NEWS BDS PASSES AFTER TENSE STUDENT VOTE
B RU N E L U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
LE NURB PASSES LANDMARK PRO-INDEPENDENCE MOTION AT UNION MEETING
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CULTURE
AROUND 400 STUDENTS PACKED OUT THE UNION MEETING TO HEAR MOTIONS ON BDS AND PRESS INDEPENDENCE (PHOTO CREDIT: KIRSTY CAPES)
Kirsty Capes A motion to promote independence and discourage censorship of Le Nurb has passed with a landslide majority at the Union Meeting. The motion, which calls for the amendment of a contentious bye law from UBS policy, was proposed by Le Nurb’s Editor in Chief and seconded by Postgraduate Students Chair Aaron Lowman at the Union Meeting on Thursday 27 November. It states that “This Union believes it is the duty of student media at Brunel to hold both the University and Union to account for their actions and behaviours” and
calls from the removal of a clause which allows the UBS President or Media Chair to remove any content which may “bring the Union into disrepute”. The motion also mandates Union representatives to investigate training on best practice in journalism and for the Media Association Committee to make contributors aware of the National Union of Journalists’ Code of Practice and Le Nurb’s internal Code of Conduct. The move, which comes after articles were removed from Le Nurb on the grounds of disrepute, demonstrates the newspaper editorial team’s
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increasing frustration with the perceived censorship of the press at Brunel. It is particularly contentious because Le Nurb continues to be wholly funded by Union cash and advertising revenue generated through the Union. Editor in Chief Kirsty Capes and Le Nurb Online Editor Eddie Leggatt spoke for the motion. In her opening speech, Capes said: “Le Nurb is, and always has been, a platform for students to voice the issues that matter to them. We cannot accurately represent our students if we suffer from constant fear of being gagged by the Union for the sake of reputation.” In his supporting speech, Leggatt said:
“The scope for abuse of the current bye law is huge. The Union exists to support the student body. They are elected to further your voice, to take your views and needs forward at an organisational level.” The motion was opposed by UBS President Martin Zaranyika and Student Assembly Chair Brendan Cogan, who momentarily passed his chairing duties to Vice Chair Habib Cham in order to join the debate. Amongst the opposition, the main concern was legal implications, with both speakers concerned that removal of the motion invited Continued on page 3...
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