KCLSU Annual General Meeting 2016Thursday 4 February 20166pm registration for a 6.30pm start

New Hunts House, Lecture Theatre 1The venue is wheelchair accessible – please contact representation@kclsu.org if you have any accessibility requirements.

Chaired by Nadine Almanasfi, KCLSU President 2015/16

Agenda

6pm Registration – Don’t forget your King’s ID card

6.30pm KCLSU President Opens the AGM

1. For members to approve: Minutes of the AGM held on 29 January 2015 Matters arising Receive the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31/7/15 Agreement that Knox Cropper LLP be retained as auditors of the company Agreement that the Company’s Directors (Trustees) may set the auditors remuneration

2. To Report: Student Officer Agenda Student Officer

Team Liberation Review Update Nicole Walsh,

Rachel Williams

3. Education Zone Support Student Walkout on the 10 th of February Sophia

Koumi Smash the NSS Andrew

Warren Lobby The University to Introduce Academic Reading and Writing Workshops Asmaa

Khayre

Access Break

4. Policy & Governance Zone Moving Towards a 100% Student Trustee Board Alberto Torres, Joe

Simpson Student Officer Structure Student Officer

Team Revise KCLSU Complaints Procedure (Internal) Hareem

Ghani Association Leadership Elections Nicole Walsh

5. Welfare & Community Zone Create a Trans Officer for Student Council Travis

Alabanza Ethnic Minority Association and Representative Officer Title Change Maria

Dadabhoy Widening Participation for the Working Class Association Claudia

Tasedan

Any other business

Close of AGM

Safe Space Policy

This policy covers any KCLSU space, or KCLSU event.

KCLSU is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive space for all students. This policy is applicable to our whole student community, whether an individual or a member within a group, KCLSU ratified student activity group, representative forum or sport team. KCLSU believes all students should be free from intimidation or harassment, resulting from prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, marital or maternity/paternity status, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, trans status, socio-economic status, or ideology or culture, or any other form of distinction.

KCLSU will arrange mitigation to ensure the safety of our members and ensure a balance of opinions at any academic discussion or debate. Freedom of speech is important, yet intention to incite hatred is never acceptable.

Any events held within KCLSU spaces must be in line with the KCLSU External Speaker Policy to ensure the safety of KCLSU members.

KCLSU recognises discrimination can occur wherever it is not consciously challenged. Therefore the event organiser is responsible for upholding this policy at any event, and KCLSU venues staff or elected full-time officers may act in accordance with this policy within KCLSU spaces.

Any person in a KCLSU space or attending a KCLSU event is accountable for their own language and behaviour. If behaviour is reported that is not in accordance with this policy, members may be asked to leave immediately by staff or an elected full-time officer.

Student activity group Presidents will receive specific training on KCLSU Safe Space Policy at the start of each academic year or when they are elected. These presidents have the responsibility to ensure this policy is enacted at their event and if needs be may ask individuals to leave. If presidents are not in attendance the lead committee member must take responsibility.

Complaints received may result in disciplinary action by KCLSU in accordance with the KCLSU Member Disciplinary Procedure.

External speakers and KCLSU students attending a debate, KCLSU Student Council, a Members Meeting or the Annual General Meeting must be briefed on KCLSU’s Safe Space Policy.

The Chair, member of KCLSU staff, KCLSU elected representative or student activity group President may immediately act upon a complaint through a number of ways including:

Giving the complainant a platform to express their complaint. Reiterate to speakers and those in attendance of the Safe Space policy and issue

them with a warning that they can be asked to leave an event. Ask any speakers or students complained against to leave. Work with any security put in place to remove speakers/ attendees. Make KCLSU aware of any complaint or incident that has violated the policy.

Any complaints after an event should be reported through the KCLSU Complaints Procedure.

Student Officer Update

Nadine, KCLSU President

King’s For Refugees:At the beginning of the year the Union started to collect spare winter clothing to send to refugees that were stranded in Calais. The response was overwhelming from both students and staff across King’s, and together with a group of students, I helped to organise a campaign around how as an institution we can better support refugees. This brought together different student groups and individuals to help support their individual campaigns and also work together on an overall education initiative for refugees. The university has now issues sanctuary scholarships for refugees and asylum seekers starting next year, with living bursaries and accommodation paid for. We are now working on how to provide some of our world class education to refugee students in German Universities, and also setting up an Arabic-English language exchange with refugees in Lebanon.International Rent Guarantor Scheme:I have been working with international students, the international student officer and the international student society to raise awareness about a rent guarantor scheme for international students. Without a UK guarantor, landlords may charge students 6 -12 months’ worth of rent upfront. Following on from LSE, Goldsmiths and others, I’ve been working with the College to introduce a guarantor scheme for this year.

