1 – Queer-identifying Wom*n Autonomous Session
2pm Wednesday 18th – Women’s
Room, Manning House Level 2
Forum
2 – Queer-identifying and Questioning Autonomous Session
3pm Wednesday 18th –
Queer Space, Holme Building
Forum
3 – Open (non-Autonomous) Session
4pm – 6pm Wednesday 18th – Withdrawing Room,
Holme Building
The
first two forums will be working through the Preliminary Recommendations made
thus far and discussing the concerns of the members directly involved/affected
by this review.
The
final forum will be a chance for queer identifying members to discuss their
views openly among other members, and for allies to also discuss their thoughts
on our current offerings.
A progressive speaking list will be enforced and
minutes will be taken at all three forums.
Once
the forums have been held, a 2-week period of email submissions will be open to those
members who were unable to attend the forums or who feel more comfortable
preparing a written submission. These emails may be submitted anonymously.
After
this period of consultation, the report will be compiled and released for members
to consider. A member’s forum will be organised before the end of semester for
concerns to be expressed publicly, but any questions or comments on this report
or the forums can be sent to Robby Magyar via r.magyar@usu.usyd.edu.au at
any time.
Yours sincerely,
Robby Magyar
Queer Portfolio Holder
28 August 2013
Wrap-Up of Members Forum
On the 14th of August, the USU Board hosted the first Member’s Forum of Semester 2. This forum allowed for the Board to update members on a range of activities that are occurring within the USU as well as progress on matters raised towards the end of Semester 1.
Following concerns that were raised on social media, the Day of the Dead Party dominated much of this forum. President Hannah Morris was able to inform members that the USU has seriously noted all members concerns regarding the matter and as such will move forward in a two-pronged approach to ensure that USU activities are sensitive to all cultures. The first aspect will involve a Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Forum which was held on August 27, with a summary of the outcome of this event to be posted here shortly. In addition the Board will be conducting a review into the programs offered by the USU, which, in conjunction with the Commercial Operations Working Party, will analyse party and event themes so that no conflicts or issues arise in the future.
The forum also delivered great news for the gluten intolerant among us. Following member feedback it was confirmed that 5 Seeds Apple Cider is able to be included on the bar tab by C&S Executives and Event organisers, meaning that there is no need to miss out on the many bar tabs held in Manning and Hermanns throughout the year.
Following suggestions by members the Board will be looking into the implementation of Microwaves in Bosch, removing the minimum for EFTPOS transactions as well as a season pass to all revues. An update on these will be provided at the next Member’s Forum in September.
The monthly Member’s Forums present a unique opportunity for the board to directly connect with its members. If you have any concerns, issues or thoughts, no matter how small, come along to our next forum and help us continue to provide an unparalleled student experience.
Following concerns that were raised on social media, the Day of the Dead Party dominated much of this forum. President Hannah Morris was able to inform members that the USU has seriously noted all members concerns regarding the matter and as such will move forward in a two-pronged approach to ensure that USU activities are sensitive to all cultures. The first aspect will involve a Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Forum which was held on August 27, with a summary of the outcome of this event to be posted here shortly. In addition the Board will be conducting a review into the programs offered by the USU, which, in conjunction with the Commercial Operations Working Party, will analyse party and event themes so that no conflicts or issues arise in the future.
The forum also delivered great news for the gluten intolerant among us. Following member feedback it was confirmed that 5 Seeds Apple Cider is able to be included on the bar tab by C&S Executives and Event organisers, meaning that there is no need to miss out on the many bar tabs held in Manning and Hermanns throughout the year.
Following suggestions by members the Board will be looking into the implementation of Microwaves in Bosch, removing the minimum for EFTPOS transactions as well as a season pass to all revues. An update on these will be provided at the next Member’s Forum in September.
The monthly Member’s Forums present a unique opportunity for the board to directly connect with its members. If you have any concerns, issues or thoughts, no matter how small, come along to our next forum and help us continue to provide an unparalleled student experience.
