I hear these comments every now and again: ‘our students’ union is not active’,’ what students’ union has done for us’ and etc.
I tell you why we are not active union?
Students have lost the interest in student activism and they have lost touch with student movement. Students’ want quick fixes without making any effort. Students don’t want to get involve so therefore, the bunch of people gets elected as - sabbatical officer- doesn’t have the passion to stand for students.
The student movement which was, once upon a time, famous for its demonstrations, activism and passion has become more of tick box exercise. And who is responsible for this is no one other than ‘students’.
If you ask somebody of our father’s generation, who would have studied in 60’s and 70’s in Universities. They will tell you the stories of the ‘golden era of student activism’. At several occasions, I heard the stories of our academics involvement into the student unions of their universities. They have told me the stories of demonstrations that they have been a part of. They get very excited when they are telling you about their involvement. They are very proud of their connection with the student movement at that time.
But when I look at the students of our age, I wonder whether we don’t get involve because we don’t need any unionism. Perhaps we don’t get involve because we have got very little problems than our older generation. May be, we are living in an age of computers and technology so facebook can do the ‘activism’ bit for us. I just wonder for a moment.
But then after making a comparison, I realise that this is not right. Students are sinking very deeply in the quagmire of problems.
Students are in more trouble than ever before. The expected Government decision on tuition fees can jeopardise future of hundreds and thousands of HE students. At a time, when far right organisation - fascist organisation- is rocking every major city by holding demos’ and humiliating the ethnic minorities. Where student finance England is mocking empty pocket students by calling the students fiasco – a reasonable situation. Whereby students have got fewer job after getting a degree. We definitely need to be more pro-active than ever before. We certainly need to united and shun apathy by participating in Union. We need to bring back that Old school Unionism, where it was students use to feel proud to be part of the students’ union.
Therefore, I am calling the University of Huddersfield students to come forward and get involve.
Next Monday on 26th of October at 12 pm, we have got the ‘Annual General Meeting’ or AGM precisely. It will be held in quayside which is next to café 3rd. The AGM provides you with an opportunity to ask questions about the money that we have and how are we going to spend it next year. It is an area of great interest for members of sports clubs and societies. Also we are going to have debate on various issues: such as ‘tuition fees’, ‘anonymous marking’ and ‘current situation with student finance’.
Ask questions to the sabbatical officers about their performance so far and their plans for the near future.
Get your voice heard by turning up and asking questions.
Please come forward and get involve so that students can prove that they are active not passive.
Moreover, By-elections are starting from 2nd of November and it will last till 5th of November. Again, look out for the active candidates. Candidates who put their personal interests, personal affiliations and factional politics behind, and put students first. Candidates who have got courage and capability to stand up for students and rather than talking the talk, they should have an ability to walk with their talk.
Visit our website www.huddersfieldstudent.com for more information or drop me an email on su-president@hud.ac.uk .
In peace and unity
