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National Executive Council

Meeting of: 31st meeting of the National Executive Council of the National Union of Students

Place: Unison Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY

Date and time: Monday 4th August 2014, 1:30pm

Members

present:

Zones

Liberation

Sections

Nations

Block

Toni Pearce (President & Chair)

Joe Vinson & TBC (Further Education)

Megan Dunn & Tom Flynn (Higher Education)

Raechel Mattey & Nosheen Dad (Union Development)

Colum McGuire & Chantel LeCarpentier (Welfare)Piers Telemacque & Hugh Murdoch (Society and Citizenship)

Malia Bouattia & Zekarias Negussue (Black Students)

Maddy Kirkman & James Elliott (Disabled Students)

Robbie Young & Fran Cowling (LGBT)

Susuana Antubam & Rochelle Owusu-Antwi (Womens)

Shreya Paudel & Teodora Teodorescu (International Students)

Kae Smith & Erin Lee (Mature & Part Time Students)

Ste Smith & Sai Englert (Postgraduate Students)

Gordon Maloney & Kirsty Haigh (NUS Scotland)

Beth Button & Grace Burton (NUS Wales)

Rebecca Hall & Fergal McFerran (NUS-USI)

Amy Smith, Michael Rubin, Poppy Wilkinson, Miki Vyse, Dario Celaschi, Shakira

Martin, Daniel Cooper, Aaron Kiely, Clifford Fleming, Abdi-Aziz Suleiman, Zarah

Sultana, Edmund Schluessel, Vonnie Sandlan, Hannah Graham, Charlotte

Agran.

Apologies:

Absences:

Teodora Teodorescu

In attendance: Amy Davies, Meg Evans, Finn McGoldrick, Abtar Shaj, Ebbi Ferguson, Rosie

Inman

Minutes

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1. Introductory & Administration

1.1 Toni Pearce (TP) opened the meeting and welcomed members and newly-elected members of

NEC to the meeting. TP noted that prior to the meeting, a compositing session had taken place.

1.2 Apologies were noted.

1.3 There were no conflicts of interests declared.

1.4 Minutes of the meeting held on 13th May 2014

Correct the spelling Edmund Schluessels name.

1.5 Matters arising from the minutes

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

The minutes were approved.

2. Reports and accountability

2.1 Presidents Priorities

Toni Pearce:

TP presented on her priorities for the year ahead, talking about winning the General Election for

students and getting students registered to vote. TP talked about the three main themes of the

General Election.

Kirsty Haigh (KH) asked about the relevance of the strategy to the Nations. TP clarified the position

of the General Election strategy and which parts related to the Nations.

Kae Smith (KS) asked how the priority work will incorporate part-time students and students who

arent are on campus. TP talked about the development of the online hub and how that will help

engage students and build activist networks.

Dan Cooper asked about NUS London and what assistance NUS will be providing to the area. TP

noted that it was important to remember the policy that National Conference passed and compared

the area group to the support given to the Aldwych group etc.

2.2 Zone Convenors presented on priorities for the year ahead.

Joe Vinson:

JV presented his priorities for the year ahead, including looking at qualifications and proposed

changes to those.

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Dario Celaschi (DCe) asked about a UCAS-style enrolment for FE and what progress was being made

on it. JV said that he believed some progress was being made in the form of UCAS Progress but this

doesnt cover apprentices.

Vonnie Sandlan (VS) asked about AS Level/A Level changes and what the context of this comparedto the Scottish system.

Aaron Kiely (AK) asked about the new support package for FE students. JV clarified what was

happening.

Megan Dunn:

MD presented her priorities for the year ahead, including developing radical education.

KS asked about what the radical education spaces are that exist; MD clarified that the spaces would

not be centralised but self-organised for students.

DCe asked about how unions were being selected and how they were going to be representative.

Piers Telemacque:

PT talked about his priorities, including citizenship education and youth service funding.

DCe asked about action against MPs from other parties who broke the tuition fees pledge.

