White paper rafting :: Wessex Scene Online

White paper rafting

10th November 2007
Jack Haines

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Written with a confidence and clarity that seemed almost unusual to a bureaucratic report, the National Union of Students (NUS) long awaited white paper on the future of it’s governance was delivered as a body shot to it’s critics, and one which may herald interesting times for Union politics all around the country.

From the offset, the report means business and with a ruthless efficiency, it identifies several of the oft-quoted arguments used against the NUS within the first lines of the introduction. These arguments are that NUS is at heart cumbersome and confusing in it’s constitution, which is only understood by the most seasoned of hacks, and that it effectively functions only with a view to the next conference. It also specifies that NUS is not clear in its role and that a total review is needed, and that this review cannot be done solely through internal mechanisms.

That any Union or public body would so openly state its weaknesses is truly remarkable and even if most SUSU members do not support the NUS, for a variety of reasons such as concerns over Union autonomy, their political philosophy or concern over affiliation fees, even they must consider the fact that if accepted, this white paper opens the floodgates of reform to the NUS.

When approached concerning the report, SUSU President, Sarah Moore admitted that she has been impressed with the direction in which the paper will take the NUS:

"I have been in discussion with the NUS regarding their White Paper. I am impressed with the plan for substantial organisation and improvement. If these plans are successful perhaps future SUSU Presidents may not be averse to re-affiliating to the NUS. However in the current climate it is best for SUSU to remain disaffiliated."

Despite Moore stating that SUSU will not re-affiliate in the near future, when considering her statement alongside those of former Presidents, Ben Rogers and Andy Wilson last year, in which the NUS was disused, leaves us closer to re-affiliation than at any time since SUSU’s schism from the NUS began. Indeed, the future of SUSU may not be a case of if but rather, when we will re-affiliate.

It must be pointed out that the report is not yet binding and may take time to implement fully or even in part. However, what is clear from its pages is a great deal of enthusiasm for the task in hand and a farsighted approach to reform. This is especially telling in the reports highlighting of the culture behind the organisation and structure as a key issue. It is this that could prove the most important factor.

Without a culture of unity or involvement, a Union can only grow weak. For the NUS to recognise the problem and act, or as it stands at the moment, begin to act on creating a culture in which students can actively seek to become involved in their Union on every level. from voting in to running in elections, it must be considered extremely laudable.

More importantly, even if re-affiliation is not on the cards, SUSU could learn from this. A Union which engages politically is far more likely to be listened to, or at least not dismissed as easily as one which makes little effort. As we lack the sheer firepower of the NUS when it comes to courting influence, we must make an even greater effort to engage. Yet currently, our Union has a history of extremely low election turn outs and at this years first Union Council, the premier decision making body of the Union after the AGM, a staggering number of voting members left before the end of the session.

Our Union has a stark choice to consider; either make a far more serious effort to stress the importance of political involvement to students, perhaps bysome of the methods being considered by the NUS or it must seriously consider re-affiliation. Without either, this Union can only face a future of ignorance from policy makers, indecision as we run out of effective leadership and increasing irrelevance as a body as the world moves on. and simply forgets we were ever an issue.