Plastic ID cards win for Facebook Campaign

The University of Greenwich will finally change the much-ridiculed paper Identity Cards to proper plastic ones from September 2008. The decision comes after the Facebook group 'Campaign For Decent Greenwich ID Cards' came to the attention of university hierarchy. Containing 812 members, the group quickly became a hotbed for anger, frustration and jokes about the ID card.

Students were informed of the decision first via the group and soon after by SU President Virender Choudhary who sent a all-student email. Oddly, he made no mention of the (completely independent) facebook group, saying "You asked whether the University could replace the
laminated paper ‘Resource Card’ with something more
substantial and less ‘tacky’. Today the University
advised me that, as of September this year, it will be
issuing proper ‘credit card’ style Resource Cards."

The figureheads of the Facebook campaign, Telescope editors Ben Wraith and Chris Williams were also involved in the 'Motiongate' controversy, where the SU rejected Mr Wraith's Motions for this year's AGM. Mr Wraith, in a message to all members, reasoned that "Students moaning in the Satisfaction Survey, the efforts of Karen Adomako in the SU and, probably decisively, the ranting on this group" all contributed to the final success.

A senior university figure' informed Mr Wraith that the card would be "plastic...have colour printing" with the possibility of uploading personal photos. In the future "Smart card payment facilities" (like the oyster card) would be a "distinct possibility". Ben Wraith first wrote of hs ideas for ID cards in his well regarded blog 'Greenwich Ideas'. Ben Wraith and Chris Williams, will continue their campaigning, running as candidates in the Student Union elections this year. It is hoped by many that this ID card success will increase appetite amongst students for making more changes in the University. The elections (March 3-6) will hope for a big turnout.

On the group wall, Magdalena Pryjmak encapsulated the feeling of all campaigners (even those who are about to graduate, in a post, screaming "WE'VE GOT IT!!".

Campaign for a decent ID card Facebook group

ID card campaign group reaches 500 members

A 'Facebook' group calling for proper plastic ID cards has now over 500 members after only a week of operation. The target is 1000 members. The group was set up to get plastic ID cards introduced for September 2008, next academic year. The issue of the current laminated ID cards has been flaring up for many years at Staff-Student meetings in the university. Most students complain that they are being refused entry to clubs and discounts in shops. The greater issue is how easily the cards are fakable, leading to serious security issues. Some possible ideas advocated are integrating the card with photocopying cards, The 'Greenwich Card' for local council discounts, and even including oyster - this technology is already used in some American colleges. The petition will be taken to the university once 1000 members are reached.

Comms Sabb storms out of AGM

Campaigns and Communications Sabbatical officer Stephen Aitken walked out of the AGM this week. The event happened after Education Sabb, Karen Adomako stole his microphone during an unexpected outburst about the absent President.

"I've had enough with him" He cried, to loud cheers provoking Karen to snatch the podium. He then decided to exit the lecture hall, only to be asked back 20 minutes later by a supporter, to more loud cheers. Aitken had previously been quietly vocal in his objection to President Verinder, although no one was expecting this kind of outburst, not least the other sabbaticals. Steve had previously threatened to quit over his fractured working relationship with the twice elected President.

AGM inquorate again as only 0.3% attend

Only 61 people out of 22,000 students turned up this week to the Student Union's Annual General Meeting. This kept the meeting inquorate. The AGM is the only chance apart from the election that unelected students can have a voice. Due to it being inquorate (under 200 students in attendance) nothing could validly be voted on, only a informal question and answer session took place. The President (above) could not attend, despite knowing about the AGM date last March. He is currently on a visit in India with Ken Livingstone. There was much anger from the students who did turn up at the fact he had not attended, and many questions for him were directed at the other officers.

Rumours of a protest, after the SU rejected all motions submitted, failed to materialise. There would have been no motions to vote on if over 200 had showed up. SU excuses, that the advertised deadline was lapsed on all 12 motions, have been widely debunked. The University is now investigating the matter.

Last year the meeting was not rescheduled. University movers and shakers, and the university itself, will keep a keener eye on attempts this year.

Students discuss 'Motiongate' options

Students are starting to develop ideas on how to respond to the Student Unions decision to controversially reject all motions in what has been dubbed 'Motiongate' or 'Motion Sickness'.

Official complaints have already been sent to the president, but options such as boycott and protests at the AGM are now being considered. The AGM is on the 27th of November.