Sophia, VP for Education (Health)

This year has been incredibly busy, especially with the 'Save our NHS bursaries #bursaryorbust' campaign. A group of students, predominantly nursing students organised fast following the spending review that announced NHS bursaries for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals would be scrapped. Within a week we had a demo outside the Department of Health with over 700 people, within just over a month we had another demo to Parliament with over 5,000 people. The campaign is going strong and being lead by an amazing passionate group of students. The next plan of action is a walkout to support the junior doctors strike on the 10th Feb for up to an hour between 10-11. To get involved find the 'NHS bursary cuts' Facebook page. In other news we now have free printers in the Spit at Guys and in the Lobby at Strand - just download the app on the Aiwip website. Also, the fit to sit campaign is going well. At the end of the year we will be taking our recommendations to the relevant committee, where they will hopefully be accepted, so next year there will be a much more supportive and student friendly mitigating circumstances procedure. 

Ben, VP for Education (Arts & Sciences)

The core campaigns I’ve been working are:

Liberation of the Curriculum: recently the campaign has secured a researcher who will be auditing reading lists to highlight areas where there is good representation of liberation groups, and what more work can be done. We are beginning to make academic partnerships, as well as holding open meetings and working closely with certain departments, such as Theology and IoPPN, on liberation in the curriculum on the ground. We have also proposed to SLT a need to carry this work out on a College wide basis with student input on curriculum design.

Bush House & representation: I have fought tooth and nail in Bush House to represent student interests, with a Union proposal for seven new activity rooms, an increased venue space to replace Waterfront, a new Union Loft area and an extended lobby space. Reps are onto every representative board to do with Bush House and students, and now across Arts & Sciences there is a student led forum in every Faculty for representation as of this year. I have created a joint disabled access agreement with the Disabled Students Association and KCL and I founded a Consultation Group to give information around the move and increase transparency.

Joe, VP for Activities

This year I have been working to improve the service that KCLSU and King’s provide for activity groups and sports teams, as well as the student body at large.

This year KCLSU hired an additional member of staff to provide support for sports fixtures, preventing administrative errors which hampered our teams in previous years.

King’s has reduced the period of notice that students must give to book a College room from 14 days to 3! Type ‘It’s My Campus’ into google and follow the link to the booking form.

Additionally King’s has committed to having reserved rooms on each campus which students can turn up and use without booking.

We have rewritten KCLSU’s external speaker policy to make the process quicker and fairer.

I organised the first University Challenge team that King’s has entered for 5 years; this took more work than you’d think!

Priorities for the rest of the year I have been working with the LGBT+ Association to plan sports events for LGBT+

history month. With recent reports of transphobic incidents on sports nights, the importance of this is highlighted further.

Students have been carrying out tireless research into what King’s does with its money. Unfortunately significant amounts are still invested in troubling places, including in companies involved in the arms trade. I want to support these students in pressuring King’s to divest from unethical sectors.

I’m currently supporting our Widening Participation staff in organising an Easter School event for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Rachel, VP for Welfare & Community

Mental Health

Out of Hours Support

o Currently, the University does not provide out of hours welfare support. As such, students in crisis are directed to the emergency services or an oversubscribed counselling service. Working with students and KCL Student Services, I’ve been pushing and investigating options for crisis support as well as strengthening links with external organisations like London Nightline.

Personal Tutorso I’ve worked with the Head Personal Tutor to develop a portal for personal tutors

to have easy access to information they need to support you. I’ll be working with students to put together a “Who Studies At King’s?” guide for personal tutors to understand the challenges of being a King’s student.

Liberation at KCLSU

It Stops Hereo I have continued to support the work of the It Stops Here Ambassadors. I’m

currently working on an It Stops Here workshop to be offered to Presidents and Treasurers. This workshop will focus on creating a safe and inclusive environment for survivors of sexual assault within societies and challenging sexist behaviour.

Gender Neutral Toiletso Last term, I worked on a successful campaign with King’s LGBT+ to get the

College provide gender neutral toilets across KCL campuses. You can find a map of facilities online: https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/about/ps/estates/Gender-Neutral-Toilets-Nov-2015.pdf

MotionsKCL students have submitted motions, published below, which are ideas to change the Union, University or wider community. All students now have the chance to debate and vote on these motions – so have a read through and see what you think of them.

AmendmentsBecause we want everyone to be able to contribute their ideas, every student will have the opportunity to suggest amendments (aka changes) to the motions that have been submitted. If you want to suggest a change to someone’s idea, download the motions in Word format from the AGM webpage, make your suggested change and email it to representation@kclsu.org. You'll have until 9am on Monday 1 February to do this, and please make sure you are available to discuss your proposed amendment with us on Tuesday 2 February. All proposed amendments will then be published on Wednesday 3 February and be put forward to AGM.

Motion Debate ProcessAt the meeting, the Chair will introduce each motion, and the proposer will make a short speech about it. There will be a chance to ask questions to the proposer, and then if any amendments have been submitted, they will be voted on. There will be a chance for any student to speak against the motion, before the finalised motion goes live online and all students are able to vote on it – until Monday 8th February, 9am.

Proxy Voting If you can’t make the AGM itself, you will still be able to vote on the finalised motions online, after AGM until Monday 8th February, 9am.

