SU Council Motions, Mon 13th November 2006

singingstranger

To keep up the newfound tradition, here's the second of the threads...

The next meeting of UCDSU Council will take place next Monday, November the 13rd, in Theatre O of the Arts Block (that's the one closest to the front wall when you go in the Restaurant entrance) at 6:15pm. As per usual attendance is open to all and anyone is welcome to seek speaking rights to speak on a motion. Personally - and I'd imagine this is something Dave and the other relevant Sabbats would like too - I'd recommend that if you haven't already, to pop along to ucdsu.net/classreps and find out who your Councillor is, and tell them how you'd like them to vote. Remember their job is to represent you and your views so make sure you have them know your opinion as one of their constituents.

Anyway, the following motions are on notice for the meeting...

Motion on creating a positive body image in Union publications wrote:

Council notes the steady increase in body image disorders in Irish society today.

Council notes with concern that eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are steadily increasing in both males and females in the 18-25 age group.

Council is aware that many of these problems stem from unrealistic role models used in advertising and in the media. Council acknowledges that these images generate a stereotypical conception of what men and women should look like.

Council notes that in recent weeks the union has used images that may generate a poor body image in both male and female students. Council realises that many alternative images can be used by the union.

Council therefore mandates that in all union publications the showings of male and female bodies are not to be used except in the promotion of health awareness. In such instances where images of unclothed males and females are used, Council further mandates that they are of a realistic nature and non stereotypical.

Proposed by: Elisa O'Donovan, 3rd medicine UCDSU representitive
Seconded by: Chris Bond, Arts and human sciences programme officer

Motion Regarding Charitable Donation of Computer Software wrote:

Council mandates the Student Union to run a campaign this year to ask
UCD students to donate their old Play Station 2 and PC games to be sent
to Adama, Ethiopia to help aid the Tony Blair Project which mostly works
with homeless street girls in the town.

Council notes the Tony Blair Project has donated over 30 Modern PC's to
Adama but unfortunately their software selection is very limited. During
UCD Volunteers/ Camara joint trip to ethiopia this year, they were asked
if they could donate a wide range of computer software particular
computer games.

Council further notes that the computer games will be collect by the
Student Union and then given to the Camara charity to be sent to Ethiopia.

Proposer: Abey Campbell, Ph.D. Science
Seconder: Conor Fleming, 3rd Science

Motion regarding strict monitoring of the tutorial system within the teaching and learning framework wrote:

Council notes learner-focused tutorial teaching is one of the essential tools in the teaching and learning apparatus of the university.

Council also notes that student lecturing is, without doubt, effective for transmitting information to students, but if we wish to advance thinking skills, analytical abilities and lifelong learning credentials, a more student-centered approach is necessary.

Council further notes that such learning which takes place at tutorials, juxtaposed to lecture learning, is key to allowing students, especially from larger class groupings, to address their area of study by facilitating and guiding learning from their peers, in a smaller group setting.

Council recognises the realisation that this type of learning environment depends to a large extent on the skill of the tutor to direct and assist the group, the tutor’s role being as subject-matter expert, resource guide, and facilitator of the group.

Council notes with concern there is a major discrepancy within the tutorial system in the university at present concerning the level of excellence achieved at some levels by particular tutors against those tutors who are failing to meet the benchmark standard which should be evident at all levels.

Council affirms the need to address the anomalies existing between these standards of tutorial teaching across the University.

Council believes there should be a degree of accountability on the tutor to be answerable to the necessary Programme Office during the academic year, with a greater degree of scrutiny to be paid to the work, preparatory and otherwise, undertaken by the tutor to facilitate the learning of the group to cultivate and develop in students the processes of thinking, learning how to learn, problem solving and team-working.

UCDSU mandates the President and Education Vice President to highlight student concern regarding this issue at any meeting with college authorities.
Furthermore, UCDSU also mandates all Programme Officers to highlight this issue at their next Programme board meeting to promote collaborative learning between the students and the tutors immediately at course level.

Proposed by: Ciara Brennan, Final Law Class Rep 06-07
Seconded by:Aileen Gittens, 2nd Law Class Rep 06-07

Motion to ban Bebo from all Library computers wrote:

Council notes that due to the implementation of modularisation and semesterisation students’ workloads have been greatly increased.

