How do I participate in the SRC?

Collective Process - A collective aims to be the most open and democratic space possible. Working together with other students neededn’t mean sitting in endless disorganized, frustrating meetings or being dominated by those with the loudest voices. Collective process is both the ideas below and a comitment to work on them and develop them further. Through self awareness and critique we can change the way we engage with one and other. Some proceses that are often used include:

Nominate a facilitator - have someone to help procedure, start the meeting, suggest ways of going foreward etc.

Use a speaking list - confidence and vollume do not entitle people to more power within a group. a nod or a wave to the facilitator gives you the equal right to contribute as anyone else. a progressive speaking list may move women or those who have yet to speak to the top of the list.

Work towards concensus - the process of only making a decision when, after a thorough discussion, everyone agrees to a proposal or agrees to stand aside and not block it. This can take longer because it requires discussion, hearing others and compromise but avoids a group split between winners and losers.

None of these collective proceeses are perfect and are undoubtedly stepping stones in a larger process. The critique of the status quo extends to our selves, our behaviours and structures. So talk and think, raise questions, or bring alternatives.

CLICK HERE FOR COLLECTIVE MEETING TIMES 

Formal Meeting Process

Chairperson At the beginning of each meeting, a chairperson or ‘chair’ is elected. This is usually the convenor of the group, collective or society, however newer members are often encouraged to take the chair with the help of a more experienced member. Chairing a meeting involves taking an agenda, announcing each item on the agenda and taking a speaking list (and maintaining order!) while the discussion around agenda items takes place.

Name Around Members of meetings don’t always know everyone’s names, so it’s useful to begin a meeting with a name around, where every member introduces themselves. This also aids the chairperson when taking the speaking list.

Speakers
All members must address the meeting through the Chairperson; no person shall be interrupted except by point of order. Times allowed: Mover (5 minutes), subsequent speakers (3 minutes), and mover’s reply (3 minutes), debate on any question (30 minutes maximum).

Suspension of Standing Orders - Any member can move suspension of standing orders at any time during a meeting. The chairperson has absolute discretion to accept or reject suspension motion.

Motions - Must be moved and seconded before discussion can take place, must be in the affirmative, cannot be withdrawn without the seconder’s permission, can be considered and voted on clause by clause if necessary. No speaker shall be interrupted except by point of order. Official procedure states that no more than two speakers may speak successively for or against a motion and that no person shall speak more than once on any motion except with the permission of the meeting, but you’ll find that in many meetings in a university context that these rules aren’t taken too seriously.

Amendments - Motions may be amended by leaving out, substituting or adding words, and direct negatives to the motion are not allowed. Any number of amendments may be proposed and shall be voted on in the order they were moved. If an amendment is lost, the original motion shall be voted on. If an amendment is carried, it becomes part of the original motion.

Right of Reply -The mover of the original motion has the right of reply. No further discussion is allowed after the mover has replied.

Dissent Motion - Motion of dissent must be moved or seconded – this is moved when members feel that the chairperson has made an unjust ruling. The Chairperson vacates the chair and someone replaces them during the discussion of the dissent motion. The mover of the dissent motion then speaks for the motion; the Chairperson speaks in defence of the ruling and with no further debate the motion is voted on. The chairperson then resumes the chair.

Tabling a Motion - Any member who has not spoken on a motion can move to table a motion, (a seconder is needed). If the motion is carried, then the meeting proceeds to the next item of business. If the motion is lost, debate on the substantive motion proceeds as before. Tabled motions can be re-opened for discussion later in the meeting or even left until a subsequent meeting.

Adjournment - A meeting may be adjourned by the chairperson or by a majority vote of members. Not business can be transacted at an adjourned meeting except business left unfinished at the original meeting.

Closure of Motion - Any member who has not spoken on a motion can move that ‘the motion be put’. The chairperson can rule the motion out of order, if there has not been reasonable opportunity for opposing viewpoints to be expressed. If the motion is lost, debate continues as before. If the motion is carried, the mover may exercise a right of reply before the motion is put to the meeting. The closure motion can be moved any number of times during debate.

Progessive Speaking Lists - A speaking list is taken by the chairperson of the meeting – people who wish to speak indicate to the chairperson, who writes their name down on a list, and calls out after each speaker has spoken the name of the person is next in line to speak. Many collectives and groups use progressive speaking lists, which mean that those who haven’t spoken before in the debate or those who identify as belonging to marginalised societal groups such as women, queers and people from ethnically diverse backgrounds are prioritised in the debate. This means that they are ‘bumped up’ the list.

While not everyone agrees with this way of organising, having a basic understanding of meeting procedure can lead to productive and efficient meetings, and most of all it can inspire exciting debates.
Amelia Walkey