Union General Meeting (28th Feb 2008)
Support The NUS Governance Review
Proposed by: Anne-Marie Canning
Seconded by: Tom Langrish and Matt Burton
This union notes:
(i) NUS is striving to review its governance and implement a new democratic structure aimed at broadening participation, ensuring financial and legal compliance and increasing accessibility.
(ii) The basis of the new proposals were formulated by submissions from individuals and students’ unions.
(iii) NUS has tried and failed to reform on countless occasions over the past 50 years.
(iv) A new constitution was debated and passed at an Extraordinary Conference of 900 delegates last December by the required two-thirds majority.
(v) The NEC in its majority, National Council, NUS Wales, NUS LGBT and NUS Disabled Students’ campaigns are some of the bodies supporting the review and its implementation.
(vi) That the majority of our delegation at the extraordinary conference voted for the review including the President, Academic & Welfare Officer, Services & Finance Officer and our LGBT Officer.
(vii) That the document detailing the change is available at www.officeronline.com/governance
(viii) That up until now our delegates have not had ANY steer from the membership they represent.
This union believes:
(i) A structure designed for the 1920s education landscape cannot serve the type of students now studying in the UK higher education system.
(ii) NUS must be innovative in its thinking to tackle the low level of political (and otherwise) involvement in society and students’ unions.
(iii) The change is a huge undertaking and NUS is moving forward for the first time in many years.
(iv) The number of unions calling for disaffiliation from the national union has decreased twelve fold since the review was announced. This is a clear indication of the need for change across the movement.
(v) Our Union should be at the forefront of this change, giving our support to NUS.
(vi) That NUS Conference Delegates are there to represent the membership which elected them and should have adequate steer from the student body at York.
This union further believes:
(i) The review, amongst other vital changes, delivers a full-time International Students’ Officer and representation for mature and part-time students on its highest political body for the first time.
(ii) There are more opportunities for “ordinary” students to get involved within the new structure. This will serve to give ownership back to NUS’ members and students alike.
(iii) We should engage fully in the final stages of the process.
(iv) This is NUS’ moment to historically change its structures.
(v) The review of tuition fees in 2009 is precisely why NUS needs to be fit for purpose, ensuring that more people are involved in the process and politics of the national union.
This union resolves:
(i) To support the NUS governance review in its entirety.
(ii) To mandate the delegates to Annual Conference to vote in support of the new NUS Constitution and the Schedules as presented to Conference.
