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Minutes > Open Meeting 13/5/2003
DCAC and JCR Open Meeting Minutes for 13th May 2003
1. DCAC Meeting Opened
There were more than 60 members present, so the meeting was quorate
2. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the last DCAC open meeting held 14th November 2002 were approved
3. Treasurer's Report
- James Bell reported
- Charity charge has taken place, see list of winning charities
- Blues expenses should be submitted by 14th June
4a. Motion to establish a Sailing Club
Hywel Room, the proposer was absent, and no seconder was given on the motion, so the motion was
postponed until the next DCAC Open Meeting
4b. Motion to establish an Athletics Club
The DCAC notes that:
- Several members of college of both the MCR and the JCR take part in athletics at a University level.
- There is currently no athletics club in College.
The DCAC believes that:
- There would be sufficient interest from College members to make an athletics club viable.
- The establishment of an athletics club would raise the college profile within the University sporting community.
The DCAC motions to:
- Formally charter the Downing College Athletics club as a DCAC Affiliated Society
- There is a need for an Athletics Club
- Many students compete in athletics events, including for the university
- We are a sporty college, but athletics is not represented
- Many people do athletics at school, would like to continue
- Want to get more first years involved
- No serious objections raised
- Motion passed 61-0, 1 abstention.
4c. Motion to establish a Ski and Snowboarding Club
The DCAC notes that:
- A Ski & Snowboarding society has been informally formed by members of the DCAC
- The Ski & Snowboarding society allows all members of college to enjoy skiing, snowboarding & other winter sports and provides a team to compete in the University 'cuppers' snowsports competitions.
The DCAC believes that:
- Affiliation to the DCAC would allow the Ski & Snowboarding society to pursue its aims of bringing the joys of winter sports to more students in the College and allow them to apply for funding to subsidise trips to ski slopes in the UK.
The DCAC motions to:
- Formally establish the Downing College Ski & Snowboarding Society as a DCAC Affiliated Society
- Seek to provide the DCSSS with some funding if available for this year (since budget has been already set), with normal applications occurring in subsequent years
- Downing has many people involved in skiing and snowboarding at university level
- Would like some funding so could go on trips eg to Milton Keynes Snowdome to increase interest
- No serious objections
- Motion passed 59-1, 1 abstention
Dean's statement
In a change to the agenda, Ian Redding read out the Dean's statement relating
to the recent disciplinary committee.
4d. Motion to establish a Table Football Club
The DCAC notes that:
- A table football club has been formed informally by members of the DCAC
- The Table Football Club allows all members of college to improve their skills and participate in competitive matches on a regular basis
- The Table Football Club enters two teams into the highly competitive University Table Football League which has been formed this year
The DCAC believes that:
- Affiliation to the DCAC would put the Table Football Club on a level playing field with similar sports clubs in the College and allow them apply for funding to improve the quality of playing and training equipment.
The DCAC motions to:
- Formally establish the Downing College Table Football Club as a DCAC Affiliated Club.
- We already have two teams playing in the University League, divisions 1 and 3.
- Many people are interested in playing table football
- Wish to promote to Freshers and gain more members
- Some points raised about silly nature of club
- Want funding to pay for league games, buy new balls
- Motion passed 46-11, 4 abstentions
4e. Motion to ban smoking in the Butterfield Bar
The DCAC notes that:
- There is often a smoky atmosphere in the bar (in the Butterfield building) in the evenings. This leads to a significant proportion of College members feeling uncomfortable in the bar.
- The problem is particularly noticeable at the bar itself, where smoke can collect, and seriously affect the bar staff.
- Passive smoking has been strongly associated with long-term health problems including lung cancer and coronary heart disease.
The DCAC believes that:
- While everyone is free to choose to smoke, this choice should not be allowed to affect the comfort and health of others.
The DCAC resolves to:
- Extend the current ban on smoking in the Butterfield bar before 9PM to all the time.
- A controversial motion, many views expressed on both sides, including:
- Smoking affects enjoyment of majority of JCR members
- Are bar staff particularly badly affected?
- Aim to give bar a more pleasant atmosphere
- Makes your clothes smell
- No worse than alcohol... which also affects your health and annoys those around you
- Not a major problem compared to other venues
- Bar+Amenities Committee are investigating improving ventilation
- Would discourage people coming to the bar at all?
- Smoking already banned AT the bar
- No viable alternative for smokers. Smoking outside
would disturb library-users or cause a fire risk
- Wrong time to propose? Better in Michaelmas term, when Freshers arrive.
Motion was amended to take effect from Michaelmas Term.
- Unfair on smokers. But is allowing smoking unfair on others?
- People with breathing problems could come to bar
- What would be the penalty for breaking rule?
- Health effects of passive smoking
- Affects visitors from other colleges too
- Motion defeated: 23 for, 31 against, 9 abstentions.
5. DCAC meeting closed
There was a mass exodus
6. JCR meeting opened
The minutes of the last JCR Open Meeting held 11th March 2003 were approved
7. President's Question Time
- Q. What has Ian been doing since his election?
- Initially: getting to know fellows, staff and how various
committees work, with Pete Sumner's assistance.
- Dealing with individual student problems
- Liasing with bursar over various matters
- Sorting out difficulties arising from rooms ballot
- Considering accomodation contracts for freshers next year
- Liasing with freshers' committee, ents committee etc.
Q. Is the JCR Committee biased with too many of your friends on it?
- No, interaction within JCR Committee is very different to that between
friends
- Not afraid to take opposing viewpoints
- No more 'biased' than say, the fact that both President and VP are male
Q. What is your favourite colour?
8. Officers' Reports
- James Bell, Treasury: Was asked how budget decisions are made: each society applies for annual grant, Treasurer writes budget, Governing Body has final say on whether it is approved.
- Ross McElwain, Academic: Wilkins Room available until Sunday as overflow study space. In evenings thereafter.
- Farzana Hakim, Women's: attended CUSU Women's Council etc. See womens' emails for more details.
- Matt Mayer, Communications: New information on website. SMS service being launched.
- Tony Evans, Men's: Analysis of Quality of Life survey ongoing. Garden party in hand.
- Jenny Duggan, Ents: Ents will be joint-organised with MCR. May Week events dependent on Bar
opening. Ian also outlined Superhall idea
- Malcolm Parry, Services: Washing-up liquid in kitchens and boxes in laundries.
- Josh Lewison, VP: New to job. Attended Governing Body meeting. How best to print agendas to minimise paper waste?
9. Any Other Business
- Who writes the rules for the rooms ballot? In the meeting it was stated
that this was done by the Vice-President. In fact, the vice-president organises
the conduct of the ballot, but the rules are established
by the Rooms Tutor,
Dr Evans in conjunction with the JCR.
Changes must be passed by a JCR open meeting and by him.
- James was asked about the Initiatives Fund. This has been reduced by £200 this year, but
there is still £220 left and it will still be available next year
- Josh requested return of agendas for recycling
10. Meeting Closed
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