Student Referendums

How can I launch a Student Referendum to dispute a decision?

In order to launch a Student Referendum against a Student Council decision you need to:

• go to the Student Corporation space on iCorsi (NetID login required)
• then go to the "Launch a Student Referendum" section
• and fill in the "Form to launch a Student Referendum"

– click here to go to the Student Corporation space on iCorsi

The form must be submitted within 15 days from the date of publication of the decision in the List of Decisions. The day of publication of the decision is considered part of the 15-day count, as well as Saturdays, Sundays and any public holidays. The deadline for launching a Student Referendum is also included in the Corporation calendar.

By submitting the form you agree to be listed with your first and last name as "promoter of the Student Referendum". If more than one person launches a Referendum to dispute the same decision, all parties will be included in the list.

What happens after launching a Student Referendum?

The Chancellery of the Corporation verifies that the form has been sent within the deadline and by a person who owns the right to launch a Student Referendum, i.e. a student who, at the time of sending the form, is listed in the USI database as regularly enrolled at the University. The Chancellery can carry out a counter-verification of authenticity with the interested party.

If the verification is successful, the Student Referendum is published in the List of Referendums. When the Referendum is published in the List of Referendums, the next phase begins: collecting signatures.

How can I support a Student Referendum and collect signatures?

After a Student Referendum has been published in the List of Referendums, to support the Referendum you need to

• go to the Student Corporation space on iCorsi (NetID login required)
• then go to the "Support a Student Referendum" section
• choose the Student Referendum you are interested in and sign the Student Referendum

– click here to go to the Student Corporation space on iCorsi

We remind you that launching a Student Referendum does not count as supporting the Referendum: the students who launch the Referendum must also sign for the Referendum as stated above.

It is possible to support a Student Referendum only within 20 days from the date of publication of the Referendum in the List of Referendums. The day of publication is considered part of the 20-day count, as well as Saturdays, Sundays and any public holidays. The deadlines for signing in support of any Referendum are also included in the Corporation calendar.

What happens after my support (signature) has been submitted?

The Chancellery of the Corporation verifies that the support (signature):

• has been sent within the deadline according to the date of submission;
• actually belongs to eligible students, i.e. students who are listed in the USI's database as regularly enrolled at the University at the time of submission.

The Chancellery can also carry out a counter-verification of authenticity of the signatures by randomly contacting the students.

How many signatures does a Student Referendum need to be put to the vote? Within what deadline?

At least 230 signatures (or "subscriptions") within 20 days from the date of publication of the Student Referendum in the List of Referendums. The day of publication is considered part of the 20-day count, as well as Saturdays, Sundays and any public holidays. The deadlines for supporting any Referendum are also included in the Corporation calendar.

What happens if enough signatures are collected for the Student Referendum?

If the Student Referendum has obtained enough signatures (230) within the defined period (20 days), it will be put to the vote according to the Corporation calendar. The Chancellery of the Corporation will inform you whether the Referendum will actually be put to the vote.

What happens if not enough signatures are collected for the Student Referendum?

Once the deadline for the collection of signatures has been reached, the disputed decision of the Student Council becomes effective.

What happens once a Student Referendum is put to the vote?

The Student General Assembly, i.e. all USI Bachelor's and Master's students, votes on the Council's decision disputed by the Student Referendum and:

• if most votes are in favour of the decision, it becomes effective;
• the decision will not become effective if most votes are against it.

Before a vote, the Student Council has the right to give advice on whether to vote against or in favour of a Student Referendum.

Is it possible to withdraw a Student Referendum?

Yes, you can withdraw a Student Referendum at any time before the vote. To withdraw a Student Referendum the promoters must be in agreement and write to [email protected]. Any withdrawal will be announced in the List of Referendums. When the Referendum is withdrawn, the Referendum lapses and the signature collection is suspended, or the scheduled vote is cancelled; the disputed Council decision becomes effective.