Aleem Bashir – Leave Campaign

Dear Students,

The National Union of Students (NUS) Referendum was deferred last year and that decision was not taken lightly, I spoke then of making an informed decision regarding the NUS Referendum, a decision that was in the interest of University of Bradford Students.

My questions are simple: Does the NUS represent us? Is NUS working for students?

To answer these questions we must look at the internal politics of NUS. Too often are those elected influenced by external organisations; many of whom use those external organisations to lobby other sabbatical officers in order to make sure they are elected and those they support are elected. This inevitably will cause officers elected to act in the interest of the external organisation rather than the students. To answer a question with a question, is it ethical to invest over £30,000 into an organisation, that should be working for students yet, is so heavily affected by external organisations?

NUS are failing students, in particular students from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds.  In the recent report into Institutional Racism, it was found that the NUS were seriously failing Black and ethnic minority staff and officers. NUS structures are failing, leaving many students disenfranchised with the movement.

We in Bradford are 1 Team, we in Bradford are 1 Family and we in Bradford do not need NUS to unite us. It is time to divorce from the ever failing “Union” of students. It is time we sent a message to NUS that we the University of Bradford Union of Students will not be part of a Student Movement that doesn’t represent Students nor work in the interest of its membership.

NUS does not represent us. Nus is not working for us. It is time to disembark from this sinking ship. It is time to Nexit!

#Nexit #FREEEEEDDOOOOOOOOOOOOM