KS asked about mature and part-time students getting involved in voluntary, community and

political activities.

Raechel Mattey:

RM talked about students unionism and how that was forming a significant part of her priorities this

year. RM also talked about the review of membership benefits to NUS.

Edmund Schluessel (ES) asked about FE representation in Wales and how that would form a part of

the project on students unionism. ES also asked about private providers and what that meant in

terms of membership. RM updated on how new members would be supported as part of the

membership package.

Hugh Murdoch asked about affiliation fees and what this mean for the cost and benefits project.

Colum McGuire

CMGC updated on his priorities.

2.3 Liberation priorities were outlined to note

Black Students Campaign

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Malia Bouattia (MB) talked about her priorities for the year ahead; one of the major pieces of

research will be about the BME attainment gap and include working across liberation groups and

with MD.

Disabled Students CampaignMaddy Kirkman (MK) updated on the priorities for the Disabled Students campaign.

LGBT Campaign

Fran Cowling (FC) and Robbie Young (RY) gave an update on their work for the year ahead.

Womens campaign

Susuana Antubam (SA) updated on the priorities on the womens campaign.

2.4 Sections report:

International Students Campaign

Shreya Paudel (SP) gave an update on the priorities of the International Students Campaign.

DC asked about the work of the International Students Campaign in the further education sector.

2.5 Nations report:

NUS Wales Beth Button

BB gave an update on the priorities for NUS Wales for the year ahead.

NUS Scotland Gordon Maloney

GM gave an update on the priorities for NUS Scotland for the year ahead.

NUS-USI Rebecca Hall

RH gave an update on the priorities for NUS-USI for the year ahead.

Scrutiny and Group Committee reports

3.1 NEC Standing Orders and Cycle of Business

The standing orders and the cycle of business was approved by NEC.

3.2 Appointments and Responsibilities

TP presented the appointments paper for noting.

3.3 Election to Group Committees

Elections to group committees was moved to take place electronically in order to prioritise the

motions debate.

Motions

4.1 Ordinary Motions

Motion 1: SRE: Its My Right

Speech for: Colum McGuire

Speech against: None

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Vote: PASS

TP outlined what the result of the composite on Gaza motions was.

MB made a challenge to the chairs ruling on the order. The vote passed and the Chair was overruled, meaningthat Motion 2 was heard ahead of Motion 12.

Motion 2: Condemn the collective killings in Gaza!

Speech for: Malia Bouattia

Speech against: None

Vote: PASS

Motion 12: (Moved up the agenda) Time for Peace

Speech for: Charlie Agran

Speech against: Abdi-Aziz Suleiman

Parts were submitted to keep NEC Resolves 3

Speech for keeping parts: Malia Bouattia

Speech against keeping parts: Dario Celaschi

Vote to keep parts: PASS (NEC Resolves 3 becomes policy)

Extra round of speeches granted.

Speech for: Colum McGuire

Speech against: Sai Englert

Vote on the motion as a whole: PASS

Daniel Coopers amendment has been composited as a standalone motion

Speech for: Daniel Cooper

Speech against: Sai Englert

Vote on the motion: PASS

Malias amendment has been composited as a standalone motion

Speech for: Gordon Maloney

Speech against: Joe Vinson

Extra round of speeches granted by the Chair

Speech for: Zarah Sultana

Speech against: Dario Celaschi

There was a call for a recorded vote on the motion. Votes are listed below:

SA For MK For GM For PT For ND For SP For AK For DCe -

AG

SM - For ROA -

For

MB For ZS For AAS -

For

MR Ag CA Ag SE For ZN For ES For KS For JE - For

KH For CF For EL Ag PW Ag ALS Ag CLC Ag RY Ag HG Abs

MV Ag CM - Ag

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RM Ag JV

Ag

RH For FMF

For

MD Ag BB Ag HM Ag DCo

Ag

TF Ag SS - Ag

VS For FC -

For

23 votes FOR the motion, 18 votes AGAINST the motion, one abstention.

