Hi Anon,

Thank you for your suggestion, and apologies for the length of time it has taken to conclude this You Make Change.

The Students' Union has always been clear that we do not support Emily's comment in question as we recognise that it was deeply insensitive and inappropriate. Following on from the incident, SUSU carried out an internal investigation into whether there was a breach of our HR policy at which point Emily made the decision to resign from her post. Unfortunately due to the confidential nature of these proceedings this is all I know and this is also all I am legally allowed to disclose. We will always challenge extremist or inflammatory language where we find it, in line with our rules and procedures.

With regards to removing sabbatical officers, there are 3 ways in which this can happen - 2 of which can remove an officer during their term. Firstly, sabbatical officers can be voted out by the student body if they are running for re-election in a second term. Secondly, sabbatical officers can have their position terminated if they are found to be in breach of our internal HR policies. Thirdly, sabbatical officers can be recalled by Union Senate on the recommendation of a student disciplinary panel. Union Senate is an elected body of students that exists to hold sabbatical officers to account, and if sabbatical officers are recalled from their elected position in this way they would be unable to continue as a member of staff in their current capacity. Our Vice President Democracy and Creative Industries would have no decision making powers any of these processes aside from her vote on senate so would be unable to "protect" another sabbatical officer from being held to account.

If you have any further concerns regarding this please feel free to email me at aupres@soton.ac.uk.

Best wishes,

Steve Gore, Acting President