EUSA-less

Letter sent to Student newspaper

2008-02-24T18:25:00.011Z

The following letter was sent today to Student newspaper -

Dear Sirs,

I have decided that the time has come for a full and frank explanation of my role in the EUSAless blog.

EUSAless was started in November and was a response to the endemic problems across our Students Association. EUSA should be 'our' Association, and for years, it has been 'theirs'. It was started as an experiment to gauge student appetite and work out where the perceived problems with EUSA lay.

In its time, EUSAless has exposed a Vice President for threatening the Student newspaper with extreme sanctions, another Vice President for condoning cheating at a society event, and initiated the now notorious 'Schoolgate' scandal. Many of the stories originated from tip-offs and emails from disgruntled students. EUSAless is not alone in criticising EUSA.

Ironically, EUSAless has done more to raise EUSA's profile within this university than any EUSA initiative ever has. I'd bet my bottom dollar that more people have read the EUSAless blog in the last few months than have visited the EUSA website. At the last count, EUSAless has been read by nearly 3500 different people, that's triple the readership of Hype magazine. People are talking about the Students Association again and people are now getting involved.

EUSAless has tapped into a body of students who felt that EUSA had forgotten them, who recognised the need for change, and wanted their Students Association to work for them. EUSAless has ultimately stemmed the growing tide of apathy at Edinburgh University. I confidently predict a record turnout at this years elections and I attribute this more to the work of the EUSAless team than anyone else.

I don't have control over EUSAless, but I do have influence on its direction. I know and respect those involved with it and I have worked closely with them in the past. Some may deride it as a campaign tool, but EUSAless calls for change and would support any candidate offering a real opportunity for this.

I read EUSAless every day, you read EUSAless everyday, and much of my policy thinking is based on addressing the problems raised by the readers of the blog. I am genuinely humbled by the messages of support I receive for my campaign from those who comment on the posts.

EUSAless has been abused from day one by those malicious unnamed students who used the anonymous commenting to vent their anger and act out personal vendettas. I thoroughly disapprove of the negative comments, which ranged from the personally vindictive to racist and homophobic. I would urge people not to judge the blog on those anonymous comments, and I understand from the EUSAless team that they have gone some way to tracing those making the most malicious remarks.

I apologise if anyone felt misled by this, but I ask you to remember this. This Association needs change; this Association needs students to effect this change; and this Association, ultimately, needed EUSAless to galvanise thousands of students into action.

Harry Cole

A day at the races...

2008-02-23T03:03:00.018Z

So it looked like it was going to become a two horse race, but the silent and elusive Mr. Ward decided that ignoring the students was the best way of dealing with his deceit.

Still no word from him…

And then suddenly there were four…

By all accounts 4th year Philosophy student and SRCer Gabriel “Gabe” Arafa took everyone by surprise in his decision to join the usual suspects in the quest for the top.

Mr Arafa a former Residents Assistant left it to the very last min to get involved, though with the speed his website went up it can only be said that this was a pre-planned move.

With the race for President having been thrown wide open by “School-Gate” (You can have that one Student/Journal/Dias!) Gabe could well capitalise from being a late arrival on the scene.

Best of luck to him and we look forward to hearing some solid policy in the next few days;

His website can be found here:
http://www.gogabe.moonfruit.com/

In other news the polls on the left show just how interesting these elections are going to be. In monitoring these polls we noticed no hint of foul play and none of the results leaping up abnormally quickly this time round, a factor that has sadly drawn Poll 2 into question.

Both President and VPS look extremely tight and too close to call. It seems that who goes out in what round is going to be crucial for the big one.

Hunter clearly has some strong competition now from PolSoc’s James Gribben. Another late candidate in the VPSA race has really spiced things up.

VPAA seems to be Guy’s at the mo, though Stewarts orange posters seem to be everywhere. As for Weir? Sorry to be harsh but just but a “d” on the end…

So less than two weeks to go... You’ll read it here first.

Nick Ward - it's a tough life...

2008-02-20T21:28:00.006Z

Hi Nick,

So, we've been thinking, it must have been tough for you, going to the "inner city comprehensive" you chat about on your website. Sounds real tough, and gee, what a grim building. In case you missed it or Nick deletes it when he sees this post, we've got it saved for posterity below
Wow, really grim, typical inner city comprehensive eh? But wait, is that a picture of the school you went to? Oh no, it isn't is it...you went to Harris Academy, Dundee which looks more like this -

Looks a lot nicer, and IS a lot nicer. And just to rub salt in the wound, if you type "comprehensive school" into Google Images, guess what comes up? That's right the picture on Nicks website...