Council also notes the lack of computers available for use by the student body.

Council is concerned about the amount of time spent by students on non-academic sites, such as Bebo, while others are forced to queue in order to do course related work.

Council therefore mandates the Student Union President to contact the Registrar and to discuss the introduction of a ban of Bebo sites from all library computers.

Proposed by: Linda Phelan, 3rd Science Class Rep
Seconded by: Jane Tiernan, Science Program Officer

As per, anyone wishing to comment on these motions in this thread should, if they haven't already, declare any Union interests or affiliations in the relevant thread. This thread is reserved for discussion on the motions on notice.

Cheers
Gav

hullaballoo

The first motion is ridiculous.

Blowfish

This may seem like a stupid question, but what use is PC software and games to homeless street girls? Surely donating money would be more effective?

[edit] And in regard to the PC software, Syth was involved in something similar last year, which brought Linux pc's to africa.

Chakar

hullaballoo wrote:

The first motion is ridiculous.

I agree its a incarnation of a motion which was defeated at the last Council.

panda100

hullaballoo wrote:

The first motion is ridiculous.

please elaborate on why you think its ridiculous hullabaloo........

panda100

Chakar wrote:

I agree its a incarnation of a motion which was defeated at the last Council.

Also this is not true.The last motion focussed on breast cancer and sexism.I am not suuggesting that images used by the union are sexist or anything like that.Just that for too long, beauty has been defined by narrow, stifling stereotypes. Stereotypes that are continuously used by the union in advertising...dall,dark,muscualar handsmone guys and blonde girls who look fantastic in bikinis with not an inch of fat on them. Real beauty comes in many shapes and sizes and the union should acknowledge this.

I relaise that people may think this motion petty but If we,the union can do anything to help people feel more positive about themsleves then I think its our duty to do it.While the outside world doesnt at least UCD can aim
to change the status quo of what the perfect man and women look like and offer in its place a broader, healthier, more democratic view of beauty. .

hullaballoo

You know why I think it's ridiculous, panda. We've had this argument plenty of times in this forum already.

There's nothing wrong with using sex to sell an event. It's not like it's porn, or degrading at all. It's just the type of thing you'd see if you were on a beach, or in a hot country, or even around UCD on a sunny day.

There's no valid reason to disallow this sort of thing. It happens everywhere in our staunch catholic Ireland, in our staunch, Western world.

Garret

if they were to ban bebo and other such sites from library computers, would that effect people who were using the wifi for their laptops



once you open the gates to ban sites it wont stop

and when you ban sites you can inadvertantly ban other sites

LIT banned their own site earlier this year

panda100

hullaballoo wrote:

There's nothing wrong with using sex to sell an event. It's not like it's porn, or degrading at all. It's just the type of thing you'd see if you were on a beach, or in a hot country, or even around UCD on a sunny day.

.

Once again this is not a motion about using sex to sell things. Its a motion about promoting a healthy body image among students.

A lot of poeple dont go to beaches or take their clothes of in hot countries cos they are so ashamed of their bodies.I know at least two of my friends who would rather wear a sweater on the beach then be seen in their bikini. For us who dont have a problem showing off our bodies,then we are the lucky ones.
Just some fact that were published by the eating disorders association of Ireland this year in conjunction with the HSE last year:

• About 20% of early cases of eating disorders become chronic and about 6% will die of their illness
• Eating disorders have become more common in adolescents during the past 20 years. Anorexia nervosa among young females increased until the late 1980s, while bulimia is still increasing.

Binge Eating Disorder has been estimated at 4% of the general population

The World Health Organisation stresses that eating disorders must be seen as disorders with lifelong consequences , citing a study of college students that found that 21.6% of females with eating disorders still met the clinical criteria 10 years later


Body image disturbance is more complex than just a fear of being overweight or a drive for thinness. There is overwhelmingly evidence , , , that body image is intrinsically linked with self-esteem. The factors that affect and shape it include the beliefs and behaviors within individuals, families, peer groups and the media. Our society’s emphasis on how we look also seems to affect the way people feel about themselves , , .

