LUSU Leaves Their Mark in Harrogate
Friday 24-03-2023 - 13:51
LUSU Leaves Their Mark in Harrogate
On Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March 2023, 6 delegates from Lancaster SU visited Harrogate for the largest democratic gathering of students in Europe: NUS National Conference 2023!
NUS National Conference brings together affiliated university and college students’ unions from across the country to discuss issues facing students across the UK nations, set policy for the NUS to deliver and elect the political leadership and voluntary bodies that keep the NUS running.
This year, five issues were up for debate: cost of living, international students, NUS democracy and regional organising, housing and education. The issues debated are determined by a national priority ballot where students’ unions vote for the issues most important to them and we were particularly pleased to see NUS democracy on the agenda as Lancaster SU was one of the proposers for this policy alongside Cambridge University Students’ Union, Northumbria Students’ Union and University of Sheffield Students’ Union.
The elected leaders of the NUS opened up the Conference with their call for students to Turn Up which became the theme of the event. With a UK general election on the way no later than January 2025, one of the main for the NUS in upcoming years to urge students to Turn Up, speak out and use their vote in this important election.
They also opened with an acknowledgement of the recent findings from the investigation into antisemitism in the NUS and an apology for the environment and culture that had been supported and enabled in previous years. The Lancaster delegation have been closely involved in making the NUS a space and community that is welcoming for Jewish students and that does not tolerate antisemitism. Lancaster Jewish Society President Dom Casoria and former President, Noah Katz have served on the NUS’ National Scrutiny Council for the past year and pushed for the report to be published and now delivered throughout. We look forward to seeing the delivery of the NUS’ action plan on antisemitism and for continued dialogue between the NUS, Union of Jewish Students and Jewish members.
Throughout the Conference, delegates attended different workshops on the five policy issues. India and Megan attended the workshop on cost of living. India said that “On the first day of Conference, I attended the cost of living discussion session alongside Megan. It was no surprise to see cost of living on the agenda, or to see it top the priority ballot and be allocated the largest venue space for the discussion sessions. It is clear that the cost of living crisis is felt by students nationally, but what was fascinating about taking part in these discussions at Conference was hearing the perspectives of different student groups and institution types and learning how this crisis is affecting people in specific and complex ways.
The final version of the policy was well received in conference hall, and all the final policies had elements within them which linked straight back to the cost of living crisis. This policy could lead to some meaningful work done by NUS UK which will stand up for the needs of all students in the cost of living crisis – further than that, the voices of NUS Delegates have ensured a level of focus on helping some of our most vulnerable students.”
Callum, Dom and Noah attended the workshop on NUS democracy and transparency. On balance, we felt that this year’s National Conference had improved significantly on last year where students were barely given the opportunity to discuss and debate at all. This year’s Democratic Procedures Committee (DPC) had introduced changes that allowed for delegates to raise their voices and have varying perspectives heard on Conference floor. There are improvements to make over the next year and we are particularly happy to announce that our very own India, Union President, was successfully elected to the DPC for the next two years and looks forward to strengthening NUS democracy for students’ unions like us.
In this zone, there was a particularly interesting debate on the creation of a NUS England to prevent NUS UK events being dominated by England policy issues and NUS Wales, Scotland and NUS-USI being shut out of the conversation. This amendment was approved and the option will be explored by the NUS UK.
Other important policies and amendments were passed by Conference including increasing the 20-hour work limit for international students on a student visa, improving the quality and supply of student housing and opposing exploitative behaviour by landlords. All policy and amendments were passed.
Noah Katz, VP Education, has also been successfully ratified as a Student Director of NUS UK and they will join the NUS Board.
Overall, this year’s National Conference was a positive experience and an improvement on recent years. We believe that there is still much to do and with our own leaders continuing to be part of the NUS’ leadership, Lancaster will continue to leave our mark on the national stage.
For any questions on the NUS and National Conference, don’t hesitate to get in touch with VP Union Development, Callum Slater, on su.vp.uniondevelopment@lancaster.ac.uk. If you fancy representing Lancaster on the national stage, elections for next year’s delegation will take place during Michaelmas term 2023.
- Written by Callum Slater, VP Union Development with contributions from the Conference delegation
