A Spring of NUS Conferences

The National Union of Students Black Students Conference took place on the weekend of the 16th and 17th May, with Muslim students, women and men, leading to pass crucial policy and help set priorities for the forthcoming year (including to fight the BNP and Student Autonomy), and participate in the election for the new Black Students Committee.

This concludes a constructive year of participation of Muslim students in the NUS, including the NUS Annual Conference. Nabil Ahmed, FOSIS Vice-President Student Affairs commented, “Muslim students in their diversity of political attitudes continue to participate actively in the National Union of Students and its democratic structures – from challenging current Higher Education funding structures, to pro-Palestine campaigners. These students represent a diverse, exciting and pragmatic future for British Muslims.”

Testament to this sustained participation is the successful election of Usman Ali, President of Salford Students Union, to the National Union of Students National Executive Committee who stood on a platform to widen participation for local Student Unions.

The Federation of Students Islamic Societies has proposed and passed policy in the NUS. At the National Conference, policy on improving Student Accessibility to the Student Union events was passed, whilst policy was passed in the National Black Students Conference to assert the Autonomy of student groups (including Islamic Societies) in the wake of difficulties with some Chaplaincies.

FOSIS congratulates the elected officers, and continues to support Wes Streeting re-elected President for the National Union of Students, who we look to further the purposeful campaigning and projects already achieved this year. We also congratulate Bellavia Ribierio, re-elected Black Students Officer for the National Union of Students, whose campaign is essential to focus on and fight the challenges faced by ethnic minorities in this testing time.

The FOSIS Student Affairs Committee works to empower Muslim students towards political participation, which includes encouragement to involve in the NUS and ensuring Muslim-student representation. The Committee also works to pass policy in the NUS to serve the Welfare interests of Muslim students.
© Federation of Student Islamic Societies 1963-2012