Minutes for the 2 nd Council Meeting of 31 st NUSSU Council Date : 3 rd October 2009, Saturday Venue: Science LT25 Time : 1000 hrs Ref : NUSSU/31/HAS/CM/002 Total Council members: 62 (excluding 4 co-opted EXCO members). Total members present for the meeting :22 EXCO and 24 council members Attendance Present: Lim Yee Kuang Nicholas Goh Hui Qi Tan Ching Chen Yingyi Cai Jiening Aw Eng Kiat Ho Kee Meng Thng Boon Hui Kwan Keng Yong Ow Yau Png Ivan Lim Lee Jingyi Jeffrey Ng Ren Jie Ang Yi Qian Tan Hock Chuan Yew Woon Hui Cheryl Teo Ming Han Eugene Dorothy Tan Alvin Yap Sia Ching Hui Ong Ding Li Lee Yuan Chun Marvin Kang Alvin Voon Cultural Activities Club Representative Cultural Activities Club Representative Council Chairperson/Community Service Club Pres Community Service Club Representative Community Service Club Representative Political Association President Political Association Representative Sports Club President Sports Club Representative Sports Club Representative Arts Club President Arts Club Representative Dentistry Society Representative Design and Environment Club President Design and Environment Club Representative Design and Environment Club Representative Engin Club President Law Club President Law Club Representative Medicine Club Representative Science Club President Science Club Representative University Scholars Club President University Scholars Club Representative
Executive Committee (EXCO) Present: Ho Jun Yi Cheong Hanjie Christopher Jia Han Riyanti Teresa Jason Feng Tan Li Ying Michelle Kenny Teo Liew Foo Kin Tan Lee Koon (Lijun) Lim Boon Tiong Tay Zhong Liang Char Wai Teng Cheryl Huang Yinning Ang Kaili Zhang Jiaquan Sherwin Lo Qin Qin Goh Ser Xing Loh Li Ren Tan Heng Wee Tan Mei Hui Tamara Kisha Tan Lee Shin-Jhie Eugene Lim You Shen Mayank Dalakoti Hoe Tian Ming Joshua Observers Lionel Heng Qing Song Endo Ng Zu Rong Wong Pei Zhou Chan Wei Xian Mervyn President Vice President Honorary General Secretary Honorary Assistant Secretary Honorary Financial Secretary Publications Secretary Welfare Secretary Deputy Vice President Director of Alumni Relations Director of International Relations Director of Projects Director of Projects Executive Director (RHAPS) Executive Director (NUSSU Legal) Director of Resources Secretariat Officer Deputy Financial Secretary Director of Enterprise Deputy Publications Secretary Director of Media Analysis Director of Public Relations Deputy Welfare Secretary Asst Welfare Secretary Asst Welfare Secretary Asst Welfare Secretary Sheares Hall President King Edward VII Hall President Temasek Hall President Eusoff Hall Vice-President Faculty of Engineering student Absent with Apologies Samson Leo Katie Tey Soo Kiat Indraperwira Suryantana Poh Kok Xuan Shayne Tan Jin Fu Liau Zi Qiang Glen Nikki Yeo Eugene Chua Director of Marketing Director of Internal Services Director of Media Outreach Political Association Representative Cultural Activities Club President Medicine Club President Arts Club Representative Bizad Club President
Zhao Xumao Makmur bin Omar Daniel Ho Steve Teo Muhammad Faizal Bin Hashim Chia Chin Ooi Calvin Lim Muhammad Syazwan Tan Wee Kim Chan Wei Nian Bizad Club Representative Bizad Club Representative Computing Club President Computing Club Representative Computing Club Representative Science Club Representative Dentistry Club President Engineering Club Representative Engineering Club Representative Agenda: 1)Passing of 31 st Council 1 st Meeting Minutes 2)Presentation and Discussion of Council Standing Orders 3)Review of Union Directions 4)NUSSU Council Standing Committees and Commissions 5)Meet-up with NUS Senior Management a) Proposed dates b) Proposed points to raise 6) AOB The meeting was called to order at 10:20 hours by Mr. Tan Ching, Chairperson of the 31 st NUSSU Council. Ms. Tan Mei Hui proposed the passing of 1 st council minutes and Ms. Tamara Kisha Tan seconded S/N Agenda Action by 1. Presentation and Discussion of Council Standing Orders 1.1 Mr. Tan Ching presented the Council standing order. Council Standing Order is attached at Appendix A. 1.2 Mr. Ho Junyi proposed the motion to adopt the standing order, Mr. Christopher Cheong seconded 1.3 A vote was taken to adopt the motion. 42 out of 42 council members present voted for the motion 1.4 Ms. Tan Mei Hui proposed for speaking rights for all observers, Mr. Loh Li Ren seconded All to note 2. Review of Union Directions 2.1 Mr. Ho Junyi gave his presentation regarding the 3 main thrusts and the relationship All to note
