EXCLUSIVE: Churchill JCR to hold referendum on CUSU membership

The vote will decide whether the college continues to pay a fee of around £3200 to CUSU each year.  

According to Article 22 of the 1994 Education Act each college’s JCR should review membership of the university Student Union “at intervals of not more than five years”.

Article 22, 1994 Education Act

Section 11 of Churchill’s College Constitution also requires a referendum at least annually.

Section 11 of Churchill’s College Constitution

A vote was last held in 2000 so the college has not technically been affiliated for 15 years.

Three colleges have voted to disaffiliate from CUSU in the past: Trinity, Corpus Christi and Gonville & Caius.  However, Trinity reaffiliated in 2007. In the votes at Corpus and Caius the leave campaign won with an overwhelming majority of over 70%.

All Cambridge students are covered by CUSU individually so even if Churchill votes to leave students at the college will still have access to the Student Union’s support.

To CUSU or not to CUSU?

A five page document from students for and against the leave will be circulated soon, and a debate will be held on Monday before the vote.

JCR committee member Nick Taylor said “regardless of which way the vote goes it’s a positive step that we’re having this debate.”