There are some items that will only be voted on at the meeting. These are:

Proposed amendments to the motions Approving minutes of AGM 2016 Agreement of auditors Agreement that Trustees may set the auditors remuneration

If you want to have your say on these agenda items, you can appoint another student to be your proxy voter (to vote on your behalf).

Please email representation@kclsu.org with your name and student number and the name and student number of the person you want to be your proxy. You'll be able to do that from 10am Friday 29 January to 10am Wednesday 3 February.

Support Student Walkout on the 10th of FebruaryMotion Proposers (including K number): Emma Clewer - k1458595, Danielle Tiplady - K13329992, Alison Sweeney – k1464185, Zoe Alldis, K1458317, Nicole Emery – K1458140, Phoebe Cantacuzino - K1458687, K1332872 – Jacob Smith, K1458634 – Marina Downs, K1332252 – Charlotte Alexandra, Sophia KoumiPolicy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU Notes1. From 2017, the government are proposing to scrap the NHS bursary for student nurses,

midwives, radiographers, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians and occupational therapists. These students are also going to be made to pay over £50,000 to do these degrees instead of them being NHS funded. 1

2. Over 155,000 people have signed a petition and over 5,000 people marched through London on 9th January against this decision by the Government. Further demonstrations occurred in Newcastle, Manchester and Middlesbrough. 2

3. Some of these courses involve clinical placement time, for example nursing, midwifery and radiography courses are 50% tutoring time and 50% clinical placements. Currently the bursary means these students are paid roughly £3 for each hour worked during clinical placement. This does not cover living costs, especially in London, but it does offer some support.3

4. Current student nurses, midwives, radiographers, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians and occupational therapists are planning to walk out from their placements to join the Junior Doctor strike on the 10th February in order to protest against the cuts to bursaries and introduction of fees but also to stand in solidarity with Junior Doctors and to unite our fight.4

5. Students who are unable to participate in the walkout will be provided with lanyards/badges/stickers to wear on the day. 

KCLSU Believes1. The government should not introduce fees for student nurses, midwives,

radiographers, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians and occupational therapists.

2. The government should not scrap the NHS bursary and should recognise that these students are undertaking unpaid work for up to half of their course which should be rewarded with a wage or bursary.

3. Cuts to the bursary and the introduction of fees for would-be health workers is part of a wider political attack by the government on one of our most valued institutions, which we defend alongside the Junior Doctors.

KCLSU Resolves1. Support students on their walkout and day of action on the 10th February.2. Financially support the students’ campaign to provide materials in order to make this

movement as broad as possible and to publicise the campaign, such as printing leaflets and making the armbands.

3. To send this motion on anywhere else if agreed e.g. higher union structures, trades council etc.

4. Support future campaigns and direct action by students fighting against the NHS bursary cuts.

1 https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/save-the-nhs-bursary/ 2 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/113491 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/12091541/Student-nurses-protest-over-bursary-changes.html3 https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/save-the-nhs-bursary/4 http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/23/poll-junior-doctors-support 

Smash the NSSMotion Proposer (including K number): Andy Warren K1460266Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU Notes1. The National Student Survey (NSS) is filled out by final-year students each year in

order to rank universities across the country.2. The NSS is likely to be one of the metrics used in the Teaching Excellence

Framework, which itself could be linked to higher fees.5

3. KCLSU’s opposition to the TEF and other reforms like axing maintenance grants set out in the motion ‘Support the Student Strike’, passed by Student Council last term.

KCLSU Believes1. The National Student Survey (NSS) does not measure student satisfaction in any

meaningful way.2. The NSS is used by management in institutions to (and this list is by no means

conclusive) bully staff, fire staff, change their contracts and cut courses. 6 7

3. As a tool for marketization, the NSS is used to standardise HE, pitching incomparable teaching practices against each other and ranking universities to fuel a notion of ‘value for money’.

4. The focus on an academic style learning disproportionately affects art institutions and other specialist HE institutions which do not fit this narrow framework.

5. The questions that the NSS asks do not address institutional problems within universities.

6. The NSS is counterproductive to creating liberated, autonomous universities.7. Our overall aim should be the end of the NSS through campaigning for a national

boycott or sabotage by students. This would involve students giving full marks on every question to skew the data, making it unreliable and meaningless while protecting education workers. This must be national; individual sabotage and sabotage by individual institutions will be ineffective and not tackle the problems caused by the survey.

KCLSU Resolves4. To campaign to get rid of the NSS.5. To campaign for a national boycott by the NUS.6. To campaign for the NUS to disaffiliate itself from the NSS.7. To encourage KCL to create its own form of democratic, participatory feedback process

to improve courses and departments alongside staff not at the expense of them.8. Educate people about the problems with the NSS.9. To refuse to promote or assist with with the NSS.

