Student Leaders Conference: November 2018
MDXSU's Student Leaders Conferences give students the chance to hear what their elected representatives are working on and discuss ideas to improve the experience of MDX students.
Read on for a recap from the first Student Leaders' Conference of this academic year on Thursday 8 November, including what your elected officers have been working on, results of the night's voting, and how to get involved in MDXSU's Democracy Review!
Our next Student Leaders' Conference is on Thursday 6 December. CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOUR SPOT.
Officer Q&A
MDXSU President, Ayah Benberna, kicked the evening off with a report on what she's been up to since taking office in July, covering everything from tackling hate crime and attending the University's Board of Governors, to working to bring down the food costs on campus and launching a "Talk to the President" session. Ayah's speech was recorded and will be avalibale for you to watch very soon.
It was then the turn of the three Vice Presidents, Lucy Holland, Erica Ramos, and Rahma Ali. Unfortunately Rahma was unable to attend the event, but she joined Lucy and Erica in recording a video on their work so far - you can view their video report below.
The three officers then took questions from students, covering a wide range of issues such as international student funding, vegetarian food options, support for societies and accessibility of sports. If you have any questions for the officers - including for Rahma Ali, who was unable to attend the Q&A - please email studentvoice@mdx.ac.uk.
Ideas for Change
Conference attendees were invited to have their say on two students ideas, submitted through our online Idea for Change tool - any student can use this start the process of making change on campus.
The two ideas up for discussion this time were regarding a bus from Wembley Halls, and drinks prices on campus.
1. A Direct Bus Route from Wembley Halls
This policy recieved 49 votes for, 1 vote against, and 3 abstentions. This means the policy was passed at conference.
2. The Drinks Prices in MDX House
This policy recieved 45 votes for, 3 votes against, and 5 abstentions. This means the policy was also passed at conference.
As both policies passed at conference, these will now be taken to the next MDXSU Executive Committee meeting on Monday 12th November to be reviewed by your elected full-time officers and School Voice Leader.
Democracy Review
Middlesex Students' Union are currently conducting a year-long Democracy Review that will look at the way decisions are made within the Students' Union, and how students are represented.
As part of Student Leaders' Conference, students shared their thoughts on how decisions should be made within MDXSU, and who should help make these. Students also discussed who they felt they should be represented by as students.
The feedback from conference will be used to create some recommendations, which will be shared at the next Student Leaders' Conference on December 6th.
Feedback will also be collected through our short Democracy Review survey - we are asking as many students to complete this as possible (whether you attended Students' Leaders Conference or not) so we can gather as many student views as possible.
Meet the mayor, and MDXmas
Ayah closed the event by inviting students to the London Mayoral Assembly on Thursday 29th November, where MDXSU and other organisations will thank the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for his work so far on issues such as safety in London, affordable housing, refugee rights and the London Living Wage, and call for further action in these areas. You can book your free ticket here.
Ayah also told students about the MDXmas Market on Thursday 6th December - find out more at www.mdxsu.com/events/mdxmas
