Let us in!: August’s USU board meeting

The sun sets on the month of August, which foretells two thrilling things. Midsem exams! The August USU board meeting!

We were let in at 2.50pm, meaning that 110 minutes of the meeting was “in camera” with no journalistic oversight or transparency.

What is the point of going to these meetings if the only thing we are allowed to report on is how they praise each other and their boring reports? This was the main question on our lips. But alas, in between all the procedural matters we didn’t have time to contemplate. 

During the brief 20-or-so minutes of the meeting that we were allowed to attend, there were a couple of key points. 

First, according to the USU’s finance report, the Union coffers had a stronger than anticipated July — due to both increased investment and the fact that they had one extra day of trading. 

Secretary Julia Lim (Independent) noted that PULP 16 had hit shelves (well done PULP) and foregrounded PULP 17. She also noted that new Clubs applications have been coming in strong. 

Treasurer James Dwyer (Unity) reported that he had been working on the investment review discussion and mentioned future financial training, of which President Bryson Constable moved a recommendation to approve. 

Vice President Ben Hines (self-described Independent) mentioned the schedule for the “proposed consideration for incorporation” of the USU: “a very important project in governance terms.” Constable and Hines will be meeting with the University shortly to go over the relevant USU constitutional amendments. 

Additionally, Hines noted that SULS had passed constitutional amendments on Monday August 26 to facilitate their reaffiliation with the USU. SULS had de-affiliated from the USU in November 2022, although the USU had never officially recognised this de-affiliation. 

Constable (Liberal) then delivered the President’s report. Constable noted his involvement in the University’s divestment working group, which would include Constable “and six other members of either the student representative bodies or external consultants.”

“My plan is to essentially update the board on what the process is going to be,” Constable said. Constable noted the USU’s own divestment process “a couple of years ago,” and said that he would pass on any learnings from that process to University Management. 

Constable will also meet with other university union presidents from UNSW and UTS, and eventually interstate university unions, as a part of the interunion dialogue. The dialogue is intended to meet trimesterly to facilitate information sharing and guidance between Australian university unions. 

Grace Porter (Unity), whilst noting she was longer women’s officer, spoke to the Safety Conference, giving thanks to the student programs team and indicating her desire to expand the conference as per the recommendations Onor Nottle put together from last year. 

Ethan Floyd (Grassroots) spoke across the disabilities, ethnocultural and queer portfolios. Floyd’s disability report noted a “spike in reports of accessibility concerns,” particularly surrounding the fact that a “lift in Manning building which provides access to disability space is non-operational.”

Floyd also noted that they were working on a “couple of concerns about recent events,” noting that Battle of the Bands and Someday Soon did not have clearly signed sensory spaces or designed maps. Floyd also said that they were currently drafting a statement about the changes to the NDIS. 

Floyd’s ethnocultural report noted that five sets of prayer cloths had been purchased for ethnospace. Floyd also “informally foreshadow[ed]” a possible condolences message regarding recent deaths in custody. In response, Constable asked whether the USU represented the right channel for this message, and after a brief, seemingly collegiate (at least compared to the SRC) squabble, Floyd noted that they would look into the matter. 

Floyd’s queer report spoke to recent controversy surrounding Queerspace, noting that it was “important to balance the rights of Queer students to have access to spaces.” Floyd said that they were already speaking to the University’s LGBTQIA+ body and Fisher library to establish a 24/7 Queer Space in Fisher library. 

Floyd also noted that Glitter Gala was scheduled for October 11 this year (a shift from the event’s previous March date). They also noted the upcoming September 19 Chau Chak Wing panel discussion on student union history, of which Floyd will be a participant. 

International Student Officer Shirley Zhang noted preparations for the International Food and Culture Festival. Additionally, Zhang said they had received an invitation from the International Student Representative Committee. Constable and Zhang will meet next week to discuss the USU’s prospective involvement in this committee.

And just like that the meeting closed at 3:19 pm. Honi reporters were on the scene for less than 20 minutes, with over an hour of secret proceedings remaining unseen.