Action fuelled EUSA GM ends in disappointment

The most eventful Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) general meeting in recent history took place last week, with the online referenda motion falling for the third time in chaotic circumstances.

After a poor turnout at the meeting, it was only after the ballroom dancing society joined the GM and increased the overall attendance beyond 300 people that any of the proposed motions were made binding. 

EUSA President Thomas Graham pleaded with those present to vote for the constitutional changes that included the introduction of online referenda, claiming it was in the best interests of student democracy. 

“We didn’t expect it to fail the last two times, it is in the best interests of students, I am begging you to support this motion. Times don’t change but values do.”

Despite receiving 80 percent of votes in favour, the motion could not be passed as the 215 supporters fell short of the 300 needed for consitutional amendments.

Mr Graham said: “We are very disappointed. The GM does not operate in a fair or democratic manner. It has had overwhelming support in all three meetings; the fact that it didn’t pass either time illustrates how undemocratic the system really is. If I could sit on the stage and recognise 100 of the 250 odd people who were present, then that is not a fair representation of our student body." 

The debate on these changes to the constitution was sped up so that those leaving the meeting could vote.

EUSA Vice President James Wallace reiterated Mr Thomas' remarks, saying it is “hardly democratic when you have to rely on the ballroom dancing society to stay in the  room [to legitimize the vote]”. 

According to Mr Graham, the online referenda now faces three options. It could be left for a new president, an extraordinary AGM could be called or the motion may be abandoned completely. 

Mr Wallace believes there is no doubt that it will be proposed again: “Students want this, students need this and without this change we cannot represent them properly.” 

There was controversy as EUSA Presidential candidate Laura-Jayne Baker abstained from the vote on the constitutional amendment. A EUSA insider said this move could persuade many to “campaign against Laura and support Liz Rawlings”.

The event was played out aginst the backdrop of a screen projecting audience Tweets sent in via Twitter. The debate was conitnued on Twitter throughout the night, adding an irony to the failure of the online referenda motion.

Mr Wallace subsequently resigned from the election committee and announced on his Twitter feed that he would shortly be announcing his support for a presidential candidate. 

Baker responded to attacks via Twitter, posting a message saying: “Laura-Jayne Baker is concerned that people seem to think that abstaining in a vote, because you wanted more debate, makes you no longer able to be president.”

In a later interview, Baker described the latter part of the GM, in particular the constitutional vote, as “a little bit of a farce…the whole thing was ridiculous and needed more debate”.

‘#eusagm’ became a national trending topic on Twitter which provided an entertaining commentary of the chaos from Edinburgh students.

NUS Scotland President Liam Burns, who acted as the independent chair during the constitutional debate told The Journal he felt “real sympathy for the Sabbs”, who he believes are working with a 'broken model'.

"What happened was that around 40 students prevented 27,000 students from voting in the future.” 

In other motions, there was a historic tie in the motion calling for the banning of Facebook use in the library at peak times. 

Thomas Graham, who had the casting vote, eventually passed the motion on the grounds that it may encourage the library to investigate a fast track computer system for those who need to print work off quickly.