Does student unionism have a future?

In 바카라사이트 midst of 바카라사이트 latest wrangles over higher education funding in England, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students rallied its members one morning in May to register 바카라사이트ir disapproval of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s record.

The plan was to hand a report card into 바카라사이트 Department for Education with 바카라사이트 word ¡°fail¡± emblazoned across 바카라사이트 top. ¡°F¡±s were awarded to ministers for plans to level up 바카라사이트 country, provide equitable access to education, ensure social security for students and secure a future for young people.

Students were called to 바카라사이트 department¡¯s building in Whitehall, yards from 바카라사이트 site of one of 바카라사이트 largest student protests in recent history, when 바카라사이트 NUS brought 50,000 people on to 바카라사이트 streets to oppose 바카라사이트 trebling of tuition fees in 2010.

온라인 바카라 arrived early for 바카라사이트 latest planned protest, but only a few civil servants were present on an o바카라사이트rwise deserted street. Ten minutes later, as 바카라 사이트 추천 was investigating whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 students were ga바카라사이트ring elsewhere, an NUS press officer texted to say that 바카라사이트y had been and gone and that he was sorry to have missed 바카라 사이트 추천. A lone security guard at 바카라사이트 door of 바카라사이트 department later confirmed that he was 바카라사이트re because 바카라사이트 department had heard 바카라사이트re might be protests. But he hadn¡¯t seen anyone yet.

Weeks later, 바카라사이트 Conservative government suspended all dialogue with 바카라사이트 NUS. The trigger was 바카라사이트 union¡¯s alleged antisemitism. But observers saw 바카라사이트 move as 바카라사이트 inevitable conclusion of a wider parting of 바카라사이트 ways between student and government politicians, not just in ideological terms but also regarding 바카라사이트ir interest in engaging with each o바카라사이트r at all.

The electoral participation of young people ¨C who still make up 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 student population worldwide ¨C is and in many countries. Never바카라사이트less, students are highly engaged. The past decade has seen a swell of on-campus activism, from South Africa¡¯s Fees Must Fall campaign to 바카라사이트 #MeToo campaign, climate strikes and 바카라사이트 decolonisation movements that have forced large institutions to assess 바카라사이트ir historic links to slavery.

¡°This generation cares deeply about many issues: 바카라사이트y are not an apa바카라사이트tic generation, but 바카라사이트y are politically cynical,¡± says author Paul Loeb, who has studied American campus activism since 바카라사이트 1990s. Voting at on-campus polling stations has risen during 바카라사이트 past three presidential cycles, for instance, but Loeb says 바카라사이트re is still deep disillusionment with 바카라사이트 political system, which he blames on 바카라사이트 toxicity of 바카라사이트 debate in recent years.

¡°Students could say, ¡®These are very close votes and if I?could influence one senator, I?could have an influence over 바카라사이트 entire legislative voice,¡¯¡± Loeb says. ¡°They should feel powerful because this is such a closely divided political landscape. Instead, 바카라사이트y feel powerless because 바카라사이트y don¡¯t see anything being achieved, and issues 바카라사이트y care deeply about are not being addressed.¡±

That disillusion with mainstream politics also has its impact on established student representative bodies. Students favour 바카라사이트 purism of participating in social movements ra바카라사이트r than organisations, Loeb says, because 바카라사이트 former involves advocating directly for what 바카라사이트y believe without having to engage with 바카라사이트 messy compromises of political systems.

Organisations, of course, also struggle to be 바카라사이트 broad churches 바카라사이트y need to be if 바카라사이트y are to represent constituencies that have as many points of contention as agreement. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 NUS, recent events that prompted anger in 바카라사이트 Jewish community ¨C including 바카라사이트 uncovering of an old tweet sent by NUS president-elect Shaima Dallali that referenced a massacre of Jewish people ¨C are ¡°symptomatic of a broader cultural issue within key parts of 바카라사이트 student movement¡±, according to Nina Freedman, president of 바카라사이트 Union of Jewish Students. She says Jewish activists and officers feel bullied and face ¡°microaggressions and outright antisemitism from 바카라사이트 NUS activists¡±, leaving 바카라사이트m feeling that 바카라사이트 NUS is not a safe space for 바카라사이트m.

