Thursday 27-06-2024 - 11:21

 

At an emergency meeting of the Lancaster Union Assembly on June 25, 2024, a motion was presented which called on Lancaster University to take various actions over the situation in Gaza and Palestine.

 

 
The motion was thoroughly debated by the Union Assembly members present and a vote was held on four demands included in the motion, all of which were passed.
 
This now means that the terms of these motions become Lancaster University Students’ Union policy, as is set out in the SU Constitution.
 
The demands in the motion that was debated and voted on were as follows:

1. Lancaster University calls for a permanent ceasefire.
·       The University should release an open letter affirming that it stands unequivocally on the side of Palestine, condemning the Israeli invasion in the same terms as the letter released by Professor Andy Schofield in response to the invasion of Ukraine. 
·       All participants in the conflict must ensure that all fighting and hostilities come to an immediate halt, and that all hostages and detainees are released immediately
Votes: For – 13, Against – 2, Abstain – 2
 
2. Lancaster University agrees to cut ALL ties with arms manufacturers, particularly BAE Systems.
·       This includes both direct financial investments, as well as other collaborations such as career fairs, graduate schemes, the memorandum of understanding and the development of the Barrow-in-Furness campus etc.
Votes:  For – 12, Against – 3, Abstain – 2
 
3. Lancaster University management agrees upon full annual disclosure of university-wide assets, including direct and indirect investments, land holdings, donations, and grants.
·       The University agrees upon the formation of an elected body in control of investments as per the UCU motion.
Votes: For – 14, Against – 1, Abstain - 2
 
4. Lancaster University reaffirms its status as a sanctuary university by offering scholarships to Palestinian refugees and commits to investments in education within the region.
·       The university publicly commits to supporting through financial and material means the Palestinian-led rebuilding of the twelve universities that have been completely or in part destroyed by Israeli aggression over the last year.
Votes: For – 14, Against – 2, Abstain - 1
 
 
So, the Union will now be working on this issue and lobbying the University to comply with its terms. The Union will give staff and officer resources to this issue as it has been democratically voted through by UA members representing the student body as a whole.
 
LUSU VP Welfare, Josh Newsham, said after the meeting: “The motion here today is a step forward in creating a University that we can one day proudly say is a force for good around the world. It is clear, our students, many of whom come from countries affected by conflict and war, are uncomfortable with the presence of and our tuition fee investment in relationships with arms companies.
The Students' Union has previously successfully lobbied for a University Ethnical Investment Policy, which prohibits the investment in arms companies. We are now asking that these same values extend to those whom the University has standing relationships with, so we can strive to make our University a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students by instead putting more effort and resource into relationships and presence of more sustainable and ethical industries.
 
The war crimes, as described by the International Court of Justice, being committed in Palestine are a failure of humanity, while many students feel powerless, I am proud that our community of 16,000 students have come together within our diverse communities to create fundraisers for medical aid, and to take political action asking for change within our University, and in the UK's response to the on-going atrocities.
 
I have personally spoken with University leadership and University Council pushing them to explore bold ideas as what we can do as a global institution to be a place of hope and a compelling force for good around the world. Our University has had historic links to Universities and education in now occupied areas of Palestine, and I hope that when this conflict comes to an end, our University can provide resource and support to rebuild education in Palestine.”
 
The Union Assembly is the highest democratic body in the Students’ Union. It is made up of the senior leadership in the Lancaster student community. Union Assembly meets twice every term to discuss and debate what matters to students; and decide on the future actions and policies of the Students’ Union.
 
The Union Assembly is made up of elected student representatives from academic departments, clubs and societies, colleges, postgraduate students and SU officers. It needs 19 members in attendance to be ‘quorate’ and there were 19 members in attendance on Tuesday evening, so its debate and vote were valid under the terms of our Constitution.
 
The SU now looks forward to implementing this policy by engaging with the University in a constructive way to achieve the targets set out in the motion.
 
We will keep you informed of progress in the weeks and months to come.