NUS referendum comes to St Andrews

St Andrews students may finally be able to take advantage of that elusive National Union of Students (NUS) ASOS discount in the next few months, as a referendum on whether or not St Andrews will join will take place from 14th to 16th of November.

The proposal to hold a referendum was voted on last night in an emergency meeting of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and Student Services Committee (SSC).

Every matriculated student will have the opportunity to campaign for either side of their choosing, and the Union will provide each side with a budget of 350 pounds to be spent on anything from posters to bribes in the form of baked goods (hint hint). Union societies are allowed to endorse either side if they choose to do so, though the Union subcommittees (STAR, Debates, etc) will remain impartial. The Sabbs, though able to take a side if they wish, have all chosen to stay neutral in the matter, a noticeable difference from the soap opera that was last year’s referendum (As The Union Turns).

A call for a referendum was proposed last April, though was eventually postponed for fear of not having enough time to properly debate membership. Then President, Patrick O’Hare, and Director of Representation, Sam Fowles, were to head the “yes” campaign. Current President Freddie Fforde is taking a decidedly less political approach, heading up the neutral Election Committee.

The voting will take place online, however if less than 20% of students vote, it will be declared invalid.

More than 95% of UK higher education institutions belong to the NUS, which, according to its mission statement, aims to “promote, defend, and extend the rights of students and to develop and champion strong student unions.” They offer a strong voice in Parliament as well as High Street discounts for students, however their membership costs are substantial (between £10,000 and £30,000 a year) and they have come under fire recently for its highly political leanings.

To find out more about the NUS, click here and here.