Minutes of JJCR meeting, 12-03-2006, 22:00

Related files

1. Agenda
2. MfS: Nightline
3. MfS: Cross Country Scroll
4. MfS: Bar Overspill Curtains
5. Motion for JCR Fining
6. Fairtrade UniversityMotion
7. Motion to rename JJCR President

Contents

1. Reports
2. JJCR Motions
3. JJCR Ratifications
4. JJCR Elections
5. CRC
6. Emergency Motion
7. JJCR AOB
8. JHJCR Discussion
9. JHJCR Elections
10. JHJCR AOB

Preamble

Opening Prayer

Read by Megan Taylor.

Apologies

• Tim Quayle, Arun Arora

Minutes and matters arising

The minutes were approved on a general aye. There were no matters arising.

Reports

Reports of Executive Officers

Roddy Peters, JCR President (dressed as Johnny Depp)

I haven’t got much to say, what we are all going to do is give an overview of the year. Other than going to all the standard meetings, breakfast with the VC and college council, I’ve been to the bar a couple of times. I’ve been tying up a lot of loose ends and handing over slowly to Josh. We’ve had a good year for the arts, Phil Wallbridge organised a photographic expedition, BTC, summer shakespeare etc, sports been great, esp. rugby, rowing and cross country. Investments: we have had new sound and light, a staff thank you event, fireworks and a new mascot. Relations between halls are healthy and glowing, I have enjoyed spending time with lisa and arun. I designed a website with lisa and administered the members fund. In the local community we had people going to schools, we continue to have duck and SCA involvement and we are supporting becoming a fair trade uni. I have worked closely with college officers. Couple of things with from my manifesto: I said I would deal with issues sensibly and surrender acting, I have done this with some pain. I said I would push for CCC to be brought onto bailey – I talked to college officers about this. College had had financial issues and thus sold some of the equipment. The issue of such a space is in the mind of the college officers. Improving corridors - the yucky colour is mostly gone. A CD of photos is on the way. Increasing website use - I’ve given the current website a facelift, we’d hoped to take delivery of the new design, Josh has been working on it. It’s sad we haven’t been able to do that yet, its been a big job. I have been pushing fair-trade. Making livers out part of college was helped by fireworks. I worked with anna to try and consider a new livers out event but the SEC schedule is packed. We now have minutes online for exec, finance and chairs. I’ve really been chuffed to represent johns this year and a good working relationship with the other presidents. I look forward to see you at the festival formal.

Jess Caddy, VP:Estates, dressed as John Travolta

We had the duck formal hall, thanks to DUCK, I’m sure they will let you know how much they raised. The Bailey Room will be closed on Monday until (probably) Friday, hopefully no later. This is so it can be redecorated a nicer colour. The post, not quite sure where that will go but there will be a notice. Be aware! The bar overspill will hopefully be decorated and further furnished – we still have money from JCR for that. One notice, I know not many people have cars up but there have been complaints about people parking outside 16 South Bailey.

From my manifesto I said I would try and improve the library, now it is hopefully warmer and lighter, there is still the opportunity for more heaters, I got more sockets as well. Another thing was moving CCC. I introduced informal house ctte. - meetings where Alan, house reps and I have more frequent meetings. This worked effectively. I also said I would make general assa keys available, I did, not that many people took them. I got bigger glasses! The huge lockup clear-out, thank you to all the house reps, I want it instilled as a yearly thing. I also had to fight against getting rid of lockups. No other colleges except perhaps chads have them. Bar overspill is continuing being redecorated. I did the room ballot and allocation and had a meeting for those who hadn’t got flatmates. I also did a show flat at St Margarets which worked quite well. I did a review of student honoraria, introduced a summer garden work party in summer. Katie is very keen with garden stuff. I got continental breakfast to be regular feature and hash browns at both brunches.

Ed McCarter: Why was the decision made to shut common room a week before end of term?
JC: It had to be fitted in when maintenance were free. We picked a time when we though it wouldn’t be too busy.
RP: As with gazebo, we have sat on alan all year for that. We have managed to clinch a deal that he will do this as well. If it drifted into the holiday we were concerned it would be forgotten.
JC: Best now than not at all.

Miquela Elsworth, VP:Welfare, dressed as Elton John

Not much to say, travel bursary deadline has passed so you should hear from me within the week. Student supporters, we are meeting tomorrow or Wednesday at 12:30 to go over the term review. On my manifesto I said I would publicise the nightbus, I did that through advice cards and put a timetable on my board. Unfortunately this term it is not running as much. I also wanted to make the college parent system more of a pastorial thing and help the tutor network be more efficient so I did a tutor evaluation form to help the senior tutor know. A lot of college parents have been good. I also talked about welfare of the world. For aids awareness day me and my team collected money for national aids trusts. There were a lot of DSU campaigns which Pete and Annabell have been awesome at helping me with. I also revamped peer supporter network with more training, a wider network and details on the website. I did put on manifesto there would be self defense classes, they should have been done this term, but now they are keen to be done next term. I got a light for the bar overspill area and that helped with uneven cobbles there and got a cover for the board due to trophying as the welfare team are gorgeous. I had numerous campaigns. Also I helped organise a memorial service and I thought this was something that emphasized to me how in johns one person can influence everyone. How wonderful life is when you’re in the world.

Dan Baxter, Treasurer, dressed as John Lennon

If you couldn’t work out who I was you should have used your imagination.

My manifesto had three main aims, reduce personal debt of jcr members and look into a credit card. Credit card turned out to be undoable. I’ve tried to pay companies directly so it does not have to go through someone and have written large cheques especially quickly. Next thing was to keep debtors list active, this was done when necessary including naming and shaming. Further encourage JCR membership and look for uniformity: There were some 3rd/4th years who weren’t members. Most are now members. In Easter term the big thing was johns day. JCR completely funded johns day, 2500 more than usual. In Michalemas re-evaluated all VAT because one of the other treasurers had had a 70000 bill. Also I improved security, more use of safes. Invested in daylight robbery equipment, hopefully it will last for years to come. We bought Olav in epiphany.

