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Minutes of JJCR meeting, 29-10-2006, 20:00
Related files
- Agenda
- MfS: Exec Meals
- MfS: First Aid Training
- MfS: Patio Heaters
- Motion to amend the spending privileges of Part II treasurers.
Contents
Preamble
Opening Prayer
Read by Felix Schubert.
Apologies
Alice Manuel
Hannah Brock
Sarah Mullins
Katie McCraw
Megan Taylor
Ian Kent
Minutes and matters arising
The minutes were approved on a general aye, there were no matters arising.
Sophie explained the format of JCR meetings to those who hadn't attended a meeting before.
Reports
Reports of Executive Officers
Josh Heald, JCR President
Hi guys, thanks for showing up. In the reports we just tell you what we've been doing since the last meeting. I've had a meeting about Unity which is a campaign about funding for JCRs, sport, and DSU from the University. I had a training day on Friday which was good. I've been discussing electricity contracts up at Margaret's. Aside from that it's the same old thing. Any questions?
Katie Wray, VP:Estates
Since my report in This Week formal signup has opened. I've started planning the house sports. I've ordered the two trophies, and had informal house committee and catering committee went very well.
Questions?
Ali: What are the trophies for?
Katie: Intercollegiate Table Tennis, and the College Tennis Trophy.
Jeanna Shalkowski, VP:Welfare
Hi everybody. Various things; we've appointed the student supporters
Jeanna gave a list of the new supporters.
There have been some more attacks by locals on students. Be careful when you go out, especially if you're walking alone as it's been unprovoked. I'm looking into arranging some listening skills workshops, run by the counselling service. Next week I have Health and Safety committee.
I've been asked to remind you that if you're sharing a room, please check with your room mates if you're having guests to stay. I went to the Careers Advisory Service and got a copy of everything they had.
Any questions?
Felix Schubert, Treasurer
Good evening. A couple of points from the world of finance. I've done the VAT return, and the accounts for the first 9 months of the term. It's pretty much as budgeted for last year. I've put together a budget as well. Lastly, from tonight on there will be the Debtors' List active again. If you're on it you may not use any of those services until you have paid us. I've sent you emails. If you pay us you can come off the list.
Richard Kelly, Senior DSU Rep
The biggest fun...I did the petition against increasing the residence fees. We got about 3-4000 students which is near a fifth of the student body in a week. I went to DSU Exec meeting, where we discussed the Nightbus, which is no longer going to Tesco. The DSU Website is being updated. University Challenge is going to happen soon. If you're interested, contact either me or the DSU President. The demonstration against removing the cap on top-up fees filled up a whole coach. On Wednesday at DSU Council we approved the DSU budget and some motions from the last meeting.
Martin Hodgetts, Services Manager
Hope you had a nice week. Since the last time you may notice we have a shiny new itBox; lots of new games. I reviewed all the prices of different things in the shop in line with the new shop at Margaret's. Unfortunately some things have to go up in price. I've done my accounts. With regards to Stash, I spent the last couple of days sorting out order forms. It might take a while to get them. Cranmer are getting some stash as well.
Tim Marshall, Communications Officer
I've not got much to say- I had a meeting about the website; we're interested to hear what you think, so we're starting a working group. If you're interested in shaping the website, email me. You don't need any technical knowledge.
Tom Briggs, SEC, on behalf of Alice Manuel, Social Secretary
I'm not Alice. Just to say quickly about the Bailey Ball. Tickets are going on sale tomorrow, but it's priority for 3rd and 4th years. They've gone up to £59. They were going to go up anyway. That's about it really.
Dan Baxter, Senior Bar Officer
OK, the last couple of weeks have made lots of money. More procedural things that we've changed; I've set a stock level. We've also shifted around our staff a bit. We have promoted #5 to #3 and appointed a new #5.
We have a new selection of Wine which is very nice. I'll put up a list. There's this big survey about smoking coming up. We had a bar quiz. We also had a BLUE event where everything was blue. Thanks for your participation. Apart from that, not much. I'm selling bottles; come and buy.
