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Student Council

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  • Student Council The Anson Rooms Thursday 04-05-2023 - 16:00 until Thursday 04-05-2023 - 19:00

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Student Council

This is your chance to make a difference and learn more about democracy at Bristol SU!

Student Council happens twice a year at Bristol SU. This is the second of the two, and it will take place from 16:00 - 19:00 on 4 May at The Anson Rooms, Richmond Building! 

Student Council is the main representative forum of the Students' Union. It creates policy which directs the focus for our team of 7 SU officers. Members discuss and vote on items (called motions) submitted by students. Any motions that pass become active SU policy for three years.

All students can submit motions and attend the meeting, but only course reps, faculty reps, network chairs, society presidents, volunteering project co-ordinators, or club captains can vote on motions.

About Student Council

View the Student Council Guide May 2023.

Student Council happens twice a year, once in TB1, and once in TB2. Ahead of each Student Council students can put forward suggestions (called motions), which are designed to improve students’ lives. All Bristol students can then attend Student Council to watch the debates and see which motions have been voted in (passed).

In previous Student Councils, students have passed policy to create Black Students' and Parents, Carers, and Mature Students' Networks, to better support pregnant students, to support the climate strike campaign, and to adopt a harm reduction approach to drugs and alcohol. This is your chance to make long-lasting and far-reaching change at Bristol.

This is an unticketed event but please bring your student IDs as we will need to check them to verify who is able to vote. There will also be free pizza provided with vegan and gluten free options!

How Does Student Council Work?

Student Council is a chance for you to get your voice heard directly and help set the agenda of your Students Union. You can help submit your student ideas as motions which get debated. All students can submit motions and attend the meeting, but only course reps, faculty reps, network chairs, society presidents, volunteering project co-ordinators, or club captains can vote on motions.

How do motions come into existence?

A student will have a new idea on how to better their SU. They then meet with the Liberation & Campaigns Team, to help shape this into a motion. Sometimes students will be ahead of the curb and have a fully fledged motion ready to submit!

See the process on submitting motions on our Democratic Events page.

What happens with motions once approved?

Motions get sent to Democratic Standards, to be approved for debate. They’ll make sure it’s appropriate to go to AMM and approve it. The students will be notified and briefed on having to propose a motion by the SU staff team.

How the debate is structured

Students at our Student Council get to speak for a motion if they’ve introduced the idea, to propose and convince the student body it works! Then someone can speak against the motion if they don’t like it. There’s a chance to answer any questions you might have about the idea to the proposer – rinse & repeat until we need to hold a vote!

Why it is important to debate?

Imagine if the SU suddenly decided it was against their practice to ever support the football on, or to never host events past the month of March. It would feel pretty unfair, right? Debate is designed as a chance to hear from everyone – so we can carry on being a Union for all Students!

How do I vote?

As part of our efforts to make our democratic events more accessible and easier to take part in, we're trying something new this year... digital voting! We'll be using a Q&A and polling platform called Slido. If you're a voting member, you can see the guidance on voting using Slido here: How to join Student Council May 2023.

Accessibility

Bristol SU is committed to running safe and accessible events for all students. If you have any questions about access to our events please email the Bristol SU Democracy and Campaigns team at bristolsu-democracy@bristol.ac.uk

The Anson Rooms is on the first floor of The Richmond building. Step free access into The Richmond Building is available via an accessible lift in the main entrance, with ground level access through the right side entrance on Queens Road, and in the back entrance on Richmond Terrace Avenue. Once inside the building there are two lifts which service all floors. There are doors around the building which have to be opened manually. Accessible toilets are available on every floor. Gender neutral toilets are available on the 4th floor.

We welcome attendees who need to bring medicines, food, or drink to manage a medical condition, or medical equipment. Please email us at bristolsu-democracy@bristol.ac.uk or speak to a member of staff on arrival if you have any questions or concerns.

If you need to step out of this event to find a quiet space please notify a member of staff as you’re leaving so that they can let you back in. Quiet areas with seating are available in the foyer and in the links spaces on the first and second floors of The Richmond Building.

Venue/Timing

Venue : The Anson Rooms

Type: Democratic Events, Featured Events, Free, Student Voice

Start Date: Thursday 04-05-2023 - 16:00

End date: Thursday 04-05-2023 - 19:00

Location

Contact Details

Sabrina Jones

sabrina.u.jones@bristol.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

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