Binding- I can do in my room for just £1 and it works. I may even be able to bind acetate on the front. Not that it will look cheap. Money request deadline this Wednesday. The bar will be open on Saturday.

RP: Worth noting that facility in constitution to have an honorary treasurer, been able to have one for Anthony Friswell as an extra level of scrutiny.

Jonny Hays, Senior DSU Rep, dressed as John McEnroe

We’ve had lots and lots of fun, but its only just begun.
this year the Johns and DSU stayed close, This is the time to tell it I suppose.
Along with Cranmer we passed a motion, Showing John’s devotion.
The DSU will now have a Race Awareness Day, on Friday the 5th May.
We had many Johns promotions, seeing Johnians elected-what an emotion.
Johnians getting DSU positions, filling the dsu with now additions.
We reached # 3 in the DSU ranks of participation, Where Johns learnt new vocations.
We came tops in two election turnouts, Thank you that we didn’t burn out.
The DSU is always there for you, I know some of you think its poo.
But if it wasn’t for the DSU, There’d be a lot less for you.
No Nightline, No Nightbus, No opportunity to discuss.
The important issues of being a student and having this out with all those prudent.
There wouldn’t be the Advice or Accomodation cenre, The chance to be a Purple Radio Presenter
Its just gone over a bit of a makeover.
It’s lucky, like a piece of clover.
Good luck to Richard, he’ll do a great job.
Because all the girls think he’s a heartthrob.
I’ll say goodbye and wish you all well.
This has been the year of my DSU spell.

JH: You cannot be serious.

Hannah Sargeant, Services Manager

I’m just me.
The last couple of weeks nothing exciting happened, except stash came. If you haven’t picked it up see me. Past year I have just done my job, I hope, got a new stash company, didn’t say I would but I did, also new photography company as Academy were rubbish.
RP: Phoenix can produce card mounts so presented a lot more nicely. Roddy Peters, also known as services manager. I battled the forces of evil, coca cola to try and keep machine at 50p, good luck Martin with that.
I got sprite but apparently it is now gone so that marks the end of my term of office.

Anna McMullen, Social Secretary, dressed as John Major

Firstly, Formal coming up on Wednesday, 645 drinks reception in scr, got a bop as well.
This year, I guess, sec mainly runs itself and you have to keep it going, I tried my best to be creative and make the events different, I was helped by a wonderful sec team and in general tried to keep ticket selling easy and having priority fair, new events like fireworks and having fireworks for bailey ball.

Rob Reeve, Communications Officer, dressed as John the Baptist

With the questionnaire at the start of our term of office showing that people are largely happy with the current methods of communication in college, my job over the last year has been largely about maintaining the quality of the facilities currently in place. I have maintained the important practice of mailing This Week first class to living out members of college and tried to minimise e-mail by combining messages where possible and encouraging more This Week entries. Duo to popular request I have aimed to keep crossword puzzles in This Week and this has been extended to include the latest puzzle craze, Sudoku. I hope the regular collection of facts have also been an interesting addition. This year has also seen the incorporation of a semi-regular “letter from a year abroad” feature which will hopefully serve several purposes. Not only do I hope you have enjoyed hearing the escapades of college members in foreign lands, but it sends the important message that people on a year abroad are still valued members of college. As far as the website is concerned, this last year has been somewhat of an interim period. With a new site always being tantalisingly around the next corner, yet never quite materialising, it seemed best to delay any major changes. This said, I have still aimed to maintain the website as a vital source of information with dates, contact details for JCR officers and a plethora of other pages. One of the major changes over this last year has been the provision of exec., finance committee and chairs committee meetings on the website in the name of improved transparency and accountability. I am pleased to be able to announce that there is now a full back catalogue of exec. minutes from our period of office so you can discover exactly what we have discussed over this last year and importantly hold us to account. I would like to finish by thanking you all for this opportunity to serve you this last year, which has on the whole been a very enjoyable experience. Special thanks should go to my assistants, Megan Taylor, Josh Heald and most recently Donald Spencer and I wish Tim the best of luck for the current year. Any Qns. To finish off I would just like to give you a few facts! Did You Know that over the past year I have produced approximately 1300 copies of This Week and taken minutes of almost 50 meetings.

Hannah Pearce, Bar Treasurer

On Friday we have a st patricks day event in bar with support staff. T bar will be open on Saturday. The most exciting thing that has maybe ever happened to johns bar, we have a card machine, 50p minimum purchase and we are charging 40p Cashback: maximum £20 in £10 denominations. There is a limit to the amount that can be taken so once it is gone it is gone so get in quick. We have had really good bb and johns day events, taking over £1000, new cocktail menu, unfortunately didn’t paint the bar pink, really good bar events and the card machine! Please come and use it.

Lisa Mol, MCR President

As the mcr elections aren’t for many months, this is just an update. I have spent time looking at constitution and having a marvelous time on the river. Intercollegiate MCR is nicely on track. If anyone staying around next year please let me know so we know who will be around. And a big big thank you to the wonderful exec who have helped me out many times. Enjoy your well deserved rest.

Reports of Non-Executive Officers

Helen Smith, Senior DUCK Rep.

If anyone wants to buy a date for the duck calendar raffle come and find me.

Motions

Prior to the discussion of motions, there was a discussion about the DSU Nightbus Service.

Miquela Elsworth: Basically in DSU council on Wednesday we were questioning whether there should be a £1 compulsory charge for the nightbus. It was decided it would go to the JCRs to see what you think. At the moment it doesn’t pay its way, it’s a good resource but costs over £20000 a year and the voluntary donations don’t support it. We are in the mind of possibly making it a compulsory 50p charge. We want your views. It is still a welfare resource. Jeanna is going to the working group on Tuesday which will happen in Vane Tempest in DSU and anyone is welcome to go.