5 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/higher-education-green-paper-tef-paves-way-variable-fees6 http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/aug/13/the-national-student-survey-should-be-abolished-before-it-does-any-more-harm7 http://thetab.com/2015/04/02/finalists-do-not-complete-the-national-student-survey-34649

Lobby the University to Introduce Academic Reading and Writing WorkshopsMotion proposer (including K number): K1460870, k1207542, K1460841, K1333361, K1459258Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU NotesThere are courses available for masters students and international students8

1. ‘SKILLS4STUDYCAMPUS’ provide online help with academic writing and reading, and provide one to one help (you have to book a slot)9

KCLSU Believes1. Workshops on how to read and write academic text would provide a non-intimidating

space (students could support each other) for students to learn and develop essential skills to aid them in their degree.

2. Workshops are an effective means of preparing students with the necessary skillset, they are more informative than the vague ‘how to write an essay’ segment presented at the start of new modules.

3. I’ve spoken to a lot of students who found academic texts to be inaccessible; having workshops would help break this down to an extent.

4. Students pay a minimum of £9000 they should be provided with these kinds of services.

KCLSU Resolves1. For Vice Presidents of Education to work toward the introduction of academic writing

and reading workshops. 2. For KCLSU to lobby the university to introduce the workshops across all departments.

These workshops should: Offer comprehensive help in dissecting academic texts and aid on how to write

essays and reference at the start of every new term; Be visible to students (well promoted)

8 http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/english-language-centre/courses/international-pre-masters-programme/course-materials.aspx9 http://libguides.kcl.ac.uk/studyskills/writing

Moving towards a 100% student Trustee BoardMotion Proposer (including K number): Joe Simpson (K1185583) Alberto Torres (K1214321)Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU Notes 1. ‘The Trustee Board is the decision maker of the Students’ Union and is the ultimate

decision making body of the Students’ Union’. KCLSU’s Trustee Board has the power to overturn decisions made democratically at Student Council and at AGM10.

2. KCLSU’s Trustee Board is currently made up of 5 Sabbatical Officer Trustees, 4 Student Trustees and 4 Lay (Non-student) Trustees11.

3. Sabbatical Officer Trustees and Student Trustees are elected, whereas Lay Trustees are appointed.12

4. On 5/11/15 KCLSU Student Council passed a motion entitled ‘Democratise KCLSU’s Trustee Board’. This motion called for the removal of voting powers from Lay Trustees13.

5. SOAS SU’s Trustee Board is made up of 3 Sabbatical Officer Trustees and 19 Student Trustees. They are advised by 2 ‘External Advisors’ who are invited to meetings but are not Trustees (and thus do not have voting powers on the Trustee Board).14

KCLSU Believes 1. KCLSU’s decision making should be as student led as possible.2. KCLSU’s decision making, including at Trustee Board level, should be made by those

who are democratically accountable to KCLSU’s members.3. Student Trustees often need guidance and advice from people with particular

experience and expertise. This guidance and advice could be given by External Advisors rather than External Trustees.

4. Point 4 of KCLSU’s Big Plan is a commitment to ‘Empowering Student Change Makers’. This is best achieved by ensuring that all decisions at KCLSU are made by students, for students

KCLSU Resolves 1. To make it KCLSU policy to move towards a Trustee Board that is made up entirely of

Student Trustees and Sabbatical Officer Trustees, with External Advisors to provide guidance.

2. To investigate possible structures for a 100% student Trustee Board, including by consulting with SOAS SU to understand how their Trustee Board functions.

3. To consult with the current Lay Trustees to gain their advice on how best to structure a 100% student Trustee Board.

4. To appoint an external consultant to help KCLSU investigate a 100% student trustee board. This should be done by 22nd March 2016 notifying the student body when this is done.

5. By 22nd of March 2016, the Student Officer team will provide a timeline for the proposal of the 100% Student Trustee Board to be voted on.

10 http://www.kclsu.org/ourgovernance/ 11 http://www.kclsu.org/ourgovernance/#Trustee 12 http://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/ourstructure/KCLSU-Articles-of-Association-Amended-March-2014.pdf (Article 55)13 http://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/policyzone/Governance-and-Procedures-Zone(4).pdf 14 https://www.soas.ac.uk/admin/governance/policies/file37348.pdf (page 11)

Student Officer StructureMotion Proposer (including K number): Joe Simpson, Nadine Almanasfi, Sophia Koumi, Ben Hunt, Rachel WilliamsPolicy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU Notes1. The current Student Officer team Structure consists of

1.1. President1.2. Vice President Activities & Development1.3. Vice President Education (Arts & Sciences)1.4. Vice President Education (Health)1.5. Vice President Welfare & Community

2. KCLSU is in the process of carrying out a Student Decision Making Review. One of the recommendations of the review is to change the sabbatical officer team structure in order to move to a constituency model

3. In the last 5 years there have been no elected Student Officers who are postgraduate students – 0 out of 22 elected students.

4. During the 2015/16 academic year KCLSU hired a part time Liberation Co-ordinator to carry out a Liberation Review. The review recommended that KCLSU did not need a sabbatical Liberation Officer, however it did make many recommendations about how KCLSU could embed liberation throughout its activities.

5. During the 2015/16 academic year KCL and KCLSU hired a full time staff member to carry out research into whether KCLSU would benefit from a sabbatical International Officer. Their report recommended many ways to improve KCLSU’s provision for international students but did not recommend a sabbatical International Officer.