So the school you claimed you went to is actually in.....Wales.

Tut tut Nick. You went to a really good school in Dundee didn't you? Not a gritty comprehensive near Swansea...and also interesting to note you've removed the "I OWN MY STUDENT FLAT" from the about me section of your website. Whatever next...

No smoke without fire..

2008-02-20T17:22:00.008Z

Well it looks like Mr Cole is some hot water with the Scottish Parliament. Today's Scottish Daily Mirror ran with a story that we got wind of a few weeks ago but decided wasn't even worth blogging about.

At the Burns Night dinner that Harry Cole resigned at and launched his campaign, some smokers caused a security breach by smoking in the loos of the very building the ban was implimented from. In true Mirror style they have made a big hoohaa about the law breaking at "...one of the poshest events they have ever staged at the Parliament".

Mr Cole refused to comment on what he described as a "non-story" when we emailed him earlier today.

The story isn't on the internet sadly but the Scotsman picked up on it too in a slightly fairer fashion;

http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Young-Tories-spark-Holyrood-alert.3795226.jp

Pints not Politics

2008-02-20T16:23:00.006Z

Well this could turn into an election year full of runners up...

Firstly of course we have Mr Ramsay, enough said.

But look who else has thrown their hat in the ring... none other than last years VPS runner up Stuart MacLennan.

I wonder if Mr MacLennan pitched his concept of "Pints Not Politics" when he went up before the Labour Party selection committee to be come Parliamentry Candidate for Moray last year..

Stuart is standing for Senior Member...

Go on Jordan you know you want to...

Someone wants something kept quiet...

2008-02-18T00:40:00.021Z

Ok so Adam has quite a list of things he is clearly proud to have supposidly achieved so far...

...Yet there is one very big thing Adam has done, the lynchpin of his experience and he doesn't seem too keen to talk about.

Lets have a closer look...

There he is, Adam Ramsay standing for the Green Party as a regional list Member of the Scottish Parliament in May 2007.

Another unsuccessful campaign for Mr. Ramsay...

You can find this infomation on any of the websites that covered the Scottish Parliament elections in any depth such as here:

http://election.theherald.co.uk/nominations/midscotlandandfife/display.var.1322690.0.0.php

+++Yet not a squeak about it in the long list of Adam's "Experience". +++

Did you really expect this not to be publicised Adam?

Do you take the students for fools?

There are now some serious questions that must be answered:

1. Why did you try to hide this Adam?

2. Who will you really answer to Adam? Will it be the students or The Green Party bosses who selected you and hold your future parliamentry prospects in their hands?

3. Why are you so adament to win the Presidency Adam? Is it that you really care or are you just using it as a training platform for your future career in the world of politics and NGOs?

4. What else is there lurking in your cupboard- anything else the electorate should know?

----------------------------------------------------------

+++UPDATE+++

1715hrs. Response from Ramsay Street:

"I have always been open about the fact that I am a member of the Scottish Green Party. I am a member because I believe in what they stand for, and that electoral politics can make a difference. My campaign has the support of members of the Greens, the SNP, Labour, the Lib Dems, the Socialists, and a Tory. Every candidate in this race has associations with a political party. As President I'll answer only to Edinburgh students. If I was a careerist, would I have joined the Greens, or Labour? I have already clashed with the Greens over free wifi. I'm happy to do so again when they get things wrong."

Hmmm doesn't really answer the questions though does it. We want to know why you found it necessary to attempt to hide the candicicy by ignoring it?

+++ NEWS FLASH +++

2008-02-17T16:11:00.002Z

So who will the unfortunate ones be?

Can't a man eat his Pot Noodle in peace?

2008-02-16T22:37:00.003Z

Ok so you are baying for more infomation and I am sure the rest of the team won't mind me pushing Monday morning's update forward 24 or so hours.

Ok so re sabbs this is what we have so far:

VPS - Rosy Burgess vs. George Thomas vs. Bruce Golding

This one will be interesting. Rosy Burgess certainly deserves it yet no doubt George will put up an impressive fight. Though do we really want George in charge of the pounds and pennys given the little freshers week finance debacle. cough cough.

VPAA - Guy Bromley vs. Stewart Martin vs. Andrew Weir

Guy seems to have forgotten he is meant to be running his campaign.. website website website. And Stewart could well sew it up with "don't be that guy!" as his slogan.

