The recent decision by YUSU’s Ratification Committee to refuse Femsoc’s appeal was a mistake and does not speak well of the intellectual climate that YUSU cultivates. It is becoming increasingly clear that York University Student Union’s primary aim is not to serve the student body and meet its needs, but rather to manage the structure of student interaction so as to better suit its own vision.
On the surface it would appear that, once again, YUSU have become lost in the endless bureaucracy and regulation that governs its every move. When the original application for the founding of a Feminist Society was rejected on the grounds that it conflicted with YUSU regulations, an appeal against the decision was set in motion that that addressed every one of YUSU’s concerns. It featured a petition that garnered more than enough signatures to form the base of a society.
The day after the appeal was presented to the Ratification Committee, they communicated and unchanged decision and repeated its original objections. The explanation went as follows: [They] “did not feel it [the application] displayed a unique need to become an exclusive society, and were concerned about the duplication of efforts.” I think that these reasons are far from valid as they raise no definite concerns. It is unclear what a ‘unique need’ actually is or why it would be relevant. Similarly, there is no justification of YUSU’s problem with a ‘duplication of efforts’, or why they would see moves towards equality and safety being redoubled as a bad thing.
When YUSU considers whether or not to ratify a society it refers to a ten point criteria, which is available on request. The justifications for rejection quoted above are not based in these regulations, as the Feminist Society is not disqualified by any of the ten points. The simple fact that a Feminist Society does not exist at York is an embarrassment in itself. Universities across the United Kingdom have established feminist societies, such as in Kent, St. Andrews, Essex and Sunderland. Indeed, YUSU has ratified a number of other societies, including the Pokémon Society, the Muggle Society, and the Conservative and Unionist Society, none of which conflicted with the ten-point criteria any less than the Feminist Society.
The rejection of the Feminist Society cannot simply be the result of a YUSU’s failing bureaucracy. Despite the popularity and relevance of feminism to many students, YUSU have refused to ratify a student society because it already manages a branch of the Union designed to cater to those interested in “gender equality and the women’s campaign”. The administration would rather maintain the status quo, despite calls from prominent members of the Women’s Committee for the Feminist Society to be ratified.
YUSU have made an error. They shouldn’t be worried that a ratified Feminist Society would somehow cause strife and division, or that it in some way lacks a ‘unique need’. They should be more worried that their actions go against the opinions and desires of the students they are supposed to serve, and that this provokes opposition from students, staff and the wider community.
The Feminist Society exists, and continues to seek ratification.
This article is poor, extremely biased and not befitting of such a quality publication
Surely the point of an editorial column is to take a stance, and hence, be intrinsically biased at least to a certain extent.
The simple fact remains that this is a mistake by YUSU and demonstrates how out of touch they are.
The role of YUSU in this area should be to facilitate student activities and ratify societies, not to make a value judgement on what societies are and are not appropriate, so long as they’re open and inclusive (which a FemSoc would be).
Not just Fem Soc, but any society that students (and hence Union members) want to ratify. YUSU have already refused to ratify LIPS and Palestine Solidarity Soc this year alone, eventually agreeing to ratify PSS.
The argument that Wom Com is already there and that this is a “duplication of efforts” is an argument other people have already pointed the obvious flaws; Wom Com exists as part of Union Structures, it is not a ratified society.
Too often our own Union makes it difficult for societies to operate. This is just another, very blatant demonstration of that.
Essentially, a valid point and I agree YUSU is unnecessarily and in some cases ludicrously bureaucratic when it comes to societies. I would go so far as to say I see no reason why any society shouldn’t be ratified, even if it’s just two guys sharing their love of sedimentary rock formations.
Still, a tad spoilt by the unnecessary and snide little dig at the York Tories. No need for the author to flaunt his no doubt impeccably left wing credentials within this article.
Not that i’m a Tory myself, I wish Liberal prime minister from 1894-95 dont’cha know.
I am disappointed that not one newspaper – so far as Google has been able to tell me – has run with either ‘Shame on YU’ or ‘Shame on YUSU’ as the headline.
Can you imagine the shit i’d get into if i tried to start a masculinity society?
Oh wait … there already is a masculinity society, it’s called life.