Many of you who know me will be aware that over the last five months I have not been able to participate in political activity – both as a member of the NUS NEC, and as a Student Respect activist – to anywhere near the extent I would have liked.

For a number of years now, I have been suffering from ME. Anyone who knows about the condition will know that its effects are not consistent, and for me they have considerably worsened recently.

The political activity I have been able to take part in has been inspirational. The 100,000 strong emergency demonstration called at seven days notice to demand a ceasefire in Lebanon was amazing, and that and the Stop the War demonstration at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester show us all the continuing strength of the anti-war movement. The climate change demonstration, and the number of young people and students on both this and the anti-war marches, was fantastic.

In particular, I would like to congratulate all those inside and outside the NUS who were involved in building the anti-fees demonstration as part of the Admission: Impossible campaign. It felt like a promising start to what could be a genuine, fighting campaign for free education.

Regarding the NEC, I will endeavour to continue to attend NEC meetings, and hope that I may at some point also be able to fulfil my duties on the various committees that I sit on. I can assure everyone that Student Respect groups and activists around the country continue to fight for all the issues that I would be representing within the NUS.

As for Student Respect itself, and all those who voted for me and our other candidates at the last NUS conference, I am sorry for my absence. There is nobody more frustrated than myself at the limits to political participation that are currently placed on me. However, I am both assured and reassured that our groups round the country are going from strength to strength, and I look forward to joining you all at next year’s NUS conference.

Season’s greetings of peace, justice and equality to all.

With Respect,

Suzie Wylie, NUS NEC

The Blogs on this site represent the individual views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or practices of the National Union of Students

The permanent URL for this specific blog entry is: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/suziewylie/273625.aspx