NUS Conference 2016: voting round-up

This year’s National Union of Students (NUS) National Conference took place from Tuesday 19 April to Thursday 21 April.

Several hundred motions were voted on. Here is a round-up of how Warwick delegates voted on the policies that mattered most to them.

ISAAC LEIGH

Isaac Leigh, Warwick Students’ Union (SU) President and lead delegate commented: “Some motions discussed were of obvious merit”, such as Motion 315 which adheres to keeping Wednesday afternoons free from lectures.

Isaac also voted for increased freedom of student media during SU elections and said he was “delighted” the entire Warwick delegation supported the introduction of an autonomous full-time Trans Officer.

HOPE WORSDALE

Maths finalist and Education Officer-elect, Hope Worsdale, was in favour of Motion 201 and the 201b amendment, allowing students to partake in an organised sabotage of the National Student Survey (NSS).

Hope commented that it was one of the “most radical strategic motions passed” and would provide a “strong weapon to use against the government” to “wreck their consumerist Teach Excellence Framework (TEF)” and “disrupt their terrible Higher Education reforms.”

Speaking on the motion for a full-time Trans Officer, she said it was important as “liberation should be at the heart of NUS” seeing as trans students “are amongst some of the most vulnerable”.

Hope also supported Motion 404 relating to Anti-Semitism on campus saying it was “incredibly important” due to concerns of “Jewish students across the country about the rise of Anti-Semitism.”

SOPHIE WORRALL

Sophie Worrall, first-year Politics and International Studies student, also voted for the National Student Survey sabotage as it would be a “powerful tool” when campaigning against the TEF.

She was also in support of Motion 404 and 404a relating to commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day due to the “worrying rise of Anti- Semitism on university campuses.”

Sophie also voted to extend the EU referendum suffrage to EU citizens residing in the UK as the referendum “will have a large impact on EU students,” so “it’s only fair we get a say.”

CHARLIE HINDHAUGH

Education Officer, Charlie Hindhaugh, was in favour of Motion 201 which called for the divorce of courses from market forces, saying it is “the kind of campaigning” the NUS “can take a lead on – making a positive alternative vision for our education.”

Charlie was also in support of keeping Wednesday afternoons free, commenting: “It is an example of how the NUS works to campaign on so many issues that affect students.”

Also, Charlie abstained over Motion 609 of One Member One Vote. He stated: “I felt that the motion put to conference did not address the concerns of representation for small unions and Further Education.”

Charlie also added that more conversation about “how the NUS can better engage” with members is needed.

GEORGE CREASY

George Creasy, Societies Officer, supported Motion 301 on the Impact of Student Opportunities with the amendment, saying an improvement in communication between SUs will see a great “level of change” and “improvement on campuses will just increase exponentially”

He also voted for a full-time Trans Officer stating: “Once again, the NUS is at the forefront of fighting for people’s rights, and will be on the right side of history once again.”

Commenting on keeping Wednesday afternoons free, George said: “It is such an important one and will lead to tangible change on campuses”, allowing more engagement in “extra curricular activities like sports clubs, societies and volunteering”.

George added: “Very few other motions will actually make a tangible difference to Warwick students.”

The final two delegates, Marissa Beaty and Kavita Sharma, have not yet provided their voting record to the Boar.

Photos provided by Warwick SU.

UPDATE: Article changed to correct that Charlie Hindhaugh abstained in Motion 609, rather than voting against.