Experiments in Inclusivity

As an Association we tend to use closed FirstClass conferences to help facilitate the support and training of various reps. There are pluses and minuses to doing this. On the plus, side new reps have a place where they can find their feet, get support, ask questions, discuss issues, and generally not worry about looking daft if they aren't 100% sure exactly what they should be doing. The down side is that people can get missed off the permissions list so don't get added to the conference (and they don't know they should be added so don't know to ask), and the closed aspect (secret some would say) can help to foster an atmosphere of 'them and us', lead to accusations of 'cliquishness', and often doesn't do a great deal to promote a feeling of inclusiveness.

In an effort to promote inclusivity I'm preparing to start an experiment on FirstClass. I've asked for a conference to be created which will be for the use of regional reps to university committees. In it they will be able to discuss issues that come up at their meetings, ask questions about O U S A policy on matters due for discussion at those meetings, and get and give support to one another in the normal manner of support conferences. The difference will be that this conference will not be hidden in any way and all students will be able to read it if they want to.

I'll explain why I've gone for read access as opposed to being totally open (though you are free to disagree with me and put forward your view if you wish - I have been known to be persuaded to change my viewpoint). There are any number of ways for students to put forward their views on things to the Association (I'll leave aside the argument about these could be better publicised and more accessible for now), and there are any number of people students can contact who deliberately put themselves in the way of being a 'public face' and a communications channel within our Association. The people who put themselves forward for the role of a regional reps to O U committees generally fall into one of two groups:

• Those who are new to representing student opinion, are just finding their feet, and want to start in a local environment where it is likely they will know others and have an understanding of the issues.
• Those who are concerned with local students and local issues, want to 'do their bit' for the student body, but don't want to be a public face.

By giving the whole student body read only access to the conference I'm hoping to do two things:

• Increase awareness of what our regional reps do (and maybe encourage participation by doing so)
• Protect those reps who don't really want to get involved with debates with the whole student body by ensuring that if someone from outside the group does want to debate certain issues they use the appropriate forum/channel to do so.

I'm not sure I've got this right, it's an experiment to see how it goes, if it works then great, if it doesn't then I'll look at the situation and work out where to go from there. Your views, as always will be appreciated.