Women’s Officer Report 1st June – 7th June
Women’s Officer Report 1st June – 7th June
Monday 1st June
- Work on handover folder and documents for Hazel
- Decorating and tie-dying for Pangaea
Tuesday 2nd June
- London for LGBT Domestic Violence training day by Broken Rainbow – looking at the effects of DV on the LGBT community in terms of services available, social stigmas and referral processes. Very interesting day and a lot of information gained, which will be included in the handover.
- Also met with Daf Adley to update him on plans for Manchester pride.
- Attended Feminists in Cafés, again in London, a fantastic feminist discussion group.
Wednesday 3rd June
- More work on the handover folder and process
- Wrote a letter to the Associate VP of Equality and Diversity registering the Union’s concern with statistics from the University, specifically with relation to the low degree attainment levels of BME students. The University are conducting research into this, alongside help from the Union.
- Continued work on the Student Parents handbook.
Thursday 4th June
- Made giant flowers for Pangaea as well as other exciting things.
- Flyered people coming out of exams to remind them to vote.
- Reclaim the scene meeting – the anti-capitalist, community led initiative aiming to influence Manchester Pride to make it more accessible.
- Attended the last Riveters meeting of the year, followed by the Riveter’s end of year party ☺
Friday 5th June
- Spent the rest of the day making things for the decoration of Pangaea’s outside area, including a giant Alice in Wonderland board and an invisible hug wall.
Sunday 6th June
- Attended Pride is a Protest meeting.
Monday, 8 June 2009
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Women’s Officer Report 18 – 22nd May
Monday 18th
- International Day Against Homophobia Stall – all day outside the library
- Interview with a student regarding the Riveters and consensus decision making.
Tuesday 19th
- Attended talk on ‘An Alternative History of Gender’ about trans and feminist identities working together.
Wednesday 20th
- Executive meeting, where we passed mental health policy for executive members.
Thursday 21st
- Attended Equality and Diversity meeting where we discussed gender neutral toilets across campus, equality data for campus, updated key members about equality and diversity progressions in the Union and learnt about the single equality scheme.
- Attended the Riveters meeting.
Friday 22nd
- Attended pre-meeting and meeting of the Union and University liaison forum, where we discussed the union’s finances, online voting in elections and the system of getting visiting speakers.
- Had a meeting with the people in my section for Pangaea (outside decoration) where we finalised our plans.
- Attended the Manchester Talent social – celebrating the input from student volunteers this year.
Saturday 23rd
- Represented UMSU and the Greater Manchester LGBT network at Birmingham Pride in the student entry to the march. The aim is to campaign against the commercialisation of sexuality at events like pride, which promote the ‘pink pound’ and take the New Labour stance that just because we have ‘marriage’ we have full equality. Birmingham pride was fantastic – not only in the political statement of the march, but also in the community green space, where LGBT people were not overwhelmed by corporate logos, but instead cheap tea, buns and a chance to make glittery bracelets ☺
All week
- I’ve been busy planning and preparing for the upcoming handover period with Hazel, putting together a folder of information and planning the timetable, including meetings and training sessions, some of which have been planned for the whole of the incoming exec.
- I’m also continuing (as ever) with the resolves from the Students With Caring Responsibilities report from November. At the moment, I’m busy drafting, in conjunction with the University, a specific policy on maternity/paternity rights for student parents, and fitting caring responsibilities into the mitigating circumstances policies. Another aspect I have been working on for some time is a handbook for Students with caring responsibilities, highlighting their rights and services available. This work will be ongoing for a long time so I’ve ensured it will be covered fully in the handover period.
- International Day Against Homophobia Stall – all day outside the library
- Interview with a student regarding the Riveters and consensus decision making.
Tuesday 19th
- Attended talk on ‘An Alternative History of Gender’ about trans and feminist identities working together.
Wednesday 20th
- Executive meeting, where we passed mental health policy for executive members.
Thursday 21st
- Attended Equality and Diversity meeting where we discussed gender neutral toilets across campus, equality data for campus, updated key members about equality and diversity progressions in the Union and learnt about the single equality scheme.
- Attended the Riveters meeting.
Friday 22nd
- Attended pre-meeting and meeting of the Union and University liaison forum, where we discussed the union’s finances, online voting in elections and the system of getting visiting speakers.
- Had a meeting with the people in my section for Pangaea (outside decoration) where we finalised our plans.
- Attended the Manchester Talent social – celebrating the input from student volunteers this year.
Saturday 23rd
- Represented UMSU and the Greater Manchester LGBT network at Birmingham Pride in the student entry to the march. The aim is to campaign against the commercialisation of sexuality at events like pride, which promote the ‘pink pound’ and take the New Labour stance that just because we have ‘marriage’ we have full equality. Birmingham pride was fantastic – not only in the political statement of the march, but also in the community green space, where LGBT people were not overwhelmed by corporate logos, but instead cheap tea, buns and a chance to make glittery bracelets ☺
All week
- I’ve been busy planning and preparing for the upcoming handover period with Hazel, putting together a folder of information and planning the timetable, including meetings and training sessions, some of which have been planned for the whole of the incoming exec.
- I’m also continuing (as ever) with the resolves from the Students With Caring Responsibilities report from November. At the moment, I’m busy drafting, in conjunction with the University, a specific policy on maternity/paternity rights for student parents, and fitting caring responsibilities into the mitigating circumstances policies. Another aspect I have been working on for some time is a handbook for Students with caring responsibilities, highlighting their rights and services available. This work will be ongoing for a long time so I’ve ensured it will be covered fully in the handover period.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Student Direct - what the editorial didn't quite say
by
Robbie Gillett
Communications Officer
Jennie Killip
Women’s Officer
This article was due to appear on the Union page but was pulled by the Editor and replaced with an advert. So here it is online instead...
It’s been a big year at the Union and our Student Paper has played an important role in articulating the conversations on campus and reporting all the news, campaigns, music, lifestyle, fashion and so much more that makes up student life.
We would like to say a great big thanks to all those who have volunteered and worked so hard and professionally at Student Direct - week in, week out - to demanding deadlines. Without you there would be no paper.
We are also aware that the Paper tends to get singled out more often for criticism, than for praise, nonetheless there’s a been a few too many reactionary editorials and what seem at times as thinly veiled personal attacks which seem to have more to do with a distaste for the characters involved rather than wishing to further the debate.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a few rebuttals to some of the opinions put forward in the editorials this year to act as a counter point to what has been previously been printed, and further contribute to the discussion.
RE: Issue 1, Editorial ‘Unisex Toilets’
“The ‘non-gendered’ facilities will be provided for all those men who do not ‘self-identify’ as men, and all those women who do not think of themselves as women. This potty parity is good news for all those students who’ve always fancied a bit of titillation in the bathroom, but may have been put off by the awkwardness of entering the Ladies’ or Gents’ hand in hand. Political correctness gone mad?”
Ah - the Unisex toilet debate – kick-starting the year with that classic reactionary caper, “PC gone mad” and creating the animosity between Student Direct and many LGBT students on campus that continued throughout the year. Identity is a massive issue for trans students and the right to self-identify has been won on the back of decades of repression against LGBT communities.
Furthermore, the Student Direct Officer was present at the Executive meeting at which the toilets were agreed upon (10/07/08) and supported the move. Only one set out of four were de-gendered. The Editorial team underwent diversity training the week before this editorial was written. Which seems to have gone to waste. A letter with over 60 signatures was sent to Student Direct for issue 2 and printed, yet the apology that appeared seemed intentionally ambiguous.