If the union can do a small bit to help raise students self esteem then they should help. By not showing gorgeous men and women with perfect bodys in advertising events or in publications,It may just help encourage those to become more confident with their bodies.

hullaballoo wrote:

There's no valid reason to disallow this sort of thing.

Not even the fact that 6% of those who develop body disorders will die of their illnesses and the age group aneroxia and bullimia most effect is the college going age group?? But perhaps your right aand what is a couple of deaths and chronic illnesses for the sake of me seeing a yummy guy in his swimming trunks advertising me a union event..........

Vainglory

Does anyone agree that supporting a ban of Bebo from college computers would alienate more students than giving support to an environmental campaign would?

dajaffa

Well here's my brief short opinion type thing:

1: Fundamentally the same as the last one (different motivation, but essentially asking for the thing as the one from last council), I don't think the differences between it + it's predecessor will make much of a differnce + I'd be suprised to see it passed. Phrases like "they are of a realistic nature and non stereotypical", I think this could potentially be open to interpretation. For instance should we not use pictures of caucasian people as they are stereotypical. I don't see the point of this line if the pictures are only to be used for health promotion tbh.

2: Should go through no problem. Abey is involved in UCD Volunteers overseas + I'm sure will illustrate why the software is of use etc

3: Not something that affects me (just pointing out my lack of experience) but those I've spoken to who have tutorials tell me that it's a good motion to ensure standards are met etc

4: Unrealistic. As the computers in question are owned by computer services, imo, bebo is either going to be banned across campus or it isn't. It was decided last year that it wouldn't, and though this could change, I don't think it will. If bebo was banned people would just start using myspace or something else instead.

Anyway I'll be asking my class what they think to determine my vote, that's just my personal reaction.

hullaballoo

Come on panda, that's like tackling crime by bolting everything valuable to the floor. If there's an issue with students' self-esteem and eating disorders, then the issue needs to be tackled at its root - programmes to deal with depression/self-esteem and other psychiatric problems that lead to those sorts of problems.

You can't hide people from imagery just because you think it aggrevates an illness they have. There's no way that's an answer. You don't go around killing children just so paedophiles don't do anything wrong.

panda100

hullaballoo wrote:

Come on panda, that's like tackling crime by bolting everything valuable to the floor. If there's an issue with students' self-esteem and eating disorders, then the issue needs to be tackled at its root - programmes to deal with depression/self-esteem and other psychiatric problems that lead to those sorts of problems.

You can't hide people from imagery just because you think it aggrevates an illness they have. There's no way that's an answer. You don't go around killing children just so paedophiles don't do anything wrong.

But there is an answer to this problem and we can help students in these situations and At the end of the day that is the unions job,to help students. Also this motion is tackling the root of the problem.The HSE and eating disorder association of Ireland did extensive research before they released their report on body image disorder last year and their research was conclusive:
There is overwhelmingly evidence that body image is intrinsically linked with self-esteem. The factors that affect and shape it include the beliefs and behaviors within individuals, families, peer groups and the media. Our society’s emphasis on how we look also seems to affect the way people feel about themselves
While obviously the union can do nothing about beliefs your family and friends inflict on you,we can help change the beliefs of peer groups while in collge and college society as awhole. I am under no illusion that this motion will solve the epidemics that are aneroxia and Bullimia in our age group but If we can help it by doing little then I think its our duty too.

dajaffa wrote:

For instance should we not use pictures of caucasian people as they are stereotypical.

I would ask the union and those in charge of union publication to use their initiative on little indescrepincies like this.
I left the motion open ended and opened for interpRETATION for a reason. I didnt want to say the union 'must show this' and 'mustnt show this'.I most certainly dont want the union to become a nanny state shielding us from sexual imagery used in the outside world. If passed hopefully this motion will just act as a guideline for what to include in union publications and to realise that the majority of the student body do not all look the same (I.e fit,tanned,toned,gorgeous etc etc) and the union by using differnt looking people will make a lot of people feel better about the way the look.:)

panda100

Vainglory wrote:

Does anyone agree that supporting a ban of Bebo from college computers would alienate more students than giving support to an environmental campaign would?

Good point. I think I would support the Rossport campaign over banning bebo......

