The Lowdown on the SUSU AGM

At 1:15pm (plus ten minutes, for it started late – grumble grumble) on the eighth of May, we had SUSU’s AGM (or something more complimentary or insulting, depends on your view). Soton Tab had intended to write a live report on the proceeding, but our standard comments and high traffic led to us unexpectedly crashing… so we moved to Twitter. Here’s a concise report on the key decisions passed at the AGM.

The Cat Statue
If you knew about it, you have to be honest, it’s all you cared about. So, are we having it? Erm… no. Here are some of the reactions from the Team Tab when the suggestion was rejected by 10 votes:

The main reasoning for the Cat Statue to be rejected was… well… there wasn’t really. In the document, though, it does say “The construction of aforementioned Cat Statue shall be done fully led, democratically, bureaucratically”. SUSU Cat has been saved from the jaws of politics; a hidden victory for the students I daresay. And, in my experience of cats, (s)he doesn’t give a damn anyway. (S)he knows (s)he is a god(dess). (What is SUSU Cat’s gender?!)

The Female Council Member Quota

Hmmm. Contentious. See, I am a woman, but that doesn’t mean I will scream in delight and stampede towards a union council position. It reeks a tad of desperation; “Dude! We need chicks! Let’s guilt trip them into joining!” A woman should join the council of free will. It’s far better to make the effort of making women more welcome. Then again, it’s a good start, and it may be some truly brilliant women will step up to the 50% proportion mark. Who knows? We shall see.

This policy is stupid. I’m big on feminism, y’all, but this is just pointless.

— Caitlin Hobbs (@caitlinlhobbs) May 8, 2013

I think @yoursusu can’t solve problems of sexism if they exist. They would have to attack the weed at the root #susuagm

— Elizabeth Coates (@Scrumpy_bumpkin) May 8, 2013

Sat high up in Tory towers for this one #susuagm #iamequal

— Alice North (@alicenorth8) May 8, 2013

@alicenorth8 is right. This aspect of the motion is condescending, patronising and a step backwards.

— Sam Everard (@SamEverard1) May 8, 2013

Jamie Oliver has come to campus
A proposal was brought up to address the discrepancy in the pricing of ‘unhealthy food’ as opposed to ‘healthy food’. The numbers quoted was that a salad was £3.70, and a burger £2.00. According to my research, however, it’s actually the other way round. The case put forwards was that if salads are so expensive and hamburgers so cheap, then that must be why we students are eating so unhealthily via burgers. It was proposed to raise the price of hamburgers, so we are discouraged from buying them. Yes, and we are discouraged from alcohol in the pub because it’s too expensive…besides, if a burger is actually more than a salad, and it is still more popular, then it suggests money is not a factor in the decision, but what tastes good and makes you feel good after a long day in lectures.

Let them eat turnips #susuagm

— Luke O’Brien (@_lmob) May 8, 2013

What?! Salads are cheaper! I wouldn’t have them otherwise #becausefucklogic #susuagm

— Elizabeth Coates (@Scrumpy_bumpkin) May 8, 2013

Union Council
One of the members said, “We are one of the best unions in the country” following a proposal to reopen the question on the NUS referendum. Ah yes, and we shall become the best by being part of the NUS? I think the consensus may still be no, considering the referendum was rejected 76% No to 24% Yes.

I jest, of course. Politics is not my forte. The council was bidding farewell to their 2012/2013 members, and the speeches were rather heartfelt. Sam Ling is quoted saying, “You want the next person after you to be better than you, and to encourage them to be so.” And seeing that one of our editors is running for chair next year, I daresay the Union is going from strength to strength.