Is this not intrusion?

Can I call security?

I actually feel quite threatened by these external campaigners.

Also: Find it ironic that the union had to 'have a word' with one of those 'Racism, War and Islamophobia' external leaflet hander-outers and the staff are always telling security to remove Oxbridge Essays people, and yet everyone turns a blind eye to these idiots. For goodness sake, they stick out like a sore thumb from your regular Imperial protester (name check Alex Guite, Camilla Royle, that Colin guy from the 2005 election campaign). They're shabby, an embarrasment, and lack class (I'm not talking about class in the royalty sense. I'm talking sophistication here).

You could probably ask them for their ID card, remind them that the dress code requires them to be wearing it, then ask security to have them removed.

They should be signed in as visitors and have visitor passes, but the union would need to approve that.

Classic NUS... don't worry NO campaign, your arguments speak for themselves.

So the Yes campaign consists of 20 NUS people and 1 current postgrad student.

No campaign consists of several undergrads, some postgrads, a CSC chair, at least one FU president and members of the media.

Balanced!

I hate to sour the tone here, but I actually spoke to a gentleman outside the library today who was NUS staff, and he was well-informed and realistic. Hardly threatening at all.

Disclaimer: I voted no.

It should be noted that they people I spoke to were unimpressed with the hassling in general, rather than by any particular side.

They also seem to be lying. I was accosted by a NUS campaigner from Cambridge yesterday, who told me that not joining NUS wouldn't save money, as that money has been "ring fenced" for affiliation fees. A comment by John Collins on this website has informed me otherwise.

I think that this influx of NUS supporters is rather unfair for a balanced debate. They probably shouldn't be allowed on campus by the union. As a result, we should probably call for a new vote. Tedious, but very fair.

However, I did like the penguins today.

I'm not sure how many people are going to vote, so the question - will this massive yellow influx convince people to vote yes, while us NO posrgrads sit and work, since we don't get that much time off.

The only person i saw interested on the walkway today was voting Yes. It's getting people out there to vote No that we probably should be concerned with...

...so make sure you all get all your flat mates / mates / lab mates to vote...correctly...

Does this constitute a violation of the rules?

No - unlike at Glasgow, the Union has not banned external people coming in. Quite how hard-working Imperial students are supposed to cope with the influx I have no idea. This whole referendum has been full of dodgy goings on.

Any idea where the rules are? The union website did not help me at all...

The referendum largely follows standard Union election rules (albeit with minor alterations as there are campaign teams but no candidates); the campaign teams are aware of these. Any concerns, queries or complaints may be directed to the Returning Officer at the above email address.

As to the dodgy goings on, there have been 18 complaints, six of these have been upheld.

Jon Matthews

NUS Referendum Returning Officer

It's bloody annoying, regardless of whether or not you agree with them. Will you stop trying to talk to me! Will you stop getting between me and my TEA!!!

NUS president???? NUS staff???? So basically the affilliation fee will pay for the NUS to go and loby other unis to join... (if all 20 were being paid that must cost nearly £2k per day inc transport)

I've been campaigning with the Yes camp so make that One postgrad, one undergrad, two sabbs and 20 NUS staff members.

Thats a joke by the way - there are lots of students helping out - they are the ones mostly not wearing penguin costumes because frankly - what right minded imperial college student would subject themselves to that?

I pestered a few of the JOI-NUS people. They dodged my questions as to whether they were from IC or elsewhere - one amusingly replied "I'm.... on holiday, yes, on holiday actually". He seemed immensely pleased with his excuse. Clearly a hard-working student.