EUSA Democracy Review 2016

Survey Between and total individual respondents 1377 completed the survey (4%) of “Engaged” sample – of those who could: 44% voted in last years election 54% of the sample didn’t vote.

Sample ActualSurveyDifference FT75%94%19% PT25%3%-22% UG66%74%8% TPG20%15%-5% RPG14%9%-5% Woman59% 0% Man41%37%-4% 17 or under7%1%-6% 18 to 2047%42%-5% Scotland35%29%-6% Other UK24%26%2% EU13%17%4% International29%25%-4%

Sample Relatively “engaged” sample 44% of those able to vote in last years election did so 54% of the sample didn’t vote. Sabbatical Officers

30% believe they can name officer positions Can you name any of the positions that make up the elected sabbatical officer team? 1839.

President is the most known role Of the 484 respondents who answered that they could name some of the officer roles: 88% (428) mentioned the President 65% (315) mentioned the VP Societies and Activities 61% (296) mentioned the VP Academic Affairs 47% (226) mentioned the VP Services 15% (72) mentioned Vice President 20% (97) mentioned another Welfare

Less than half know what Officers do Can you name any of the positions that make up the elected sabbatical officer team? NOTES: 68% (360) of voters know what some of them do compared to 22% (136) of non voters

Accountability is low To what extent, if at all, do you agree with the following statement? ‘I feel I can hold the sabbatical officers at EUSA to account’ Please select one option 1524 NOTES: 34% (158) of voters feel they can compared to 13% (66) of non voters

Nearly twice as positive as negative amongst those who have a view Putting aside your personal view of the people currently in the roles, on the whole, how effective do you feel the current sabbatical officer roles are at representing students? 1524 NOTES: 43% (192) of voters feel they’re effective compared to 15% of non voters (76)

VP Services considered most administrative and least representative If administrative is “relating to the work that is needed to control the operations of an organisation” and representative is “someone who speaks or does something 1524 NOTES: 42% of voters think the VP Services role is either administrative or highly administrative

The importance of liberation 75% (84) of disabled students compared to 65% (790) of students who didn’t define as disabled thought it important or very important to include freedom from disablism 76% (158) of LGB students compared to 59% (635) of heterosexual students thought it important or very important to include freedom from homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia 69%(559) of women compared to 52% (266) of men thought it important or very important to include freedom from sexism How important is it that sabbatical officers’ roles include responsibility for the following? 1524

Sample Relatively “engaged” sample 44% of those able to vote in last years election did so 54% of the sample didn’t vote. Representation

Only 30% of students feel comfortable standing in an election How comfortable would you feel taking part in the following processes in order to become a decision maker within EUSA? Please select 1 for not at all comfortable and 5 for very comfortable Please select one option per row NOTES: 17% of men are “very comfortable” standing in an election compared to 10% of women. 31% of women are “very uncomfortable” standing in an election compared to 23% of men. 43% of PT students are “very uncomfortable” standing in an election and 8% “very comfortable”

Sample Relatively “engaged” sample 44% of those able to vote in last years election did so 54% of the sample didn’t vote. Decision making

Appetite for participation Which of the following stages in the decision making process would you like to take part in? Please select as many as apply. 1385

Relatively low appetite for representative democracy Which of the following would you MOST like to see used to make decisions within your students’ association? Please select one option 1385

The majority favour majority rule As a democracy, EUSA should attempt to make decisions that…Please select one option 1385

Principles of decision making 42% prioritise decisions being inclusive (fair) 45% prioritise decisions being high quality (informed) 12% prioritise it being efficient (quick)

Sample Relatively “engaged” sample 44% of those able to vote in last years election did so 54% of the sample didn’t vote. Next steps…

Stages Stage 1: All student survey Environmental analysis Stakeholder interviews -sabbaticals, trustees, staff, university representatives Initial NUS research presented Stage 2: Officer focus group All staff focus group Trustee focus group Council focus group