Josh Heald: POI if you don’t have 50p you can give in your campus card and pay the following day at DSU.
Roddy Peters: The problem is DSU is in financial difficulty. The old sponsorship which paid for the bus has switched to palatinate. A £1 charge would bring in more money than was needed but that was felt too much. 50p would not quite meet costs. At the moment not enough people are volunteering their contribution.

As someone who uses the nightbus, I would have no problem paying 50p.

RP: At council we simply hadn’t had enough time. We will bring feedback to the meeting.

Tom Bristow: I thought the point of the bus was a failsafe. Woudn’t a compulsory charge invalidate the purpose?
RP: Yes but the alternative would be it wouldn’t exist, given you can just give in the card, this hopefully juggles the two.
ME: A lot of the use of the bus is to go to hill bars/tescos. Still a welfare resource but it is also used to just get around Durham. Still a very competitive rate.

TB: My only concern would be someone who didn’t have anything, including campus card.
ME: Up to the discretion of the driver as well.
RP: Not would not be possible to run it if too many people just jump on. Nightbus are now running legally which incurs higher costs.
Ed McCarter: Could you economize by using student drivers?
RP: no one has the required license, it was asked.
ME: Ok then, we will say we are hapy as a JCR to support the compulsory 50p charge.
RP: They are also planning to revise the route, especially tesco link and are considering stopping short of tescos. Does anyone have any comments on that?
no one did

MFS: Nightline

Motion text
Read by Miquela
ME: This has been passed by finance committee. Essentially we have been giving to nightline in previous years but it has not been brought to JCR. This is more transparent. Each year we give about £200 to the service, it is quite similar to a couple of years ago when a motion came through. A lot of johns are involved and attend the training weekend.

This motion was passed by finance committee

MFS: Cross Country Scroll

Motion text
Read by Roddy
RP: Again this was passed by finance committee, it is to fund a nice calligraphic scroll, I could do one on the computer but it would be nicer to have something more permanent to go next to the trophy. I am awaiting a firm quote. It may be more or less. It is non-essential but if people would like it we can have it.

This motion was passed by finance committee

MFS: Bar Overspill Curtains

Motion text

JC: Bar overspill has been being redecorated for about 2 years. It used to have rubbish tables, it has now come on a lot and I want to get it finished, we still need the second coat of place and furniture that I mentioned before. I think new curtains would help, the old curtains are functional but I want new ones. I spoke to someone but haven’t been able to get a quote yet. It basically costs quite a lot, about £850, there are 3 sets of curtains, the big one that goes all the way across, one over door and one over the window. I think it would be worthwhile. It’s possible I could research and try and find something cheaper, Sue tells me this source is competitive.

Tom Bristow: Is it approved by finance committee?

Roddy Peters: Approved not passed. It was contingent on in being discussed here.

Tom Bristow: Do you think the money could be spent better elsewhere?

Jess Caddy: That is the question really, in my mind I want to finish the room properly and it wouldn’t be finished without new curtains. Becky Warner: I understand the door/window, why is the big curtain needed? Jess Caddy: It is perhaps worth considering whether it is needed.
Megan Taylor: From a treasurers perspective how does this sit?
Dan Baxter: Basically, if we were going to take it from event profits we would have to have a specific event. We couldn’t take other event profit as they don’t make profits. We can probably afford about 3 such expenditures a year, a bit of a downer last year due to john’s day.
Jess Caddy: Last year we had big spends like daylight robbery. We are now at the start of a new year, financially.
Megan Taylor: I assume college won’t pay for it.
Jess Caddy: College say they won’t have enough money. I hope that if it was needed they may top up the amount. Because it is not 100% necessary I can’t force them.
How long current ones been there
Jess Caddy:Guess last 9 years
Alison Dancer: Getting decent curtains is an investment, social events is just one night.
Jess Caddy: I think it would work for years to come.
Dan Baxter: Worth pointing out that unlike funding a ball or event this would directly help every member of college, not just people who go to events.
Ed McCarter: I would like to support the motion. They should look pretty, keep noise out and keep light out. Currently the curtains do none of these. Splitting off the room is very useful, especially when the bar is open.
Josh Heald: Just to point out, it is approximately so can overspend by £25%
Lisa Mol: We have plenty of rooms which can have privacy. There is an issue with furniture near fire but with curtain across you couldn’t see if furniture was near the fire.
Jess Caddy: Currently the curtains are not used much.
Adam Crudgington: How much has already been spent on the bar overspill?
Jess Caddy: Sponsorship gave £250 and a motion released over £1000. I would have looked for a sponsorhip event but I had no team to do it.

Will Holloway: Would this be worth having in an e-vote, as it affects everyone.
Jess Caddy: Possibly but then again it has been advertised, people have chosen not to come.
Rebecca Warner: If you had an evote you could have different options.
Jess Caddy: You could still amend the motion here.

Luxmy: With or without amendment could we have a vote on this and not just pass it on a general aye.
Chris Leach: I propose an amendment to release half the money in order not to buy the curtain which divides the room.
Sophie Godfree: Won’t the big curtains have the biggest effect on aesthetics?
Jess Caddy: I want curtains to make an effect on the warmth of room.
Dan Baxter: I want to oppose the amendment
Chris Leach: Basically, at the moment the big curtains don’t make much of a difference to the feel of the room but we should spend some money to make the redecoration complete.
Dan Baxter: Firstly it is not a financial issue, we can afford it, it depends if you want to spend it. My issue is that this motion and this action is to complete current activity. Effectively it is the second half, I think it should be finished and done. The issue with safety, same with current curtains, there is a fire alarm there.
Anna McMullen: We can’t have non-matching curtains. I don’t know if college would be happy taking the current curtains down.
Roddy Peters: Whilst it is quite rare that both are across, the one nearest the JWS is often half across during revision.
Jess Caddy : I don’t think non-matching curtains would work. Roddy Peters: In 5 yrs time we would get another motion through but wouldn’t necessarily be able to get the same material.
Vote on amendment
For amendment: 11
Against: Overwhelming
Abstentions: 13

Megan: Basically it comes down to money, I’m uncomfortable with that amount since some sports don’t get very much but this is a really good thing. Is there any way to look for another route, £400 from here and more money from another route.
Jess Caddy: I can’t take money from the JCR.
Roddy Peters: Would have to mandate the new team, estates treasurer to discuss the possibility with the sponsorship chair and remove releasing money.
Ed McCarter: This would cost about £85 a year. If nice they would be used a lot. We can do it and should do it .

