Statement following CUSU Council Easter I

Election of the CUSU Disabled Students’ Officer

Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU) debated a motion to open nominations for the  election of the full-time Disabled Students’ Officer, at a meeting of CUSU Council on 2nd May 2016. The motion passed with 52 representatives voting in favour. Nominations will therefore be opened for this role this week, in line with the agreed time-scale for the election. Updates will be posted online here: https://www.cusu.co.uk/DSO-election

Election of the CUSU Coordinator

Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU) debated a motion to defer the election of the CUSU Coordinator, at a meeting of CUSU Council on 2nd May 2016. The motion passed with 45 representatives voting in favour.

Following this vote, the Constitutional Review currently being undertaken will provide an opportunity to critically evaluate the structure of the CUSU Sabbatical Team, most specifically with regards to improving the position of the Coordinator.

The mandated administrative work of the CUSU Coordinator will be distributed within the CUSU Staff Team, and the mandated representative work of the CUSU Coordinator will distributed within the CUSU Sabbatical Officer Team.

Referendum on CUSU’s affiliation to the National Union of Students (NUS)

Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU) received a motion for debate calling for a referendum on CUSU’s affiliation to the National Union of Students (NUS). At CUSU Council on 2nd May 2016, 32 representatives voted for the motion ‘Enact a Referendum on Disaffiliation from the National Union of Students’, with 7 voting against, thereby enacting a referendum on CUSU’s affiliation to NUS with over a two-thirds majority voting in favour of the motion.

CUSU officers reserve comment on the individual officers elected at NUS National Conference 2016.

CUSU maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, and keenly awaits a clear response from NUS regarding how the concerns of many of our students, particularly Jewish students, will be institutionally addressed. 

CUSU will be supporting all students who wish to participate in referendum campaigning – they are encouraged to contact the CUSU Returning Officer (Jemma Stewart) for more information. In due course, referendum materials will be released outlining arguments for and against CUSU’s affiliation to NUS.

About CUSU Council

Representatives at CUSU Council are representatives of affiliated College Common Rooms, Heads of Autonomous Campaigns, part-time Representative Officers, the Graduate Union President and one 
representative 
from
 each 
of 
the 
Faculties 
of 
the 
University, 
chosen 
from
 amongst 
the student
 members
 of
 the 
Faculty 
Boards. CUSU sabbatical officers, bar the CUSU Women’s Officer, are not able to vote on CUSU Council motions.