SOAS Students’ Union

Union General Meeting UGM

Tuesday 13 January 2009

Room: JCR

3:00pm

AGENDA

1.    Welcome & Introduction by Frank Dobson MP (Holborn/St Pancras)

2.    Matters arising from previous UGM and update(s)

3.    Students’ Union Officers’ Reports

4.    Q & A for Union Executives

5.  Motions-

a.   Break The Siege of Gaza- Passed

b.   SU Environment Policy- Passed

c.    Critique of CSC Report- Passed

d.   Students’ Union Survey- Passed

e.   Making the Black Officer the Ethnic Minorities Officer- Failed

f.     Insufficient Music Facilities- Passed

g.   Environmental Activism- Passed With Amendments

h.   Global Peaceful Non- Violent Resistance- Passed

i.      Oppose the New Immigration Regulations for International Students- Passed

6.   Emergency Motions

j. Stop the Celebration of Tel Aviv while Gaza Burns

k. Police On Campus- Passed

l. Police On Campus- Passed

7.   Any Other Business (AOB) and announcements

Break The Siege of Gaza- Passed

Supported by Stop The War, Palestine Society, Islamic Society, Middle East Society, Salaam Society, LGBT Society and the Women’s Society

Proposed By: Haroun Lazim

Seconded By: Elly Badcock

This Union Believes:

1.     That the massacre of over 600 in Gaza is the result of a bombardment by one of the most heavily armed states on the planet against one of the most densely populated ghettos in the world.

2.     The media's portrayal of this as a war between two peoples is a disgrace. According to the press association 4 Israeli civilians have been killed and 680 Palestinians. [correct as of 12pm Tuesday 7th Feb - UN]

3.     Gaza is without electricity or supplies. The 2,500 wounded have no access to real treatment and no one knows the numbers of uncounted dead and wounded trapped under buildings or unable to reach what infrastructure is left.

4.     The Israeli government has been left free to act because of the acquiescence of western leaders and the back ground of the "war on terror."

5.     The corrupt Mubarak regime in Egypt has faced down civilian protest to keep the Rafah crossing closed – sealing Gaza completely.

6.     The Israeli military has rammed ships attempting to bring medical supplies into Gaza from Cyprus to prevent supplies reaching hospitals.

7.     During the invasion schools and universities in Gaza have been bombed killing scores of civilians.

This Union Further believes:

8.     That all this takes place as a result of 60 years of illegal occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. An occupation the NUS statement does nothing to acknowledge.

9.     The NUS statement talks of the "escalating violence in the Gaza strip and Southern Israel and the devastating impact on the innocent Palestinians and Israelis [.]" This gives the false impression of equivalence between the two sides.

10.                      NUS has a record of failing to recognise popular opinion over these issues. Over 50,000 demonstrated on Saturday 3rd against Israel's bombardment including many students.

11.                      That NUS must place itself clearly on the side of the oppressed and call for an unconditional end to Israel's assault on Gaza.

This Union resolves:

12.                      To support the protests called by Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity campaign, British Muslim Initiative and others.

13.                      To write a letter to the Israeli embassy stating our intention to join the protests outside it.

14.                      To demand the NUS removes its current statement from its website and replaces it with the following:

   "NUS unconditionally opposes the brutal assault on Gaza. We stand with the people of Palestine facing destruction and death as a form of collective punishment. No country has the right to hold a people in a state of terror and poverty.  The massacre in Gaza is part of the on gong occupation of Palestine by the Israeli state.  Until this occupation has been ended their will be no peaceful solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

   We call for an immediate end to the Israeli bombing campaign and the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza.  We ask that the UK government use its influence to bring about these aims and send aid to help rebuild the infrastructure of Gaza to prevent an even greater human tragedy emerging."

15.   To demand the UK government threaten to break all links with Israel and expel its ambassador unless it immediately ends the siege, bombing and invasion of Gaza.