Vote on the motion: PASS

Emergency motion: Birmingham Suspensions

Speech for: Piers Telemacque

Speech against: None

Parts were submitted to remove NEC Resolves 3

Speech for removing parts: Poppy Wilkinson

Speech against removing parts: Daniel Cooper

Vote to remove parts: PASS

Vote on motion with parts removed: PASS

Shreyas motion with Charlies resolves composited into it:

Speech for: Shreya Paudel

Speech against: None

Vote: PASS

Emergency motion: Home Office action against Tier 4 Visa Sponsors: Sanctions, Suspensions and Revocations

Speech for: Shreya PaudelSpeech against: None

Vote: PASS

The meeting came to a close.

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Resolutions of the meeting:

Motion 1: SRE: Its My Right

NEC notes:

1. There are currently no statutory requirements within the schools curriculum toprovide sex and relationships education (SRE) in any part of the UK.

2.

NUS policy passed on sex and relationships education at National Conference 2013.3. Campaigning for statutory SRE in schools is part of NUS General Election strategy.4. The Sex Education Forum is a membership coalition of organisations campaigning for

SRE as well as creating and providing resources for delivering successful SREprogrammes. It is hosted by the National Childrens Bureau and containsrepresentatives from health, education, faith, disability and childrens organisations.

5. The Sex Education Forum has recently launched the SRE: Its My Right campaign.

NEC Believes:

1. NUS cannot and should not campaign for SRE in isolation and should be working in

partnership with other organisations who champion this issue.

2. Becoming a member of the Sex Education Forum will strengthen NUS position in

campaigning for SRE, as well as meaning NUS has the opportunity to shape policy

positions and campaigns that come from the Sex Education Forum.

NEC Resolves:

1. To apply to become a member of the Sex Education Forum.2. To work with the Sex Education Forum in the run up to the General Election, and

beyond.

Motion 2: Condemn the collective punishment and killings in Gaza

(composited as a standalone motion; NEC Believes 1 replaced by NEC believes 2 fromAmendment 2)

NEC Believes:

Proposed by: Colum McGuire

Seconded by:Susuana Antubam, Piers Telemacque, Miki Vyse, Grace Burton, FergalMcFerran, Chantel LeCarpentier, Vonnie Sandlan, Ste Smith, JamesElliott

Committees: NEC

Proposed by: Malia Bouattia

Seconded by:Zekarias Negussue, Zarah Sultana, Abdi-Aziz Suleiman, Aaron Kiely,James Elliott, Gordon Maloney, Edmund Schluessel, Vonnie Sandlan, SaiEnglert, Rebecca Hall

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1. Within two weeks of launching Operation Protective Edge, the Israeli army haskilled over 630 Palestinians, injured over 3800 and displaced over 118,000 with over80% of deaths being civilians.[1]

2.

Many of the Palestinians deaths have come from Israel's deliberate bombing of theirhomes, which has been condemned as illegal by the Israeli human rights groupB'Tselem. On Saturday 13thof July 21 people were killed when Israel bombed thehome of a Palestinian police chief. [1] Others targeted have included special needscare homes, parks and charities [2] [3]

3. These latest attacks are in the context of the population of the Gaza strip beingsubject to a blockade described by the Director of UNRWA Operations as a "Medievalsiege" and as a "prison camp" by Prime Minister David Cameron. [4] [5]

4. Israel's blockade has been described as "collective punishment imposed in clearviolation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law" by the

International Committee of the Red Cross. [6]

5. Due to longstanding effects of the blockade and the recent assaults, medical andelectricity supplies have run critically low in Gaza, further worsening thehumanitarian crisis. [7] [8]

6. Israel has vowed to ignore international pressure and to continue escalating, whilethe Palestinian government has called on the international community to take

serious measures to end Israels violations. [9] [10]

7. A series of mass demonstrations have taken place across the UK against Israeli

attacks, including over 10,000 in London.

