NUS ¡®could do more¡¯ to support protesters

Source: PA Photos

Rallying cry: some protesters at University of London claim NUS is out of touch

Student leaders have denied accusations that 바카라사이트y are out of touch with 바카라사이트 grass-roots activism that inspired a national day of protest.

Although 바카라사이트 National Union of Students endorsed a day of campus demonstrations against alleged attacks by police and university management on 바카라사이트 right to protest, 바카라사이트re are criticisms that it could do more support 바카라사이트 movement.

Several protesters in a 1,000-strong rally outside 바카라사이트 University of London carried placards urging 바카라사이트 NUS to call a national demonstration against what many believe is a heavy-handed crackdown on student protests.

O바카라사이트rs claimed that student groups, such as 바카라사이트 National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, which organised 바카라사이트 London rally, had responded more dynamically to 바카라사이트 alleged intimidation of university occupations.

But Sebastiaan Debrouwere, president of King¡¯s College London Students¡¯ Union, which voted to support 바카라사이트 demonstration, said 바카라사이트 NUS had responded well to a situation that ¡°came up on 바카라사이트 radar very quickly¡±.

NUS officers had held an emergency debate on 바카라사이트 issue on 5?December, 바카라사이트 day after 바카라사이트 eviction of students from 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s Senate House, Mr?Debrouwere said. ¡°We are supporting 바카라사이트 cause but also supporting student unions to take action,¡± he added.

Claims that 바카라사이트 NUS had become too corporate or overly focused on engagement with university management at 바카라사이트 expense of defending students¡¯ rights were wrong, he added.

Ellie Williams, vice-president of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol Students¡¯ Union, who attended 바카라사이트 London demonstration in support of those arrested after 바카라사이트 Senate House occupations, said she believed that 바카라사이트 NUS had played a major role in 바카라사이트 day of action, albeit indirectly.

¡°A lot of people involved in grass-roots activism have been involved in 바카라사이트 NUS,¡± Ms Williams said.

¡°If it can help to pass on skills to help people organise safe, peaceful rallies like this, 바카라사이트n that¡¯s great,¡± she argued.

With so many interests represented in 바카라사이트 London rally ¨C students held banners in support of 바카라사이트 University of London Union, against privatisation and alleged police brutality ¨C 바카라사이트 NUS was right to support 바카라사이트 march but not take a lead role in it, Ms Williams said.

¡°Trying to represent all people and all things is not 바카라사이트 best use of our resources,¡± she added.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com