VPSA - Naomi Hunter vs. Phil McGuiness

Jury is out on this one. Both need to up their game and get their message out there

But seriously kids it Saturday night and the pot noodle is going cold.

Keep up the chat. This is as much about your opinions as it is a bunch of people with nothing better to on a Saturday night than blog. But lets hear your views....

Business as usual Monday kids...

Ramsay "flies under the radar" according to The Journal

2008-02-14T09:58:00.005Z

According to The Journal, Adam Ramsay's campaign although attracting support from EUSA "celebrities" like Tom French, is flying under the radar as he fails to make an impact across the wider student population.

Adam Ramsay - up your game!

And as someone below pointed out, does Tom French's endorsement mean he's in breach of EUSA regulations?

Cole and Ward clash over student loans

2008-02-14T09:49:00.003Z

Cole has "slammed" Ward for his plans to increase the student loan entitlement in Edinburgh, based on it being an expensive place to live. Cole cites an RBS report and claims that Edinburgh isn't as pricy as Ward makes out, and criticises him for encouraging students into more debt.

Ward, meanwhile, has had a go at Harry for "going negative."

See the website/Facebook group for the full story...

What do you think, more loan debt or cheaper living?

Harry Cole manifesto revealed in full

2008-02-11T21:11:00.001Z

After a slick little teaser video, Harry Cole has revealed his manifesto in full. There's some ambitious promises there and the first question that springs to mind is will any of it happen?

You can compare Nick Ward and Harry Cole's manifestos on their websites - www.harrycole.net and www.nickward.org, and comment away below on them!

Property tycoon

2008-02-11T18:10:00.000Z

Calling Harry Cole Calling Harry Cole!

Please will you reveal to the world the extent of your property portfolio. All serious candidates have them! You're falling behind Nick Ward (with his own flat) and Adam Ramsay (with his ancient ancestral seat in the Highlands). Are you the heir to a pile in Perthshire? Or perhaps a castle in the Cotswolds?

Tell us Harry!

+++Ward is go+++ (UPDATED)

2008-02-11T01:26:00.000Z

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

www.nickward.org is now live. Some good manifesto pledges although still trying to get our heads round how voting for Nick will make us all £3000 richer (presumably not going down the bribery route here are we?).

Interesting to note that Nick thinks he has more life experience than the other candidates because he plays the tuba and owns his own flat.

Tuba-playing flat-owners are a large demographic in Edinburgh, but I wouldn't say he was "your average Joe" with those credentials. As for having taken a gap year - dude, it's Edinburgh!

Good luck to him though, hopeully his expanded manifesto will be revealed soon...

--------------------------------------------

Nick Ward's Facebook group has gone public in the wee hours of this morning after being hidden from our eager eyes all yesterday despite numerous sources telling us it was out there.

Website surely imminent.

Interesting slogan for his campaign - "Choose Change".. surely Ward is the candidate of experience and "a safe pair of hands" etc. Will be interesting to see in the morning what the two manifesto's are really like. Harry Cole has been advertising his manifesto launches all week and it seems this has led Nick at least to jump on the big launch bandwagon with both candidates heading out to the central areas and KB in the next few days.. Nothing yet really from Ramsay Street.

They are off and gathering pace...

Mundell rocks

2008-02-10T15:07:00.000Z

Mundell looks to be a strong candidate, if only because his tagline is "Taking the EUSA out of EUSA-less." This here be his website - http://www.olivermundell.moonfruit.com/

He's running for four junior positions but seems to be focussing on some pretty relevant issues. He's also claiming to be apolitical - awesome! Possibly a trend amongst candidates this year...

Good luck to the guy, the only photos we could find of him were dressed as a pirate, naked, or while very drunk.

We went with pirate.

A new slate..

2008-02-09T18:39:00.000Z

Thank you all for your emails, some nasty, some naughty but mostly very constructive.
EUSA-less is updating and we are listening to you.. This will be the number one election site for all the coverage in the up coming elections, not just for Sabbs but for all the posistions.

WE NEED YOU!

Send us news, photos, gossip, stories, rumours and spread the word...

This is also a chance you lot to chill out and actually use the comments sections for the constructive purpose we give up our time to provide you with.

PS. For the record this rebranding did not cost tens of thousands of pounds. Was not outsourced and not strictly necessary.

We found Thomas Graham's website!

2008-02-09T18:20:00.000Z

Thomas Graham's half completed website can be reached through searching for him on Google (or by following this link, if you're lazy). He's running for External Convener & Communities Officer, we can reveal. Pretty boring site unfortunately, nice shade of purple but the manifesto isn't up yet.