Cranmer: Catherine, VP for Cranmer
We have now got stash ordered. We were involved in the Principal's Commissioning Service. Our students are looking forward to Reading Week.
Reports of non-executive Officers
Ben Salter, Assistant Estates
I'm Assistant Estates. My job is to organise Formal Hall every other Wednesday. Some people haven't been happy about not getting places; basically because online formal signup hasn't worked yet, we've been reverting to the old system in which people emailed in. I give out places to livers-in and livers-out.
About 50 people sent emails at the time. I literally take them as they come in on my email account. That's how it has always been. Some people were surprised. You have to be very quick to get a place. At the moment we have places for 55 livers in and 30 livers out. Formals are more popular with livers-out. I got an email concerning when I sent my emails out to people who hadn't got places. Last week signup was on Monday and I sent them out on Thursday. This week it was later. In my defence I had about 200 emails to sort out.
Also, people send me emails with more than one person's name on. I will put everyone on the list, but you have to realise that they will be in the order they appear on the list, and if I reach quota mid-list, half will not get in. If people are upset about it, I'm sorry, though it has been a bit out of my control.
I'm not complaining. I wanted to reassure everyone that it takes a lot of time but I will try and be more efficient in the future.
If you want to sign up in the future, don't worry, they happen all the time.
Ed McCarter: We've heard concise information about this; but every formal we see seats that aren't filled. At a lot of colleges they fine people who don't turn up.
Ben Salter: Sometimes guests don't turn up. Some people just don't turn up. Some people can't come and don't find that out until late. Maybe we could talk about fines but then we'd have to find out who wasn't there.
Katie Wray: We don't really have a culture of fining people.
Ed McCarter: Well it seems really selfish.
Ben Salter: I do say in my emails please email me if you can't go. I might include my number so people can text or call me.
Katie Wray: Point of information; the quotas are as they are because otherwise Alison has to prepare a large early dinner.
Can you change the time?
Ben Salter: It's something I'll discuss with Katie. I realise there's not a lot of livers-out, who are the main people who want answers.
Josh Heald: Can I add to my report that the new common room will be open tomorrow from 7:30.
James Evans, Senior DUCK Rep.
This Wednesday is Back 2 School in the Union; if you want a ticket for it I'm selling them here.
Motions
MfS:Exec Meals
Motion text
Sophie Godfree: If the Finance Committee approved a motion then we will show it to you without you needing to accept it.
Passed by Finance Committee.
MfS: First Aid Courses
Motion text
Felix Schubert: Hello, basically it's university policy to have 2 first-aiders at each match., We need to train people in First Aid; this is offered by DSU but costs money. It's about £7 per person. So this is essential to keep on playing sports games and so that people won't die if they're injured. We're releasing up to £252 to get people trained in First Aid.
Passed on a General Aye
MfS: Patio Heaters
Motion text
Ali Parry: Basically this is a motion for spending because running the patio heaters costs money. It won't cost anything to install them. They will go up on Linton Lawn. The money for the gas has already been passed by Finance Committee. We have to discuss the problems in that they're not entirely environmentally friendly. The table we have here is the government's claims; the other table is one I made to estimate how much CO2 the patio heaters will put out. 639 kg CO2 will be put out over the year as a maximum. Aesthetically there's no real issue.
Sophie: The issue is not the money as it's been approved by Finance Committee.
Alison Dancer: How did you come to the decision that they'd be used 12 weeks a year.
Ali Parry: Basically the gas is padlocked up so someone needs to open them up. The Bar Team will each have a key so they can switch them on at the mains to be used in the evening. If people want to use them at other times you will be able to get a key from Reception on a key-for-campus-card basis. If something then goes wrong, you'll be blamed for it.
Ed McCarter: SO we should have these because they are not bad for the world's environment. So these things are not going to be gouting fossil fuels over college and the world and they won't be ugly objects on Linton Lawn. It seems that this decision has been taken at a high level.
SJ: Listen: it's something to stop you from coughing!
Stuart Morris: There's something about being efficient. Regardless of the numbers involved, does it not seem that the most inefficient thing to do is to heat outdoors. These things only work by radiation, so the heat goes up. Are we saying that we're not bothered by the fact that global warming is happening? It seems rather gratuitous.
