Thursday 14-11-2019 - 15:00

November 2019 Student Council Motions 

Student Council is just around the corner and this is your chance to see student democracy in action! 

Here’s a quick run-down of the motions that have been brought forward to be debated at Student Council on Thursday 21 November. Feel strongly about any of these? Make sure your course rep, faculty rep, network chair, JCR president, society president or club captain is present and representing your voice. 

As so many motions have been brought forward there is a ballot currently running to decide on the agenda. You can vote at bristolsu.org.uk/vote by Tuesday 19 November at 9am. 

1. Support the Climate Strikes 

Following the declaration of a climate emergency this motion asks for Bristol SU to endorse the climate strikes and lobby the university to do the same, as well as helping to promote upcoming strikes. 

2. Ensure Inclusive and Safe student groups 

Through different Liberation networks students have reported barriers to participation in extra-curricular activities. This motion aims to maximise participation in student groups and remove barriers that might prevent students from a liberation background taking part. It also aims to protect students from sexual harassment and violence by equipping committees with the skills to identify and call out this behaviour. 

3. Move the Welcome Fair to a time accessible to all 

This motion asks for the date of the 2020 Welcome Fair to be moved to a Saturday to allow students on courses whose terms have already started to attend the fair. This would help those students access the same opportunities as everyone else. 

4. Let’s Disarm Bristol! Lobby the University to End Ties with Arms Trade Companies 

The University of Bristol has a community of students from different countries; including countries such as Syria and Yemen. However the university has strong ties with companies causing intervention and unrest in these countries. This motion aims to lobby the university to end ties with arms trade companies and suggests a number of actions to achieve this. 

5. Sanctuary Scholarship Legal Fund 

This motion asks for Bristol SU to do more to support Sanctuary Scholars through their studies by protecting them against the financial burden of legal costs incurred as a result of their immigaration status. 

6. Support Student Housing Cooperatives 

University of Bristol students face some of the highest student rents in the country. This motion mandates the SU to champion setting up Housing Co-operatives which would support students who need cheaper housing and want to be part of a more democratic housing community once out of halls. 

7. Give Volunteers a Voice 

This motion asks for an amendment to the Bristol SU byelaws to include Volunteering Project Co-ordinators as voting members at student council, allowing them to represent students in their group to the same degree as society presidents and club captains. 

8. Bristol SU to run an official Global Health Shortcourse 

For the past few years Bristol branch of Students for Global Health have organised a Global Health Short Course with eight sessions covering a range of key and relevant areas in global health. This motion asks for the course to be under the mandate of an SU officer and for the SU to provide full marketing support and funding. 

9. Climate Crisis & Food: Ban Beef and Lamb, and Introduce a Dairy ‘Tax’ 

Following the declaration of a climate emergency this motion asks for Bristol SU to lobby the university to ban beef and lamb across campus, work to implement a ‘tax’ on having dairy milk, and educate students on why these changes are important. 

10. Byelaw and Article Tidy-Up 

11. Terms of Reference for the Care-Leavers and Estranged Students Network 

Like the sound of this? Make sure you join us on Thursday 21 November from 6pm! 

The meeting will also include updates from each of the full time officers. You can see the full agenda online now.