24 August 2013
USU Cultural Sensitivity Forum
In response to the theme of our start of semester party the USU is holding a public forum aimed at understanding why the theme was inappropriate and how to move forward. From 1-2pm we will have a panel of experts answering questions about cultural appropriation, racism, and the specific theme itself. These experts include Dr Vik Lewis an academic staff member of the University with expertise in Latin Americancultural studies, Dr Helen Young also an academic staff member whose studies focus on cultural relations, and Tabitha Prado-Richardson and Oscar Monaghan two students who coordinate the Critical Race Discussion Group on campus.
The second hour from 2-3pm will be an open discussion and planning time with a focus on creating policy to direct the theming of our programs and events in the future. We greatly encourage students who would like to engage in this second activity to attend the first, so that we can all make respectful and appropriate decisions.
This event will be conducted in a safe space that fosters learning, anyone who does not contribute to such an environment will be asked to leave.
18 August 2013
Industrial Action: 20 August 2013
As you are probably aware by now, some academic university staff are taking industrial action this Tuesday, 20 August, as part of their continuing campaign for a fair enterprise bargaining agreement. This will be the sixth day of strike action this year, and the first serious industrial action at the University in over ten years. USU supports the campaign led by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which is focused on negotiating a fair enterprise agreement for the future including leave entitlements, intellectual freedom with regards to research, and the right to unionise. We will be providing food to picketing NTEU, CPSU and USU members on the day.
RALLY: the National Union of Students is holding a rally at UTS at 1pm outside the Broadway campus. The rally will protest the government’s $2.3 billion dollars of cuts to universities.
USU is committed to cultivating an inclusive and cultural experience on campus, and although our programs and services do not directly influence the educational standard offered at the University, we are committed to providing our student community with a safe campus and the highest quality student experience.
10 August 2013
USU Members Forum
Hi all,
The USU will be holding a Monthly Members Forum this Wednesday 14th August from 12-1pm in Manning Bar. If you would like a topic to be placed on the agenda for discussion please send it to president@usu.usyd.edu.au.
As it stands, the agenda will be following up on the issues raised at the last Members Forum, including-
The USU will be holding a Monthly Members Forum this Wednesday 14th August from 12-1pm in Manning Bar. If you would like a topic to be placed on the agenda for discussion please send it to president@usu.usyd.edu.au.
As it stands, the agenda will be following up on the issues raised at the last Members Forum, including-
- Concerns about the Queer Space and student consultation
- EFTPOS Policy- response to member concerns about getting cash out and AMEX available at our outlets
We will also provide an update on the USU's response to the controversy surrounding the Start of Semester Fiesta held last week.
Hope to see you there!
USU Board of Directors
07 August 2013
Queerphobia at the University of Sydney
The SRC Queer Officers in conjunction with the Queer Portfolio of the USU are conducting a survey to combat discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation at the University of Sydney.
The survey has been up for a few weeks and we have received some enlightening feedback, but we are seeking more responses to greater gauge how welcoming and safe queer identifying and questioning students find the University of Sydney and how useful the services offered by the university, the SRC, SUPRA and the USU are to them.
For the USU, this survey will be used as part of a review into the engagement and representation of queer identifying and questioning students in the USU and the leadership opportunities we offer. The aim of this review is to determine what more can be done for members of the LGBTQI community within our Clubs & Societies, Queer Coordinator programs, events outside of our Queer program, and student leadership roles more generally.
If you are queer identifying or questioning, please take a few minutes out of your day to complete this survey, your responses will help to combat Queerphobia on your campus and shape the way the USU engages with you!
Please be respectful in your responses.
Survey link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/srcqueer
If you have any questions regarding the survey or the review being conducted, you can contact me via email: r.magyar@usu.usyd.edu.au
Robby Magyar
Board Director - Queer Portfolio Holder
30 July 2013
19 June 2013
USU June Member Forum
The USU Board is holding the next open Members Forum next Thursday, 20th of June at 6pm in the Holme Student Lounge.
At present the following topics are up for discussion:
1. Proposed dates and times for future Members Forums
2. Presentation on Universal Access
5. Member Concern: Maintenance and management of the Queerspace and role of the Queer Coordinators
6. Member Concern: Removal of EFTPOS Minimums
If you want to contribute:
Hope to see you there!
04 June 2013
Further Industrial Action
On Wednesday
5 June a number of university staff will be involved in a 24 hour strike. This
strike is part of an ongoing campaign the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)
and Community and Public Sector Union for a fair enterprise bargaining
agreement.
