I voted YES to NUS Affliation in the last campaign back in 2006. At that time I was fresher who believed the NUS would offer me student discounts, a national voice and representation on issues that directly concerned me as an Imperial student.

Looking back, it seems I misjudged the impact NUS would have on my life as Imperial student. Discounts - I can use my Imperial card for pretty much anything I want and as for a national voice on Issues concerning me as an Imperial student, I think the reports on Live! over the past few months concerning the NUS conference etc speak for themselves.

With all the developments surrounding the NUS over the past year and a half, I can no longer see the benefit in paying ~?50k a year to an insitution that does not appear to give me any notiable benefits. However I would strongly request that any savings gained from NUS disaffliation are directly transferred to budgets for DIRECT use by Imperial clubs/societies.

Will I be disappointed that are national voice is reduced by disaffiliating? Not really - Its sad to say that representation of student issues that directly affected me did not seem to be high on the NUS' agenda (although that it just my view...) Yes; in an ideal world we probably should remain involved in the NUS to attempt to improve its representation on direct student issues. However when just ?500 would make a massive difference to our clubs budget, I can see sadly see little benefit (for both me personally and for my club) in Imperial paying a significant amount of money to the national union.

Dave,

I had the same opinion you currently hold back in 2006 - that the extra money saved from NUS affiliation should go directly to student club budgets.

Two years later, I'm now a semi-hack and I realise that what you're requesting is unlikely to happen. There is unfortunately a whole lot more to the Union than the clubs (I am reminded of this constantly by senior Union officers). The money could still impact student clubs eg if it was used to hire support staff for clubs and socs finance, but I'm guessing there are a lot of bits and bobs around the Union building where the extra money would be very handy.

Last time I heard, we hadn't quite reached our ?x.x million target to proceed with this fabled Beit Redevelopment either...

But yeah, its great that this referendum has finally been called, lets hope we can get enough keen students to vote - less of the apathy everyone!

I always find it astonishing that people from other institutions feel they have thre right to come to College and effectively coerce students into voting for or against a motion. It's an in house matter, shouldn't it be kept like that?

Yeah typical of student respect - how about you show some respect and stay out of it! I'd like to get some T shirts printed which, after today's exam is over... im going to parade around campus! :P

2,4,6,8 - VOTE TO DISAFFILIATE!!!

whoop whoop!!!

Once more on the giddy roundabout of in/out shake it all about....

Hurrah! - now this time let's stay out for longer than last time.

I will strike down the NUS with the hand of Thatcher!!!... naked

I can't help thinking that Stephen Brown is not a good advocate for Imperial students. At every turn he has only concerned himself with his own petit politics and self interests.

Personally speaking, i wish we could ban Student Respect off campus as they do nothing to support ordinary students, and their views towards Israel and people who do not agree with their they is disgusting.

You can't have a go at him for concealing his views on NUS. His contempt for the organisation isn't exactly uncommon amongst Imperial students.

Andy - you'll have to give some concrete examples to be taken seriously... As far as I can see Steve pushed quite hard for the reforms. If you're accusing him of calling for a referendum because he doesn't like the idea of the NUS, then it was actually the DPEW who started collecting signatures while Steve was on holiday and not even aware it was happening. This is the same DPEW who campaigned to join the NUS in '06.

What personal benefits does someone stand to gain from being anti-NUS?

Yes, I accept all responsibility for the disaffilliation referendum. Steve was still quite positive after conference that we might get two extraordinary conferences in. Given that NUS failed in this regard he is now jumping on my bandwagon. :)

could somebody please explain the consitutional issues?

is it unconsititutional for the council to call for this referendum or not?

2. A referendum may be called by:

1. Five percent of the Full Membership of the Union, or

2. The Council by two-thirds majority,

In 2002 we banned any non IC people from campaigning on campus. This seems like a fair tactic to repeat again...

Whats to campaign? Chances are the campus is going to be nearly empty, most would have finished exams by then.

I can't see why it would be unconstitutional, it achieved the required majority. It does have to be ratified by the Court though, so I see little chance of it being a problem.

Also, with regards to college no doubt being descended en masse by NUS staff, officers and supporters, what will the Union and/or colleges policy be on this I wonder. I imagine they could be banned from College and Union property if it became a danger, but I'm not sure how it would.

ban those scum bags from coming on to campus with their stupid costumes and air head ideas, I say

i will join the fight and offer my services to the leave campaign

DOWN WITH THE GOVERNMENT!!!!!

Sorry I meant NUS, wrong Discussion

What happens if fewer than 1800 students vote? Does the referendum fall?

No, it becomes "null and void". You can't have two referenda on the same issue (of external affiliation) in the same academic year, but a null and void referenda would not count towards that.

Not that it matters - the academic year will end not long after the referendum anyway! We could have another one in October whatever happens.

To clarify - its like it never happened in the first place, so although it effectively "falls" (status quo is retained), the limits on frequency of referenda would not include it.

whats the likelihood of referendum achieving quorum given exam season, etc?

just a farce

The whole situation is ridiculous, the arguments are the same as for the affiliation referendum. As far as I can see we have paid close to ?100,000 over two years based on the arrogant assumption that "we can help change the NUS from within". I cannot see any advantages that we have gained from being in the NUS.

A question though. If the reforms had gone through, would people still be rapidly pushing for a disaffiliation? Or would they want to stay in it, still paying huge fees? Or would they want to leave, having carried out their "knight in shining armour" role, and "saving" the NUS?

As a keen voter I want to know if there's going to be a hustings? Last year there was one with free beer, I think that was a very wise choice. We should have another one like that. It would help me and my brother students make up our undecided minds.

From my (personal) point of view, I would still be rapidly pushing for disaffiliation even if the reforms had gone through. My time at conference showed that the students at the top are just as bad - if not worse - than the loony left. I expect I'll write a rant on it in the run up to the referendum.

What I'd quite like is for us to pay ?20k to keep the staff support, but kick the useless political structures out. NUS staff are very good, the stupid politicking is a waste of money.