Vote on Megan's amendment
For amendment: 36
Against: 28
Abstentions: 8

Thus the amendment passes

The motion now reads: This JJCR Resolves “to mandate the new VP Estates, Treasurer and Sponsorship Chair to arrange an event to part subsidise new curtains.”
Vote on amended motion
Against: 7
Abstentions: 8
For: 57
Thus the amended motion passes

Motion for JCR fining

Motion text
Read by Roddy
Sarah Hogburn: As a sports captain there have been times when money has been out of my account for paying for kit, if I am then penalised when people are fined I think it puts an unfair financial burden on me.
Roddy Peters: at the moment there is no impetus for the captain to get the money out of their team. E.g. one fine from michalemas was not paid until this week.

Hannah Pearce: After cleaning up after a sports team, I never got money. It also costs the bar money. Sports team captains should have control over their players. The captain has the responsibility over players on socials.
Captains can’t control how people behave.
Hannah Pearce: It is easier for captains to get money back, you have control. It is not fair that we should have to clean up sick.

Is there not something the JCR could do, could we withhold funding from sports teams? Dan Baxter: That is at the treasurer’s discretion. The treasurer can be mean.
An amendment was proposed that the JCR does pay the fine but that treasurer withholds funding from the sports team in question as a result.
Ed McCarter: Can we do it like debtors list and stop them using bar or college facilities?
Roddy Peters: There is a problem with bans from college and restricting money from teams as it is government money. It may be a legal grey area.
Instead of withholding funding, the funding money could be used to pay fines.
Roddy Peters: Then the JCR are paying for someone to mess around. In short term people are being paid to get away with trashing college.
Surely that then limits the money they then have.
Roddy Peters: At end of year then they could just run amok.
Sally James: As it seems it is not possible to have that amendment, legally, are you happy to drop it?
yes
Justyn Price: I’ve worked with college and university teams, people do pay when people who aren’t students try to get the money from them, can’t we involve the colleges?
Roddy Peters: With the fine that has caused the issue, when I did refer it to college officers it got referred back to me after nothing got done. That took a term and ¾ to get money from the body in question.
Justyn Price: Just because you are a member of a sports team, that doesn’t make you get pissed and break things, you choose to do that. This puts a lot of responsibility on captains.
Ben Salter: Would it be sensible to have a period of about a week when the captain can get the funds from the team and then after that the captain has to pay.
Jess Caddy: Doesn’t that happen anyway?
Sally: I think this means extend it by a week.
Roddy Peters: Otherwise we could have it in writing as to why we are fining- we have nothing in the constitution. We could say if fine not paid in two weeks it will be referred to the college officers as a disciplinary matter.
Roddy Peters: I do realise this is a problem on just one person, I am just trying to resolve an issue that occurred this year.
Esther James: Personally I don’t think it is right.
Ed McCarter: I don’t think the motion can be applied, it is difficult to know when people are under captains responsibility and when not. Eg things occurring after socials have officially ended.
Roddy Peters: The reason the captain is named because they have ultimate responsibilithy for the team, in the same was as I have ultimate responsibility for the JCR. The captain has to take responsibility for the team.
Ed McCarter: When does that responsibility end? I think the whole motion has been badly done.
Roddy Peters: It is a group of people being fined. When the group doesn’t pay the fine it goes to the captain.
Megan; This is just a safeguard, this has only happened once, hockey teams, netball team etc. won’t be fined, it just makes sure those teams that do do damage pay.
Peter Godden: If captains arrange the events with a lot of alcohol you are responsible for things that happen
Luxmy: When people go out on a sports social they don’t go out in sports kit, what would you do when a group of people just go out together?
Roddy Peters: If I get a letter saying a college team has done something, that is different from people being fined individually.
Suggested Amendment: If a team are fined by the JCR or an extended body and the fine is not paid within a reasonable period of two weeks then it is referred to college as a disciplinary matter .
Proposed: Justyn Price
Seconded: Ben Salter

Vote on amendment
Against: 3
Abstentions: 4
For amendment: Overwhelming

Amendment duly passed

Amended motion passed on a general aye

Fair Trade University motion

Motion text

Roddy Peters: The university are looking for fair-trade status, this includes student unions supporting it. This motion ensures we count.

Tom Bristow: What does becoming a fair-trade university entail, would we be bound to accept fair-trade options?
Roddy Peters: Slight cost implication, but it is mainly a case of paying a fair price for a product. You have to have 5 tickboxes to become a fair-trade university, including ensuring a fair trade alternative is offered and where available, eg in bar would have to stock a fair-trade wine; people would not have to buy it. Achieving fair-trade status is a case of working towards the ideal. Ultimately in 10 years time it would be nice to have the entire university doing what they should. It includes clothing.

Richard Kelly: Will this actually change anything in college?
RP: In the JCR shop we would need to have a few more lines from the JWS. To make sure fair trade wine is available in bar, tim already has special dispensation to get that, in practical terms there would not be a big difference.

There being no formal opposition to the motion; the motion was passed on a general aye.

Motion to rename JJCR President

Motion text

Before I get shot, I know I’ve heard grumblings. We used to call ourselves senior man, I have though all this year it is a more representative title. The JCR president to me seems to be on top of an institution, this seems more sensible as I should represent all students. I don’t like the term JCR president. If people don’t want this I won’t lose sleep.

