Whilst I’ve been back in work for two weeks now there hasn’t really been anything beyond the normal to report. Besides you all have exams so I didn’t want to give you too much distraction!

On Monday I met with a number of potential candidates for this years elections, each with their own valid experience, passions and of course questions! Over the Christmas period I have to be honest I debated my wholehearted decision not to re-run. Because I had always set it in stone I’d managed to push away the temptations to re-run. With time away from the Union and nominations looming it was hard not to even ponder! I knew I could bring more to the role and I still had stuff to give, besides the process would weed me out if the other candidates would bring more to the role.

But then I thought- is there anything that I want to do next year that someone else couldn’t? If I believed in what I’d said in the last year surely handover was the key to unlocking potential?

It was a hard decision not to run, I love my job and the immense opportunities it gives me. However I’ve always stood against the idea of second year sabbs, in that I believe they can stunt potential growth from below. Besides I was too excited about the election process anyway!!

In the afternoon I met with a representative from push.co.uk the “ruthlessly independent university comparison site”. It was a good opportunity to continue to get across the excellent student experience we have here in Swansea, from live music to societies Swansea continues to have LOADS to offer!

That evening we drove up to Wolverhampton ready for Extraordinary conference “deux”. This time we were taking Will Long to observe the process and see what he thought of it all and then write it up for the waterfront. We made our way up and after a particularly interesting nandos session with some delegates from Sussex we went back to the delightful Britannia hotel for some banter before bed!

The next day there was a real buzz, a real opportunity to make a difference and in doing so ensure NUS can make a difference. What ensued was a passionate debate from both sides, however (and im sure I will be accused of bias here) I genuinely believe that the anti- reform arguments stood for nothing. They drew in the Gaza occupation as an issue – but is that really an issue to not vote reform? The Gaza conflict is a vast issue, one that commands a peaceful, united student body to call for an end and for a viable peace. But to say that the reform going through would hamper that is complete and utter bollocks.

If anything with a reformed NUS issues like that can be responded to effectively and appropriately – rather than the shameful display of “activism” displayed by Union delegates and most shamefully NEC officers. At the end of the conference around fifty delegates stormed the stage to protest against NUS’s lack of action on the Gaza issue (AKA attempt to stall democracy because this time it was against them and delegates were clearly going to vote for reform!). I believe in passionate campaigning but I believe in doing so in a way that is firm and fair – not offensive and discriminatory. How dare members of our national executive tell me a student officer that NUS was offensive and uncaring because they had not acted on the Gaza issue when they ranted and raved on stage upsetting and discriminating against Jewish delegates. How dare members of our NEC accuse NUS of usurping democracy with their new constitution when they attempted to stall a democratic vote by taking conference stage.

As I left I heard one of these delegates say “well we did well I think, there was a good few “no” voters on this side”. Clearly these delegates had lost touch even more than I had originally thought! I truly believe that before they stormed the stage a larger number of delegates might have voted against reform or abstained. But once they had usurped the very democracy we were fighting for I believe these peoples opinions changed as they refused to be bullied into voting against reform.

Anyhoo! So reform passed and with a whopping majority! Now its up to the NEC to take things forward and make NUS the national body that black, white, mature, part-time, FE, HE postgraduate, undergraduate, female, male, gay, straight, welsh, Scottish, northern irish and English students deserve!

On Thursday I met with our brand new Welsh Affairs Officer – V.R.S.A. Mahaboob Basha. A fantastic addition to the team, once a diplomat in the Indian government now a postgraduate student at the University the man is a legend! With four or five languages under his belt and a growing understanding of Welsh and a real love for Welsh culture Mahaboob will be an excellent officer on the executive.

In the afternoon I was involved in the Princes Foundation “Charette” regarding the Campus Expansion programme. A charette is an opportunity for developers, partners and designers to meet with key stakeholders and work through specific ideas and issues – crudely a kind of giant brainstorm programme! It was an excellent opportunity to see some of the ideas raised and have a real input for students on an immensely forward-thinking programme.n53144251207_234