Ali Parry: The point is that electric patio heaters are free to the JCR. The point about the electric ones is that a third of energy is lost between the power station and your home.
Stuart Morris: Do you accept that in themselves they are incredibly inefficient in that they are located outside.
Ali Parry: OK, to be honest they are inefficient. They aren't as bad as publicised.
Stuart Morris: Are you worried about this image?
Ali Parry: I'm not, but college council is. If the college wants them then Josh and I will try to get College to get them
Josh Heald: These things may give college a certain image. We're asking the JCR if they're happy.
Ed McCarter: We've heard that patio heaters are more efficient if they burn it here rather than there. Does the majority of the heat go up or down?
Ali Parry: The heat does go up, but they will warm people.
Martin Hodgetts: They do do their job. They do actually work. It makes sitting outside more pleasant.
Alison Dancer: Can I oppose the motion.
Becca Davies: Maybe could we charge people per time unit if we discussed this again.
Ali: It comes down to whether you would like to pay to use them.
Josh: If this gets passed now, it doesn't mean that patio heaters will be put on Linton Lawn. If the JCR votes against it, that's what we say to college officers. It's not something the JCR can do on its own. We can always come back and put a policy in on it.
Formal opposition from Alison Dancer
Seconded Stuart Morris.
Vote
Alison Dancer: I think they're ugly and they are environmentally damaging. I have lots of jumpers. You can borrow them.
Ali Parry: I agree with the points. I'm willing to take them down and move them myself if necessary.
For
19
Against
22
Thus the motion falls.
Motion to amend the spending privileges of Part II treasurers.
Motion text
Felix Schubert: This has been here at the last meeting. The constitution says a lot about part II treasurers. We've changed it so it involves more security about how money is spent. It refers specifically to the Services Manager and Just World Shop.
Passed on a General Aye.
Elections
Drum Kit Rep.
No Candidates
Post
Candidates:
- Robert Feakes:
- Proposed Enoch Cheng
- Seconded Peter Scopes
Husting
Enoch husted on Robert's behalf.
Robert apologises; he's supporting DSU on the fees march. He has the experience of working to represent people; mediating between groups. He was on School council so he has experience. He is interested in the workings of the JCR and DSU, and this is a good opportunity to see both of them. He promises to support Richard. He is a politics student, so he would get involved in issues. He would like more help available to Freshers. He suggests a website.
Result
Candidate: overwhelming votes
RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 1
Sponsorship Chair
Candidates:
- Claudia Stacey-Ralda
- Proposed: Christine Gaston
- Seconded: Dan Rackham
Husting
I'm a fourth year linguist. I wanted to let the JCR know that I'm very enthusiastic and hardworking. I feel I have some of the skills to do the job well. Anyone who rows will know how good I am at getting up in the morning. I already have a target list of contacts. Johns is awesome, so the notion of selling the Johns vibe won't be difficult. I have experience. In my gap year I raised £1500 through corporate sponsorship. In my second year as football captain I got O-Brien's to sponsor the end of year social. In Spain I helped an organisation on campus raise financial support for their organisation.
No questions
Result
Candidate: overwhelming votes
RON: 0 votes
Abstained: 2
Sponsorship Assistant
No Candidates
Sponsorship Secretary
Candidates:
- Christine Gaston
Husting
No call to hust;
Result
Elected on a General Aye
DUCK Pubs and Decs
James Evans said: it's quite informal; we have group meetings about events for the year. It's about raising money. You make posters.
Sophie: Would anyone like to stand?
Candidates:
- Lucy Knight
Husting
There was no call to hust
Result
Elected on a General Aye
DUCK Secretary
No Candidates
DUCK Sponsorship
Candidates:
- Hannah Brock
- Proposed: Richard Kelly
- Seconded: Christine Leahy
Husting
No call for Richard to hust on Hannah's behalf
Result
The candidate was elected on a General Aye
DUCK Treasurer
Candidates:
- Richard Turner
Husting
There was no call to hust.
Result
The candidate was elected on a General Aye.
