NUS Conference Candidates

Why do we have to elected people to go?

Under NUS rules, all Higher Educations Union's must elected their delegation by cross -campus ballot to help ensure that the students who attend represent the students at their institution.

NUS Conference Candidates

Bill Boon

I am fully able to represent our university at the nus conference. This is because I am a third year student that knows our university well, and have been an active member of the student union. I successfully chaired the general meeting of our student union this year, and am the representative for political societies and have been active campaigning at uwe.

This will be the third nus conference I have attended, so I’m in a position know where it is going wrong, and how it should change. If elected for conference I will:

-Support a campaigning nus that mobilises students against top up fees and the privatisation of our education.

-fight to maintain democratic structures within the nus, ensuring it can represent all students and allow minority factions to have a say.

-Support an nus that opposes the war, opposes racism and actively supports the needs of all students.

Alice Bouquet

Hi, I’m your Activities President this year and also South West Rep for NUS National Council.

This conference we will vote on the direction NUS takes against the 2009 threat of removing the £3,000 cap on top up fees. It’s so important to the future of UWE.

We will also be voting on a new structure for NUS. The two go hand in hand. It’s essential that our National Union has a strong, robust and sustainable structure to support the fight AGAINST sky high fees and FOR a fairer funding system.

I have attended Annual Conference in 2002, 2003 and 2007, and attended the EGM in December. I have been delegation leader twice before, so will be able to explain the process to new delegates, and make sure they understand what is going on; as it can be intimidating to first time delegates.

VOTE ALICE #1 –DELEGATION LEADER

Arran Cotton

I am Standing for this position because I feel that the NUS is being pushed in a wrong direction. This wrong direction is summed up by its leaderships position on top-up fee’s. In 2009 there is a review of university spending and free education will only be on the agenda if the NUS forces it to be. Currently the NUS is arguing that’s fee’s shouldn’t be risen over £3000, this effectively means that they have roled over and agreed to a £3000 a year burden on students heads. I am a member of socialist students, and we fight for free education for all. As part of this fight I am standing as a socialist student candidate at this conference for the block of 12 posision.

Becca Danes

I would love the chance to become a UWESU delegate because; I have had the most amazing time of my life being the SRC Vice President. This year has given me a strong insight into the educational needs of UWE students, and I am highly passionate about UWE and I would love this opportunity to represent UWE students in Blackpool please can I have this opportunity.

In terms of higher education, this is such a crucial year and I feel I have a good understanding of the wider national debate, which will be discussed at length at the conference.

I am independently minded and a strong person and I will vote in terms of what is best of the UWE student and I will discuss the motions with lots of students before I go, to ensure that I am representative.

Becca xx

Richard Hall

I am a 3rd year History and Politics student and been actively involved with student politics for some time.

In November I attended the NUS emergency conference where the purpose was to debate a motion of reform to the NUS which would see its democratic structure severely weakened, taking power away from the conference floor and from students themselves.

I voted against this motion and I will go to conference again to oppose this attack on democracy by the NUS, and to argue that the NUS should be run for the students and by the students, a grass roots movement rather than a select few acting on the students’ behalf.

I will do my utmost to represent UWE students by fighting for an NUS that campaigns against top-up fees, against war, against racism and one that is truly representative of students needs.

Sam Jones

Hi my name is Sam Jones and I think I would be a great candidate to send to NUS national conference for a number of reasons. This year I have spent much of my spare time working with the student’s union on a variety of projects from constitutional review to environmental task group. I sit on SRC, have attended both regional conferences and am campus chair for the wonderful St.Matts. I am very interested in how the student’s union runs and would very much like to have a chance to participate in deciding national policy and plans for the coming year. I am also running for SRC this year and if elected this would be invaluable experience for the sabbatical position. Please support my candidacy for the elections both for SRC and NUS national conference I won’t let you down on either count.

John Malone

At UWE’s last AGM (29/11/2007), due to a lack of time our representatives went against the vast majority of wishes to carry on discussing motions so that we could listen to a guest speaker. However this is not unusual attitude for current SU representatives to have and I believe its being transferred to the national level by a proposed Governance Review, which was voted into this forthcoming annual conference agenda by an under represented emergency conference - that will change the NUS structure, to one that I feel is far less democratic. For example:

The Review would replace elected representative conferences; with un-elected, unrepresentative conferences.
The Review would introduce a partially un-elected board of trustees that would have the power of veto over student decisions.

My aim at the annual conference is simple; firstly to uphold student democracy and secondly to represent student concerns so please contact me on john2.malone@uwe.ac.uk .

Elizabeth May

Having been a NUS regional delegate and heavily involved in both the Activities and Student Reps at UWESU, I feel I am in a position to represent the majority views of students at UWE.

