Axing student diversity staff ‘a retrograde step’

by Nadeem Badshah

BRITAIN’S biggest students’ union has been criticised over its plans to axe diversity officers in order to cut costs.

Campaigners have warned that the proposal to get rid of officials who represent ethnic minority, overseas, disabled and women students would leave undergraduates without support to tackle problems such as racism and mental health issues.

The National Union of Students (NUS) is considering the move to address a £3-million

deficit in its finances.

Members of a new coalition called the Student Left Network is pushing for a motion of no confidence to be brought against NUS president Shakira Martin over her handling of the financial crisis.

Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, told Eastern Eye: “It is a retrograde step to do that, when young people are doing their studies at the start of

their independent lives.

“If they are met with discrimination and hatred, having someone to support them

would be a step forward.

“If we don’t do that, it is a retrograde step.

“I understand cost-cutting due to resources, but not cutting out completely (trained)

people to support students in the current political climate of Islamophobia, racism

and anti-Semitism.

“I am amazed they would consider this major function for cost-cutting. It’s not the

[right] thing to do.”

The proposed cuts come amid mounting evidence of BAME students facing racial harassment on campuses.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into the issue after numerous recent high-profile incidents of racist abuse on campus and complaints that authorities were not doing enough to handle them.

In April, two Sheffield universities launched investigations into four separate allegations

of racism. The incidents included a student alleging that someone had written on a library whiteboard that there were “too many Asians (Brown ones)”.

Humaira Mayet, BME officer at the University of Nottingham, said: “The NUS has always stood by the most marginalised students and it must continue to do that.

“The integrity of the NUS lies in its commitment to liberation. This cannot be compromised

in the face of funding cuts.”

The cost-cutting proposals were discussed by the NUS in November at a meeting of student union presidents and staff.

A “turnaround board” has been appointed to address the deficit. There will be a final proposal at the union’s national conference in April 2019.

Elham Peserlay, Students Union president at the University of East London (UEL), told Eastern Eye: “We believe it’s in students’ interests to have a strong NUS.

“We’re participating fully in the discussions around its future to build a stronger, sustainable national union.

“No decisions have been made, but whatever the outcome of those discussions, the UEL Students’ Union will continue to support and work on behalf of our members.”

Riddi Viswanathan, a diversity officer at Manchester University, said overseas students

need a full-time representative. She said: “The NUS’ international students officers represent 400,000 plus students in the UK.

“The argument of fitting international issues into other remits is a myth.

“International students are largely underrepresented in leadership positions.

“With xenophobic attacks on the rise, persisting deportations, cash cow treatment in institutions and no clarity around visas, we need a full-time voice calling out the government and institutions for treating international students unfairly more than ever.”

The NUS, which represents seven million students, said all members could take part

in a consultation through their students’ union. Stakeholders have until Friday (21)

to send in their views.

A spokesperson said the proposals were contained in a discussion paper that was

published in November.

“The aim of the paper is to bring together thoughts from NUS, students’ unions and others, and set out the principles for reform, to help frame discussions about [the] NUS’s

future,” the spokesperson said.

“A number of sketches are set out in the paper, along with a number of questions. It’s important to remember that these sketches are not definitive proposals but are meant to act as a stimulus to discussion.

“None of the sketches refer to reductions in democracy or campaigning, but one does seek to identify the best way of properly resourcing student leaders to deliver a powerful

national student voice, given a potentially reduced income.”