Want More? Follow UUSU On
Minisite Categories
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER AND UU STUDENTS' UNION
PROTOCOL GOVERNING ALL ON-CAMPUS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
PRINCIPLES
A. It is the view of the University that political activity is a fundamental right devolved to the Students' Union and the activities undertaken by its Clubs and Societies.
B. Such rights also bring with them responsibilities on the part of the Students' Union Executive and the student body. The Students' Union is a self-governing body, which administers a number of areas and activities under prescribed constitutional authority devolved by the University. The University is ultimately responsible for everything that is said and done under its aegis.
C. The University has adopted a policy of creating a politically neutral environment throughout all parts of the institution, including the areas allocated to the Students' Union. Equality legislation in Northern Ireland requires that the University and the Students' Union should have regard to the promotion of good relations amongst students and staff and in the wider community.
D. Therefore it is the objective of the University to reconcile the policy of promoting a politically neutral environment with the protection of the rights and responsibilities of the student body in relation to political and cultural activities and other forms of expression. To this end a protocol has been developed to govern political activities involving the Students' Union and its Clubs and Societies.
E. This protocol applies to party political activities. However cross party events such as open debates or discussions on issues of the day must be organised in a responsible way, conscious of the responsibilities of the Students' Union to all its members and to the integrity of the University.
Use of SU Facilities
1. Students' Union facilities may be used for political meetings, subject to the conditions set out below.
2. Each meeting must have the approval of the President or the appropriate Site Vice-President before it is organised or invitations are issued. The President or the appropriate Site Vice-President must inform the campus Provost of any such events and any external speakers and /or guests. A minimum of 10 working days’ notice should be given, where possible.
3. The format and location of party political activities must be chosen in a way that will avoid causing offence to
other students, staff or visitors to the University: that is these activities must take place in a closed room
previously booked for the purpose.
4. Posters may be displayed to advertise a meeting; and should be removed within 24 hours after the event. These posters may include the official logo of the ‘parent’ political party. Political leaflets, emblems, flags or memorabilia may not be displayed outside the closed environment. (An exception is made for the Freshers’ Fayre – see point 9).
5. Guest speakers and representatives of outside bodies may be invited to meetings, discussions and debates. However, such visitors to the University must be reminded of the policy of a politically neutral environment and they will be expected to behave in a way which will comply with that policy.
6. Recruitment to Students' Union clubs and societies, including political societies, may be arranged at any time in the year in approved areas subject to the guidelines set out in this protocol. The University will not allow recruitment on University premises to ‘parent’ political parties except where this is organised in a closed room and subject to the conditions set out in this protocol.
Use of University Facilities
7. Where no suitable accommodation or location is available within the areas allocated to the Students' Union at each of the four campuses, the University will consider making available appropriate facilities to the Students' Union for the activities of its political societies. The conditions stated in points 1 to 6 inclusive will also apply to any University facilities used by the Students' Union for these activities.
8. In the first instance a request for the use of the facility must be made by the Secretary of the Club or Society to the Provost of the appropriate campus. Such a request, without exception, must be authorised and signed by the President or appropriate Site Vice-President of the Students' Union and be accompanied by the following information:
(i) the reason that a Students' Union facility is not suitable or not available for the event;
(ii) the date and time of the proposed event and the numbers expected to attend;
(iii) the exact nature of the event, including details of its organiser and, in cases where an outside organisation is involved, full details of other visitors, guests or delegates who will attend;
(iv) the identities of any guest speakers; and
(v) any other information that the University may require in regard to matters such as catering, car parking, security considerations, additional access requirements or equality monitoring.
In making a decision on such a request, the Provost may consult with other Senior Officers.
9. At the Freshers’ Fayre (and any other open events) the SU will provide standard UU/SU/Society backdrops (as approved between the Students Union and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Communication and Institutional Development) for display. All ‘stall-holders’ must use these standard backdrops. Flags and emblems will be prohibited at these events: however the official logo of the ‘parent’ political party will be allowed within the standard backdrop. Political leaflets may be displayed and available on request at the stall but should not be actively distributed. Gifts/freebies may be made available bearing only the society name and/or ‘parent ‘political party official logo. Representatives of political parties may not attend the Freshers’ Fayre. However, should a Society wish to invite a representative of a political party to the University during the period of the Freshers’ Fayre this will be permitted subject to compliance with the conditions stated in points 1 to 6 inclusive.
10. The SU will maintain a record of all such meetings and external speakers, and of any significant incidents arising from such meetings. The SU will present an annual report to the University and Students’ Union Forum, normally in June. The protocol will be reviewed annually by the Forum, also normally in June.
