This is a first draft compiling many ideas for improving the accessibility and openness of Students’ Union democracy.

If it seems surprisingly long, that’s because not all these ideas are my own, and many of them have been in the pipeline for a long time.

This paper is only as productive as the level of feedback it receives, so please, leave your comments and criticism here.

Proposals for Democratic Reform in the University of Sussex Students’ Union

** First Draft

** Final version to be brought to next Union Council

Aims

• To improve the accessibility of Union democracy
• To raise awareness of Union democratic structures and how to get involved
• To help make Elected Officers more accountable
• To ensure that the Students’ Union maintains its commitment to representation and democracy

Proposals

1. Process

Council

• The Union implement a Safe Space policy, guaranteeing attendees to Union Council an inclusive and welcoming environment, whilst encouraging debate
• The Union mandate its Full-Time Officers to provide a brief update of their activities for the Union since the previous meeting of Council

Annual meetings

• The Union review the process of Annual meetings and other large meetings, and update its rules where necessary in order to aid the productivity and smooth running of such meetings

Elections and referenda

• The Union update its rules for campaigning teams, including but not limited to the conduct expected of campaign teams and sanctions that may be used where conduct is found to be unacceptable

Complaints

• The Union review its existing complaints procedure to ensure that it is as fair and accountable as possible, including internal (i.e. Elected Officer) accountability

Staffing

• The Union ensures that, amid the current poor economic situation arising from University budget cuts, it maintains its lifelong commitment to representation and democracy and provides good staffing levels in support of this

2. Communications

On campus

• The Union to advertise all major democratic events on official (glass-covered) noticeboards, including (for example):
  • the motions brought to major meetings
  • the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ arguments for referenda
  • notices of election and nomination processes
• The Union review the locations and distribution methods of The Badger, to ensure good access for as many students on campus as possible

Online

• The Union undertake a review of its web services to ensure that they are accessible, clear, and contain up-to-date information, within the boundaries of its resources
• The Union ensure that information on its website is clear on issues including but not limited to:
  • Timelines of future elections and nominations
  • Process for bringing motions to Council and Annual meetings, including example motions
  • Process for un-electing Officers
  • The complaints procedure in full

Note: The proposers respect that Union staff and Officers are already overburdened with work amid the current budget cutbacks, and call upon the Officers to make progress on these issues as quickly as is reasonably possible

The proposers also note the progress the Union has already made on many of the issues that this paper is written to address, and call upon the Union to treat these proposals as a part of its overall commitment to democracy

Proposed: Josh Jones

Seconded: ???

Contact: education@ussu.sussex.ac.uk