Unshackled: UCL Union vote backs student’s rights

The UCL students who attended the first quorate UCL Union Welcome General Meeting on 8th October 2009 voted in a two-thirds majority to overrule a referendum taken last February, which voted for the Student Union to take sides on the Gaza-Israel conflict.

The Gaza-Israel conflict has galvanised the national student population, demonstrations have taken place up and down the country and students from at least eleven universities have occupied university buildings. Undoubtedly there will be some disappointed UCL students given their success from the Annual General Meeting this February. Yet this recent result, which sees the UCL Student Union return to a position which avoids disengaging, alienating or condemning students across the board. This vote does not lessen the right of any students or societies to campaign on issues that are important to them but seeks to neutralise the Student Union.

Heralded by the Pi Newspaper as progress for democracy as it was the first quorate UCL Union Welcome General Meeting. The number of students present is hoped to signify a move away from apathy and towards genuine interest in student issues. However this is a small step due to the number of students present being just 2% of the student body.

This result is an important decision for not only the UCL student body but also other universities’ Student Unions who have taken a similar road. It is hoped that Student Unions could leave international politics aside and focus instead on elements it was elected for such as student welfare.
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