The university management and staff unions have been negotiating for a new enterprise bargaining agreement since August last year. The unions have achieved some concessions, but have chosen to strike again because they believe that management is not negotiating in good faith. The unions are seeking basic conditions including leave entitlements, funding for career development, and the right to union office space on campus. More information on the EBA campaign can be found here: http://www.nteu.org.au/sydney/article/Compare-the-pair-14559
USU supports the NTEU in its negotiation for a fair enterprise agreement and the right to a safe campus for all staff and students.
The university management and staff unions have been negotiating for a new enterprise bargaining agreement since August last year. The unions have achieved some concessions, but have chosen to strike again because they believe that management is not negotiating in good faith. The unions are seeking basic conditions including leave entitlements, funding for career development, and the right to union office space on campus. More information on the EBA campaign can be found here: http://www.nteu.org.au/sydney/article/Compare-the-pair-14559
USU supports the NTEU in its negotiation for a fair enterprise agreement and the right to a safe campus for all staff and students.
14 May 2013
LATEST SYDNEY UNI STRIKE AND FUNDING NEWS
The NTEU and CPSU are taking further strike action
beginning at midnight on Tuesday 14 May. The University of Sydney Union
supports the NTEU’s campaign for a fair enterprise bargaining agreement and
hopes that the matter will be resolved soon. Please find more information about
it here: http://www.nteu.org.au/sydney/article/Strike-And-Picket---May-14-14622
The University of Sydney Union believes that cuts to tertiary funding will be detrimental to the delivery of the student experience, and we will be working hard with the university to convince both the Australian Government and the Opposition of the seriousness of our concerns.
10 May 2013
Your USU, Your Board – Make your voice heard
The USU Board is holding an open Members Forum next Thursday, 16th of May at 6pm in the Holme Student
Lounge.
Background
As part of efforts to further increase the
USU’s industry-leading transparency and accountability measures the USU board
invites all members to attend a student forum where they will have
the opportunity to engage with the board directors on any relevant matters of interest.
At present the following topics are up for
discussion:
- Free ACCESS membership update - Astha Rajvanshi
- Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) - Astha Rajvanshi
- Complaints Process - Brigid Dixon
- Social Responsibility Policy - Tom Raue
- Election Grants - Rhys Pogonoski and John Harding-Easson
If you want to contribute:
If you can’t make it:
That’s OK. There are plenty of other ways
to engage:
• Attend
our open board meetings (advertised here)
• Engage
with the USU on twitter (@USUAccess; @USUBoard)
• Follow
USU news in The Bull
• Follow
USU news on this blog.
Hope to see you there!
24 April 2013
April USU Board Meeting
The next USU’s
Board of Directors meeting will be held on Friday, 26 April at 1pm in the Holme
Sutherland Room on Level 4, Holme Building.
As always, the meeting will see a number of important matters discussed by Board and USU departments.
Agenda Overview
As always, the meeting will see a number of important matters discussed by Board and USU departments.
Agenda Overview
1. Meeting Opening
2. Meeting Administration
2.2 Open Question Time: USU members may speak to the USU Board regarding issues or concerns
2.3.1 Governance Working Party Report: Social Responsibility Policy Amendment
2.2 Open Question Time: USU members may speak to the USU Board regarding issues or concerns
2.3.1 Governance Working Party Report: Social Responsibility Policy Amendment
3. Matters for Decision
3.3.2 USU Markets - Headdress Update
3.3.2 USU Markets - Headdress Update
3.3.3 USU and
the Indigenous Community
4. Matters for Discussion
Reports from the USU Departments
Reports from the Board Executive
Reports from the USU Departments
Reports from the Board Executive
5. Matters for Noting
Reports from Board Working Parties
Don't forget to bring along your Access Card to attend the meeting. If you would like any more information or wish to speak at Open Question Time, please get in touch with the USU President: president@usu.usyd.edu.au.
Reports from Board Working Parties
Don't forget to bring along your Access Card to attend the meeting. If you would like any more information or wish to speak at Open Question Time, please get in touch with the USU President: president@usu.usyd.edu.au.
See you there!
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