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.