Following consultation with students, ending Friday 3rd Novemeber, we received no amendments to the proposed changes outlined below. 

The proposed M&A as outline below will therefore be presented for voting at NTSU Union Meeting on 23rd Novemeber 2017, 5.30pm in the Level at City SU. All NTSU student members are encouraged to attend and vote at the meeting.  

The Union Notes:

The Memorandum & Articles of Association (M&A) is the legal document which outlines how your Union is run. It is best practice to review this document regularly, and we are aware that there are currently certain issues with the M&A which in some cases may restrict the level to which students are able to engage with the Union. These include:

1. The use of gendered and specifically masculine language, which is not inclusive for women or transgender and non-binary students. 
2. Errors in grammar, numbering and formatting, which can make it difficult to understand
3. Restrictions on the amount of time that students can serve as Officer Trustee beyond the limits set out in the Education Act
4. A lack of clarity on the ability for NTSU student staff to run for Officer Trustee roles
5. The make-up of the Board and its committees which are outdated and do not reflect external guidance

The Union Believes:

1. Our M&A should be inclusive for all students
2. Our M&A should be as easy to read as possible
3. Students should have as many opportunities as possible and should be able to run for a total of 4 years as an Officer Trustee (up to 2 years as a Non-Sabbatical Officer, and up to 2 years a Sabbatical Officer)
4. Students should be encouraged to engage with as many areas of the Union as they want to, including part time staff roles
5. Our Trustee Board should have strong student representation and always reflect current best practice

The Union Resolves:

1. To implement an updated version of the M&A which incorporates all the changes outlined above, pending approval from the University.