Meeting highlights
PRESENT
Logan Edgar (Chair), Blake Luff, Angus McDonald, Min Chua, Francisco Hernandez, Juana Diesing and Ryan Edgar
IN ATTENDANCE
Darel Hall (General Manager), Donna Jones (Minute Secretary) and Jordan Taylor (Education Officer elect)
APOLOGIES
Jonathan Rowe, Lisa Pohatu and Maria Pozza
Blake Luff for leaving early
Ryan Edgar for lateness
Moved from the Chair
298/12 THAT the above apologies be accepted.
CARRIED U
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Moved from the Chair
299/12 THAT the minutes of the executive meeting held on 25 September 2012 be accepted as a true and correct record.
CARRIED U
GENERAL MANAGER'S MONTHLY REPORT
Luff/McDonald
300/12 THAT Darel Hall be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED
Darel addressed the meeting and pointed out some highlights and invited questions.
- Chill out space - the space in the former SJS will be a hub for coffee and relaxing from 11-2pm each day next week. Reception staff to oversee the coffee, tea etc. Donna to purchase supplies.
- Three staff members are leaving. Natasha Mason, Joe Stockman and Megan Mathieson. Applications are open for two positions and the other will be advertised soon.
- Art Week will be changed to August instead of September next year.
- Blues and Golds evening at the OUSA Aquatic Centre was excellent.
Min arrived at 5.16pm
Luff/Chua
301/12 THAT the General Manager's August Monthly Report be received.
CARRIED
ELECTION 2013 AND REFERENDUM RESULTS
As attached for noting. There are two positions unfilled so a By Election will be called early next year. There were 3620 votes cast. Congratulations to all those elected and welcome to the OUSA family.
President Francisco Hernandez
Administrative Vice President Zac Gawn
Finance Officer Lucy Gaudin
Education Officer Jordan Taylor
Welfare Officer Francisco Hernandez - position now vacant
International Students Officer Kamil Saifuddin
Campaigns Officer Ruby Sycamore-Smith
Recreation Officer Blake Luff
Colleges Officer Pippa Benson
Post Graduate Officer No candidates stood for this position
Referenda - all questions passed with the required percentage.
1. Should the proposed OUSA budget 2013 be accepted in its entirety?
2. Should OUSA support the Marriage Equality Bill currently before Parliament?
3. Should OUSA actively support student representation on the governing councils of tertiary institutions?
4. Should OUSA oppose the privatization of state-owned electricity companies?
5. Should section 19.10 of the OUSA constitution be amended to read: "Any referendum at which fewer than five 5 percent of the of the total number of members cast their vote will be indicative only, except where the issue is about any or all matters listed in sections 19.11 or 19.12, where the threshold shall be one (1) percent of the total members, a figure the Secretary will ascertain at the commencement of each semester and report to the Executive and the Student Media."
6. Should the OUSA Constitution be amended to rescind sections 19.3, 19.13 and 20.2 (d)(ii) and insert a new section 19.3 that reads: "Any Referendum involving finance or administration matters other than any or all matters listed in sections 19.11 or 19.12, shall be indicative only and not binding on the Association."
7. Should the amendments to OUSA Budget for 2012 that were made after signing the Service Level Agreement with the University of Otago be approved?
8. Should OUSA support the move towards a Smoke-Free Campus?
9. Should OUSA actively support Post-Graduate students receiving a Student Allowance?
The Returning Officer, Matt Dodd will present his report in a couple of weeks as he has full year paper examinations to prepare for.
EDUCATION OFFICER ELECT
Owing to the position of Education Officer being vacant for some time it was discussed if the Education Officer 2013 elect could be contracted to cover this position for the rest of the year as there are still some university committee meetings to attend etc.
Hernandez/Luff
302/12 THAT Jordan Taylor be contracted for services to carry out the Education Officer's duties hence forth until 31 December 2012.
CARRIED
LIBRARY LIAISON REPORT
Blake Luff gave verbal report with a couple of main points:
- Extra study space becoming available at Clubs and Societies now Wi-Fi connected
- Science Library foyer being renovated
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE REPORT
- Sickness numbers up at student health owing to examination stress
- Investigation into the high price for people to attend urgent doctors. $80 is unaffordable. Looking at ways to reduce this fee for students.
- K2 drug use an issue. Some expressed concern at the behaviour of some students at a recent event held in the Union Hall This to be researched to see if it is a problem in Dunedin.