16.   To demand the school divests from any and all Israeli companies

SU Environment Policy- Passed

Proposed By: Hanni Schoelermann

Seconded By: Sam Berlin

This Union Notes:

i)                   That the SOAS SU Environment Officer has written a Draft Environmental Policy as a first step (See Appendix A)

This Union Believes:

i)                   Environmental issues should be of priority to the Union and all its members

ii)                 Without a clearly stated Environmental Policy the Union cannot improve on its environmental performance and impact

This Union Resolves:

i)                   To adopt the following Environmental Policy

ii)                 To suggest any amendments be ratified by a future UGM

Critique of CSC Report- Passed

Proposed By: Nishat Lal

Seconded By: Humza Qureshi

This Union Believes:

1. In July 2008, the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) published a report aiming ‘to improve public understanding of the issues surrounding Islam on campus and to discover the extent of Islamic radicalism at universities’.
2. The report has been publicly condemned by organisations including the National Union of Students, the Federation of Student Islamic Societies and Universities UK, for its flawed methodology, its suspect sampling methods, its misinterpretation of the answers to questions and conclusively: its clear misrepresentation of Muslim students’ views.
3. Islamic Societies and Muslim students form a dynamic and active part of University student life, whose work ranges from charitable projects to interfaith, student politics, social activities and sports.  For example, Islamic Societies throughout the UK recently organised a collective national campaign called “Charity Week”, raising over £330,000 for Orphans around the world.
4. To date, there has been no evidence that shows radicalisation is taking place on University campus, though significant work is taking place by Islamic Societies to prevent this from occurring.
5. The Centre for Social Cohesion has been widely discredited as an organisation for its neo-conservatism, including what some refer to as the controversial views of its Director Douglas Murray and his views on Muslims, as well as immigration.

This Union Further Believes:

6. Rather than providing a fair representation of Muslim students’ views, this report serves only to alienate, stereotype and wilfully misrepresent Muslim students.
7. Islamic Societies are the very driving force on campuses against extremism; misrepresentation is not only irresponsible but hinders the work in preventing extremism.
8. Neoconservatives should not be tasked with representing Muslim students, rather representative Muslim and non-Muslim student organisations should be, including FOSIS and the NUS.

This Union Resolves:

9. This Union condemns, and disregards in totality the conclusions of the Centre for Social Cohesion’s report titled “Islam on Campus”, and affirms the stance of FOSIS, NUS and UUK.  This Union rejects the report on the basis of its extremely-flawed methodology and wilful misrepresentation of Muslim students’.
10. Islamic Societies and Muslim students play an important part of student life, and the wide-ranging work of Islamic Societies should be encouraged and supported, including their significant role in preventing extremism.
11. This Union supports representative student organisations including the Islamic Society on campus, FOSIS and the NUS in order to understand Muslim students.
12. This Union will write a letter to the Minister for Higher Education, and Vice-Chancellor, to reiterate Resolves 1, 2, and 3.
13. This Union will release a Press Statement to echo the passing of this motion to local and national media, and to reiterate Resolves 1, 2, and 3.
14. The self-proclaimed neoconservative Douglas Murray, director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, should be identified as neoconservative, and should be exposed for his views which have been identified by some as being racist.

Students’ Union Survey- Passed

Proposed By: Nizam Uddin

Seconded By: Marya Ahmed

This Union Notes:
1. The Students' Union has not done any direct quantitative research into the opinions of its members over the range of its services and activities for five years. 

This Union Believes:
2. That SOAS Students' Union is a student led membership organisation working on behalf of SOAS Students' to provide services and represent all of its members.
3. That an organisation can only do this if it has data on the needs and opinions of its members.
4. The union cannot plan strategically for the future without assessing the opinions of its members.

This Union Resolves:
5. To run an online Students' Union survey during the election period and to report the results back to the student body.
6. To use the results to identify Union priorities in its new Strategic Plan.

Making the Black Officer the Ethnic Minorities Officer- Failed

Proposed by James Jacob

Seconded by Maddy Fry

This Union notes:

That the Current role of the Black officer under the SOAS constitution is as follows: (source:http://www.soas.ac.uk/soasnet/governance/policies/37348.pdf)

9.1. The Black Officer shall represent the interests of black students to the Union and the School.

9.2. The Black Officer shall be the liaison with the NUS Black Students' Campaign. 

9.3. The Black Officer shall run events for Black History Month in conjunction with the Union and the School

9.4. The Black Officer shall run campaigns and events appropriate to this constituency.

The union also notes that the definition of the word black in the above text is those who define themselves as black. (source: Peter Baran)

The Union Believes

That the current role of this office leads to the underrepresentation of other ethnic minorities in SOAS and that this disproportionate representation of one group of SOAS students is undemocratic.