RE: Issue 2, Editorial ‘Riveted at Recent Labour Conference’ (regarding the presence of the Womens Officer at a climate change protest)
“The eight campaigners […] accosted a Labour MP, quizzing him on that well known feminist bugbear – climate change. […] Following the horrifying story of rape in our midst last week, Student Direct only hopes that the forthcoming weeks will see more relevant campaigns being directed from the Women’s Office.”
What this editorial missed is that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, making it very much a feminist issue. In many places that will be the worst effected by climate change, women simply work harder. When water is scarce, they are the ones who will have to walk further to collect it. And when resources are short domestic violence levels increase. Climate change is a feminist issue.
And insinuating that the rape of a student was the fault of the Women’s Officer for attending a demonstration in her free time is totally unfair.
RE: Issue 5, Editorial ‘Hands Off Our Paper’
“One Students’ Union Officer has made a number of attempts to prevent Student Direct from publishing content of direct relevance to students”
The officer in question was concerned that the article “Where did the money go?” was inaccurate and misleading. The article resulted in the University calling in the auditors and cost the Union thousands of pounds. They found no wrong-doing. In this respect, it was entirely right that the Officer, a trustee of the Union, should urge more caution from Student Direct before printing sensationalist, yet unfounded, front covers.
RE: Issue 10, Contact Hours: Do we really care?
“Student direct….struggle to name any (non-politically active) students who actually desire more time spent in the lecture hall or seminar room…Do students really want a minimum cap on teaching hours? Or would we all just prefer an extra hour in bed?”
Whilst some courses, particularly in the sciences, do have more than enough contact hours, other students, notably in Humanities have seen their lecture and seminar times dwindle to as low as four hours a week. This can leave some degrees feeling like glorified library subscriptions. This Easter, Law students, not known for having particularly radical politics, stood up successfully to an attempt slash their contact hours by a third. Hats off to them.
RE: Issue 13, “Under Occupation: Resistance is Futile”
“While the intentions, atmosphere and energy of the occupation are admirable, Student Direct can’t help but view the protest as an act of naiveté on the part of the campaigners.”
So let’s all just go home then and not worry ourselves. Fortunately, some people are brave enough to come down off the fence and take a stand against the ongoing injustices in Gaza and around the world. It is easy to call people naïve, it makes you look sophisticated and grown up. But the students who have campaigned so tirelessly this year to do whatever they feasibly can to help those suffering in Palestine should be applauded. History is made up of such people standing up and fighting back. Right on.
RE: Issue 14, “Pointless Politics”
“Student Direct would like to congratulate the supporters of the GM motion “Gaza Crisis” for [… ] essentially achieving…very little. Now union policy has passed, Gilbert will have to sit up and listen though! Will he heck.”
Yes he did. The University may not have agreed with all the resolutions of the motion, but it met with the Union, talked and agreed to a number of requests such as sending surplus academic supplies to Gaza. Having official Union policy and importantly the sustained protest by grassroots activists in the Simon Building, gave the ensuing negotiations a greater weight and legitimacy.
RE: Issue 15, “A touch of Global Glamour”
“SD would like to applaud and congratulate the Union’s International Officer for her successful efforts with global; glamour week.”
And we too like would applaud this Editorial for saying something positive about the Union for once. Nice one.
RE: Issue 16, “Up in Arms”
“What is it with a certain group of student activists and illegal activities? Last week’s theft of recruitment materials from a graduate recruiter certainly isn’t the first instance of illicit conduct on the part of present and former representatives of our Union. How could the students involved have thought that the best way to influence the actions of the Ministry of Defence was by stealing from them? Yes, the Ministry of Defence exacerbates international problems by producing and exporting military technology and the civil sector does in many cases offer better employment benefits to students. But “confiscating” (their words, not ours) others’ belongings not only gives the MoD the moral high ground, it also represents an attempt to take away the choice of other students who may have wanted the freedom to make an informed decision as to how to spend their futures.”
This editorial was puzzling - it admitted that the military-industrial complex has a negative effect on the world but then argued it should be allowed. What the arms industry shows and their presence on campus is that what is legally right isn’t always morally right. And what the action against the arms recruitment stall showed is that what may be legally wrong, isn’t always morally wrong.
RE: Issue 19: “Trust me, I’m a lawyer”
“Student Direct was pleasantly surprised by the perpetrators of the latest high-profile protest to take place on campus. While impassioned causes such as the Israel/Palestine conflict and Reclaim the Uni have galvanized segments of the student community in the past, such causes tend only to appeal to a politically-active left-wing minority, who line Oxford Road in their droves waving megaphones at unsuspecting passers-by with suspicious amounts of glee.”
Actually, Reclaim the Uni in its origin was praised for having broad appeal to a range of students. And what’s meant by ‘suspicious amounts of glee’? Should we campaign with solemn dirges? Being politically active is empowering and inspiring. It is not a self-sacrificial burden we take onto our shoulders on behalf of the rest of the world with glum faces. It is about smiling in the face of adversity and stepping up to the challenge. We are sincere, but we know how to have fun.
RE: Issue 20, Editorial ‘Girl Power’
“It is telling that eight women were elected to positions on next year’s Union Executive compared to just six men and only one candidate was willing to stand for the Women’s Officer role in last month’s elections. These manifestations certainly suggest that the justification for a Women’s Officer at UMSU is more tenuous than previously thought – and we refute the inevitable allegation that it is sexist to say so.”
And after the anti-woman, anti-trans, anti-feminist writings that have littered the paper all year, how many women would feel comfortable going to the woman editor of the paper for advice and help? Not many perhaps. The need for a dedicated officer to fight for women students’ rights has been proved in the Editorials alone.
RE: Issue 21, Editorial ‘Spread Your Legs’
“This week the Women’s Officer is to be heard complaining somewhat predictably about the name of club night “Spread Your Legs” […] but the Union are simultaneously welcoming such objectification […] at this year’s end of exams party, Pangaea. […] Student Direct can’t help but stifle a smile at the lack of consistency between Union officers on this occasion.”
And finally, a thinly veiled personal attack, which is nowhere near newsworthy. And brought us to write this counter-editorial that’s been building up all year.
Conclusion
Difference of opinion and debate is a healthy part of campus life. With the benefit of hindsight it is also easy to point out that the predictions of the paper proved incorrect. At times though, this strayed beyond a healthy critique of student tactics and strategies, and towards the suggestion that we really shouldn’t bother trying to change anything. At their worst, these editorials saw an active attempt to undermine parts of the Student Union and student community – to portray them as abnormal, and to use the editorial to launch personal attacks, noticeably against one particular election candidate running for the Editor post.
The University of Manchester Students Union has a proud and radical history. Our main building is named after the South African anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko – who battled and died fighting injustice in his country. Our Union is renowned across the UK for its vibrant political and cultural scene. This year has continued that tradition and Student Direct has facilitated this process. We congratulate again all those in the SD office who have worked so hard, including the Editor. We look forward to more debate, more campaigning and more progressive politics next year.
Robbie Gillett
Communications Officer
Jennie Killip
Women’s Officer
This article was due to appear on the Union page but was pulled by the Editor and replaced with an advert. So here it is online instead...
It’s been a big year at the Union and our Student Paper has played an important role in articulating the conversations on campus and reporting all the news, campaigns, music, lifestyle, fashion and so much more that makes up student life.
We would like to say a great big thanks to all those who have volunteered and worked so hard and professionally at Student Direct - week in, week out - to demanding deadlines. Without you there would be no paper.
