A group of York students has won the opportunity to have their very own I-phone application developed after winning The App Challenge final, held at the Ron Cooke Hub on Wednesday, January 18.
YUSU Welfare officer Bob Hughes has warned students to be vigilant after a student loans phishing scam has been revealed.
Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting York on Maundy Thursday, 5th April, as part of the 800th anniversary of York’s Charter for the traditional “Royal Maundy” ceremony.
A flood caused by a heating system “failure” forced the university IT services to shut down many essential systems on Sunday night, causing problems for many students on the eve of their exams and assignment due-dates.
The new constitution has been developed over the course of the year. It has been led by the Governance Working group with input made by the GSA student officers, its members, YUSU officers and the University Registrar.
Extensive research on constitutions in other student unions has also been carried out in the process of developing the new constitution.
With the new constitution, the GSA aims to get more people involved and cater better for the diverse range of its members. Dan Carr, the GSA president, said the constitution "has the potential to transform the way the GSA gets postgrads involved with it, bringing more and more people and groups properly into our community".
The significant changes made to the constitution include the creation of an Association Council to make policy, instead of concentrating the power in the hands of a small Executive Committee.
The Council will have a wider range of representative positions than those that exist within the present constitution and the GSA believe that this will help to represent the diversity of their membership.
A trustee board will also be set up in order to attain charity status in light of recent changes in charities law. This will create two new part-time sabbatical officer positions, an Academic Affairs Officer and a Finance Officer.
The new constitution will also see the creation of seven permanent subcommittees. In addition to the Events, Sports and Executive Committees, which already exist, there will be an Academic Affairs Committee, an Affiliated Committees’ Co-ordination Committee, a Communications Committee, and an Equality, Welfare and Diversity Committee.
Furthermore, it will aid in amending the membership structure in the hope of better engaging with mature students and visiting students from other universities. Crucially, the constitution will tidy up a number of problems which have become evident in the existing constitution.
The new constitution will require a two thirds majority at the general meeting with 98 members required to be present to begin the proceedings. If it gets passed, it will then be referred to the University Council for ratification.
Will be a huge shame (and a waste of those 0900 meetings!) if 98 grads don't turn up to vote. I hope enough has been done to try and encourage people to attend...
We've got free pizza, drinks, live music AND York's sexiest ex-YUM-chair-candidate to chair it 
[EDIT] Also - apologies for all those 0900 meetings!
Ahh so you have asked Mike Reagan to chair? Oh dear...only us two could try and make some 'banter' on an article about a constitution vote at an AGM.
Wow, it looks like Jason Rose might have a two new contenders for 'Geekiest Commenter' at the YUMAS!
Bruno.
I really hope that is an award category. Unluckily though, The Yorker will probably not be included in the YUMAs, not being a ratified society n all.
#4 makes a very valid point. But, to determine whether I am indeed the geekiest, I would have to make a comparison: it reminds me of the end of Return of the Jedi though; the troops on the ground get captured, the Rebel fleet, led by Ackbar, get caught up in a trap in space and Luke Skywalker is standing off with Darth Vader. But, just when it seems like the favourite of the series might not be able to pull through, the Ewoks come and win the day.
So... you'll have to see whether Jason "Logray" Rose is up to Ewok standard of pullbacks or not at the YUMAs (like there will actually be a category for it 
)
Also, it seems very unfair to have a geeky commentating spam session on the Yorker whilst I'm out of contact for a weekend. Shame on you, Mitch
When is someone going to no-confidence Jason Rose? From what I hear, more than half of YUSU think he's a complete moron as well.
It'd be interesting to see how many defended him in a vote of no-confidence. A lot of votes for him and Chris in the elections would have been just because of people going through the list of positions and voting for the only candidates standing. You yourself have the power to call for a vote of no confidence at a UGM, #7 - just propose a motion.
I can think of at least 1 YUSU officer far more deserving of a motion of no-confidence than Jason. It is a shame Jason is judged by his volume and content of Yorker posts and not the work he does as an officer. That said, I think Jason should be more aware of how his (often un-YUSU related) posts diminish his credibility as a YUSU officer and cut down or at least post under 'anon' a little bit more.
Oh go on #9 ...don't tease us...! Spill the beans....
I don't see how posting normal comments, sometimes serious and sometimes in jest, diminishes credibility with anyone who cares about YUSU. Posting anonymously is something that I really hate doing, even if it something that would make my reputation increase - frankly, I don't care about my reputation but about the work I do. I am not aware of anything that I have done in my role as Campaigns Officer that has been against the YUSU trend or that has been against what students want. Spending a weekend sitting in McQs to register students to vote and, tomorrow morning, putting aside a massive amount of time to poster around campus with Chris (unlike societies we can't just demand other people do it) and attending all meetings so far that I should do (even where extremely difficult) *during a time in which I have 7 exams* just shows that I take the job seriously.
