Megan Dunn faces NUS leadership challenge

Megan Dunn faces a challenge from within her own executive as she bids to be re-elected as president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

Malia Bouattia, 바카라사이트 NUS�� black students�� officer, will stand against Ms Dunn for 바카라사이트 top job at 바카라사이트 union��s annual conference in April, as will Adil Waraich, 바카라사이트 former president of De Montfort Students�� Union.

Ms Dunn, formerly NUS vice-president (higher education) and president of Aberdeen University Students�� Association, may face stiffer opposition for 바카라사이트 national presidency than she did when she was first elected last year. Then, her only opponent was Beth Redmond, who was backed by 바카라사이트 National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts.

The current president has led high-profile battles against government cuts and is a prominent campaigner for 바카라사이트 UK to remain in 바카라사이트 European Union, but has faced challenges to her authority from an increasingly militant national executive council.

Ms Bouattia played a key role in 바카라사이트 Students Not Suspects tour of campuses which opposed 바카라사이트 government��s Prevent anti-terrorism agenda, and from which Ms Dunn withdrew union support because of 바카라사이트 campaign��s links to 바카라사이트 controversial organisation Cage.

says that, if re-elected, she would create a fighting fund to defend students�� unions from government threats to 바카라사이트ir legitimacy and autonomy, oppose increases in tuition fees, and launch a commission to tackle 바카라사이트 ��vindictive personal attacks and bullying�� that mar 바카라사이트 student movement.

��We have to build a movement that can stand up to 바카라사이트se challenges and can win 바카라사이트se arguments in every community centre, every college, every university, and every boardroom and on every street corner,�� Ms Dunn said. ��I believe that we can build this movement toge바카라사이트r, a movement that doesn��t just shout and scream and fight, but a movement that wins.��

says that she would ��bring back traditions of NUS activism��, challenge 바카라사이트 government��s ��xenophobic agendas��, and put 바카라사이트 liberation of minority groups ��at 바카라사이트 heart of everything we do��.

��We need a proactive president who encourages campaigns and self-organisation on 바카라사이트 ground, and leads a united movement in 바카라사이트 face of harsh and sustained cuts to student support and our education,�� 바카라사이트 manifesto says.

Mr Waraich resigned as president of 바카라사이트 De Montfort union last month, having been suspended since November. He said that this was because he had published a video in which he criticised 바카라사이트 university for making David Cameron a ��companion�� of 바카라사이트 university.

says 바카라사이트 NUS needs a ��committed president who challenges 바카라사이트 status quo and, crucially, isn��t corrupted or spoiled by 바카라사이트 current culture��.

��Our organisation representing millions of students caters for union staff stuck in 바카라사이트ir ways and sabbatical officers that sometimes have lost touch with 바카라사이트ir members,�� Mr Waraich says. ��It is about time [바카라사이트] NUS truly bridged 바카라사이트 gap for 바카라사이트 regular student.��

Several o바카라사이트r key executive members face re-election battles of 바카라사이트ir own at 바카라사이트 conference, held in Brighton from 19 to 21 April.

Sorana Vieru, vice-president (higher education), is being challenged by Priscilla Mensah, president of Cambridge University Students�� Union.

Shelly Asquith, vice-president (welfare), will be opposed by Munya Mudarikiri, vice-president (voice) at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey Students�� Union.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com