Ed McCarter: What implications would there be for the VPs? Roddy Peters: Either hatfield/chads still have vice presidents whilst have a vice senior man. For me the main issue is what you would call a woman.

Robert Seddon: A title should have some seniority.
Roddy Peters: I think senior man is better but can see that there is a good structure there.
Tim Marshall: Do we know why it was originally changed? Roddy Peters: No, haven’t found the minutes. I suspect when Collingwood etc were created people wanted to fall in with the new colleges.
Tom Bristow: This seems reactionary to Josephine and Butler
Lisa: Senior Man seems disconnected with MCR/CCR, JJCR president implies in charge of all halls.
Joe Dowland: For sexual equality, should men be able to be senior women as well?
Megan: Would there still be the MCR/CCR president?
Roddy Peters: Yes
This is really something that I want. I am Conscious that in few years time it may change back. Jess has now seconded it. I have brought this mainly for discussion.
Helen Smith: I don’t see the point. You say this is a clearer description but when you are here as a fresher you hear president and know who is in charge, when you hear conflicting titles it is difficult. Roddy Peters: Fair point. I would say it is difficult to explain what JCR means. But senior man may be easier to know.
Helen Smith: You know what the title means, president seems succinct.
Ed McCarter: What would the cost to JCR be in terms of changing stationary etc? Roddy Peters: Absolutely none.
Ben Salter: This may be stupid as it could change every year, but you could give the person the chance to decide.
Roddy Peters: I did consider that but college won’t like that.
Megan Taylor: What does Stephen Hampton think?
Roddy Peters: He liked the idea to begin with.
Roddy Peters: I’m quite happy for you to vote this down.
Formal Opposition by Anna Colquitt
Anna Colquitt: I think this is pointless and not needed.
Roddy accepted the earlier amendment to allow men to take the title of Senior womam/Senior Student
Vote: For 11
Against: overwhelming
Abstention: 6

Thus the motion falls.

Ratifications

CU Leaders

Simon Smith and Lucy Mitchell

• name

Discussion

Tom Bristow: Why are we hearing this?
Roddy Peters: It is a JCR society so we ratify the leaders.

There being no opposition the leaders were ratified on a general aye.

Elections

Junior DSU rep

Candidates:

• Sammy Hicks
• proposed: Tom Bristow
• seconded: Becky Askey

Husting

Sammy: I think I would be a good representative for johns in the DSU.

Dan Baxter : Can you think up a funny acronym for dsu?
Sammy: No!

Anna McMullen: Have you been to DSU meetings? Sammy:Yes.

Richard Kelly: This is an appeal: This is a fun job, someone else should stand next time.

Result

Candidate: Unanimous

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 0

JWS Organiser

Candidates:

• Christine Leahy and Kirsty Pepper

Procedural Motion to allow a joint candidature:

• Proposed: Felix Schubert
• Proposed: Sarah Mullins
• The procedural motion was passed on a general aye

Husting

Christine/Kirsty: We have a passion for fair-trade and lots of ideas.
Ed McCarter: Can they fill the vending machine? Christine/Kirsty: There is another position for that. Dan Baxter: If such position were unavailable can they do this? Christine/Kirsty: Yes

Roddy: The Principal wants Macchu Piccu coffee, will you stock it?
Christine/Kirsty: Yes

Result

Candidate: Overwhelming votes for candidate

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 1

JWS Treasurer

No Candidates:

JWCS Organiser

Candidates:

• Megan Taylor, Sarah Mullins, Katie McCraw and Joe Dowland

Procedural Motion to allow a joint candidature:

• Proposed: Helen Smith
• Proposed: Christine Leahy
• Tom Bristow: I oppose the procedural motion

Helen: Four is better than 1 or 2 or 3, the shop would then be open a lot more often.
Megan: This year it has been run by Ben Goldstein and most of his friends have had to step in to run it and it has been too big a job to run it with one person.
Tom: It is not big enough for four people, I’m sure you could do a good job with just a few in charge

Vote on procedural motion
Opposition: 24
Abstentions: 20

Procedural motion falls.

Candidates:

• Megan Taylor
• Joe Dowland

Husting

Megan: I am standing but will also have support of 2 of my closest friends. We will all be living in next year, fair trade is passionate to us as is spending time in coffee shops. I think it has become exclusive this last year. We would like to change the times, work in collaboration with other societies, Katie my friend has been JWS treasurer, Sarah has been involved in fair trade and we can draw on freshers next year.
Joe: This year and last year most of the coffee shop was constantly run by me Richard and Ben, I have many many resources at my disposal and people I can talk to . Since I work in the shop I am very close to the heart of the thing.
Chris Leach: What would candidates do to make the coffee shop more inclusive?
Megan Taylor: We used it in freshers week as space where people could get to know each other. We think it would be good to use during revision. Making it more inclusive.
Joe: The main thing is better advertising, not many people know about it to get rid of the clique.
Ed McCarter: When we run the toastie bar in first year we made a lot of profit but the coffee shop makes very little.
Joe: Once again with more advertising and more people you would get more revenue. Profits vary from £1 to £6
Megan: To me it is not seen as a profit thing, any profit would go back to shop and JCR.

Richard Kelly: One big problem this year was that freshers didn’t come, how would you encourage them to do so?
Megan: One problem is if a relationship isn’t made with them it is difficult to encourage them and build a friendship to get them to come.
Joe: I think basically you need to encourage them by showing it is not all hard work and do work when it needs to be done.

Ed McCarter: I think using words like clique in a JCR meeting is offensive, discuss.
Joe: I’m a member of said clique and am not offended
Megan: If anyone is offended then see Miquela to have a word.

