MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 22 JUNE 2020 AT 12:02 PM HELD VIA ZOOM AND IN THE OUSA BULL-PEN, CUMBERLAND STREET, DUNEDIN

PRESENT

Jack Manning (Chair), Georgia Mischefski-Gray, Michaela Waite-Harvey, Josh Meikle, Francesca Dykes, Jack Saunders, Arina Aizal, Josh Smith, Emily Coyle and Joshuua Alefosio-Pei

IN ATTENDANCE

Debbie Downs (Chief Executive Officer), Donna Jones (Minute Secretary), Bonnie Harrison (R1 News) and Sinead Gill (Critic Editor).

CO-OPT MEMBERS ONTO THE STANDING COMMITTEE

            Moved from the Chair

^sc244/20  THAT Jack Saunders, Arina Aizal, Josh Smith, Emily Coyle and Joshuua Alefosio-Pei be appointed onto the standing committee for the duration of this meeting.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING

            Moved from the Chair

^sc245/20 THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2020 be accepted as a true and correct record.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

SPEAKING RIGHTS

            Moved from the Chair

^sc246/20 THAT Debbie Downs and Donna Jones be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

HEALTH AND SAFETY

            No incidents or accidents

The Health and Safety committee haven’t received any feedback so they will finalise document. 

There will be regular notices going out to staff and exec’ to remind people to continue with sanitising and good hygiene post Lockdown.

OUSA UPDATE

Clubs and Societies building – Feldspar have met with Debbie and Michaela to talk about replacing the roof.  It will probably be Christmas 2021 as renovations to the OUSA building over Christmas 2020.

The Clubs and Societies carpark will probably be resurfaced and underground pipes checked at the same time.

We still need to replace the lift in the Clubs and Socs building at some stage.

Covid wage subsidy – OUSA is not eligible for the second round of wage subsidies for casual staff.

RETURNING OFFICER’S REPORT

The Secretary advised there were no queries or complaints during the referenda held in May.  The Returning Officer was in agreement that a verbal Returning Officers report be given as there wasn’t anything to report. 

The AVP and Secretary are setting up a meeting with Blair at Core Development to discuss multi option answers for future referenda.

Ruth Jefferies has offered to be the Returning Officer again for the OUSA elections in September.

FINANCE AND EXPENDITURE MINUTES

            Meikle/ Mischefski-Gray

^sc247/20  THAT the minutes from the Finance and Expenditure meeting’s held on 4 June 2020 and 16 June 2020 be received.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED

AFFILIATION

The Otago University Christchurch Climbing Club applied for affiliation however their name isn’t clear on their constitution.  The fees section in the AGM minutes isn’t consistent with the constitution, section 3 has no number, clause 9.3 says PESOC and 12.4 different so needs to clarify which is which. Josh to ask for these alterations to be made and the affiliation brought back to next meeting.

CAMPUS OPEN DAY

This is replacing the Tertiary Open Day that was cancelled due to Covid-19.  The Executive have been asked to hold a stall and work a BBQ.  The University Union Manager has kindly offered to supply the food again for this.  The Executive to pick it up from the loading bay on the morning of 10 August at 11.30am. BBQ to be collected.

There will be a roster set up for the Executive to manage these.

APPOINTMENT TO TE WHARE TĀWHARAU ADVISORY COMMITTEE

            Moved from the Chair

^sc248/20 THAT Michaela Waite-Harvey be appointed to the Te Whare Tāwharau Advisory Committee for 2020.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

REFERENDUM RESULTS DISCUSSION

Should OUSA determine its members' position on voting in the general election, and then use that determination to lobby for that position?

OUSA will follow the results of the referendum.

Should OUSA lobby for its members and the general public to take a stance in the Cannabis Referendum?

If 'yes' to Question 2, should OUSA lobby for a 'yes' or 'no' vote in relation to passing the Cannabis Referendum?

