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Women's Forum
What is Women's Forum?
Women's Forum is open to all women in the University and takes place on alternating Wednesdays from 7pm. Forum is the decision-making body of the Women's Union and is steered by the CUSU Women's Officer.
Voting membership of the Forum is comprised of college Women's Officers and the Women's Executive Committee. Typically motions that come to Council involve policy statements about the University or resolutions to take action on matters that arise within Cambridge, the U.K. and beyond.
Women's Forum also provides a forum for contact with the Women's Executive and the Women's Committees on Ents, Budget and Campaigns, and to discuss news and events throughout the colleges and the University
All 2009-10 Women's Forums are held fortnightly at 7.30pm on the Wedesdays preceding CUSU Council:
Michaelmas Term
13 October
28 October
11 November
25 November
Lent Term
20 January
3 February
17 February
3 March
Easter Term
28 April
12 May
Basic Intro to Forum
Women's Forum provides an opportunity for women to find out about issues affecting women in the University and the work of the Women's Campaign. Forum is women-only space, which means that when Forum is in session only women can be present.
Forum is chaired by the Women's Officer, who acts as mediator and impartial advisor through her chairing duties and does not have a vote at Forum.
Forum is basically split into two parts: items for discussion, and motions.
Any woman can submit an item for discussion, and it could be anything from setting up a faculty women's group, to publicising an event.
Similarly, proposals can be about anything that affects women students. A proposal puts foward an idea, and can initiate a campaign, mandate the CUSU Women's Officer to do something or ask the CUSU Women's Campaign to adopt a stance on a particular issue. Any woman student can bring a motion (there is generally a proposer and a seconder), and a group of women can propose a motion together. You don't have to be a college women's officer to put forward a proposal.
Once a proposal is accepted by Forum it becomes Women's Campaign policy and remains in effect for three years. It is the Women's Officer's responsibility to make sure that the Women's Campaign operates within the parameters of its policy, e.g., if Forum passes a motion to run a campaign, it is her job to oversee the campaign and report back to Forum on its progress.
When policy lapses it may either be discarded, which means it ceases to have any impact on Women's Campaign activities, or renewed. The CUSU Women's Officer should flag up lapsing policy once a year to see if Forum wants to renew it.
If you have any further questions about Women's Forum or related issues you can contact the CUSU Women's Officer.
Minutes/agendas
Minutes/agendas are available from Forum meetings:
| 2009-2010 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2008-2009 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2007-2008 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2006-2007 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2005-2006 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2004-2005 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2003-2004 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2002-2003 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2001-2002 | Michaelmas | Lent | Easter |
| 2000-2001 | Lent | Easter |