Gold Paper Petition

Dear all,

We have ONE  WEEK left before the end of term, so the idea is that we flood this now and get as many signatures as we can. To do so, idea is that:

1. We all sign up to talk with students on campus about the Gold Paper, the Petition and gather analogue signatures.

Please sign up here: http://doodle.com/poll/9sza6qn3695iamgi53nq4mwr/admin#table We meet at the front desk of the RHB for each session. Leaflets can be picked up from behind the Student Union Reception Desk; or from me (I’ll replenish stashes in the SU periodically). There is also a box for ‘Returns’ – completed signed leaflets behind the the SU desk.

2. Staff should try and talk to students in every class in the next 1/5 weeks about the petition, and students should bring it up if staff don’t. For staff, here is a PowerPoint slide attached and a lower res jpeg of the petition for you to show in lectures. Maybe 5 minutes can be taken for students to discuss/ sign at the end of classes?

The Petition: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/gold-paper-petition

— and in the meantime for ’taking points’/ further info —The Gold Paper for background reading: https://goldsmithsucu.org/the-gold-paper/

1. MENTAL HEALTH:

Please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j6j6StGBwQ) . From this, key stats:
Counselling Services Report 2015
2012-13 Number of Clients presenting issues of SELF HARM: 5 2014-15 Number of Clients presenting issues of SELF HARM: 218
2012-13 Number of Clients presenting issues of ANXIETY:  223 2014-15 Number of Clients presenting issues of ANXIETY:  363
2012-13 Number of Clients presenting issues of DEPRESSION, ANGER, MOOD CHANGE:167 2014-15 Number of Clients presenting issues of DEPRESSION, ANGER, MOOD CHANGE: 244
Debt/ Mental Health Connection Nationally:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/sep/23/university-mental-health-services-face-strain-as-demand-rises-50

2. Housing: 

“During the Summer, the College sold the leases on 3 Halls of Residence to CAMPUS LIVING VILLAGES (CLV). CLV is an Australian firm run by CEO Simon Hickey, with gross assets worth $2 billion. This news was presented to the Trade Unions the day the deal was signed. We subsequently found out that the deal has been the result of 2 years of secret negotiations. The leases are for 50 years. The return for the College (after fees) is £22 million. Rents for the next 50 years go to CLV, not back into the College.College Council has agreed, without consultation with Trade Unions or Staff, that this money is to be spent on a ‘Landmark Property’ at 1 St James’ […] and will establish a stand-out gateway to the University.”

http://news.sky.com/story/student-rent-strike-campaigns-gathering-pace-against-exploitation-10581250

3. Governance …. http://www.gold.ac.uk/governance/committees/

And the great and the good: (see also Tribunal doc attached for section on governance)

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