No stupid surveys, thanks very much

If you are a third year student and oppose the local and national cuts being made to the higher education sector, there’s something simple and really effective you can do to help the movement – don’t fill out the National Student Survey (NSS). The motion for the boycott was passed at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and then ratified by Union Council, and is one of the most heavily discussed topics amongst students and staff at Sussex right now. Here’s a few basic questions answered about why Stop the Cuts believes that this is an effective and radically new element in the fight for higher education.
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A politically pitiful AGM

The Union has become increasingly unrepresentative in recent years.  Last year there were allegations and rumours speculating that quoracy had in fact been faked. This year the union lacked quorum for most of the politically charged votes, but there was no question of trickery.  However the students’ council can now decide without further reference to the views of the majorities of students. This is especially alarming given that some motions were voted on by less than half the number of students needed for quorum, and decided by very narrow margins.
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AGM Results

Student advice service secured  •  Support for sport  •  Stop the cuts  •  Commitment to environmental responsibility  •  Bottled water phase out  •  Youth fight for jobs  •  No blood ban  •  Endangered species not for sale  •  Education equality for asylum seekers

Last week students were divided over the motions put forward at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Thursday 19 November. All nine motions were carried, including the decision to remove bottled water from sale in the University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU) shops.
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Where’s the ‘us’ in USSU?

During the course of the last week, several Facebook groups have emerged attacking the University of Sussex Students’ Union (USSU) for its recent facilitation of boycotts and bans.

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Big Fat Union Meeting (AGM)- call for motions:

The annual Big Fat Union Meeting is taking place on Thursday 19th November in Mandela Hall. This is the most important meeting in the Student Union’s calendar, and is the best chance for you to steer the direction of the Union and its campaigns by submitting a motion and engaging in lively debate. Read more

Room change

During the last meeting of Union Council (the highest policy-making body of USSU apart from the AGM), a motion was submitted to change the name of the Black and Ethnic Minorities Room to ‘Room for Students of Colour.’
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State of the Union

In the past couple of weeks I am sure you have read about several allegations made against the Union: It is not representative; it disregards students’ opinions; it is too political; it campaigns too much. I am not writing this piece to ignore these allegations, but precisely because I want to acknowledge them, even though I believe that they, unfortunately, depict a very incomplete image of the union.�
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State of student disunion

The University of Sussex has long had a reputation for being a politically active university. The union itself has not been adverse to making tough decisions for what it and its members felt was the correct moral course of action, for example, the removal of Coca Cola branded products from all Union run stores. It is this activism which has attracted students to the university looking for a union with a moral conscience.
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87% of students say “Yes” to NUS

Last Thursday, as well as choosing a new Sabbatical team, the students of Sussex voted to remain part of the National Union of Students (NUS). The referendum on remaining affiliated, held for the second time in three years, was won by those voting Yes by 87.4% compared to less than 15% against.
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Referendum on military-funded bodies postponed

Due to the sabbatical elections the Union has decided to postpone the referendum on whether to allow military funded bodies onto campus. Read more

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