Many of you have asked us to focus on positions other than the President, so we decided to look into some of the other EUSA offices, more to follow.

+++ URGENT +++

2008-02-08T18:36:00.000Z

The comments on our last post are disgusting.

We have a policy here at EUSA-less never to delete a comment though. We would like to urge the authors of the mindless bigotry to do the noble thing and delete their foul hatred themselves.

However we are pretty split about this amongst our team. Therefore we would like to give you the power to decide what you want us to do. We are pretty sure what the answer will be but its the principle of letting you choose that is key. The survey on the left will be open for 48 hours. We will immediatly act on the result.

Come on people, there is free speech and then there is idiocy. Don't ruin this forum. We have a pretty bad rep already but if you take time to read through all of this site the most controversy has come from the comments left by readers, rather than anything we put out.

Behave.

+++Update - Ramsay's site goes live+++

2008-02-08T11:41:00.000Z

Not a lecture but just a quick note to say that Adam has launched his website. Its much better than last years, no manifesto yet though, and no press release to us, weep.

"There are some things EUSA can't do. For everything else, there's Adam Ramsay. " is the slogan.

http://www.adamramsay.org.uk/

Websites are coming...

2008-02-07T12:20:00.000Z

We'll talk about the GM later but in the mean time there are a lot of teasing updates popping up promising websites coming soon...

Thomas Graham - unlikely to be standing for President but almost def a Sabb:

And then we have Nick Barack Ward.

Interestingly it looks like Sam Hansford might be up to something too.. perhaps the countdown is to the moment where the Greens implode.. It seems the resources and photoshoppers of PandP are supporting Sam as his website is already one hell of a lot better than Adam's

Adam's:

We are not being nasty and we are not supporting any candidate over the other, we are just reporting what we find and what is sent to us. Adam we are not being bitchy or horrible when we say that electorates have a tendancy to get slightly pissed off when they say no once and are then asked the same question again.

You really need to up your game if you want any chance of winning the job you clearly passionatly want. You have to learn from the mistakes you made last year and not let a repeat of that shambles take place. At this rate, with the dodgy launch and the shite website you are in real trouble. It is not good for the Association or for turnout if you let the Presidency become the two horse race its itching to do so...

Harry Cole plus one?

2008-02-05T14:11:00.000Z

EUSA-less has noticed a strange phenomenon within Harry's campaign. Who is this tall, ginger bloke who is always at Cole's side? Seems that Harry may have a permanent sidekick always nearby, perhaps to make sure he doesn't say anything daft?

At a rough guess, this is a chap called Alastair Sloan, the guy who set up Harry's Facebook group and the press officer named on the campaign website.

In addition, we spotted Harry in Kings Buildings yesterday, making yet another film. Seems he's trying to grab that elusive KB vote.

Any further ideas people?

Adam Ramsay cocks up again!

2008-02-04T19:30:00.000Z

Congratulations to Adam Ramsay for launching his campaign again through his Facebook group, probably wise to update your website for this campaign unless you want a repeat of last year!

Adam started sending out invites to the Facebook group for his second presidential bid this evening and it seems his manifesto will be exactly the same as it was for last year.

Good luck "old boy," over to you Nick.

Three blind mice, see how they run...

2008-02-03T16:38:00.000Z

Here at eusaless, we think that it's very endearing that all the presidential candidates have submitted motions to the AGM. Harry, bless him, is trying hard and has submitted his first ever motion. Adam has decided that maybe we're bored of his clown act and has submitted a motion that actually relates to students… nice touch. Finally there's Nick Ward, who well bless him he's got Timothy Goodwin to hold his hand on the night. Anyway that's what we think, but now folks it's over to you…

Facebook groups for the motions are available here -

http://ed.facebook.com/event.php?eid=7992023949
http://ed.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150064972

Hope to see lots of you there, although of course you won't be able to see us!

And so it begins...

2008-01-25T17:39:00.000Z

Well it looks like this years presidential campaign is off to an early start with Harry Cole pipping everyone to the post when it comes to websites. In a press release he sent to our email account, he tells us that he stood down from the Tories last night as Vice-President & Treasurer in order to fight as "the truly independent candidate." Looks good, although his manifesto is yet to be published and that is where the bread-and-butter of this election will be decided.

According to our sources, he announced his presidential bid formally at the Tory Burns Dinner last night at the Scottish Parliament. He also resigned from the Conservative Society in order to fight as an independent.