KCLSU Believes 1. Moving to a constituency based officer structure will ensure that all students at KCL are

represented in the officer team.2. Introducing constituency roles has proved successful in terms of engagement and

community development across the health schools, where previously engagement was low.

3. Students tend to connect through academic departments and level of study, so will relate more to a constituency model and will find it easier knowing who to contact and work with.

4. The proposed restructure will make it easier for students to engage with sabbatical officers. The old model facilitates communication between KCL and sabbatical officers at the expense of students.

5. A structure that accommodates postgraduates will enable postgraduates to engage with the union and will ensure that postgraduates are represented in future sabbatical officer teams.

6. Campaigns span across welfare, education, community, liberation, ethics etc. and are rarely confined to simply a ‘welfare’ issue or an ‘education’ issue.

7. If campaigning is at the core a Student Officer role, restricting an officer to a specific campaigning area may stifle their campaigning.

8. Welfare, liberation and education need to be embedded in all of the roles, rather than being solely down to one person.

9. There needs to be a dedicated role focused on union activity and union development.10.It will be important to ensure that sport and activity groups are properly supported in

the new structure and this should be reviewed regularly.11.The term ‘President’ promotes the idea of hierarchy. The new structure will mean that

all officers are equally approachable and carry equal weight in all matters.

KCLSU Resolves 1. For the Student Officer team structure to consist of:

1.1Union Development1.2Postgraduate Arts & Sciences Officer1.3Postgraduate Health Officer1.4Undergraduate Arts & Sciences Officer1.5Undergraduate Health Officer

2. For this to come into immediate effect for the 2016 Student Officer Elections.3. To amend KCLSU bye-laws to reflect the new structure and to adopt the proposed Role

Specification and Role Description

3.1

Student Officer Role Specification: Union Development Officer – a current King’s College London student at King’s

College London, elected by enrolled King’s College London Students. Postgraduate Arts & Sciences Officer – a current postgraduate arts & sciences

student at King’s College London, elected by enrolled postgraduate arts & sciences students.

Postgraduate Health Officer - a current postgraduate health student at King’s College London, elected by enrolled postgraduate health students.

Undergraduate Arts & Sciences Officer - a current undergraduate arts & sciences student at King’s College London, elected by enrolled undergraduate arts & sciences students.

Undergraduate Health Officer - a current undergraduate health student at King’s College London, elected by enrolled undergraduate health students.

3.2

Student Officer Role Descriptions below:

Undergraduate Health Officer, Undergraduate Arts & Sciences Officer, Postgraduate Health Officer and Postgraduate Arts & Sciences Officer Role Description:

Engaging with studentsBuild networks and friendships with students, connecting with our members across King’s College London.

Proactive engagement with students day-to-day, both remotely and in person. Develop initiatives and opportunities to widely engage students throughout the year. Attend and support relevant student meetings and events.

Building student communities Join with student groups and support student led activities, building and strengthening inclusive student communities.

Promote liberation, faith and culture at King’s College London, celebrating our diversity and working with students and representatives to build an inclusive Students’ Union.

Encourage, celebrate and work together with existing and emerging student activities, societies and clubs.

Strengthen and promote student led activity that builds student led communities locally and across King’s College London.

Amplifying student voicesBuild partnerships between students, KCLSU, King’s College London and external bodies; encouraging and developing student views and working to improve experiences for students.

Work with Student Representatives, developing and supporting them to effectively engage with the students they represent and the departments they work with.

Attend King’s College London academic and facilities committees, ensuring a student perspective on proposals for discussion, scrutiny and decision.

Create partnerships between students and King’s College London that propose, receive and develop initiatives together, improving the experiences for students now and in the future.

Empowering student-led campaigningTogether with students, campaign for the education and welfare needs of our academic, liberation and international student communities.

With students, develop and deliver lead campaigns and manifesto pledges. Empower and support students who want to make change. Build a student-led campaigning culture across King’s College London.

Trustee of KCLSU The KCLSU Trustee Board is responsible for setting the vision and values of KCLSU, to make sure that as an organisation we deliver our organisational purpose, and to ensure that a long-term strategy is developed and agreed.

Ensure that KCLSU lives up to its responsibilities as a charity, and in particular stays true to its mission, vision and values.

Ensure KCLSU is a student-led organisation. Help KCLSU achieve its objectives and improve the lives of its members.

Union Development Officer Role Description:Engaging with studentsBuild networks and friendships with students, connecting with our members across King’s College London.

Proactive engagement with students day-to-day, both remotely and in person. Develop initiatives and opportunities to widely engage students throughout the year. Attend and support relevant student meetings and events.

Building student communities Join with student groups and support student led activities, building and strengthening inclusive student communities.

Promote liberation, faith and culture at King’s College London, celebrating our diversity and working with students and representatives to build an inclusive Students’ Union.

Encourage, celebrate and work together with existing and emerging student activities, societies and clubs.

