By Max Sugarman
Student politics has always been an unusual affair. Some students (especially freshers) view YUSU with a mixture of confusion and apathy, not sure of what it does and not really caring. The truth about YUSU, however, is that it is probably the most effective and efficient way of changing a part of the university. Or at least it could be.
The motions put forward in the Union General Meetings are the perfect example. Some of the motions are smart ideas presented by genuinely concerned people, who wish to resolve certain issues they have experienced. They go through the correct channels and usually (if the motion is good) get what they asked for. Yet, every now and again a motion arises that throws the whole system into a farce. Currently, the student body is being asked whether they wish to rename the New Building Study Space to the Brian Blessed Centre for Quiet Study.
Now, I have nothing against Brian Blessed and I realise that the New Building Study Space is one of the most unoriginal and dull names to give a study space in a new building, but it goes too far. When other motions involve disability access, food waste disposal and matters of actual importance to the University, naming some building after some mad actor tarnishes the entire activity. The worst problem is that such a motion will probably receive more votes due to its cult following than other more sensible and more important suggestions. And when the motion is brought to Heslington Hall, it still won’t come to anything due to the plain and simple truth that no university in their right mind would ever rename a building after Brian Blessed.
Of course, the inevitable response is: ‘it’s only a bit of fun’ with people failing to remember how it damages the entire process. The sad truth is that to stop such ridiculous propositions being made the entire system needs to be rethought. The ease and ability in proposing motions is something that YUSU should be proud of, but the rather minimal requirements mean that any idea that pops into a student’s head can find its way alongside proposals of actual significance. As long as joke motions continue to be brought to the UGM they will carry on eroding the gravity and genuineness of other suggestions resulting in the student body not being taken seriously.
I disagree.