Your Changes

What's it about?

Students should be able to access recordings of lectures.

What's happened?

Roll out of phase 1 of this will begin in September 2020, in a limited number of rooms on campus. There won't be video recording in the majority of spaces. You can see a statement about this project online.

What's next?

This has been completed! Fifi will update on this at Student Voice.

What's it about?

You wanted more indoor places to be able to heat up and eat packed lunches, particularly during winter. This would help students to make financially and environmentally sustainable choices, and will particularly benefit commuter students who can’t get home in the middle of the day to make food.

What's happened?

Roll out of phase 1 of this will begin in September 2020, in a limited number of rooms on campus. There won't be video recording in the majority of spaces.

What's next?

Ensure students know about the map by promoting it effectively.

What's it about?

Students should be able to make environmentally sustainable choices about the products they buy.

What's happened?

Last term, Maya's Refillables came to the market on Thursdays. Due to low uptake, Maya won't be coming back this term - but we're looking into a 'click and collect' service. UoR also now have a shop in Eat at the Square and Park Bar with sustainable products.

What's next?

Support Maya in creating this service and monitor the University outlets.

What's it about?

Students need to be more able to access mental health support at the University of Reading.

What's happened?

It is part of Gemma's mental health campaign. A survey went out to students last term, and we are in the process of analysing these results to write a report and take to the university.

What's next?

Collate survey results and take report to SEC and other relevant committees.

What's it about?

Working to make sure students can contact security services by text

What's happened?

Begun the planning process.

What's next?

Creating actions and getting this up on the website in the next few weeks.

What's it about?

Creating more parking spaces for students and opening up car park 1a.

What's happened?

Begun the planning process with the help of the Mature Students' Officer.

What's next?

Creating actions and getting this up on the website in the next few weeks.

What's it about?

We want to reduce the number of plastic straws sold in RUSU.

What's happened?

This has been in place since February 2018. In that time, we've only been selling 100 straws a week - that's between up to 5000 students across two Union nights! Straws are still available so that those who need them can have access.

What's next?

This student policy is expiring, but the idea will be included in an upcoming RUSU environment policy.

What's it about?

Being able to re-sell Union tickets should help avoid 'black market' ticket sales.

What's happened?

We swapped from Fatsoma to Eventbrite as a platform for ticket sales to enable this to happen. This is now in place - go to rusu.twickets.live to buy or sell a ticket for a sold-out RUSU event!

What's next?

This is complete, and working well with no significant issues as yet.

What's it about?

RUSU support the campaign to have a second referendum on Brexit.

What's happened?

RUSU publically support the People's Vote Campaign. You may have seen volunteers from For Our Future's Sake at the Freshers fair! We also ran an event at the beginning of October to give students the chance to clear up any confusion and get an update with what has been going on.

What's next?

Britain has now formally left the EU as of the 31^st January.

What's it about?

This policy idea called for RUSU to write a policy relating to sustainability or our crockery and cutlery provision.

What's happened?

We've started writing this policy, but it might take a while because we really want it to be thorough.

What's next?

Once finalised, this policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis to check implementation of it.

What's happened?

We will be running four self-defence classes, two female only and two mixed. The first of these is on the 2nd March in 3sixty.

What's next?

We'll monitor interest in these and consider running more if uptake is high.

What's happened?

Most bins now have cigarette waste disposal. The sustainability team are upgrading bins around campus, and there are three left to do. If you see a bin that needs an ashtray, please contact Estates and Facilities at the University.

What's next?

Sustainability team have three bins left to do - contact them for more information.

What's it about?

Including information about what texts contains helps students who might find topics difficult prepare well to engage with them. RUSU will work for these to be included in course materials.

What's happened?

A report was taken to DELT in December 2019, outlining policy for the use of trigger warnings. This is being developed into a policy and guidance note with the University.

What's next?

This will become University policy.

What's it about?

Making it safer for students to cross the road in this area.

What's happened?

We've realised this idea will not be achievable by RUSU alone, meaning it cannot be completed as an action, and so will review it at next IFG. The University are currently lobbying the council on this issue.

What's next?

This will be going to Student Voice as a Campaign idea as it would require lobbying efforts.

What's happened?

We've realised this idea will not be achievable by RUSU alone meaning it cannot be completed as an action, and so will review it at next IFG. The University are currently lobbying the council on this issue.

What's next?

This will be going to Student Voice as a Campaign idea as it would require lobbying efforts.

What's it about?

Making sure pitch bookings by sports clubs aren't prioritised by gender

What's happened?

We already do this, and have a non-discriminatory process in place, so we will write this process down formally in a policy. This will be completed soon.

What's it about?

More places to fill up a water bottle

What's happened?

RUSU applied for funding for water fountains around the Uni last year out of the Student Experience fund. There are now three additional water fountains in the RUSU building, and the University are planning potential locations around campus.

What's next?

This is now a completed action, but we'll be following up with the Uni on their progress.

What's it about?

Showing solidarity and commitment to the Global Climate Strikes movement

What's happened?

Due to charity law, we can’t commit resources to campaigning on an issue unless it directly relates to ‘students as students’. However, we can hold an official position on the issue.

What's next?

This will be going to Student Voice as a policy idea.

What's it about?

This was actioned to research by IFG because it was unclear exactly what the idea was calling for in how best RUSU should support commuting students.

What's happened?

We attended the University's Commuter Student Welcome Socials and talked to them about RUSU, Societies, Advice, and what we can do to help. We got really good feedback about our involvement, and have made a Facebook page for commuters called Commuting Students Official Group. Spread the word about it, and do let us know if there's something that would help you!

What's next?

We will be promoting the facebook page to help build a community of commuters at Reading, please get in touch if there's something you think would support commuters. Otherwise, this idea has been completed!

What's it about?

Including students in a sustainability scheme offered to University of Reading staff

What's happened?

The Easit reading scheme is a staff employment scheme. We contacted EasIt Reading to check, but there is therefore no capability to secure this scheme for students.

What's next?

This idea can't be implemented

What's it about?

Diversify the music in our nightclub

What's happened?

"For Wednesday Union nights, this isn’t feasible as a new Mixer, decks and a DJ would cost 5,420 + VAT(best price) per year (worked out over 5 years).

As mojos is currently in the planning process to undergo a major refurbishment and will not be useable as a room with a dancefloor with a DJ it wouldn’t be feasible to trial new music when this would just stop at the end of the year.

We do cater for a range of diverse music tastes with events in our venue which include, PLUR, Umbra, Jazz and Juice, Glitter-Bomb, and live gigs. We also offer SUBTV where you can choose your own music whenever you are sat in Mojos."

What's next?

This idea can't be implemented, but we'll continue to diversify other events.