NEC Resolves:

1. To condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza and to support calls for an immediate ceasefire.

2. To condemn the blockade of Gaza and support campaigns for it to be lifted in accordancewith international law.

3. To continue to support existing NUS policy on companies like Veolia or Eden Springswhich have been identified as being complicit in human rights abuses in Israel/Palestine.[11]

[1]http://www.timesofisrael.com/21-said-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-police-chiefs-house/[2]http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712476 [3]http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:a&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194 [4]http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gaza[5]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7912095/Gaza-is-a-prison-camp-says-David-Cameron.html[6]http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/palestine-update-140610.htm[7]http://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.html

http://www.timesofisrael.com/21-said-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-police-chiefs-house/http://www.timesofisrael.com/21-said-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-police-chiefs-house/http://www.timesofisrael.com/21-said-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-police-chiefs-house/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712476http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712476http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712476http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:a&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:a&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:a&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gazahttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gazahttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gazahttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gazahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7912095/Gaza-is-a-prison-camp-says-David-Cameron.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7912095/Gaza-is-a-prison-camp-says-David-Cameron.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7912095/Gaza-is-a-prison-camp-says-David-Cameron.htmlhttp://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/palestine-update-140610.htmhttp://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/palestine-update-140610.htmhttp://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/palestine-update-140610.htmhttp://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.htmlhttp://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.htmlhttp://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.htmlhttp://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.htmlhttp://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.htmlhttp://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-healthcare-services-on-the-verge-of-collapsing-who-1613911.htmlhttp://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/palestine-update-140610.htmhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7912095/Gaza-is-a-prison-camp-says-David-Cameron.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7912095/Gaza-is-a-prison-camp-says-David-Cameron.htmlhttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gazahttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/features/lebanese-children-raise-funds-build-kindergarten-gazahttp://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:a&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10474:a&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712476http://www.timesofisrael.com/21-said-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-police-chiefs-house/

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[8]http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712153 [9]http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/[10]http://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=4934#.U8Nqp7Gyo-d

[11]http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/eden-springs-and-veolia/

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712153http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712153http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712153http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/http://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=4934#.U8Nqp7Gyo-dhttp://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=4934#.U8Nqp7Gyo-dhttp://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=4934#.U8Nqp7Gyo-dhttp://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/eden-springs-and-veolia/http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/eden-springs-and-veolia/http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/eden-springs-and-veolia/http://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=4934#.U8Nqp7Gyo-dhttp://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/11/israel-wont-stop-gaza-offensive-despite-international-pressure-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-says/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=712153

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Amendment 1This motion was composited to be heard as a standalone motion.

NEC Resolves:

1. To demand Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Territories, and the creation of a reallyindependent Palestinian state alongside Israel, with the same rights as Israel.

Amendment 2This motion was composited to be heard as a standalone motion.

NEC Believes:

2. The Israeli army stands accused of using illegal weapons including white phosphorusbombs and DIME (Dense Inert Metal Explosive) weapons on one of the most densely-populated regions of the world, and with targets consisting mainly of civilians.[2]

3. This disregard for human rights and international law stands consist with Israelsconduct during previous assaults on Gaza, including 2008/09s 'Cast Lead' and 2012s'Pillar of Defence'.

4. That extensive funding and military aid to Israel from Western countries helpsperpetuate Israels abuses and relieves the financial pressure of warfare; the UKgovernment also facilitates heavy arms trading and co-operation with Israel, marking theircomplicity in this and previous massacres.[3],[4]

5. That with leading Israeli politicians calling for effective genocide, ethnic cleansing of, andwar crimes against Palestinians, appealing to their political establishment on a purely moralbasis would be nave.[5],[6],[7]

6. That with the British government unwilling to even condemn Israel for this assault, it isnow incumbent upon the public and civil institutions to exert economic and politicalpressure to convince Israel to abide by international law.