between the EXCO and council representatives. 2.2 Mr. Ho Junyi proposed that the council adopt his plans and visions that he presented, Mr. Christopher Cheong seconded. 2.3 Mr. Lim Boon Tiong proposed for 5 min recess break, Ms. Tamara Kisha Tan seconded. 2.4 Mr. Boon Tiong proposed for a voting to be done to adopt the union direction, Ms. Michelle Tan seconded. 43 out of 43 council members present voted for the motion. Mr Teo Ming Han Eugene came at 12.10 3. NUSSU Council Standing Committees and Commissions 3.1 Mr. Jason Feng gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the finance standing committee. He mentioned that some of the issues to be tackled by the committee include increasing the subscription fee and improvement to the NUS financial system. The role of the committee would also include ensuring that the allocation of financial resources from the EXCO to the constituent clubs are fair. All to note 3.2 Ms. Michelle Tan gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the publications standing committee. She mentioned that the main focus of the committee is to ensure publications like Hooked and the Ridge have their own niche, aligning Union Publications to original goals. 3.2.1 Mr. Junyi asked how many members can be inside the committee. Ms. Michelle answered there should be three members from the Council 3.2.2 Mr. Christopher asked how often would the committee meet up and how often does the Ridge get published. Ms Michelle answered that the Ridge is published every month. The workload for the committee is heavier in this semester than next semester. 3.2.3 Mr. Aw Eng Kiat asked whether Hooked and the Ridge are the only main marketing vehicle for NUSSU exco. Ms Michelle answered that the main focus for the committee are Hooked and the Ridge 3.2.4 Mr. Christopher asked whether the jobscope of the committee would be extended to the constituent clubs publications. Ms Michelle said she does not think there would be sufficient time to extend the jobscope of the committee 3.2.5 Ms Kisha asked would the task at hand be expanded. Ms Michelle answered that for this term of office, she would not be expanding it out to constituent clubs but if task at hand finish earlier, she may consider that option 3.2.6 Ms Kaili asked why would council members be involved in publications liked Hooked and the Ridge. Ms Michelle answered that the committee needs neutral party that is able to give objective views. 3.2.7 Mr. Liew Foo Kin asked what are the agenda for the publication committee. Ms Michelle answered that the main thing is for Hooked and the Ridge. 3.3 Mr. Kenny Teo gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the standing committee for Student Welfare. He mentioned that the focus of the committee would be to think of ideas and to bring up these ideas for further discussion in the Council. 3.3.1 Mr. Ho Kee Meng asked what would be the intensity of the meetings and
what are the types of issues being tackled. Mr Kenny answered that most of the issues would be based on ad-hoc basis and as and when urgent issues surfaced, the intensity of the meetings would go up. 3.3.2 Mr Jason asked whether the committee would be involved in talks with the school administration. Mr Kenny answered that the main focus of the committee would be to come up with ideas and solutions to problems faced. 3.3.3 Mr. Qing Song Endo asked how would Hall representatives be involved in the welfare committee. Mr Kenny answered that Hall representatives are important since the committee would need to have a fair sense understanding especially with regards to hall matters. 3.4 Ms Jia Han gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of CORS commission. 3.4.1 Mr Jason asked what kind of problems do you foresee your committee would be tackling. Ms Jia Han answered that with her current limited knowledge on the issue, she foresee that some problems would be regarding the bidding points. 3.4.2 Mr Christopher asked what would be the intensity of the meetings and how often would the committeee deals with school administration. Ms Jia Han answered that she will call for meetings when there is a need for it and as for the meeting with the school administration she presumes that the meetings would not be more than once a month. 3.4.3 Mr Junyi proposed that people who are interested to be in the commission to raise their hands. 3.4.4 Mr Aw Eng Kiat was appointed to be inside the commission 3.4.5 A vote was taken to permit Ms Jia Han to look for the other candidate for the CORS commission herself. 44 out of 44 members present voted for the motion. 3.5 Mr Thng Boon Hui and Mr Marvin Kang came at 12:30 hours 3.6 Ms Yinning gave a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the RHAPS commission. 3.6.1 Ms Tan Mei Hui asked why there are not any hall representatives in the commission. Ms Yinning answered that OSA will form a task force that include hall representatives. 3.6.2 Mr Ng Zu Rong asked would the commission includes the President. Ms Yinning answered no. 3.6.3 Mr Kenny asked regarding the timeline, whether the commission intends to put the proposed framework into effect this academic year. Ms Yinning answered she hopes to put the proposed framework in this academic year. 3.6.4 Ms Mei Hui asked regarding the intensity of the meetings with OSA and among themselves. Ms Yinning answered that she foresee the meetings would be once every two or three weeks. 3.6.5 Ms Riyanti Teresa asked what would be the focus of the commission. Ms Yinning answered that the focus would be on the implementation and getting feedbacks from students
