14th March 2012 - FXU Students Union

FXU Student Council meeting MINUTES
Wednesday 14 th March 2012
3pm-5pm
Tremough Boardroom, Tremough Campus
Members in attendance:
Stroma Alexander-Sinclair (Promotions Officer); Stan Bojnansky (Equal Opportunities
Officer); Fredrik Bolinder (Community Action Officer); Jessica Chambers (Ents Officer);
Jamie Clark (President UCF); Lilian Darvell (UECC English Rep); Jono Harris (President
UECC); Henrik Hildre (Chair); Simon Hobson (UECC Camborne School of Mines Rep)
Lauren Jansons (UCF Media Rep); Kelly Horrigan (UECC Geography Rep); Alan
Omogbai (UECC Open Position); Rich Pearson (President Welfare); Eleina Priede (UCF
Open Position); Alistair Ruff (UCF Design Rep); Daniel Sowik (UECC Politics Rep); Jenny
Tripp (UCF Performance Rep); Will Vamplew (UECC Law Rep).
Apologies:
Kasia Drinkwater (Sports & Societies Officer); Rosie Fewings (UECC Postgraduate Rep);
Hugh Firth (UECC History Rep); Nathan Harris (RAG Officer); Bethany Hiscock (UCF
Performance Rep); Irene Knudsen (UCF International Students Rep); Andreas Mann
(UECC Biosciences Rep); Polly O’Gorman (UCF Media Rep); Sean O’Shea (Environment
& Ethics Officer); Simon Saunders (Campaigns Officer); Ka Lok Zoe (Glasney Park K-O
blocks); Tom Wowk (Glasney Park A-J blocks Rep).
Alan Omogbai and Alistair Ruff arrived at 4pm due to FXU society meeting/seminar.
Total no. of members attended = 19.
Quorum (currently ) = 16
Non-members in attendance:
Janice Mitchelson (FXU staff, minute-taking)
Item Title and notes Action to be
taken by
1 Present & Apologies
As above.
2 Issues arising from the minutes of the last meeting
25.1.1 minutes agreed as correct.

Jamie met with Julian Rodrugez before Xmas to look at
extended dissertation deadline for photography as part of
consultation. Courses may have alternative dissertation
deadline in the future as is being assessed.
Rich made contact with UCF Equality Engagement &
Development Manager, Lindsay Haydock-Clemo and they are
working on the issue of differing support for international and
EU students.
Jono reported that Sunday roasts, takeaways and food
available in the evening will begin from next academic year.
Sean and Rich followed up with Alison on ways of improving
the campus shop. Rich also met person who runs the shop and
reports there will be a new shop within the next 12 months.
As the action point of ‘security’ has been carried over
‘Security’ for numerous meetings due to Beth’s absence who
initially asked for agenda item, the Council decided to remove
the item from the agenda. Beth may bring up the issue at
future meetings if still unresolved.
Phones for students to call IT are being put up in various
clusters on campus for example in HuSS.
Options for student social spaces on campus is being looked
at. Options other than using staff room in Peter Lanyon will be
looked at.
Jilly Easterby, UCF Public Engagement Manager, puts
information on talks/guest speakers for UECC and UCF on
TCSG website, however as students don’t use this. FXUs Events
& Communication Assistant will regularly check this
information and post in FXU enewsletter/website as
appropriate so all students receive the information.
Action Point: Jamie following up issues with long queuing
times and system for queries/handing in equipment in Media
Centre and Photography Centres.
All email votes for Student Council were set up and executed
with approval of members for the UCF QAA Student Written
Submission; additional FXU Sabbatical Officer and FXU
Sabbatical job descriptions; amendments to FXU Trustees Bye-
Law; and, FXU Appointments Committee Terms of Reference.
Jamie