Result

Megan: 50 votes
Joe: 7 votes

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 15

Societies Officer

No Candidates:

Roddy Peters: This is a new position created last year. It was designed to enable societies to have easy funding access. It was looked at by CRC but because it is new we wanted to leave it for a few years. Good to see what the position could do.

Sports Officer

Candidates:

• Sarah Hogben
• Proposed: Anna Stanworth
• Seconded: Chris Leahy

Husting

Sarah: I am the hockey captain so have dealt with DUAU, I have organised sailing holidays for kids, I want to keep whole system going, having regular meetings, I would like to have a termly meeting with sports captains, possibly also the kit and merchandise rep/sponsorship. I am quite arts and crafty so want to do up the board, have photos to see what is happening, that includes getting more results online as the sport Durham website is not great about being quick. Just to finish I really do love college sport. I found it difficult coming back from a year abroad with new faces, sport helped a lot.

Josh Heald: How do you feel about the large # of colours awarded this year?
I think colours are a brilliant thing to be awarded but I think it should be a really high accolade. In speeches individual players can be mentioned or within the team and colours could be restricted more.

Anna McMullen: Sports officer involves helping with the epiphany ball. What do you think about perhaps having a separate ceremony than the epiphany ball for colours?

I love the epiphany ball, it is one of my favourite events of the year as I enjoy sports. I personally would like to keep as ball but that is just me but having raised that I would like to see what other people think.

Result

Candidate: Overwhelming number of votes

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 1

Asst. Sports Officer

Candidates:

• Becky Riding
• Proposed: Megan Taylor
• Seconded: Adam Crudgington

Result

There being no formal opposition the candidate was elected on a general aye.

JJCR Chair

Candidates:

• Sophie Godfree
• Proposed: Matt Giles
• Seconded: Esther James
• Alastair Maciver
• Proposed: Tom Watson
• Seconded: Iain Taylor

Husting

Sophie: The chair should enjoy JCR meetings, have a confident manner, my love of johns and involvement in college are part of this, In standing I believe am able to fulfil these responsibilities. The most high profile job is chairing meetings but other roles include keeping track of things, sending information to the communications officer. I can and will learn DeVote. I have first hand experience of JCR meetings. I have helped write motions. The president and chair are sole interpreters of constitution, I am currently a member of CRC and have learnt a lot. My aim is to be fully conversant with the constitution. I have also been elected as joint alumni rep and onto BTC so have a good knowledge of different areas of college. Impartiality is important, I can usually see both sides of an argument. Having had to hust, I can relate to those standing when fielding questions. I will be living in next year. In short I believe I have the necessary skills.

Alastair: I would like to stand because I like a good argument. This is something I think I would be able to encourage in a meeting but perhaps without tensions. In addition I would enjoy interpreting the constitution as an intellectual exercise. I would like to make meetings expeditious and efficient but not at the expense of having full debate. At school I was head of debating society where I got juvenile people to argue with each other and I was a member of the European youth parliament, fantastic demonstration as to how boring life can be, good to have a perspective on in meetings. I’ll be living with the candidate for vice chair next year. It would give me a lot of pleasure to be in this role, I enjoy argument, debate and discussion. I would wear shoes. If you want pleasure, efficiency and a democratic perspective. I urge you to vote for me.

Lisa: How would you keep meetings short?
Alistair; It is important to remember that speed is not the only thing in these meetings and that I think it is good to have a proper debate. You can’t overrule people. Perhaps if people were more informed of meetings beforehand there would be less need for explanation in meetings.
Sophie: It depends on meeting content. We have time limits set and can decide to extend. It is the responsibility of the JCR to read This Week.

Dissention is important. Would you allow the debate or try and push it aside?
Sophie Godfree: I think it is fun but not always the right option. Alistair: I think it is very pleasurable and healthy. Expedition should not be at expense of a full discussion, This is our forum for raising concerns about exec. and other issues. I don’t think speed should be more important.

Dan Baxter: If someone is talking more than appropriate would you tell me to be quiet?
Alistair: Not sure I would. I would gloss over the topic. Yeah I would tell you to shut up. Be quiet please.
Sophie: Dan could you be quiet please.
Sometime JCR meetings aren’t well attended, especially by livers out. How would you deal with that
? Sophie Godfree: I would say that is the exec’s responsibility. I would encourage people myself.
Alistair: Films and such like have been a good way to lure people in. I’ve had a few suggestions about perhaps wearing some kind of hat, not sure how attractive that would be.

Megan: How do you see your experience in college as being a strength and a weakness. (your year)
Alistair: I am an innocent young pup so this brings impartiality as I am not entangled with the politics of JCR.
Sophie: Strength: Experience, knowledge, you pick things up over the way.
Weakness would be opinions I would have not to have. That would dissipate.

What is your favourite part of constitution?
Sophie: Hollering stranger in the house
Alistair: Preamble was very interesting. I couldn’t really comment on the rest.

Result

Sophie: 53 votes
Alastair: 20 votes

RON: 0 votes
Abstained:4

JJCR Vice-Chair

Candidates:

• Rebecca Davies
• Proposed: Matt Giles
• Seconded: Lucy Mitchell

Husting

I apologise for my slippers, I’d like to be vice chair, think I would be good at it and would be willing to help Sophie.
Ben Harrison: Have you read the constitution?
Rebecca: No

Result

Candidate: Overwhelming number of votes

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 3

Sponsorship Chair

Candidates:

• Adam Crudgington
• James Reed

Husting

Adam: I’d like to do this as the more I’ve looked into the more excited I have got. I want to build on previous ideas, maintain current contracts, work with kit/merchandise rep and sports rep, get corporate identity, sponsorship for freshers week, societies, fundraising for curtains. I am enthusiastic and want to do it.

