Wednesday. Went to conference. Was asked by a friend to sit in a count for him as he was going for a NEC position. My God that was mind-numbingly boring. More boring that a Titney interview. Left after he was eliminated. Back to Conference floor for the rest of the afternoon session. Went to the HENC (Higher Education National Council) meeting. Found out that students from Scotland studying in England (i.e. me) may be entitled to a £500 bursery as of next acadenic year. Asked NUS Scotland President Elect if there is to be a campaign to get that increased and if so, are they planning to get Scots studying in England involved. He said he would be delighted if people voluntered to help with this. So, I did.
Night session. It went a little bit, well, insaneomatic. Getting close to 10pm. Everyone pretty much knackered. We had a vote on one of the Parts. It was too close for the Chair to call so we went to a count. Doors shut and locked. No-one leaves, no-one enters.
Before going on, I have to explain something. Observers are allowed onto the balcony at Conference. SWSS (Socialist Workers Student Section hereby known as Swiss) had said observers. They were telling Swiss delegates how to vote, when to clap and when to boo. Observers themsleves have no voting powers. This will become important later.
Anyhoo. Count done. The parts fell by 1 vote. Demands for a recount. They checked the figures. They were right. The decision stood. Huge amounts of calls for a recount.
Then the chair said that there was a problem. Someone had reported to Steering that Swiss delegates were going up to the Swiss observers and giving them their Delegate passes (which you need to get onto Conference floor) and their voting cards. Blatently against the rules.
The doors were closed. For 20 minutes or so (it seemed like longer) Steering debated what to do. Then they made the announcement. The session was to close straight away. As there was no way to check that delegates were supposed to be there quickly, Conference was ruled to be unconstitutional. As such we could not continue with the debate. We would pick up where we left off the next morning with one speach for and against the Parts and proceeding straight onto a count. I went to the bar.
I then went to a party someone had organised. Went to the toilet. After getting up the stairs I heard “I thought it was you”. Turns out it was someone I had not seen in about 7 years. Had a chat with her. Forgot to get her e-mail address. Bastard.
Thursday. Continued debate. Finally got decision to reform NUS passed. Listened to leaving speaches. Wander round Blackpool. Got rock for housemates and family. Got tacky Blackpool Tower thingy for me. Back to Boro. Watched Mulholland Dr. Had drink. Watched comedians. Home. Sleep.
And now I’m away for Exec training.
Will
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