As the Union politics year draws to a close – I tentatively suggest that it calms down after Easter but you never know – it’s worth a quick look back at a year that, while not a full-blown roller coaster, was enough for any student to contend with.
This year has seen an unprecedented revival in political engagement amongst students, with the proposal to remove any military presence from campus and the subsequent backlash, as well as both sets of Gaza protests, providing those who are interested with plenty to shout about. This sort of interest should be welcomed, if not always the tactics.
Whether we agree with it or not, a politically active campus is preferable to an apathetic one: what’s important is that all students are heard, not just those with loud voices who know how the system works.
Despite appearances, the Officer team this year has also often been divided. On phone call expenses, the accommodation protest, NUS reform, the Gaza occupation and many of the referenda proposals, the Sabbs have been split. For the sake of the façade of unity, however, their individual views have often not been heard.
I have no qualms that the Officer team works incredibly hard. Their long hours and dedication often go unseen and they should be praised for it. But on some infrequent but important occasions this year, the basic demand of commitment and competency has not been fulfilled.
Union Council meanwhile has perhaps been more limp than fierce, despite being chosen after well-contested elections. They’ve frequently chosen not to punish the Officers, looking past their mistakes or outside interests.
But for most students the above is, truly, irrelevant. Because summarising the Union’s year so far can be easily done without touching on politics.
The Union isn’t about agendas, proposals, or half-hearted but well-worded campaigns. And it certainly isn’t about replicating national or international politics in a local setting.
It’s about a Union, so the mantra goes, that is the best in the country.
It’s the £3,000 that was raised at RAG week. It’s the successes and failures the sports team have been working towards for a year at those cold Varsity matches and their determined supporters.
It’s the dozens of societies, whether they attract only half a dozen students every fortnight or pack out the Raynor Lounge every week.
Perhaps more than anything, it’s about having that physical focal point to buy our paper, eat our lunch and start and finish so many nights.
To all of that, the type of Union politics we have often seen this year should take a back seat.
What the Union is about then, is allowing students to have the time of their lives and always expanding the opportunities it offers. Other students from other universities can’t believe just how big a role the Union plays in so many of our lives.
f the Officers next year want to take the Union to new heights, then they needn’t get bogged down in the politics.
Concentrate on representation and support for students, how to work with the University not against it, and how to ensure the body that a record number of people chose them to run continues to succeed.