NUS Reform: We Won The Argument, Now It’s Time To Win The Change
Well, what a week. I am struggling to put into words just how grateful I am to each and every one of you who supported my campaign and elected me as the 52nd National President of NUS this week. I’ve got huge shoes to fill. The scale of the win provides a solid mandate for the year ahead - and a clear instruction to deliver on the commitments I gave to you.And so I must ask for your help again.
On Wednesday the Guardian reported that my election this week was ‘a move that will lend weight to the fight to modernise the union’. They were right - and that fight goes on.
Although the vote to ratify the proposed new constitution for NUS fell just short of the two thirds required, motions against the review and motions calling for us to start again with a blank sheet of paper were roundly defeated. We did not lose the argument about the case for reform and I don’t believe our membership have lost the will or determination to ensure that our union is transformed into the kind of representative, relevant and campaigning movement that students want it to be.
We have less than a year to go until the 2009 review of student fees and finance and so I believe we have less than a year to get this done and to get this right.
One person can’t change NUS. But you can. So I need all of you who want us to succeed to take on the mantle of NUS leadership. I’d be really grateful if you could spend a few minutes over the weekend and week head to drop me a message or e-mail telling me how YOU think we should proceed and where you think we could’ve done better. Don’t pull your punches on the latter - if we made mistakes then we apologise but we need to take it on the chin as well to ensure that we don’t let you down again.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you and I’m really looking forward to our future. I think it’s bright. I won’t let you down.
With gratitude and determination,
Your new campaigner-in-chief,
Wes
wes.streeting@nus.org.uk