Student Life Zone (26th November 2014)

VP Welfare (VP)

-          Provides welcome

-          Noted that the election of the wellbeing committee (WBC) has been postponed until the 11th December just before the funding round 2 meeting. This was so that the elections could be well publicised and that there was a confirmed quoracy at the meeting.

- Accepts apologies from Anjit and David Mendoza-Wolfson

- Notes no response from Emily and Holley

Moved to Funding Round 2 meeting occuring on the 11th December

-          Run through the actions of the minutes from last meeting

• Confirmed that there was a circulation of the meeting date and time
• Unsure whether confirmation from Holley had been completed
• ACTION – VP to check with DMW whether confirmation of Holley's report has been completed
• Confirmed that research into Sexpression has been done
• All parties should now be aware
• Confirmed changes to the Nightline By-law
• Confirmed changes to the Well-being Committee By-law
• Housing Officer decision has been made
• 6 votes in favour
• Friday Night Kitchen is on the agenda under AOB
• Focus Areas discussion is on this agenda
• VP confirmed that she had a conversation with Katie, will discuss in further detail later in the meeting
• VP confirmed that she had a conversation with Union Council Chair. Union Council Chair needed more information so action has been agreed that David (D) will contact Council Chair to move this forward
• ACTION – D to contact Union Council Chair to discuss reasons behind why Student Life Zone (SLZ) want to have the Penalty Guidance as a sole item for discussion

-          Housing Officer update

• Confirmed that the position has gone through SLZ and has now been passed onto Democracy Zone who should have made a decision on it by now.
• The Housing Officer (HO) will be under review in line with the Student Leader (SL) review with the hope that it becomes a SL. The review is however hoping to streamline the amount of SL’s, and no decisions have been made yet.

Kilby (K)

-          Asked what SL’s were

VP

-          Does the work below the Vp’s and are expected to work 10 hours a week.

-          *went online to look at the SUSU websites breakdown of the roles in the democratic process*

-          Confirmed that we elected the HO to be on the WBC

VP

-          Went on to discuss Disciplinary Guidance (DG) in more detail

• VP had discussed with the Union Council Chair but he was unsure what she meant. So there was a need for another member of the committee who was at the last meeting to discuss with the Chair in more detail
• Refer to action noted in minutes run through
• Informed the committee that at the last SLZC there was a discussion which prompted the need for there to be a wider discussion and broader change at Union Council

D

-          There needs to be a distinct set of ideas going forward so that the conversation is structured and doesn’t become a free-for-all

-          Talked to some sports teams, namely American Football, Rugby, and Football, regarding their social shirts and how this links in with the DG.

VP

-          Confirmed that Democracy are looking into the shirts

D

-          There is a line between humour and offence and that needs clearer definition and monitoring

VP

-          Queried the levels of action and punishment in regard to DG and sports teams

K

-          Do they not already have these in place?

VP

-          They do but it needs a review

A

-          We were meant to review the 5 tiered systems and with logic we thought it should go down to 3 levels. There was a notice in regard to how DMW noticed how alcohol is treated with less severe punishment.

Pollins (P)

-          In reference to alcohol and punishment, has a strong opinion against the difference

D

-          There should be a consideration that alcohol be deemed as a risk assessment and that committees should be aware of alcohol implications

P

-          Confirmed that they don’t need to do a risk assessment for a social

D

-          Yes but in reference to prevention of risks on a social

P

-          I know that I need to be responsible as I am in a position of responsibility

VP

-          Queried whether there needs to be greater training?

-          ACTION – Charlie to get content of Student Group President training from Nick (manager of dept.) to present at next SLZC meeting

D

-          Noted that there has been a change with the amount of initiations

VP

-          Noted that there are limited amounts of ways to monitor initiations

D

-          Presidents have training and are aware of the wider implications. The Social Sec (SS) is not always official so isn’t accountable.

VP

-          SS training as a potential idea?

D

-          Check the cost/benefit code of conduct (COC) to be signed. Should have a COC that is defined by SUSU. Link that to PEEL code. Not so strict. Need to sign by whole committee. Emphasis on key roles for discipline, President, Vice President, and Social Sec. There could be a penalty for the whole society.

VP

-          Each disciplinary committee can make decision on punishment across group.

• ACTION – VP and D to have chat about COC

CG

-          Presented idea that the SS could become professionalised as a core member of the committee. This would make the role more accountable.

