Policy

Welfare Policy

Contents

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• World AIDS Day

Passed by Union Council: 22nd October 2007
Expires: 22nd October 2010
Policy level: one

This Union Notes:

1. There are 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide
2. HIV/AIDS claims 8,000 lives a day in some of the poorest countries in the world.
3. Less than 1 in 4 people living with HIV/AIDS have access to the drugs they need.
4. At the G8 in 2007 the UK pledged to double its funding to £700m to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria in order to provide universal access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS by 2010, it has however only provided half of this.

This Union Believes:

1. The UK government has a responsibility to meet its promise to fund the Global Fund in order to meet the UN Development Goal to provide universal access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS by 2010.
2. As members of Leeds University Union and as citizens and residents of the UK we have a responsibility to make our views heard and push the government to meet its promises.
3. The campaigning and lobbying work of groups and organisations in the UK and around the world is essential in making the world governments tackle the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

This Union Resolves:

1. To fully supports the Leeds Stop AIDS Society in its work campaigning for access to treatment on both a local campus and national level.
2. To back the 'Paint The Town Red' campaign hosted by the Stop AIDS Society throughout AIDS awareness week preceding World AIDS day on 1st December 2007.
3. To write a letter on behalf of Leeds University Union to accompany 500 Signed 'Action Cards' urging the government to keep its promise of universal access to acre and treatment by 2010, and will be sent directly to the Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown.
4. To provide £100 funding to support the Leeds Stop AIDS Society in its Paint the Town Red Campaign.

Proposer:Clarissa Martyn-Hemphill, 200172216
Seconder: Hannah Lyons, 200175872

• Sale of Cigarettes in Healthy Week

Passed by Union Council: 3rd December 2007
Expires: 3rd December 2010
Policy level: one

This Union Notes:

• 114,000 people die from smoking-related diseases every year.
• Tobacco consumption is recognized as the single greatest cause of preventable illness and early death in the UK.
• Approximately 68% of cigarette smokers want to give up the habit.
• Healthy Week will be running from Monday 28th January to Monday 4th February, with the aim ‘to encourage staff and students to change their behaviour in order to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle and state of mind’.
• Cigarettes are sold in our commercial outlets.

This Union Believes:

• By continuing to sell cigarettes during Healthy Week, we are contradicting the aim of the campaign.
• We should maximize the opportunity that Healthy Week presents in order to emphasise the impact of smoking on health, and to be pro-active in helping students and staff change their behaviour.

This Union Resolves:

• To stop selling cigarettes and tobacco related products in all LUU Commercial outlets during Healthy Week.
• To provide smoking cessation sessions as part of the Healthy Week programme.
• To communicate this change heavily to students and staff beforehand so they are aware and prepared for any changes this may pose to their daily routine.
• To provide the chance for students to feed back on these changes.
• To feed back to Union Council and members on the impact of this motion to LUU sales.

Proposer: Lizzie Fellows, 200060142
Seconder: Andrew Greer, 200121449

• No Platform Policy

Passed by Union Council: 11th February 2008
Expires: 11th February 2011
Policy level: one

This Union Notes:

1. A number of societies and groups affiliated to Leeds University Union host speakers, events and debates on campus, with many open to all members of the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union.
2. According to the Ministry of Justice, 41,000 racially and religiously motivated attacks occurred in the UK in 2005-6, a rise of 12% on the previous year.
3. The All Parliamentary Report into Anti-Semitism heard evidence that the Young BNP is active on around 15 campuses.
4. The National Union of Students adopted a 'No Platform' policy in the early 1990s.
5. Current organisations banned under the NUS No Platform Policy are the British National Party and Hizb ut Tahir.

