Issue 21 – Down Your Union

One AGM, a referendum and an EGM later: is UCLU any closer to getting a grasp on democracy?

WHEN IT COMES TO democracy, the principle upon which our Union claims to work, why do UCLU always get it so wrong? After an inquorate Welcome General Meeting, this years’ Sabb team were determined that the postponed AGM on 27 February would be well attended. So determined, that Student Activities Officer Jen Currigan made the unconstitutional demand that two members from all societies must show up or face ‘disciplinary action’.

Absolute shambles

Be careful what you wish for Currigan! On the day of the meeting, half an hour before it was due to begin, hundreds of students were already filling Gordon Street, huddled on the cramped pavement as they waited to be let into the Bloomsbury Theatre. One student who claimed to have no interest in the AGM and was only there to represent his society, described the organisation as “an absolute shambles.” The Sabbs did as good a job of keeping things under control as headless chickens trying to herd elephants in heat. Students waited over forty minutes to be let into the theatre and even then over 300 were denied entry when the Bloomsbury reached capacity according to fire regulations.

The timing of the AGM, a Friday afternoon, was predictably controversial despite a guillotine being imposed on all motions after 4:30 pm (see Cheese Grater issue 20). Jewish and Islamic students felt particularly compromised as they had to leave early due to religious obligations – limiting their ability to vote on the motion proposed to the AGM to condemn Israel’s attacks on Gaza. With the motion placed far down on the agenda, voting barely scraped in before the guillotine and some students had already begun to leave.

Before the meeting was over, students who had been turned away were already collecting signatures in support of a petition calling for a referendum on all motions held in the meeting. A subsequent motion to Union Council on 3 March for an open referendum claimed the AGM was in breach of the Union Constitution which states that “members who are registered students of UCL shall be entitled to participate in Union General Meetings”.

At Council, one Sabb claimed that a referendum would be less democratic than an AGM, an odd notion since a referendum would allow every UCLU student the opportunity to vote, regardless of fire regulations. The motion was rejected, however Council did vote to hold a referendum entitled: “should your Union refrain from making a statement that condemns or supports either side of the Israel/ Gaza conflict?”

Anti-semitism

Three open meetings were held before voting on the referendum opened but they were poorly attended, and at least one had to be abandoned. More active have been the various “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” groups on Facebook with debate getting very heated indeed. One especially vocal student is currently facing a disciplinary hearing with the Dean of Students for sending round the inflammatory group message, “fuck the Zionists!” Nice to see outdated racial prejudices are alive and well at UCL – Bentham would have
been proud. The results of the referendum will be published on 25 March.

New constitution

An Emergency General Meeting was held on 24 March, primarily as a means of ratifying the new UCLU constitution voted on at the AGM. In fairness to the Sabbs, the organisation of the EGM was a vast improvement and there was no repeat of the chaotic scenes witnessed at the AGM. Although the lack of controversial motions ensured a much lower turn out of students.

The new constitution will enable UCLU to become an independent registered charity, something all student unions will eventually be forced to under changing Charity Commission law. In response to a question about the timing of the new constitution, Finance and Democracy Officer Nate Macdonald replied, “this needs to happen this year or we’re pretty much screwed!”

Under the new constitution, the trustees of the Union, who will hold ultimate executive power, will consist of six elected students, six Sabbs, and five trustees made up of two staff members, two alumni and one loosely termed “professional”. The Cheese Grater has warned of the consequences of appointing non-student trustees in the past, particularly with regards to their accountability to the Union (see Cheese Grater ad nauseam). The non-student trustees will be extensively protected by the new constitution – the only way they can be removed by the student body is through a referendum with 20% quoracy. This is meant to provide a degree of stability to the board of trustees
but in reality will lead to an uneven distribution of authority. As student trustees will be newly elected each year it’s not hard to predict who will end up running the show.

Tricky components

A new constitution may be inevitable, but it might not be implemented as swiftly as the Sabbs made out at the EGM. UCLU is still technically, albeit
absurdly, made up of the Component UCL Men’s Union Society and the UCL Women’s Union Society, who joined to form UCLU in 1954. Any changes to
the Constitution that may be seen as affecting the rights and privileges of the members of either Component Union has to be passed at separate meetings
of both the Women’s Union and the Men’s Union. This leaves the Sabbs rather nervous, especially as no one has a clue where to find the Standing Orders of either of the Component Unions! Cue much panicked file shuffling in 25 Gordon Street…

Medical and Postgraduates Officer Billy Street proposed a motion to ‘Save Huntley Street’ by launching a campaign to preserve the resources of the medics’ bar. Rumours of College’s plans to demolish Huntley Street have been circulating around UCL Medical School for years but no formal action has ever been taken by the Union.

The proposal is a welcome change of heart from Street who, in October, denied that there was any current threat to the Huntley Street bar, despite much evidence to the contrary (see Cheese Grater issue 19). The campaign will be two-pronged, firstly demanding to know College’s true plans for the building, which Street described as “a dark shadow” over the Union, and secondly, to preserve the resources of Huntley Street, even if it means moving them to a different site.

If the latest hearsay is true, College is intending to transform Huntley Street into a profitable research facility, in which case the chances that the medics will get to keep their Union building are pretty slim.

Vodflop

So much for the return of Vodpop. Due to “circumstances beyond the Union’s control” the night due to be held on 23 March (theme – ‘get your kit off ’) had
to be cancelled. The uncontrollable circumstances? The Union failed to sell enough tickets for the event, and, despite frantic attempts to give them away on the day, hundreds were left hanging around the Union like the smell of stale Red Bull.

What a stinker

Mysterious “unforeseen circumstances” were also behind the closure of 25 Gordon Street on 18 March. The reason disappointed Sports Nite revellers
were turned away? The tons of raw sewage left slithering towards the Physics department after all the toilets packed up.

Meanwhile… As the democratic process falters at UCLU, the Sabbs treat themselves to some HLMs… and a free lunch

WHEN IT COMES TO Union Colours, it’s the taking part that counts (see CG Social Colours issue 2006). Honorary Life Memberships, supposedly only awarded for astounding contributions to the Union, are doled out to the Sabb team each year, just for doing their job – the one they already get paid £24k a
year to do.

Back-slapper

When the Union Colours Committee met on 12 March, it was the usual smug round of back-slapping and self-congratulation, the Sabb team inevitably
nominating themselves for HLMs. Why each of them thought they deserved the award was unclear as they hardly had to state their case. With Sabbs and more lowly Union hacks dominating the Union Colours Committee, HLMs are normally awarded without any protests.

Taking the pizza

In the spirit of things, Finance and Democracy Officer Nate Macdonald spent ages pointlessly reading out the Union’s Standing Orders so the Sabbs could claim a free lunch on Union expenses. Communications and Services Officer Charlie Clinton was nominated to order in pizzas but, after taking too long choosing the toppings, he was eventually no-confidenced by the chair. What japes!

By Jenni Hulse