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Remain Campaign

Shazmin Akhtar – Remain Campaign

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7 million students.  That’s how many people Bradford Students’ Union stands with as a part of a national union.  7 million is the number of people that are in a joint struggle to fight for a fairer and free education, an education that is accessible to everyone.  The NUS not only gives us a voice, but amplifies it on a national platform.  It is for this reason I am running a yes campaign – to give my students’ union a stronger voice.

Many of us know how politically active UBU is. For years now, Bradford has been a part of grassroots movements, all the way through to national campaigns to affect change.  We have stood with small groups of activists in places like centenary square to fight oppression throughout the world, additionally we have travelled far and wide to stand with thousands of other students to demonstrate on a range of issue that have heavy implications on students.  The NUS has played a huge part in helping us do this.  NUS autonomous liberation campaigns have given voices to the most vulnerable students within further and higher education institutions.  These liberation campaigns have continuously fought against racism, islamophobia, xenophobia, misogyny and discrimination.  By leaving the NUS, we will be disenfranchising our most vulnerable students. 

With our affiliation to the NUS, they have been able to successfully lead on campaigns that have benefited students up and down the country.  Campaigns such as #standbyme, successfully lobbied the government into passing the Istanbul convention to tackle violence against women and young girls.  This was not only a win for them, but for us in Bradford.  It has fought institutional racism and challenged educational institutions to work on fixing the attainment gap, and with a 70% BME population, this has positively impacted Bradford. 

No organisation has realised its full potential by isolating itself, it is for that reason that I strongly believe that we truly are stronger together, not only for a stronger voice, but for a united movement.