This Union Believes:

1. The NUS No Platform Policy works to ensure that all students have the right to feel comfortable, safe and secure on campus regardless of race or religious affiliation
2. That in the University of Leeds there are a large number of students from differing ethnic backgrounds, and that these students deserve the right to not feel intimidated or threatened on campus
3. That there has been a number of Islamophobic and anti-Semitic incidents on campuses around the country, including at the University of Leeds
4. That racial and religious hate crimes increase when speakers with extremely racist or fascist views are actively given a high-profile platform and this presents a very real risk to students.
5. That freedom of speech is an important right
6. That there is a difference between preventing freedom of speech, and avoiding the promotion of speakers who are very likely to incite hatred on the grounds of religion, race, sexuality or along other lines
7. That if LUU or a society affiliated to LUU were to provide a platform to speakers or groups of this nature, then this could be seen by some as an endorsement of their views
8. That a number of front groups have been set up on campuses around the country for racist and fascist organisations

This Union Resolves:

1. To adopt a No Platform Policy, which prevents members or groups mentioned in 'This Union Notes 5' from speaking, attending or playing a part in LUU events. This includes, but is not limited to: debates, society events, rallies and public meetings
2. That no person who is a member of an organisation included under the No Platform policy will be eligible to stand for Student Executive, Union Council or NUS Elections within Leeds University Union
3. To permanently exclude from the Union any member who is found to promoting racist or fascist views
4. For Union Council to close down any LUU affiliated society that acts as a proxy for organisations listed under the 'No Platform' Policy
5. That organisations can be added to and removed from this 'No Platform' Policy with the approval of the two-thirds of LUU's Union Council or a simple majority at referendum
6. To advertise to the membership the reasons why this Union is adopting a No Platform Policy.
7. To promote a strict No Platform Policy but one that does not affect the freedom of media societies to report objectively on racism and fascism’
8. To put this motion to the next possible referendum’.

Proposer: Jak Codd, 200241512
Seconder: Zac Esdaile, 200136371

• Body Beautiful Motion

Passed by Union Council: 2nd June 2008
Expires: 2nd June 2011
Policy Level: One

This Union Notes:

1. The number of people receiving treatment for eating disorders is estimated at 90,000, with many more people who have not been diagnosed, in particular, those with bulimia nervosa.
2. The prevalence total for people diagnosed and undiagnosed with an eating disorder in the UK is an astounding 1.15 million. (Beat 2000)
3. Gender and sexuality are significant factors. Approximately 10% of people with eating disorders are men and approximately 20% of men with eating disorders identify as gay, which is double the proportion of gay men in the population. (Beat 2000)
4. Young people in the age group 14 – 25 are most at risk of developing this type of illness. This includes a large proportion of the student population. (UK Eating Disorder Statistics 2004 provided by Disordered Eating)
5. That, in April 2008, The French National Assembly passed a groundbreaking bill which seeks to criminalise the promotion in the media of extreme thinness which would clamp down on websites, fashion houses, magazines and advertisers.

This Union Believes:

1. Eating disorders are a particularly vicious disease and LUU should take every step possible to protect their members.
2. The government has an ethical responsibility to combat the promotion of mental illnesses, particularly eating disorders and LUU should take initiative and encourage the government to do this.

This Union Resolves:

1. To write to the PM asking for a similar bill to that of France to be passed.
2. To lobby MPs to support more funding and awareness about eating disorders.
3. For the Women’s Assembly to run a campaign during the Eating Disorders Awareness Week from 25th February to 1st March in cooperation with the Welfare Officer, Welfare Assembly and LGBT Assembly.

Proposer: Madeleine Harris Smith, 200192571
Seconder: Sophia James, 200242570

• “Caution Homophobe: Keep Clear!”

Passed by Union Council: 2nd June 2008
Expires: 2nd June 2011
Policy level: one

This Union notes:

• Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are extremely damaging and upsetting forms of abuse.
• These forms of abuse have been known to negatively influence self esteem, educational attainment, self harm and suicide. (Stonewall)
• LGB individuals in team sports are 22% more likely to be bullied as a result of their sexuality. (Stonewall, The School report 2007)
• Many individuals do not report hate crimes. One report has stated that over 70% of lesbians and gay men feared reporting homophobic incidents. (‘Breaking the Chain of Hate’ National Survey, 1999)
• Sports clubs at LUU are known to engage in a culture of homophobia.

