The first Student Panel run by LSESU, hosted on the 17th and 18th of January 2023.

January 2023 Student Panel

The first Student Panel run by LSESU, hosted on the 17th and 18th of January 2023.

Policies Discussed

The Policy Proposals discussed at the January Student Panel were:

  1. SHOULD THE LSESU WORK TO INCREASE STUDENT ACCESS TO HOT WATER AND MICROWAVES ON CAMPUS?

Proposer: Siyu Chen

Issue: No available hot water taps on campus; Limited facilities on campus for students to heat up their own food.

Solution:

  • Bring at least one boiling water option (kettle & non-drainage boiling water machines) to each main building, and fix and maintain existing hot water options. Look into providing dairy and non-dairy options
  • Raise awareness about the current microwave options – maybe the form of a pamphlet in first week – have in bottom floor of SU
  • Look into providing more microwaves if SU deem there is adequate demand 
  • Make sure the above facilities are available to most students. (For example, facilities in UG common rooms are not available to PG or PHD students.)
  1. SHOULD THE LSESU WORK TO INCREASE STUDENT ACCESS TO RECREATIONAL SPACE ON CAMPUS THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE ALCOHOL?

Proposer: Joshua Goldman

Issue:

  • There is no recreational space on LSE's campus that isn't the bar (the bar is not inclusive to all students) - many other SU provide a space like this (e.g., Coventry SU) 
  • By recreational space, we mean a space that isn't necessarily made to study, and where small, recreational activities could be held (e.g., ping pong, pool, PlayStation, boardgames, etc.)
  • This could also be a space to create a community feeling 
  • The different common rooms for LSE students vary highly in quality depending on the department / level of study. As a result, LSE students sometimes experience contrasting student life. 

Solution: 

  • Create a recreational space, not limited to a ping pong table and futsal table, that is made accessible and visible to students + good Comms
  • Immediate temporary action: Which rooms are not in use. Can the basement of old building be utilised. Inquire before it becomes something else 
  1. Should the LSESU work to increase the accessibility of menstrual products in LSE spaces?

Proposer: Neha Talla

Issue: Limited access to menstrual products on campus for menstruators. When I got my period last on campus I had to ask 3 people to ultimately find out where I could get menstrual products last-minute and it was pretty inconvenient to have to walk around a whole lot to find them finally in the SU building.

Solution: It would be really great if we could somehow set up a system where there are menstrual products available for free for menstruators to pick up easily in every LSE building to ease the discomfort of having to go around a bunch in that situation. Ideally, in a similar spot in every building (I.e. ground floor bathroom/reception) so that everyone knows where to get them from. Even if this isn’t possible, more information should be available on the fact that the bathrooms in the SU building first floor have them, because most of the people I spoke to weren’t aware of this either.

Provision of menstrual products: LSE should provide menstrual products on every floor of all LSE buildings, including in gender-neutral spaces, to ensure that individuals have easy access to menstrual products. The SU should consider the types of menstrual products available will include tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. 

  • Accommodation inclusion: LSE should extend the policy to include all accommodation facilities under its management to ensure individuals have access to menstrual products within their living spaces
  • Creating a welcoming environment: During welcome week, LSESU should inform new students about the menstrual product access policy, where they can find them, and the types of menstrual products available
  • Ensuring privacy and comfort: LSESU to lobby LSE to recognize that some individuals may not feel comfortable asking for menstrual products and that to address this, LSE should ensure that they are in accessible, private, and safe locations
  • Monitoring implementation: LSESU should appoint an appropriate person to ensure that the menstrual products are well-stocked
  • Communication: LSESU should communicate the policy implementation to the student body
  1. SHOULD THE LSESU LOBBY THE LSE TO HAVE STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THE EXTERNAL FUNDING ETHICAL REVIEW BOARD (EFERB)?

Proposer: Maarya Rabbani (Education Officer)

Issue: There is currently no student representation on the External Funding Ethical Review Board (EFERB), it solely consists of the School secretary (Louise Nadal) and faculty members from academic departments. Other Committees, Boards, and steering groups at the LSE have at least one student representative in their membership so this case is definitely an outlier for LSE-SU partnership.

