Final USU Board Meeting: Catholic Society suspended

Fabian Robertson reports.

The 2020/21 USU Board convened today for the last time, marking the conclusion of Irene Ma, Nick Forbutt, Benny Shen, Cady Brown, Di Eve Wang, and Nick Rigby’s tenures as Board Directors (Ma will stay on Board as Immediate Past President). Incoming 2021/22 Board Directors Isla Mowbray and David Zhu were present in the Zoom call despite their term not beginning until July, putting Nicholas Comino, Du Du, Telita Goile and Cole Scott-Curwood to shame with their keenness.

Catholic Society suspended

The Catholic Society have been suspended from the USU until 15 August following their ableist stunt on Eastern Avenue in April. Society executives must undergo mandated disability empathy training, with the cost of the training covered by Society funds. The Society’s return to the USU is contingent on their completion of the training, with 15 August the earliest possible date for their return.

President Irene Ma indicated the USU’s response was informed by an investigation and a meeting involving the SRC Disability Collective and the Catholic Society. The investigation found that the Society stunt was organised through the Campus Chaplaincy system and not with the USU. However, the Society’s affiliation with the USU and use of a USU-branded marquee demanded an internal organisational response.

Arc UNSW “underwhelming”

USU CEO Andrew Mills found UNSW’s outlets “rather underwhelming” following a tour intended to gain an understanding of their retail structure. Mills believes the USU’s “stores and merchandise range are better” and was overall “unimpressed”.

Senate Appointed Director David Wright corroborated Mills’ findings and declared not having “a particularly strong view of Arc” from his experience as a UNSW Lecturer of roughly 20 years. “There’s not a great deal of activity,” he said.

Wright did, however, identify UNSW’s retail area with IGA and Guzman as a potential model for future USU development.

COVID-19 staff changes

USU staff have been told to work from home following new COVID-19 restrictions. Mills acknowledged the University sits across CBD and Inner West Local Government Areas and said the USU was adapting to an “evolving and quickly changing situation”. At this stage, the USyd store, the Fisher Library outlet, and the Footbridge outlet will remain open and staffed. According to Mills, the USU is asking operations staff who can take leave to take leave in the wake of closing outlets.

Finance

“May financials continue to be positive ahead of budget,” said Mills.

The USU is also the beneficiary of a Destination of NSW Grant for live music venues. The Grant will allow the USU to invest in Manning and Hermann’s.

Farewells

The outgoing Executive bid their farewells in final reports that conveyed gratitude, hints of emotion, and a touch of protracted self-indulgence.  

Ma, in her final report, passed a motion for the USU to join the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) and enable the international student portfolio holder to represent the USU and liaise with the CISA. 

Ma believes that “the USU should be more proactive in campaigning against racism and addressing the issues that international students are facing, especially during COVID.”

Ma said the motion was part of the Board’s “ambition to transform the USU to be the organisation that provides the best student experience not just in Australia, but also in the world. To achieve this goal, we have to elevate our perspective beyond our Union to our wider community; advocating, communicating, and influencing our wider society is something our organisation is uniquely placed to do, and our role within this wider discourse cannot be forgotten.”

Pulp Editor hiring

The USU is hiring a new Pulp editor to replace the departing Mia Castagnone. If you are a writer or multimedia aficionado keen to throw your hat in the ring, stay tuned for information on how to apply in the coming days.