This Union believes:

• Leeds University Union should be a safe space for all its members, free from prejudice.
• No forms of maltreatment, homophobic or otherwise, should ever be tolerated!

This Union resolves:

• To run the ‘Caution homophobe: Keep Clear!’ campaign.
• To make a formal complaints system (with the option of anonymity) for members of clubs and societies and publicise it to them.
• To mandate the LGBT Assembly Chair, alongside the Activities Assembly Chair, Activities Officer and Equality and Diversity Officer to run the campaign.
• To call a meeting with the club captains of the sports clubs.

Proposer: Sophia James, 200242570
Seconder: Jessica Parker

• Should LUU be more Body Beautiful by promoting a more positive body image?

Passed by Referendum: 4th December 2008
Expires: 4th December 2011
Policy Level: one

This Union Notes:

1. The number of people receiving treatment for eating disorders is estimated at 90,000, and many have not been diagnosed, particularly sufferers of bulimia nervosa.
2. The prevalence total for people diagnosed and undiagnosed with an eating disorder in the UK is 1.15 million. (Beat 2000)
3. Gender and sexuality are significant factors. Approximately 10% of people with eating disorders are men and approximately 20% of these men identify as gay. (Beat 2000)
4. Young people in the age group 14 – 25 are most at risk of developing this type of illness. This includes a large proportion of the student population. (UK Eating Disorder Statistics 2004 provided by Disordered Eating)
5. That, in April 2008, The French National Assembly passed a groundbreaking bill seeking to criminalise the promotion of extreme thinness in the media, clamping down on websites, fashion houses, magazines and advertisers.
6. Leeds University Union currently sells and endorses media which could be said to promote distorted views of beauty to our members.
7. LUU’s Union Council endorsed a “Body Beautiful” motion on the 2nd June 2008 and as a result the Women’s Assembly will be running a “Body Beautiful” campaign during Eating Disorders Awareness Week (w/c 25th February) in cooperation with the Welfare Officer, Welfare Assembly and LGBT Assembly.

This Union Believes:

1. All students have the right to feel beautiful on campus, and not discriminated against due to their appearance.
2. Eating disorders are a vicious disease and LUU should take every step possible to protect their members.
3. The government has an ethical responsibility to combat the promotion of mental illnesses, particularly eating disorders, through the media and LUU should take initiative and encourage the government to do this.

This Union Resolves:

1. To write a petition to the PM asking for a similar bill to that of France to be passed.
2. To lobby MPs to support more funding and awareness about eating disorders.
3. To ensure that all LUU fashion shows, displays and events take into consideration our diverse range of beautiful students and do not discriminate against those of larger build, different skin colour, or disability. This should have notably visible results within said events.
4. To amend the Equality and Diversity Policy prior to the three year review date, taking into consideration the severity of current issues surrounding body image.

Proposed by: Suzy Tobias
Seconded by: Madeline Harris-Smith

• Should the Union consider selling pill testing kits and review the advice it gives drug users?

Passed by Referendum: 4th December 2008
Expires: 4th December 2011
Policy Level: one

This Union Notes:

1. That Ecstasy/MDMA is currently a Class A drug.
2. The ACMD is reviewing the classification of ecstasy.
3. According to the British Crime Survey 2004/2005; 16-24 year olds are the biggest group of ecstasy users. 4.8% using that year.
4. There have been over 200 deaths in the UK related to ecstasy use over the last 15 years. This is less than the deaths related to Heroin, Cocaine and other drugs.
5. According to DrugScope, nobody has died directly from the toxic effects of the drug. Instead, deaths have fallen into three categories of heatstroke, too much fluid and heart failure.
6. One of the recent risks associated with Ecstasy is the possibility of obtaining adulterated drugs that may be more toxic than MDMA. Some of the reported deaths attributed to Ecstasy are likely caused by other, more dangerous drugs.
7. Pill testing kits will show the user if ecstasy and adulterants being looked for are present in their tablet. They will not show if any adulterants not being looked for are in the tablet.
8. On-site pill testing is illegal in the UK, however the sale of pill testing kits are not.
9. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction; Pill testing interventions are important measures to enter into contact with hard-to-reach populations and to raise their interest in preventive and harm reduction measures?.