The current discussions happening at national level of the NUS are going to result in huge changes which will impact every UK student and graduate. I feel it is essential for UWESU to have a voice in this process, and one which will be representative of the views held by students at UWE.

As a member of SRC, Societies Executive and a variety of other committees, I have a lot of experience in representing student views and feel that I am well-placed to continue this process to the national level.

Democracy needs to be representative, I aim to ensure this.

Florian Mertens

I attended several NUS Conferences in previous years to represent our University to the national and other unions. I worked on the NUS International Students Campaign as a committee member, and I challenge myself a step further this academic year by standing as a candidate for the Block of Twelve within this Conference.

In December's NUS Extraordinary General Meeting, a new NUS Constitution was ratified. Several points in the new constitution were highly debated and criticised by liberation and student campaigns, student coalitions and unions. These discussions will continue during this conference.

I stand for ethical principles, open debates and transparent, accountable committees. I value environmental and international principles, and I support developments that make constituent members more effective and better represented.

I am therefore seeking your vote, to allow me to go as a delegate and as a standing candidate for our union !

Sanjay Mistry

Hi there,

I’m Sanjay, final year Pharmaceutical Sciences student. I would be the ideal candidate for this role as I would be putting UWE students first at the NUS annual conference. I would make sure that your views are heard on a national level and hopefully followed by other student unions as well our own student union and making your student experience better for you.

I am a confident speaker and very good at liaising with students and listening to ideas from other students and making sure that they are heard by everyone. Therefore, I feel I would be the ideal candidate to go to the conference.

Help improve your university experience. Vote for Sanjay as the UWESU delegate.

Thank you.

Sanjay.

Dom Passfield

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Dom, one of the Presidents of the Student Union and Chair of the Student Representative Council. So what is NUS then? That was definitely what I used to wonder as student, it just seemed to be a discount card. But the National Union of Students is so much more than that, they just need to focus on removing their misconceptions with their members, us! NUS are going through some dramatic changes and we need to make sure that direct communication and UWE students’ interests are at the centre of that. In my time at UWE Students’ Union I have attended 3 NUS regional conferences, a higher education funding debate and 4 national events on student representation. My commitment as delegate or delegate leader will be to make sure that ALL students attending annual conference understand what and why they are going.

Darel Poole

I have been an active member of UWESU for two years, taking part in student union events across the board.

I am the ideal candidate for the NUS Delegation because I have previously been a delegate at NUS EGM and also Regional Conference.

This year I have been part of the UWESU constitutional review committee, looking to refresh the current constitution, helping the union to move forward.

I will go to conference and actively take part in discussions and debates, representing the UWESU body.

Vote Darel Poole number 1 for NUS Delegate!

Lily Priggs

As Sports President and a part of the constitutional review group I am in a brilliant position to go to the AGM and vote on candidates and motions that I believe will best suit our membership and future governance. I believe that the UWESU has a duty to reach many more students than we do. I have focused this term on provisions for students with disabilities and I want the results of that work to be reflected in our constitution so we are representing and ensuring the rights of many more students. I would like to create stronger connections with the NUS and utilise their links with the wider student body. As the officer sitting on the UWE Federation board, I have an insight into the importance of representing UWE students from Federation Colleges, I want to make sure these students too have a delegate representing them.

Jenny Shaw

Hi, I’m Jenny, a 3rd year St. Matt’s rep. For those of you who don’t know me already, here’s some key points!

I’m for:

Representing Your Views + feeding back news for wider understanding of UWESU and NUS issues, motions and solutions.

The Funding of Education and not War! The recent changes in FE funding motivated students out onto the streets in the Anti Top-Up Fees rallies and I’m not so defeatist as to think their introduction was the end of the issue!

Debt is a massive issue for current and future students. Recently government funded surveys and ‘Student National Jury’ (which I took part in) are a sign of the growing concern about student opinions. I will be urging the NUS AGM to use this moment of unease to rigorously campaign to resolve the financial crisis’ students are encountering in the pursuit of education.

VOTE JENNY!

Adam Waterhouse

I benefited so much from the experience last year, I want to gain more knowledge and understanding of the NUS and relive the fantastic experience of last year.

John Yeandle

I do not believe the NUS does enough to oppose tuition fees, and its ‘Admission: Impossible’ campaign does not go far enough in its demands. I support the Campaign to Defeat Fees (CDF), launched nationally by Socialist Students, of which I am a member. I wish to become a delegate to support Arran Cottam for the Block of 12 which will raise the profile of the CDF, and to oppose the undemocratic governance review, as the NUS should do more to actively represent its membership including actively opposing fees.