City students to vote on rejoining national union

The referendum will come only weeks after the NUS’s organisation of a national demonstration in London, which saw students from across the country protesting against cuts to university funding.

Southampton University’s Student Union (SUSU) left the national union in 2002 because it claimed it “did not provide good value for money” and was “dominated by political factions”.

It will cost the SUSU £50,000 a year to be affiliated to the national body and some students believe that could lead to increases in charges for current services, including the SU bar.

However other students want to join because they say it will give them more discounts at national stores.

Fourth-year politics student Sam Hall said: “Joining the NUS will help us save money on items sold in union shops and bars, and give us a better discount card.

“Lots of stores in Southampton don’t accept our alternative discount card, getting a NUS one will means we can get discounts in stores like Topman and Superdrug.”

Aaron Bali, environment and ethics officer at SUSU, questioned the NUS’ political clout.

He said: “It was lobbying by the Aldwych Group, a group of student unions from the top universities in the country, not the NUS that stopped the government charging top up fees before they were then later introduced almost a decade ago.

“The NUS clearly doesn’t hold enough power to influence important decisions affecting Southampton students, and we are a big enough union to represent our students alone.”

Southampton Union President Billy Fitzjohn promised in his election campaign for the presidential role last year that he would hold a referendum on the matter.

He said: “The referendum is about making sure that students get to vote and have their say on the issues surrounding the debate.”

Southampton’s Student Union is the biggest of only five universities in England that are not affiliated with the NUS.