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What is the current problem, and how does it affect students?

In the past 12 months we have seen racist riots and far-right mobilisations across the country, promoting bigotry and violence, particularly towards refugees and Muslims, as well as an increase in antisemitism. This university has more than 14,000 overseas students, and 96% of undergraduate overseas students are from Black, Asian, or ethnic minority backgrounds according to the 2022/23 statistics. A rise of racism and xenophobia impacts not only the wellbeing of students of colour and marginalised groups, it threatens the very values of diversity and inclusion championed by the University and the LUU.

The prominence of anti-immigration rhetoric in the last electoral cycle signals a worrying shift towards far-right ideology in British mainstream politics. At the same time, reactionary parties are on the rise across Europe in France, Germany, and Italy. Across the Atlantic, immigrants and refugees face mass incarcerations and deportations under the Trump administration. In the wake of Trump’s inauguration, international politics is becoming increasingly frightening. The outrage at Elon Musk’s salutes has swept across the world, but has also led to reactionary defenses of the act, particularly the ableist excuses that run rampant. With racist national mobilisations called by the demagogue Tommy Robinson backed by the likes of Elon Musk, the rise of far-right politics is a real and tangible threat - both to international students, and home students who are from minority backgrounds. This has dangerous implications to these groups of students as many are targeted for characteristics which are protected under the Equality Act 2010.

What is your proposed change? How will it benefit students?

The changes that I propose is a more proactive approach from the LUU in its commitment to anti-racism, including initiating campaigns and providing support for local and national mobilizations. This is following on from the support provided by the student union for the counter-demonstration to Tommy Robinson on the 26th October 2024. The Equality and Liberation Officer booked coach tickets for students to attend and promoted the counter-demonstration within its network of societies. Efforts like these are key to demonstrating LUU’s commitment to its core principle of inclusivity and should be expanded upon. By bringing together a network of students and societies who share the same endeavour in fighting against racism, LUU will be able to ensure campaigning efforts against racism are effective and successful. 

Support for external organisations that are involved in anti-racism campaigns is key to building a better culture of inclusivity on campus. This could look like fundraisers or awareness campaigns, or inviting them to (re)freshers stalls, and is crucial in the face of increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric. The LUU currently does not have the ability to maintain relationships with campaigns across the city, despite the high activity of campaign groups. And so it should ensure that it is within someone’s role - who is not a Student Executive Officer - to keep up to date with these groups and the activity and ensure that students are supported in getting involved.

To build a fun and diverse campus, student’s need to feel safe. Facilitating leafleting as well as banner making sessions would be a good way to create a culture of anti-racism. By ‘facilitating’, I am asking the LUU to actively engage with and initiate these events, such as in their weekly email to students, bringing in societies to these activities, and having a structure that supports student campaigns. Currently there lacks a formal structure to coordinate these efforts. The creation of such a structure could look like a formalised campaign hub, a specific anti-racism coordinator, or a more flexible campaign based risk assessment process. The existence of such a structure would also empower students in engaging in and initiating anti-racist campaigns with the help and support from the LUU.

A significant problem at the moment comes down to the crisis of politics on campuses, and it is part of the student union’s duty to foster an environment on campus where students feel confident to protest against the state-racism we’re witnessing today. But we should also look to the future and what challenges may present themselves. In the interest of keeping students safe and promoting the multiculturalism that puts Leeds University on the map, we must ensure that we treasure values of respect for one another over values of hate. This includes being able to support spontaneous or short-notice protests if a tragic or alarming political event occurs.

With the rise of student societies promoting hate and bigotry on University and college campuses, it is imperative that we keep racism out of our university. With one of the core values of the LUU being ‘inclusive’, it doesn’t seem right that we let those who are dedicated to promoting hate be able to use the LUU to spread that harmful message and create a discriminatory culture on campus.

Have you considered the impact of the proposed change for traditionally underrepresented student groups?

I believe that the impact of this motion on the traditionally underrepresented groups on campus would be very positive. This is an issue that threatens many people: women, LGBTQ people, disabled people, trans people, those from religious backgrounds, as well as ethnic minorities, as the far-right look to threaten and discriminate against the people they think they can target and blame. I’m looking to create a positive change on campus in regard to the culture surrounding protest and anti-rascist and anti-fascist work, as well as the ability of these groups to get involved in speaking out against their oppression by getting involved with campaigning. This campaigning should be made easier by the LUU with the changes I have suggested. I believe that this will benefit the above groups of people in making campus a more inclusive and encouraging space to be able to talk about their fears and then take steps to improve the situation.