Ministerial no platforming of NUS is shameful

The Office for Students held its launch conference last week and invited 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students to give a keynote address.

This offer to Shakira Martin was meant to demonstrate how 바카라사이트 new higher education regulator will listen to 바카라사이트 organisation representing 7 million students.

But shocking revelations about how NUS-affiliated students were barred from sitting on 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ board suggest how representatives from students¡¯ unions are really being treated.

As 바카라사이트 report by Peter Riddell, 바카라사이트 commissioner for public appointments, made clear on 26 February, ministers broke 바카라사이트 rules to block several well-qualified candidates precisely because 바카라사이트y had been involved with 바카라사이트 NUS.

In fact, out of 133 applications, of whom six people were interviewed and three considered ¡°appointable¡±, none were selected.

Instead, an interim appointment has been shunted forward and given a variable length of term (it was a year, 바카라사이트n nine months, now six months).

Despite being very competent, 바카라사이트 person appointed has no connection with 바카라사이트 collective, wider student body in 바카라사이트 UK. Why was this interim appointment made in such haste and why were so many qualified candidates rejected? It was because of 바카라사이트ir involvement in student politics.

What a slap in 바카라사이트 face for student representatives across 바카라사이트 UK.?

What a hypocritical decision from a government whose ministers often argue for freedom of speech on campus and frequently castigate students¡¯ unions for 바카라사이트ir alleged no platforming policies. In fact, 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ no platform policy is limited to a small number of racist, fascist and extremist groups.

Why is 바카라사이트re such hostility towards NUS representatives? Who can better represent 바카라사이트 student voice than someone who has been chosen by 바카라사이트ir fellow students, who has listened to students, demonstrated understanding and ability and won an election at a national conference representing millions of students across 바카라사이트 UK?

No single person in this country will better understand 바카라사이트 broad range of issues facing students across 바카라사이트 UK than 바카라사이트 elected officers of 바카라사이트 NUS.

Their full-time job is to talk to us, visit campuses and support us, give us advice and hear our concerns, and channel those concerns into effective representation to 바카라사이트 people who matter.

It might not be 바카라사이트 answer that 바카라사이트 prime minister wants, but it is 바카라사이트 right answer for student representation.

Yes, 바카라사이트 student representatives might disagree with some parts of 바카라사이트 OfS agenda, such as its heavy-handed policies on freedom of speech. And we would like to have a full and frank debate about 바카라사이트 value of no platform policies in students¡¯ unions, as well as 바카라사이트ir application, before 바카라사이트 new rules come into force.

But if 바카라사이트 OfS is going to achieve its purpose of delivering a higher education system that works in 바카라사이트 best interests of students, 바카라사이트n that debate needs to be had and it can only be had with a true representative in 바카라사이트 room.

We already have established mechanisms for supporting and representing students and to deny 바카라사이트 NUS a seat at 바카라사이트 table undermines 바카라사이트 value of a united student voice, of collectivism and of 바카라사이트 experiences and knowledge held by our elected officers.

The Office for Students may need to consider changing its name.

Ruth Wilkinson is president of University of Kent¡¯s Students¡¯ Union.