This Union Believes:

1. Students who use illegal drugs like ecstasy are entitled to any available support and advice to end their drugs use as well as for harm reduction.
2. Raising awareness of the potential adulterants in illegal drugs could make people think twice about using the drugs.
3. Students who actually use illegal drugs are often the most hard to reach members of the student population.
4. As with the dissemination of harm reduction advice, the introduction of pill testing kits does not contravene the University’s “zero tolerance” policy on drugs.

This Union Resolves:

1. To mandate the Welfare Officer to look into purchasing testing kits for ecstasy and possibly other popular illegal recreational drugs in bulk to be sold at Leeds University Union, with the results of this to be presented for discussion at a future Union Council meeting.
2. To give out safer drugs use advice amongst the student population, especially concerning club drugs.
3. To write letters to all nightclubs in Leeds asking them to have free water readily available and to have locations where people can rest and relax.

Proposed by: Levent Akbulut
Seconded by: Guy Mitchell

• Alcohol Pricing

Passed by Union Council: 8th June 2009
Expires: 8th June 2012
Policy level: one

This Union Notes:

1. The NHS bill for alcohol abuse is an estimated £2.7bn a year 1.
2. Many supermarkets sell alcohol below cost price and write them off as ‘loss leaders’;
3. Alcohol is 75% more affordable than in 19802;
4. That a report commissioned by the Department of Health concluded that increasing the price of alcohol would be one of the most effective measures to tackle alcohol abuse;
5. An author of the same report, Petra Meier, said a 50p a unit minimum price would lead to a cut of 7% in alcohol consumption across the board, and 10% cut among heavy drinkers;
6. That the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, recommended a 50p minimum price to the government;
7. That the recommendation was rejected, but this year’s budget includes a rise in alcohol duty at 2% above the rate of inflation;
8. That the National Union of Students is working with student unions across the country to recommend a minimum drinks price for student unions;
9. That LUU currently has an unofficial minimum price of £1.50 a drink;

This Union Believes:

1. That Student Unions should set an example to other bars by providing services which are not detrimental to the health and safety of our members;
2. That the reputation of students and student unions is damaged by the selling of cheap alcohol;
3. LUU’s responsible drink pricing means the union is usually a safe and welcoming place for students to socialise because of this policy.

This Union Resolves:

1. To write to the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, encouraging the government to adopt a 50p minimum drink price;
2. To support minimum drink pricing at all NUS conferences.

Proposed by: Laura McFarlane-Shopes
Seconded by: Rob Damiao

• Should LUU disallow access of any groups or individuals who have been convicted by the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, or Section 74 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008?

Passed by Referendum: 1st December 2009
Expires: 1st December 2012
Policy Level: One

This Union Notes:

1. Leeds University Union (LUU) is a membership organisation.
2. LUU is responsible for the safety of its members.
3. LUU holds equality as a core value and has recently won awards for the diversity within the organisation.
4. Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 and section 74 of the Criminal Justice an Immigration Act 2008, recognise the danger of individuals or organisations who aim to provoke hatred or violence against particular social groups.
5. These Acts protect freedom of expression.
6. The National Union of Students (NUS) has a definition of safe space which all LUU’s members must abide by at NUS events.
7. As a safe space LUU cannot tolerate groups who contradict the above laws.
8. Safe space policy ensures that our union, and furthermore, our campus is a secure and welcoming place for all our students.