We are also aware that the Paper tends to get singled out more often for criticism, than for praise, nonetheless there’s a been a few too many reactionary editorials and what seem at times as thinly veiled personal attacks which seem to have more to do with a distaste for the characters involved rather than wishing to further the debate.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a few rebuttals to some of the opinions put forward in the editorials this year to act as a counter point to what has been previously been printed, and further contribute to the discussion.
RE: Issue 1, Editorial ‘Unisex Toilets’
“The ‘non-gendered’ facilities will be provided for all those men who do not ‘self-identify’ as men, and all those women who do not think of themselves as women. This potty parity is good news for all those students who’ve always fancied a bit of titillation in the bathroom, but may have been put off by the awkwardness of entering the Ladies’ or Gents’ hand in hand. Political correctness gone mad?”
Ah - the Unisex toilet debate – kick-starting the year with that classic reactionary caper, “PC gone mad” and creating the animosity between Student Direct and many LGBT students on campus that continued throughout the year. Identity is a massive issue for trans students and the right to self-identify has been won on the back of decades of repression against LGBT communities.
Furthermore, the Student Direct Officer was present at the Executive meeting at which the toilets were agreed upon (10/07/08) and supported the move. Only one set out of four were de-gendered. The Editorial team underwent diversity training the week before this editorial was written. Which seems to have gone to waste. A letter with over 60 signatures was sent to Student Direct for issue 2 and printed, yet the apology that appeared seemed intentionally ambiguous.
RE: Issue 2, Editorial ‘Riveted at Recent Labour Conference’ (regarding the presence of the Womens Officer at a climate change protest)
“The eight campaigners […] accosted a Labour MP, quizzing him on that well known feminist bugbear – climate change. […] Following the horrifying story of rape in our midst last week, Student Direct only hopes that the forthcoming weeks will see more relevant campaigns being directed from the Women’s Office.”
What this editorial missed is that women are disproportionately affected by climate change, making it very much a feminist issue. In many places that will be the worst effected by climate change, women simply work harder. When water is scarce, they are the ones who will have to walk further to collect it. And when resources are short domestic violence levels increase. Climate change is a feminist issue.
And insinuating that the rape of a student was the fault of the Women’s Officer for attending a demonstration in her free time is totally unfair.
RE: Issue 5, Editorial ‘Hands Off Our Paper’
“One Students’ Union Officer has made a number of attempts to prevent Student Direct from publishing content of direct relevance to students”
The officer in question was concerned that the article “Where did the money go?” was inaccurate and misleading. The article resulted in the University calling in the auditors and cost the Union thousands of pounds. They found no wrong-doing. In this respect, it was entirely right that the Officer, a trustee of the Union, should urge more caution from Student Direct before printing sensationalist, yet unfounded, front covers.
RE: Issue 10, Contact Hours: Do we really care?
“Student direct….struggle to name any (non-politically active) students who actually desire more time spent in the lecture hall or seminar room…Do students really want a minimum cap on teaching hours? Or would we all just prefer an extra hour in bed?”
Whilst some courses, particularly in the sciences, do have more than enough contact hours, other students, notably in Humanities have seen their lecture and seminar times dwindle to as low as four hours a week. This can leave some degrees feeling like glorified library subscriptions. This Easter, Law students, not known for having particularly radical politics, stood up successfully to an attempt slash their contact hours by a third. Hats off to them.
RE: Issue 13, “Under Occupation: Resistance is Futile”
“While the intentions, atmosphere and energy of the occupation are admirable, Student Direct can’t help but view the protest as an act of naiveté on the part of the campaigners.”
So let’s all just go home then and not worry ourselves. Fortunately, some people are brave enough to come down off the fence and take a stand against the ongoing injustices in Gaza and around the world. It is easy to call people naïve, it makes you look sophisticated and grown up. But the students who have campaigned so tirelessly this year to do whatever they feasibly can to help those suffering in Palestine should be applauded. History is made up of such people standing up and fighting back. Right on.
RE: Issue 14, “Pointless Politics”
“Student Direct would like to congratulate the supporters of the GM motion “Gaza Crisis” for [… ] essentially achieving…very little. Now union policy has passed, Gilbert will have to sit up and listen though! Will he heck.”
Yes he did. The University may not have agreed with all the resolutions of the motion, but it met with the Union, talked and agreed to a number of requests such as sending surplus academic supplies to Gaza. Having official Union policy and importantly the sustained protest by grassroots activists in the Simon Building, gave the ensuing negotiations a greater weight and legitimacy.
RE: Issue 15, “A touch of Global Glamour”
“SD would like to applaud and congratulate the Union’s International Officer for her successful efforts with global; glamour week.”
And we too like would applaud this Editorial for saying something positive about the Union for once. Nice one.
RE: Issue 16, “Up in Arms”
“What is it with a certain group of student activists and illegal activities? Last week’s theft of recruitment materials from a graduate recruiter certainly isn’t the first instance of illicit conduct on the part of present and former representatives of our Union. How could the students involved have thought that the best way to influence the actions of the Ministry of Defence was by stealing from them? Yes, the Ministry of Defence exacerbates international problems by producing and exporting military technology and the civil sector does in many cases offer better employment benefits to students. But “confiscating” (their words, not ours) others’ belongings not only gives the MoD the moral high ground, it also represents an attempt to take away the choice of other students who may have wanted the freedom to make an informed decision as to how to spend their futures.”
This editorial was puzzling - it admitted that the military-industrial complex has a negative effect on the world but then argued it should be allowed. What the arms industry shows and their presence on campus is that what is legally right isn’t always morally right. And what the action against the arms recruitment stall showed is that what may be legally wrong, isn’t always morally wrong.
RE: Issue 19: “Trust me, I’m a lawyer”
“Student Direct was pleasantly surprised by the perpetrators of the latest high-profile protest to take place on campus. While impassioned causes such as the Israel/Palestine conflict and Reclaim the Uni have galvanized segments of the student community in the past, such causes tend only to appeal to a politically-active left-wing minority, who line Oxford Road in their droves waving megaphones at unsuspecting passers-by with suspicious amounts of glee.”
Actually, Reclaim the Uni in its origin was praised for having broad appeal to a range of students. And what’s meant by ‘suspicious amounts of glee’? Should we campaign with solemn dirges? Being politically active is empowering and inspiring. It is not a self-sacrificial burden we take onto our shoulders on behalf of the rest of the world with glum faces. It is about smiling in the face of adversity and stepping up to the challenge. We are sincere, but we know how to have fun.
RE: Issue 20, Editorial ‘Girl Power’
“It is telling that eight women were elected to positions on next year’s Union Executive compared to just six men and only one candidate was willing to stand for the Women’s Officer role in last month’s elections. These manifestations certainly suggest that the justification for a Women’s Officer at UMSU is more tenuous than previously thought – and we refute the inevitable allegation that it is sexist to say so.”
And after the anti-woman, anti-trans, anti-feminist writings that have littered the paper all year, how many women would feel comfortable going to the woman editor of the paper for advice and help? Not many perhaps. The need for a dedicated officer to fight for women students’ rights has been proved in the Editorials alone.
RE: Issue 21, Editorial ‘Spread Your Legs’
“This week the Women’s Officer is to be heard complaining somewhat predictably about the name of club night “Spread Your Legs” […] but the Union are simultaneously welcoming such objectification […] at this year’s end of exams party, Pangaea. […] Student Direct can’t help but stifle a smile at the lack of consistency between Union officers on this occasion.”
And finally, a thinly veiled personal attack, which is nowhere near newsworthy. And brought us to write this counter-editorial that’s been building up all year.