Strengthen and promote student led activity that builds student led communities locally and across King’s College London.

Amplifying student voicesBuild partnerships between students, KCLSU, King’s College London and external bodies; encouraging and developing student views and working to improve experiences for students.

Work with Student Representatives, developing and supporting them to effectively engage with the students they represent and KCLSU.

Attend King’s College London academic and facilities committees as a member of the King’s College London Council, ensuring a student perspective on proposals for discussion, scrutiny and decision.

Create partnerships between students and KCLSU that propose, receive and develop initiatives together, improving the experiences for students now and in the future.

Attend the National Union of Students’ National Conference as KCLSU’s lead delegate.

Developing a student-led UnionTogether with students, lead and develop a Union that serves the needs of our academic, liberation and international student communities.

Lead the student perspective on developing KCLSU functions, projects and provisions for students, ensuring an accessible, engaging and inclusive Union.

Ensure KCLSU student-led decision making is inclusive, effective, transparent and accountable, empowering students to lead and shape their Union.

Facilitate KCLSU’s relationship with our students, King’s College London, National Union of Students, the media and other external bodies.

Trustee of KCLSU and Chair of the Trustee BoardThe KCLSU Trustee Board is responsible for setting the vision and values of KCLSU, to make sure that as an organisation we deliver our organisational purpose, and to ensure that a long-term strategy is developed and agreed.

Ensure that KCLSU lives up to its responsibilities as a charity, and in particular stays true to its mission, vision and values.

Ensure KCLSU is a student-led organisation. Help KCLSU achieve its objectives and improve the lives of its members. As Chair, provide leadership for KCLSU and for the Trustee Board, and be responsible

for performance managing the KCLSU Chief Executive.

Revise KCLSU Complaints Procedure (Internal)Motion Proposer (including K number): Hareem Ghani (K133361), Samia Gundkalli (K1332961), Noor Khan (K1316993), Amanie El-alfy (K1329533)Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU Notes 1. ‘Unconscious Bias’ or Prejudice is defined as an underlying bias that triggers us to

make quick judgements and assessments about people or situations based on our own background, environment, personal experiences, or personal relationships15

2. Unconscious Bias or Prejudice refers to any bias that prevents an individual from making an impartial decision;

3. The Union states in their ‘About’ page that they here ‘to make sure every King’s student has the best student experience possible’16;

4. The official union page also claims to be ‘run by students for students’ - however full time students are not part of internal complaint procedures;

5. Student Councillors (the Student Chair) is only made privy to internal investigations at the request of the President of the Union17;

6. In a statement provided by the Vice Presidents of Activities and Development, Joe Simpson, he stated ‘ as a student body it is our responsibility to ensure that King’s is a safe space for all members of our community, and that every student feels able to partake in each and every aspect of campus life without fear of being victimised’18

KCLSU Believes1. The KCLSU Complaints Procedure (with specific emphasis to internal investigations) is

not fair and conclusive given it is conducted exclusively by a staff member;2. Unconscious Bias will invariably prevent staff members from making impartial decisions

when conducting internal investigations against personals whom they have an existing relationship with (be it professional or personal)

3. The President is employed19 by the Union, and works in close proximity to staff members daily meaning they also have an unconscious bias/ prejudice at play;

4. However, if the president of the Union has a personal relationship with the individual making the complaint then matters are allocated to another staff member (usually the Deputy Chief Executive of KCLSU or the Director of Resources);20

5. There is a fundamental hypocrisy at work: you cannot acknowledge unconscious bias in one instance and ignore it in another – this goes against ACAS guidelines that specify the need for consistency;

6. The Union has made a commitment to the anti-harassment campaign, It Stops Here, and if they are truly dedicated to ensuring that all cases of harassment or wrongdoing are addressed impartially and fairly and for the procedure to be a democratic decision involving students;

7. The Union should make elected student councillors (minimum of two) OR an external mediator part of the decision making process when pertaining to internal investigations;

8. If the Union is truly a ‘democratic charity’21 they must ensure that every decision is a democratic process involving student councillors and students who they claim to be representing;

9. You cannot claim that the Union is ‘run by students for students’ when there isn’t a fulltime student involved in the complaints process;

15https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/ldc/researchers/opportunities/development_support/e_and_d/ unconscious_bias/unconscious_bias_-2_june.pdf 16http://www.kclsu.org/about 17 https://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/contactus/KCLSU-Complaints-Procedure.pdf 18 https://blogs.kcl.ac.uk/itstopshere/about 19 ‘Employed’ in the sense that they are paid for their services as president. 20 https://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/contactus/KCLSU-Complaints-Procedure.pdf 21 http://www.kclsu.org/about/

10.The KCLSU Disciplinary and Associate Member complaints procedure entails for ‘at least one King’s student’22 to be present at the Disciplinary Panel Hearing – internal investigations should be treated with the same consistency and not at the discretion of the President

11.The president can choose to bring in student council members to review a complaints procedure however this is at the discretion of the President in the first place

12.As part of ‘It Stops Here’ The university revised its Harassment and Guidance Policy to ensure all investigations were fair and so it only makes sense for the Union to do the same;

13.As the complaints procedure currently stands, internal investigations can never be fair or democratic – thus KCLSU piloting itself as a democratic body is factually inaccurate

14.There is a lack of transparency and accountability from the Union 15.KCLSU have ignored fundamental aspects of the ACAS’ Disciplinary and Grievance

Procedure and Code of Practice16.There are already two disciplinary procedures for staff members in place, but these

need to be more transparent and accessible.