We have apologies from James Reed: Mark Hastie Oldfield husted on his behalf:

He has had to go to States. If you don’t know him he is a 1st year lawyer, joined at start of this term, bit of an unknown face. He is an exceptional person. Firstly as a mature student he spent the last 5 years setting up his own travel company which is successful, he has a very shrewd business sense and understanding of corporate world. Marketing the college on a local/national level. Extra experience from outside undergraduate world, he knows how to deal with people. Letters would hit through. That focus is strength. Second is he has a lot of experience, most notably between 2000 and 2005 he was the director of administration of a west Texas arts festival $125000 dollars was raised year on year. He has raised money for a variety of organizations , he recons the total amount he has raised/helped raise has totaled over $2000000. Phenomenal achievement. He wants to bring this to Johns. Finally he has only been here for a term and already has passion and enthusiasm to get involved in the best way he can. He has already joined the boat club exec despite not being able to row. In only 2 weeks he has been able to take something by the reigns, if elected here he would think big and try and capitalize revenue. If you do elect him you will get this committed individual with background credentials. Two pronged approach, local focus but also a regional and national focus that would work effectively with other people. I think this is an opportunity you can’t let pass by.

Jess Caddy: An important thing is going to companies but another role is trying to organise events to raise money, like for the bar overspill. It can be hard to draw crowds in to make successful events. How would you draw people in?
Adam: Word of mouth. I like to be in college and around people, I know how to spread word of mouth, without contact you can’t get things to work
Speaking for James, it is important to do events people want to do, this is where the committee is useful to have a broader social network and work with the team to draw the best ideas out of team to get the right events.

Josh: Where would you draw the line, eg. Would you want Bailey Ball/Fresher Week sponsorship?
I think James would say you want as much as possible, but you wouldn’t try and commercialize too much , you want sponsorship yes but not unethical and not tacky. Big banners at bailey ball would detract. It is all a juggling act, have to weigh up all issues.
Adam: I would reiterate that. In freshers week that is great, getting all these people into college, not obviously a massive campaign. That would be my main focus, seeing what would be available.

Ed McCarter: Greenpeace don’t take corporate donations. How far can we go with sponsorship?
Adam: With Sports teams we have the logos. We don’t want things on everything to take away our identity.
I think similarly, you have to weigh up both sides, yes have sponsorship but don’t want to become a commercial institution. If you want to draw a general line that is a JCR decision. James would work under any parameters he was given, that is a broader decision beyond the chair.

Result

Adam: 32 votes
James: 26 votes

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 10

Sponsorship Asst.

Candidates:

• Becky Warner

Husting

Hi, I’m a 1st year, I was first interested in the last JCR meeting when I saw how much of the accounts was made up in sponsorship and important I got involved. I got experience in past, phoning companies, organising social events, helped in school – battle of bands. Worked in solicitors in my gap year about funding applications, I know what makes a good proposal. I would be good working in a team, I know crudge from him being a freshers rep. I did duke of Edinburgh which is about teamwork. I have time to devote to the role. I think I have the fine line between being pushy and persuasive, I enjoy building new relationships.

Hannah Pearce: Have you ever managed to get discount?
Becky: Funny you should ask that! On Friday night I ordered pizza, the guy was half an hour late and I haggled to get £2 off price.
Ed McCarter: Sponsorship: Is it what you know or who you know?
Becky: A bit of both, I’ve had experience. It is often attention to detail, applications can otherwise be thrown in the bin.

Result

Candidate: Overwhelming

RON: 2 votes
Abstained: 0

BEC Publicity Officer

No Candidates

JWS Vending Machine Asst.

Candidate:

• Lizzy Edwards

There being no call to hust the candidate was elected on a general aye.

Web Rep

No Candidates

CRC

Roddy Peters: The point of CRC is to scrutinize documents, this one is to tie up loose ends. Description of voting has been corrected; old committees binned, we have a complaints procedure, removed a couple of positions, formalized positions, revised meeting structure. Made secret ballots default to paper rather than online, revised timetable for elections and removed extended exec. Bar const as appendix, some changes to CCR/MCR. We are opening the vote tomorrow. Need 50% of JJCR to vote. I’d encourage people to scrutinize the online document.

Katie Carter: How are we voting?
Roddy: As a whole

Jess: Will you be able to see the changes?
Roddy Peters: I will highlight them.

Ed McCarter: If you hold the position that is removed, what happens
Sally James: We apologize and you have deemed to resign

Emergency Motion for Josh
Read by Roddy

Those of you will know Simon was mandated to dress up as a Barcadi Breezer.
Katie: What about gown?
Jess Caddy: You have to wear your gown as the president wears his.
Roddy Peters: He can wear as many female clothes as he wants. Ed McCarter: Are you allowed to propose motions during meetings?
Sally: No, this has come to me beforehand.
Robert Seddon Would this perhaps encourage general ayes that wouldn’t have otherwise happened?
Roddy Peters: I would encourage people not to do that.
Justyn Price: Could I propose an amendment to say get your kit off?
Sally : This is a constitutional phrase, you can say “get your kit off” anyway.
Miquela: You can propose opposition to motions passed as general ayes, then they have to be passed on general ayes
Opposition by Josh Heald: I agreed to get naked for DUCK, not charity in general.
Roddy Peters: We will give the money to DUCK.

Josh: I don’t want to get naked in front of everyone.
Roddy Peters: You just need to show some flesh.
In favour: overwhelming
Opposition: 8
Abst: 1

AOB for JJCR

None

End of JJCR Meeting

JHJCR Meeting

Discussion

Freshers' Reps

Sally: The first item is a discussion on freshers reps, last year we had a motion to pass a 9th rep. During the discussion it was decided to come up this year. Would anyone like to make any points?
Matt Giles: It was added on as in the past there were 8 reps and a handbook person. They weren’t really in the team, the handbook was done separately. A lot of the information didn’t get through. One of those reps would do handbook. Comparing our handbook with last year I think there was a massive improvement because the person was there during the discussion. It balanced the team and beneficial having an extra person.
Felix: Also in previous years the position wasn’t a manifesto and wasn’t contested. Now it is very contested, you will get a more qualified person for the job. A few downsides are that the weekend away may get more expensive, a bit about ratios. Positive aspects are better..
Josh: I have to say seeing the reps during the week they were all shattered and I don’t think reducing the number of reps would help.
Roddy Peters: Last year it wasn’t necessarily thought necessary. How much was the handbook better due to the skills of the person concerned?
Felix: It was partly due to that but largely due to communication; there was more useful information in there as opposed to random people in friendship groups writing things. Having the position of the editor within the team is essential, the improvement is massive, not only because of the skill. Obviously you can separate that from whether you need an extra rep but that would change job allocation.
Roddy Peters: Did 9 reps work better?
Felix: You didn’t seem to notice much difference, not a massive issue in people.

