THE DELEGATE 24th April 2012
AFTERNOON EDITION
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LOCKE-D OUT?
HANNAH SKETCHLEY
The first candidate to fall out of the running for the hotly contested presidential election was Claire Locke, whose resignation was announced this morning. Locke was not the only candidate to fall before the first hurdle, however: Al Hussein Abutaleb, in the running for VPHE has also resigned. In a statement read to conference by Jade Baker, Locke cited “access reasons” for her withdrawal. Claiming she was experiencing the problems faced by many female students, she said “given the state of the economy and attacks on the welfare state I cannot turn down this opportunity”she felt she had to take a job interview instead of travelling to Sheffield for conference. Locke used her statement for further in absentia electioneering, claiming: ”Conference! This is a class war!” She promoted the campaigns of Michael Chessum for VPHE, Kanja Sesay for President, Vicki Baars for VPUD and Edd Bauer for VP Welfare before being blocked from continuing by the chair. This has caused the first Twitter storm of conference, with #nusnc12 divided over Locke’s
actions. She faced criticism for pulling out from Tom Peel, VP Community at Hull: “So Claire Locke has pulled out of the presidential race for a job. Not the first and not the last candidate to sell out for a wage.” In Camp Locke remains Edd Bauer, who tweeted: “claire locke was the candidate from the front line of fight against cuts. We needed her voice her at conference as a reality check. [sic]” The loss of the only female candidate has caused consternation amongst delegates as once again the race for the presidency is a male-only race. Bath Impact’s Editor Kylie Barton said: “Claire Locke only female presidential candidate
stepping down due to experienced inequalities as a woman, counterproductive I feel? #nusnc12.” The last female president was Gemma Tummelty, (2006-07,) and since then there has been a trend towards male-dominated election races on all fronts. Locke’s and Hussein’s withdrawals leave their races with sole candidates backed by the NUS further left and NCAFC. This year’s elections now appear far less open than previously thought and reflect the trend seen throughout pre-conference campaigning of candidate’s rhetoric moving further to the left to gain support.
You know you’re at NUS conference when..... JAMES SKUSE & SAM CREIGHTON
1) when you wake up next to an NUS Officer 2) when people say hash tag out loud 3) when sentences contain more acronyms than words 4) when you wish that guillotine would come down on you 5) when you see a postgrad/mature/international student engaging in a students’ union 6) when someone finally tells you FE doesn’t stand for failed education 7) when 50% of the hotel rooms are empty *wink wink* 8) when the left stand a chance of winning something 9) when liking a Students’ Union is cool 10) when you can’t wait for the next Delegate 11) when you get strange looks for not wearing a “Vote...” t-shirt 12) when it sticks to time...not 13) when someone is ‘debt adverse’ 14) when there’s a drinkaware themed party 15) when you can always see 100 delegates 16) when everyone is waiving 17) when best practice isn’t the only thing that’s being shared 18) when you hear the term movement in any context
THE OPENING OF NUS CONFERENCE 2012 JOSH FERGUSON The 90th NUS Conference at Sheffield was opened in an august manner by the three opening speakers, addressing the assembled students. The Welcome from the Host Body was made by Paul Blumfeld MP, who spoke in a wry manner about the hypocrisy of Nick Clegg in the wake of the Browne Report. Mr Blomfield, an ex-student activist himself, spoke fondly of the relation between Sheffield’s history of steel and student activism,
praising the current NUS tradition of radicalism and campaigning. The following speaker, introduced by incumbent NUS President Liam Burns, was the President of the Egyptian Students’ Union Omar Mohammed. Mr. Mohammed told the conference of his involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 25 January, and detailed his experiences, calling for unity between students of all nations. His speech, covering the growth of his experiences of the Egyptian struggle from humble Facebook group to full
occupation of Tahrir Square, was a passionate and heartfelt call to student activism. Mr. Mohammed likened his struggle against the dictatorship of Mubarak to the struggles currently facing NUS, encouraging the Conference to remember that although dreams may seem impossible, as once did a free Egypt, there is always hope if students and their allies are united. Finally, incumbent NUS President Liam Burns spoke at length on the great achievements that NUS has to its name since its inception in
1922. Mr. Burns’ address to the students was also a reminder of the great distance that the student movement of today has yet to cover. He made reference to what he termed the betrayal of students by Messrs. Clegg and Cable of the Liberal Democrat Party, calling them “out-and-out liars”. The NUS President rounded out his speech to conference by reminding all present that debate and dissent are key elements to any NUS Conference, and that said debate should not end up as a demonisation of protest.
