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Proposed Amendments To UTSSA Constitution 1/07/2026 Proposed amendments to UTSSA Constitution

Motion put to July SRC : Removal of Vertigo from the UTSSA Constitution

Proposed amendments to UTSSA Constitution

Action:
That the UTSSA:

1. Amend clause 1.2 of the Constitution by deleting the words: "and for members of the
editorial team of the Association's student publication, Vertigo" from paragraph (b) of the
definition of "Term of Office".
2. Repeal clause 10.4(l) of the Constitution in its entirety.
3. Renumber clause 10.4(m) as clause 10.4(l).
4. Repeal Article 15 (Student Publications) of the Constitution in its entirety.
5. Renumber Articles 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 as Articles 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively.
6. Amend all internal clause references, article references and cross-references affected by
the amendments contained in this motion.
7. Direct the General Secretary to prepare and publish a consolidated version of the
Constitution incorporating the amendments to the UTS Council.
8. Direct the 2026/2027 Executive team to provide a proposal to the SRC by the 2027 July
SRC meeting about Vertigo/Newswit to ensure the timely delivery of a 2028 student
media team.

#Media Statement Regarding Proposed Amendments

The UTSSA to overhaul student media model, replacing Vertigo with two new publications.

The UTS Students' Association (UTSSA) Students' Representative Council will consider a motion to modernise student media at UTS by replacing the current constitutional framework governing Vertigo with a new model comprising two complementary publications.

If passed, the motion would remove Vertigo from the 2026 Annual Elections, meaning no Vertigo Editorial Team would be elected for the 2027 term under the existing governance model. In its place, the UTSSA intends to establish a reimagined Vertigo as a semesterly magazine focused on long-form journalism, photography, illustration and creative work, alongside a new publication, Newswit, restoring the historic UTS student newspaper and dedicated to regular reporting on University affairs, student politics, SSAF-funded services and campus life.

The UTSSA President, Neeve Nagle, said the decision followed years of attempted reform within the existing structure. The proposed changes form part of the UTSSA's broader strategy to ensure student media remains relevant, engaging and responsive to the way students consume information today.

In 2023, the UTSSA commissioned independent research into student media and communication preferences. The findings demonstrated that students increasingly access information through a range of channels and expect content that is timely, accessible and tailored to different formats. The proposed model reflects those changing expectations by creating two distinct publications with clear and complementary purposes.

UTSSA President Neeve Nagle said the Association's goal is to strengthen student media for the future.

"Student media is an important part of campus life, but the way students engage with content has changed significantly. Our research showed that students want timely news and updates, while also valuing thoughtful long-form journalism and creative expression. This new model is designed to deliver both."

"This isn't about ending student media at UTS. It's the opposite. We think students deserve a media model that actually works: timely reporting on what's happening at this university, and a creative outlet that isn't weighed down by the same structural problems every year. Rather than asking one publication to serve every purpose, we're creating two publications that each have a clear identity and audience."

The proposal also recognises the need for a governance framework that supports sustainable, high-quality student publications into the future.

The motion would amend the UTSSA Constitution to remove all references to Vertigo's editorial team and repeal Article 15 (Student Publications) in its entirety, with consequential renumbering and a consolidated version of the Constitution to follow.

Media contact:

Neeve Nagle

president@utsstudentsassociation.org

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