Two Sabbs deny involvement in 'Motiongate'

Both Services Sabb Jenny Chan and Campaigns and Communications Sabbatical Officer Steven Aitken have denied involvement in changing the motion submission deadline.

On the Facebook group supporting the motions, Jenny Chan wrote "As I was at the Universities Reception meeting with the Vice Chancellor that day, so I had no clue that had happened"

Steven Aitken also vowed to "take it up with the President". Three of his own motions were also rejected by the President and management.

The End of Democracy?

AGM will have no motions to vote on as SU changes deadline on the day.

In an astonishing move this week, The University of Greenwich Student Union changed the submission deadline from 14th November to the 13th for AGM motions. This was only told to students at the submission desk on the 14th.This enabled them to reject 9 motions proposed by a students on that day. Overall they rejected 13 motions.

This decision was made after a 'Facebook' group was made which attempted to gain support for the 9 motions. One of the motions included was a proposal to bring The Greenwich Telescope Newspaper into the SU (while maintaining editorial independence), allowing the student run paper to end its financial crisis.

Other Motions included dropping the 22 wage difference, allowing fair pay for students under 22 in SU shops and bars, and allowing international students to work before gaining a national insurance number, in line with Home Office guidelines.

But on the 14th of November, as he was about to submit, it was told to Ben Wraith (the proposer of the motions) that the deadline had been changed.

Mr Wraith intendeds to make an official complaint to the President, Virender Choudhary.

The AGM (Annual General Meeting) will now have no motions.
Students will now have to wait for the elections in march to influence policy.

The Facebook Group for the motions

The 9 motions

1. That The Greenwich Telescope (GT) becomes part of SUUG, GT remains editorially independent of the Sabbaticals, VP Campaigns & Communications can veto only on grounds of libel, Social Society run GT until a Student Media Society is formed and that the Sarky Cutt budget is transferred to the relevant Society.

2. To scrap the age-based wage differential in the SU with immediate effect and to pay all part-time SUUG employees at least the highest rate (22 years +) of National Minimum Wage.

3. That full reciprocal membership, as laid out in the constitution, becomes operational policy. That steps are taken to promote this to local HE institutions including Goldsmiths College, Trinity School of Music and Greenwich Community College. That all SUUG staff are made aware of this revised policy.

4. The SUUG web-site states ‘It is VERY important that you have a valid National Insurance number. We are unable to process application forms without one.’ on its vacancies page. This is discriminatory and wrong. The VP Services should immediately change the statement in consultation with Student Affairs.

5. That prices for food and drink at Avery Hill and Greenwich SU outlets should be equalised by reverting to the lowest current price. That subsequent cumulative annual price increases for all food & drink should be kept low and agreed by a full quorate SRC prior to implementation.

6. To mandate the President and General Manager to take immediate steps to ensure that SUUG is able to send its full and correct delegate entitlement to NUS Annual Conference. To mandate the VPs Education and Campaigns & Communications to actively promote to members the opportunity to become NUS Delegates.

7. That 7.7 of the Bye-Laws be changed to: ‘The 8 SRC Officers shall be International Students Officer, Equal Opportunities Officer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transsexual Officer, Part-Time Students Officer, Postgraduate Students Officer, Entertainment Officer, Accomodation Officer and Environment Officer’. And promoted as such at the next SRC election.

8. That all minutes for General Meetings, SRC, SRC Exec and F&GP meetings shall be made available at each SUUG reception and on the SUUG.co.uk web-site within 10 working days.

9. That the SU stops using polystyrene cups in all of its outlets and that it works urgently towards Fairtrade status.

New October/November issue with out now! New! 12 whole pages of content!

Issue 8

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Students shocked by police

A shocking video of University of Florida student Andrew Meyer getting tasered by police officers has gained over 400,000 views on Youtube. Meyer was asking questions to former presidential candidate John Kerry about 'lost' black votes at the 2004 election. He asked why Kerry did not attempt to impeach George Bush, when Kerry lost the election. Meyer's final question "was Kerry a member of Skull and Bones" (the shady 'Stonemasons' style society that Bush is a member of) brought immediate action from the police. Meyer resisted arrest shouting "Is any body watching this?", and officers then forced him to the ground.
With a cry of "don't tase me bro" the police stunned the student.


Recently a video of a UCLA student getting tased for not having a ID card in the library was also posted on Youtube.

Andrew Meyer Video

a UCLA student being tased