Toastie Bar Manager:
Candidates:
- Chris Leach
Husting
Christine Leahy read a statement on Chris' behalf: It may seem strange that I want to stand for it again. After all the reforms, I want to look after it for a while longer. I'll eventually take a back seat and get the team to work together.
Sophie: We're going to ask for your acceptance for Chris to do it despite living out
P: Christine Leahy
S: Alison Way
The proposal to let a liver-out continue the post was accepted on a general aye.
Result
The candidate was elected on a general aye.
AOB for JJCR
Smoking in the Bar
Dan Baxter: Currently how we have it is that half the bar is non-smoking. How do you feel about that? I want to gauge your opinion on this.
The issue is that we're looking to advise college; we aren't taking a vote. No definitive conclusions. I'll go through a couple of points and then you can shout at each other. A ban will be legally enforced in 2007. The decision we make has to represent the whole community but at the same time the bar must act as a business. The main point on the plus side is that people who don't like smoke. On the negative side we may alienate many of our regular customers who enjoy smoking. We could have a trial ban.
Will Holloway: How is the ventilation system working at the moment
Dan Baxter: There are three parts to it; the extraction is not working, so it's been very hot.
Will Holloway: It's an issue if you're not smoking.
Ben Salter: I don't have a problem sitting around smokers, but I feel that if a smoking ban was introduced, then smokers could come to the bar for the social aspect and then have a smoke on the lawns and in the DVD room. What about visitors to John's?
Dan Baxter: A question is, will we lose custom because of that?
Richard Kelly: As a point of information; John's may be the only college bar that offers people the chance to smoke in it.
Dan Baxter: that may be a good thing for business.
Alison Dancer: DO people stay there on bar crawls long enough to smoke?
SJ Odutolu: It's just like John's has nowhere to have a smoke. If there are people in the DVD room then you can't smoke there.
Tom Briggs: I know it's an obvious point, but this is people's home and people live here.
Dan Baxter: People don't have the choice whether or not they want to inhale other people's smoke. Also it's a working area and the staff don't have a choice.
Alison Dancer: As far as like choice goes, surely people have more of a right to socialise, work, walk through an area which won't damage their health. The university has an anti-smoking policy. I think it's a higher priority than people feeling they have to have somewhere to smoke.
Will Holloway: I'd like to reiterate that I have a lot of friends in college who smoke. If I want to socialise in the bar I have to go into the smoking section to talk to my friends.
Richard Kelly: I wanted to say there are a lot of regular customers who smoke who would go off to Cuths instead. I think it's a point to bear in mind.
SJ Odutolu: I want to talk about what Will says. You don't want to go into the smoking section. You might have to go outside to smoke.
Dominie Heald: The point against it here is that some people don't want to breathe other people's smoke. It doesn't seem like a valid argument for alienating some people. The bar's a business.
Dan Baxter: We're not banning people. By banning smoking we may alienate smokers; by not banning them we may alienate non-smokers
Dominie Heald: It's not alienating non-smokers much.
Daniel Martin-Thomas: I agree with what Dominie said that it's not a matter of health as it's going to be banned soon anyway. In my experience not a lot of people smoke; it doesn't make that much of a difference to the atmosphere.
Ben Salter: This is a neutral comment; from one point of view it's going to get banned soon so do we let the smokers have their last months of freedom or do we ban it now to get used to it.
Josh Heald: Can I propose that we extend the time on this by 5 minutes.
Alison Dancer: The analogy with drinking doesn't stand. As far as smokers having some kind of comfort, you choose to smoke. You have an impact on people around you. We cannot do anything to avoid the impacts of your decision. You should take responsibility for that.
Is it at all viable to improve the air conditioning in the smoking section?
Dan: i don't know. A lot of things in the bar are restricted. I can look into it. The control panel is currently broken. In the smoking area it's good, in the other area it's not so good.
James Rainer: If the case is that smokers are deprived, ideally we would have a smoking room where non-smokers would never need to go. One of our two smoking rooms is underground.
Richard Kelly: It's a matter of space. Smokers down the bar are regular customers. Will they still come down and buy drinks? I think people will still come down. If we ban it in the bar we will have a lot of people wanting to watch a DVD having to have smokers in there.