Conclusion
Difference of opinion and debate is a healthy part of campus life. With the benefit of hindsight it is also easy to point out that the predictions of the paper proved incorrect. At times though, this strayed beyond a healthy critique of student tactics and strategies, and towards the suggestion that we really shouldn’t bother trying to change anything. At their worst, these editorials saw an active attempt to undermine parts of the Student Union and student community – to portray them as abnormal, and to use the editorial to launch personal attacks, noticeably against one particular election candidate running for the Editor post.
The University of Manchester Students Union has a proud and radical history. Our main building is named after the South African anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko – who battled and died fighting injustice in his country. Our Union is renowned across the UK for its vibrant political and cultural scene. This year has continued that tradition and Student Direct has facilitated this process. We congratulate again all those in the SD office who have worked so hard, including the Editor. We look forward to more debate, more campaigning and more progressive politics next year.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Women's Officer Report 11-16th May
11-16th May 2009
Monday 11th
- Typed Riveters minutes, created events and emails.
- Collected more copies of the Riveter and distributed to bars and cafes
- Checked Dough (restaurant) fit with dietary requirements
- Liaised with police regarding the LGBT anti BNP demo.
- Answered emails.
- Case work.
Tuesday 12th
- Staffed the Suffragette ‘get the vote out’ stall all day, encouraging people to register to vote for the EU elections.
- Attended the ‘EU – united for what’ Challenging Orthodoxies Society event.
Wednesday 13th
- Organised the publicity for the night bus during exam period
- Made banners and placards for the LGBT anti-BNP demo.
- Organisation for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia)
- Wrote the UMSU pride march application
Thursday 14th
- Organised sending money to charity from several Riveter projects.
- More organisation for pride events
- Attended the EU election hustings
- Attended the Riveters meeting
Friday 15th
- Attended the Exec meeting.
- Helped Ellie on the Mood Food stall
- Attended the Challenging Orthodoxy Society meeting on ‘Are the Taliban Evil’ and asked a question about the Taliban, women and solidarity links.
- Finished preparations for the Saturday demonstration.
Saturday 16th
- Attended demonstration with LGBT students against the BNP, highlighting their homophobic policies and encouraging people to use their vote on June 4th for other (nicer) parties.
Monday 11th
- Typed Riveters minutes, created events and emails.
- Collected more copies of the Riveter and distributed to bars and cafes
- Checked Dough (restaurant) fit with dietary requirements
- Liaised with police regarding the LGBT anti BNP demo.
- Answered emails.
- Case work.
Tuesday 12th
- Staffed the Suffragette ‘get the vote out’ stall all day, encouraging people to register to vote for the EU elections.
- Attended the ‘EU – united for what’ Challenging Orthodoxies Society event.
Wednesday 13th
- Organised the publicity for the night bus during exam period
- Made banners and placards for the LGBT anti-BNP demo.
- Organisation for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia)
- Wrote the UMSU pride march application
Thursday 14th
- Organised sending money to charity from several Riveter projects.
- More organisation for pride events
- Attended the EU election hustings
- Attended the Riveters meeting
Friday 15th
- Attended the Exec meeting.
- Helped Ellie on the Mood Food stall
- Attended the Challenging Orthodoxy Society meeting on ‘Are the Taliban Evil’ and asked a question about the Taliban, women and solidarity links.
- Finished preparations for the Saturday demonstration.
Saturday 16th
- Attended demonstration with LGBT students against the BNP, highlighting their homophobic policies and encouraging people to use their vote on June 4th for other (nicer) parties.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Women's Officer Report 5th-8th May
Exec Report
5th-8th May
Tuesday 5th May
- Finished the leaflet on the views of women by all parties standing in the EU elections.
- Finished editing the Riveter magazine.
- Made the Votes for Women banner for Thursday.
- Talked to Students about Trans Week and answered a number of questions people had.
- Helped Robbie write the counter editorial for the Union page of Student Direct, which the editor chose not to print.
Wednesday 6th May
- Promotion for the GM in the morning
- Attended the inquorate GM but remained behind for the informal debate
- Lis debrief with actors and others involved.
- LGBT anti-BNP demonstration meeting – planning meeting for Saturday16th. Acquired action points such as getting poster designed, and acted on them!
- Attended Audio Uprising – a fantastic clubnight put on for the Children in Conflict Fundraising week. It showed the Union can host club nights.
Thursday 7th May
- Collected the Riveter magazine and made sashes.
- Spent the whole day on the stall outside the library, getting people to register to vote in the EU elections and handing out ALL copies of the Riveter – meaning I’ve had to get more printed, which is fantastic!
- Riveters meeting
- LGBT Annual General Meeting, which unfortunately failed to reach quorocy. I’d attended to argue to keep women’s representation within the committee structure.
Friday 8th May
- Attended the Reclaim the Uni participation meeting, where representatives from the University and Union explained the channels available for students to influence the academic decisions (And all other decisions) of the University.
- Lots of money/finance sorting for the women’s and LGBT budgets.
5th-8th May
Tuesday 5th May
- Finished the leaflet on the views of women by all parties standing in the EU elections.
- Finished editing the Riveter magazine.
- Made the Votes for Women banner for Thursday.
- Talked to Students about Trans Week and answered a number of questions people had.
- Helped Robbie write the counter editorial for the Union page of Student Direct, which the editor chose not to print.
Wednesday 6th May
- Promotion for the GM in the morning
- Attended the inquorate GM but remained behind for the informal debate
- Lis debrief with actors and others involved.
- LGBT anti-BNP demonstration meeting – planning meeting for Saturday16th. Acquired action points such as getting poster designed, and acted on them!
- Attended Audio Uprising – a fantastic clubnight put on for the Children in Conflict Fundraising week. It showed the Union can host club nights.
Thursday 7th May
- Collected the Riveter magazine and made sashes.
- Spent the whole day on the stall outside the library, getting people to register to vote in the EU elections and handing out ALL copies of the Riveter – meaning I’ve had to get more printed, which is fantastic!
- Riveters meeting
- LGBT Annual General Meeting, which unfortunately failed to reach quorocy. I’d attended to argue to keep women’s representation within the committee structure.
Friday 8th May
- Attended the Reclaim the Uni participation meeting, where representatives from the University and Union explained the channels available for students to influence the academic decisions (And all other decisions) of the University.
- Lots of money/finance sorting for the women’s and LGBT budgets.
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
27th April - 4th May
Women’s Officer Report 27-04-09 – 01-05-09
Monday 27th
- Met with Hazel to co-write the introduction to the Riveter
- Promoted this week’s events
- Worked on the Riveter, including starting editing articles and planning the format.
- Attended Open Media
Tuesday 28th
- Attended another inquorate Exec Meeting
- Case work (which meant I unfortunately could not attend the NUS/UMSU termly meeting)
- Attended meeting for proposers/seconders of GM motions and made plans of how to best promote next week’s general meeting.
- Met with the LGBT secretaries to finalise plans for Trans Week
- Attended the inquorate council meeting
- Wrote and commissioned articles for the Union Page of the paper next week.
Wednesday 29th
- Ill but caught up with emails and case work.
Thursday 30th
- Contacted halls in Victoria Park re doing dinner talks for the GM next week (Awaiting response)
- Got the artwork for the Riveter sorted. Did more work on compliling and editing the Riveter
- Case work.
- Made posters for Trans week, gender neutral toilets (GM) and Pro-Choice (GM).
- Attended Gilbert meeting re. occupation demands.
- Riveters meeting
- Started a flyer on ‘women’s policies’ of all parties for upcoming EU elections
Friday 1ST May
- Case work meeting
- Riveters minutes and action plans
- Started work for Get the Vote out women style.
- Poster run
- Attended bar refurbishment meeting
- Caught up with emails.
