Big Union Meeting 2018
MDXSU’s Big Union Meeting 2018 took place on Monday 16th April, where our member (All MDX Students), were invited to hear and ask questions about their Students' Union finances, trustees and the parties which MDXSU is affiliated with. The meeting was hosted by the MDXSU President Ben Edwards, alongside the three Vice Presidents Raquel Marques, Erica Ramos and Joe Cox.
Similar to the Student Leaders' Conferences, MDXSU's President & Vice Presidents presented what they'd been working on and rounded up their achievements this past acadmic year, giving attendees the opportunity to quiz them on on their work and decisions.
FINANCES
Part of the Annual General Meeting involves reviewing MDXSU’s finance for the previous year.
MDXSU’s gross income for 2016/17 was £1,162,147. After deducting money that was spent on improving the experience of Middlesex University Students – including Student Voice Leaders and representation, the Advice Service, events and welcome programme, society and campaigns funding, staffing and POW! Media, amongst other costs – MDXSU was left with a surplus of £29,942.
You can read the full financial breakdown in the minutes here.
AFFILIATION
MDXSU is affiliated to different external organisations to help us achieve our objective of making positive change for students not just on a university level, but also nationally. These organisations include the National Union of Students, citizensUK, Advice UK and the Student Radio Association.
These affiliations cost MDXSU varied amounts of money, and therefore a vote is required at each Annual General Meeting of students. You can find more about what was said about the affiliations here.
TRUSTEE REPORT
The Trustee Board is a group of people who have ultimate control of the Union’s finances, and ensures we meet our objectives throughout the year. It is made up of the four full time officers, four elected students and three external volunteers from a range of organisations and career backgrounds. They meet four times each year to hear and discuss updates from MDXSU and ensure we are doing the best we can for Middlesex University students.
OFFICER ACCOUNTABILITY
Students who attended also had the opportunity to hear accountability videos from their four full-time MDXSU student officers (the President and Vice Presidents), and were able to ask them questions directly about their work throughout the year.
You can see their videos here or below, and you can see what questions were asked and the officers’ responses in the minutes here.
Each officer spoke about their experience throughout the year, including their highlights and what they’ve achieved. Ben spoke about his time at National Conference, Raquel mentioned the DJ Showcase and the exam survival guide, Erica mentioned free printing in halls and the Kit Hub, and Joe spoke about the work he’s being doing with Hope Not Hate to get everyone registered to vote for the local elections.
In order to be quorate – meaning being attended by a representative number of students – the Big Union Meeting had to be attended by 0.5% of the total number of students at Middlesex University (as set out in our constitution), which this year was around 82 students.
Unfortunately the meeting fell just short of quoracy, which meant that while all those in attendance unanimously agreed our finances, trustee report and affiliations, the decisions will need to be presented at the next Trustee Board in order to be ratified.