Blowfish

panda100 wrote:

and to realise that the majority of the student body do not all look the same (I.e fit,tanned,toned,gorgeous etc etc) and the union by using differnt looking people will make a lot of people feel better about the way the look.:)

In fairness, if they think that, they must be walking around with blinkers on.

Sangre

Council affirms the need to wrap the SU body in cotton wool.

Council notes that in the increasingly environmentally conscious world that this wool should be bio-degradable.

Council further notes that this should be non-Coca Cola brand wool

The_Minister

Vainglory wrote:

Does anyone agree that supporting a ban of Bebo from college computers would alienate more students than giving support to an environmental campaign would?

Rossport is not an enviornmental campaign, it is a political one.

elmyra

1. Go 'way ourra that! Exactly, as Hullaface said, address the real problem. I personally don't look twice at the 'type' of people on posters and in publications, I just see people. But jeez, next time I run off to puke up my lunch cos the girl in the fresher's guide is thinner than me, I'll let you know.

2. Meh...if I hear a good reason for it then why not. Giving stuff to the lesser well off is good.

3. Hmmm...I'm conflicted on this. On the one hand, I've been relatively lucky in that I've only ever had one bad tutor...on the other hand, I don't think a tutor makes or breaks you. While I would like to see a general high standard across the board, I can see a lot of students being petty and saying 'oh well I didn't hand in my essay cos my tutor cut off my hand because I didn't know what the Diet of Worms was...'. A lot of students will use a scapegoat if there's one to be had. It would have to be a very clear process whereby the feelings of one student wouldn't dictate the ability and fitness to teach of one tutor. Also, you don't just get to be a tutor because you passed your degree. There is a selection process, as far as I'm aware, and people probably do care about doing a good job if they step forward for it. After all, they're involved in further study, so they probably want their department to like them, so they're probably not gonna walk in hungover and accidentally puke on you when they're handing around the attendance sheet. We're all S&M now people....get your ass on SIS and swappy swappy tutorials...

4. I think the only in the library idea is good. The fact is that if you're in the library then you shouldn't need recreational sites. A blanket ban across campus would be stupid. There are people from the country ( like me, awww ) who have their only access to pc's all week in college. Banning bebo is one thing, but it could then extend to blocking other stuff. That's not fair on people who don't have any other internet access while in Dublin. In summary- yes, ban bebo in the library but leave other pc's alone. I wouldn't mind if the library ban extended to laptops either, I'm as guilty as anyone else of mass procrastination.

Vainglory

The_Minister wrote:

Rossport is not an enviornmental campaign, it is a political one.

It is both, but that isn't really what the thread is about.

Some information on the environmental nature of the campaign though, FYI.

http://ireland.indymedia.org/article/77807

singingstranger

FYI - there are two amendments to the Standing Orders of UCDSU Council on notice aswell; under Article 8.8(i) of the Constitution they're required to be on notice for three weeks so they won't be dealt with at the Council next Monday, but rather at the following meeting on Nov 27th.

Motion to amend Standing Orders for the provision of a time limit for Motions passed By SU Council wrote:

That this Council amends the Standing Orders to insert a paragraph 7. of Order III that shall read as follows:

'Motions passed by Council shall be Policy for a period of no more than 3 years'

Proposed by Colm Byrne, Health Science Programme Officer
Seconded by Dave Curran, Deputy President

Motion to amend the procedure for proposing Procedural Motion IX (a) wrote:

That this Council amends the Standing Orders to insert the following paragraph into Order X:

Order IX (a) may only be proposed after an opposition speaker has spoken.

Proposed by Colm Byrne, Health Science Programme Officer
Seconded by Dave Curran, Deputy President

humbert

I think the green eyed monster is at work. The eye candy on the posters look perfectly healthy to me, they probably eat very healthy food and go to the gym often. If some girl thinks that by starving herself she'll look like that that's a whole different problem.

I'd love to see the council deciding on the girls to put into the posters if that was passed, "nope, too pretty, nope, nope, ah I'm prettier than her, she'll do!"

panda100

elmyra wrote:

1. Go 'way ourra that! Exactly, as Hullaface said, address the real problem. I personally don't look twice at the 'type' of people on posters and in publications, I just see people. But jeez, next time I run off to puke up my lunch cos the girl in the fresher's guide is thinner than me, I'll let you know.
.