Sunday 3rd May / Monday 4th May
- Edited the Riveter magazine
- Appeared on All FM as the Union’s women’s officer.
Monday 27th
- Met with Hazel to co-write the introduction to the Riveter
- Promoted this week’s events
- Worked on the Riveter, including starting editing articles and planning the format.
- Attended Open Media
Tuesday 28th
- Attended another inquorate Exec Meeting
- Case work (which meant I unfortunately could not attend the NUS/UMSU termly meeting)
- Attended meeting for proposers/seconders of GM motions and made plans of how to best promote next week’s general meeting.
- Met with the LGBT secretaries to finalise plans for Trans Week
- Attended the inquorate council meeting
- Wrote and commissioned articles for the Union Page of the paper next week.
Wednesday 29th
- Ill but caught up with emails and case work.
Thursday 30th
- Contacted halls in Victoria Park re doing dinner talks for the GM next week (Awaiting response)
- Got the artwork for the Riveter sorted. Did more work on compliling and editing the Riveter
- Case work.
- Made posters for Trans week, gender neutral toilets (GM) and Pro-Choice (GM).
- Attended Gilbert meeting re. occupation demands.
- Riveters meeting
- Started a flyer on ‘women’s policies’ of all parties for upcoming EU elections
Friday 1ST May
- Case work meeting
- Riveters minutes and action plans
- Started work for Get the Vote out women style.
- Poster run
- Attended bar refurbishment meeting
- Caught up with emails.
Sunday 3rd May / Monday 4th May
- Edited the Riveter magazine
- Appeared on All FM as the Union’s women’s officer.
Women's Week
Exec Report 20-4-09 – 25-04-09 – Women’s week
Monday 20th
-Put up posters, flyers, banners etc for women’s week
-sorted out the stall
-Wall of Shame from 1-2pm (getting people to write their views of sexism on the wall)
-Follow-up casework
-Put on the Open Media documentary about rape as a weapon of war and women’s healing.
Tuesday 21st
- Prison date – took the play and project Lis into a women’s prison to get women to engage with ideas of their bodies, power, sex, gender-roles. Helped with the post-performance workshop. It was such a fantastic experience – it really changed my views of prison, prisoners, and re-affirmed my belief in student potential to do positive work.
Wednesday 22nd
- Caught up with emails and other work
- Promoted and attended the Women and Religion: Our Experiences talk.
- Spoke to students and gained feedback regarding the bar refurbishment.
Thursday 23rd
- Did an interview for a student regarding the decision making roles of the union.
- Met with the LGBT Secretary (women’s) place elect to discuss next year.
- Turned up to another inquorate exec.
- Inspirational Women – we got lots of students to write the names of women who have inspired them on a board and got some fantastic responses.
- Riveters meeting, with loads of new people, which was fantastic.
- Feminist University Challenge – an event to stick two fingers up to the abhorrent sexism faced by Gail Trimble. With many exciting questions on feminism – Man Uni won with a score of 140, Man Met (well, one Man Met graduate and 3 Riveters) scored 87.5
Friday 24th
- Climate Change demo – smashing up mother earth, to show world leaders role in climate change.
- Critical Mass
- Reclaim the Parks – direct action to reclaim our public spaces from gender-based violence.
Saturday 25th
- Whitworth Art Gallery trip to visit the ‘Subversion’ exhibition.
- Attended NUS LGBT Awards.
Monday 20th
-Put up posters, flyers, banners etc for women’s week
-sorted out the stall
-Wall of Shame from 1-2pm (getting people to write their views of sexism on the wall)
-Follow-up casework
-Put on the Open Media documentary about rape as a weapon of war and women’s healing.
Tuesday 21st
- Prison date – took the play and project Lis into a women’s prison to get women to engage with ideas of their bodies, power, sex, gender-roles. Helped with the post-performance workshop. It was such a fantastic experience – it really changed my views of prison, prisoners, and re-affirmed my belief in student potential to do positive work.
Wednesday 22nd
- Caught up with emails and other work
- Promoted and attended the Women and Religion: Our Experiences talk.
- Spoke to students and gained feedback regarding the bar refurbishment.
Thursday 23rd
- Did an interview for a student regarding the decision making roles of the union.
- Met with the LGBT Secretary (women’s) place elect to discuss next year.
- Turned up to another inquorate exec.
- Inspirational Women – we got lots of students to write the names of women who have inspired them on a board and got some fantastic responses.
- Riveters meeting, with loads of new people, which was fantastic.
- Feminist University Challenge – an event to stick two fingers up to the abhorrent sexism faced by Gail Trimble. With many exciting questions on feminism – Man Uni won with a score of 140, Man Met (well, one Man Met graduate and 3 Riveters) scored 87.5
Friday 24th
- Climate Change demo – smashing up mother earth, to show world leaders role in climate change.
- Critical Mass
- Reclaim the Parks – direct action to reclaim our public spaces from gender-based violence.
Saturday 25th
- Whitworth Art Gallery trip to visit the ‘Subversion’ exhibition.
- Attended NUS LGBT Awards.
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Women’s Officer Report: 06/04/09 – 09/04/09
Women’s Officer Report: 06/04/09 – 09/04/09
Monday 6th April
- Another few layers of the world for women’s week!
- Case work took up quite a lot of the day
- Caught up properly on all emails
- Worked out the LGBT campaigns budget and Okayed it with the secretaries
- Lots of work on the UMSU common room, opening on the 20th April… more details to follow.
Tuesday 7th April
- Wrote motions for UMSU General meeting, including the Equal Opportunities policy and how that could be more representative, and one on gender-neutral toilets.
- A few more layers of the world!
- Arranged the specifics of several days for women’s week.
Wednesday 8th April
- Meeting with staff at the University counselling service regarding feedback and how we can best work together in the future.
- Attended proposal meeting regarding Solem Bar re-design over Summer. Found out about one design, and a previous design from several weeks before. I’m quite annoyed about the lack of student input and consultation into the process, and that I only by-chance found out about the meeting
- Finished making the world for women’s week
- Made the Open Media poster for women’s week.
Thursday 9th April
- Updated the website for Women’s Week and launched most of the information, including a facebook group, posters, flyers etc.
- Wrote motions for Exec on paying non-sabbatical executive officers and a mental-health policy for the executive.
Monday 6th April
- Another few layers of the world for women’s week!
- Case work took up quite a lot of the day
- Caught up properly on all emails
- Worked out the LGBT campaigns budget and Okayed it with the secretaries
- Lots of work on the UMSU common room, opening on the 20th April… more details to follow.
Tuesday 7th April
- Wrote motions for UMSU General meeting, including the Equal Opportunities policy and how that could be more representative, and one on gender-neutral toilets.
- A few more layers of the world!
- Arranged the specifics of several days for women’s week.
Wednesday 8th April
- Meeting with staff at the University counselling service regarding feedback and how we can best work together in the future.
- Attended proposal meeting regarding Solem Bar re-design over Summer. Found out about one design, and a previous design from several weeks before. I’m quite annoyed about the lack of student input and consultation into the process, and that I only by-chance found out about the meeting
- Finished making the world for women’s week
- Made the Open Media poster for women’s week.
Thursday 9th April
- Updated the website for Women’s Week and launched most of the information, including a facebook group, posters, flyers etc.
- Wrote motions for Exec on paying non-sabbatical executive officers and a mental-health policy for the executive.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Women’s Officer Report 30/03/09 – 03/04/09
Women’s Officer Report 30/03/09 – 03/04/09
Monday 30th March
- Visited Leeds Met women’s officer to continue plans for Anti-Violence Campaign.
