Change, Policy and Research

GUILD COUNCIL

Democracy and Governance Committee

12/11/14

Chair: Maria Finnerty

Change, Policy and Research

Apologies

Khoa Nguyen

Milly Hindle – proxy to Emily Bevan

Naomi Armstrong – proxy to Nat Anderson

Alexandra Beeler – proxy to Harry White

Natasa Christofidou – proxy to Marcel Golten

Oscar Maddox

Kane Davis – proxy to Maria Finnerty

Fong Khei Mah – proxy to Maria Finnerty

Bess Tuo – proxy to Carlus Hudson

In Attendance

Julia Bush

Trent Grassian

Present

Lucy Whitaker

Matt Bate

Emily Bevan

Harry White

Marcel Golten

Carlus Hudson

Kate Hawkins

Natalie Anderson

Ben Street

Rachael Gillies

Kate Hawkins

Change, Policy and Research

AGENDA

1. Student Idea: More Medium and Large Lockers in the Forum

2. Student Idea: Lobby For an Annual Report On Animal

Testing

3. Student Petition: Record All Lectures and Promptly Upload

to ELE

4. Student Idea: Sell Fresh Fruit in the Guild Shop

Change, Policy and Research

5. Student Idea: A Change Machine For Birks

6. Student Idea: More Study Space is Needed On Campus

7. Student Idea: Guild Outlets in Devonshire House Should

Have a Separate Line For People Wanting Only Drinks

8. Student Idea: Exeter Campus Library Fines to be the Same as

the Cornwall Campus

Change, Policy and Research

1. Student Idea: More medium and large

lockers in the Forum

43 votes

Results:

http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea76-lockers/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea76-

lockers/Student-Idea-Report-76-Lockers.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

Student Idea: More medium and large lockers in the Forum

Kate Hawkins said that as this had been discussed with her by the Disabled

Students’ Campaign Reps she could take it to the University Equality and

Diversity Team. Rachael Gillies added that there was a sustainability element

to this, as students needed space to store things related to cycling to campus.

KH said that she would most likely also talk to Campus Services about this.

Carlus Hudson suggested passing this to the Sabbatical Team to explore the

various possible routes to progressing this idea.

Council voted to instruct the Sabbs to progress on the options and

lobby for an Impact Assessment to be carried out, as recommended

in the report.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 2

Change, Policy and Research

2. Student Idea: Lobby for an Annual Report on

Animal Testing

254 votes

89.8% positive approval

Results: http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea81-

animaltesting/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea81-

animaltesting/Student-Idea-Report-81-AnimalTesting.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

2. Student Idea: Lobby for an Annual Report on Animal Testing

Trent Grassian stated that the University currently provide no information about this to

the wider student body, and that the Animal Welfare Society would use the information

to gauge a better understanding of the current situation and explore alternatives, as well

as lobbying to be able to see the animals for themselves.

Kate Hawkins asked about the recent Expose article on animal testing on campus – TG

replied that the Animal Welfare Society was not involved in their research but contacted

them afterwards to be involved. TG stated that the University did not answer all of the

questions put to them and chose not to give any more details than the very basic data of

how many animals are kept.

Rachael Gillies commented that all research has to be passed through the University’s

Ethics Committee, which she is a member of. TG replied that this wasn’t enough, and

did not require them to provide information to students.

Change, Policy and Research

KH stressed the need to be clear on what the Guild were asking from the University;

TG offered to work with the Sabbatical team on this.

RG expressed concern about the safety of the staff and students doing the research.

TG replied that they would not be asking who is involved, only what is being done.

Matt Bate stated that much of the research is not done for human benefit, but for the

good of the Maria Finnerty reminded Council that they were not here to debate

animal testing, but to discuss how best to progress this idea. Julia Bush stressed that, to

date, this is by far the most voted upon Student Idea, and one with almost 90%

agreement rating.

Prompted by a proposal from Carlus Hudson, Council vote to appoint the

Sabbatical Officers to work with the proposers on lobbying the University

to provide this information.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 2

Change, Policy and Research

3 . Student Petition: Record All Lectures and Promptly

Upload to ELE

127 signatures

Results:

http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea79-lectures/

Change, Policy and Research

3. Student Petition: Record All Lectures and Promptly Upload

to ELE

Ben Street told Council that the University have been exploring the costs of lecture

capture and whether it should be a priority. He said that this issue had been raised by

Student-Staff Liaison Committees before and that there was also national support for

this from the Disabled Students’ Campaign. BS said that this petition would be

invaluable in his work on this and he would present it to Learning Spaces Management

Group and various other relevant meetings.