Solution: The solution is to have at least one currently enrolled student and one Sabbatical Officer on the Board to express student perspective in the discussions ahead of EFERB decisions made re: philanthropic/other gifts that LSE receives.

  1. SHOULD THE LSESU LOBBY LSE TO GET WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS OFF FOR ALL STUDENTS?

Proposer: Obaloluwa Agboola

Issue:

  • Postgraduate students are unable to join any LSESU activities on Wednesday afternoons
  • Postgraduate students are unable to compete in BUCS competition as they are only on Wednesday afternoons
  • To some extent, postgraduate students get less exposure to what the LSESU has to offer, which can imply that they would be less likely to participate in wider LSESU events such as elections.
  • Physical exercise is very important for mental health and general health, as a student it is important to have access to SU sport as it is more affordable for students

Solution: Get LSE to commit to having Wednesday off for all students, including postgraduates. The lobbying action led by the SU should be constructive and acknowledging the different structural challenges that will be faced in achieving this.

  • Examination of options: The LSESU should examine the feasibility of LSE providing Wednesday afternoons off for all students, taking into consideration valid reasons such as tight timetables, and the concerns of part-time students. 
  • Protection of mental health: The LSESU should lobby LSE for Wednesday afternoons off for students, highlighting the importance of protecting their mental health. Participation in sports activities should be adopted by LSE as a valid reason for a requested change of timetable as it is essential for students' physical and emotional well-being. 
  • Consultation with relevant stakeholders: The LSESU will consult with relevant stakeholders,  to gain their input and support for the proposal. 
  1. SHOULD THE LSESU LOBBY LSE TO HAVE MANDATORY TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS FOR ALL FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS?

Proposer: Luca Loggia

Issue: LSE's stated goal of contributing to the betterment of society is at odds with countervailing dynamics:

  1. Its reputation for admitting applicants that are politically exposed persons linked to families with official functions having risks of abusing public for private gain and laundering their proceeds. The admission of such students runs the risk of reputation laundering, whereby potentially corrupt families buy their way into respectability. 
  2. A lot of the LSE's alumni will go on to pursue high-impact careers - many in notable pursuits, but many others going on to work in industries with a questionable social/environmental footprint.

Solution:

  • Introduction of mandatory human rights workshops: The LSESU will lobby LSE to introduce mandatory human rights workshops (10-15 hours) for all first-year students at LSE, including U1 undergraduates and entering MSc students. 
  • Incorporation of human rights lens in LSE 2030 Strategy: These mandatory workshops will incorporate a human rights lens in the LSE 2030 Strategy, which identifies the university's priorities in terms of education, research, and employment. By prioritizing human rights training for its students, LSE will ensure that it contributes to creating a more just and equitable world. 
  • Importance of human rights training: These mandatory workshops will ensure that LSE students are not part of the problem, but part of the solution, by imparting a human rights lens to students. This training will enable students to pursue high-impact careers with consideration for the human rights considerations underlying their line of work. 
  • Enhancing LSE's reputation: These mandatory workshops will further enhance LSE's prestige and reputation by placing it as a leader among universities for prioritizing human rights training among its student body. 
  • Defining mandatory and timeframe: LSESU will work with LSE to define what is meant by mandatory and develop a clear timeframe for the delivery of the human rights workshops to ensure that all first-year students complete the training. 

Voting Outcomes

  1. Should the LSESU work to increase student access to hot water and microwaves on campus? PASSED
  2. Should the LSESU work to increase student access to recreational space on campus that doesn't involve alcohol? PASSED
  3. Should the LSESU lobby the LSE to have student representation on the external funding ethical review board (EFERB)? Pushed to Town Hall and all-student vote in Summer Term
  4. Should the LSESU work to increase the accessibility of menstrual products on campus? PASSED
  5. Should the LSESU lobby LSE to get Wednesday afternoons off for all students? PASSED
  6. Should the LSESU lobby LSE to have mandatory trainings/ workshops for all first-year students on human rights? PASSED

 

To follow along with the SU's progress on these proposals, take a look at our Passed Policies page.

If you have any questions or concerns about the policies passed above, please get in touch at su.democracy@lse.ac.uk

Find out more about the Policy Proposal and Student Panel process here. 

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