That it would be a far fairer system if the Black officer became the Ethnic Minorities Officer whose remit is too look after the affairs of all those who define themselves as part of an ethnic minority.

The Union Resolves

To amend the constitution twice

1. To change the name of the Black Officer to the Ethnic Minorities Officer.

2. To change article 9.1. to "The Ethnic Minorities Officer shall represent the interests of students of ethnic minorities to the Union and the School.

Insufficient Music Facilities- Passed

Proposed By: Gwilym Lockwood

Seconded By: Stuart Sanderson

This Union Notes:

ii)     That there are insufficient music facilities for students who are not pursuing a degree in music and for students who are pursuing a degree in music. Practice facilities are limited to three small rooms, one of which has an upright piano. There are also two larger rooms, L60 and L61, which are available for practice when not being used for teaching or ensembles. One of these has an upright piano. These rooms are heavily over-subscribed and booking is limited to 1.5 hours a week for music students’ individual practice to allow every music student an opportunity to access them.

iii)   That any "conventional" or western music facilities are sadly lacking.

iv)  That there are extremely few SOAS-specific music societies.

v)    That the room G2, in which is situated the only piano [and thereby the only musical instrument in SOAS] available to non-music degree students, is booked for lectures virtually all day every day 

vi)  That said piano is out of tune and in poor condition

vii)That several musical ensembles exist at SOAS, such as Chinese silk and bamboo and Korean drumming, which are open to non-music students.

This Union Believes:

iii)That everybody has the right to take an interest in playing a musical instrument and get involved with playing music.

iv)                        That music facilities should be improved by the addition of more practice rooms, instruments (such as pianos) and ensemble facilities and, that the School should ensure there are sufficient facilities for both music and non-music students; priority should be given to music students, but facilities should be more accessible to all current SOAS students regardless of degree course or proficiency.

v)  That a university/Union should encourage and facilitate student involvement in extra-curricular personal development to the fullest possible extent.

This Union Resolves:

iii)To lobby to move the grand piano in G2 to a room which IS NOT used so frequently so that students can have greater access to it, if such a room is available.

iv)                        To investigate the idea of setting up a conventional orchestra with a conductor.

v)  To, if enough interest in the creation of a conventional orchestra is noted, and if the cost is not prohibitive, find a professional musician to be a conductor and organiser of music and scores.

vi)                        To lobby to have the G2 grand piano tuned and properly maintained.

Environmental Activism- Passed With Amendments

Proposed By: Yamuna Soto

Seconded By: Michael Whiting

This Union Notes:

1. The government has a policy of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050.
2. There are proposals of mass expansion of the aviation industry.

This Union Believes:

3. That Climate Change is an immediate and serious problem which students in particular have a duty to tackle as the future of tomorrow.
4. Grassroots action and activism are essential tools in combating Climate Change.

This Union Resolves:

5. To give academic support and concessions to students who are arrested or held in police custody for environmental activism. 
6. To lobby for the school to recognise that this is an issue which many students act on with necessity and in the belief that it is too important and immediate an issue to put aside until after their academic pursuits are completed.

Supporting A Non- Violent Global Resistance Movement- Passed

Proposed By: Maryam Ramadan

Seconded By: Susanne Huber

This Union Notes:

1.     That the Israel- Palestine conflict is a long running conflict and the Economist has warned this might be the next ‘100 Years War’’.

2.     Since the ceasefire ended in late 2008, more than 700 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 40% being civilians. There have also been at least 7 Israeli civilian deaths in this period.

This Union Believes:

3.     This is no longer a war between state armies; it is a massacre against the Palestinian people.

4.     That there should be a non- violent global movement against the violence, extremist policy of the state of Israel, with the following core principles:

a. The Israel-Palestine conflict is primarily a political one (even though it has a religious dimension that implies the obligation to respect religious freedom for all—Jews, Christians and Muslims—and freedom of conscience for all, irrespective of religious or non-religious persuasion.

b. There is an oppressor (State of Israel) and oppressed population (the Palestinian people).

c. The Palestinian resistance is, de facto, legitimate.

d. The Palestinians have the right to their own state, and to full freedom within it.

e. The equal dignity of the Palestinians requires full equality of rights and treatment, no matter the proposed solution.

f. Palestinians expelled from their lands have a natural right of return.

g. Our commitment is based on an unconditional and equal rejection of racism of any kind, be it anti-Jewish, anti-Arab, anti-Christian or anti-Muslim.