- Found out about Leeds Met’s ‘Controversy Week’ and the feedback and finalised plans for a ‘trans week’ in Manchester.
Tuesday 31st March
- Emailed societies that will be involved in Women’s Week with information of what’s needed, including photo socs and all religious societies
- Booked all the Rooms for women’s week
- Ordered an over-sized balloon and liaised with staff on how I could make it
- Sorted out Reclaim the Night photos
Wednesday 1st April
- Made 8 banners for women’s week to be displayed around campus.
- Got a design for the ‘This is what a feminist looks like’ board.
- Worked with the LGBT society regarding their society make up and possible plans to increase participation.
- Re-ordered mooncups
- Re-wrote the Condoms, Abortion, Childcare – Pro-Choice and Proud motion for the General Meeting.
Thursday 2nd April
- Typed Riveters minutes
- Attended conference on ‘The Female As Subject In And Of Feminism’ and met loads of cool feminist postgrad students.
- Organised what films to show for Open Media in Women’s Week.
- Made the Wall of Shame for Women’s Week
Friday 3rd April
- Made the papier mache globe for women’s week
- Met with the women involved in the Riveter’s Lis project and negotiated the rules and roles for our date in Prison.
- Made stickers for free sanitary protection and the night bus.
Monday 30th March
- Visited Leeds Met women’s officer to continue plans for Anti-Violence Campaign.
- Found out about Leeds Met’s ‘Controversy Week’ and the feedback and finalised plans for a ‘trans week’ in Manchester.
Tuesday 31st March
- Emailed societies that will be involved in Women’s Week with information of what’s needed, including photo socs and all religious societies
- Booked all the Rooms for women’s week
- Ordered an over-sized balloon and liaised with staff on how I could make it
- Sorted out Reclaim the Night photos
Wednesday 1st April
- Made 8 banners for women’s week to be displayed around campus.
- Got a design for the ‘This is what a feminist looks like’ board.
- Worked with the LGBT society regarding their society make up and possible plans to increase participation.
- Re-ordered mooncups
- Re-wrote the Condoms, Abortion, Childcare – Pro-Choice and Proud motion for the General Meeting.
Thursday 2nd April
- Typed Riveters minutes
- Attended conference on ‘The Female As Subject In And Of Feminism’ and met loads of cool feminist postgrad students.
- Organised what films to show for Open Media in Women’s Week.
- Made the Wall of Shame for Women’s Week
Friday 3rd April
- Made the papier mache globe for women’s week
- Met with the women involved in the Riveter’s Lis project and negotiated the rules and roles for our date in Prison.
- Made stickers for free sanitary protection and the night bus.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Women's Officer Report: Reclaim the Night North
Women's Officer Report: Reclaim the Night North
Report:
All week I've been massively busy with Reclaim the Night organisation which has taken up pretty much all my time. This has included; postering, flyering, lecture shouts, door knocking, chatting to students, finalising speakers, coaches, police liasion, banner making, tshirt making, placard making, setting up rooms, steward training, press releases and speaking to the press. My report below doesn't repeat all this but just lists the other things I've been up to besides all this!
Monday 16
- Door knocking and flyer making/flyering for the General Meeting on Wednesday
Tuesday 17
- Attended 'Environmental Direct Action a History' talk.
Wednesday 18
- General meeting promotion and attendance
- Talk at Coventry University on Cross Liberation - how the LGBT and women's movement can work together.
Thursday 19
- Riveters meeting
- Impromtu exec meeting about 'Gaza Crisis' presentation at president's meeting
Friday 20
- Pre-meeting and meeting with Alan Gilbert about a number of issues. Got confirmation that nurseries would not be cut and students' children would be covered by child protection policy.
Saturday 21
- Reclaim the Night (which, by the way, was fantastic! Over 250 feminists and women took to the streets to reclaim our spaces from gender-based violence. With inspirational speakers, performers, fair trade tea and those who believe violence is wrong we took back our spaces!)
Sunday 22
- NUS Women's Campaign Conference compositing in London.
Report:
All week I've been massively busy with Reclaim the Night organisation which has taken up pretty much all my time. This has included; postering, flyering, lecture shouts, door knocking, chatting to students, finalising speakers, coaches, police liasion, banner making, tshirt making, placard making, setting up rooms, steward training, press releases and speaking to the press. My report below doesn't repeat all this but just lists the other things I've been up to besides all this!
Monday 16
- Door knocking and flyer making/flyering for the General Meeting on Wednesday
Tuesday 17
- Attended 'Environmental Direct Action a History' talk.
Wednesday 18
- General meeting promotion and attendance
- Talk at Coventry University on Cross Liberation - how the LGBT and women's movement can work together.
Thursday 19
- Riveters meeting
- Impromtu exec meeting about 'Gaza Crisis' presentation at president's meeting
Friday 20
- Pre-meeting and meeting with Alan Gilbert about a number of issues. Got confirmation that nurseries would not be cut and students' children would be covered by child protection policy.
Saturday 21
- Reclaim the Night (which, by the way, was fantastic! Over 250 feminists and women took to the streets to reclaim our spaces from gender-based violence. With inspirational speakers, performers, fair trade tea and those who believe violence is wrong we took back our spaces!)
Sunday 22
- NUS Women's Campaign Conference compositing in London.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Women's Officering 7th - 14th Feb
Women's Officering 7th - 14th Feb
Saturday 7th Feb:
- Met with a member of the Riveters to discuss campaigns this term.
- Finished editing and organising the Riveter magazine so it could be sent to print.
Monday 9th Feb:
- Attended the NUS’ Mental Health Awareness Day at Manchester, which was really useful and inciteful.
- Attended the second meeting for Lis, the Riveters play where people were cast into roles and sent the information to the women’s prison.
- Attended and promoted ‘The Birthday’ screening about being trans in Iran.
Tursday 10th Feb:
- Staffed the stall at the Refreshers fair for the Riveters and the LGBT society, where I spoke to loads of students and got them interested in joining.
- Promoted the priorities ballot for the general meeting and my motion ‘Increasing Opportunities for Accountability, Transparancy and Access in the Union’ was voted 2nd.
- Printed and collected the Riveter
- Assisted Ellie in the ‘How to Run for Elections’ workshop, focusing on encouraging individuals from the liberation campaigns to run.
Wednesday 11th Feb:
- Emergency General Meeting on Gaza, facilitated the chair with ensuring the meeting ran smoothly.
- Evict RBS demo on the roof of RBS to protest their funding of unsustainable power and ensuing the Union’s spaces are leased to ethical organisations and companies.
- Organised and planned for the LGBT impromptu tea party for LGBT Awareness Week.
- Ran (with Ellie) the ‘How To Reach Hard to Reach Students’ workshop for the first ever course rep conference in Manchester and facilitated part of the discussion on education funding.
Thursday 12th Feb:
- Attended the Student Parents Launch in Birmingham, a fantastic day of workshops, acitivities and networking to ensure student parents rights are fought for in the Union.
- Was VERY happy to hear the Riveters ‘Bring a Friend’ event worked well, as did the LGBT impromptu tea party ☺
Friday 13th Feb:
- Frantically re-sent amendments for NUS Women’s Conference to NUS.
- Attended the UMSU Governance Day.
- Finalised the plans for attending ‘Gender, Race and Class’ the anti-capitalist feminist conference, including going to Salford to retrieve the bus!
- Casework and caught up with emails.
Saturday 14th Feb:
- Attended Gender, Race and Class in London with a delegation from Manchester. It was FANTASTIC and we all wished it had lasted longer. A huge thanks to Hazel for driving us there and back!
