Bssf Now Fully Accredited With Nus

[B.S.S.F]

The National Union of Students (NUS) is the main confederation of students' unions that exist inside the United Kingdom. The NUS currently has over 700 constituent member (unions of either higher or further education establishments) representing approximately 7million students (98% of the Student population in higher or further education).

The NUS is dedicated to representing the needs of students from Ethnic backgrounds aswell as from different faiths. External affiliated organisations such as The Christian Union, National Hindu Student Forum (NHSF), Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) and the Union of Jewish Students help achieve this objective. Unfortunately there has been no Sikh representation in the NUS for many years. This was evident at this year's NUS National conference which was held between the 13^th-15^th April at the Sage Gateshead in Newcastle.

Recently the General Secretary of the British Sikh Student Federation, Kirat Raj Singh, took up the issue of Sikh Student Representation in the NUS and some of the concerns which affected Sikh Students in higher and further education establishments across the country. In a meeting attended by NUS Vice President Society and Citizenship Susan Nash, Vice President Union Development Ed Marsh, NUS Interfaith Co-ordinator Kat Luckock and Kirat Raj Singh, the British Sikh Student Federation officially affiliated to the National Union of Students in order to strengthen the voice of the Sikh Students.

One of the issues discussed in the meeting was regarding Sikh students in many colleges and universities being stopped from wearing their articles of faith (Five K's) especially the Kirpan. The delegates from NUS were reminded of the turban ban in French schools and concerns were expressed about similar laws being enacted in the UK.

The Vice President Society and Citizenship was also briefed about the recent protest held against Kamal Nath at the London School of Business. A suggestion that the NUS "no platform" policy, which asserts that no one considered racist or fascist should be able to participate in any NUS function, should be extended to cover any speaker /visitor who has a record of Human right violations or infringements was put forward. This would help stop speakers like Kamal Nath from attending events at British Universities. The British Sikh Student Federation were assured that the NUS would take these concerns of Sikh Students to the highest level.

The British Sikh Student Federation is committed to the needs of Sikh students ensuring that our voices are heard and our concerns are recognised. We invite every Sikh Student body and organisation to come forward and join with us to help achieve our objective.

Harinder Singh

Media Secretary

British Sikh Student Federation