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Change, Policy and Research
GUILD COUNCIL
Democracy and Governance Committee
21/01/15
Chair: Maria Finnerty
Change, Policy and Research
Apologies
Fong Khei Mah – proxy to Maria Finnerty
Ben Street – proxy to Rachael Gillies
Milly Hindle – proxy to Natalie Anderson
Change, Policy and Research
AGENDA
1. Student Idea: Create Opportunities for Student Workers Along the Lines
of the German System
2. Student Idea: Increase The Number Of Rooms That Students Can Book
For Group Work
3. Student Idea: The Library Should Have Cushions To Allow People To
Study On The Floor More Comfortably
4. Student Idea: Core Dissertations Should Have Free Binding
5. Student Idea: The Campus Laundry Machines Should Be Replaced With
More Economical Ones
Change, Policy and Research
6. Student Idea: Speed Limit Signs And Speed Cameras On
Campus
7. Student Idea: Hold Protest In Solidarity With Warwick
University Students Against The Violent Treatment They Faced
While Protesting
8. Student Idea: The First Or Last Part Of Every Lecture
Presentation Should Have Standard Contact Details
9. Student Idea: Block Facebook On All Library Computers
Change, Policy and Research
1. Student Idea: Create Opportunities for Student
Workers Along the Lines of the German System
33 votes
75.8% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea96-studentworkers/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea96-
studentworkers/Student-Idea-Report-96-studentworkers.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
1. Student Idea: Create Opportunities for Student Workers
Along the Lines of the German System
Council discussed the feasibility of employing new staff when there were
currently disputes over staff pay, and that much of this work is already being
performed by PhD students.
They voted to inform Ben Street of this idea to raise as a possible
opportunity that could be created, but decided to not instruct him to
actively work on this idea.
PASS TO BEN TO MENTION TO UNIVERSITY - 15
FAIL IDEA - 0
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
2. Student Idea: Increase The Number Of Rooms That
Students Can Book For Group Work
42 votes
90.5% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea105-studyspace/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea105-
studyspace/Student-Idea-Report-105-StudentSpace.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
2. Student Idea: Increase the Number of Rooms that Students Can Book For
Group Work
Ben Street passed on the following comments:
‘This was a point on my manifesto and I have already done some work to achieve this. The university have
a study space checker which allows students to identify where there is free available space to book out. This
is available on exehub and the Iexeter app. I have been asking them to do a better comms campaign on
this as it is clear students do not know about it.
‘We have a student from the business school running a spaces project with some funding from the NUS to
look at how we can convert some current rooms into group study spaces.
‘The issue however remains that there isn’t enough space on campus for group study, let alone individual
study. We have located some new spaces in the business school (in the PGR section) and I have been
working to identify other areas in places such as queens. Remember people can use places such as the
terrace, the grove, xfi etc.’
Council noted that Ben Street and the Guild are currently working as much as they
can on this issue, and therefore there is no further action that can be instructed.
TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION - 15
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
3. Student Idea: The Library Should Have Cushions To
Allow People To Study On The Floor More
Comfortably
81 votes
81.5% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea106-libcushion/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea106-
libcushion/Student-Idea-Report-106-LibCushion.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
3. Student Idea: The Library Should Have Cushions To Allow People To Study
On The Floor More Comfortably
Ben Street passed on the following comments:
‘I will raise this with Clare Powne head of the library who I am meeting at the beginning of
Feb. I worry that this is an idea in the first place. Students should have chairs to sit on in
order to work rather than cushions…’
Various councillors expressed that having a place to read comfortably in the Library
that wasn’t a desk would be useful.
Council instructed Ben Street to raise this idea with Clare Powne, as
stated.
PASS TO BEN - 15
FAIL - 0
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
4. Student Idea: Core Dissertations Should Have Free
Binding
62 votes
93.5% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea107-dissertations/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea107-
dissertations/Student-Idea-Report-107-Dissertations.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
4. Student Idea: Core Dissertations Should Have Free Binding
Ben Street passed on the following comment: ‘I like this idea and think we should push for it.
I will talk to the print room about the feasibility of this. I will also ensure that this is picked up in
the course cost checker which is accessible for all courses on the Guild website.’
Rachael Gillies told Council that the print room creates a small amount of revenue for
the Guild, which is fed back into services for students, but is not a huge cost-making
venture, and suggested that colleges should subsidise this instead.
Council voted to pass this idea to Ben Street to check the feasibility of
departments offering this and include in Guild work on hidden course costs.
PASS TO BEN STREET - 15
FAIL IDEA - 0
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
5. Student Idea: The Campus Laundry Machines
Should Be Replaced With More Economical
Ones
65 votes
86.7% positive approval
Result:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea108-laundry/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea108-
laundry/Student-Idea-Report-108-Laundry.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
5. Student Idea: The Campus Laundry Machines Should Be
Replaced With More Economical Ones
Kate Hawkins told Council that she would take this to the
University sustainability team but questioned whether they would
replace working machines without it being absolutely necessary.
