I was always taught two things

1. It takes a big person to acknowledge when they are wrong,
2. and an even bigger one to have the balls to own up to it and try and change it

Cards on the table - maybe I got it wrong. I voted for a National Demo at the NEC meeting - At the time I was voting with my belief that we should include grass roots activism in all our campaigns so that the National Union is accessible to those who dont have a name badge in their own Union. I however was not part of a factional voting cartel, have a look at the voting records, you will see that i actually voted with people who helped my electoral opposition, rather than my friends on the NEC.

I agree a march is over-used, it centres on making a spectacle, and normally around one specific event. However, I don't think that we should only be campaigning on legislative change, there is policy work that if we were to campaign and win on would have significant effects for our membership for instance the base pay level for student loan repayments. I do have concerns that our Education Funding Work for the Year ahead does not include much "Student Work", as having being an Education and Welfare Officer for 2 years I know how important it is for Students to see what our role does, and actually demonstrating and lobbying got a lot of very ordinary students out of the bar and into politics, in my Union, and they walked away with an understanding of the true meaning as to why we have a Union, and that isn't for cheap beer and fags.

But don't get me wrong I heard your concerns as a Student Movement at the priority campaigns launch and I don't think any NEC member can quibble with what was said there, and as a representative and not an individual on the NEC, I will be changing my vote accordingly to how the majority of you - our members see fit, I'm hoping my colleagues will all follow suit, but please do send questions in to those who voted for, like me, I want to know the position of LGBT students on this issue and indeed students from the wider community, start the dialogue with me. The final decision will be taken on the 19th so you have about 1 week to eMail me in your thoughts and views. (james-j.walsh@nus.org.uk)

While I understand emotions were high at the NEC meeting a lot of emotive language was being used, however there was what I would deem bullying aggressive and paranoid behaviour of some of the NEC, and would urge all CMs to talk to their NEC Observers as to the behaviour of their NEC members while at work, representing you.

One of the saddest things this month for me has been that I spoke to a couple people before writing this blog and they were of the belief that by posting something like this in my blog would be 'political suicide' - I think its being open, honest, and accountable - and some of the principals I stood for when being elected.

So what about the rest of the NEC Meeting. . .

This meeting I submitted text on:

1. The Gay Iranian Youth Slaughters
2. NUS X-tra and Stage Coach (please see appropriate blog)

Well we spent 3hours berating the International Students Officer, for the work he is doing on the International Students Festival, a good concept in principal but whether deliverable is another question, and by the end of it I did feel sorry for him. However, in my opinion, I feel that if any member of the NEC had written to the Principals and Vice Chancellors of Every Students' Union (HE and FE) asking them for £1,000 without telling the local Students' Union or the National Union, it was deserved. The International Students Campaign isn't an autonomous group and I feel I have to question whether a 'Festival' should be key work of an NEC member for the year, when there is so much currently happening within Government such as visa charges, and the dramatic decline in International Student recruitment this year.

We then had several hours of "are we going to have a demo / aren't we" debate and before we knew it we had 30 mins left. We rapidly went through a load of project proposals - specifically want to mention the work of Wes for the his briefing and project outline on the Youth White paper, and Sian and VKs Mental Health CD-Rom (including an LGBT Mental health briefing written by me - Projects to look out for. . .

Sadly we didnt get around to discussing any of the 13+ motions submitted to this NEC, I hope that at the next meeting we can be more disciplined.

In a lot of ways I feel like I have joint a Committee full of first years, and to a huge extent I feel im doing the freshers a dis-service. The behaviour exhibited is childish and inappropriate quite a lot of time, and you do see the toys fly left, right and centre (politically and directionally). I hope NEC behaviour picks up in the coming months.

Special Mention to Louise Slator and Spike (NEC Observers) [:)] for keeping me sane during this NEC, I am not looking forward to the next one.

:(

James-J

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