As I said to Hulla before this really is adressing the real problem. The HSE and eating disorder of Ireland did extensive reaearch on this matter and there conclusion was that images of 'perfect' women and men we see everyday in the media and society etc are the main reason to blame for eating disorders. So by passing this motion the union is doing one thing to help tackle the increase of body issue problems on campus. If we can help these people a little dont you think we should? It will only benefit people in the long run,no one is going to be inconvenieced if this motion is passed,

elmyra wrote:

I personally don't look twice at the 'type' of people on posters and in publications, I just see people. But jeez, next time I run off to puke up my lunch cos the girl in the fresher's guide is thinner than me, I'll let you know. .

Elmyra as I said to Hullabaloo of course not all people are affected by this. Your lucky that you were brought up to know that looks arent important and not to compare yourself to the thin,beautiful goddesees seen on many poster around UCD. This is to help the people who really do look twice at the posters and publications and feel crap cos they can never achieve that figure.

I hope that may change your mind a bit on this motion.

panda100

humbert wrote:

I think the green eyed monster is at work.

Give me some credit humbert:D

humbert wrote:

The eye candy on the posters look perfectly healthy to me, they probably eat very healthy food and go to the gym often. If some girl thinks that by starving herself she'll look like that that's a whole different problem.

I go to the gym often and eat healthily but my thighs still move when I walk and I dont have a six pack stomach.I have a little overhang like most people but its healthy to have this.Most girls on campus dont have a washboard stomach yet this is what we regulalry see on posters. Is there something wrong with not having a washboards stomach??Of course not!But being bombarded with these images on a regular basis would make you think so. Also,most guys I know are healthy but none have muscles and are as tanned as toned as they guys I regularly see on on posters around campus.

humbert wrote:

I'd love to see the council deciding on the girls to put into the posters if that was passed, "nope, too pretty, nope, nope, ah I'm prettier than her, she'll do!"

Not at all.Through this motion council will just use images of all types of people and all types of people are pretty. Everyone is beautiful and there is no such thing as a perfect man or women as many images around UCD would have us to believe.

singingstranger

There's an amendment that's been put on notice for the third motion (regarding tutors) which has been accepted by the proposer; the motion will now be presented that way at Council.

Delete: Furthermore, UCDSU also mandates all Programme Officers to highlight this issue at their next Programme board meeting to promote collaborative learning between the students and the tutors immediately at course level.

Replace With: Furthermore, Council mandates the President and Education Vice President to highlight the issue with at all relevant decision making bodies and to encourage all student representatives on College programme boards to raise the issue of promoting collaborative learning between the students and the tutors at course level.

The reasoning for this is that technically PROs can't be mandated (yet) by Council.

The motion then, in its entirety, will look like this:

Motion regarding strict monitoring of the tutorial system within the teaching and learning framework wrote:

Council notes learner-focused tutorial teaching is one of the essential tools in the teaching and learning apparatus of the university.

Council also notes that student lecturing is, without doubt, effective for transmitting information to students, but if we wish to advance thinking skills, analytical abilities and lifelong learning credentials, a more student-centered approach is necessary.

Council further notes that such learning which takes place at tutorials, juxtaposed to lecture learning, is key to allowing students, especially from larger class groupings, to address their area of study by facilitating and guiding learning from their peers, in a smaller group setting.

Council recognises the realisation that this type of learning environment depends to a large extent on the skill of the tutor to direct and assist the group, the tutor’s role being as subject-matter expert, resource guide, and facilitator of the group.

Council notes with concern there is a major discrepancy within the tutorial system in the university at present concerning the level of excellence achieved at some levels by particular tutors against those tutors who are failing to meet the benchmark standard which should be evident at all levels.

Council affirms the need to address the anomalies existing between these standards of tutorial teaching across the University.

Council believes there should be a degree of accountability on the tutor to be answerable to the necessary Programme Office during the academic year, with a greater degree of scrutiny to be paid to the work, preparatory and otherwise, undertaken by the tutor to facilitate the learning of the group to cultivate and develop in students the processes of thinking, learning how to learn, problem solving and team-working.

