Liberation fears as date for NUS referendum draws near
The students’ union is set to hold a referendum on whether it should retain its membership of the NUS in Week 6. YUSU Liberation officers have spoken out in recent weeks about the effects that disaffiliation could have on their campaigns.
The motion to hold a referendum, which was put forward by Louis Wihl, JCRC Chair of Alcuin College, was voted for almost unanimously by YUSU Officers and JCRC Chairs in a University Senate meeting in May. Wihl was keen to stress that he was in favour of the NUS and that the aim of the referendum was, in his view, to “promote the NUS and show everyone why it’s a good thing”.
YUSU officers have expressed mixed views with regards to disaffiliation. Those promoting liberation campaigns such as LGBT, Racial Equality and Women’s Officers hold strong views against disaffiliation.
LGBT Officer, Matthew Pallas said: “Being part of a national body means we are connected to debates and ideas that take place on a much larger scale than just one Students’ Union alone. Most university LGBT groups only became trans-inclusive after the NUS changed its LGB campaign to an LGBT campaign in 2005. The arguments about trans inclusion were played out and resolved on a national level, in a way that would be difficult to replicate locally in hundreds of students’ unions around the country”.
Michael Batula, Racial Equality Officer stated: “Disaffiliation, would be like losing the main body of what my position stands for. Racial equality can only be achieved from the grassroots upwards but that has to be facilitated from the people at the top. I use my position and membership as part of the NUS to make sure that this happens. My position and moral obligations would be completely undermined if I was not part of the group that lobbies government about these issues.”
The referendum, titled “Should the University of York’s Students’ Union maintain its affiliation with the NUS?”, needs at least 650 votes to be cast to reach quoracy, meaning 6.75% of the student population have to vote in order for a decision to be made.
Anne-Marie Canning, YUSU President, will co-ordinate the referendum with Matt Burton, Services and Finance Officer, standing as the Returning Officer. Campaigns for and against affiliation with the NUS will be spearheaded by two separate Union officers who are yet to be decided.
Services and Finance Officer Matt Burton highlighted an opposing point, saying that even though the University pays £12,000 per year less than other larger institutions such as the Universities of Manchester and Leeds, “they can pay that much without blinking, whereas we have much more trouble finding that amount of money”. The NUS affiliation fee that York pays has just decreased from £40,000 to £36,000, but questions are still being asked as to whether this is value for money.
A schedule of events will take place throughout Week 6, with Union funds being used to promote the events and encourage students to vote. The week will begin with an NUS affiliation panel debate on November 12. The rest of the week will see Pro- and Anti-NUS speakers, together with a talk by John Randal, a past YUSU and NUS President. Students will have the opportunity to vote between midday on November 13 and midday November 16 at www.yusu.org. Results will be published on the YUSU website by November 16.
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