Kate Hawkins added that this was especially important due to changes in the Disabled

Students’ Allowance; Rachael Gillies said she would take the idea to discussions about

changes to the teaching day.

Council voted to pass this to Ben Street and the Sabbatical Team to use as

discussed.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 2

Change, Policy and Research

4 . Student Idea: Sell fresh fruit in the Guild shop

46 votes

Result:

http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea77-freshfruit/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea77-

freshfruit/Student-Idea-Report-77-Freshfruit.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

4 . Student Idea: Sell fresh fruit in the Guild shop

Lucy Whitaker recommended combining this idea with similar

ideas related to Guild outlets that were passed to Rachael Gillies,

to be included in her work. RG said she would include the

proposer in a focus group on Guild food outlets she would be

holding.

Council voted to pass this to Rachael Gillies to add to

her existing work on Guild catering outlets.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 2

Change, Policy and Research

5 . Student Idea: A Change Machine for Birks

30 votes

Result: http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea78-

changemachine/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea78-

changemachine/Student-Idea-Report-78-changemachine.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

5 . Student Idea: A Change Machine for Birks

Council discussed the presence of existing change machines on

campus (for example, by the Library) as being a positive sign that

this idea could be implemented. Rachael Gillies suggested

including all accommodation with coin-operated laundry

machines in actions on this idea.

Council voted to instruct the Kate Hawkins to work

with University on this.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 0

Change, Policy and Research

6 . Student Idea: More Study Space is Needed

On Campus

63 votes, positive

Results:

http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea79-studyspace/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea79-

studyspace/Student-Idea-Report-79studyspace.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

6 . Student Idea: More Study Space is Needed On Campus

Ben Street spoke about recent developments on this (for example, the loft/DH1 refurbishment) and

the work he and the Guild are currently doing on this issue, including lobbying for longer open hours

of libraries and identifying other areas on campus that can be used for studying during peak times. He

acknowledged that this was a serious issue for students, especially in light of increasing student

numbers, but stressed that this was a difficult thing to do without taking up teaching or society space.

He stated that he and the University were looking into creative solutions, such as the study space app

that identifies unused teaching spaces that students can use for studying. He also referred to work

with the library on improvements that can be made to increase space there. Kate Hawkins added

that this is work the Guild has been working on with the University with for a number of years, and

that work on it is consistent and long-term.

Emily Bevan stressed concern about the ratio between study space for undergraduates and

postgraduates, and asked if the iExeter app is being promoted well enough.

Council accepted that the Guild and Sabbatical team are working on this already and

that the weight of student opinion expressed this Student Idea would be useful in

supporting this work.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 2

Change, Policy and Research

7. Student Idea: Guild outlets in Devonshire

House should have a separate line for people

wanting only drinks

45 votes, neutral

Result: http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea80-

separatequeues/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea80-

separatequeues/Student-Idea-Report-80-separatequeues.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

7. Student Idea: Guild outlets in Devonshire House

should have a separate line for people wanting only

drinks

Council noted that, while signage was confusing in regards to

this, there is already a separate line for drinks at Guild outlets.

Rachael Gillies told Council that she was working with the

Catering team on signage and communication around how to

queue at Guild outlets.

Council accepted that this idea was already in place and

that work was being done to improve communication

of this.

Change, Policy and Research

8 . Student Idea: Exeter campus library fines to

be the same as the Cornwall campus

41 votes

Results: http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea82-

libraryfines/

Report:

http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea82-

libraryfines/Student-Idea-Report-82-LibraryFines.pdf

Change, Policy and Research

8. Student Idea: Exeter campus library fines to be the

same as the Cornwall campus

Ben Street told Council that he was looking to reform library fines to be a

‘fine on request’ system for the long-term, but was happy to work on this

idea in the meantime. He added that there were other areas of the Library

that need reforming that he is looking in to.

Harry White asked why there was a difference in price between the

Campuses; BS replied that it is because they are managed in different ways.

Council voted to instruct Ben Street to include this issue in his

current work on library fines.

FOR - 18 AGAINST - 0 ABSTAIN - 2

Change, Policy and Research

9. AOB

Council discussed how to streamline meetings and identify what

Sabbatical Officers are already working on; the idea was raised of

having Sabbs read through the agenda beforehand and identifying

Student Ideas they are already working on or will incorporate

into their existing work, which can then be discussed and

approved by Council. Council also discussed using Scrutiny

Panels to follow up on previous ideas that have been passed to

the Sabbs.

These ideas will be proposed in more detail at the next meeting.