The motion, passed in various forms by nine student unions, appears in its original form below. It describes the climate of Islamophobia that currently exists in Britain and especially in universities, supports the right of women to wear the hijab and niqab, and aims to strengthen the current anti-fascist stance of the NUS. It was passed by the student unions at: Portsmouth, UWE, Manchester, University of the Arts, SOAS, Swansea, Leicester, Cambridge and Sussex.
The motions have apparently been ruled out of order on the basis that they were submitted into the wrong zone (they were submitted for discussion in the Welfare debate, the other three zones being Strong and Active Unions, Society and Citizenship and Education).
The decision by the steering committee is being challenged on the following grounds:
- The issues addressed in the motion, racism and Islamophobia in general and the "no platform" policy in particular, are very much issues that concern students' welfare. No other zone fits this discussion better. The welfare zone contains other motions on racism that have been accepted.
- At last year's conference, Student Respect and other organisations and individuals submitted very similar policy (on Islamophobia and the no platform policy) to the Welfare zone, which was accepted without being questioned. There was absolutely no indication that any changes had been made to the process this year that would result in these motions now being applicable to a different zone.
- One of the motions submitted and accepted in the Welfare zone, whilst coming at the issue from a completely different angle, is very similar in terms of its context. Motion 703, entitled "Anti-Semitism: A Definition", refers to a general context of anti-semitism and goes on to talk about the NUS's no platform policy. While we disagree with aspects of this motion, we agree with the steering committee that it should be discussed in the Welfare debate, and that therefore so should the Student Respect motions.
- The fact that this motion was passed by nine student unions (more than any other single motion that has been submitted) show there is a strong desire amongst NUS's membership to debate these issues in the Welfare zone. Ruling them out of order is therefore a large attack on democracy (as was another decision by the steering committee which has meant that there will be no debate at all on international students).
- The recent change in the method of submitting motions to conference has not been accompanied by any changes to the NUS constitution and standing orders, and as such relies on a large amount of interpretation and therefore subjectivity from the steering committee. The inconsistency highlighted in the above points does nothing to instill confidence among students fighting to get their voices heard.
We, the undersigned, demand that these motions are accepted into the Welfare zone.
- Suzie Wylie, NUS NEC
- Noreen Fatima, Vice-President London Metropolitan University Student Union, Student Respect chair
- University of Manchester Student Union
- Swansea University Student Union
- Cardinal Newman College Student Union, Preston
- John Collins, President, Imperial College Union
- Ben Harris, Vice President (Education and Welfare), Imperial College Union
- SOAS Student Union
- University of Portsmouth Student Union
- University of Sussex Student Union
- University of the West of England Student Union
- Kat Rayson, President, University of Plymouth Student Union
- Katie Shaw, Vice President Education and Welfare, University of Plymouth Student Union
- Assed Baig, non-portfolio Executive officer, Staffordshire University Student Union
- Issahaku Kotomah, President, Middlesex University Student Union
- Abu Shohid, President, London Metropolitan University Student Union
- Monty Sultan, Communications Officer, London Metropolitan University Student Union
- Reena Begum, Diversity Officer, London Metropolitan University Student Union
