Look before you leap
YUSU must tell students what leaving the NUS means
YUSU’s recent call for a referendum on NUS affiliation is motivated by one thing: money. A feeling prevails that affiliation fees of thirty-odd grand do not represent value for money and that York students would benefit more if YUSU spent that sizeable portion of its (meagre) budget on more immediate things.
It is vital that YUSU is clear about the question the referendum will pose. Rather than contemplating whether ‘in principle, YUSU should be affiliated to the NUS?’ we need to consider the underlying issue. Does the current affiliation fee represent value for money?
To decide this, we must first understand the key purpose of NUS. Save the occasional 10% off at HMV chances are that most students can’t recall ever having direct contact with the NUS. Their website led me to a mountain of propaganda detailing all the ‘benefits’ of NUS affiliation; in summary, the two ‘R’s: representation and resources.
What are these mythical resources provided for our benefit? Mostly information and advice pertaining to all the issues affecting students: money, housing, health, welfare, relationships and careers. Additionally, the NUS provides services to students by running projects and events, offering training, researching student opinion and campaigning on our behalf. This indicates that NUS is a body representing the interests of students at national level.
However, if YUSU does disaffiliate, student representation at a country-wide scale will not be affected that much. The NUS would still have the support of almost all other higher education institutions in the country and its ‘political clout’ would not be unduly affected. It would still campaign on behalf of students and we would still benefit from this protection of our interests, only for free.
The argument is a cynical one – and selfish too. While other SUs across the country pay their dues so that our interests are protected, we give nothing. We free up £30,000 a year to spend on ourselves. Personally, I’m not sure of my confidence in YUSU to replace the services provided by the NUS from that figure without a loss in quality.
Also, I wonder about the precedent disaffiliation would set. Other universities of similar size might follow suit. How many universities can the NUS lose and remain the unified voice of the student population? For me, the national representation that the NUS gives is too important to throw away. If York’s affiliation fee is unfair (compared to institutions such as Manchester and Leeds who proportionally pay less in terms of their student population) then the way to proceed is to show the NUS that we are being hard done by. This requires a concerted campaign backed up by the facts: how much each service provided should cost, compared to what we pay for it.
YUSU has decided to trust student opinion on this matter, yet students must first understand exactly what question they are voting on, and to ensure they are made aware of the likely consequences of the result.
Which way will I be voting? To retain affiliation. There is surely no need to selfishly opt-out of national representation merely for the sake of an extra thirty grand a year.
Nicky Gardner
Thirty years ago I was heavily involved in a local students’ union that contemplated disaffiliation from the NUS. Thankfully, we stepped back from the brink, mainly because they were some of us who argued that one should take a long view of the NUS, and not be unduly swayed by a minor spat that has arisen in the preceeding months (also over money, as in the current case with York).
In the years since, I went on to become an academic and had many good links into national policy development in UK higher education. That long engagement with the HE sector alerted me to the very real contribution that the NUS makes to the well being of students in UK universities and colleges.
For York to precipitately disaffiliate would savagely betray many generations of students who have fought to secure for themselves and their successors some betterment in the well being of British students.
NUS membership is not a matter of small discounts at HMV and other high street stores. Rather it is an issue of supporting an organisation that has been in the forefront of defining, struggling for and protecting students’ rights. The NUS is an organisation with a fine history. I hope that it will not be betrayed by York.