Sabbatical Officers + Increase the number of sabbatical roles from 4 to 5 Maintain a non-hierarchical structure while allowing in governing documents that it is appreciated that the President, as Chair of the Trustee Board may have some theoretical procedural authority. Permit sabbatical officers to re-stand for a second term through cross campus ballot Single candidacy across all elections

Sabbatical Officers + President all non-L&T university issues, court member, spokesperson, trustee board chair, internal operations (finance/HR) Vice President Welfare student safety, wellbeing, mental and physical health, campus cohesion Vice President Community housing, environment, sustainability, transport, local council and citizenship, university estates liaison Vice President Activities & Services commercial services, societies, volunteering, student opportunities, student development Vice President Education all academic matters, central university representation, course reps, college and school liaison

Additional key elected positions Liberation Officers x 4 part-time paid liberation representatives elected by defining students Black, Disabled, Women, LGBTQ+ College Representatives x 3 part-time paid college representatives elected by each college

Trustee Board Sabbatical Officer Trustees x 5 Lay External Trustees x 3 Appointed Student Representative Trustees x 4 No currently elected student representative trustee to lose their position Allows for the placement of under-represented groups on organisational decision making body Ensures diversity of membership on Trustee Board Allows for non-political organisational development and legal oversight Only 30% of students comfortable standing for election

Council 1.Any student can submit an idea to EUSA council 2.Process for immediately implementing any idea that doesn’t negatively affect any other students 3.Elected council members receive the ideas in advance and consult their relevant constituents 4.Sabbatical officer trustees highlight any legal, financial information 5.Council is facilitated by a recruited, paid and trained student facilitator 6.Contentious issues are settled by cross campus ballot 7.‘Introduction to Council’ session delivered at the start

Student Council Voting Identifying contentious issues: If the total vote is higher than 66% it shall pass If the total vote is lower than 33% it shall fall If the total vote is between 34% and 65% it shall be referred to a campus wide ballot

Council Membership Sabbatical Officers x 5 Liberation Representatives x 4 College Representatives x 3 School Reps x 40 (1UG 1PG per school) Activities Representatives x 14 (1 per societies category) Section Representatives x 6 (International, Parents, Carers, Part Time, Mature, Trans) Standing invitation to: Sports Union Representative ESCA Representative

Council Facilitator - Discuss Recruitment of a student facilitator to host council Current low accountability of officers More accessible for students Independent of officers Un-politically motivated Trained in facilitation Appointed by a body similar to Trustee Board appointments panel

Council Voting Options How to celebrate the value of standing in an election? Status Quo No change and all ordinary student and elected representative votes equal Elected Representative Weighted Voting The value of Elected Rep’s vote weighted against popular student vote to reflect strength of legitimacy Elected Representative Voting Only elected council members vote

Council Voting Options Elected Representative Weighted Voting When necessary Elected Representative votes would be increased to equal the popular student vote e.g. In the case of 100 ordinary students and 50 Elected Reps voting, the value of elected rep votes shall be worth a total of 100 (1 Elected rep votes = 2 ordinary student votes) + This would allow the popular vote to win as long as they have lobbied enough council members to support the motion - Some votes may have to be conducted after council to identify weighted calculation

Council Voting Options Elected Representative Voting Sabbatical Officers x 5 Liberation Representatives x 4 College Representatives x 3 School Reps x 40 (1UG 1PG per school) Activities Representatives x 14 (1 per societies category) Section Representatives x 6 (International, Parents, Carers, Part Time, Mature, Trans) Sports Union Representative ESCA Representative + Champions elected responsibility, encourages greater detail and informed decision making - Removes single issue ‘packing of the room’

Council Voting Options – Discuss Status Quo No change and all ordinary student and elected representative votes equal Elected Representative Weighted Voting The value of Elected Rep’s vote weighted against popular student vote to reflect strength of legitimacy Elected Representative Voting Only elected council members vote If the total vote is higher than 66% it shall pass If the total vote is lower than 33% it shall fall If the total vote is between 34% and 65% it shall be referred to a campus wide ballot

Sample Relatively “engaged” sample 44% of those able to vote in last years election did so 54% of the sample didn’t vote.