If you’re interested in being a delegate or observer for NUS LGBT Conference, nominations are now open! Please submit a manifesto to nus-delegate-elections@lgbtq.co.uk before next Monday 12PM.

Although funding is still somewhat of an issue, we presently have four delegate and two observer spots to fill in addition to myself, the LGBTQ Officer-Elect and the newly elected chairperson.

Nominations will close on Monday 12PM, at which point online elections will begin. Remember the voting link will be sent via the LGBTQ mailing list, so if you’re not on the list please contact or the committee secretary ASAP! xD

Due to a miscommunication, an impromptu vote was held on Wednesday during which most of the delegate positions were mixed up, as was who goes as the “current” officer, and the issue of how many people we can send (due to funding) has not yet been confirmed. This took place without my prior knowledge and without notice because of concerns that the Association would miss the deadline…which the NUS – in their infinite wisdom – have not bothered to disclose to any constituent Unions.

In any case I would like to sincerely apologise to all LGBTQ students on campus for this incident, especially those who were present on Wednesday.

Election to be re-held online

In any case, I have declared the Wednesday election as officially invalid and have made the following alternative voting arrangements:

1. An elections subcommittee has been formed of myself, the LGBTQ Officer-Elect and the newly elected Chairperson. The Secretary and one Open Place committee member (also recently elected) hold places on this subcommittee for oversight and accountability.
2. From 12PM on Wednesday 31st March, a 5-day nomination period will begin. Potential candidates, please submit your nominations to nus-delegate-elections@lgbtq.co.uk and you will receive a notice of confirmation with 24 hours of sending your nomination. I’d recommend a manifesto, like this really old one, describing to LGBTQ students why you’d make a good delegate and how you could contribute to Conference.
3. Nominations will close at 12pm on Monday, 5th April at which time a 3-day voting period will begin. This will take place online and every member of the LGBTQ mailing list will receive a unique voting link via email.
4. Voting will close at 12PM on Thursday, 8th April. Results will be announced over the following weekend.

Why online?

Normally I and the Chair would arrange an Emergency General Meeting (EGM), but with it now being the Easter holidays, rallying a sufficient number of students is nigh-impossible. Besides, we’ve always seemed to have better luck with our online communications this year

Why the mailing list?

The Guild operates an “autonomous liberation” policy in which only people that, through self-definition, fall under a particular category (i.e. ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, women). This is to ensure that the only the people who will be affected by an election in the long-term are allowed to vote for it; outside interference can be extremely disruptive to that end.

Every year, during the Guild Officer elections, this policy is flagrantly abused and liberation officer elections are disrupted into becoming a popularity contest. Using our mailing list gives us a greater assurance that LGBTQ students are the ones voting and gives us the added benefit of being able to prevent duplicate votes; uniquely identifying voters by their email address. I know it’s not exactly foolproof, but it’s a hell of a lot more reliable, accurate and far reaching than general meetings or the previous attempt at voting for delegates.

If you are an LGBTQ student and you’re not on the mailing list, please contact either myself/the Officer-elect or the committee’s secretary before voting begins to get yourself registered! As always, all information is treated as confidential.

So a few weeks ago at NUS LGBT Conference in Nottingham we won an award at their NUS LGBT Awards Night and finally thought it was about time we posted some photos  of the momentous occasion. FYI, it was the NUS LGBT Awards and The University of Birmingham was awarded the coveted ‘Campaign of the Year Award’ for Emma O Dwyer’s excellant ‘Homophobia in Halls’ intiative. Have a look at the pics…

Your ‘gorgeous’ committee… completely sober.

The lovely, and “obviously very expensive”, award.

Now let’s celebrate! (aka – drink)

You know what? Let’s just have a little lie down…

Lovely.

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