This Union Resolves:

5.     Organise a Non- Violent Peace Resistance Platform, already sporadically organised by some students in the country and supported by various organisations/academics.

6.     Get other Unions and organisations on board and make it into a national campaign. 

Oppose the New Immigration Regulations for International Students- Passed

Proposed By: Tomas Maule

Seconded By: Marya Ahmed

This Union Notes:

1. The statement of intent issued by the Home Office in respect of students under the points-based system (Tier 4) contains a number of significant changes to the immigration rules for overseas students.
2. The visa laws which govern the entry of students from outside of the European Economic Area (EEU) to British universities will be changing from March 2009.

3.     One of the most dramatic changes to the regulations for international students is that all students from outside of the EEU will be required to carry a biometric identity card.

4. All educational institutions will have to report the attendance of international students to the Home Office.

This Union Believes:

5. ID cards will impinge on the integrity of data and the civil liberties of the students involved.
6. This will create an administrative burden which at best will divert resources from teaching and support services, and at worst it will be passed onto the student through increased tuition fees.
7. International students will be at risk of unnecessary investigation by the UKBA because of poor record keeping, clerical errors or the deliberate omission on the part of the institution.
8. Oppressive monitoring will create divisions between non-EU students, and EU and home students.

This Union Resolves:

9. To follow the NUS’ International Students campaign to work to protect the rights and liberties of international students.
10. To mandate the Co-President Welfare & Education to write to the Home Office and to the local MP regarding this issue.

Emergency Motion

Stop the Celebration of Tel Aviv while Gaza Burns- Passed

Proposed By: Sobhi Samour

Seconded By: Elian Weizman

This Union Notes:

1. That SOAS is hosting an event under the umbrella titled ‘Tel Aviv University Special Lecture Series marking Tel Aviv Centennial’ taking place at the same time as Israel is waging a war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

2. Israel is responsible for ethnically cleansing 750,000 Palestinians in 1948, on whose lands and properties, the state of Israel was later established.

3. In the process of Israeli ethnic cleansing, more than 400 Palestinian villages were partially or totally destroyed

4. In 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the occupation of which remains till today.

5. The Israeli government has built one of the most powerful armies in the world.

6. Since December 27^th, the Israeli government is unleashing the full force of its military might in an all-out war against an essentially defenceless population in the occupied Gaza Strip.

7. That academic institutions and academics should uphold ethical principles and the universality of human rights.

This Union Believes:

8. Tel Aviv, as the seat of Israeli political and economic power, houses the masterminds of Israel's longstanding policies of ethnic cleansing, racial discrimination and military subjugation. It is hence particularly emblematic of Israeli apartheid and colonial rule.

9. The existence and expansion of Tel Aviv are products of the Zionist project of erasing the physical presence of the Palestinians, their culture, heritage and memory.

10. These realities enumerated above are conspicuously absent from the Special Lecture Series and thus make the lectures political propaganda on behalf of Israel and its ongoing project of colonial dispossession.

11. That academic institutions should not provide platform for colonialists to promote the results of their atrocities and ethnic cleansing.

This Union Resolves:

12. To put pressure on the SOAS director and all relevant parties to cancel the series of lectures celebrating Tel Aviv centennial, as Tel Aviv represents a colonial city built on ethnic cleansing.

13. To support the letter sent to the directorate by The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.

No to Racist Exhibition and Wars: Military Off Our Campus- Passed

Proposed by Clare Solomon

Seconded by Mas Naina

This Union Notes:

1.     The Ministry of Defence are holding an exhibition entitled 'We were there' in the Brunei Suite which talks about the war effort of black and minorities.

2.     This is being hosted in conjunction with the school's diversity department

3.     In May 2008 the Students' Union were approached to host this same exhibition which we put to the UGM and which was voted down by an overwhelming majority

4.     There is a severe shortage of space to hold classes and society meetings and that this exhibition is taking up valuable space that could be used for teaching

5.     The Brunei Suite was recently given over to Sodexo for outside catering events

6.     Sodexo provides catering to the American military in Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan and also to detention centres in Britain.