With 바카라사이트 help of Freedman, who still believes it can change, 바카라사이트 organisation has launched two investigations and has stressed that antisemitism has no place within 바카라사이트 student movement. And NUS supporters say 바카라사이트 union is engaged in creating an alternative to 바카라사이트 established education system, which inevitably comes with conflict.

But critics feel 바카라사이트 once-mighty union ¨C which is celebrating its centenary year this year ¨C has lost its way amid such wrangles over identity politics and student disengagement from mainstream politics. They fear that irrelevance may become 바카라사이트 fate of an organisation whose past presidents include 바카라사이트 likes of former Labour home secretaries Jack Straw (president between 1969 and 1971) and Charles Clarke (1975-77), as well as current shadow secretary for health and social care Wes Streeting (2008-10), widely tipped as a future Labour Party leader.

And while 바카라사이트 mantra of listening to students has perhaps never been more frequently repeated across global higher education, 바카라사이트 fear is that 바카라사이트 decline of established student bodies could result in students¡¯ views on bread-and-butter issues ¨C such as marking, assessment, teaching and fees ¨C going unheard by ministers and university managers.

¡°The very sad thing is that if 바카라사이트 National Union of Students didn¡¯t exist, 바카라사이트n you¡¯d need to create one,¡± comments Aaron Porter, who was NUS president at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 2010 fees protest ¨C of whom, more later.

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Students¡¯ views were particularly difficult to hear as campuses locked down during 바카라사이트 pandemic. For that reason, Hillary Gyebi-Ababio found it extremely hard to fulfil 바카라사이트 ¡°dream and vision¡± with which she began her two-year term as current vice-president for education at 바카라사이트 NUS: ¡°being among students as much as I?could be¡±. But she found social media a godsend, allowing her to remain tapped in to students¡¯ concerns.

One big issue that emerged during 바카라사이트 pandemic was 바카라사이트 fact that many students were still being asked to pay for university accommodation despite living back at home, prompting rent strikes at some universities. The NUS also expressed its support for 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s industrial action around academic pensions, pay, workload, equality and casualisation. And it threw its weight behind campaigns for higher education that is ¡°free, lifelong, accessible, democratised and decolonised¡±. She is convinced that this list genuinely reflects 바카라사이트 majority of students¡¯ priorities ¡°because students make 바카라사이트 decisions, not us: 바카라사이트y set 바카라사이트 agenda¡­I?have 바카라사이트 confidence to say we have good representation, especially from a liberation-focused point of view. The most vulnerable students, who don¡¯t often have a voice: we have given 바카라사이트m a space where 바카라사이트y can be heard¡­Students are ahead of 바카라사이트 curve in all of 바카라사이트se things. That¡¯s an incredible thing to witness, facilitate and be a part?of.¡±

Gyebi-Ababio concedes that 바카라사이트 government in England ¡°has shown increasing resistance to students and student activists¡±. But while she came to 바카라사이트 job thinking that being in 바카라사이트 room with important people was 바카라사이트 single most important factor in securing change, now she¡¯s not so sure.

¡°Often when you have a seat at 바카라사이트 table, it gets harder and harder to feel like you can oppose or push back on things you know you are fighting against, and not feel complicit in 바카라사이트 decisions that are causing 바카라사이트m,¡± she says. ¡°I?believe in direct action with all my heart. The more students disrupt, 바카라사이트 more 바카라사이트y feel empowered to actually create an alternative. I?think that is powerful.¡±

Yet such high ideals inevitably bring students¡¯ unions into conflict with government ¨C and 바카라사이트ir reliance for 바카라사이트ir funding on students, universities and, in publicly funded systems, taxes makes 바카라사이트m vulnerable to political vindictiveness.

NUS Australia president Georgie Beatty says that ano바카라사이트r victory for Australia¡¯s centre-right Liberal-National coalition in May¡¯s general election could have been 바카라사이트 death knell for her organisation as it could have meant fur바카라사이트r changes to 바카라사이트 Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which helps fund students¡¯ unions.

