Standpoints

A Standpoint must adhere to the following conditions before it can be considered by SUmmit:

• It must not breach UK law.
• It must be in line with The SU’s charitable objectives.
• The proposal cannot be ‘Ultra Vires’ – it must adhere to the Charity Commission’s expectation of The SU (e.g. it cannot be party political - read more here).
• It must not contravene the University’s regulations or Dignity & Respect policy.
• It must not contravene The SU’s values.
• It must not contravene an existing Article of SU Governance or SU Policy.
• It must not contradict an existing SU standpoint.
• It must not mention an individual by name.

1. SUmmit considers submitted Statements of Issue and a maximum of 3 will be discussed at each meeting of SUmmit. 
2. Prior to the meeting a briefing document will be prepared and sent to members of SUmmit on the topic, facilitated by the SU Voice Team.
3. At the meeting of SUmmit, members will discuss and create Standpoint wording and actions. SUmmit will then vote for one of the following options:
   • Proceed to vote on the proposed Standpoint wording and actions in the meeting.
   • Call for statements from the wider student community and discuss at next meeting.
   • Recommend to the Board of Trustees that a referendum be held to determine student opinion. 
4. A Standpoint and actions may only be passed if quoracy is met. Standpoints that are accepted will be added to the SU Standpoints document.

• Once a Standpoint is approved by SUmmit, it is valid indefinitely unless specified otherwise, or if it is challenged a later date.
• SUmmit can decide to assign individual Standpoints an ‘expiry date’ or ‘date of review’.
• Standpoints due to expire, or due for review, will be brought to SUmmit and subject to a vote to either; confirm its continuation or discontinuation, or make amendment(s).

Any existing standpoint can be ‘challenged’ by a SUmmit member, for this to occur, the following conditions must be met:

• The Standpoint in question was approved at least 2 meetings prior to the challenge.
• One additional SUmmit member must support the challenge.
• The Chair must approve the challenge and agree that it will become an item at the next possible SUmmit meeting

Any existing standpoints can be amended in the following ways:

• The SU’s Board of Trustees decide to amend a Standpoint.
• SUmmit votes to amend an existing Standpoint following a ‘challenge’.
• A valid referendum vote passes which requires the changing of a Standpoint, in accordance with Articles 28 to 31 of The SU’s Articles of Governance, and subject to approval from the SU’s Board of Trustees.

Any existing Standpoints not due to expire can be removed in the following ways:

• Any existing Standpoints not due to expire, can be removed in the following ways:
  • The SU’s Board of Trustees decide to remove a Standpoint.
  • SUmmit makes a vote to remove an existing Standpoint.
  • A valid referendum vote passes which requires the removal of a standpoint, in accordance with Articles 28 to 31 of The SU’s Articles of Governance, and subject to approval from the SU’s Board of Trustees.

The SU Board of Trustees will have the authority to overturn a Standpoint. If a Standpoint is rejected by the SU’s Board of Trustees, a written response will be sent to SUmmit to allow the proposer(s) to amend their proposal and resubmit to SUmmit for consideration/approval.

For further detail on Standpoint procedures, you can read the full SUmmit Terms of Reference and operational guidance.