3.6.6 Mr Ng Zu Rong asked whether she is going to increase the size of the commission considering that she will need inputs from different faculties and residences. Ms Yinning answered that at the moment she does not think she will increase the commission size because OSA would still invite student representatives to be in the task force. 3.7 Mr Ho Junyi presented on the roles and responsibilities of the discipline commission. He also mentioned the proposed candidates for this commission. 3.8 Ms Riyanti proposed the postponement of the formation of standing committee to the next council meeting so that people who were present for the meeting and absentees were given more time to ponder about joining these standing committees and commissions. 4. Meet up with NUS Senior Management 4.1 Mr Junyi gave a presentation with regards to the senior administration meeting. He mentioned that clubs presidents would be invited by default. He mentioned that some of the issues brought up would be with regards to RHAPS system reinforcement, increased subscription fees and Union direction update 4.2 Mr Boon Tiong asked whether the freezing of subscription fee should be brought up as well. Mr Junyi answered that he did not see any justification for the continual freezing because the economy does indeed getting better. He mentioned that he would not be bringing up this point unless the school administration brought it up first. 4.3 Mr Boon Tiongs asked whether the matter of increasing the subscription fee is agreed by all students. Mr Junyi answered that it is up to us to make the case to the school administration. 4.4 Mr Marvin Kang asked whether the Council had really given a thought as to why do we want to increase the subscription fee. Mr Junyi answered that he has tasked the finance standing committee to work on it and meanwhile the arguments would be based on the research done by the previous finance standing committee. 4.5 Mr Kee Meng asked whether the allocation of Union funds for collaborative projects pertains to Students Hub. Mr Junyi answered that what he had in mind was that Students Hub would be managed collaboratively by NUSSU committees 4.6 Mr Marvin proposed that the agenda for the senior administration meeting to be sent to the school admin by Wednesday and Constituent Clubs presidents to be given more time to ponder for additional matters to be included in the agenda until Monday 4.7 Mr Marvin proposed that the amended agenda to be sent to the Constituent Clubs by Wednesday, Mr Kenny seconded the proposal. 4.8 43 out of 43 Council members present voted for the motion. Con clubs Presidents and EXCO to note 5. AOB 5.1 Mr Junyi mentioned that the next Council meeting would involve photoshoot and maybe After Action Review of meeting with senior administration. 5.2 Mr Tan Ching reminded that for subsequent council meetings council members
are to be dressed in at least polo tee and jeans With no other issues to discuss, meeting was closed at 13: 36 hours. Contact numbers of presenters Name Committee/Commission Hp email Ho Junyi Discipline 96585736 president@nussu.org.sg jason feng finance 93201190 honfin@nussu.org.sg michelle publications 98769225 pubsec@nussu.org.sg kenny welfare 97916886 welfaresec@nussu.org.sg jia han CORS 92967160 hongensec@nussu.org.sg yinning RHAPS 96854596 execdirector.rhaps@nussu.org.sg Prepared by: Riyanti Teresa Honorary Assistant Secretary Executive Committee 31 st NUSSU Council
Appendix A The Standing Order can be found on page 14-19 of the Statute C1. An important extract of the standing order with regards to quorum and attendance is extracted below. STATUE C1 Clause 5 Article I (1e) At least fifty percent of the existing members of the Union Council shall constitute a quorum. (1f) Any member of the Union Council who absents himself from more than two-thirds the total time in three successive meetings, ordinary or extraordinary, of the Union Council without submitting a written explanation to the Honorary General Secretary shall automatically cease to be a member of the Union Council. If at the third meeting, a written explanation for his absence is submitted, the Union Council shall consider such explanation and decide by a simple majority vote whether or not the absent member shall remain in the Union Council. (1g) Any member of the Union Council, who intends to absent himself for a period longer than 15 minutes from the proceedings of any meeting of the Union Council may only do so with the permission of the Chairman to whom he must also submit a written explanation. The Honorary General Secretary shall produce such explanation if called upon to do so by the Union Council.