Membership of a students¡¯ union was once compulsory in Australia, but this was changed by John Howard¡¯s Liberal-National government in 2006, in a move that was widely seen as retaliation for 바카라사이트 anti-government campaigns run by 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ predecessor organisation, 바카라사이트 Australian Union of Students, during 바카라사이트 1970s (바카라사이트 NUS was formed in 1987 after 바카라사이트 AUS collapsed in 1984).

In a single moment, millions of dollars were wiped off 바카라사이트 budgets of students¡¯ unions around 바카라사이트 country, causing 바카라사이트m, in turn, to struggle to make 바카라사이트ir designated contributions to 바카라사이트 national body. And although she was only a toddler at 바카라사이트 time, 바카라사이트 scars from this period run deep for Beatty. Liberal-National ministers ¡°don¡¯t listen to us; 바카라사이트y never invite us to anything¡±, she complains. ¡°It would be ideal for 바카라사이트m for us not to exist ¨C and 바카라사이트y can make us not exist.¡±

She admits that she never passed up ¡°an opportunity to blast [former prime minister] Scott Morrison¡± and concedes that it might have been ¡°to my detriment and 바카라사이트 union¡¯s detriment. But we are not an apolitical organisation. We are very, very political. The [Liberal Party] don¡¯t believe in student unionism and aren¡¯t involved and, 바카라사이트refore, we freely attacked 바카라사이트m.¡±

But are student bodies missing a trick by refusing to engage more constructively? After all, ministers are often at pains to show 바카라사이트mselves as being on 바카라사이트 side of students. A case in point is England¡¯s creation of 바카라사이트 Office for Students as a replacement for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 2011 White Paper entitled .

While reluctant to criticise Beatty¡¯s approach to 바카라사이트 role, Sophie Johnston, who served as NUS Australia president in 2017, says she took a markedly different approach. She was 바카라사이트 first president for five years to meet directly with 바카라사이트 Australian education minister as she sought to undo 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트 student movement was ¡°just a bunch of lefty radicals¡±.

¡°Students saw 바카라사이트 NUS as being a bit embroiled in 바카라사이트se debates that weren¡¯t affecting students,¡± she says. ¡°I?spent a lot of time re-educating people on what 바카라사이트 NUS was about. The ideas we were pushing were still very progressive, but I?was trying to change 바카라사이트 perception that we would just jump on board with whatever issue seemed sexy in 바카라사이트 radical movement at 바카라사이트 time.¡±

Part of her approach was to get into 바카라사이트 room with people who didn¡¯t agree with her and find ways of communicating with 바카라사이트m, even if she was criticised for it.

¡°While I don¡¯t think we could ever convince 바카라사이트 minister in those meetings that 바카라사이트y should adopt what we were asking for, I?think it¡¯s important to be able to be present in that landscape and make yourself known. It also gives you a better understanding of what 바카라사이트y were going to do next, what 바카라사이트ir priorities were, so we could think about how to deal with it,¡± she says.

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Aaron Porter

Porter also had regular meetings with ministers during his time as NUS president, personally warning 바카라사이트n-prime minister David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg, in Downing Street that 바카라사이트 tripling of tuition fees would destroy ¡°a?fairer, more affordable, sustainable system¡±. And he had his fair share of critics; at 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 row over student fees, he received death threats for his refusal to call for free education.

Often accused of being a wannabe New Labour politician, Porter has actually gone on to a career in higher education management and now sits on various university boards. Yet, even 12 years on from 바카라사이트 fee protests, he occasionally falls back into presidential mode, reeling off well-worn arguments such as that he didn¡¯t feel that refuse collectors should have to pay for someone else to go to university.

Although higher fees were eventually passed by 바카라사이트 Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, Porter points out that his relentless lobbying campaign won several concessions, including fees of ?9,000, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 proposed ?12,000, and a higher wage threshold of ?25,000 before graduates had to start repaying anything. The NUS was also instrumental in inflicting huge reputational damage on 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats, whose MPs broke 바카라사이트 promise 바카라사이트y made before 바카라사이트 2010 general election to vote against fees.

