USU Board meeting: Catholic Society under investigation
Fabian Robertson reports.
The Board met to sip on bottled Santa Vittoria, chew on individually packaged mentos, and fulfil their monthly directorship duties.
Investigating the Catholic Society
Pulp asked President Irene Ma how the USU is responding to the Catholic Society’s ableist stunt on Monday on Eastern Avenue.
“We are in the process of investigating this serious matter,” said Ma.
USU staff were alerted to the Catholic Society’s stall on Monday afternoon. USU staff approached the stall on Eastern Avenue and successfully requested the removal of their ableist sign.
Ma revealed the stall was not registered with the USU and therefore had not been approved. When questioned by USU staff as to the validity of their presence on Eastern Avenue, an individual at the stall claimed the event was not a Catholic Society event at all, but in fact organised and booked through USyd Chaplaincy. The stall, however, was decked out with Catholic Society signage and advertised on their official Facebook page. Thus, by using USU-affiliated signage and social media while not registering the event with the USU, the Catholic Society were operating in direct contravention of guidelines outlined in the Clubs and Societies Handbook.
The USU has written to the Catholic society requesting an internal investigation to uncover why club signage and social media was used in promotion of the event.
Ma indicated that the Board would deliberate today to decide their response to the Catholic Society’s actions, the details of which will be released in an official statement in due course.
Consent Week scheduled for Semester 2
Pulp followed up on the Board’s promise to deliver Consent Week.
According to Ma, the Board met with the SRC’s Women’s Collective and decided to schedule Consent Week for Week 2 of Semester 2. Ma explained that the USU is holding Wellbeing Week in Week 10 of Semester 2 - a week which will also involve consent and sex education. Ma indicated that further meetings with the Women’s Collective would be necessary to decide the USU’s involvement in the event.
A successful return to Manning
CEO Andrew Mills noted the success of the Manning Party, which saw 450 students in attendance and ran at an “immaterial loss” of only $700 despite free entry, free entertainment and subsidised drinks. Mills said the USU would likely run four to six similar events in collaboration with Societies and Colleges as part of a broader effort to “bring life to Manning”.
Financials exceed expectations and staff return to full capacity
USU outlets performed better than expected in the first quarter - at two to three times the budgeted income. The USU earnt $182,000 and operated at a loss of $25,000, which was less than the forecasted loss of $30,000. The USU’s net operating budget for 2021 has increased by $54,000 to $362,000.
The USU also marked a return to 100% staff capacity as of March 29th.
Semester 2 Welcome Day to be expanded
Mills indicated that Semester 2 Welcome Day would be expanded to two or three days to attract more sponsorships and give societies more time to recruit members.
The Board also noted the success of Enviro Week and the return of Revues, with Ma indicating her excitement to attend Queer Revue tonight.
The board then went in camera to discuss tenancy and Pulp was kicked out of the room.
Board Members
President: Irene Ma
Vice President: Nick Forbutt
Honorary Treasurer: Cady Brown
Honorary Secretary: Benny Shen
Board Directors: Benjamin Hines, Ruby Lotz, Kailin Qin, Nicholas Rigby, Belinda Thomas, Eve Wang, Prudence Wilkins-Wheat
Senate Appointed Directors: David Wright (Absent), Marie Leech
Immediate Past President: Connor Wherrett (Late)