Liberation Campaigns

The Idea: NUS Liberation Campaigns exist to enable groups of students discriminated against by other students, the educational system and wider society to organise and campaign for their own liberation, with the support of the rest of the National Union.

In Practice: The Liberation Campaigns are seen as factional footballs and as a result denied the active support of the rest of the National Union. Many students don't partipate in the decision making processes of the Liberation Campaigns and feel disempowered in their struggle. Many Officers outside the Liberation Campaigns don't give them the support they need to do the job their members want them to. One example has included the production of a sexual health campaign without consulting any of the Liberation Campaigns.

Paul writes:

If elected as National Secretary I will support the Liberation Campaigns to the hilt. They are essential, both to NUS, in involving students in their National Union, and in fighting wider prejudice and discrimination in society. I will ensure that the Liberation Campaigns get adequate space in NUS's publications for their needs. I will ensure that all communications sent through NUS are dealt with quickly, efficiently and effectively, and I will not shy away from promoting the Liberation Campaigns to Colleges and Universities I will visit. I am proud of the potential of NUS' Liberation Campaigns and will support them in their action.

This past year has seen the proposal to scrap the direct staff support for the Womens' Campaign, using the money saved to fund a wider 'Equality Unit'. Paul recognises that NUS's has financial problems, but believes that was no excuse for the lack of proper consultation across the Liberation Campaigns. Paul believes that many who fought to scrap the Womens Unit did so on political grounds, not in order to ensure staff support across the Liberation Campaigns. Paul is committed to reviewing staff support across the Liberation Campaigns.

Paul writes:

NUS has for too long paid lip-service to equality. Without proper support for their officers, the Liberation Campaigns are unable to do their job - involving students in the fight against the discrimination that affects them. Playing the Liberation Campaigns off against each other for funding is the route to disaster. I am committed to abandoning the factional 'No Quality without Equality' attack on the Womens Unit, and starting again from the principle of agreement and consultation. I can't make any promises on the outcome, but give my personal pledge that I will approach the issue with delicacy, honesty and principle. I am committed to making the Black Students' Officer a full-time post, in line with the National Womens Officer and the National SWD Officer. Full-time officers can make a real difference to the ability of the Campaign to develop representation around the country and combat discrimination wherever it arises.

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