Black Students

Like other NUS liberation groups, we are a self-organised and autonomous campaign. This means that we democratically elect our own National Officer and Committee, and pass policy at our annual conference. This policy shapes the Campaign's local and national work to ensure the Black perspective is fully integrated into the fabric of Student Unions and wider society.

The need for Black representation
Although Black students form 20 per cent of the NUS' membership, we are among the least represented groups in the democratic and social structures. Less than four per cent of all elected officers and sabbaticals in the UK, and only two of the 27 (2004/5) NUS National Executive members are Black.
Unless Student Unions redress this under-representation, Black students will continue to miss out on academic and welfare support, and remain on the fringe of union activities.

What We Do for Black Students
The NUS Black Students' Campaign exists to meet the diverse needs of Black students. As an active and autonomous campaigning and development movement, we function on four levels.

• Firstly, the Campaign works with Black students and union officers to provide support and resources at a local and regional level. This includes helping Black clubs and societies, supporting anti-racism initiatives or setting up Black student groups.
• Secondly, we encourage increased widening participation of Black students in further and higher education.
• Thirdly, we build links between SUs and national campaigns like: A Prayer Room in Every College, Votes are Power, Anonymous Marking and 100 Great Black Britons.
• Finally, the Campaign influences the political and educational bodies that decide the policies that shape our experience. We work with a range of partners to defend the Black community: including NUS; National Assembly Against Racism, the Dept for Education and Skills, trade unions and the Commission for Racial Equality.

How Do We Do It?
We set out our work for the year in our Priority Campaigns document, which is available online. The four principal areas of work are: Black Representation, Respect Not Racism, Equality in Education, and Internationalism. For each section, there are goals that we aim to achieve in partnership with Black students and SU officers. For example:

  black representation
this year we are calling for a Black Students' Officer in every union, and 200 Black students to attend National Conference. This is because anecdotal evidence shows that where Black Officer positions have been created, there have been sizeable increases in the participation of Black students.

  respect not racism
The Campaign is also building an anti-racist movement on our campuses with respect initiatives, while fighting the fascist BNP who demonise Muslims and asylum seekers, and call for an all-white Britain. The Campaign also opposes bans on the hijab and other religious symbols - a consequence of Far-Right politics entering the mainstream agenda.

  equality in education
Black students face additional barriers in education: lower grades when anonymous marking is not in place, higher drop-out rates and exclusion. Even as graduates we are three times less likely to find a job, and earn nine per cent less than our white peers.

  internationalism
The Campaign acutely understands the need for an ethical and responsible world –free from wars and illegal occupations. We support ACTSA and ActionAid to tackle the AIDS pandemic; War on Want to campaign for debt-relief; the 1990 Trust on solidarity with Black people and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to defend the rights of all students to an education, and for peace and justice in the Middle East based on international law.

How Can You Get Involved?
Opportunities to get involved in the campaign vary from the winter (training) and summer (policy-making) conferences - to which each union can send one Black delegate for free - to network, gain campaign ideas, resources and advice on empowering and activating your students. There are also Black-Women's / LGBT / SWD Days and Black History Month activities (in October). Respect Not Racism and Unite Against Fascism events. Or join us for campaigns on Black representation, equality in education and internationalism. There's also the chance for individual Black students, or groups, to contact the Campaign for help to develop their clubs and societies, or for unions to request training and support, e.g. campaign material, advice or speakers.

Activities in Your College
There are many ways of recognising and celebrating the contributions of the Black community, and this is a useful way to engage your Black students. Examples include:

• Putting on bhangra, hip-hop, or African music/club nights;
• Hold panel discussions
• Show Black films (there is a rich variety of Bollywood and African cinema or documentaries like Injustice)
• Have a stall at Freshers' Fair with information on getting involved and who to approach for details
• Run Respect Not Racism weeks / events
• Organise events for Black History Month

If you want more information, or ideas on how to make a difference, invite the NUS Black Students Officer to support your club, society, or SU. Together we can build the unity that is our strength.

Good luck, and keep in touch!

Pav Akhtar
NUS Black Students' Officer
Email: pav@nus.org.uk
Tel: 0207 2728900
Mob: 07817 010043
Web: www.nusonline.co.uk/ blackstudentscampaign
Check out the NUS Black Students' web page for events happening on campus, in local communities and across the UK.