7.     Prince Harry was recently caught using racist language whilst serving in the army.

8.     Gordon Brown said that Prince Harry is a good role model!

9.     The exhibition aims to target school children and have soldiers talking about army life.

This Union Believes:

1.     This exhibition is an attempt to attract Black and minority SOAS students to the British military

2.     University should be a place for studying and not for military propaganda.

3.     The cost of hiring the Brunei Suite is £1000 per day. So, at 5 days, the school  is sponsoring the MOD £5,000

4.     Given the current illegal wars in Gaza this exhibition is at best a disgraceful show of insensitivity.

5.     The exhibition does not even mention the forced conscription of millions of black and minority military workers or the fact that they were used as human shields in the front lines of battle.

6.     The marketisation of education is seeing the increasing use of university grounds for many  things other than teaching

7.     Some of the imagery in the exhibition is both racist and offensive

This Union Resolves:

1.     Demand the removal of the offensive exhibition

2.     Demand the school issue a statement condemning the racist attacks on Gaza

3.     Make the Brunei Suite available free of charge for some society bookings

4.     Oppose all military propaganda from campus

5.     Issue a statement condemning Prince Harry's racist remarks and Gordon Browns support for him

6.     Organise a series of direct action events to raise awareness of the issues of this motion

Police On Campus- Passed

Proposed By: Mash Alam

Seconded By: Clare Soloman

This Union Notes:

On the 12^th January 2009, a student at SOAS was harassed by police and was subject to humiliating treatment, yet he had not done anything wrong nor was this student involved in the initial trouble which had arisen. The student was left traumatised and this had an impact on his physical and mental wellbeing. The student has lodged an official complaint with Dr Paul Webley, Director of SOAS.

This Union Believes: 

There should be a set protocol or a review of current policies in regards to safeguarding and protecting students, particularly students with any type of disability, whilst on student campus.

There should be a set procedure in dealing with persistent troublemakers on campus and for police assistance to be sought as a last resort. There should also be an assigned member of staff or security to accompany police on campus

The Director should write to the police for an explanation and to obtain an apology for the events which had arisen in this specific circumstance.

This Union Resolves: 
5. To write to the Director to urge him to contact the police concerning the day in question (12^th January 2009) and the events which unfolded, and to request an apology for the distress police caused to students of this university

6. To review current safeguarding policies and make any additional changes to ensure that students feel safe on student campus.

Appendix A

Environmental Policy of SOAS Students' Union

SOAS Students’ Union acknowledges the impact that its operations and membership have on the local and global environment. As a responsible union with global concerns, SOAS SU aims to minimise its environmental impact and will actively campaign for greater awareness of and contributions to global environmental issues. It will do this by making environmental issues central to its operations and policies.

SOAS Students’ Union will use this policy as part of its decision-making process in all issues that it has direct control over (for example procurement of sports kits). Within SOAS where the Union may not have direct control, it shall lobby the School to adhere to this environmental code. Within the wider world, the Union shall use this policy as a guideline to campaigning for environmental respect and change.

Developing and using an environmental policy is important for SOAS Students’ Union for a number of reasons:
a. Emphasising its position as an independent, progressive membership-led organisation
b. Contributing to real change
c. Saving costs and resources

To this end, SOAS Students’ commits to pursuing, implementing and enforcing the following policy and will require all site users to adhere to this policy and support its cause at all times.

POLICY STATEMENT

1. Awareness

i) Promote awareness of environmental issues and the Environmental Policy amongst the School, staff and students.
ii) Ensure that environmental issues are central to its operations and practices and form an integral part of staff training and  induction.
iii) Provide appropriate mechanisms for staff and members to contribute to improving our environmental performance.
iv) Publicise the Students’ Union's work in relation to environmental issues to its members and the wider world. We recognise that any environmental policy is meaningless without complete co-operation and support of all Union members and staff.

2. Energy and Utilities
i) In conjunction with the School, implement an effective energy and utilities strategy to reduce consumption, and associated environmental impact as well as cost.
ii) Actively promote energy saving and conservation issues amongst members, staff, officers and the School.
iii) Encouraging students to be aware of their energy impact and how to improve their own personal environmental impact (which should also save them money).
iv) In conjunction with the School, implement environmentally efficient design as key criteria in the developments of any major refurbishments, general upgrading and maintenance of the Students’ Union areas and the School.

