On Tuesday evening, the University of Nottingham Students Union (SU) Council voted against a motion of no confidence in its Education Officer, Craig Cox. Cox held up a placard saying 'Bring Back Slavery' at a National Union of Students (NUS) event earlier in the year and was subsequently at the centre of a race hate investigation. The NUS has found Cox to be guilty of breaking equal opportunities guidelines and banned him from all non-democratic national events.
Cox has been allowed to stay in spite of a strong campaign by black and anti-racist students, who mobilised around 60 people to picket the meeting, and 2000 letters written to representatives. A fellow Conservative and personal friend of Cox's chaired the meeting and made the decision to close it to debate from all but voting Council members. Students have questioned the democracy of the system that has allowed Cox to remain in his post.
Newswire: Nottingham SU Council back racist | Riseup Radio: Say No to Racism Audio | Picket Nottingham Student Union | Students mobilise against racism on campus | Yet Another Racist at Nottingham Uni
Previous Features: Racist on Student Executive at Nottingham University | Nottingham and Slavery - A Hidden History
Links: University of Nottingham Students Union | NUS Anti-Racism/Anti-Fascism Campaign | Notts Indymedia Anti-Racism topic page
How can I have confidence?
Anti-racist writes:
Cox held up the offensive slogan at an national training event for incoming student exec members. He was subsequently investigated for race hate by North Yorkshire police and by the NUS. Cox arrogantly told the Daily Mail that he was the victim of a 'witchhunt' conducted by the 'left-wing zealots' who compose the NUS - the organisation he was supposed to be representing!
Black and anti-racist campaigners who were insulted and abused by Cox's behaviour started a campaign to have him removed from his position of influence as soon as the news came through all of this. An NUS investigation into Cox's behaviour has concluded that he has breached equal opportunities guidelines and will be banned from all non-democratic NUS meetings. Having remained silent (apart from the aforementioned outburst) for 6 weeks after the incident Cox suddenly made a very late apology. Cox claimed that it was all a 'genuine mistake':
'I did not write the placard in question; I did not intentionally hold it up and I have never defended the placard's contents.'
We were supposed to believe that Craig either cannot read or is in the habit of waving placards whose content he knows nothing about.
Craig claimed to be 'someone who has consistently fought against discrimination' and brushed aside the deep offence he had caused with calls to forgive him and move on.
This 'apology' was seen as perhaps more offensive than the original statement by speakers at a meeting to discuss the anti-racist response to Craig's actions called earlier in the month. Those who are the descendants of slaves cannot simply 'move on' whilst they are taunted with with threats to revive this historic crime. Especially when those responsible for the threats are allowed to keep their jobs. If Craig had really been sorry surely the obvious course would have been to accept that he was wrong and resign?
Successful lobbying of the SU Council led to a meeting to discuss a vote of no confidence in Cox. 2000 letters in support of the motion were sent to Council members (considerably more than the 1200 votes that got him into his position in the first place). The Chair of the meeting, who is also a member of the Conservative Society and a personal friend of Cox's, decided to make it a closed meeting, so only the 60 members of the Council could debate the issue. A two-thirds majority was required to pass the motion but only one third voted for it. Cox is to remain in his post.
Students are disgusted that the SU Council has supported an individual who has deeply insulted black people and attacked his own union. He is reputed to be a careerist who is using his position as an exec member to further his political ambitions within the Tory party, and therefore unlikely to resign. The sham democracy of Nottingham Students Union has failed its members once again.