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER AND UU STUDENTS' UNION
PROTOCOL GOVERNING ALL ON-CAMPUS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
PRINCIPLES
A. It is the view of the University that political activity is a fundamental right devolved to the Students' Union and the activities undertaken by its Clubs and Societies.
B. Such rights also bring with them responsibilities on the part of the Students' Union Executive and the student body. The Students' Union is a self-governing body, which administers a number of areas and activities under prescribed constitutional authority devolved by the University. The University is ultimately responsible for everything that is said and done under its aegis.
C. The University has adopted a policy of creating a politically neutral environment throughout all parts of the institution, including the areas allocated to the Students' Union. Equality legislation in Northern Ireland requires that the University and the Students' Union should have regard to the promotion of good relations amongst students and staff and in the wider community.
D. Therefore it is the objective of the University to reconcile the policy of promoting a politically neutral environment with the protection of the rights and responsibilities of the student body in relation to political and cultural activities and other forms of expression. To this end a protocol has been developed to govern political activities involving the Students' Union and its Clubs and Societies.
E. This protocol applies to party political activities. However cross party events such as open debates or discussions on issues of the day must be organised in a responsible way, conscious of the responsibilities of the Students' Union to all its members and to the integrity of the University.
Use of SU Facilities
1. Students' Union facilities may be used for political meetings, subject to the conditions set out below.
2. Each meeting must have the approval of the President or the appropriate Site Vice-President before it is organised or invitations are issued. The President or the appropriate Site Vice-President must inform the campus Provost of any such events and any external speakers and /or guests. A minimum of 10 working days’ notice should be given, where possible.
3. The format and location of party political activities must be chosen in a way that will avoid causing offence to other students, staff or visitors to the University: that is these activities must take place in a closed room previously booked for the purpose.
4. Posters may be displayed to advertise a meeting; and should be removed within 24 hours after the event. These posters may include the official logo of the ‘parent’ political party. Political leaflets, emblems, flags or memorabilia may not be displayed outside the closed environment. (An exception is made for the Freshers’ Fayre – see point 9).
5. Guest speakers and representatives of outside bodies may be invited to meetings, discussions and debates. However, such visitors to the University must be reminded of the policy of a politically neutral environment and they will be expected to behave in a way which will comply with that policy.
6. Recruitment to Students' Union clubs and societies, including political societies, may be arranged at any time in the year in approved areas subject to the guidelines set out in this protocol. The University will not allow recruitment on University premises to ‘parent’ political parties except where this is organised in a closed room and subject to the conditions set out in this protocol.
Use of University Facilities
7. Where no suitable accommodation or location is available within the areas allocated to the Students' Union at each of the four campuses, the University will consider making available appropriate facilities to the Students' Union for the activities of its political societies. The conditions stated in points 1 to 6 inclusive will also apply to any University facilities used by the Students' Union for these activities.
8. In the first instance a request for the use of the facility must be made by the Secretary of the Club or Society to the Provost of the appropriate campus. Such a request, without exception, must be authorised and signed by the President or appropriate Site Vice-President of the Students' Union and be accompanied by the following information:
(i) the reason that a Students' Union facility is not suitable or not available for the event;
(ii) the date and time of the proposed event and the numbers expected to attend;
(iii) the exact nature of the event, including details of its organiser and, in cases where an outside organisation is involved, full details of other visitors, guests or delegates who will attend;
(iv) the identities of any guest speakers; and
(v) any other information that the University may require in regard to mattersas catering, car parking, security considerations, additional access requirements or equality monitoring.
In making a decision on such a request, the Provost may consult with other Senior Officers.
9. At the Freshers’ Fayre (and any other open events) the SU will provide standard UU/SU/Society backdrops (as approved between the Students Union and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Communication and Institutional Development) for display. All ‘stall-holders’ must use these standard backdrops. Flags and emblems will be prohibited at these events: however the official logo of the ‘parent’ political party will be allowed within the standard backdrop. Political leaflets may be displayed and available on request at the stall but should not be actively distributed. Gifts/freebies may be made available bearing only the society name and/or ‘parent ‘political party official logo. Representatives of political parties may not attend the Freshers’ Fayre. However, should a Society wish to invite a representative of a political party to the University during the period of the Freshers’ Fayre this will be permitted subject to compliance with the conditions stated in points 1 to 6 inclusive.
10. The SU will maintain a record of all such meetings and external speakers, and of any significant incidents arising from such meetings. The SU will present an annual report to the University and Students’ Union Forum, normally in June. The protocol will be reviewed annually by the Forum, also normally in June.