24th April 2012
THE DELEGATE
BATTLE LINES DRAWN AT INAUGURAL PRESS CONFERENCE HESHAM ZAKAI Student journalists grilled NUS election candidates on their policies in the first press conference of its kind held at NUS headquarters last month. The battle lines were firmly marked during the event, as candidates sought to distinguish themselves in their bid to win the support of delegates who will be voting on April 25. There are five vice-president positions up for grabs (Further Education; Higher Education; Society and Citizenship; Welfare; Union Development) as well as the position of President, where incumbent Liam Burns is facing a re-election challenge from two of his current vice-presidents, Usman Ali (VPHE) and Ed Marsh (VPUD), as well as Black Students’ President Kanja Sesay. Asked about their priorities, the presidential hopefuls each took a different stance. Liam called for “consistency and momentum”; Kanja said the focus must be shifted back onto free education; Usman stated
COMMENT: SEAN RICHARDSON Left wing politics are fraught with disagreements at the best of times, but one lefty – seeking to become the next Vice-President for Higher Education – has been working to bridge disagreeing factions for a while: Michael Chessum. However, Michael’s endeavours have shown that the task is seldom easy. Just a few months ago he was the broad left’s favourite candidate, held in a seemingly unsinkable high esteem. Having co-founded the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, acting as a consistently strong anti-cuts presence and voicing student issues in media such as The Guardian, his status amongst the left and beyond appeared set in stone. Michael’s campaign was thrown into turmoil, however, after his decision to support Daniel Cooper during the ULU elections. In backing Cooper,
that his priority has always been, and would continue to be, access; whilst Ed declared a loss in the general debate on the value of education, and said NUS must go back and tackle that. The rest of the questions saw candidates largely agree on the unacceptability of vice-chancellors’ expenses and talk up the power of NUS to affect change. The serious nature of the debate was momentarily halted when Liam jested about how he was “certainly no poster boy for the left”. The Further Education “debate” was lonelier, as the only challenger to incumbent Toni Pearce was unable to attend. Nonetheless, Toni Pearce outlined the need to ascend FE issues to the national level, suggesting that a cultural change within NUS was needed. The Higher Education debate saw London-based candidates Rachel Wenstone, Sophie Richardson and Michael Chessum converge on the issue of postgraduate study, but there was understandable disagree-
ment in terms of who was best primed for the role. Sophie and Rachel reiterated the importance of postgraduate study, which had been forgotten, whilst Michael added that he “was doing postgraduate stuff before it was cool”. Concerning different topics, Sophie pledged “to work holistically across the zones” on issues such as unpaid internships and Rachel talked about a need to change the perception of Higher Education, suggesting it should be seen as sacrosanct in the same way the NHS is. The press conference was the first time student journalists were invited to question candidates in a formal setting prior to elections. Kylie Barton, editor of the University of Bath Students’ Union newspaper appreciated the opportunity to scrutinise the candidates. “It was great that they could not see our questions first as I feel we got more honest answers that way”, she added. There will be a roundup of the other positions in subsequent issues.
FROM MESSIAH TO PARIAH AND BACK AGAIN Chessum affiliated himself with the Alliance for Workers Liberty, a controversial left organisation branded ‘toxic’ by one delegate. Although not a member of the AWL by any stretch of the mark, Chessum’s relationship with the group has raised questions amongst some, more moderate, voters. No longer their golden boy, Chessum’s decision fractured the left, causing schisms
amongst his supporters and casting doubt about his place in the forthcoming election. Chessum has run a strong campaign against his competitors in the race for VPHE, Sophie Richard and Rachel Wenstone in a bid to regain support. In a parody of his competitors’ “superficial” campaign videos, Chessum’s own video reduces cuts and increases in tuition fees to being
Magic Michael gains Gandalf’s support
Afternoon Edition
STRICTLY OFF THE RECORD, YOU UNDERSTAND... Just for giggles, we thought we might see what your average high-street bookie was offering on your friendly candidates running for election at this year’s NUS Conference.
National President Liam Burns - 4:1 Usman Ali - 2:1 Ed Marsh - 7:1 The individual working at the branch in question told me the following enlightening (but by no means exhaustive) numbers on these candidates: DISCLAIMER: This conference is not being bet on. The odds shown here are designed to be viewed as entertainment/ humour only. Please do not try and place money on the elections, you’ll only embarrass yourself. And it’s totally not in the spirit of the Conference.
FRINGE BINGE Keep FE Free: With the contentious cuts by the government to Higher Education last year a subject on everyone’s lips, this meeting seeks to fight proposed end to subsidised education for over 23 year olds. Out in Sport: An LGBT event designed to look at the different experiences and opportunities for LGBT athletes, a second chance to get involved with LGBT politics after the conference last March a “bad thing”, access simply to being “important” and merely “mentions” certain student groups. After mocking his opponents approaches, the UCL candidate goes on to explain his plan for the fight for public education. Condemning the government as a group of “rich, white men”, Chessum has pitted himself fiercely against the privatisation of education, a move which appears to have paid off. Stirring up support, Chessum seems to have healed old wounds and begun to win back the majority left vote. With right wing voters and the ULU conundrum still fresh in the minds of delegates however, this is a race which is very much still to be run.