7. That since the launch of the assault other countries have taken substantive action, suchas Chile having suspended trade talks with Israel.[8]

8. There is precedent for economic leverage against Israeli crimes, with a further 12 EUcountries recently following the UK's earlier move in issuing explicit warnings to investorsagainst doing business with Israeli settlements due to their contravention of international

law.[9],[10]

Proposed by: Daniel Cooper

Seconded by: N/A

Proposed by: Malia Bouattia

Seconded by:Susuana Antubam, Abdi-Aziz Suleiman, Zarah Sultana, ZekariasNegussue, Sai Englert, Piers Telemacque, James Elliott, Kae Smith,Shreya Paudel, Gordon Maloney, Vonnie Sandlan

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9. NUS has previously affirmed active opposition to companies complicit in human rightsabuses in Israel/Palestine as negatively impacting on chances for a sustainable and justsettlement.

10. NUS Black Students Campaign, NUS London and NUS Scotland have voted to supportBoycott, Divestment and Sanctions against companies and products supporting Israeliaggression and occupation.

NEC Resolves:

1. To call on the British government to condemn Israel's current assault on Gaza, cease aidand funding to Israel, impose an arms embargo against Israel, and to demand a ceasefirebrokered between legitimate Israeli and Palestinian representatives.

2. To issue a call to our membership to boycott companies and corporations complicit in

financing and aiding Israel's military, including G4S and Hewlett Packard.

3. To provide information and resources to support student unions and studentorganisations campaigning for boycott and divestment of companies identified assupporting Israel materially, economically, militarily, and/or as helping maintain the illegalIsraeli settlements.

4. To conduct an internal audit of NUS services, products and departments to ensure theydo not, as far as is practical, employ or work with companies identified as facilitatingIsrael's military capacity, human rights abuses or illegal settlement activity, and activelywork to cut ties with those that do.

[1] http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/victims-gaza-list-palestinians-killed-israels-ongoing-assault[2] https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/12939-israel-uses-illegal-weapons-in-gaza[3] http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/activists-demanding-israel.html[4] http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/nobel-celebrities-call-for-military-embargo-12316[5] http://www.stopwar.org.uk/news/gaza-bombarded-as-israel-s-leaders-demand-blood-after-students-bodies-found#.U880LLGTHtI[6] http://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2014/07/14/mothers-of-all-palestinians-should-also-be-killed-says-israeli-politician[7] http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/expel-palestinians-populate-gaza-jews-says-knesset-deputy-speaker[8] http://www.worldbulletin.net/world/140840/chile-to-suspend-trade-talks-with-israel-over-gaza-bombing[9]http://euobserver.com/foreign/124873[10] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10507081/UK-warns-investors-against-doing-business-with-Israeli-settlements.html

Motion 12: Time for PeaceThis motion was composited as a standalone motion with the exception of some text whichwas composited as resolves 6 into the motion Palestinian and Israeli International

Students

Proposed by: Charlie Agran

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rael-uses-illegal-weapons-in-gaza&h=7AQHjWhZt&s=1https://m.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeastmonitor.com%2Fnews%2Fmiddle-east%2F12939-israel-uses-illegal-weapons-in-gaza&h=7AQHjWhZt&s=1http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.al-akhbar.com%2Fcontent%2Fvictims-gaza-list-palestinians-killed-israels-ongoing-assault&h=MAQGeZASe&s=1http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.al-akhbar.com%2Fcontent%2Fvictims-gaza-list-palestinians-killed-israels-ongoing-assault&h=MAQGeZASe&s=1

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NEC Believes:

1. On June 12th2014 three Israeli teenagers, Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Fraenkel and GiladShaar, were kidnapped and murdered in an act of terror

2. On July 2nd2014 Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir was kidnapped andmurdered in an act of terror

3. The recent escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine has caused significantdamage to civilian life for both Israelis and Palestinians

4. Both the escalation of rocket fire from Gaza into cities in Israel as well as theconcentrated military operation, Protective Edge, in Gaza has put civilians on thefront line, resulting in loss of homes and life, and are barriers to peace

5.