This Union Believes:

1. Students have the right to learn in a comfortable environment, regardless of ethnicity, faith, gender (identity), sexuality, ability, age or nationality.
2. Any situation where many students feel unsafe on their own campus is wrong.
3. We can reveal the nature of harmful groups without inviting their intimidating presence to campus.
4. Members already consider LUU as a safe space because the welfare of our members takes priority.
5. Freedom of speech is an important right which should be defended. However, freedom of speech doesn't extend to inciting hatred.
6. If LUU or a student group affiliated to LUU were to allow speakers or groups who initiate hatred, then this could be seen as an endorsement of their views.
7. Inciting to hatred aims to undermine the liberty of other social groups.

This Union Resolves:

1. To recognise LUU as a safe space for all it’s members.
2. To automatically disallow access of any groups or individuals who have been charged under the above Acts and who's sentence or punishment is currently ongoing.
3. To formulate an appeals process for access for any individual on the grounds of having reformed (e.g. ex BNP members who now work to expose them) The appeal to be put to Union Council, until the creation of the complaints group.
4. To mandate the Student Executive to run an active ‘Get the Vote Out’ campaign in order to provide students accurate and fair knowledge of all political parties and what they stand for.
5. To mandate the Student Executive to consider options for a Union based complaints procedure regarding speakers or groups on a case by case basis, to be approved by Union Council at an open and well publicised meeting.
6. [The union still withholds the right to deny access to any individual should such a decision be taken democratically by the student body (i.e. UC or referendum) but only where such exclusion is lawfully justified.]

Proposer: Sophia James
Seconder: Richard Allen

• Food Labelling and Choice for Specific Dietary Requirements

Passed by Union Council: 9th November 2009
Expires: 9th November 2012
Policy level: One

This Union notes:

That statistically at least:

• 125 members of LUU are vegans (1)
• 900 members of LUU are vegetarians (2)
• 300 members of LUU are celiacs (3)
• 150 members of LUU have a tree nut allergy (4)
• 300 members of LUU have a peanut allergy (4)
• 1500 members of LUU will have a problem digesting dairy products (lactose intolerance). (1)
• LUUs’ food outlets currently don’t provide information about whether a dish/item is suitable for a certain diet (except for vegetarian diets).
• Whilst some people chose a specific diet for health or ethical reasons, some people have no choice about their diet due to an intolerance/allergy.
• LUU has a large population of students who are vegetarian by personal preference, due to faith, while others abide by Halall Kosher Food Laws.

This Union believes:

• In respecting the fact many students have a specific diet and that they should have a number of different choices when purchasing food.
• LUU should try to cater for all its members different type of diet, even if they are a minority.
• Having to ask staff about the suitability of a item for your particular diet is inconvenient and can be embarrassing, especially if its seen to be different from the norm.
• Providing information about what items are suitable for particular diets could encourage more people to buy food from union outlets, because people with specific dietary requirements feel confident about what to buy, with out having to ask.

This Union resolves:

• To provide easy to understand labelling for food sold in The Old Bar, The Terrace and for sandwiches/wraps/pasties sold in Extras and Essentials for diets mentions in ‘this union notes’.
• To engage constructively with private food retailers in the union and with the university about implementing a labelling system as above in their food outlets.
• To aim to offer more items/dishes where possible which are suitable for those who have specific diets, in union outlets and to encourage to university to do the same.
• That all LUU shops ‘Pick ‘n Mix@ sweets will be clearly labelled as suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Proposer: Adam Harper
Seconder: Madeleine Harris-Smith

References:
All figures are approximate and are calculated from national figures based on LUU having 30,000 members.

