NUS: You are here to represent our interests, not police our lifestyles.
Posted Under: Drinking,Education,Puritanism
It would appear from this week’s NUS conference that many of the delegates consider themselves not as representatives of our concerns and interests, but instead as elders of the student community charged with sanitising our wretched lifestyles.
The Telegraph reports that the NUS have decided to lobby for an end to cheap beer in student bars. Yes you read that that right. Our representatives – backed by new labourite president Wes streeting – are lobbying to make it more expensive for us to go and drink .
First off, who on earth do these people think they are? Do they honestly imagine that the students of this country formed a union because they wanted to elect people to act as their parents. Do they even understand what a union is?
And what on earth do they think will be the impact of such a move? I believe the effect of this policy will be to make student culture less democratic and more exclusive. Whether we like it or not (and personally I loved it) student culture revolves substantially around drinking. Even in Cambridge the student bar was a place where students from the widest variety of social backgrounds (not withstanding a few upper middle class boys playing at being aristocrats) would coalesce, sometimes to get inebriated but more often to argue about the world over a pint or three. Quite simply prices were low enough for everybody.
It is clearer than ever that our much lauded president Wes Streeting is not merely a New Labour loyalist, but is somebody who has New Lab DNA running through his veins. We have seen how Labour has moved, from seeking to improve the material conditions of those worse off, to seeking to improve their well being by interfering with their lifestyles. In much the same way, Streeting has now pushed the union into dropping its opposition to tuition and is seeking to looking after us by reengineering our social culture – at our expense.
Reader Comments
On paternalism, the substantive of this post, I agree with you completely. It’s a worrying time when the NUS interprets its role as governing universities, paternalistically or otherwise. It exists to provide students with representation on student issues at a national level. Its officers are the servants of those students, and in performing their roles should remember the distinction between leadership and governance. A lot more could be written on this (and with a Cambridge background, I’m sure you appreciate the parallels with CUSU and the colleges).
I can’t help but take issue with some of your grandstanding however. I’m sure you’re aware the Labour government rejected Sir Liam Donaldson recommendation for a minimum per unit price on alcohol. If you want to point to legitimate evidence about Wes being compromised by his Labour Party ambitions I’m sure you won’t struggle, but this isn’t an example.
I’ve picked up on this story on my blog (tongue in cheek post done) and the facebook group you’ve created…
http://www.oberonhouston.com
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Wes Streeting is an insect. As is everybody infused with the spirit of New Labour.
HI grey,
i did indeed notice what position labour took regarding liam donaldson and posted an article about on this blog a few weeks back: http://thethirdestate.net/?p=387
However, in more general terms, there policy has certainly had a paternalistic bent. As was evident from the content of the parliamentary debate, the smoking ban was not simply about protecting people from passive smoking, but about making it so uncomfortable to be a smoker that people stop. Meanwhile, though labour has been averse to using legislation agaisnt the drinks industry, it has not been averse to pressuring it sometimes with the implied threat of legislation. Not so long ago Vernon Coker made the ridiculous comment ‘some people think its acceptable to drink and get drunk and we want to change that.’
Totally agreed. The nanny state culture which our government advocates has even further reaching consequences, however. Everybody is prevented from making the very mistakes they should be learning from. Whether my University or the Government like it or not, I became aware of my limits with alcohol by pushing them and learning when to stop. People claim that with “contemporary trends of accountability” — in short, you find somebody to sue for any mishap which may befall you — such measures are required. I give those people the same salute as the bowmen of Agincourt gave their enemies.
Sorry to gravedig, but I know some cambridge people frequent this blog – CUSU Council is voting on NUS disaffiliation on Tuesday. If you’re sick of a national union that is consistently failing to mount an effective defence of its members, and instead spends its time trying to dictate its members’ lifestyles like this, then pressure your presidents, externals and faculty reps to vote for disaffiliation.
We have a facebook group making the case at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=425199690721