Ben Harrison: One point that came up last year was that there has been more use of website, does that negate the handbook?
Matt Giles: Not at all, from feedback a lot of people liked the handbook but didn’t use the website as much.

There was no opposition

Elections

Asst. Estates

No Candidates

Asst. Treasurer

No Candidates

Assistant Welfare Female

Candidates:

• Kim Edwards
• Clare Gordge

Husting

Kim: Hello, hi I’m Kim, I’d really like to do this job and will tell you why. I think the job definitely involves being known as much as possible otherwise people don’t know where to go. I consider myself to be relatively well known and to be accessible. I do philosophy with 6 lecture hours a week. I don’t have huge involvement in sports teams etc so I really am around. I also think confidentiality is obviously hugely important. This is also about justice and respecting people’s rights and concerns. I have spoken to both Miquela and Pete and the more I talked to them the more excited I got. I would be excited to be involved in campaigns. Alcohol awareness was very successful. Young Enterprise gave me marketing skills. I appreciate role does involve forming relationships and interaction with other people on welfare team in college, asst. welfare, vp welfare, lgbt rep, year abroad rep, student to student. In my manifesto I mentioned I am international relations officer, I sit on a national board for the council, I feel this particularly has given me useful skills. It has meant having to make contacts, form individual relationships, also meant research, and representation. To round up, it is really important for me to see people happy and thriving, I love people and make a mean hot chocolate.

Clare : Hello, I’m Clare a 1st year doing Community and Youth work. I really love people, see through choice of course, Always have a smile for everyone. In 6th form I was involved in a system similar to college parents, I have been a cell group leader and youth leaded back home. Biggest learning experience was gap year, working in Manchester with young people, work with students in Manchester and know about issues that may come up. Learnt a lot about listening to people, what people often need most is not advice but to talk and get things off their chest. I love tea and would always be available. I have no exams next term and a light lecture timetable, would be around in college quite a bit. Come and see me, even if just for a revision break

Miquela: In the first term I advertised a welfare awareness day, you didn’t go, are there reasons?
Kim: Yes, I very much wanted to do, it was quite near the beginning, at the time I was trying to settle in and find my feet, was definitely planning to do it if you offered it again.
Clare: Again the first few weeks were a bit crazy, should have done, wished I could do.
Jess Caddy: Have you done nightline training? Candidates: No

Annabel Butlin: If someone came to you with something you felt strongly about, how would you deal?
Clare: I’d have to try hard to stop my views clouding the way I dealt, in the end it is not about me. I would help them work through things.
Kim: I completely agree. The way I see it is it is important separate the role from your life. Sensitivity is important.
Jeanna: What would you do if confronted with a scary situation?
Kim: In situations where I thought there was a chance of them causing harm to themselves or others I would let them know, I believe it is welfare policy that I would need to inform others and discuss it if it needs to go higher. If I am not entirely sure I would again let them know that I may mention it confidentially and discuss and act on advice.
Clare: I think with those examples, it is a scary thing, but unfortunately something I have had to help people go through before. Also I would have to overcome initial thoughts. It can be dealt with and I have seen it dealt with effectively. I would talk with others.
How would you look after your own welfare?
Clare: I have a good relationship with other members of welfare team. Also have an amazing group of friends to support me.
Kim: I do realize the welfare team support each other. Also time management, I have experience with dealing with issues, help support others.
Pete: Can you put a condom on without using your hands?
Kim: I’d have to try
Clare: Having never tried I couldn’t tell you.

Ed McCarter: Following introduction of s2s there are much more student supporters than vp welfares and welfares. Listening service has thus moved away from central team. How do you see your role?
Clare: I see the role as in some way to support student to student workers. Encourage them in what they are doing.
Kim: I think s2s is very important and critical part of johns, the more people the better, I would agree supporting and working with them.

Result

Kim: 6 votes
Clare: 32 votes

RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 13

IT Rep

No Candidates

Josh: It is paid £80 a term

SEC Secretary

Candidates:

• Lan Rachel Baggott

There being no call to hust the candidate was elected on a general aye.

2x SEC Decs officers

Candidates:

• Thomas Briggs
• Proposed: Rebecca Lindsay
• Seconded: Andrew Glenbogle
• Alice Bridge
• Proposed: Rebecca Warner
• Seconded: Ed McCarter

There being no call for either candidate to hust, both candidates were elected on general ayes.

SEC Treasurer

No Candidates

SEC Technician

No Candidates

SEC Food

Candidate:

• Cathy Westwood
• Proposed: Michelle Harrison

There being no call to hust, the candidate was elected on a general aye.

SEC Publicity

Candidate:

• James Dalton
• Proposed: Rebecca Warner
• Seconded: Hannah Pearce

The candidate was elected on a general aye.

SEC Ents. Officer

Candidate:

• Rebecca Lindsay
• Proposed: Ben Harrison
• Seconded: Sarah Mullins

There being no call to hust, the candidate was elected on a general aye.

AOB for JJCR

Roddy Peters: Thank you now we have a full sponsorship
Thank you for challenging us on controversial motions
Thank you for coming to jcr meetings over the last few months

Alice Manuel: Thanks to Sally and Laura and the exec.

End of JHJCR Meeting at 23:38