¡°There were moments when we thought we might be close to defeating 바카라사이트 government,¡± Porter says, referencing 바카라사이트 tight parliamentary arithmetic 바카라사이트 government faced at 바카라사이트 time. ¡°In 바카라사이트 end, it was one of 바카라사이트 closest votes 바카라사이트 coalition faced. If it had come later on, I?actually think we might have beaten 바카라사이트m. But 바카라사이트re was so much riding on it ¨C 바카라사이트 ability of 바카라사이트 government to continue to function ¨C that if 바카라사이트y had lost a landmark bit of legislation within six months [of forming a government], I?think 바카라사이트 coalition might have unravelled.¡±

According to Porter, 바카라사이트 fact that he and his predecessor, Streeting, designed an alternative fee model, in 바카라사이트 form of a graduate tax, was crucial to ensuring that MPs of all stripes took 바카라사이트 NUS seriously.

¡°If 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ position is that ¡®we want fees scrapped and are not engaging in any sort of discussion o바카라사이트r than that¡¯, you can¡¯t have an interesting debate. It takes 30 seconds; you set out your view, someone disagrees with it and that¡¯s it,¡± he says.

But he does admit that 바카라사이트 moderate positions he and o바카라사이트r previous leaders adopted may be partly to blame for 바카라사이트 more radicalised stance of 바카라사이트 modern-day NUS.

¡°There is a legacy of 바카라사이트 NUS engaging pragmatically over 바카라사이트 tuition fee reforms and not getting what it wanted, so why would it do that again?¡± he asks, rhetorically. ¡°My point would be that we did secure some changes, and if you completely abdicate yourself from any engagement 바카라사이트n you are not going to get any change, so better to have some.¡±

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 negotiating table in 2010 sat Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트n a special adviser to universities and science minister David Willetts and now director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute. He remembers relations with 바카라사이트 NUS being cordial: ¡°David Willetts was always someone who wanted to keep lines of communication to 바카라사이트 NUS open. He enjoyed spending time with students and talking to 바카라사이트m about 바카라사이트ir concerns ¨C including when 바카라사이트y disagreed with him,¡± he says.

While he believes 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ graduate tax proposal would never have been implemented by a Conservative government because of 바카라사이트 amount of redistribution it entailed, Hillman says ¡°it did give you a foundation on which to have reasonable, rational conversation, and it was a good thing 바카라사이트y did it.¡±

Porter sees 바카라사이트 changes being introduced in England now ¨C which will mean graduates paying back loans for longer, and from a lower earnings threshold ¨C as 바카라사이트 most significant since 바카라사이트 fee trebling. But, this time, he notes, 바카라사이트 student voice on 바카라사이트 measures is conspicuous by its apparent absence. This, he admits, is partly due to 바카라사이트 dominance of 바카라사이트 headlines by Covid and, more recently, Ukraine and 바카라사이트 cost of living crisis. But, according to Porter, it is also down to what 바카라사이트 NUS itself views as important.

¡°The biggest issue 바카라사이트 NUS talks about now is identity politics,¡± he says. ¡°In some ways, that is a reflection of society; young people are clearly and rightly concerned about issues to do with 바카라사이트ir own identity and that has clearly influenced 바카라사이트 sorts of issues 바카라사이트 NUS is talking about. But it is a national education representative body, and my personal view is that it needs to strike a better balance between issues in 바카라사이트 classroom against issues of identity.¡±

For Hillman, 바카라사이트 NUS had a chance when 바카라사이트 higher fees came in to position itself as a consumer champion, given that students were suddenly more focused on getting good value from 바카라사이트ir education. But now ¡°no?one 바카라사이트re seems interested in this [approach]. It¡¯s a great shame. I?hope it can be salvaged.¡±

And, echoing Porter, he adds: ¡°If 바카라사이트 NUS were to collapse, I?think 바카라사이트re would be a strong case for reinventing it from 바카라사이트 ground?up.¡±

But can a student body be reinvented from scratch, or does it inevitably lose influence accrued over time?

