Tuesday 16-11-2021 - 16:30

What even is Student Council?

Student Council happens twice a year at Bristol SU. It is the main representative forum of the Students' Union. It creates policy which directs the focus for our team of 7 SU officers. Members discuss and vote on items (called motions) submitted by students. Any motions that pass become active SU policy for three years.

 

When is it? 

This term's Student Council is on Tuesday 23 November from 16:00, and will take place on Blackboard.

 

Who can attend? 

All students can submit motions and attend the meeting, but only course reps, faculty reps, network chairs JCR presidents, society presidents, volunteering project co-ordinators, or club captains can vote on motions.

 

How does it work? 

Student Council happens twice a year, once in TB1, and once in TB2. Ahead of each Student Council students can put forward suggestions (called motions), which are designed to improve students’ lives. All Bristol students can then attend Student Council to watch the debates and see which motions have been voted in (passed). This year's Student Council will be held remotely on Blackboard. If you would like to attend as a non-voting member, please email ubu-council@bristol.ac.uk with your full name and university email address.

 

What does it achieve? 

In previous Student Councils, students have passed policy to create Black Students' and Parents, Carers, and Mature Students' Networks, to better support pregnant students, to support the climate strike campaign, and to adopt a harm reduction approach to drugs and alcohol. This is your chance to make long-lasting and far-reaching change at Bristol.

 

So, what’s up for debate this year? 

Bristol SU's Response to University Industrial Action

On Monday 18 October, UCU (University and Colleges Union) strike ballots opened at UK universities following ongoing disputes over unsafe workloads, casualisation and equality failings, and USS pensions and pay. This motion will set Bristol SU's policy position in response to industrial action. This includes working with UCU and the University to lobby UUK and UCEA to resolve the disputes and therefore end the current industrial action, with the aim of minimising the impact of strike action on the educational experience. 

Did you know that the university funds its own slaughterhouse and dairy farm? We want more transparency with what goes on there

The university funds an abattoir (a slaughterhouse) called Langford abattoir and a dairy farm called Wyndhurst farm. Both are connected to the Bristol Vet School. This purpose of this motion is for the SU to represent students by working to ensure that the vet school is treating its animals ethically and promoting transparency within the vet school.

Forced Swim Test

The forced swim test has been used by experimenters on small animals as part of attempts to study human depression and find new antidepressant drugs for humans. The test is still used at the University of Bristol. This motion asks for Bristol SU to denounce the use of the forced swim test and pressure the university to stop the experiment and not renew the license.

Fossil Free Careers

The university has divested from the fossil fuel industry and but companies from this industry are still able to recruit students through the careers service. This motion asks for Bristol SU to publicly support the Fossil Free Careers campaign and lobby the university careers department to take a number of actions to stop relationships with oil, gas or mining companies and adopt a publicly available Ethical Careers Policy.

Free sustainable period products for students

Disposable period products in the UK are causing 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year and 1.5 billion disposables are flushed down the toilet in the UK every year. This motion would mandate Bristol SU to explore the viability of purchasing and supplying sustainable period products alongside the university and improve access to these products.

Student representation in selecting new Vice Chancellor

Upon the resignation of Hugh Brady as Vice Chancellor of the University of Bristol, a process of selection has been/will be started to appoint the new Vice Chancellor. This motion calls on the University to set up a democratic process for students to elect a new Vice Chancellor. 

 

How can I find my reps?

If you’ve got strong opinions about any of the above motions, make sure to let your reps know how you’d like them to vote! You can find a list of course reps here.