Students’ Guild society memberships drop despite increases in student numbers

Megan Ballantyne and Carden Cappi Editor and Contributor

STUDENTS' Guild society membership has fallen from last year according to recent data acquired by Exeposé. 13,338 students joined a society in the 2021/22 academic year, compared to 10,944 in the 2022/23 academic year, a decrease in numbers of students with Guild society memberships of 18 per cent. The statistics for the current year only apply until the end of March 2023, so do not include students who have purchased memberships in third term.

Last year, 29,382 memberships to Students’ Guild societies were sold compared to 21,594 this year, a decrease of 27 per cent (7,788 memberships).

slightly from 11,203, but this is despite sharp increases in student numbers over the last five years — University of Exeter data shows that there has been a 26 per cent increase in student numbers since the start of the 2018/19 academic year.

This means that as a percentage of the student body, the number of students who are a member of Students' Guild societies has fallen from 47 per cent in 2018/19 to 37 per cent in 2022/23, a 10 per cent decrease. 44 per cent of students were a member of a Guild society in 2021/22, meaning that there has been a seven per cent decrease over just the last year.

Students speaking to Exeposé have suggested that the spike in the number of students who were members of a society in 2021/22 to 13,338 students may be partially a result of students' inability to participate in in-person activities with Guild societies in the 2020/21 academic year due to Covid, which meant that students were especially keen to get involved in these events the following year.

Exeposé also spoke to society leaders about how this decrease in the student body's engagement with societies has also made it difficult for societies to fill committees and ensure good event attendance. One anonymous Guild society president speaking to Exeposé said they had experienced a decline in membership and struggled with event attendance this year, and described how they thought they only had “just enough interest to form a committee.”

The Guild addressed societies’ concerns around filling committees last term, trialing a new process whereby all committee positions other than President and Treasurer could be filled through appointments.

A Students’ Guild spokesperson told Exeposé regarding society leaders' difficulties in encouraging new members and publicising events:

“The Guild provides each registered society with an email address so they can message their members. Also available to promote events are spaces on noticeboards and digital screens in Devonshire House and space on the website. Groups are also encouraged to develop a social media presence, with training sessions offered on how to do this successfully.

Society events are listed on the website at events.exeterguild. com. Whilst we cannot guarantee shares from the @exeterguild social accounts, we are always happy to host student society takeovers. If your society would like to do a takeover, message marketing@exeterguild.com”

The leaflets, which depicted a Star of David on a burning background, were noticed by Exeter delegates being distributed outside the NUS National Conference in March in Harrogate on the first day of the conference. The Exeter delegate team reported this incident to the NUS and security at the venue, but delegates Edward Barradell and Alex Stanley suggested to Exeposé that the NUS “felt they could not do anything,” at the time. The delegates also suggested that “a no-nonsense approach is needed on issues such as antisemitic literature being handed out.”

This comes following former NUS President Shaima Dallali being suspended from her role in August 2022 as a result of antisemitism allegations. Dallali is now suing the NUS over this suspension.

An NUS spokesperson told Exeposé : “If any student witnesses or experiences antisemitism taking place, then we urge them to report in the most appropriate channel, and to record this with the CST: you can find more information here.

At National Conference this year, we were proud to take our initial steps in delivering the Action Plan on Antisemitism, keeping in frequent contact with Jewish delegates, hosting drop-ins and providing education on antisemitism at the conference. We will continue to work to fulfil our commitment to making NUS a welcoming home for Jewish students once more.”

Overall, over the last five years from 2018/19 to 2022/23, the number of students with Guild society memberships has only decreased

This decrease in engagement from the student body also comes soon after the Students' Guild elections saw a record low turnout of 12 per cent this year.