Tag Archives: student politics

Shame on you: the physical intimidation of Aaron Porter

2:02pm Mon February 21st

In a move almost unprecedented in NUS history, the sitting president Aaron Porter has announced he will not contest a second term in April. And, viewing the video below, can anyone really be surprised?

On 29 January, Porter was chased through Manchester by dozens of “activists”, the most aggressive of whom were wearing masks. The mob were led by somebody screaming “SCUM! SCUM! SCUM!” in Porter’s ear with the aid of a megaphone. By the time the battle cry changed to ”build a bonfire and put Porter on the top” the police were escorting him towards Manchester Students’ Union.

Less than two weeks later, Porter was “kettled” by Scottish Socialist Youth in Glasgow (pictured above). The prospect of another 12 months as the focus of ugly physical intimidation was clearly not an appetising one.

Whatever you think of his politics or how he acquitted himself as NUS President, he didn’t deserve the Nick Griffin treatment.

What Tory activists really think about £9,000 university fees

12:56pm Mon February 14th

26 comments

The spoof posters produced by young Tories at York University and published by Scrapbook at the weekend were cringeworthy but ultimately benign. It’s a pity the same can’t be said for material to emerge subsequently, which was deleted in haste from their Facebook group:

We’re sure Tory high command will be, erm, thanking the committee for producing literature with David Cameron crowing over the recent hike in university fees. Indeed, the student society has something of a reputation for rebelliousness with its chairman being expelled from the party last year for urging voters to support UKIP in the European elections.

Don’t hold your breath on that graduate role at CCHQ, lads.

UPDATE: The offending Facebook group has been made private. [RING RING] “Hello, this is CCHQ. Can I speak to the society chair, please?”

Hat-tip: the enterprising David Levene

York University Conservative Society gets down with the kids

9:54am Sun February 13th

56 comments

With the growing unpopularity of the government across the country — particularly with students –it can’t be easy for those recruiting new victims members to the Conservative cause on university campuses.

To attract new activists in this challenging climate, the Oxbridge rejects at York University Conservative Society have produced a series of “hilarious” posters (more here) demonstrating just how, erm, cool Dave and Gideon are:

But which crazy cats could be responsible for such hilarious synergy between politics and popular culture? Those looking to find out need look no further than the society’s official Facebook group:

You can join the society via their website.

One at a time, guys!

Hat-tip: David Levene

"Confusion slate" seeks 100 people to run for NUS president

6:01pm Mon December 20th

5 comments

Long held as a demographic with a predilection for the surreal, a group of students are seeking one hundred candidates to run for NUS president as part of a so-called “Confusion Slate”. With each hopeful given a set period in which to address delegates, they claim that total allotted speaking time would run to nearly twelve hours.

The group are accepting volunteers via their Facebook page, which explains:

Each candidate will get 7 minutes to speak freely in which time they can thoroughly baffle conference, give them a speech on the benefits of situationist politics, or just rant about how shit the NUS have been over the last year. Between us we will have over 700 minutes of speaking time.

Scrapbook is confident the realities of union regulations will come to crush this most amusing initiative, which is a pity.

This would surely liven up proceedings in April 2011 no end.

Yesterday's Benny Hill protests

1:21pm Wed December 1st

14 comments

After what happened at last week’s protests, students demonstrating in a snowy London yesterday had no intention of being kettled. To do this, their dissent took a more fluid form, scarpering to different parts of central London to avoid the grasp of the long arm of the law. It clearly resonated with some:

Perhaps students could try a different Benny Hill tactic next time?

“Excuse me, can’t you read the sign? No protesting allowed!” “We’ll be very quiet.”

Swearing at Spaniards with Oxford Uni Labour Club

7:39pm Tue July 6th

3 comments

An Arsenal-supporting politico evidently mixed up their personal Twitter account and that of Oxford University Labour Club earlier:

At least they didn’t link to Chinese porn [cough].

John Prescott on student finance: "What you talkin' 'bout Willetts?"

1:54pm Thu June 10th

1 comment

Prezza is not impressed by universities minister David Willetts’ suggestion that students are a “burden on the taxpayer” and should live at home, attending an FE college to achieve a “prestigious degree”:

But who knew Two Jags was a fan of Diff’rent Strokes?

Save water, drink champagne: full text of Cambridge Conservatives' freshers' guide

4:47pm Sun October 11th

2 comments

University societies crave publicity (and new members) at the start of the new academic year. But when your fresher materials nets you coverage in the Daily Mail and PA newswires this is generally not a good thing, especially for Cambridge University Conservatives, whose freshers guide included advice on where to find the best champagne and how to tie a bow tie.

The full document can be browsed below or downloaded as a PDF:

Thanks to Cambridge University Labour Club.

Tag Archives: student politics

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