In response to the current situation there has been an increase in Islamophobic andanti-Semitic incidents within the region and the wider world, including Europe andthe UK

NEC Further Believes

1. NUS over the years has a history of fighting for justice and showing solidarity withthose suffering in Israel and Palestine

2. NUS should actively support students studying in the UK who are affected by thecurrent situation in the region

3. NUS should seek to provide a platform for all students to express their thoughts and

engage with the situation in a respectful way, without violence or intimidation

NEC Resolves

1. To promote a message of peaceful coexistence amongst all people in the region, and

invite a Palestinian student and an Israeli student to speak at NUS National

Conference 2015

2. To actively raise awareness of and combat all forms of racism including but not

limited to, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, that may and have occurred in response

to recent events in the region

3.

To support grassroots activism on campuses between Israeli and Palestinian

students (incl. allies), such as coexistence projects and campaigns that seek to open

dialogue and respect in a safe space.

Palestinian and Israeli International StudentsThis motion was composited as a standalone motion with exception of NEC Resolves 6which was composited from the motion Time for Peace

Seconded by: Toni Pearce, Joe Vinson, Michael Rubin

Proposed by: Shreya Paudel

Seconded by: Megan Dunn, Dan Cooper, Colum McGuire, Clifford Fleming

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NEC Believes:

1) Whilst there has been much damage in civilian lives and property in Palestine-Israelconflict and hence more possibility that international students from there must bemore directly affected, for us, the life and well-being of every international student

studying in the UK is precious.

2) International students finishing their studies this summer will come to the end oftheir Tier 4 visa, and will required to leave the country. It is deeply wrong to expectany student to leave the UK when returning home would put them at risk of seriousharm.

3) We recognise that all students returning to their homes in areas of conflict are put atincreased and unacceptable risk of harm, regardless of nationality, passport,community or religion.

4)

Crises can cause the infrastructure of a country or region to fail. This can includebank transfers, qualifications checks and other administration. Many UK universitiesnotify their students they are at risk of expulsion if they do not pay their fees ontime.

5) It is within the power of the UK government to extend student visas for studentsfrom countries and regions in crisis. As the government has the ability, it also hasthe responsibility and duty to do so.

6) As the duty of NUS is to represent and support all students, it should ensure that theplight of affected international students in the UK is not overlooked by the British

government.

NEC Resolves:

1) To lobby the government to grant any affected international students an extensionto remain in the UK on their current student visa and to ensure no affectedinternational student must return to a conflict zone to alter their visa status

2) To lobby the government to inform students of their right to seek asylum and makeit easier for the affected students to seek asylum if they wish to

3) To call on all UK universities and colleges to waive or reduce the fees or extend the

payment periods for all the students affected by the conflict, whether sponsored orself-funded, so that they can complete their studies.

4) To call on all UK universities to make hardship grants, scholarships and bursariesavailable to all the affected students, whether sponsored or privately funded, tocover their living expenses.

5) To call on all UK universities and the UK education sector to make availableappropriate support structures to ensure affected students have access to the health,well-being and academic support they require in this time of crisis.

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6) To reach out to and provide support for Israeli and Palestinian students studying in

the UK whose time in the UK may be affected by the current situation with particular

regard to visa and financial difficulties

Emergency motion: Birmingham Suspensions

NEC believes:

1. That the University of Birmingham has suspended two students for 9 months in relationto their involvement in an occupation in November 20132. That a third student will be suspended if they break any further regulations

3. That the process has taken 8 months and concerns have been raised about proceduralirregularities4. That the University of Birmingham originally recommended expelling one of the students5. That the occupation was calling for the implementation of the living wage and for theuniversity to stop lobbying for fees to be increased amongst other demands6. National conference resolved in Amendment 203b to "Create a legal fund to supportstudents facing charges or legal costs as a result of repression"

NEC further believes:

