Censure Motion Passed

Today, in Board’s August meeting, it was voted by majority to pass the Censure Motion regarding USU Board Director, Tom Raue. The motion was recommended following several breaches of the USU’s Constitution, Regulations and Director’s Duty statements. For more info on this, see previous post. 

The Censure Motion will be marked on Tom Raue’s official USU record.  This action will not necessarily result in his removal from the Board. However, if future actions by Tom Raue are found to be in breach of our Constitution and Regulations, it could result in such an action being taken.

Move to Censure Board Director Tom Raue

When elected to the USU Board, Directors formally agree to abide by a code of conduct, which along with the Constitution, has ensured the good governance of our Union since 1874.

Due to recent actions taken by USU Board Director Tom Raue, there is a Censure Motion on notice for resolution by the USU Board. This will take place on Friday, 31 August 2012 between 11am-1pm during the August Board Meeting at the Holme Sutherland Room, Holme Building.

This is an open meeting for Access members only. Members will be given the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the Motion during Open Question Time.

Outcomes of the Board Meeting and confirmation on the Censure Motion will be posted here directly after the meeting.

The following Q&A will provide you with more information on the Censure Motion prior to Friday’s meeting.

1. What is a ‘Censure Motion’?

A Censure Motion is a process where the USU Board issues a formal reprimand to the Director in question for their actions.

Section 3.1.3 in the USU Regulations states “Failure to adhere to the Constitution, Regulations and/or Duty Statements may be acknowledged by a motion, carried, censuring the Director in question.”

2. Why has this motion been put on notice?
It has been recommended that Board Director Tom Raue be censured by special resolution for breaching a number of clauses outlined in the USU’s Constitution, Regulations and Directors’ Duty Statements.

It has been noted that on several occasions between July and August 2012, Tom Raue has been seen to contravene his fiduciary duty to the Board of Directors by unofficially commenting on matters pertaining to the Board of Directors by way of Board resolutions and/or Board policy in Public Forums. The following breaches have been found in particular:

Constitution:

7.1.c. All Directors shall be charged with the duty of promoting the interests and furthering the development of the union

8.2.a.i. The President shall act as representative of the Union on the Board’s behalf and defend the decisions and policies of the Board

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:
i) Fiduciary duty to the USU and its members

ii) Duty of care and diligence

1.c. Directors shall:
i) show respect and courtesy for other members of the Board, members of the USU and staff

ii) not allow personal preferences or differences to impede their work as Directors

1.f. Directors shall:
i) accurately and without distortion represent Board policy on any issue

3. Will Tom Raue be given a right of reply to the Censure Motion?
Yes. Tom Raue will have the opportunity to address the breaches outlined above at the August Board Meeting on Friday 31 August, 2012.

4. What can a Censure Motion lead to?

A Censure Motion, if passed, formally acknowledges that particular actions by individual Board

Director(s) are in breach of their Directors’ Duties to the USU Board and is recorded in their official USU record.

In the case of further failure by a Board Director to adhere to the Duty Statements, the Board may resort to the following clause in our Regulations:

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 [confidential] proceedings, or systemic failure to attend meetings.

5. How many Censure Motions are needed to pass for a Board Director to be removed from the USU Board?
The Constitution does not state a number of Censure Motions needed to remove a Board Director from the USU Board. This is a decision that the Board can make at any time through special resolution (a two-thirds majority ruling of those Directors present and voting). 

If Tom Raue is censured on Friday, this will not necessarily result in his removal from the Board. However, if future actions by Tom, or any Director, are found to be in breach of our Constitution and Regulations, it could result in such an action being taken.

More Information will be posted here on Friday confirming the outcomes of the meeting.

The New USU Women's Room

This week kicked off with the launch of the new Women’s Room space in the Manning Building. Complete with cake pops, drinks and nibbles the launch was a chance for women of the USU to take a peek and introduce themselves to the new space. Moved from the basement level of the Holme Building the women’s room is now located on the middle level of Manning.

Over the past few years a number of concerns were raised about the Women’s Room space and earlier this year past Board Director Nai Brooks began to look at better options. In its new form the Women’s Room aimed to meet concerns over access, centrality of location, phone reception, light and continued use. During the review process student programs, HR, facilities and operations all sought to better accommodate the requirements of the room and the feedback from the student community. The result is a bright, friendly space in the historic home of the Women’s Union (Manning).

As an autonomous space for women on campus the room offers an area for women to use for quiet study, breastfeeding, meetings and women’s events.  Importantly it follows recommendations from the Women’s Department of the National Union of Students and is one part of a larger program to ensure women’s safety and comfort on campus. Furthermore it is just one of the many ‘student space’ related changes we have seen in the USU this year, following on from the development of the Student Lounge and Studio B. These are important changes that reflect years of the USU understanding the importance of having ‘somewhere to go’ in between classes and a place to ‘just be’ on campus.

The launch was a great event to celebrate the move and continue discussions of women within our USU community. As ever we are looking for ways to add to the room to ensure the space evolves and meets your needs. You can let Board Director and Women’s Portfolio holder Hannah Morris know any thoughts or suggestions you might have at H.Morris@usu.usyd.edu.au

So maybe you have never used the women’s room, maybe you’re an old hat but the next time you’re passing through Manning, ladies of the USU we invite you to check out your new space to sit, read, eat, write, talk, daydream… 

You can also keep up to date with the Women of the USU: https://www.facebook.com/WomenoftheUSU

And you can apply to be the Women's Event Co-ordinator here: http://www.usuonline.com/About_USU/Student_Leadership_Program/Student_Positions/Default.aspx#Student_Program_Coordinators

Brigid Dixon 

Vice President