Council voted to instruct Kate Hawkins to take this idea to
the University sustainability team.
PASS TO KATE HAWKINS - 15
FAIL IDEA - 0
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
6. Student Idea: Speed Limit Signs And Speed
Cameras On Campus
47 votes
55.3% positive approval
Results:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea109-trafficcalming/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea109-
trafficcalming/Student-Idea-Report-109-trafficcalming.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
6. Student Idea: Speed Limit Signs And Speed Cameras On
Campus
Matt Bate told Council that this would be taken to Transport Management
Group if taken forward. Kate Hawkins stated that the previous Environment and
Ethics Officer looked into this issue and found that cameras can’t be installed
on private land, and the funds are not available for speed checker signs.
Council voted to instruct Matt Bate to raise this issue with Transport
Management Group to see what solutions would be viable.
PASS TO MATT BATE - 15
FAIL IDEA - 0
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
7. Student Idea: Hold Protest In Solidarity With Warwick
University Students Against The Violent Treatment They Faced
While Protesting
66 votes
74.2% positive approval
Result:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea110-warwicksolidarity/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea110-
warwicksolidarity/Student-Idea-Report-110-warwicksolidarity.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
7. Student Idea: Hold Protest In Solidarity With Warwick University Students
Against The Violent Treatment They Faced While Protesting
Ben Street passed on the following comments: ‘I understand the motivations behind this
and the desire to show solidarity but I do not think a protest would be a suitable or feasible
move. I think we should pursue an alternative option to show solidarity i.e. a letter from
students if we do decide to show support. I also worry that this is too long after the event to
have an effect. If a similar incident occurs we should push the guild to respond sooner.’
Carlus Hudson agreed that it was too late and suggested that this issue should feed into
the input of Exeter delegates at the next NUS Conference. He also suggested changing
the system here at Exeter so that students and the Guild can respond quickly when
situations such as this arise.
Matt Bate told Council that a protest had been held, but that it was student-led rather
than by the Guild as an organisation. He also stated that he had wanted to put out a
statement in support but that they had been advised against it as the facts surrounding
the incident at Warwick were unclear.
Change, Policy and Research
7. Student Idea: Hold Protest In Solidarity With Warwick University Students
Against The Violent Treatment They Faced While Protesting
Kate Hawkins supported the idea of a fast-track system for student ideas for time-
pressured issues. Harry White raised the issue of protests on campus, asking where
students are allowed to hold demonstrations, if anywhere. Rachel Gillies told Council
that as long as the demo was not a safety hazard the University don’t have any issues
with peaceful protests going ahead, and cited a number of protests that had taken place
on the piazza the previous term.
Council decided that as so much time had passed since the incident, a
protest would no longer have the desired impact. Despite choosing not to
progress this particular demonstration, Council agreed that this discussion
on supporting protests in future was extremely valuable.
PASS - 0
TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION - 15
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
8. Student Idea: The First Or Last Part Of Every Lecture
Presentation Should Have Standard Contact Details
47 votes
63.8% positive approval
Result:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea111-contacts/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea111-
contacts/Student-Idea-Report-111-contacts.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
8. Student Idea: The First Or Last Part Of Every Lecture
Presentation Should Have Standard Contact Details
Ben Street passed on the following comments:
‘Very practical idea. Not sure how to instigate cross university. Can ask to put it in the staff
development training as a recommended idea. Could also raise with ACMEs in the colleges.’
Council discussed if this was necessary given that staff contact details are on ELE; Emily
Bevan said that as lecturers can change so often, this would be very useful.
Council voted to instruct Ben Street to recommend that this be included in
staff development training and to raise with ACMEs in colleges.
PASS TO BEN STREET - 15
FAIL - 0
ABSTAIN - 5
Change, Policy and Research
9. Student Idea: Block Facebook On All Library
Computers
82 votes
29.3% positive approval
Result:
http://www.exeterguild.org/change/ideas/idea112-facebook/
Report:
http://www.exeterguild.org/pageassets/change/ideas/idea112-
facebook/Student-Idea-Report-112-facebook.pdf
Change, Policy and Research
9. Student Idea: Block Facebook On All Library
Computers
Various councillors raised concern that the Guild or University would attempt
to police people procrastinating, with Rachael Gillies stating that study breaks
are necessary and should be encouraged to reduce stress. Other councillors
made the point that Facebook is often used for conducting group study,
research projects and discussion. They also noted the extremely low approval
rate in the student idea vote.
Council voted to fail the idea.
PASS - 0
FAIL - 15
ABSTAIN - 5
