SU Referendum - Vote now and get a free coffee*!

Have your voice heard in the biggest decision Birkbeck Students’ Union has had in 5 years!

Decide how your union works for you by simply taking 5 minutes to vote!  

Below you can find more information about the questions and debate around it, as well as information on how to vote and who to contact if you are having issues.

*To get your free hot drink, you need to come collect your token in the SU Office (Birkbeck Central, Room G16), and then you can redeem it at the Terrace, 5th Floor of the Malet Street Buidling, by the Friday 17th. Your drink can be up to £2.50 value.

Referendum One: Should Birkbeck Students’ Union Leave NUS (UK)?  

 

NUS is the umbrella to many Student Unions around the UK, NUS’s main objective is to make education free, fair and accessible to all students. The SU pays NUS (UK) £7,455.90 per year to be part of the campaigns arm of NUS which means the Union helps fund NUS to run national campaigns. However, over recent years there have been many concerns about the running of NUS.  

Why Leave?  

1. We choose our direction  

2. It is not Value for Money  

3. Their Current Reputation.  

“We spend £7,369 a year to be a member of NUS. This allows us to actively partake in their democracy, use their resources and connect with other unions. However, as a union we are unable to afford to sending delegates to any conferences, unable to afford any courses on offer and unable to afford to use their central billing platform. As per the NUS value of membership page, their top value is financial return and their central billing platform. We do not have the money to use these services. The question then becomes, should we waste this money which could be spent on Birkbeck students? NUS may have value for large unions, but we are not that. We have a unique demographic that NUS dose not account for. We should be able to pick our direction, and our campaigns and spend our money on our students” – Student 

Why Stay?  

1. Financial Support and Impact 

2. Representation and Influence 

3. Campaign Resources 

“NUS UK has secured substantial financial support from the government, resulting in millions of pounds allocated to students for cost-of-living support and hardship funding. Birkbeck students have directly benefited from these funds. Long-term financial benefits, such as student exemptions on council tax, the introduction of postgraduate loans, and commitments to affordable and accessible student housing, are outcomes of NUS campaigning and representation. NUS UK has a track record of advocating for regulatory and legislative changes, like those related to sexual misconduct, that directly benefit students.”- Student  

There are many sides to this debate, but make your own mind up and vote in the first Birkbeck Referendum in 5 years!  

Referendum Two: Should Birkbeck Students' Union change its current officer structure for the new proposed structure? 

 

Birkbeck Students’ Union is run by 8 elected leaders who are paid to represent student views. In November 2023 the Student Union conducted a democracy review in which found that the majority of students weren't happy with the roles that currently represent them. A review was conducted to create an alternative option that put students' feedback at the forefront of planning. 

The key theme found was that students believe that:  

• Postgraduates need more Student Union representation.  

• Welfare and Education are the most important issues.  

• Equity should be considered.  

• Officers need to focus on bigger student issues (such as the cost-of-living crisis).  

• If students were to run for a role, they wanted a role with more hours to help with finances. 

Over 10% of current Birkbeck Students have been consulted. 

 

 

The proposed structure would have more hours for officers to take on bigger student issues such as cost-of-living, AI, and Postgraduate welfare while also bringing together the women's, LGBTQ+, Trans, BAME, International and Disability networks to help create bigger changes for these communities.  

Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer (21 hours) 

This role will solely focus on the postgraduate experience, and how change can be created to support and improve student experience.  

Education Sabbatical Officer (21 Hours)  

Education will focus on education issues as a whole whether this be the AI Policy or Timetabling issues. This officer will also work closely with course reps to create change all the way down to the course level.  

Welfare Sabbatical Officer (21 Hours) 

Welfare will focus on student welfare issues such as Mental Health Support and Student Services. This role will be open to all current Birkbeck Students.  

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Sabbatical Officer (21 Hours) 

This role will focus on working closely with the liberation networks to ensure change is created to make a better experience for students. This role will also focus on inclusion policy and improving the inclusivity and diversity of Birkbeck University.  This role will work with all networks to ensure their voice is heard at the top of Birkbeck while also considering demographics that our networks currently don't represent such as mature students.  

• Networks would be run by student volunteers a chair would be elected in the autumn elections.  That chair can also sit on student parliament with a casting vote. 

• The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Sabbatical Officer will be accountable to all Networks.  

 

There are many sides to this decision but make your own mind up and choose what roles you would want to represent you with student issues.  

Be Part of the biggest decision at Birkbeck Students’ Union in 5 years and Vote!  

How to vote?

1. Login to your student account on the Birkbeck SU website:
   If you have not logged into your account since September 2023,  you will need to register a new account for Birkbeck SU as your previous account will not work on our new website.

2. Vote by heading to the link below

3. Any issues with logging in or voting need to be reported before the vote closes,  please email su-elections@bbk.ac.uk for help.