Your sabbs went to NUS Conference 2016 last week to represent all students at Christ Church and help make important decisions to benefit students across Further and Higher Education.

Here's a roundup from NUS Chief Executive, Simon Blake

Brighton really welcomed us for National Conference last week. As the sun sets on Conference 2016 some delegates and candidates inevitably leave elated and others disappointed, I want to thank everybody - delegates, staff and volunteers - for their hard work in making conference a successful event. 

I was really pleased that the atmosphere, whilst electric and tense at times, was overwhelmingly positive. The debates were robust with many delegates attending for the first time taking to the stage to give a speech. We will be doing an analysis of the policy passed and what it means for our work this year. 

The elections were all well contested and candidates had a run for their money. The votes were close in all the elections. 

 The first election saw Malia Bouattia elected as NUS' first Black Muslim  woman President. The second round of elections saw Shakira Martin,  Sorana Vieru and Shelly Asquith being re-elected into the positions of Vice  President (Further Education), Vice President (Higher Education) and Vice  President (Welfare), respectively. In the third and final round of officer  elections, Rob Young was elected Vice President (Society & Citizenship)  and Richard Brooks was re-elected Vice President (Union Development). 

Block of 15 and Trustee Board election results have been announced today - click here to see them. To see the results for the DPC election - click here.

Congratulations to all candidates and elected officers. 

I wanted to take this opportunity to address some things you may have heard:

• Since her election, President elect Malia has faced targeted criticism in the press. She has addressed this fully in an open letter titled 'I’m the new NUS president – and no, I’m not an antisemitic Isis sympathiser.' The letter has been printed by the Guardian, click here to read it. As an organisation that has always been fully committed to promoting work around Liberation, we are proud to recognise that the election of our first Black Muslim woman President is a landmark moment.  
• Motion 404 'Anti-semitism on campus': As with many democratic processes the nuance of the debate is often missed in the press reporting. The motion to officially commemorate the Holocaust passed overwhelmingly and was supported by both current President Megan and President elect Malia. We now have an extremely clear and strong policy to commemorate the Holocaust, and continue in our commitment to defend Jewish students against anti-semitism.

We passed some brilliant policy around student opportunities, and passed the landmark motion to introduce a full time paid NUS Trans Officer and an autonomous NUS Trans Liberation campaign. We are incredibly proud to be leading the way on this essential work around Trans representation. Priority motion 101 'Working for students’ unions, winning more power for students' passed too ensuring that we will continue to support and amplify the brilliant work of students' unions.

The wider context underpinning some of the commentary on the election results is a concern about NUS' democratic governance. This is under review as part of Project 100. Work was done this year to develop a set of principles which should underpin our democracy. Conference passed the set of principles (which you can read here). Work will now happen to explore how we can realise the vision of an inclusive and accessible democracy. 

Much of the press focus has been on whether SUs will seek to actively disaffiliate, which of course we hope you won't. Speaking of disaffiliation at National Conference, national president, Megan Dunn said 

"To anybody here or back on campus that is whispering of disaffiliation from NUS because of this Conference – know this, we are stronger when we work together."
 
“And when students’ unions are under attack we are better off united than we are standing on our own believing we can defend ourselves by standing apart. So don’t walk away. Get organised, stand up for your beliefs. Fight for what you believe in. Because when you do, win or lose, we are stronger together.”

Countdown to National Conference 2017, which takes place in Brighton on 25 - 27 April, begins now.