Even though attempts were made to organise a Student
Council social in Spring term, nothing has been organised. As
the next opportunity will be in the Summer term, it was
decided it would be better to combine with the BBQ that is
already planned for May – to be discussed in Any Other
Business.
Alan forwarded the information that as it is now late in the
year to be organising a social for Society presidents to get to
know each other, it is requested that this is part of the new VP
Participation’s job for early in the academic year next year to
organise.
Action Point: Vice-President Participation to organise
social/meeting for all Presidents/Chairs of FXU societies and
sports clubs.
Rich reported that students cannot generally get reimbursed
for trips to hospital, however in some cases this may occur.
Rich reported that students can be trained in First Aid by St
John’s Ambulance if they so wish for £25 per head. Also, next
year there will be Halls mentors who will be trained in First
Aid. These roles will be open to students.
Jono reiterated that tutorials are not allowed to take place in
the library and if any student sees this happening, please
report to Jono who will report to Doreen Pinfold, Head of
Library Services.
3 News from the Presidents & Execs
Jono
- Setting up car-pooling scheme that will use twitter
style package. Package costs £2000 and TCSG are
looking to cover this.
- Swimming pool and Carrick Leisure bid being drawn up
this week.
- Falmouth Football Club would like a pavilion and so
FXU are looking to join up for a shared facility.
- Working on QAA for UECC. UECC student members
may be contacted.
- Elections 2012. Results were Jay Bjorkmann for FXU
President UECC, Scott Pearson for FXU President UCF,
Rich Pearson for FXU Vice-President Welfare, Kasia
Drinkwater for FXU Vice-President Participation and
Ellie Clarke for FXU Representative at NUS National
Kasia (who
starts role 1 st
July 2012)

Conference.
Jamie
- Working on employability being incorporated into
courses/student experience e.g. recognising being a
student council member. Similar to the Exeter Award
for Falmouth.
- Encouraging student support for new UCF Student Rep
System.
- Looking at Student Charter and how can promote
better to students.
- Finished QAA now. Final report will be received on 6 th
April. Big difference in student experience from last
year’s NSS and so UCF need to focus on improving
these areas.
Rich
- Worked on FXU Awards. Was a success, but will look at
areas for improvements to make even better for next
year.
- Working on Garden party. Looking at budget and ideas.
Please input any ideas if want to. Happening on 26 th
May.
- Planning Fresher’s programme, which will last for 5
weeks this year.
- Looking at setting up new campaigns for this year and
next year.
- Working on specific student issues.
Stroma and Jess
Promoted and helped organise:
- FXU Elections
- FXU Awards
- FXU Olympic event
Fred
- Setting up volunteering events with Cornish heritage
over two weekends including tasks such as boatbuilding,
sustainable fishing, training in the local
community.
Stan
- Looking at setting up training for society presidents and
members e.g. regarding posters
- Attended presentation by Lindsay Haydock-Clemo, UCF
Equality & Diversity Manager. Was poorly attended.
- Working with UCF on survey regarding equal
opportunities.

Will reported on behalf of Nathan
- Promoting opportunities to be reps for Beachbreak
where money can be raised for FXU RAG at the same
time
4 Approval of FXU RAG Committee Terms of Reference.
Discussion took place on membership and chairing of the
Committee.
Will reported that Nathan recommended that Nathan and
Fred be members of the RAG Committee.
The Council unanimously voted on the following proposals as
amendments for the RAG Committee ToR:
a) There are two co-chairs of Vice-President Participation
and RAG Officer.
b) The Chair is the RAG Officer and the Vice-President
Participation should be a member.
Action Point: Janice to send ToR with proposed amendments
to Community Action Coordinator/RAG group.
Action Point: Jamie/Jono would like to meet with the RAG
Committee to discuss.
5 Campus facilities
Campus shop invites student council members to discuss any
shop issues –
Lauren informed shop manager would like student
perspective. Suggestions from the Council included more fruit
and cheaper fruit and for everything to be priced in the shop.
Action Point: Rich to arrange meeting with Sean and Stan
with and the shop manager to give above ideas and student
perspective for improving the shop.
The Council were informed that there will be a new shop on
campus from next academic year called ‘The Heart’, as the
current porter cabin shop was an interim measure.
Printers in the media centre -
Students in the media centre have to go to the library to print
and told not allowed to use printers in photography centre.
Action point: Jamie will follow up on ensuring all students
Janice
Jamie/Jono
Rich
Jamie