Also, being a moron doesn't constitute a no-confidence. I very much doubt that half of YUSU thinks I'm a moron, even if they'd wish that I shut up once in a while, and even if they did I doubt that they would suggest that I'm more of a moron than George W Bush - and he lasted 8 years in perhaps the most important job on the planet.
If you would like to no-confidence me, feel free to put up a UGM. You have to be able to justify the attempt but I'm more than happy to debate whether I should be an Officer or not.
Also; if you no-confidence me, you also no-confidence Chris. I don't think either of us have done anything wrong but Chris definitely hasn't done anything wrong and it would generally require more than "he posts online a lot" to do it.
What would be a better idea would be getting a lot of students to email the editor of the yorker (I guess editor@theyorker.co.uk?) to ask for him to ban my account. Likewise, if you could persuade Nouse to ban me from the site then it would solve the problem.
And if you have personal problems with me, feel free to email jr543@york.ac.uk and I'm more than happy to talk them through with you. As I have the last few times I've suggested it (and never had a response)!
"Email the editor of the yorker (I guess editor@theyorker.co.uk?) to ask for him to ban my account"
You mean "her". I'll assume you only said "him" to avoid using the singular "they"
Jason, I'm not normally fan of making comparisons between YUSU and 'real politics'. But do you think a PM or party leader would allow a (shadow) minister to contribute in such a manner on Westminster related pages?
You have to understand that people do not separate Jason Rose the commenter and Jason Rose the Officer. As many would argue, Grace F-H was no-confidenced because she was disliked by many and her 'incident' was used as an excuse to attract wider support for her removal (which it did). You may be doing good work for YUSU but if enough people decide to make a concerted effort to get you removed, that (as with Grace) may not be enough.
As for the 'you'll be taking Chris down too' argument, hardly anyone will a) know that Chris is your co-officer (I had forgotton) and b) care. It works both ways too: When you annoy people you risk his position too, so if you wont cut down on the comments for your own sake, do it for his.
This isn't meant as an attack (and I believe you are working hard as an officer) but more of a plea to think about the risks you bring to yourself, Chris and YUSU by pissing so many people off online.
Was just an idle mistake, Mitch. Thanks for picking me up on it.
Anyway, back to the new constitution. I'm sure that quoracy can be reached - and if it is, I'm certain that the constitution will pass. It's a great piece of work.
Attacking Jason for being vocal has become a bit of a meme in this university, don't you think?
I wonder, is it from the same people who criticise YUSU for being closed and cliquey? And is it really reasonable to complain about closed door decision making and then attack those officers who go against it?
Jason has every right to express his views, and you have every right to disagree with them as strongly as you like. But suggesting that he should shut up because he's an officer is simply out of order.
The same goes for feeble attempts at intimidation, such as the 'no-confidence' threats that we've heard. Keep in mind that you need to have an actual case for such a motion, and 'not liking' someone you probably don't even know is hardly enough of a reason.
Few would doubt that Jason is doing a brilliant job as a Campaigns officer - if you have reason to believe otherwise, please let us know. Until then, spare us the ad hominem.
Back to the matter at hand though, seeing as this is an article on the GSA Constitution, and not Jason Rose (who yes, maybe does make too many comments at times, but has shown in my interactions with him on YUSU Campaigns Committee that he is a very dedicated YUSU Officer), the General Meeting is in Edge tomorrow at 7pm.
If you're a postgraduate, this is YOUR chance to vote on the GSA's proposed new budget and constitution, and get involved with how the GSA represents YOU!
All postgraduates who come down to make their vote count will also be able to enjoy FREE PIZZA and a FREE DRINK courtesy of the GSA.
Following the General Meeting, we will then be playing host to a live band 'Make It Better Later', and also holding 'Wentworth's Got Talent'.
I really do encourage you all to come down, as a) you get to have your say on the GSA, b) you get to see a great live band and c) you maybe get to see some not-so-great acts, which I'm sure will be just as entertaining! :-D
#7. YUSU people consider Jason annoying, but not sufficiently annoying or incompetent to be worth no-confidencing. 
For the record, I also find myself annoying.
Count yourself lucky you don't have to be around me 24/7
And thanks for the support #15-17!
The time has come - we'll be voting from 7 tonight! I'd really encourage all postgrads to come along, not only because it will be a good night but also because passing this Constitution is crucial to the future of the GSA. I hope to see many of you at the meeting tonight.
144 turned out. Only 1 vote against. Constitution passed.
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