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\% F E B 1 9 8 0 Tetley Bittermen. Join’em. No. 2 1 9 Friday, 8th February, 1980 FREE 14.2% vote for President LOW TURNOUT CAUSES ANGER Members of the University Union Executive have said that they are “disgusted” with the turnout at this week’s elections for President and Deputy President. President Steve Aulsebrook called it “pathetic”, while General Secretary Ray Cohen commented, “ I’m as sick as a parrot; it is ------------------------------- -———------- pretty disgusting”. In the elections, which were by Hugh Bateson held over four days at the beginning of the week, only 1504 people voted, 14.2% of the total electorate. with 310. Mr. Goodman was as In the past, voting for the President annoyed with the turnout as Mr. has usually attracted about 33%. Shenton, he said, Last year, when Mr. Aulsebrook “ I hope the students get a better was elected, the poll was considered executive than they deserve. very low at 25%. Thousands, literally thousands of Mr. Cohen explained that con­ people used this Union on Monday siderable efforts had been made to and Tuesday lunch times and they ensure a high turnout this year, couldn’t even be bothered to pick “ Advertising this year was up a ballot paper for their own greater than for any other year” he Union and the way it is run” . said. He continued that for the first Ian Rosenthal commented, time voting had occurred in the “I am very upset that more halls of residence, to enable people people did’t take offence at what who do not frequent the Union to I was saying and vote to keep me vote. out” . Mr. Aulsebrook said that the The present Deputy President, voting in some halls had been better Dick Quibell, said that he was than expected, with half the people worried that the small number of present voting, but that at other votes would hamper the winners halls, and he specifically named next year. Bodington and Devonshire halls, “ It creates a simple problem; to voting was poor, what extent can executive claim to “I think the residents of those call upon a broad constituency. halls should be ashamed of them­ Usually this gives a certain freedom Chris Shenton and Mike Goodman celebrate their victories. selves” he said. of movement, which might not be One reason that is being there next year.” suggested for the low figure is that there were no outstandingly charismatic candidates, but also that in each case people felt that Movement to Occupations are the result was a foregone conclu­ Smears are sion. Mr. Aulsebrook said, “It must have been the candi­ withdraw is dates. There were no credible disregarded now out of order alternatives.” Mr. Dave Aaronovitch, secretary growing As expected, the Welfare Officer, of the National Union of Students, There cannot now be an extremists on our backs clouding Chris Shenton was elected Presi­ has succeeded in quashing rumours the issue with peripheral matters.” The National Union of Students occupation of any part of the dent for the next session over Bill which threatened to discredit him has been hit by an upsurge in the Members of the Overseas Moore. Mr. Shenton gained 856 in his run for the presidency. movement by unions to disaffiliate. University in the Overseas Students Action committee, who votes as opposed to Mr Moore’s The letters which were delivered Five Universities are debating Students’ Campaign. Last want to exert direct pressure on 470. to University Union Presidents all the issue at the moment. Dundee Thursday’s University Union the University, are disappointed One exceptional part of the vote over the country last week, sugges­ and King’s College, London have Annual General meeting voted with the result of the AGM, which, was the number of spoilt papers ting that Mr. Aaronovitch was they claim has robbed them of the and abstentions, 96 ballot papers already voted to withdraw, and to reverse the decision of an receiving money from the Israeli Aberdeen, Reading, and Notting­ most effective weapon against the did not count, about 6% of the government, have been largely ham Universities all have motions OGM last term to occupy. University, one member, Paul Earn- votes cast. Mr. Cohen said, disregarded. coming up on the issue. Because the motion was shaw, said, “That must point to discontent Members of the Left Alliance, NUS National Secretary Dave passed at the AGM, it cannot “It is a body blow to people with the candidates”. the new coalition certain to control Aaronovitch is deeply worried be brought up for discussion who argued for direct action” . Mr. Shenton, a third year a large number of votes at the NUS He said that the majority of pharmocologist, was clearly upset elections at Easter, have endorsed