Student RESPECT - Organisation

Organisation

Student RESPECT policy is decided at Respect National Conference where Student RESPECT delegates meet with the wider organisation to discuss the global and local situation and decide our collective response to it. Student RESPECT groups organise on many campuses in both universities and Further Education colleges. The majority of activity is done as part of wider campaigns particularly the Stop the War Coalition but Respect groups also organise regular events under their own banner, which are open to all students, as well as standing in Student Union elections.

Student RESPECT has an annual conference which decides the political direction of the organisation. The day long conference includes an opening session usually with the National Secretary and an elected representative of the mother organisation. Workshops on topics such as Education in the Neo-Liberal World, LGBT Liberation, Climate Change, and The War on Terror are held consisting of a talk by a Student RESPECT member and time for discussion and debate. Action Points are then decided upon at each workshop and agreed on collectively in the closing session. Conference also elects the 12 member Student RESPECT Committee (SRC) which meets once a month and sets policy and strategy in between conference as well as making NUS full-time candidate recommendations. Each Student RESPECT branch is able to send two delegates to SRC meetings with speaking rights. The SRC also usually includes the full-time organiser for the Socialist Workers Student Society in order to benefit from the time and resources this can bring to SR. More informal National Activist meetings are also a regular feature of Student RESPECT activity, giving a wider range of members a chance to feedback and make suggestions to the SRC as well as network and share ideas and experiences.

After the 2007 conference the new SRC is as follows:

• Noreen Fatima, London Metropolitan University (Chair)
• Rob Owen, NUS NEC (Secretary)
• Dominic Kavakeb, University of Essex (Treasurer)
• Estelle Cooch, London School of Economics (Communications Officer)

Non-Portfolio Officers:

• Assed Baig, Staffordshire University
• Marie Kamara, ?
• Bill Boon, University of the West of England
• Jennifer Jones, Goldsmiths, University of London
• Alex Castro, University of Manchester
• Hanif Leylabi, University of Leeds

• Ghaith Nassar, Cardiff University