D

-          This would be ok for some groups but not for the smaller groups. As this is left with the President they should delegate the responsibilities

VP

-          Noted that the majority of active groups have SS’s

-          We could look at how many groups have SS’s

P

-          We could actually document all the committee positions

VP

-          We could have that on the Hub and people who aren’t elected don’t sign

P

-          We need to look at the ways in which we can get people to sign and take responsibility

D

-          Even if they have a SS then the President has responsibility

-          Any punishment can be long lasting

P

-          This does force the group to apologise. We need to start thinking and get them thinking that they are organisations and take a holistic responsibility

D

-          All should care not just perceived groups like Feminist Society. The conversation needs to come from the top. I would rather that SUSU has a feminist agenda rather than just a particular group.

DECISION – minutes have been approved by the group

No report from Well-being Officer

No report from Nightline Officer

VP

-          Mental Health

• Elephant in the room and advice and where to get it
• Have an elephant costume. A giant inflatable elephant. A fibre glass elephant.
• Need slogan and content for elephant campaign
• Have the Time To Change pledge with 27 actions
• Includes training for senior members of staff at University
• Includes the Southampton Mental Health Forum
• ACTION – VP to create a proper campaign plan for distribution at the next meeting
• ACTION – CG to put Time To Change Pledge on next agenda

P

-          Presented herself to help with keen enthusiasm

D

-          Also presented himself with keen enthusiasm

-          Need to be careful with the way we target men due to issues they face. Mentioned the ‘Real Men Talk’ campaign. We need to target the stereotype they face and consider that Lad Culture can be seen as a positive with this.

K

-          There is a misconception as to what the key issues are

VP

-          Agreed that there needs to be greater education as to what mental illness is

P

-          We need to consider the emotional aspect and how different people deal with it in different ways

VP

-          We are working on some flyers that cover all services, hoping that this will help to break down the stigma. It will include some top tips.

-          I am now having monthly meetings with enabling

• Part of this is to create a bibliotherapy

-          There is a petition to stop the petting zoo

• Used during stress festival
• It is used ethically
• Committee confirmed that the petting zoo is a good idea still and receives support

-          Described safe space zones

• Currently use student activities zone and Nuffield Theatre

D

-          Garden spaces are really good

VP

-          Move letting agencies date of advertising

• Putting on the website those who engage in the campaign

D

-          Has Fresher friends who are already panicking

VP

-          Key information has been sent around halls

-          We are running a letting agency survey that will help us identify the best performers as rated by students

• Will release the top 5 or top 3 depending on actual scores

D

-          Can we do more to incentivise the agencies, maybe invite them to bunfight?

VP

-          May invite the best rated agencies to the House Event

-          Working on a scoring which is visible

D

-          Need to be rated as an average for example 3 out of 5 needs to be hit to be considered

-          Gives them an advantage to those who are the best

VP

-          Agency awards not a good idea

-          Communication is needed with SUSU Lettings

-          There are issues with International students having a guarantor however there are significant costs involved

• David Gillani took a paper to the University last year and they noted there were issues with practicalities. VP is going to be chatting with University Services

K

-          What promotion is there going to be of the Housing Event. Feels like it should be done earlier.

-          The information that the University provides before you start is appalling, people are complaining about the lack of information we receive.

ACTION – K to email VP about feedback from University prior to arrival

ACTION – VP to discuss with Ellie Cawthera about welfare information at and before Freshers arrival

D

-          Don’t agree with information overload. The information needs to be given.

Zone agrees that it needs more influence over pre-arrival information tools.

D

-          Push to get student groups involved

ACTION – CG to circulate Zone Report

VP

-          Engage student life in strategic direction and to do so via interaction with the Zone Strategy. Request for the members to highlight areas which they feel are important.

ACTION – CG to circulate via email the Zone Strategy for email discussion and to put discussion on the next Student Life Zone Committee meeting.

D

-          We need to work out how we are working the funding round in terms of transparency and conflict of interest for student groups and leaders

ACTION – VP to check what the other zones are doing

Committee read through the paper attached.

P

-          Worried about breakage

VP

-          We used to have bean bags but they wore out and had lots of holes.

P

-          Request to talk to the Peer Supporter Coordinator about the practicalities of the sofa

ACTION – P to contact Peer Support and discuss the sofa’s practicalities

DECISION – agreement from committee on basis, but after conversation that P has with Peer Support

VP

-          Presented the role and process and asked committee if anyone would like to volunteer whilst SL’s are absent

D

-          Not keen

P

-          Not keen

K

-          Not keen

VP

-          Further explained the democratic structure and how this would help to get the zones to engage together

ACTION – CG to communicate with Sophia D’Angelico regarding decision to not send a representative

DECISION - no one was elected as a representative

Friday Night Kitchen

DECISION – agreed in principle to the funding