about the situation, he said, again this session. “There seems to be an element Overseas Students were in favour of with the size of the vote, he said, his nomination as President for of sujcide in this whole thing. Mr. University Union General Secre­ an occupation, “I don’t think much of the vote 1980-81. Aaronovitch said that he thought tary Ray Cohen, who has opposed “Without exception, the or the majority, but I’m glad to Mr. Trevor Phillips, the present that the movement was inspired by the moves to occupy from the Overseas students that we have have won. Despite what I think the President, pointed out that there a small group of hard line conserva­ start of the campaign, was pleased talked to wanted an occupation.” student body deserves I will were a number of inaccuracies in tives. with the decision, and was hopeful Committee members were also endeavour to head a very conscien­ the letters and warned members of He was especially worried about that the way would be left clear for determined to continue to monitor tious and effective Executive” .* possible forgeries in the future. He the timing of the moves, as he the Executive to continue the Executive’s handling of the The post of Deputy President commented, thought that the Union was campaign, he said, campaign in future. will be taken by Mike Goodman “This is probably the work of involved enough fighting the “I believe that more valuable “Until we have an executive who received 753 votes. Anarchist people with extremely sinister government’s plans for financing work can be done by Executive willing to fight, we’re going to have lan Rosenthal was second with motives or very tiny minds and a the Union at the moment. when we do not have political pressure from the left.” 322, while Jane Hornsey came third lot of money to waste.” Inside:- Art Galleries pp.6/7 Windsurfing p. 11 Sunburn p. 9 UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF LECiX LIBRARY! A____ __________________ Page 2 LEEDS STUDENT-8th February 198i to exercise strict editorial contre Sweet thief on the content of Fresh Toda\ In Brief following the controverev surrounding Stevan Mrvos' sneaks booze statement two weeks ago. LEEDS STUDENT Steven Mrvos and Sean Morris are The University Union was to represent the Poly Union at broken into during the early hours the NUS Subscriptions and of Sunday morning. The intruder Priorities conference on 16 and 8th February 1980 used a crowbar to force his way 17th February. Fraser Brown who An amendment to the Universitv into the Tetley Bar, where he drank is in charge of the Poly Union’s Unions constitution at last week's a double Southern Comfort and ate finance said he would rather Annual General Meeting m eans tha: two Kit Kats, leaving the wrappers concentrate on local issues. the quorum for O. G. M’s will be on the bar. He then proceeded 2lA% of membership rather than upstairs to the Union Shop where* 200. When the measure takes It should matter The two main Malaysian Student effect next year the quorum will Mr. Aulsebrook’s picture of the National Union of Students he filled two carrier bags with Organisations MPPM and be about 250 or less, according to is a fairly dark one, but it is not unfair. He has said throughout confectionary and other items. FUEMSSO have pooled their the number of overseas students resources in an effort to keep fees deterred by next year’s level of the campaign for the Overseas students that it should be fought Mr. Jim Head, Manger of the down. They have pointed to the fees. on a national level and yet NUS has done nothing to help. So Tetley Bar, continued the story: great benefit to Britain of trade far the move to disaffiliate from. NUS has not gathered much “The burglar must have been a with Malaysia. momentum but there are signs that it soon will; Mr. Aulsebrook bit drunk because he set the They will call upon the Endsleigh insurance have Malaysian Government to take introduceded a scheme which has hinted at the use of a referendum on the issue. For all that Union’s alarm system off, bringing the police, who surrounded the retaliatory economic action against drastically reduces premiums for car insurance. For example a NUS might want to disregard this as being inspired by an out­ building. Unfortunately the thief British firms if the proposed side organisation, the fact remains that there has never been increases are implemented. female of 18& owning a mini would escaped via the T. V. lounge”. pay £210. 91 as opposed to such disdain from within and without the students’ move­ Police are continuing investi­ £504.80. Quotations are available ment for the National Union. gations into the burglary.

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