Vote of no confidence in Napier student President passes

Students on the Napier Students' Association Senate passed a motion of no confidence in current President Kasia Bylinska at a meeting late Friday evening.

A dismissal vote which would have seen Ms Bylinska removed from office with immediate effect fell, meaning that Ms Bylinska will remain in her position.

The motion was passed at an emergency Senate meeting, held as voting in the problem plagued NSA elections came to an end.

Ms Bylinska, who was criticised by students for not attending the meeting, told The Journal 

"I do not believe that I have had enough time to prepare my defence. The natural laws of justice should allow me at least one week."

The Journal understands that Ms Bylinska has sought legal advice over her position.

The motion was passed at an emergency Senate meeting, held as voting in the problem plagued NSA elections came to an end.

Felice Riccobono, a nursing student and member of the representative council, told The Journal that he had turned up to "hear both sides of the argument". 

"Based on what we heard the argument seemed to holdup," said Mr Riccobono who voted in favour of the no confidence motion.

Mr Riccobono said: "When it came to vote to dismiss, I couldn't pass that personally, because she wasn't there and I don't know her reasons. I am not happy about what just happened."

Moves to declare the election "null and void" were dropped after acting chair Phillip Whyte, President of Strathclyde University Students' Association, deemed that it was outwith the remit of the Senate.

Another motion to investigate staff misconduct was also ruled to be a strictly presidential matter and was dropped.

Ms Blyinska was the only remaining candidate in the NSA presidential election, which ended at 5pm on Friday. Results were expected on Monday as The Journal went to print, although it remained unclear whether these would be confirmed after voting records were viewable online two days into the week-long online vote and one of the candidates withdrew.

It was expected that further emergency meetings would be held in the event that the committee did not declare the election invalid. Nathan Sparling, who spoke in favour of tonight's no confidence motion, stood down as a candidate citing 'corruption' in the NSA election committee.