FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES to the way that elections are run in the Students' Union were blocked last week.
A polling station at Owens Park and the recording of candidates' speeches had been planned, with the aim of increasing election turnout.
The lifting of a ban on online campaigning which stops candidates using Facebook, websites and unapproved emails to promote their election bid was also blocked.
Students' Union elections have long suffered from very low turnouts so the reforms were drafted to get the 'ordinary student' interested.
However, after a heated debate the Students' Union council voted against the proposals.
Half way through the two hour meeting the meeting the Campaigns Officer called for the Chair of Council, Ali Yazdi, to be removed, claiming he was not impartial.
The move was overwhelmingly rejected by the other council members, who went on to vote on the reform motions.
The Life Sciences Officer who proposed the motion commented: "I thought the proposals were positive ways to increase participation in the Students' Union.
"I think so many people would have taken advantage of the opportunity to challenge candidates. I was surprised certain members of the Union did not support them."
The Campaigns Officer, one of those leading the opposition to the proposals, commented: "The reforms looked for a short cut in getting people involved in elections.
"What is required is Union activists to go out and show people how the Union is relevant to them, to help them take ownership of the Union."
A record of how council members voted can be found on page 30.
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