Forced swim tests to Circuit Laundry: Highlights from this term’s Student Council meeting

Yesterday (Thursday 14th November) marked the first Bristol Student Council meeting of this academic year, with elected students discussing, debating and voting on motions submitted directly by students.  

Any motions passed will have a significant impact, as anything voted for becomes part of SU policy for the next three years. 

Themes of discussion stretched from recent political discourse to greater accessibility within the university. 

It seems recent campaigns by PETA that disrupted a talk by vice chancellor Evelyn Welch, as well as the recent open day, have made their impact, with 86 per cent of representatives voting for an end to all forced swimming experiments

Another motion was to introduce an anti-Palestinian racism definition to Bristol, to protect Palestinian students from discrimination on campus. This has been a big talk on campus, following recent protests and encampments across Bristol Uni. 

The Divest Borders Campaign was also passed, with the campaign encouraging universities to “divest from companies profiting from the surveillance, persecution and abuse of migrating people.” 

Accessibility was a huge theme this term, with moves to improve support for students with disabilities, and voting for changes such as better pavements, lighter doors, ramps and more accessible cafes. 

It’s also good news for students living in university-run halls as a motion was passed to commit to making Circuit Laundry free, driven by, unsurprisingly, an almost unanimous vote. 

Most Read

Here’s why the house in Netflix’s No Good Deed looks so incredibly familiar

Current record holder for sleeping with most men in a day issues stark warning to Lily Phillips

These are the Russell Group unis with the cleverest lecturers in 2024, and Oxbridge aren’t top

There was a focus on international students, passing a motion to improve financial aid and overall increase access to support services for students coming from overseas. This includes creating a one-stop hub, dedicated support staff and more awareness campaigns, aiming to make services more accessible.  

Graduation dates will also be amended for international students, allowing more people to attend without being prevented by visa issues. 

Representation was also on the agenda, with six new Community Organiser positions being created, hoping to improve student voices within Bristol by leading campaigns. Existing networks will also now get society status under the SU. 

Changes also stretched to a national level, with the Council voting to update SU bylaws to align with the wider National Union of Students

If you missed the council this time, there will be another hosted in term two of this year. If you want to get involved, keep an eye on the SU website.

Featured imags via Bristol SU.