[committee] Concern over UCC member behaviour

[Conor Bennett]

To UCC Committee,

In the interest of avoiding more debates on the Discord, I'm writing this
email as a topic that I hope can be brought up in the next meeting.

I believe that currently UCC's biggest issue is the fact that there are
particular "Old Guard" members who essentially browbeat current student
members of the club whenever they encounter conflict between the
administration (but not only) of the club and their personal beliefs. It is
understandable for them to have their own views on how the club should be
run, and to express disapproval with particular committee decisions, but in
my mind the manner in which they currently go about this is completely
unacceptable.

I have personally experienced this, and I know many other people who have
also experienced it. In my case, it was also the main reason that I have
decreased my involvement in the club. Who wants to participate in a club in
which you get verbally harassed over minor disputes? This sort of behaviour
can contribute (and I'm sure has contributed) extremely harmfully to the
mental health of the recipients.

I hope that this topic can be thoroughly discussed at the next committee
meeting and *action be taken*. I would propose:

   - Firstly, raising this issue with the people in question, to attempt to
   have them understand this issue and why their behaviour is unacceptable,
   and to obtain a peaceful resolution
   - Failing that: implementing a kind of "injunction" against this sort of
   behaviour, with failure to abide resulting in banishment from the club
   spaces
   - Also, I would implore that this issue be raised with Guild for more
   support and stronger enforcement

But I don't have high hopes since from what I can tell this issue has been
going on for years and no one has had the spine to put these people in
their place (tbh, who can blame the people who haven't tried - if you try,
which has been done in past, you'll just cop the abuse yourself). I am
simply calling out this issue because in my mind it is the most important
takeaway from recent conversations on the Discord, and no one else has
mentioned it (along with there being too much kowtowing to the semi-concern
trolling of said belligerents).

Kind regards,
Conor
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