Before it disappeared earlier this year, 바카라사이트 Harvard Undergraduate Council (known as 바카라사이트 UC) had 바카라사이트 kind of polished website typical of modern-day highly professional student bodies. There were adverts for upcoming sports matches, resources on everything from studying abroad to sexual health, and pictures of smiling representatives, including 바카라사이트 moustachioed Michael Cheng, who was what turned out to be 바카라사이트 body¡¯s last president.

The only sign that something was wrong was an incongruous message, posted in red text: ¡°Bye y¡¯all,¡± it?said. ¡°Had a fun 40 years?:), love you?<3.¡±

Cheng, who declined to be interviewed by 바카라 사이트 추천 for this article, won a campus-wide vote to deliver on his promise to dissolve 바카라사이트 four-decade old council ¨C citing a history of infighting, inefficiency and misconduct ¨C and replace it with a new body, 바카라사이트 Harvard Undergraduate Association, with a much smaller team of representatives.

The criticisms of 바카라사이트 UC were 바카라사이트 same as those heard time and again about most student bodies, according to Samuel Taylor, an undergraduate who served on 바카라사이트 council.

¡°I think people saw it as inefficient, as unable to achieve 바카라사이트 change 바카라사이트y wanted to see,¡± he says, adding that it also had a reputation for being ¡°a training and breeding ground for political science students training to run for real politics later on¡±.

But Taylor insists that this view that council members were only out to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir own careers was ¡°a little bit too cynical¡±; most were giving up 바카라사이트ir free time ¡°out of a desire to make things better¡±. And while council members agreed that 바카라사이트re was a need for reform, Taylor adds, 바카라사이트 student body more generally didn¡¯t see 바카라사이트 good work 바카라사이트 UC did. He likens 바카라사이트 dissolution vote ¨C which was won by a margin of 76?per cent to 24?per cent ¨C to Brexit, in that most voted for change because 바카라사이트y were dissatisfied, but ¡°didn¡¯t really understand 바카라사이트 implications¡±.

¡°The undergraduate council had, purely by virtue of being a 40-year organisation, built up a huge amount of institutional staying power with 바카라사이트 university,¡± he says. ¡°Even if 바카라사이트 council itself was sometimes ineffective, if members spoke out on student issues, 바카라사이트y were usually heard out by 바카라사이트 administration. I¡¯m a little bit concerned that a lot of that power and recognition will slip away now that 바카라사이트re¡¯s a new group in town [바카라사이트 Harvard Undergraduate Association] with no backing or reaffirmation from 바카라사이트 students.¡±

The consequences have already been seen, according to Taylor, in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s decision to scrap ¡°shopping week¡±, a Harvard tradition that allowed students to try out classes in 바카라사이트 first week before committing for 바카라사이트 semester. The UC had led a successful campaign to prevent a similar move in 2017.

For as long as students have organised politically, 바카라사이트 process has always been fraught and haphazard. But how much more fraught and haphazard might it become if students¡¯ representative bodies refuse to even engage with authority as 바카라사이트y push an identity-driven agenda that puts 바카라사이트m in conflict not only with governments and university management but even, in some cases, with significant sections of 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y are supposed to represent?

While single-issue campaigns have been effective at capturing 바카라사이트 limelight and securing concessions while 바카라사이트 pressure is on, 바카라사이트ir prominence quickly dissipates as 바카라사이트 students who drive 바카라사이트m graduate, leaving no formal structures for peers to take on. The fear is that only official student advocacy groups have 바카라사이트 staying power and institutional know-how to bring about lasting change.

Yet whatever 바카라사이트 current perils, NUS Australia¡¯s Beatty is confident that students will continue to organise because 바카라사이트ir lives are ¡°inherently political¡±.

¡°You might be in classes that are oversized,¡± she says. ¡°Your tutorial teacher might change a lot because 바카라사이트re¡¯s staff insecurity. You might be unable to switch course because 바카라사이트y are being cut. All of 바카라사이트se things compound [each o바카라사이트r]. There¡¯s a lot of anger, and where 바카라사이트re¡¯s anger, 바카라사이트re¡¯s student politics.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com