So after 11 hours on a train, travelling overnight via Carlisle I arrived at the NUS conference in Blackpool, not knowing what to expect and having no idea of the controversy and emotions that would become apparent over the next three days. Over 1300 delegates from as far as way as Belfast in Northern Ireland to Plymouth in the South descended onto Sunny Blackpool full of optimism and expectations. I was not disappointed, after the usual boring bits about not booing speakers and behaviour we launched ourselves straight into the biggest debate to take place at NUS conference since the Stop the War debate five years ago. The debate centred on reform of the NUS constitution, basically the National Executive committee of the NUS was effectively sacking itself. Everyone agrees that the NUS needed change, but the UPSU delegation like many felt that the change being presented was not the effective change that was required. Many gaps had been left and in my opinion this new constitution was being forced upon us. The debate lasted around an hour and arguments both for and against we presented excellently, both making very valid points. The only question that remained was would the oranges or the greens? When the vote was eventually called at just gone 3pm it was clear that more people wanted the change offered than those who did not. A two thirds majority was needed, and initially the chair called a victory for the oranges. The greens called for a count, and the conference held its breath and their hands as NUS bods ran around counting. The result, the oranges fell short by a mere 25 votes! Uproar ensured as the greens in their minority jumped with jubilation whilst the oranges were aghast at their defeat. A recount was ordered, but rejected. The NUS president Gemma Tumlety then took to the stage and openly critised those who had voted against her, and I don’t blame her for her outburst, to be honest I would be pretty pissed if I had put a year of work into something I believed in and lost by 25 votes. But then that is why we have democracy, it is their to protect us and to ensure the right decisions are made. I give Gemma Credit, she was humble enough to stand up in her closing speech and apologise for her outburst, but did she mean it? I can honestly say she did.

The rest of the conference was in a shadow from that first two hours, but the fun continued. Motions were debated, some were passed and some were defeated, at times I thought why am I here, but for the most I enjoyed it and actually felt that my voice as a student was being heard. But one thing is certain and that is that NUS needs to change and change fast. If it does not then we will be left behind in the 20^th century and in the words of Gemma Tumlety, “We will be back, and We will drag this union into the 21^st century”. I don’t doubt that, I just hope I have as much fun next year as I did this year.