Socialist Resistance supporter Victor Ofosu is standing in the students union elections at London South Bank University. Victor, known to his friends as Maxy, is standing as Vice President, Communications.
Victor is the only candidate standing on any political basis at all. His publicity calls for *Troops out of Iraq, Free Education, and an independent students union.
The first two demands are self-explanatory. But London South Bank University Students Union, an affiliate of the National Union of Students, is not an independently run students union. The returning officer and assistant returning officer are both senior members of university management, and as such
like. and by refusing to allow external supporters onto university property.
If there are any complaints to be made about the returning officers, they must be made to the university Vice Chancellor who makes a decision on behalf of the students union. have the power to do what they
One clause in the students' union constitution states that returning officers can define what is a breach winely independent. of regulations at their own whim.
They have also breached the constitution themselves on at least three occasions; by failing to notify candidates on time that their nominations had been accepted, by failing to organise proper hustings,
on time. the Middle East.
Socialist Resistance has never experienced a students union run so effectively by management. Other students unions usually have former sabbatical officers as returning officers, to ensure they are genThe way the union is run has a direct effect on the ability of activists to properly campaign at South Bank.
On at least two occasions this year Victor has tried to organise a Stop the War meeting in the University, only to find that the University has failed to book the rooms
Students who wish to see a campaigning, independent union will naturally vote for Victor. Socialist Resistance supporters will continue to campaign alongside him for a democratic union, and an end to war in