KCLSU Resolves1. To review all internal investigation conducted against KCLSU staff members over the

past two years;2. For KCLSU to amend its bylaws or make relevant amendments to the complaints

procedure to ensure that all internal investigations against staff are fair, democratic, and free from bias and prejudice;

3. To ensure that a student is entitled to a hearing alongside a confidential meeting 4. To ensure that before every investigation, students have their rights read out to them

e.g. the right to be accompanied at a hearing5. To ensure that complaints by students against staff members are not conducted solely

by KCLSU staff members;6. It should be made clear to the President at the beginning of every complaints

procedure that a member of Student Council can be involved in the investigation.7. To ensure that an independent body (external mediator) is bought in to conduct

internal investigations – as recommended by ACAS8. For the union to provide strict protocol for staff members (employees) who indulge in

any form of harassment, bullying, or inappropriate behaviour9. For the Union to introduce a strict disciplinary procedure to be taken against such staff

members – much like there is for students10.For this to resemble the KCLSU Student and Associate Member Disciplinary Procedure23

22https://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/policyzone/KCLSU-Student-and-Associate-Member-Disciplinary- Procedures.pdf 23https://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/policyzone/KCLSU-Student-and-Associate-Member-Disciplinary- Procedures.pdf

KCLSU Point of Information:

There are two complaints procedures to be aware of: the Student Complaints process is used when a student makes a complaint against a member of staff, and the Disciplinary and Grievance procedure is used when a staff makes a complaint against another member of staff.

If a student raises a complaint about a member of staff, the students' complaints process is followed. If the outcome of that process is that the member of staff has breached KCLSU disciplinary standards, we would then follow KCLSU Disciplinary process, which is compliant with both the ACAS code of practice and relevant legislation. Bullying and harassment by members of staff is covered under KCLSU Disciplinary process.

All KCLSU staff are required to attend the unconscious bias training run by KCL. 

KCLSU ensures that students are aware of their rights under the students’ complaints process.

Association Leadership ElectionsMotion proposer (including K number): Nicole Walsh (K1335848)Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

KCLSU Notes1. KCLSU currently elects Liberation Officers (Womens’, LGBT, Disabled and Ethnic

Minority), Working Class and the International Students’ Officer, who are the leaders of their respective Associations, in October.

2. The Liberation at KCLSU Review conducted research into how to improve and develop Liberation at KCLSU.

KCLSU Believes1. The timing of these elections puts officers at a significant disadvantage when

organising for liberation history months, preparing for liberation conferences and choosing to run elections.

2. Moving the elections to happen at the same time as the sabbatical officer elections will increase the profile of Liberation Associations and provide adequate time for preparation for the year ahead and training for the officers.

3. Students are missing out on opportunities to be represented on a national level because of the time of elections.

4. We need to take all opportunities available to develop Liberation at KCLSU.

KCLSU Resolves1. To change byelaws to change the time of the elections for the Liberation Association,

Working Class Association Officers and International Students’ Officer, as of 2016, to match that of the full time officers in order to create greater legitimacy, improve access for students, and enable KCLSU staff to better manage the need to prepare for conferences and history months.

2. For the Association Officer terms of office to start on August 1st each year.

Create a Trans Officer for Student CouncilMotion proposer (including K number): KCL LGBT+, Travis Alabanza (K1460458), supported by: KCL iFemsoc, Moyin Saka k1459790, Lydia Bevan k1460630, Poppy Owen K1460288, Hannah Smethurst K1459682, Lexi Turner k1335422, Zahra butt, k1502204, Hareem Ghani k1333361Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

This motion proposes to: create KCLSU Policy- for KCLSU to create a new position, a specific Trans Officer on Student Council, starting from the academic year 2016/17 – to exist in addition to the current general LGBT+ officer (that would then become ‘open place’ LGBT+ officer)

KCLSU Notes1. That the KCLSU Bye Law (2) states that student councils principle purpose is to

represent the views of all members of KCLSU, this includes trans and non binary students.

2. That the Union is committed to supporting all students at KCL as part of its charitable status, this includes the support of trans and non binary students

3. With the exception of this year, there has not been an openly trans LGBT+ officer on council.

4. That in 2015/16 the LGBT+ place has been filled by an openly non binary officer, Travis Alabanza, and that this has led to a significant focus on trans liberation: e.g the successful Gender Neutral Toilets Campaign.

5. That there have been student council caucuses that have not had any open trans and non binary representation within meetings, therefore not representing the views of all its members.

