Nottingham Trent Students’ Union has called a referendum on whether or not it will keep its affiliation with the National Union of Students, following recent antisemitism allegations and a “lack of support”.
The referendum started today and voting will be open on the NTSU website until Tuesday, May 23 at midday.
Students will be asked to respond ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the following question: Should NTSU continue to be affiliated to the National Union of Students’ UK (NUS UK)?
They can decide to vote ‘yes’ to remain affiliated, or ‘no’ to disaffiliate. Students may also ‘abstain’.
Benedict Wills, NTSU President, told Platform: “As an officer it is my duty to support NTU students right now.
“Over the last two years, I have seen little to no engagement from NUS that benefits our members here at NTU, they have had their hands full with the recent antisemitism investigation and I am shocked to see the blatant disrespect of religious groups.
“Although they are working through issues, I believe we can support our students better away from a tainted organisation such as NUS.”
Mr Wills has also reported being silenced at this year’s NUS National Conference, which took place in Harrogate on March 15 and 16.
He said: “We were silenced at the National Conference when we attempted to hold NUS to account over their actions.
“We have worked closely with NTU over the hardship fund and targeted bursaries supporting our students more than NUS ever could.
“NUS have lost most of their political influence, with the government no longer wanting to work with them or listen to their demands.
“For me, the decision is simply around how we can better support our students right now, and I believe that is working away from the NUS and pursuing other partnerships with organisations closer to home.”
The UK government announced in May 2022 that it would sever all ties with the NUS after the Union failed to tackle “antisemitic rot at the heart”.
Following an independent inquiry into these allegations, Shaima Dallali was dismissed as NUS President in November 2022.
The investigation also found that NUS has failed to sufficiently challenge antisemitism and hostility towards Jews, while Jewish students have been “subjected to harassment” and NUS policies have been breached.
If NTU students vote in favour of the disaffiliation, NTSU will join three other students’ unions in the Midlands that are not members of the NUS.
These include the Loughborough Students’ Union, disaffiliated in 2016, the University of Lincoln Students’ Union, disaffiliated in 2019, and the University of Warwick Students’ Union, which is set to disaffiliate after a vote in February 2023.
For the decision to be valid, 300 students must vote in the referendum, with its outcome decided by a simple majority.
The decision will be subject to ratification by the NTSU Board of Trustees and would take effect on December 31, 2023.
A spokesperson from the NUS said: “NUS UK is the national student voice representing more than 400 member students’ unions and 7 million students across the country. Together we campaign in students’ interests, taking your concerns directly to the government and national decision makers. It’s by working together that we can make the student voice loud and too powerful to ignore.
“NUS UK campaigns on the big issues impacting your time at university. Our current cost-of-living campaign is fighting to increase financial support for students; for cheaper student housing, free transport, and well-paid, secure jobs.
“We have already won an extra £15 million hardship funding for students in England, with £312k of that coming to students at Nottingham Trent University. That’s more than ten times your membership contribution.
“And that’s just one way we deliver for students at NTSU. In only the last 3 years, we put £800 million back into students’ pockets by pushing for rent refunds and student support over the pandemic. A huge £1.8 million of this came to students at Nottingham Trent. We’ve won new legal protections for student renters, £3 million of funding to tackle student mental health and got 80 universities to end the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements to silence victims of sexual violence.
“NUS is the reason students don’t have to pay council tax, we created the first student discount card, we got the young person’s railcard introduced. We have a proven track record of changing students’ lives over 100 years.
“NUS’ recent independent investigation into antisemitism is a disturbing account of antisemitism across the student movement. We offer our unreserved apology to Jewish students and are committed to ensuring they feel safe in every corner of our movement, on campuses and in NUS. This is why we have accepted all of the report’s recommendations, published an antisemitism action plan and will work with students’ unions to create real change as it should never be left to Jewish students to fight for it alone.
“NUS is all about collective student power. We have owned our failings and confronted them head on. We deliver win after win that brings a material benefit to students’ lives. We fundamentally believe in the transformative potential of education and the capacity for change, across campuses and in our own house. NUS belongs to you, so say Yes to NUS and let’s continue fighting for a strong student voice and a better world together. ”
To vote in the NTSU referendum, click here.
Lead image: Rucsadra Moldoveanu