NUS "embarrassed" as Essex university students union refuses to condemn racism
Bodie | 10.05.2002 12:30
Yesterday, 9th May a motion by 2 students presented to the Essex University students union council was blocked by 2 far right council members who threatened legal action if the motion were to be passed.
The motion to condemn fascism and racism was presented to the council as a way of strengthening support for the anti racism and fascism movement on the campus, which is the most ethnicly diverse university in Britain. However 2 students, including the chair of the council, Darren Sylvester and his fascist sidekick Neil Martin tried every bureaucratic trick in the book to stop the motion being passed.
After several attempts to stop the motion failed, Neil Martin tried to amend the motion to include condeming socialism and far left politics. This was quickly rejected by the council. Then Darren Sylvester, who had earlier lost a vote of no confidence, citing the charities act, claimed that this motion was in breach of the act.
However a member of the NUS who was present was able to reasure the council that this would not be illegal, once the section specifically mentioned the BNP was removed (which it was). Still not satisfied, Darren Sylvester threatened to personally take legal action against the trustees of the students union, if this motion were to be carried. He also claimed that the present NUS officer was not competent to assess the legality of the motion since he did not have a law degree. At this point, he was able to pass (but a very small majority) an motion to defer the anti racism motion, until legal advice could be sought.
This is despite the fact that Trade Union Branches, and Student Union's nationally have carried similar motions, and that there is High Court precident as to the legality of such a condemnation of racism from a students union.
Upon speaking to the present NUS officer the next day, the officer complained about the actions taken by Mr. Sylvester, saying that he found the conduct of him and his sidekick "embarrassing".
After several attempts to stop the motion failed, Neil Martin tried to amend the motion to include condeming socialism and far left politics. This was quickly rejected by the council. Then Darren Sylvester, who had earlier lost a vote of no confidence, citing the charities act, claimed that this motion was in breach of the act.
However a member of the NUS who was present was able to reasure the council that this would not be illegal, once the section specifically mentioned the BNP was removed (which it was). Still not satisfied, Darren Sylvester threatened to personally take legal action against the trustees of the students union, if this motion were to be carried. He also claimed that the present NUS officer was not competent to assess the legality of the motion since he did not have a law degree. At this point, he was able to pass (but a very small majority) an motion to defer the anti racism motion, until legal advice could be sought.
This is despite the fact that Trade Union Branches, and Student Union's nationally have carried similar motions, and that there is High Court precident as to the legality of such a condemnation of racism from a students union.
Upon speaking to the present NUS officer the next day, the officer complained about the actions taken by Mr. Sylvester, saying that he found the conduct of him and his sidekick "embarrassing".
Bodie
e-mail:
mclarkc@essex.ac.uk
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