KCLSU Believes1. That liberation groups need particular and specific representation on council in order to

meet their specific needs.2. That although they are part of the wider LGBT+ community- liberation for trans and

non binary students is specific to their community, and therefore it is vital that there is a reserved and guaranteed trans identifying student on council every year.

3. In the UK the trans community still faces marginalisation, discrimination and prejudice with regard to, but not limited to; legal recognition, equal marriage, health care and equal rights.

4. Liberation campaigns should be autonomous and led by people from the liberation group because they have the specific lived experience, therefore a cisgendered officer is only able to do so much for trans liberation.

5. In order to ensure that the representation of trans and non binary students on council is heard, a guaranteed position on student council is needed for the community – as has been agreed by both the Trans Officer on iFemSoc, Lexi Turner, and the trans officers Daniel and Ed Donal from LGBT+ society

6. That the creation of this position will ensure there will always be at least one student who identifies on the trans spectrum of student council each year

KCLSU Resolves1. That a reserved space for trans students will ve created and maintained in its

representative structures, alongside other reserved Liberation positions.2. That a new ‘Trans officer’ position will be created for the 2016/17 Student Council

elections, and any student council elections thereafter. This position will be reserved for all students who identify as trans (this including non binary, genderqueer).

3. That the addition of this position will create two LGBT+ council positions. One will be LGBT+ (Open Place), the other LGBT+ (Trans Place).

Ethnic Minority Association and Representative Officer Title ChangeMotion proposer (including K number): Maria Dadabhoy (K1328888)Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

This motion proposes to: change the title of the KCLSU Ethnic Minority Association and its representative.

KCLSU notes1. The KCLSU Safe Space policy states that: KCLSU is committed to providing an inclusive

and supportive space for all students... KCLSU believes all students should be free from intimidation or harassment, resulting from prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, marital or maternity/paternity status, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, trans status, socio-economic status, or ideology or culture, or any other form of distinction.24

KCLSU believes1. Ethnic Minority is a belittling title2. Ethnic lumps all people of colour together as one homogenous group which they are

not3. Ethnic implies non-white and therefore non-normal, foreign or even exotic4. Minority can be seen as an oppressive label5. When labelling people of colour as minority ethnic this does not relate factually in

terms of world population6. The word minority frequently has connotations of marginalisation or lesser importance7. The word minority can be seen as “othering” and a continuation of oppression8. BME includes the word minority9. BME further creates a divide by separating black and minority ethnic10.BME is a label ascribed to people of colour by the white majority and can be seen as an

oppressive term11.By lumping us all as a homogenous BME group or Ethnic Minority group we are not

acknowledging racism between people of colour or anti-blackness within communities. 12.People of Colour is a term used to describe any person who is not white and therefore

experiences systematic racism13.People of Colour is the only collective term for people who do not benefit from white

supremacy14.The Person of Colour Association would, as KEMA currently is, be for those who define

as a Person of Colour (PoC)15.The most representative title for a position that represents all students of colour is

Person of Colour Officer

KCLSU resolves1. To amend “Bye-Law 4- 2.3” to change the Ethnic Minority Association, and its Officer to

People of Colour (PoC) Association and People of Colour (PoC) Officer respectively in order to be more inclusive.

24 http://www.kclsu.org/pageassets/policyzone/KCLSU-Safe-Space-Policy.pdf

Widening Participation for the Working Class AssociationMotion Proposer (including K number): Claudia Amelia Tasedan (K1210652), Nicole Walsh (K1335848)Policy Expiry date (maximum of 2 years): 2 years

This motion proposes to: change the name of the Working Class Association

KCLSU Notes1. There is currently a Working Class Association at KCLSU that was created last year in

order to create more representation for under-privileged students2. The debate at AGM was around concerns that some students would not receive

representation and support where they should3. 19.5% of students who responded to the Liberation at KCLSU Review Equality

Monitoring Survey answered ‘maybe’ to the question ‘Do you define as Working Class?’ highlighting that there is a misunderstanding about what the term means and who it includes.

4. King’s and KCLSU use a criteria for Widening Participation that addresses the inequalities students from Working Class backgrounds face in relation to Higher Education.25

KCLSU Believes1. The use of the term Working Class is confusing and limiting for international students

who may benefit from the Association but not recognise that they can be part of it.2. The aim of the Working Class Association is to promote Liberation and access to

students, from across the world, who experience socio-economic and structural disadvantages as a result of their upbringing and background. More resource needs to be dedicated to communicating what it means to self-define into this area.

3. Clearly defining the remit of the Working Class Association will support its development.

KCLSU Resolves1. To amend Bye Law 4 to rename the Working Class Association to call it the Widening

Participation Association.2. Membership to the Association will still remain on a basis of self-definition.3. To amend Bye Law 4 to explicitly detail the remit of this Association using criteria used

by King’s and KCLSU widening participation which can includes but is not limited to: Young people from low-income backgrounds Young people from low-participation neighbourhoods (where very few people

go on to higher education) Young people whose parents did not go to university Young people in or leaving care Those returning to learning as mature students.

25 http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/widening-participation/faqs.aspx