Anti-racist activists protest new SU roles
New proposals at Student Council for a White Students’ officer and a Men’s Students’ officer have led to accusations of the President-elect ‘sneaking’ in motions at the end of term.
The proposals were put forward by Aakash Naik at the May meeting of Student Council, the monthly legislative body of the Students’ Union, which was the last one of its kind during undergraduate term time.
This has subsequently caused outcry, mainly from the Love Music Hate Racism society, with an event planned on the 16th of June to protest the white students’ officer role.
The LMHR Facebook protest page claims that: “Aakash has snuck in a debate on this outside of term time telling minimal people about it.”
The White Students’ officer was not approved by Student Council and the student officer committee will debate the necessity of the role, whereas the motion to introduce a Men’s Students’ officer role was approved at the meeting.
The proposals were also seconded by two more members of next year’s sabbatical team, Amy Baker (seconder for Men’s Students’ officer) and Matt Blackall (seconder for White Students’ officer).
Speaking on the LMHR Facebook protest page, Naik has urged debate to continue:
“Please keep debating, if you’re against these issues, I’m not against you as a person. Can I just clarify that I am not trying to sneak a debate outside of term.
“I’d also be happy for anyone to email or meet me in person to discuss their concerns – aakash.naik@upsu.net. I am not here to sneak things in without students.”
Matt Blackall the VP Societies & Community elect, argued in favour of the Men’s Students’ officer role: “I think ultimately it was voted through (and I support this) because there are some issues that effect just men.
“I do not mean health only issues (but not limited to) but also academic issues and how male results and learning methods differ from female. I think whoever gets the role next year will be spending a lot of time identifying the issues.”
Naik’s election manifesto had previously outlined his intention to introduce the new roles.
May’s Student Council also saw a motion put forward by Sam Jones, the VP Academic Affairs-elect. The ‘Pigeon Policy’ called for all Union activities to buy a pigeon for the transportation of documents in meetings.
The motion was not put approved as Jones did not attend the meeting. Any student can put forward a proposal but it will only be adopted by the Union if approved at Student Council and if the proposer is present.
