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I must express some mild amusement at the situation the NUS is facing. We at Umist decided to disaffiliate from the union mainly because we did not perceive it as having our best interests at heart. These range from a lack of organisation at the national level with regard to issues (ie fees) to the bizarre buying policies we had to stick to.

Having NUS affiliation was rather costly for a small university such as ourselves.

As for getting more money out of various unions, the NUS can try, but the problem is that universities are experiencing government funding cuts and are having to make savings on, among other things, student unions or associations.

But one way of saving a considerable sum is to follow our lead and disaffiliate. That certainly benefited us and our members, who have had NUS money spent directly on them.

John Hogwood
President, Umist Students' Association