1. That students have a right to protest and occupations are a legitimate tactic in defence

of our education2. That these students have been victimised for their political activity3. That this is an attack on the right to protest and freedom of expression and an attemptto suppress dissent by preventing these students from taking part in protests and deterringothers from doing the same4. That this sets a dangerous precedent for the ability of students across the country toengage in protest without fear of repression

NEC resolves:1. To support the campaign to overturn the suspensions and defend the right for studentsto protest on campus2. To use money from the legal fund to help these students pay for legal costs

Emergency motion: Home Office action against Tier 4 Visa Sponsors: Sanctions,Suspensions and Revocations

NEC Believes:1. Home Office action has led to sixty institutions having their ability to recruit

international students suspended, and it is clear that in some of these cases there

Proposed by: Piers Telemacque

Seconded by:Malia Bouattia, James Elliott, Daniel Cooper, Kirsty Haigh, CliffordFleming, Kae Smith, Zarah Sultana, Abdi-Aziz Suleiman

Proposed by: Shreya Paudel

Seconded by: Megan Dunn, Colum McGuire

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will be full licence revocation meaning that students cannot finish their courses andmay be detained and deported.

2. This week the Prime Minister announced further tightening of the student visa

regime, stating that in future if more than ten percent of applicants to an institutionare refused a visa, that institution will lose its licence. Last week another universitysuspended international student recruitment, and it became clear that in some casesdeportation processes related to this issue have already begun. The ImmigrationMinister has made it clear that further investigations are likely to result in moreinstitutions losing their licences. These recent events amount to a developingemergency in the student visa system and the treatment of international students.

3. The institutions involved are spread across the higher and further education sectorsand across public and private status institutions; the students involved are united bythe common issue that they have no control over the causes of these actions and

that they are being held to be guilty until proven innocent.

4. The Immigration Ministers choice to announce action against these universities andcolleges in Parliament was a wholly inappropriate way to inform internationalstudents their futures were in jeopardy.

5. The governments attempts to pass the blame for fraud within the immigrationsystem onto international students and UK education institutions is inappropriate andshameful, given the company responsible was licensed by the government itself.

6. Thousands of international students have been wrongly criminalized by the

Immigration Minister and the media for a system they are helpless to change oravoid and it is appalling that no political party stood up for international students asthis announcement was being debated in the House of Commons.

7. Until the education sector is certain the investigations are complete and all actionthat will be taken has been, international students cannot be certain that theinstitutions they move to will not also be subject to suspension and/or revocation oftheir Tier 4 license for this reason.

8. As more institutions have their licenses revoked, the UK education system will beflooded with tens of thousands of international students urgently seeking a newplace to study, and as the burden becomes too much for the sector, internationalstudents will be forced to leave the UK without the qualifications they came for.

9. Both the government and the UK education sector have learned nothing from theterrible experiences of London Metropolitan international students in 2012 whentheir institution had its license revoked.

10.International students deserve to have refunds for a qualification they cannot finish,to not have to pay for a second visa that they did not plan for, and to receive helpand support to move from an institution without a Tier 4 license to one with a Tier 4license.

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11.This action is a clear and deliberate attempt by the government to decrease netmigration figures from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands at the expenseof international students.

12.International students are left in a system with no recourse, no refunds and norights simply because of their nationality, a clear case of state sponsoreddiscrimination.

NEC Resolves:1. To condemn any Members of Parliament who use anti-immigration rhetoric and

inaccurate information in a discriminatory campaign against international students.

2. To lobby the government for practical solutions for the affected internationalstudents such as refunds of tuition fees, scrapping of visa renewal cost and loweredmaintenance requirements

3. To lobby universities and colleges to fully, financially and practically, support asystem to move any affected international students to a new institution to continuetheir course without financial or emotional burdens.

4. To lobby the UK education sector and the government to create a workable tuitionfee protection scheme paid for by the sector, which protects all future internationalstudents in this situation.

5. To lobby MPs and political parties to support international students in the currentsituation and change the Tier 4 immigration system so it gives rights and a voice tointernational students who study in the UK.