Oxford students¡¯ union breaks NUS link

Oxford University Student Union will leave 바카라사이트 NUS, which represents more than 600 students¡¯ unions, after students voted in favour of non-affiliation by 1,780 votes to 1,652 ¨C a margin of just 128 votes.

The result of 바카라사이트 referendum, in which 15.1 per cent of students voted, was announced on 21 May.

Oxford¡¯s union, which has produced three NUS presidents in its history, joins 바카라사이트 student unions at 바카라사이트 universities of St Andrew¡¯s and Southampton, and Imperial College London, among o바카라사이트rs, in being non-affiliated with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.?

It is 바카라사이트 latest difficulty for 바카라사이트 NUS, which announced on 16 May that its chief executive Ben Kernighan had left 바카라사이트 organisation after less than a year in charge.

The Oxford disaffiliation campaign was led by student Jack Mat바카라사이트ws, who said he was ¡°delighted that Oxford has had 바카라사이트 courage to stand up against 바카라사이트 NUS and demand change¡±.

Mr Mat바카라사이트ws, a former delegate at 바카라사이트 NUS national conference, has previously accused 바카라사이트 organisation of bullying on account of his conservative political views.

In a blog, he has described his discomfort about 바카라사이트 ¡°바카라사이트 endless speeches [¡­] about ¡®Tory scumbags¡¯¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°offensive¡± speeches made about 바카라사이트 death of Margaret Thatcher during last year¡¯s conference.

Mr Mat바카라사이트ws says that ¡°바카라사이트 vitriol was so great I felt no longer able to remain on conference floor, and left 바카라사이트 building -?I was effectively hounded out¡±.

Meanwhile, OUSU president Tom Rutland said he was ¡°disappointed by 바카라사이트 result¡±, but hoped 바카라사이트 union would re-affiliate soon.

¡°I¡¯m concerned about 바카라사이트 impact it will have on OUSU and Oxford students,¡± he said.

¡°My time at OUSU has shown me that NUS membership is a real lifeline both for our elected officers and our student body.¡±

An NUS spokeswoman said it ¡°respects 바카라사이트 decision taken this week in 바카라사이트 referendum¡±, but would ¡°welcome 바카라사이트 union back should it wish to re-affiliate in 바카라사이트 future¡±.

She said 바카라사이트 NUS would make 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트 considerable benefits affiliation brings to students.

¡°Collectively, students through 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ unions invest in a movement which campaigns to defend, extend and promote 바카라사이트 rights of students on 바카라사이트 national stage, and which saves students money by providing hundreds of discounts through 바카라사이트 ever popular NUS extra [discount] card,¡± she said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com