3. Purchasing
i) SOAS SU spends substantial amounts of money on items throughout the year. Environmental factors should play an important part in any purchasing process.
ii) Consider environmental impact and lifetime costs when assessing equipment and products for purchase. Where practical, purchase goods and services which are manufactured/remanufactured, recycled, used and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

4. Transport
i) Whilst at SOAS staff and student miles are relatively small and most are traveled on public transport, the Union shall nevertheless encourage and promote cycling and walking within London, and raise awareness of the environmental impact of various modes of transport.
ii) Develop a comprehensive travel plan which advises, encourages and assists staff and students to use responsible low-carbon traveling where possible.

5. Waste Management and Recycling
i)  Work towards decreasing Union, School and member consumption to reduce overall waste.
ii) Increase recycling and reuse of materials. In conjunction with the School, increase the availability and range of recycling bins within the School and ensure they are visible and used correctly.
iii) Ensure all staff and members are fully aware of their own role in reducing waste.
iv) In conjunction with the School, reduce water consumption through installing simple water-saving devices in existing water-using facilities where possible.

6. Implementation
i) Responsibility for the implementation of the Environmental Policy rests with the Executive Committee and on a day-to-day basis is delegated to the General Manager and Environment Officer as Environmental Champions.

ii) The Environmental Champions will meet with the relevant School staff to lobby on these issues and to report back to the Union on a regular basis.

iii) They will set a yearly strategy with concrete targets in terms of this policy including targets on resource use and waste management to be agreed with the Union Trustees and update them regularly.

iv) They will revise and update this document to ensure its accuracy in the light of the development of environmental issues where necessary and no less than every five years.

v) They will be responsible for disseminating and publicising this policy document efficiently.

Appendix B

Schedule 1: Union General Meeting (Constitution pp. 15- 17)

1. A Union General Meeting (UGM) shall be held at least once a term. The proposed dates shall

be determined by the Sabbatical Officers and advertised at the start of the year, and no less than ten days before a meeting. Any change to the published proposed dates shall be advertised as widely as possible using electronic and printed media.

2. An Extraordinary UGM may be called at no less than three days’ notice in term time by

(a) the Union's Sabbatical Officers; or

(b) the Union Executive Committee; or

(c) 75 ordinary members of the Union by a petition submitted to the Co–President Finance &

Communications.

The agenda of an Extraordinary UGM shall include only those items which by their very nature

cannot wait for the next scheduled UGM.

The Co–President Finance & Communications (or in his/her absence, one of the other two

Sabbatical Officers) shall rule on whether or not the item requires consideration by an

Extraordinary UGM.

3. The organisation of the UGM shall be the responsibility of the Finance & Communications

Sabbatical Officer, or shall be arranged by the Union Executive Committee if the Finance &

Communications Sabbatical Officer is the cause of the meeting. The UGM date and motion

submission deadline shall be publicised as widely as possible using electronic and printed media.

4. The deadline for submission of motions shall be three working days before the meeting, at which point the agenda including motions in full shall be publicised as widely as possible by the meeting organiser using electronic and printed media. All motions must be proposed and

seconded by ordinary members of the Union (which includes Sabbatical and part-time Union

Officers).

The quorum for the UGM shall be 50 ordinary members except in the cases listed below

where a quorum shall be 80 ordinary members:

(a) motions of no confidence in a Union Officer;

(b) motions to amend the Constitution and Schedules.

A quorum shall be assumed unless specifically asked to be taken by any one ordinary member,

except in the two cases listed above where a quorum count shall be taken as a matter of

course.

5. There shall be a Chair for the UGM who shall normally not be a member of the Union. It shall be the responsibility of the organiser to select and brief the Chair. The Finance & Communications Sabbatical Officer shall act as Deputy Chair or, if inappropriate, a member voted for by the UGM. The Chair shall not preside over an issue in which s/he has a vested interest, and should immediately state this if it is the case and pass the Chair to the Deputy.

6. The Chair shall be responsible for the smooth running of the meeting and shall enable all

opinions to be aired. In the event of any situation arising not being covered by meeting

regulations, the Chair shall rule on the procedure to be adopted in that meeting. If necessary,

steps shall accordingly shall be taken to amend this Schedule to cover such a situation in the

future.

7. Any member of the Union has the right to attend and speak at a UGM. Any non-member who

wishes to attend and/or speak must inform the organiser beforehand who will obtain receive the permission of the Chair. Any member wishing to speak must raise her/his hand. The Chair of the meeting shall decide the order of speaking.

