Student Broad Left

Aaron Kiely, NUS National Executive (Block of 15) & NUS Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism Committee urges NUS delegates to prioritise free education, a national demonstration against cuts and fees, anti-racism anti-fascism, and funding education not war in the NUS National Conference Priority Ballot.

All NUS delegates should have received, or soon will be, an email asking them to vote on what they want NUS National Conference to prioritise discussing, as given the shortage of time it is unlikely that all motions will get discussed.

By Aaron Kiely, NUS NEC

If you’re a delegate to NUS National Conference 2012 – then you will have received your priority ballot today. This priority ballot will help decide what is discussed at Conference and is an opportunity to make sure that certain issues are debated properly.

The way the priority ballots have been published this year is a little confusing – hopefully this note will make it more clear for all those who want our NUS to be a strong, progressive & campaigning organisation. Please pass on and share with your Union’s delegates!

A NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION – YES WE CAN!

Over 120 student leaders have backed a statement, initiated by Kanja Sesay (NUS Black Students’ Officer) & Vicki Baars (NUS LGBT Officer (Women’s Place), urging NUS to organise a national demonstration against fees, cuts, student debt and privatisation in the Autumn term. This is a central issue and absolutely must be discussed at Conference as we must not give a green light to the Tories to continue their attacks on students and education.

If you want to discuss a national demo the only way to do so is to prioritise the ‘Education Zone’ basket!

YES TO FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL – NO TO A GRADUATE TAX THAT CHARGES STUDENTS MORE

NUS will be deciding whether to call for free publicly-funded education or for a graduate tax. Free education is an issue for all those concerned for equality and access to education and also makes economic sense as investment in education is better for the economy.

In the ‘Education Zone’ – vote 300H Education now and then: Tear it down and start again #1 to prioritise calling for free education to be discussed.

ANTI-RACISM & ANTI-FASCISM – RE-AFFILIATE TO UNITE AGAINST FASCISM

Challenging rising racism and fascism must be a central priority for all students. The BNP secured 1 million votes in 2009, the English/Welsh/Scottish Defence Leagues are rampaging through our towns and cities and we’ve just witnessed the racism that exists in wider society reflected in football with all of the appalling incidents. Love Music Hate Racism & Love Music Hate Homophobia are great and vibrant campaigns and our Union should pro-actively endorse the messages that these campaigns promote. NUS must also support its members in mobilising against the racist English Defence League at peaceful counter-demonstrations – we must openly reject hatred in all its forms.

We’ve also seen a growing number of serious incidents on campuses, from Nazi-themed drinking games, racist attacks, societies ‘blacking up’ as well as openly pro-fascist students standing for elections – our Union must act and say no to racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and fascism!

In the ‘Welfare Zone’ - vote 600A Stop and Search #1 to make sure we discuss these issues and re-affiliate to Unite Against Fascism. *No to racism on our campuses and in our communities has been made an amendment to Stop and Search motion.

In the ‘Society & Citizenship Zone’ - vote 400N Fight the Far Right #2 to make sure that we have a Union that stands in solidarity with communities against the far-right.

FUND EDUCATION NOT WAR

The government has completely messed up spending priorities – spending billions dropping bombs on some of the poorest nations, yet telling us that there is no money for public services and education. Our Union must work with Stop the War and make its opposition to war known. Students have always played a big role in the anti-war movement and we must continue that tradition.

In the ‘Society & Citizenship’ zone - vote 400K Don’t attack Iran – Fund Education Not War #1 to prioritise discussion on making our Union internationalist and pro-peace.

In summary:

This is the order I recommend you priortise the zones and the motions.

Education Zone #1

Vote 300H Education now and then: Tear it down and start again #1 to debate free education.

If you want to discuss a national demo the only way to do so is to prioritise the ‘Education Zone’ basket!

Welfare Zone #2

Vote 600A Stop and Search #1 to make sure we discuss anti-racism/anti-fascism and re-affiliate to Unite Against Fascism. *’No to racism on our campuses and in our communities’ has been made an amendment to the ‘Stop and Search’ motion so if you want anti-racism discussed you MUST vote 600A Stop and Search #1 in the Welfare Zone!

Society and Citizenship Zone #3

Vote 400K Don’t attack Iran – Fund Education Not War #1 to prioritise discussion on making our Union internationalist and pro-peace.

Vote 400N Fight the Far Right #2 to make sure that we have a Union that stands in solidarity with communities against the far-right.