Vision can exclusively reveal that four of the five motions in the current referendum have been passed with a ‘Yes’ vote.
As a result new by-laws will come into place confirming the removal of the position of Campaigns Officer, and the creation of a new democratic system and student letting agency.
A total of 1,252 students voted in the referendum, roughly 7.5% of the student population, surpassing the 5% mark that was required for four of the five motions to be enacted.
871 people voted in favour of YUSU implementing their proposed democratic reform, in comparison to 118 against. Although the figure did not reach the 20% required to initiate constitutional change, which would have resulted in the complete removal of assemblies, the results of the referendum will enable a new democratic system to be implemented.
The plans for the implementation of a new student-led letting agency were also approved, with 1,086 students backing the motion, whilst only 117 voted against the proposition.
By far the closest of the motions was the one concerning the abolition of the position of Campaigns Officer. 362 individuals voted against the motion, whilst a further 228 abstained. However the position was removed after 515 people supported Taylor’s proposition to remove the position.
In addition to this it was confirmed that the position of Welfare Officer will be renamed to Welfare and Community Officer.
749 students voted in favour of turning colleges into College Student Associations, however technical errors during the polling process mean that it was impossible to count how members of each college voted. College Student Associations won’t be introduced until after College Referenda are hosted to decide which colleges are in favour of becoming College Student Associations. Although the majority of students who participated in the referendum voted for College Student Associations, YUSU want to give colleges the choice over organising their own representation.
The options available to each colleges include the JCRC opting into the CSAs on behalf of their college, the JCRC allowing the members of their college to vote directly on the issue in a college referendum, and the JCRC choosing not to opt in at all.
New bye-laws should be placed on the YUSU website within three working days, confirming the completion of these changes.
“…a College Referenda”
It’s ludicrous that these motions can pass with the support of just 3% of the student population. That is a truly appalling figure, and no-one can claim that the result has been democratically legitimate if fewer than one in ten students bothered to vote. There was very little awareness of this campaign, little to no promotion of it outside of Facebook and it was held at a time when most freshers aren’t even fully aware yet of what a JCRC is or how YUSU works.
The lower turnout is just representative of how apathetic the student population is.