Saturday 7th Feb:
- Met with a member of the Riveters to discuss campaigns this term.
- Finished editing and organising the Riveter magazine so it could be sent to print.
Monday 9th Feb:
- Attended the NUS’ Mental Health Awareness Day at Manchester, which was really useful and inciteful.
- Attended the second meeting for Lis, the Riveters play where people were cast into roles and sent the information to the women’s prison.
- Attended and promoted ‘The Birthday’ screening about being trans in Iran.
Tursday 10th Feb:
- Staffed the stall at the Refreshers fair for the Riveters and the LGBT society, where I spoke to loads of students and got them interested in joining.
- Promoted the priorities ballot for the general meeting and my motion ‘Increasing Opportunities for Accountability, Transparancy and Access in the Union’ was voted 2nd.
- Printed and collected the Riveter
- Assisted Ellie in the ‘How to Run for Elections’ workshop, focusing on encouraging individuals from the liberation campaigns to run.
Wednesday 11th Feb:
- Emergency General Meeting on Gaza, facilitated the chair with ensuring the meeting ran smoothly.
- Evict RBS demo on the roof of RBS to protest their funding of unsustainable power and ensuing the Union’s spaces are leased to ethical organisations and companies.
- Organised and planned for the LGBT impromptu tea party for LGBT Awareness Week.
- Ran (with Ellie) the ‘How To Reach Hard to Reach Students’ workshop for the first ever course rep conference in Manchester and facilitated part of the discussion on education funding.
Thursday 12th Feb:
- Attended the Student Parents Launch in Birmingham, a fantastic day of workshops, acitivities and networking to ensure student parents rights are fought for in the Union.
- Was VERY happy to hear the Riveters ‘Bring a Friend’ event worked well, as did the LGBT impromptu tea party ☺
Friday 13th Feb:
- Frantically re-sent amendments for NUS Women’s Conference to NUS.
- Attended the UMSU Governance Day.
- Finalised the plans for attending ‘Gender, Race and Class’ the anti-capitalist feminist conference, including going to Salford to retrieve the bus!
- Casework and caught up with emails.
Saturday 14th Feb:
- Attended Gender, Race and Class in London with a delegation from Manchester. It was FANTASTIC and we all wished it had lasted longer. A huge thanks to Hazel for driving us there and back!
Friday, 30 January 2009
Women’s Officer Report -26/01/09 – 31/01/09
Monday 26/01/09
- Flyering for Pangaea
- Made pirate flags for Pangaea
- Organised travel and started promotion for Gender, Race and Class – an anti-capitalist feminist event in London.
- Made more Reclaim the Night Flyers.
- Updated the Riveters mailing list and started promotion for meetings.
Tuesday 27/01/09
- Holocaust Memorial Day vigil, and helped organise the evening event with a film and speakers.
- Flyering for Pangaea
- Wrote a proposal for a ‘common room’ – non-commerical space in the Union to take to exec in order for students to use the union in the best way for them.
- Ordered more DVDs and books for the Riveters Library and upcoming film nights.
Wednesday 28/01/09
- Confirmed self-defence classes for this term.
- Flyering for Pangaea
- Represented students at the General Assemby – a meeting where key stakeholders and figures in the University, as well as the token 6 students go along to hear about the Universities finances. Of note to students is the University have pledged not to cut back on their commitment to Widening Participation in the financial crisis, and are not key lobbyists for lifting the cap on fees. Also of note, not one woman was sat at the top table – we still have that glass ceiling to crack.
Thursday 29/01/09
- NUS regional conference North in Man Met, asking questions to the NEC, finding out how to input into policy for NUS conference and meeting other sabbatical officers.
- Riveters Meeting ☺
Friday 30/01/09
- Pangaea promotion! Including, making a pirate ship, making sails, setting up and generally being creative and piratey.
- Meeting with Amy about Lis, the Riveters play, and planning for the recruitment meetings, how to inform people of the severity of working in prisons etc.
- Reclaim the Parks: Bike Style. Critical Mass followed by party in the park – reclaiming our spaces from gender based violence in the way we want to? Sounds good to me!
Saturday 31/01/09
- PANGAEA! Organising a room for the biggest NUS-only club-event EVER! Pirates of Pangaea was the pirate rock room, celebrating both pirates and rock music. Working in the Union to promote the Union in a way students enjoy. And, getting to make a pirate ship.
- Flyering for Pangaea
- Made pirate flags for Pangaea
- Organised travel and started promotion for Gender, Race and Class – an anti-capitalist feminist event in London.
- Made more Reclaim the Night Flyers.
- Updated the Riveters mailing list and started promotion for meetings.
Tuesday 27/01/09
- Holocaust Memorial Day vigil, and helped organise the evening event with a film and speakers.
- Flyering for Pangaea
- Wrote a proposal for a ‘common room’ – non-commerical space in the Union to take to exec in order for students to use the union in the best way for them.
- Ordered more DVDs and books for the Riveters Library and upcoming film nights.
Wednesday 28/01/09
- Confirmed self-defence classes for this term.
- Flyering for Pangaea
- Represented students at the General Assemby – a meeting where key stakeholders and figures in the University, as well as the token 6 students go along to hear about the Universities finances. Of note to students is the University have pledged not to cut back on their commitment to Widening Participation in the financial crisis, and are not key lobbyists for lifting the cap on fees. Also of note, not one woman was sat at the top table – we still have that glass ceiling to crack.
Thursday 29/01/09
- NUS regional conference North in Man Met, asking questions to the NEC, finding out how to input into policy for NUS conference and meeting other sabbatical officers.
- Riveters Meeting ☺
Friday 30/01/09
- Pangaea promotion! Including, making a pirate ship, making sails, setting up and generally being creative and piratey.
- Meeting with Amy about Lis, the Riveters play, and planning for the recruitment meetings, how to inform people of the severity of working in prisons etc.
- Reclaim the Parks: Bike Style. Critical Mass followed by party in the park – reclaiming our spaces from gender based violence in the way we want to? Sounds good to me!
Saturday 31/01/09
- PANGAEA! Organising a room for the biggest NUS-only club-event EVER! Pirates of Pangaea was the pirate rock room, celebrating both pirates and rock music. Working in the Union to promote the Union in a way students enjoy. And, getting to make a pirate ship.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Women’s Officer Report 18/01/09 – 25/01/09
Women’s Officer Report 18/01/09 – 25/01/09
Sunday 18/1/09
- Wrote the first draft of the new information for the Students’ With Caring Responsibilities section of the union website.
Monday 19/1/09
- Planning meeting for pirates of Pangaea
- Meeting with student
- Finished the plans and handout for the trans training for hall mentors workshops.
- Wrote the Reclaim the Night Press Release
- Developed the plan for the liberation workshops in election time.
- Visited a feminist activist from York St John about setting up a women’s group.
- Visited the Leeds Met Women’s Officer to plan some joint activities.
- Visited the Women’s Conference Delegate from Bradford College to help write an amendment
Tuesday 20/1/09
- More planning and promotion for Reclaim the Night North.
- Worked with a woman on how to build on experience from being a women’s officer in the future.
- Got performers on board with Reclaim the Night and confirmed speakers.
- Rewrote Lysistrata – the feminist play this year and started advertising getting people to come along.
- Registered Reclaim the Night as a volunteering opportunity with MLP to get more people involved.
Wednesday 21/01/09
- More writing for Lysistrata
- Contributed to the NUS LGBT and Women’s campaign – ‘Women in LGBT History Month’.
- More work for Pirates of Pangaea
- Casework
- Gave a student advice on housing options for next year.
