Make change on campus

This is a place where you can submit any idea for change about your university experience or vote and comment on existing ideas. A petition can be requested by any member who wants to trigger a referendum on any of the following:

• To set Union policy
• To appeal a decision made at Executive Committee
• To call a vote of no confidence in an elected officer or trustee
• Challenge Brighton Students’ Union’s affiliation to NUS or other bodies.

How it works

1. Submit petition If you've got a great idea for change on campus, submit it on here.
2. Wait for approval A member of our team will look over your petition as soon as possible.
3. Collect 500 votes You'll have 13 clear days to get 500 votes on your petition.
4. Wait 24 hours We'll make the results of your petition available 24 hours after closure.
5. Successful? If your petition is successful, we'll hold a referendum on it.
6. Unsuccessful? If your petition is unsuccessful, you can try again in the next academic year.

If you can get a minimum number of 500 signatures of full members for a petition, this will successfully call a referendum for all students to vote on. But don't stop there - the more votes and comments a petition gets, the more power it gives us to try to action it! Get out there and campaign your petition to other students to encourage them to sign or to not sign the petition.

You can make a request for a petition at any point of the year, and all requests must include a full copy of the idea proposed. Make sure your idea clearly states what you want to change and why – things like how it would be funded, who it would apply to – give as much detail as possible. If you don’t, we may have to delete your idea or it could be rejected by students for being too vague. If accepted, a petition will remain open for thirteen clear days and the results will be available on the SU website within 24 hours of the closure of the petition. 

Check to see if your idea has already been posted by someone else – if so, don’t post the idea again, but vote and comment on the existing idea. In any academic year there will be no more than two petitions allowed that address substantively the same subject.

When the petition closes, the Returning Officer will confirm the total number of students who have signed the petition, check for duplicates or invalid student numbers/names, and remove and discount them from the petition.

The Petitions page is a direct and effective way to get your voice heard and you can use it as many times as you like during your studies - we know that your needs and wants change year on year, so use the Petitions page to reflect the current issues you are facing and let us know what it is you care about.

Top tips!

• Come up with a plan and set goals for your petition. What are you trying to achieve? What do you need to do along the way to get there?
• Campaign for your petition! Get the word out to as many students as you can.
• Have a think about your methods of promotion. Posters, hosting talks and social media are all powerful tools to elevate your petition to your most precious resource – people!
• Do your research and become an expert on the topic you are petitioning for! The more you know, the further you will go!
• Have a think about who you can target to get a good turnout of votes. Are there any groups of students that will resonate more with what you are trying to change? For example, are there any societies, sports teams or course reps in certain schools that are likely to be on board with your vision? How can you access these groups?
• Remember to consider when is best to start your petition. Try to avoid holidays and around exam time as voter engagement is likely to be lower.
• Lastly, remember to have fun! Get creative with your approach and involve your peers where you can. This is great experience that can introduce you to likeminded people at University whilst working towards a goal. The more you put in the more you will get out of it. Good luck!