BREAKING NEWS: USU Releases Statement on COVID-19

The University of Sydney Union (USU) has released a statement about its response to COVID-19 and how it may impact the student experience.

In the statement from USU President, Connor Wherrett and USU CEO Alexis Roitman, the USU voices that its “highest concern at this time is the wellbeing of the entire University community.” As such, the USU has put “enhanced hygiene measures” in place. The USU also voiced its devastation at not yet being able to welcome those affected by the travel ban to the new academic year. 

The USU, which is responsible for on-campus events like Welcome Week, Pride Week, and Pop Fest, stated that “the potential spread of COVID-19 will significantly impact the USU’s normal operations” and that as a result it will “scale down our face to face campus operations as far as possible, while endeavouring to deliver as many of our services online as is feasible in the short term.”

The USU also acknowledged that the loss of revenue from University SSAF funding “will have a significant negative impact on the USU’s finances this year.” The subsequent impacts of this will be addressed in the AGM in May.

In relation to casual staff, the USU plans to mirror the University’s approach whereby if a staff member contracts COVID-19 or is required to self-isolate or must care for someone who is self-isolating, they will be provided with paid leave. Working from home arrangements will be trialled from tomorrow. 

The USU board elections, which must happen in May each year, will be transitioned to an online voting system. More details will be available regarding this plan in the coming days. 

You can read the statement in its entirety below and check the USU’s social media and website for the latest information.

More updates to come.

 ___________________________________________________________________________

Statement from the USU in response to COVID-19

SYDNEY, March 16, 2020: The University of Sydney Union (USU) wishes to brief its members, stakeholders and the entire student community at the University of Sydney about our response to COVID-19 and how it may impact the student experience.

Our highest concern at this time is the wellbeing of the entire University community. That includes our members, staff and all students, including those who are yet to arrive on campus due to the travel ban. Our heart goes out to you and we are devastated that we haven’t yet been able to welcome you to this new academic year.

Regardless of whether and when the University authorises any shutdown, it is clear that the potential spread of COVID-19 will significantly impact the USU’s normal operations.

The Board and senior management of the USU have together worked through responses that balance necessary precaution with our role in providing diverse services to students and staff on campus. At every stage we have remained in close contact with the University.

The USU relies on the revenue from our business operations, as well as on SSAF funding from the University. The loss of this revenue will have a significant negative impact on the USU’s finances this year. We will provide guidance to members on the extent of this impact at our AGM in May.

Our approach to the uncertainty we all face in the coming months is to scale down our face to face campus operations as far as possible, while endeavouring to deliver as many of our services online as is feasible in the short term. In all our efforts we are following the advice of the State and Federal governments, as well as NSW Health.

USU Campus Operations

In relation to our operations on campus, the USU has put in place enhanced hygiene measures to safeguard our community. The USU is taking a number of other urgent and necessary measures in response to COVID-19, as indicated in the Annexure to this release. We will be updating these arrangements as necessary during this evolving situation and we request that our members and stakeholders check our social media and our website for the latest information. 

USU Staff

The Union will be trialling working from home arrangements tomorrow, 17 March, with as many staff members as possible. We ask for your patience as we transition into these different working arrangements. It is likely this will be the dominant mode of work for USU staff from Monday 23 March onwards.

The USU is currently working through the complex matter of staffing arrangements during this time. However, we can confirm that in relation to USU casual staff, the USU will mirror the University’s approach: if a USU casual staff member is required to self-isolate, becomes ill with COVID-19, or has to care for someone who is required to self-isolate or becomes ill with COVID-19, they will have access to special paid leave for any rostered hours that they miss in a 10 working day period. Should the campus be shutdown, such leave will also then be available to all casual staff who have not already accessed it.

USU Board Elections

The USU Constitution stipulates that the USU Board Elections must take place in May each year. As such, the USU is reluctantly planning to implement an online voting system for the 2020 Elections. We will provide specific election updates in the coming days.

As a student-led organisation with over 145 years of continued operations, we have faced many challenges in the past. In this extraordinary situation we will continue to support our members and communities through online communications and activities.

The USU will utilise the next few months as an opportunity to rebuild, refocus and reimagine what we provide to the student community. These next few months will be challenging for us all: we send our support to all those affected by COVID-19 and ask that each of you takes the precautions you need to stay safe and healthy.

Thank you for your support and loyalty. If you have any questions, please contact info@usu.edu.au and we will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.

ENDS

ANNEXURE

AS AT 16 MARCH 2020

USU STUDENT PROGRAMS

Student Info Hubs

Both ISL Student Info Hub at Wentworth and Manning House Student Info Hub will close from Tuesday 17 March.

Student Spaces

Queer, Ethno-cultural, Wom*n’s Rooms will all remain open.

ISL Lounge will close from 17 March.

Clubs & Societies

We are asking that Club events on campus be cancelled following the email from the Vice-Chancellor last Friday. The USU is communicating with Club Execs to discourage gatherings.

Debating

The Easters, Australs and their trials have been cancelled.

Revues

All 2020 revues have been cancelled.

Palladian Cup

The 2020 Palladian Cup has been cancelled.

Campaigns

The SSAF-funded Know Your Rights & Racism Sux campaigns are postponed until further notice.

USU OPERATIONS

USU EATS

Additional hygiene measures in place for kitchen and serving staff.

Arrangements for social distancing at USU Outlets are being implemented.

The following USU Outlets will close from Monday 23 March:

Engo Grill

Mallett St Café

Deck Café (Architecture)

The following USU Outlets will remain open for trading:

Courtyard Restaurant & Bar

Footbridge Station

Manning MilkBar

Fisher Kiosk (now closed weekends)

Carslaw Kitchen

Laneway

Snack Express

Abercrombie Terrace

We also confirm that both foodcourts in Manning House and Wentworth Building will remain open for trading as usual.

USU RETAIL

USYD Store @ JFR remains open.

USYD Store @ Holme will close from 23 March.

Online trading continues (www.usu.edu.au/usyd-store)

USU BARS

From Monday 23 March Hermann’s Bar and Manning Bar will close for day trade and gigs. We are working with partners to assess our current schedule of events and will be in contact with ticketholders.

VERGE GALLERY

The USU’s Verge Gallery in the JFR Plaza will remain open.

INCUBATE

The Incubate Hub is operating remotely (www.incubate.org.au)


FOR FURTHER UPDATES SEE USU SOCIAL MEDIA AND WWW.USU.EDU.AU