Autumn All Student Vote ‘cancelled’ after all proposals rejected by SU

Student groups have reacted with anger after Warwick Students’ Union appeared to cancel this term’s All Student Vote (ASV), in an unprecedented move.

In its Impact Assessment report, available online, the SU rejected all eight motions proposed by students to be voted on in Week 9.

The decision has effectively cancelled the ASV, with confirmation that no vote will be held before the end of term.

Such an eventuality is highly unusual; an ASV has been held every term since at least 2019.

Three proposals were rejected as representing “inappropriate” uses of the motion system, three were identified as carrying legal risks, and two were deemed to pose a reputational risk

The motions put forward for this year’s Autumn ASV included a second vote to mandate the playing of the song ‘Angels’ at the end of Pop; a motion demanding reforms to the University’s Community Safety team; a vote on reestablishing the Postgraduate Forum; and several motions on reforming the SU’s democratic processes.

A particularly high-profile motion was also put forward by student group Disband the Warwick Tories, seeking to force the dissolution of the Warwick Conservative Association after a three-month suspension of the group was lifted by the University.

Every motion has now been declined by the Impact Assessment process. Three proposals were rejected as representing “inappropriate” uses of the motion system, three were identified as carrying legal risks, and two were deemed to pose a reputational risk to the SU.

Notably, however, many of the proposals have not been rejected outright – the Impact Assessment report notes alternative routes by which the aims of various motions can be achieved.

For the proposal to vote on reforming Community Safety, the document expresses “hope” that if changes are made to the existing motion, it can potentially be voted on in a subsequent term.

In a statement to The Boar, Disband the Warwick Tories blasted the “utter contempt” of the SU’s Board of Trustees

For all other proposals, however, it is not thought these motions will progress to a student-wide vote.

The decision has prompted outcry from students. In a statement to The Boar, Disband the Warwick Tories blasted the “utter contempt” of the SU’s Board of Trustees.

Their statement read: “It is frankly disgraceful that our motion to disband the Warwick Tories was blocked from being voted on by the student population. The unelected SU Board of Trustees and Directors have revealed their utter contempt for democracy and any notion that the Student Union should represent its students.

“Within 24 hours, over 400 students from across the university signed our open letter in support of the motion, while over 100 societies and clubs already signed a statement calling for the Warwick Conservative Society to be disbanded. There is clear consensus from across the student body for the SU to take action against the Nazism and antisemitism of the Warwick Tories.”

They added: “The Students’ Union is utterly broken, prioritising the status quo and the interests of the Warwick Tories over the safety of marginalised students and democracy.”

Disband the Warwick Tories has since appeared to rebrand itself, changing its handle on Instagram to “Fix the SU Warwick”. In an op-ed published in The Boar, it has called for societies and sports clubs to boycott the SU Societies Assembly on 11 November.

[We have] not received any motions which meet the necessary criteria, so there will be no requirement to conduct an ASV this term

Warwick SU

For its part, the SU has insisted that the outcome of the Impact Assessment is the result of due process, with a source explaining that this term’s more stringent approval process was the result of a bylaw revision passed in May of this year.

Speaking to The Boar, a spokesperson noted: “Whilst we understand that motion proposers have questions over the process and have the right to appeal, all Students’ Unions are obliged to ensure that their activities do not bring legal, reputational or financial risk, and motions fall under this obligation.

“In the event that any motion contains inaccurate material, unsubstantiated claims, or may reasonably be seen (during assessment) to be outside the scope of the Union’s work, then the usual process is to feed back to the proposer(s) to amend.”

The SU further explained it had “not received any motions which meet the necessary criteria, so there will be no requirement to conduct an ASV this term”. A spokesperson further noted “significant bodies of work coming out of each of these motions” despite their rejection for a student-wide vote.

“For example, the motion on improving student council and post graduate representation is leading to:

• Producing a terms of reference and glossary of terms for student council
• Producing a terms of reference for all forums including PG forum
• Producing a guidance document on our ideas platform and how we can work collaborative with students through forums, student council and meetings with SU staff to enact positive change within the SU.”

The spokesperson finished: “Looking forward, we are planning to revamp the Ideas Platform to allow students to propose changes, even a few lines that strike at the heart of what matters to them, and immediately action things on an operational or representational level unless an ASV is deemed necessary.”