All those around a smoker suffer the consequences. It's rather selfish to smoke. Relatively few people affect the enjoyment and pleasure of other bar members.
Charlotte: The non-smokers can go down to the bar and get a drink in the non-smoking section and then go to the non-smoking section., It seems that it's the only area where smokers can go not to disturb other people.
If you can ban smoking in the bar, people tend to smoke around doors outside; it gets inside anyway. You have to go past them. There needs to be a motion passed about provision to smokers.
Becca: I'd like to speak up for the workers at the bar who are damaging their health.
Jeanna: I think when the bar isn't open, people have to do what they would otherwise do. People do go into the DVD room; it's not nice, but that happens when the bar is shut as well as not shut.
Dan: By closing the bar's smoking room, we're not changing that.
Martin: There are quite a few chains outside of colleges and university who haven't banned it. I doubt that those which have would lose that much business. If the bar does ban smoking in the other room, is there a chance of readdressing college policy of where they are allowed to smoke, as the DVD room is the only place people may watch DVDs and have a larger social gathering. Can we perhaps reconsider policy.
Dan: Ideally we will have a room specifically dedicated to smoking.
If it's going to be banned in 9 months, wouldn't it make sense to introduce things gradually. People would have to get used to it anyway.
Laura Heathcote: I think drinking is ruining our health, and it's silly that we're saying that it's damaging our health when we pass smokers all the time anyway. It's their social interactions down the bar. Why should we ban it.
Ben Salter: it's important that we see that the reason for banning smoking is for the health of people around them. When you're smoking you ARE damaging people's health.
Dan Baxter: The ban is a ban on working areas. The ban will be for my health and the rest of the bar team's health. We've had a survey in the bar. Only 23 people replied. 12 said ban it, 11 said don't.
In Scotland the ban's been in place for a long time. People aren't complaining any more. Clubs and bars are fine.
James Evans: If the bar team want the ban then I'd go with that; it's about their health.
Dan Baxter: I'll ask all the bar team. There's the question of the trial period. A week is a good period to see how that goes.
End of JJCR Meeting
JHJCR Meeting
Elections
23NB House Rep.
Candidates:
- Vanessa Wilkinson
- Proposed: Jane Disney
Husting
There was no call to hust
Result
The Candidate was elected on a General Aye
28NB House Rep
Candidates:
- Harry Broadbent
- Proposed: Emma Matthews
- Seconded: Richard Morton
Husting
There was no call to hust
Result
The Candidate was elected on a General Aye.
Asst. Services
Candidates:
- Enoch Cheng
- Proposed: Robert Feakes
- Seconded: Martin Clarke
Husting
Enoch Cheng: Good evening. It is my great honour to stand for this., I believe I can contribute new and successful ideas to the JCR. The services are very important to St. John's College life. The mechanism of providing services is of high importance. I want to serve and try and make a difference to the students. In terms of experience, I ran the yearbook, art competition, and bonfire night of my old school. If i am chosen as assistant services manager I want to create a better relationship between our JCR shop and the Just World Shop as everyone needs good neighbours.
Thanks very much,
Dan Baxter: Participation's quite a tricky thing to tap into., How do you propose to get people to volunteer for shop shifts.
Enoch: Most people don't realise they could do a shift. More awareness is important.
Jeanna: How would you make the shop more accessible and how would you cooperate with the JWS?
Enoch: I would like the JWS products to be more available at the JCR shop when the JWS is closed. We can work out a mechanism.
Richard: If you could get one new product into the shop, what would it be?
Enoch: It's difficult. I'd like to have information packs of the Durham Students' Union!!!
APPLAUSE
Result
Ron: 0
Abstentions: 1
Candidate: overwhelming
Enoch returned, bowing.
Library Rep
Jeanna: Stand for it, it's really good. If you use the library and you aren't happy, you can change it. Put it on your CV
Candidates:
- Alison Dancer
Husting
There was no call to hust
Result
The candidate was elected on a General Aye.
Intl Students' Rep.
Richard Kelly: This was Sophie Loewendahl last year.