The 2 questions above regarding cannabis will be further discussed and brought back to next week’s meeting as there are strong dividing opinions.  Some wanting to take a strong yes stance so as to look after our vulnerable students and others were suggesting the executive stay neutral but ensure there is a lot of education around these questions.

Jack Saunders left at 12.45pm

It was expressed by some that OUSA’s role is to present a positive picture, be educational and informative on this to help students who are voting make their own choices.

It was agreed there needs to be a firm decision by 5pm today.  Please continue this discussion and get a firm response ready for next meeting.

Francesca left at 1.01pm

Should OUSA lobby for its members and the general public to take a stance on the End of Life Choice Act 2019 (Euthanasia)?

If 'yes' to Question 4, should OUSA lobby for a 'yes' or 'no' vote in relation to passing the End of Life Choice Act 2019 (Euthanasia)?

OUSA will follow the results of the referendum on both of the above questions on Euthanasia.

Should OUSA withdraw from its New Zealand Union of Students' Association (NZUSA) membership?

This question has been asked in many referendums before.  Owing to the oversight in the explanation section when this question was submitted on principle the Executive would like to submit this question again.

Should OUSA work with New Zealand Union of Students' Association (NZUSA) to restructure the current governing structure?

Owing to a current restructure taking place at NZUSA the Executive are willing to wait and see how their restructure goes.

Georgia left at 1.10pm and return at 1.11pm

Should OUSA co-host the Agnew Street Party with the Agnew Street Residents?

Moved from the Chair

^sc249/20              THAT the meeting move into committee of the whole for commercial sensitivity at 1.11pm.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

            Moved from the Chair

^sc250/20 THAT the meeting move out of committee of the whole at 1.23pm.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

OUSA will look to do a harm reduction campaign to assist and support the marketing of this party but won’t be the host.

Emily left at 1.24pm

Should OUSA lobby for a law change around substance testing to allow for OUSA to own a spectrophotometer (a machine which tests substances) and have substance testing available for students?

There is going to be a meeting set up next week to try to obtain funding for to purchase a spectrophotometer.  Debbie Downs and the New Zealand Drug Foundation to be involved in the meeting.

Should OUSA investigate changing the election of the Clubs and Societies' Representative to be restricted to members of Clubs and Societies?

Josh Smith to email the clubs and societies members about this.  54.8% of voters said no and 31.3% said yes.

If 'yes' to Question 10, but 'no' to Question 11, should the election of the Clubs and Societies' Representative be further restricted by attributing one vote to each club and society within Clubs and Societies?

As above.

Should OUSA investigate a better funding and accountability model for Critic for proposing a potential change to the model in a latter referendum?

This requires further discussion as the Media Independence Policy and employment policy clauses should be taken into account. A good robust discussion should be held.

It was asked if this question was sent through to be asked in good faith.  There were many comments submitted about it.  Some said the question was convoluting and hard to understand in their view. 

Should OUSA establish a branch of Student Volunteer Army permanently?

A compelling answers with 80.2% voting yes.  OUSA to pursue this.

Should OUSA work with the current owners of the Rate My Flat website to help re-establish Rate My Flat or an equivalent service?

92.2% voted yes so this is a very compelling result.  Exec will pursue.

COVID-19 RESPONSE ACT SUBMISSION

            More content to be added.  Francesca will email it to Exec.

GENERAL BUSINESS

University Book Shop internship - a person has approached the Board about an internship opportunity.  They are starting a career in governance and directorship and are keen to get experience on the UBS Board.

It was requested the person write a proposal.  It was suggested it be for a year but overall the exec were keen for this to happen.

Josh Smith left at 1.42pm

DELEGATION OF POWERS BACK TO THE EXECUTIVE 

            Moved from the Chair

^sc251/20 THAT the powers of the Standing Committee be delegated back to the Executive henceforth.

                                                                                                                        CARRIED U

Meeting closed at 1.45pm

Signed: ___________________________________                        Date: _________