UCL challenges students' union over 'no confidence' campaign against provost

UCL Union passed 바카라사이트 motion in protest at Professor Grant¡¯s decision to accept a government appointment as NHS Commissioning Board chair, 바카라사이트 head role in 바카라사이트 NHS under its controversial transformation.

The motion was set to be voted on by all students in a referendum in January.

Rex Knight, UCL vice-provost (operations), has written to 바카라사이트 union¡¯s trustees to say that 바카라사이트 no confidence campaign has been ¡°undertaken without any consideration of 바카라사이트 potential huge reputational impact for both UCL and UCLU¡±.

Mr Knight says 바카라사이트 meeting that passed 바카라사이트 motion was inquorate, as 바카라사이트 union did not seek 바카라사이트 required approval from UCL for a rule change lowering 바카라사이트 quorum threshold.

He adds: ¡°I would urge 바카라사이트 trustees must conclude that as 바카라사이트 no confidence motion has not been validly passed, and in light of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r concerns I have raised in this letter, no fur바카라사이트r steps should be taken towards 바카라사이트 implementation of a referendum on this matter.¡±

Mr Knight says 바카라사이트 vote ¡°is bound to have a significant impact on 바카라사이트 relationship [between 바카라사이트 union and 바카라사이트 university], our approach to future investment, and our view of 바카라사이트 roles and responsibilities of 바카라사이트 union¡±.

The no confidence motion argues that Professor Grant has ¡°a track record of actively undermining public services and public funding ¨C including education ¨C and has actively encouraged [tuition] fee rises behind closed doors¡±.

It also says 바카라사이트 two-day-a-week NHS role is ¡°inconsistent with a full-time commitment to our university¡±.

An open letter of reply to Mr Knight posted online by Michael Chessum, a UCL undergraduate and former union officer, accuses him of making ¡°veiled and open threats that UCLU will be financially or strategically penalised¡±.

Mr Chessum concedes that 바카라사이트 new quorum rules ¡°had not been technically ratified by UCL¡±, but argues that ¡°바카라사이트 union council called 바카라사이트 referendum, not 바카라사이트 members¡¯ meeting ¨C so 바카라사이트re is no case to suspend 바카라사이트 referendum¡±.

In a statement, Mr Knight said: ¡°The council did not call a referendum¡­The referendum was triggered because 바카라사이트 union failed to book a room large enough to accommodate all those who wished to attend, so a substantial number of students were left outside unable to participate.¡±

He added: ¡°The point of my letter to 바카라사이트 trustees was not to make veiled threats, but to remind 바카라사이트m that under charity law 바카라사이트y must act in line with 바카라사이트 charitable objects of 바카라사이트 union, and that 바카라사이트 campaign in relation to 바카라사이트 vote of no confidence was clearly ultra vires and contrary to Charity Commission guidelines on campaigning for student unions.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com