Aimee Howarth brings you an interview with The Yorker directors on the final day of the advent articles
Aimee Howarth speaks to YUSU's sabbatical officers about their Christmas Day routine for day 17 of the advent calendar
For the final time this term, Vicky Morris updates you on this weeks film news
50 years after the publication of 'James and the Giant Peach', the works of Roald Dahl continue to celebrate success.
For those who would just prefer to know what and why they should be voting, here is The Yorker guide to the controversial UGM.
YUSU VOTING SHOULD NOT BE LINKED TO NUS MEMBERSHIP
A fairly simple motion - the constitution used to say that any Ordinary Member who needed to complete a NUS Postal Vote had to quote their NUS number. As you now have to buy a NUS Extra card, this is undemocratic, and the wording has now been changed to say 'University card'. Simple.
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE OPEN TO ALL
Basically, make Women's Committee an open meeting so that all those who wish to attend, can attend, including males. This was one of the more controversial motions discussed at the UGM as it would allow men to attend open meetings. It was met with hostility after some spoke out against those who would not feel comfortable discussing women's issues with men present.
DON’T PRICE STUDENTS OUT OF COLLEGES!
This would mean that the YUSU President could lobby the University to maintain two rent streams: standard or en suite. It also says that she should try secure a variety of let lengths including 33 week, 38 week, 40+ week, 51 week. For the history of the story, see here
Particularly important to Goodrickites is that this motion also includes that it should create "the college they need and want".
CENSURE OF GRACE FLETCHER-HACKWOOD
Proposed by Tom Langley, YUSU Environment and Ethics Officer and seconded by Matthew Pallas, YUSU LGBT this motion proposes that the Union should be able to: "censure an officer as a disciplinary measure." With reference to Grace Fletcher-Hackwood, the motion asks that she be reprimanded, but not no-confidenced.
At the UGM debate, whether this action was punishment enough for the crime was debated. Nadeem Kunwaar, YUSU Ents Officer, said he was concerned: "with the effectiveness of this idea. The last time this was called it was when Nik Engineer [ex AU President] didn't call Rules Committee. However, Matthew Pallas, YUSU LGBT Officer saying, 'It's a serious rebuke and the only other rebuke we can give. It does have some effect."
‘VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FOR GRACE FLETCHER-HACKWOOD’
Proposed by Dan Taylor, the student involved in the 'Chav-D' incident, this one states: "That violence from the sabbatical YUSU Academic & Welfare Representative to another student is unacceptable" and "as such she should be removed from her position." This move would be unprecedented in YUSU history. And one which caused much debate at UGM. See here.
A REVISED ETHICAL MERCHANDISE POLICY
This motion calls for the existing Ethical Merchandise Policy to be removed and a better, more comprehensive guide to be created. This should eliminate the problems incurred with several YUSU events including Roses and Viking Raid. The main issues with the policy are that many of the suppliers on the original list could not mass-produce products within a realistic time-scale.
COALITION 2010: KEEP THE CAP
Coalition 2010 is an alliance of education organisations such as; NUS, NUT and AUT, who are committed to keeping the £3,000 cap on top-up fees fur full-time undergraduate students in England. This motion pledges support to the campaign and calls on the President and Policy and Campaigns Officer to update Senate as to it's progress.
SPORT AT YORK
One for all sports players - this states that the quality and range of sports at York aren't up to scratch. It asks for the AU President to lobby the University to improve standards on both Hes East and Hes West.
YORK STUDENTS DESERVE A STUDENT VENUE!
Quite simply this is to lobby YUSU Officers to get a Student Venue on Hes East.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO JOIN TRADE UNIONS
To raise awareness of the student body that they have the resources needed to ensure their rights at work. It actions: "the President and the Academic and Welfare Officer to work with the Trades Union Congress, and the branches of Trades’ Unions in York, to ensure that students have the resources available to ensure their rights at work." Concerns were raised over the wording of the motion, which Sam Bayley admitted had been missed by Rules Committee and those against the motion, including Erik O'Connor who said he felt that we shouldn't be associating with any Trade Union.
MARKETING - PROMOTION OF DISCRIMINATION
This calls for YUSU to not "to advertise any promotions that make use of, or advertise discriminatory material." This falls after much debate over the posters and publicity at College events.
UNIVERSITY OF YORK STUDENTS SHOULD GRADUATE IN THE MINSTER NOT IN CENTRAL HALL
An interesting one. The two sides of the argument are that Central Hall is not the nicest place in York to graduate, and one that "has the essence of a duck's bottom" according to Proposer Dan Coen. The other being that Central Hall is "the very embodiment of University" argued by Rich Croker.
Interesting to read Croker's argument that Central Hall is 'the very embodiment of the University', so he agrees that it is a ducks arse then?
I resent this being a battle between 'right' and 'left'. This is a battle between right and wrong. A battle between whether it is acceptable for an A&W Rep. to hit a student and get away with it, or not. Makes great headlines Ruth, but it's simply not factually correct as seen by Joey Ellis and a socialist speaking against Grace's position. Alexios is hardly Adolf Hitler right either... Really, from a paper that has reported with such credibility on the issue so far, such a ridiculous and untrue wording of events does you little credit.
Dan Taylor
If you'd stop being so egotistical Dan you'd realise that the UGM wasn't just about the fact that you were hit by a girl! There were many other issues for debate that were of importance to students and I believe that Ruth's comment about the left and right of campus politics reflects the way that campus politics is a microcosm for wider society. I'm glad to say I've never had the opportunity to meet you Dan so cannot comment on your character but I think it's clear from your attempts to make every story The Yorker runs solely about you that you're just after a little attention.
"The two sides of the argument" are presented for a perfectly innocuous motion about where to graduate, but only the stance of the proposer is presented under the Trade Union motion. This poorly written motion, which argues for the association of YUSU with leftist ideals about monopsony in the market for labour, risks alienating considerable numbers of members of the Union who are of a politically other view.
Indeed. The link with YUSU/NUS and the leftist movements are clear for all to see.
comment deleted by a moderator The Trade Unions motion is an exemplary well written motion regardless of whether you agree with the sentiment in it.
An exemplarily well written motion doesn't have a title which disagrees with its actions. I doubt you have read it.
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