Monday 25-09-2023 - 09:01

From Durham SU President, Dan Lonsdale

It is necessary to create an environment in which the student debating organisation, Durham Union Society (DUS), can become an inclusive and functional member of the student community, not a negative and unaccountable one operating on the outskirts. My view is that this is what it presently is. Allowing DUS to buy a commercial stall at Freshers’ Fair 2023 gave us, as Durham Students’ Union, an important opportunity to incentivise this change. We have a responsibility not to waste that, and I’m proud we haven’t.

A better DUS culture

DUS needs to go further in its action to prevent its culture from failing and harming students again in the future. Part of our agreement about Freshers’ Fair attendance included discussing our recommendations for achieving this. DUS has agreed to several of those recommendations for change. They include: a public consultation of key stakeholders, reformation of their Officers’ Code of Conduct and the promotion of the Equalities Officer to the Standing Committee – this officer will provide termly reports on their progress from here on out. Students will also be able to review and feedback on the progress DUS makes and inform the SU response to it.

Our decision to allow DUS to purchase a commercial stall at the Freshers’ Fair is not an endorsement of their practices, their history or even of their existence. It is a recognition that both parties agree that having the same hostile debate every year, reopening the same wounds, and resolving nothing is unsustainable and at odds with building a better culture at Durham. DUS exists. It will continue to operate on campus for the foreseeable future. I believe Durham students will be better off because we have done this work. >

Building on student voice about DUS

Durham SU’s Assembly demonstrated the scale of student dissatisfaction with the state of DUS last year. As a result of the vote to continue a boycott, and its implications for DUS, DUS committed to this process of change. For this, Assembly members can be proud of their role in initiating a significant transformation of culture on campus.

I was present at the meeting. I voted to continue the boycott and spoke in unambiguous terms about my dislike of DUS, and the negative attitudes towards minoritised students which I feel they have consistently promoted over time. We believe it is our responsibility as student leaders to help DUS find a way to improve its practices and become a positive force on campus.

Holding DUS to its commitments

The co-operation of DUS with the SU throughout this journey is non-negotiable and our support - and access to our students via Durham SU fairs and events - is not unconditional. I want to assure students we will not allow any deviation from the standards agreed between both parties.

I appreciate this could concern some students, which is why I am making myself available to talk with them about it. Feel free to contact me and we can discuss further. I hope that we can move forward with an understanding and build a more inclusive culture on campus.

Dan – SU President

su.president@durham.ac.uk