by Will Page
As a student, and a first time delegate, I was disgusted by the events at NUS conference. Returning home my first feeling was to move to get my union, Bournemouth, to disaffiliate from NUS.
I was expecting to disagree with some people at conference. However there was one thing I thought I would agree on with everyone. The importance of democracy and the three things that make it up; Freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of vote. As a first time delegate I was disgusted at the absence of these things on conference floor. Members of factions were told how to vote, people were heckled on stage and I saw students intimidating people who had voted differently to themselves. All NUS members at conference, and indeed people everywhere, should be treated with the respect that they can think for themselves.
As a left winger, campaigner and twice NUS environment officer I believe that my opinions are right. However I also acknowledge that they may be wrong. As a result I believe that the best answer to a situation is presented through debate where all the arguments are heard. At conference people had decided which way they were going to vote, whether for a motion or electoral candidate, before the arguments or speeches had even been heard. This is wrong. The greatest gift democracy gives us is that we can have an open mind.
All of the above could have been prevented by the chair and steering committee. They did not fulfil the correct aims of their respective jobs. Over the course of the conference the chair did little apart from issue vague warnings which did nothing to stop the blatant anti-democratic and militant conduct of a vast number of those present.
The conduct of one individual, who shall remain nameless for this article, so appalled me that I was moved to complain to steering committee. I was told that I needed to name the person in writing and state my specific complaints before they could take any action against the individual. People around me were as incensed as myself so 30 other students, from about 15 different institutions, also signed my complaint. The result of this was another general warning by Mandy Telford. Steering committee at conference only acknowledges complaints. It does nothing about them. They may as well not be there.
I also found NUS to be wholly unrepresentative. Surely the percentage of the 5.8 million members of NUS who are labour/conservative/socialist workers, etc, is much lower than the percentage representation of these groups on conference floor? How is this representative? Our number 1 aim is to represent the students, or am I wrong?
Another thing that concerned me was the citation of various members on the final day. I have read, at a variety of sites, that the citation of Helen Salmon on the last day at conference was variously a thinly veiled plot by the UJS and even a right wing plot. I was not under the impression that she had been cited by a member of the UJS, or indeed a right winger. Every student I have spoken to who supported the citation did so because of her conduct at the conference, not because of her political views. Her conduct was undemocratic, not in the interest of the students she represents and she should be ashamed of herself.
I was ashamed by the conduct of my fellow left at conference. Everyone is there to achieve the same thing. We should encourage people with different or unpopular opinions to speak because only be hearing them will we reach the best consensus.
I feel we, as NUS, continually marginalize ourselves by the extremist language sometimes used and the lack of clear goals or policy. Every time a new issue is presented we jump on it, almost forgetting the one we were talking about before. We need to set a clear, long term agenda.
Despite the above I have changed my mind about disaffiliating. It is obvious we need to sort out our own shop and I am not a quitter. We need to start a student movement for democratic change with a anti-factionalism, pro-democracy agenda. If anyone is interested in what I am saying and wishes to help with this, or has any suggestions, they can contact me at vpfreakfeet@hotmail.com
Will Page is the VP representation & campaigns elect at SUBU
NUS Conference 2003
A First Timers View
On the Fringe
Cynicism, and why I don't trust it
Presidential Election
Other Full-Time Elections
Block of Twelve and Committee Elections
NUS Conference Overview
Conference Live