1. The Vegan society, www.vegansociety.com/society
2. The Vegetarian society, www.vegsoc.org/info/statveg
3. The NHS, http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Coeliac-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/What-is-it.aspx
4. Patient UK, http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Nut-Allergy.htm
• Pro-Choice Motion

Passed by Union Council: 9th November 2009
Expires: 9th November 2012
Policy level: One

This Union Notes:

1. That three years ago, union council passed a motion to protect the union’s pro choice policy.
2. That a pro-choice stance is not a pro-abortion stance, but instead affirms abortion as a morally and medically acceptable choice. Pro choice supporters believe that the final decision about pregnancy and abortion should always rest with the female and that her informed choice should always be respected.
3. That Leeds University Union has an Abortion Fund and a New Born Baby Fund and dedicates equal resources to both.
4. That an LSE study in 2005 showed reproductive rights and choices have improved women’s social, economic and political position to a greater degree than equal pay and equal opportunities legislation (Abortion Rights UK).
5. That in Northern Ireland, abortion is almost completely criminalized, and that since 1967, over 54,000 women have been forced to travel to Britain or Europe to have an abortion, and have funded the entire cost of this trip themselves (Abortion Rights UK)
6. That unsafe abortion kills 70,000 women a year globally (Abortion Rights UK)

This Union Believes:

1. That women have the right to choose what they do with their own bodies, and having received proper information, should be trusted to make a final decision.
2. That reaffirming our pro choice stance means that students who do seek advice from the union are presented with information and facts and subsequently supported whatever their decision.
3. That the pro choice movement and a woman’s right to choose is threatened every day by the anti choice movement. ‘Abortion Rights’ is the national pro choice campaign and work to defend and extend women's rights and access to safe, legal abortion.
4. That Northern Irish law should be brought into line with the rest of the UK so that women are not forced to undergo abortions in unnecessarily difficult circumstances.

This Union Resolves:

1. To reaffirm the union’s pro choice policy with regard to pregnancy and abortion.
2. To protect both the Abortion Fund and the New Born Baby Fund.
3. To mandate the Women’s Assembly Chair to, within one month of the passing of this motion, write to the ministers listed below to ask that the government takes steps to end the policy of the criminalization of abortion in Northern Ireland:
   • Secretary of State for Health
   • Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
   • Minister for Women and Equality
   • Northern Irish Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety,
   • The appropriate shadow ministers in the two major opposition parties in the UK parliament
4. To affiliate to ‘Abortion Rights’ so as to receive vital campaigning resources and advice.

Proposer: Madeleine Harris Smith
Seconder: Rosy Dorfman

• No Platform Policy

Date of meeting: 7th December 2009
Expires: 7th December 2012
Policy level: One

This Union Notes

1. Following the Autumn referendum 2009, LUU has policy disallowing access to the union to groups and inividuals with standing convictions under certain hate crime legislation
2. LUU is currently reviewing how to set up a complaints procedure in relation to invited speakers not covered under this policy
3. That members of the BNP have stood in student union elections on a platform of removing black student repesentation and/or introducing a white student officer
4. That the Young BNP infiltrated political and campaigning societies at UMSU, leaking names and details of anti racist students, leading to some receiving death theats
5. The All Parliamentary Report into anti-semitism has been informed that the Young BNP is active on 15 campuses
6. That NUS, NUS Liberation campaigns and all major trade unions have a no platform policy

This Union Believes

1. That current policy does not completely protect LUU against the possibility of those from fascist organiations exploiting our democratic structures or our activities provisions
2. That LUU societies have been used in the past to push a racist agenda. In the same interview with the Guardian where former BNP youth Leader Mark Collett declared his preference for a 'racially pure Britain,' he also stated '"When I came to Leeds University I joined the Free Speech society to fight against political correctness.'
3. That it is uncceptable for LUU to put its membership and reputaion at risk by not having measures in place to ensure its democracy and funding are not being used to push an agenda hostile to equality and diversity

This Union Resolves

1. To disallow members of proscribed fascist organisations from holding union positions or taking part in union elections
2. For Union Council to suspend or close down societies found to be acting as a proxy for proscribed organisations
3. Not to use this policy against those with whom the union disagrees but only those groups who stand in the tradition of fascism
4. To include the following orgaisations in the No Platform policy: British National Party, British People's Party, National Front, English, Scottish and Welsh Defence Leagues

Proposed by: Hanif Leylabi
Seconded by: Nick Jones