Felix: This involves some things like the phone lines the JCR has for international students to call from.
Richard: You'd be a contact for international students.
Procedural motion to allow a joint candidature
Proposed: Jeanna Shalkowski
Seconded: Felix Schubert
Accepted on a General Aye
Candidates:
- Christine Gaston and Claudia Stacey-Ralda
Husting
There was no call to hust
Result
The joint candidates were accepted on a General Aye.
Interviewee and Open Day Rep Coordinator
Candidates:
- Vanessa Wilkinson:
- Proposed: Sarah Trotter
- Seconded: Jane Disney
Husting
Jane Disney, seconding, on behalf of Vanessa.
While it will not affect us it will affect those who follow us. I wish to continue the friendly reputation of St. John's., I am approachable and friendly and sensible to welcome students. I am dedicated and an arts student. I have good organisational and coordination skills. I was a senior prefect and youth leader and I have a qualification in team leading. I would come up with individual ideas. Vote for me so that we can show that Durham, but more especially Johns, is a good place to study and party.
Ben Salter: Is she prepared for the open days?
Jane: Yes.
Result
Ron: 1
Abstentions: 2
Candidate: Overwhelming.
Interviewee and Open Day reps.
Sophie Godfree: Anyone may stand.
Ben Salter: Yeah., me and Becca were doing this. I was a coordinator. So you know what it involves, it's hard work and you have to be very very prepared for the open days and you have to come back early and stay late at the ends of terms. Every week between now and the middle of February you will get between 1 and 6 interviewees and you will have to show them around John's. Lucy Knight used to come back from Hockey caked in mud and find interviewees in reception and have to spend all evening with them. That said, it's one of the most fun things you can do.
Megan Taylor: Being an interviewee and open day rep does NOT help you get freshers' rep posts.
Candidates:
- Daniel Martin-Thomas
- Proposed: Ben Salter
- Seconded: Charlotte
- Ben Jarvis
- Proposed: Matt Crompton
- Seconded: John
- James Rainer
- Proposed: Helen Loxley
- Seconded: Stephanie Hannah
- Laura Heathcote
- Proposed: Tom Briggs
- Seconded: Megan Taylor
- Luke Wells
- Proposed: Enoch Cheng
- Seconded: James
- Joanna Crawford
- Proposed: Christine Gaston
- Seconded: Jane Disney
Husting
Daniel Martin-Thomas:
Well, I thoroughly enjoy John's and would advertise it very well. I have an attention to detail which attracts people and I wouldn't like people to miss out on things that are good about college. I would enjoy meeting people and also I think I'd be good at calming people when they're nervous.
Ben Jarvis:
I've done this before in Sixth Form. I want people to be begging to come to Johns. I'm good at spin.
James Rainer:
I had a good time last time. It's a good opportunity to show them what college is about.
Laura Heathcote:
Well basically I love Johns and I feel like I've come out of my shell here. I've got a sense of humour and I'm very approachable when I want to be. I'd love it and I'm very good one to one as well. When I showed people round 6th form I made them laugh.
Luke Wells:
I did it at my sixth form. I remember coming out of an AS exam and the first thing I had to do was show people around. I'd find it very rewarding and an opportunity to give something back to John's
Joanna Crawford:
I came to an open day and I had a really good experience.
Sophie Godfree: There must be enough boys and girls.
Ben Salter proposed a Secret Ballot.
Seconded: Will Holloway.
The proposal to move to a Secret Ballot was accepted on a General Aye.
Megan Taylor asked that the result go out in This Week.
Year Abroad Rep:
Candidates:
- Christine Gaston
- Proposed: Claudia Stacey-Ralda
- Seconded: Megan Taylor
Husting
There was no call to hust
Result
The candidate was elected on a General Aye.
AOB for JJCR
Dan Baxter: On Wednesday from 5pm the bar will be open to sell wine for formal.
Stuart Morris: Shouldn't we have had an assistant environment rep election?
Sophie Godfree: Yes
Stuart Morris: There's a new program going on this year so there's so much more going on about the environment this year. If you're interested then do go for it.
End of JHJCR Meeting at 22:10