University College London's students' union, UCL Union, voted to ban the officer training corps, territorial army and all other military recruiters from its premises and events, in what was its best attended general meeting in years, denying the military access to new recruits.
University College London Union bans military recruiters from its premises and
events.
LONDON, ENGLAND - March 5 - University College London's students' union voted to pass a motion in its Annual General Meeting to ban the Officer Training Corps, University Royal Navy Units, University of London Air Squadron and all other
military organisations from the union's fresher's events and other union
sponsored events, Union premises, and student run media.
Military recruiters had previously been given access to UCL Union's "freshers'
fayre" and are allowed by nearly all other British universities. Approximately
fifty percent of British military officers are recruited through university
based military organisations so denying them access to campus is an important
part of a counter-recruitment strategy for the anti-war movement.
The motion passed states "This Union believes 'That because the British military
under the Labour Government is currently engaged in an aggressive war overseas,
for the Union to use its resources to encourage students to join the military
or participate in military recruitment activities at this time would give
political and material support to the war.'"
The Annual General Meeting had the largest attendance in UCL's recent history
with more than 325 people in attendance at the start of the meeting, making it
the first UCL Union General Meeting to make the Union's 1% quorum since 2003.
Other motions passed include twinning with two Palestinian universities, voting
against the NUS governance review, and against UCL administration's support for
lifting the cap on top up fees.
events.
LONDON, ENGLAND - March 5 - University College London's students' union voted to pass a motion in its Annual General Meeting to ban the Officer Training Corps, University Royal Navy Units, University of London Air Squadron and all other
military organisations from the union's fresher's events and other union
sponsored events, Union premises, and student run media.
Military recruiters had previously been given access to UCL Union's "freshers'
fayre" and are allowed by nearly all other British universities. Approximately
fifty percent of British military officers are recruited through university
based military organisations so denying them access to campus is an important
part of a counter-recruitment strategy for the anti-war movement.
The motion passed states "This Union believes 'That because the British military
under the Labour Government is currently engaged in an aggressive war overseas,
for the Union to use its resources to encourage students to join the military
or participate in military recruitment activities at this time would give
political and material support to the war.'"
The Annual General Meeting had the largest attendance in UCL's recent history
with more than 325 people in attendance at the start of the meeting, making it
the first UCL Union General Meeting to make the Union's 1% quorum since 2003.
Other motions passed include twinning with two Palestinian universities, voting
against the NUS governance review, and against UCL administration's support for
lifting the cap on top up fees.
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Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
ashamed
07.03.2008 01:02
EX UCL
Re: EX UCL
07.03.2008 10:21
And what will a smaller pool of recruits result in? You tell me.
I don't see the point in fetishising free speech, should the BNP be invited to a local village fete to prove our committment to it? F*ck that, no platform I say. We live in a society where free speech is an illusion, those with the most money and power, i.e. corporations, governments and the corporate media have a strangle hold on communications, yet you expect everyone else to play by the 'rules', they certainly don't!
It is *not* a level playing field so we have to use tactics that work, not prescribe an idealistic fallacy that never was.
Mike D
A SU acting with a conscience for once.
08.03.2008 12:22
I think it's good to see a SU acting democratically and for the good of it's students, as well as people everywhere. It doesn't happen enough from my experience.
@ at RHUL
The AGM was a farce.
09.03.2008 19:16
Current UCL
Response from another UCL Alumni
12.03.2008 02:46
> propaganda they will have a smaller pool of recruits?
The groups targeted (OTC,UAS,RN unit) are NOT recruiters, they're not getting people to sign up for 10 yrs service - essentially it's about finding out what military life is really like. Some, after spending time with the military, decide it's for them, others like me (ex UAS) decided afterwards it wasn't quite right, but had a lot of fun along the way and developed leadership and personal skills (No you don't spend your time learning how to kill people and developing bloodlust).
It's appaling that some people believe that UCL students are incapable of speaking to Stop the War at freshers fair, then speaking to the OTC at freshers fair and coming to their own conclusions - the implication that those deciding this "know best" and try to make decisions for the rest of the student population regarding possible future careers is appalling.
Re : RE :EX-UCL
Coverage by The Cheese Grater Magazine
12.03.2008 13:14
The press don't seem to be covering the fact that the AGM's chair didn't follow the standing orders properly and that she is now beign investigated.
UCL Union's The Cheese Grater Magazine is the only paper with full coverage:
Alex Ashman