StudentMediaWire

The National Union of Students has issued a desperate call to its members: back our reforms, or NUS will die.

Writing to all students’ unions, president Wes Streeting described NUS members as “clamouring for change” and admitted that the union has been out of touch.

“We have suffered from poor management decisions, a lack of clear direction, inaccessibility and structures more adapted to 1922 than 2008,” writes Streeting. “NUS has been failing to deliver on key issues.”

In April 2007, NUS attempted to pass reforms at its annual conference, a notoriously volatile meeting of student activists and union officers from across the UK. But members failed to ratify the proposals put forward.

Since then, Streeting and his supporters have been considering how to succeed with a second attempt at change. They are adament they must push through proposals they see as crucial to NUS’ survival.

In his open letter, Streeting reveals revised proposals and urges members to back him.

“Our reform proposals narrowly failed to be passed,” he writes. “Missing out on the two-thirds majority necessary. Although the margin of defeat was small, we took the opportunity to listen to our members and following the conference we began to seek feedback on the review and to get thoughts on where to go next. We have considered all the feedback, made a host of changes and are proud to announce new proposals to reform NUS.

“This reform is so important for our national union as in just a few months we will have a huge fight on our hands: to rescue our higher education system from being corrupted by market forces and to prevent a future where the most esteemed universities are only accessible to the very rich.

“We must be prepared for the battle that lies ahead. We are working hard to ensure that the cap on tuition fees is not lifted and that a fairer and less complicated system of student support and fees is implemented. We need a national union fit to win for students and students’ unions.”

“For this reason I urge you to back the proposals and encourage your elected officers to choose change, because it is time that NUS delivered.”

Photo credit: NUS/Wikipedia