can use all printers.
Inconsistent system for handing in equipment – covered
earlier in meeting.
Microwave request in Performance Centre kitchen -
Action Point: Jamie will ask if this is possible.
Jamie also informed the Council that there will be a café going
in the Performance Centre over Easter.
Quality/price of food in Stannary –
Jono informed everyone that after a survey completed by the
Russell Partnership the Stannary was deemed one of the best
value.
Action Point: Jono will raise with Alison Childress, Catering
Manager.
Council were informed that the Stannary are currently
extending the lunch offer.
6 Halls issues
None reported.
7 UCF issues
Air-conditioning needed in the Animation studio to stop
students going home feeling faint and sick after working in too
hot studio –
Jamie has already brought this up at Health and Safety
meeting and have been assured something will be done about
this over Easter e.g. fit an air conditioning unit.
Fine Art issues around tutor contact, feedback and set work –
Action Point: Lauren to find out who has these issues and for
them to contact Jamie who can then follow this up.
Emails to Film students –
Action Point: Jamie will look into what is being emailed to
film students and how to stop irrelevant emails being sent to
them.
Photography students’ positive feedback for Michelle Sank –
Good job.
It was requested that the design centre’s windows be opened
as also hot. Jamie informed everyone that the reason the
windows don’t open currently is because the motor is broken
and it would cost £20,000 to fix.
Action Point: Rich and Jamie will follow up on how the
Jamie
Jono
Lauren
Jamie
Jamie and

windows can be opened.
It was requested that the opening hours for the design centre
be extended.
Action Point: Ask course leader for extended opening times
for the design centre.
Jamie reported that the space of the recent incident in the
design centre won’t be opened for a while for health and
safety reasons.
16 UECC issues
Exeter are now officially part of the Russell Group due to
excellent results, research etc so well done UECC students.
There is a 2 week trial of a coffee and soup machine in HuSS.
17 International Student Issues
None reported.
18 Any Other Business
Hugh raised the issue of election posters rules to be revised for
next year as it was not unclear what could and could not be
used and candidates were told ok, then they were revoked
later. Reimbursements to the candidates were made, however
it was not a negative part of the elections.
The budget for candidates campaigning also needs to be
clearer in terms of what can be included.
Jamie informed council that there were equality and diversity
issues happening outside of the elections that unfortunately
coincided with elections. It was raised with the FXU Trustee
Board already.
Only positive campaigning is allowed in elections, was raised
as an issue as it makes it difficult to stand against a current
president and ask candidates to question their manifestos.
One suggestion was to allow a debate as an extra to hustings,
which could take place in a lecture theatre with strict rules and
a chair.
Action Point: Put on agenda for FXU Elections & Democracy
Committee to review how to allow backed up points even if –
Rich
Stroma
Janice

ve e.g. through a ‘debate’ forum.
Action Point: Henrik will report on the above as a member of
the E&D Committee.
Action Point: Revise rules (including campaigning budget and
related information) and propose at next FXU Elections &
Democracy Committee meeting.
It was suggested that the FXU Awards need to be promoted
better and make sure students know that they are open to
everyone.
Amendments to Presidents and Vice-Presidents Roles and
Responsibilities (see related papers) -
a) 18 votes approved. 0 against. 0 abstained.
b) 18 votes approved. 0 against. 0 abstained.
c) 18 votes approved. 0 against. 0 abstained.
May BBQ -
Event will have a focus of gaining feedback on being a student
council member and to say thank you for volunteering as a
student rep for 2011-12.
Aiming to organise BBQ for 4 th May after student council
meeting and (if can change meeting to this day) to coincide
with after dissertation deadline.
Action point: Details will be confirmed as soon as possible.
National Student Survey –
Jamie stressed to 3 rd years to complete the NSS as important
to get feedback.
19 Date and Time of next meeting
To be confirmed as requested to move meeting to Friday 4 th
May.
Action point: Rearrange meeting from 2 nd May to 4 th May.
Janice
Janice
Janice
Janice