Friday afternoon saw the University of Sydney Union (USU) board and executive complete their fifth meeting of the year in the Holme Building.
Although it was not circulated to Honi Soit prior to the meeting, Friday’s agenda centred around the ratification of a Clubs and Societies (C&S) resolution which had not been passed at an inquorate meeting on May 10, approval of staff as voting members of the C&S Committee, the approval of Circular Resolutions as well as the presentation of Finance and Exec Reports.
We were greeted with cold pizza and fries, and informed at 2.15pm that the “closed door” and confidential section of the meeting was running overtime. We were allowed into the Cullen Room at 2:41pm to cover the last 19 minutes of the meeting.
The first item we saw was a purely regulatory amendment to ensure C&S staff members voting rights. Moved by Honorary Secretary Onor Nottle and seconded by Board Director Julia Lim, the motion was passed unanimously.
The finance report revealed the USU met a small deficit in April, but were tracking with a surplus for the year to date. Grace Wallman, Board Member, asked why this was the case. She was informed that the “underlying reasons for dips in outlets” included protests on campus and a “more difficult holiday period than anticipated.”
Honi would like to note that a “bomb threat at Fisher Library” earlier in the year was also cited as a factor by the USU in this deficit. At the time, multiple buildings around the University of Sydney’s Camperdown campus were evacuated and searched by police. The USU’s admission today was contrary to the University refusal to comment on the nature of the event as it unfolded.
When presenting her report, Nottle “shouted-out” the recent USU Gala and the outgoing PULP editorial team. Honi was not invited and cannot verify whether the event, in fact, was a success.
Nottle went on to update the Board that has been meeting with “key university stakeholders” about the outcomes of the recent Student Safety Conference alongside President Naz Sharifi. In particular, the pair are focused on addressing how the University will “move forward” in light of the National Student Safety Survey. They have established a working group to compare the Action Plan and Recommendations of this Survey with the University’s current policies, and ascertain “the work which still needs to be done.”
Honorary Treasurer and outgoing Board Director Nick Dower provided his report at the AGM earlier today and did not provide a substantive update.
Outgoing Vice President Madhullika Singh welcomed in the first-year Board Directors (Georgia Zhang, Shirley Zhang, James Dwyer, Ethan Floyd and Phan Vu).
Outgoing President Naz Sharifi gave her second-last report as President, expressing gratitude for the team’s work in the past “mammoth month.” Sharifi drew attention to the protests currently occurring on campus, saying “I know campus seems tense at the moment, rightfully so… while I am in office, I will make sure that campus is safe for every single student.”
In a comment to Honi after the meeting, Sharifi clarified that “this time of the semester has some level of stress and intensity for students due to exams and also the ongoing challenges of the cost of living. The USU is committed to working with students on how we can best support them through these times including the provision of free breakfast and lunch, and during this exam period bonus dinners as well.”
When asked specifically about the relevance of her statements to the Gaza solidarity encampment, Sharifi stated that “it is important that students who are participating have the necessary provision of service to ensure that whilst they are on campus, they feel adequately provided for, similar to all other students.”
By way of updates on portfolio roles and working groups, Lim emphasised positive feedback from students using Manning House’s Ethnocultural Space in recent weeks. Wallman went on to note that she has continued working on the Disabilities Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), and is now “setting up appropriate methods for consultation” in the current phase. Board Director Alex Poirier also highlighted their role in “querying the IT department” to understand “what needs to happen” for it to stop referring to students by dead names as part of the Queer Portfolio.
The meeting was closed, on time, at 3pm. Join us next month for another 20 minute session!