Blake left at 5.34pm
BOARD OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Moved from the Chair
303/12 THAT Jordan Taylor be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED
Jordan went through his written report.
Hernandez/Chua
304/12 THAT the Board of Graduate Studies meeting report of 4 October 2012 be received.
CARRIED
Hernandez/Chua
305/12 THAT the Board of Undergraduate Studies meeting report of 3 October 2012 be received.
CARRIED
LIFE MEMBERSHIP FOR 2013
Hernandez/McDonald
306/12 THAT the meeting move into Committee of the Whole for personal privacy at 5.45pm
CARRIED
Hernandez/McDonald
307/12 THAT the meeting move out of committee of the whole at 5.45pm for reasons of personal privacy.
CARRIED
308/12 THAT the meeting move out of committee of the whole at 6.07pm.
CARRIED
It was noted that members of the student community sent many letters of support for Art receiving life membership for recognition of his hard work and commitment especially to international students at the University of Otago.
Hernandez/Diesing
309/12 THAT Art Kojarunchitt former International Students Officer be awarded be awarded life membership of OUSA.
CARRIED
Hernandez/Diesing
310/12 THAT Logan Edgar president June 2011-2012 be awarded life membership of OUSA.
CARRIED
Hernandez/Diesing
311/12 THAT Peter Townsend University Book Shop Chairman be awarded life membership of OUSA.
CARRIED
The Executive were instructed to keep these names confidential until they are announced at the OUSA Christmas Party on Thursday 18 October 2012.
Min left at 6.10pm
It was agreed that the order of the agenda be changed to enable Ryan Edgar to present his items once he returns from the airport.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Flatting Week - Angus McDonald has been busy organising entries especially through the online site www.woo foo and dropping leaflets in letterboxes. He has sourced buckets and cleaning products from Mitre 10. He will be giving out buckets during OUSA market day. Assistance packing them would be appreciated in the former SJS office.
Best and worst flat judging will be on Friday 12 October, Matt Tucker, Dave Cull and Angus McDonald will be some of the judges. Well done Angus who has devoted many hours to this.
Environmental Officer - It has been discussed previously and agreed that Josh Pemberton should awarded the title of Environmental Officer for 2012 attributed to his hard work and commitment this year.
Diesing/Hernandez
312/12 THAT Josh Pemberton be the OUSA Honorary Environmental Officer for 2012.
CARRIED
Ryan arrived at 6.25pm
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES CENTRE RE-NAMING
After a few suggestions tossed around the room it was decided with great excitement that the OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre should be renamed and a tag line being "Where clubs and societies students gather to recreate."
Diesing/Hernandez
313/12 The OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre be re-named the "OUSA Recreation Centre" henceforth.
CARRIED
SCARFIE TEXT BOOKS
Ryan has been approached about the possibility of OUSA joining an on-line text book site to enable students to purchase books. This could be linked to the University Book Shop, of which the UBS Board members have been consulted and are keen.
The executive would like to negotiate a price and bring more information to another meeting later in the year. Logan and Ryan will follow this up.
Min left at 6.39pm
EXECUTIVE THIRD QUARTER REPORT
It was noted that Ryan Edgar's third quarter report was late.
Min returned at 6.41pm
McDonald/Hernandez
314/12 THAT Ryan Edgar's third quarter report be accepted and he continue to be paid his honorarium.
CARRIED
GENERAL BUSINESS
A Summer School Hub - Ryan would like to suggest that a 'hub' be set up during Summer School for students to gather. This appears to be lacking and this would help students engage. Perhaps OUSA could consult with Scott Muir at ReFuel and have a combined project. Ryan and Darel will get together and come up with some ideas.
Capital Development of OUSA Buildings - a very excited up beat president took the floor with enthusiasm and vigor waving architect plans to share ideas for a revamp.
One of the proposals was perhaps a Uni shop selling a range of memorabilia in the former Student Job Search space with a garden and seating on the Cumberland Street frontage. OUSA would host the space but the University Union staff would manage it.
University Book Shop - The building is to be earthquake strengthened. There are ideas of a face-lift of this building which the executive were excited about. The General Manager, Project Manager and Logan will investigate proposals that were suggested and report back to the executive in due course.
Next Executive meeting - 23 October 2012 at 5.15pm. There was discussion whether we should move into standing committee owing to many of the executive being in exams etc.
Meeting closed at 7.19pm