Site updated: 22-04-2002

A note from the Editor

As you may have realised, the election I was standing in has now passed. I didn't get it. I'm therefore in the process of converting these pages into a more useful long-term resource for activists in the Student Movement. Please bear with me as I reconstruct the site and forgive any leftovers from the elections site.

Paul

Who's NUS is it anyway?

If NUS doesn't represent students then it is useless. NUS is too often failing to represent its own members. Policy results from factional block votes, not the views of the millions of students NUS claims to represent. Elections are too often carved up between political factions and careerist 'Independents' - ordinary students don't get a look in! Policy is ignored and not acted upon by the National Executive Committee if they don't personally agree with it or believe the issue important.

Paul writes:

I am standing to try and change NUS from within. We need to ask ourselves what the National Union is, and what it should be. In so much, NUS effectively is the 26 members of the National Executive, not the millions of students who the NEC claim to work for. I believe that NUS needs to change if it is to see off widespread apathy and calls for disaffiliation. NUS needs not just constitutional reform, but a real change in the culture of NUS, a culture of openness not of secrecy and back-room deals, one of participation and encouragement, not of stitch-ups and exclusion. NUS needs to make sure that all its members can find out what their Union is doing in their name, and how they can get involved as activists, as delegates, in Areas, in Liberation Campaigns, at Conference, National Council or on the NEC. I will help to build that culture.

NUS must change - and your votes will force it to do so

I will represent students, not factions, political or otherwise. I care passionately about the Student Union movement, and believe it the only way to deliver for students, fighting against fees and for real student welfare.

My interests and experience span the Student Union movement, from finance and services to welfare, communications and education to student media and societies. I'm active in social and political campaigning, as a member of Durham Liberal Democrats, Christian CND, War on Want and People & Planet. I believe passionately in politics and believe NUS is necessarily political - but politics is never an excuse for the factional carve-up we witness every Conference or National Council meeting. NUS must always put its members first.

As National Secretary I will place these principles at the heart of everything I do. NUS needs to build on its communications, especially in the new media. It is not enough just to communicate with Union Sabbatical Officers, NUS needs to improve communications with all Union officers, and student activists. NUS must use its website more effectively - and commit to building a properly accessible, useful website as well as one that looks good. I believe that the NEC is too secretive and cliquey - if elected I will ensure that National Council is given the information it needs to hold the NEC to account for its actions. With the independent Commission on NUS Democracy having reported, there will be increasing interest in the Rules of NUS. I would be happy to help any Unions wanting to suggest or propose changes to the Rules but don't know how to go about it.

About this site

Please take a few minutes to read about my experience, campaign news and the issues I believe NUS needs to face up to in the coming years.
Because of the number of half-truthes about the electoral system spread at Conference I've also included accurate information about how NUS elections work, so you can ensure that your vote does what you want it to!
There is also a page of links of potential interest and use to Conference goers.

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