Birmingham University student Edd Bauer reports:
“The University of Birmingham [has] suspended my status as student, because of the Guild’s [Student Union’s] suspension of me as officer. I have now lost the right to be on campus, although not the right to be at the campus gates.”
What had Edd done to be suspended as Vice President Education at the Guild [Student Union]?
He had spent ten days in prison without trial for his part in a banner drop at Lib Dem conference. Two other Birmingham student activists are on bail. Edd was bailed on 27 September. He has not been tried or convicted.
But on returning to the Guild, he found that he had been suspended by its (unelected) General Manager.
Edd is also a member of the National Coalition Against Fees and Cuts national committee. If the Guild bureaucrats and the university can get away with this, it will be an outrage against Birmingham University students’ democratic rights. It will set a precedent that any left-wing student union officer, any campaigning student union officer, anywhere, is fair game for removal from above. As the fight against the Tories’ cuts heats up, this is a major threat to student activism.
We need to fight for Edd’s reinstatement as part of the campaign to reclaim control of our student unions from unelected, non-student bureaucrats, and put control back in the hands of students and their elected representatives.
What you can do:
1. Sign the petition in defence of Edd: ipetitions.com
2. Email a message of protest to the President of the Guild: president@guild.bham.ac.uk
3. Pass a motion through your student union, union branch etc supporting Edd’s campaign. A model motion will appear soon.
• More: call NCAFC on 07775 763750
