Follow up from AA Consultation Forum

On Thursday 1^st November the USU held an Affirmative Action Consultation Forum that was open to all members of the University community. The purpose of the forum was to discuss the results of the Affirmative Action Review 2012, as well as to hear the opinions, experiences and ideas of the membership surrounding the USU’s affirmative action policies and how to encourage women’s participation and leadership within the USU and in broader campus life.  

The forum was split into two sessions- an autonomous session held in the Women’s Room in Manning House, and a general session held in the MacCallum Room in the Holme Building. In both sessions issues effecting women on campus were discussed in thoughtful, respectful and constructive ways, and there were many interesting new ideas raised on how to encourage women to get involved as leaders within the USU and how to work to shift attitudinal problems within the community. 

Some issues, concerns and ideas raised included:

·         Lack of information surrounding Affirmative Action

·         Potential for an education campaign

·         Greater networking between student groups concerned with women's leadership and participation

·         Potential sources for more quantitative and historical data

·         Promotion of AA within the clubs and societies program

·         Experience of members within club and society executives

·         Affirmative action within student leadership positions

·         More communication with the University administration about women’s issues on campus

·         Creating a “think tank” of female leaders who represent a variety of student groups across campus to meet and discuss women’s issues on campus and organize joint events and campaigns to promote women’s participation and leadership

The opinions and suggestions expressed by members at these sessions will be compiled into a section of the amended Affirmative Action Review 2012, along with a series of amended recommendations that will be drawn from the ideas raised in the Consultation Forum as well as from members’ email submissions. Email submissions will remain open until November 18^th.

In the week before the November Board meeting, the full list of recommendations contained that will be voted on by the Board at that meeting will be released online for members to view. Following this, the USU President, Vice-President and Women’s Portfolio Holder will be holding a session of “open-door consultation” (at a location TBA) for members to chat with us and ask us any questions on the recommendations contained within the Review.

The USU Board would like to thank everyone who participated in the Consultation Forum and who sent in email submissions, we are always happy to hear from and engage with our members on significant issues such as these.

If you would like to send in an email submission or have any further questions about the Affirmative Action Review or women’s issues on campus, feel free to email the Women’s Portfolio Holder Hannah Morris at H.Morris@usu.usyd.edu.au

Yours sincerely,

Board of Directors

University of Sydney Union

Affirmative Action Consultation Forum

After the approval of the 2012 Affirmative Action Review prepared by Women’s Portfolio Holder Hannah Morris, the USU Board would like to carry out further consultation with members to develop any further actions to be brought to the November Board Meeting.

The USU Board recognises that we are a membership organisation and invite all members to share their opinions and thoughts in advising the Board.

We will be holding a Consultation Forum this Thursday, 1^st November to provide a safe space for debate on the topic.

Details are:
Autonomous Discussion: 4-5pm, Women’s Room. Level 1, Manning House.

Followed by,

General Discussion: 5-6pm, MacCallum Room. Level 2, Holme Building.

The agenda for both discussions will be related to the four areas of the review, as follows:

1.      Affirmative Action in the USU’s Board of Directors

2.      Affirmative Action and female representation in the USU’s Student Leadership Program and the Clubs and Societies Program

3.      The USU’s existing structures promoting and recognizing Women’s leadership

4.      The USU’s communication strategy surrounding the promotion of women’s leadership and Affirmative Action

5.      Other matters for noting (time permitting)

Please find the USU Affirmative Action Consultative Paper which contains substantive findings from the Affirmative Action Review here: 2012 Affirmative Action Consultative Paper

We invite you to read this paper and provide us with submissions on the issues pertaining to each section. Your submissions can include any proposed models addressing the issues, ideas or comments on the findings. These submissions can be anonymous or you may include your name. Additionally, if you would like any part of your submission to be directly referenced at the Consultation Forums, please indicate if you would like it to be done so anonymously.

Please email any submissions to the Women’s Portfolio Holder at h.morris@usu.usyd.edu.au by 4pm on Thursday, 1^st November.

Come along to the event in the spirit of respect and open debate. The USU began as Debating Society after all.

Yours sincerely,

Board of Directors
University of Sydney Union



Changes To Our Coffee

We’re pleased to announce that as early as January 2013, the USU will be changing its coffee to beans that are Rainforest Alliance certified and 100% organic. Our decision to move to socially sustainable coffee is just one way we’re hoping to improve our CSR practices.

For some time now, students have been telling us they want socially responsible coffee. This came to a head with 2010’s referendum on Fair Trade initiated by the student group Fairly Educated. At the time, we were locked into a coffee contract so could not make immediate changes to our coffee.

When our coffee contract came up for review this year, we decided to put out a call for socially responsible coffee suppliers. The tender process was vigorous with suppliers asked to respond to an extensive list of questions formulated by the Tertiary Access Group (a non-profit cooperative providing Australian universities with commercial support), as well as additional questions developed by Fairly Educated.

We established an internal Coffee Working Party to compare the responses from the ten companies who replied to the tender. Our main aim was to ensure our final supplier of choice would not source beans from farmers who exploited ethical labour standards. After a long process including consultation with Fairly Educated, the Board voted to award the contract to our current supplier, Cantarella Bros., a 100 per cent Australian owned company. We will be sticking with the Vittoria brand, but supplying beans that are ethically sourced.

This decision is just the beginning of our move towards a more socially responsible USU. The majority of our products will go through TAG’s questioning process to ensure that when you buy something from the Union, you are doing a good thing for workers and the environment.

I’m currently working with the Board and other USU staff members to review our environmental practices and expand our CSR strategy. Already, there have been many exciting ideas discussed, so watch this space for more info.

If you would like more information on our coffee and social responsibility at the USU, please contact me at: t.raue@usu.usyd.edu.au

Tom Raue

Board Director