Furthermore, Council mandates the President and Education Vice President to highlight the issue with at all relevant decision making bodies and to encourage all student representatives on College programme boards to raise the issue of promoting collaborative learning between the students and the tutors at course level.

Proposed by: Ciara Brennan, Final Law Class Rep 06-07
Seconded by:Aileen Gittens, 2nd Law Class Rep 06-07

cast_iron

Motion 1: Farcical
(Get over it - it was defeated at the last Council)

Motion 2: Farcical
(I agree with the principle - but playstation games wouldn't be any use to me or the homeless in Dublin, not to mind the poor people in Africa. I'm not sure, but there may well be compatibility issues anyway. But i'm sure whoever drew up this motion has researched all this:rolleyes: Elisa?? Chris??)

Motion 3: I'm ignorant of tutorials - no opinion.

Motion 4: Farcical
(One site in one building?? Yeah right. Then Daedalus, then Science, then.... Then MySpace, then boards.ie:eek: .....)

Motion 5: Farcical
(Would it not be better to propose a new motion to rescind a old motion rather than it expiring after 3 years? It would only add to the workload to have to re-visit it it every 3 years.)

Motion 6: I'm not sure i quite understand it.


So, 4 out of 6 stupid motions (and possibly 6 out of 6).
Glad to see the Council is doing something meaningful with it's time.

Vainglory

cast_iron, could you give us the text of the motions you have proposed to Council, or asked your rep to propose for you?

elmyra

panda100 wrote:

As I said to Hulla before this really is adressing the real problem. The HSE and eating disorder of Ireland did extensive reaearch on this matter and there conclusion was that images of 'perfect' women and men we see everyday in the media and society etc are the main reason to blame for eating disorders. So by passing this motion the union is doing one thing to help tackle the increase of body issue problems on campus. If we can help these people a little dont you think we should? It will only benefit people in the long run,no one is going to be inconvenieced if this motion is passed,



Elmyra as I said to Hullabaloo of course not all people are affected by this. Your lucky that you were brought up to know that looks arent important and not to compare yourself to the thin,beautiful goddesees seen on many poster around UCD. This is to help the people who really do look twice at the posters and publications and feel crap cos they can never achieve that figure.

I hope that may change your mind a bit on this motion.

At last year's Galway IV there was a motion for round five that went something like 'This House Would Ban Models Who Appear Too Thin From The Media' or something like that. There's a lurker around who could probably correct me on it and say what I'm about to better, since it was his point but here's the thing, anyway...

There has also been research done to say that illnesses like anorexia and bulimia in fact always occur at a steady rate among the populus. The affected percentage of people never increases or decreases. The same percentage of people suffer now as did in the sixties, seventies, eighties.... yet all the while this culture of thin models and increased use of advertising and media has, well, increased! Therefore there is no correlation between media and illness, there are simply always going to be that demographic of people who will be affected because they are predisposed for whatever reason to be so.

I know debaters tend to lie to win, but I also know the guys who argued this and know it to be true...

So, like I said, go address the illness.

cast_iron

panda100 wrote:

Most girls on campus dont have a washboard stomach yet this is what we regulalry see on posters. Is there something wrong with not having a washboards stomach??Of course not!But being bombarded with these images on a regular basis would make you think so. Also,most guys I know are healthy but none have muscles and are as tanned as toned as they guys I regularly see on on posters around campus.

I think your logic is a bit confused.

If people are so easily influenced by what they see, shouldn't they be more influenced by "most people" - ie. the non-perfect people, seeing as there are far more of these people in every day life than glossy posters?

The simple fact of the matter is - sex sells.
Somehow, I dont think I - and I think most people - would go to an event that had fat, ugly people people on the poster advertising it. And that really is the long and short of advertising these type of events.

elmyra

Vainglory wrote:

cast_iron, could you give us the text of the motions you have proposed to Council, or asked your rep to propose for you?

Zing.

Vainglory

What does "Zing" mean?

/dumb

humbert

It means she thought you riposte was clever.

for the record I've never proposed a motion or asked what ever rep is mine to propose anything but I can still spot a stupid motion when I see one.