- Attended Exec meeting.
Thursday 22/01/09
- Meeting about vocational human rights MA students doing work experience in the students’ union.
- Reclaim the Night North volunteers planning meeting.
- Pre-meeting with Gilbert meeting
- Stewarded the Gaza demo to ensure no-one was hurt, nothing was obstructed and no exam-disruption occurred
- Emailed organisations in Manchester about Reclaim the Night
- Riveters Meeting
Friday 23/01/09
- Arranged torches for Reclaim the Night.
- Arranged travel for 14th Feb event – Gender, Race and Class.
- Sourced DVDs for Open Media and Riveters film nights.
- More promotion for Reclaim the Night.
- Wrote the ‘Hard-To-Reach Students’ workshop for the Course Rep Conference.
- Continued re-writing Lis (the Riveter’s play).
- Attended the Riot Showgrrrl club, a fundraiser for the London Feminist Network to promote Reclaim the Night North.
Sunday 25/01/09
- Finished the first draft of Lis.
- Promoted the planning meetings for the event.
- Met with the other ‘team leader’ for the play.
Sunday 18/1/09
- Wrote the first draft of the new information for the Students’ With Caring Responsibilities section of the union website.
Monday 19/1/09
- Planning meeting for pirates of Pangaea
- Meeting with student
- Finished the plans and handout for the trans training for hall mentors workshops.
- Wrote the Reclaim the Night Press Release
- Developed the plan for the liberation workshops in election time.
- Visited a feminist activist from York St John about setting up a women’s group.
- Visited the Leeds Met Women’s Officer to plan some joint activities.
- Visited the Women’s Conference Delegate from Bradford College to help write an amendment
Tuesday 20/1/09
- More planning and promotion for Reclaim the Night North.
- Worked with a woman on how to build on experience from being a women’s officer in the future.
- Got performers on board with Reclaim the Night and confirmed speakers.
- Rewrote Lysistrata – the feminist play this year and started advertising getting people to come along.
- Registered Reclaim the Night as a volunteering opportunity with MLP to get more people involved.
Wednesday 21/01/09
- More writing for Lysistrata
- Contributed to the NUS LGBT and Women’s campaign – ‘Women in LGBT History Month’.
- More work for Pirates of Pangaea
- Casework
- Gave a student advice on housing options for next year.
- Attended Exec meeting.
Thursday 22/01/09
- Meeting about vocational human rights MA students doing work experience in the students’ union.
- Reclaim the Night North volunteers planning meeting.
- Pre-meeting with Gilbert meeting
- Stewarded the Gaza demo to ensure no-one was hurt, nothing was obstructed and no exam-disruption occurred
- Emailed organisations in Manchester about Reclaim the Night
- Riveters Meeting
Friday 23/01/09
- Arranged torches for Reclaim the Night.
- Arranged travel for 14th Feb event – Gender, Race and Class.
- Sourced DVDs for Open Media and Riveters film nights.
- More promotion for Reclaim the Night.
- Wrote the ‘Hard-To-Reach Students’ workshop for the Course Rep Conference.
- Continued re-writing Lis (the Riveter’s play).
- Attended the Riot Showgrrrl club, a fundraiser for the London Feminist Network to promote Reclaim the Night North.
Sunday 25/01/09
- Finished the first draft of Lis.
- Promoted the planning meetings for the event.
- Met with the other ‘team leader’ for the play.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Women's Officering 12/01/09 - 16/01/09
Women's Officer Report - 12/01/09 - 16/01/09
Monday 12/01/09
Caught up with emails, post and messages from over Christmas.
Finalised the plans for the 24 hour Night Bus and caught up with the library about the popularity of the 24 hour library.
Finalised the campaign plan and timetable for this year.
Organised a coach from Manchester to the Free Education demo on the 25th February.
Attended the Climate Rush demo at Manchester airport
Tuesday 13/01/09
Reclaim the Night promo – including printing publicity, updating facebook and conducting a HUGE mailout.
Organising speakers and stalls for Reclaim the Night.
Rung round lots of Students’ Unions to get them to register delegates for NUS Women’s Conference in my role as Lesbian Rep on NUS Women’s Committee.
Wednesday 14/01/08
Exec away day in Lancaster to discuss experiences, problems and ways forward for the coming term. It was great to speak to everyone outside the union context and talk about issues to help us work better this term.
Thursday 15/01/08
Follow up from 13th December Feminism and the Student Movement event.
Helped develop campaign plans with new Women’s officers from the North we can work on this year.
Looked into new times for self-defense classes this term.
More Reclaim the Night Promo.
Academic Advice Service Open Day Meeting to liaise with influential members of the University.
Represented UMSU at Goldsmiths discussion on Miss University UK.
Friday 16/01/08
Wrote amendments for NUS Women’s Conference.
Arranged support for London Women’s Officers on Miss University UK.
Promoted Reclaim the Night North in London.
Started re-writing Lysistrata – the Riveters play this term.
Notes/ Thoughts
I have decided to stand for the position of NUS National Women’s Officer this year. This decision will not interefere with my work as UMSU Women’s Officer as I shall continue to work hard to ensure the liberation of women students is a paramount priority.
The sabb away day was fantastic and I’m really glad we decided to have open consultations regarding UMSU governance, and to work together on specific campaigns.
I was also hugely impressed by the amount of people at the Goldsmiths meeting to discuss beauty pagents and the efforts of London Women’s Officers to engage students in their demos, actions and discussions. I believe that it is a women’s choice to present in whatever way she wishes and will support them in doing so. But also believe it is important to challenge the capitalist structures which form the ideas of what we need to look like, how we need to harm our bodies to conform and cause not to celebrate how all women look, act, behave and present.
Reclaim the Night
Reclaim the Night is coming up very soon on the 21st February. The Riveters have been busy organising this event since last September, and finally things are starting to come together for what promises to be a very successful march, rally and party.
This year the Riveters, the Women's Rights Collective at the University of Manchester Students' Union, through the medium of consensus decision making, decided to make the march open to all genders. This decision was reached by the group collectively, to address so many of the problems gender-based violence brings up.
The aim of making the march open was to be inclusive to as many people as possible. We reacted to feedback received from Reclaim the Night last year whilst deciding on this. The aim was not to get rid of women's-only spaces, in fact the Riveters and myself are proud supporters and advocates of women only spaces such as the Women's Office in the Students' Union, Our Women-only discussion meetings and the women-only self-defence classes we are proud to put on. With Reclaim the Night, we wanted to try something new.
So what were the reasons we discussed?
- The idea of a women-only space as a 'safe space'. The march is anti-violence against women, yet by suggesting a women's only space is safe suggests same-sex violence doesn't occur, or is unimportant - in fact, it has the same rate of occurance as Domestic Violence in straight couples.
- Trans inclusion. The Riveters pride ourselves on the inclusive nature of our group, and we wanted Reclaim the Night to reflect this. Last year, with a women's only and open march, many trans women felt they were not included because they didn't dress or present a certain way.
- Showing solidarity. Many non-women who attended last year felt the banner 'these hands won't hurt women' was patronising and wanted to be part of the march but in a more involved way.
We hope the results and product of this decision, i.e. the march, will be successful! We look forward to actively reclaiming our spaces together, to saying NO to gender-based violence and to standing together as a community - a community that condemns violence collectively, sticks up for each other and put a stop to the abhorrent circumstances many women experience and live in.
We would love to hear your thoughts, views and opinions on our decision, and would love feedback after the event!
See you ALL there, Saturday 21st Feb at 7.30pm University of Manchester Students' Union, Oxford Road.
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