8. There shall be minutes of the UGM. The minutes shall be taken by the Union Secretary or nominee. The Union Secretary shall produce the agenda and papers for the UGM and shall distribute them in advance. The papers shall include the minutes of the previous meeting, management or executive officers’ reports and the text of submitted motions. The agenda of

meetings shall normally be taken in the following order:

· Welcome from the Chair

· Checking the minutes of the previous meeting for accuracy

· Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting

· Management reports

· Questions about management reports

· Reports from the Union Executive Committee

· Questions to the Union Executive Committee

· Debates on submitted motions

· Debates on emergency motions

· Any other business

Amendments to the running order may be requested by the UGM at any point and passed by a two thirds majority vote.

9. All debates on motions shall proceed as follows:

· the proposer of the motion shall make a speech

· any changes to the motion shall be raised (according to paragraph 10 below)

· the Chair shall invite a speech against the debate

· the Chair shall balance the number of speeches for and against the debate

· the Chair shall invite any questions and statements relating to the debate and

consider any new proposed changes to the motion (according to paragraph 10

below)

· the proposer of the motion shall have the right to sum up.

The vote shall be taken by a show of hands, with proof of ordinary membership. Proxy votes are not permitted. The Chair shall not normally be allowed to vote, unless s/he is a member of the Union and there is a tie, in which case s/he shall have a casting vote. In the case of a tie that cannot be resolved, the motion shall be carried forward to the next UGM.

10. Changes to the motion shall proceed as follows:

· any changes to the motion shall be raised after the proposer has spoken

· the Chair shall invite and take a speech against the changes

· the Chair shall balance the number of speeches for and against the changes

· the Chair shall leave time for questions and statements before the vote

· when all changes have been voted upon, the main motion shall be discussed and

voted upon.

11. A majority of one is required to pass a motion with the following exceptions:

· motions of no confidence require a two-thirds majority vote

· motions to amend the Constitution require a two-thirds majority vote

· motions to suspend any section of the Constitution require a seven-eighths majority vote.

12. Emergency motions may only be discussed at the discretion of the Chair, if they deal with

issues which by their nature could not be passed on to the next UGM. The motion shall be

submitted in writing to the Chair before the start of the meeting.

13. The following procedural motions may be moved during debate and shall only apply to the

motion under debate at the time of the motion being moved:

(a) that the meeting has no confidence in the Chair;

(b) that the ruling of the Chair be overturned;

(c) that the Chair make a ruling on the procedure, quoracy or conduct of the meeting;

(d) that the motion be taken to a vote without further discussion;

(e) that the motion be dismissed;

(f) that the motion be referred to the next UGM;

(g) that the motion be taken in parts;

(h) a request for a Point of Order;

(i) a request for a Point of Information.

14. In the event of a procedural motion 13(a) or 13(b) being proposed, the occupant of the Chair shall leave the Chair which shall be taken by the Deputy Chair.

15. In the case of 13(a), there shall be one speech for the procedural motion and the challenged occupant shall have the right to reply immediately prior to the vote.

In the case of 13(b), the challenged occupant may return to the Chair but must abide by the decision of the meeting upon the challenged ruling.

16. The quorum may be challenged under procedural motion 13(c), at which point the Chair shall make a ruling on whether or not the meeting has a quorum. If the meeting is found not to have a quorum, no motions may be passed and the meeting shall only continue at the discretion of the Chair.

17. If members are unable to see, hear or require clarification this may be raised under procedural motion 13(c), at which point the Chair shall make all appropriate possible steps to rectify this.

18. In the case of 13(d), being passed, no further discussion on this motion shall be permitted. If carried, the proposer of the motion shall immediately sum up and the motion shall then be put to the vote.

19. In the case of 13(g), being passed, a vote shall be taken on each individual resolution of the motion.

20. In the case of 13(h), a Point of Order shall be raised by a speaker requesting "a point of order".

It must be framed as a question to the Chair, must relate specifically to the conduct of the

debate at that time, must never refer to the subject matter under debate and must contain no

argument.

21. In the case of 13(i), a Point of Information may be requested through the Chair by a call of

“information”. Points of Information must be phrased as a short question to the meeting, and

must be used solely to seek or offer strictly information. They must not refer to matters of

opinion.

22. At all times procedural motions shall take precedence over all other business.