Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 8 MARCH 2021 AT 8.06AM HELD IN THE BULL-PEN OFFICE, OUSA, 640 CUMBERLAND STREET, DUNEDIN
PRESENT
Michaela Waite-Harvey (Chair), Emily Coyle, Josh Meikle, Maya Polaschek,
Geraldi Ryan, Mhairi Mackenzie Everitt, Jack Saunders, Michael Evans, Sophie Barham, Dushanka Govender and Melissa Lama
IN ATTENDANCE
Debbie Downs (Chief Executive Officer), Donna Jones (Minute Secretary), Hay Mar Myo Thein (Microbiology student – concern for Myanmar), Quintin Jane (Radio One reporter), Mary O’Brien (Coordinator Accessible Street Audit) and Erin Gourley (Critic Editor)
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING
Moved from the Chair
68/21 THAT the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 18 February 2021 be accepted as a true and correct record.
CARRIED U
SPEAKING RIGHTS
Moved from the Chair
69/21 THAT Debbie Downs, Donna Jones, Hay Mar Myo Thein and Mary O’Brien be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED U
GUEST: MYNANMAR PRO-DEMOCRACY MARCH
Hay Mar Myo Thein was invited to address the meeting. She wants to invite the Executive and others to attend a rally on Saturday 13th March at 10am starting at the Railway Station then onto the Octagon. Could we please share a notice on all social media channels and to other organisations?
The past few months in Myanmar has seen a surge of violence and political instability following the undemocratic seizure of power by Myanmar’s military.
Hay as an Otago student from Myanmar spoke about her ongoing experience struggling with fear for her community under constant threat of violence, combined with limited communication lines due to common internet blackouts. Lethal force has been repeatedly used against citizens exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Fear of speaking out is at an all-time high, the government might have our personal details and arrest us. But, this is our life and we have to speak out for our country and our future she said. Her brother Philip a student at Otago Polytechnic and Hay are both hopeful there will be international intervention.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Nothing to report in house although there was an incident in the Union Hall at one of the gigs. No injuries were reported.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS’ 2020 REPORT
Moved from the Chair
70/21 THAT the meeting move into confidential committee for reasons of commercial sensitivity at 8.28am.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
71/21 THAT the meeting move out of confidential committee at 9.02am.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
72/21 THAT the Chief Executive Officers’ 2020 4th Quarter report be received noting it was received late.
CARRIED U
PACIFIC ISLAND ASSOCIATION UPDATE
- Festival at Forsyth Barr stadium
- Community access fund not very accessible for students
- Pacifika welcome held in the Castle Street Lecture theatre
- SS performing Arts paper
- Farewell function held for Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai in the Terrace Lounge, her replacement starting soon.
- Leadership forum coming up soon
- Studylink payments are slow to come through and payments not enough for students in Colleges, this to be investigated. Michaela offered to take this issue to a University Council meeting.
GUEST: NATIONAL COORDINATOR ACCESSIBLE STREETS AUDIT
Mary was thanked for coming and invited to address the meeting.
Mary has been working to improve access for people with disabilities, especially on George Street. She has make a submission to the planning and environment committee on the proposed development of George Street. She expressed gratitude to OUSA on their attendance at the meeting and our submission which helped.
The DCC have adopted the global Street Design guide from New York and across the world as a base for the George Street design.
It is important that OUSA and all interested groups who supported the proposal last year to keep on the same page and keep each other informed. Some businesses oppose the plan.
Michaela offered to write to the Editors to get ahead of things.
It was also suggested OUSA write to Jeanine Benson the Transport Manager at the DCC.
NZUSA UPDATE
There is a zoom meeting in March.
GRANTS PANEL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Moved from the Chair
73/21 THAT Michaela Waite-Harvey, Dushanka Govender, Josh Meikle, Anna-Lise Hinton, Adithi Alexander, Rebecca Kurovich, Nicky Bisley and Frank Edwards be appointed to the OUSA Grants Panel for 2021.
CARRIED U
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Evans/Barham
74/21 THAT Allie Hawksworth and Bonnie Harrison be appointed to the P-School of Arts Leadership Team for 2021.
CARRIED
Evans/Barham
75/21 THAT Michael Evans and Sophie Barham be appointed to the Humanities Divisional Board for 2021.
CARRIED
Coyle/Mackenzie Everitt
76/21 THAT Maya Polaschek be appointed to the Clinical Governance Group for Student Health for 2021.
CARRIED
Coyle/Mackenzie Everitt
77/21 THAT Emily Coyle be appointed to the Sustainability Strategic Framework beyond 2021 Advisory group for 2021.
CARRIED
Coyle/Mackenzie Everitt
78/21 THAT Jack Saunders be appointed to the Combined Colleges Project Steering Committee for 2021.
AFFILIATIONS
The two clubs will be asked to make amendments and fix spelling errors but will be affiliated in the meantime.
Govender/Ryan
79/21 THAT the Institute of Religious Studies be affiliated to OUSA with amendments to their application.
CARRIED
Govender/Ryan
80/21 THAT the Otago Consulting Club be affiliated to OUSA with amendments to their application.
CARRIED
GRADUATION PARADE
Owing to the Mynamar rally on the same day there will be a bit of a shuffle to get to both Events.
Michaela, Maya, Michael and Jack will be parading and Maya will sit on the stage.
Josh left at 9.30am
FINANCE AND EXPENDITURE (FEC) MINUTES
There is to be a typo fixed on clause 6 on 3/3/21 and resent to the Secretary.
Coyle/Evans
81/21 THAT the minutes of the Finance and Expenditure meetings held on 17 February 2021 and 3 March 2021 be received.
CARRIED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO PEARL MATAHIKI
The OUSA Executive acknowledged the 20 years of service Pearl Matahiki, Tumuaki of the Māori Centre had given students at the Otago University and her dedication to the Māori Centre with a gift and wished her all the best for her retirement.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Access to dental care at the University Of Otago School Of Dentistry– Jack Saunders to bring more information before this goes to the Ethics Committee for support.
Executive photos for the website – March 10 in the Otago Room 10.30am onwards.
Josh returned at 9.43am
Albany Street Crossing – Mhairi has been contacting the Council to see if this could be a priority as it is very dangerous trying to cross Albany Street from the Clubs and Societies Building. Suggestions to email Jeanine at the Council.
Submissions – Mhairi will be sitting at a desk at Market Day from 10-2pm to collect signatures for the submission on Climate Change Commission Report.
Happy International Women’s Day was expressed.
Meeting closed at 9.47am
Signed: ___________________________________ Date: _________