Our source tells us that there may be a split opening up in the Tories though, one of the guest speakers had received an anonymous email about Harry which she clearly disapproved of, and there are rumours that Richard Mabey, chairman of EUCUA, doesn't approve of Harry going it alone.

Meanwhile an exciting leak from the Green camp - somebody calling themselves "Eusafull" tells us;

"1) Adam Ramsay is running for president (again). Dariush was meant to be the far left/ P n P candidate but Adam pulled rank at the last minute. Dariush is very angry.
2) Adam, although being elected by hundreds of students to represent them has only attended 1 Student Council meeting. A disgusting and arrogant record.
3) Adam was pushing Sam Hansford to stand until he decided to stand himself.
4) Adam is disliked by the majority of P n P
It seems that mr Ramsay just cannot get the hint. He is arrogant, lazy and incompetent. Stop him EUSALESS!!!"

So it looks like a split down both the Tories and the Greens - listen to us when we say that party politics in EUSA must end!

Cheers Josh

2008-01-22T17:09:00.000Z

Cheers Josh, for sending out the information about motions for the General Meeting, just TWO DAYS before the deadline.

By the way if you wanted to pass a motion, you had just 48 hours to

Think of it.
Research it.
Write it.
Get 100 students to sign it.
Tell students who hadn't heard of the General Meeting until then, to come.

Those of you who managed that, well done (the deadline is 12pm tomorrow)

Thanks to the reader who wrote in highlighting this. Sorry to quote without permission but he tells us that

"i emailed him on the matter but he never replied."

Josh, give people more notice and improve accessibility for all. Please please please. And reply to your emails.

In addition, don't lie to people on your NUS campaign website Josh. He claims that he will make a commitment to students above his political party (i.e. Labour).

"My record couldn’t make this clearer. For three years I have continually stood up for the interests of students over political parties, whatever belief they hold."

Yeah right.

Calling Nick, Harry and Dariush (and Adeel?)

2008-01-14T17:22:00.000Z

Just a quick hello to those four who are supposedly standing in the next presidents elections. EUSA-less wants to do a profile on all of you and anyone else who's thinking of standing in the election. Our sources might be wrong but we think that it's these four who are going for president.

The EUSA-less election watch team are looking to play a big role in the next election providing impartial details of candidates manifestos and promises.

Looking forward to hearing from you all,

Get in touch at eusaless@live.co.uk

Welcome Back..

2008-01-06T19:42:00.000Z

Ah dear readers another year, another term and another horrendous journey back to the great city we all call home. Ok not sure why the EUSA-less narrative suddenly took a turn for the David Copperfield there but welcome back.

Its great to see so many of you remained active on here over the holidays and great to see the festive spirit of joy and compassion was particuarly evident in the comments sections. hmmm.
(And incidently who were 50 or so people according to our hits counter who were on here on Christmas Day?)

EUSA-less was takin' it easy this hols with our feet up gently stuffing christmas pudding into our mouths so apologies for the delay in getting back to the emails that have been piling up but we are back and ready for action. Look out for us in the next few weeks in a variety of different places other than this site.

We have been bombarded in the last week with various emails requesting we take this site in different directions. Many of you seem content with the open forum to vent all that steam you seem to love to build up and spew across our comments section, though others are erring on the side of caution and would like to see more constructive debate. EUSA-less is inclined to go with the constructive arguement side.

Others have got in touch asking us to be an election watch site similer to that of EUSA's favourite Mr Jordan ~~Diaz~~ Dias last year.. again this an appealing option.

We would like to hear what you want to see out of this site in the coming term.. Lets have an open thread debate in the comments below with any suggestions for how we can work together for a better site and ultimatly a better Association.

Be nice children. You naughty ones get EUSA-less in ever so much trouble with all your rants and raves.

A Christmas message from EUSA-less...

2007-12-21T02:20:00.000Z

Seems to stream slightly faster on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYjPMPQzxFo

Talking of elections...

2007-12-17T20:58:00.000Z

As term draws to an end and we all go home for Christmas, our thoughts turn towards next term's elections. EUSA-less isn't interested in the speculation of candidates and who's in and who's out but if comments on here are anything to go by it does look like this election is going to get messy.

It's fairly clear that EUSA has an image problem and where better to begin rectifying that by giving the election process a kick up the behind... completly open and totally accountable.

Given the shame the Labour Party is in nationally and especially in Scotland do we really want "Labour Students" in control of the election? Given how corrupt the professional party seem to be, who knows what the amateurs get up to.

Sniping aside its time for another debate:

Electoral Reform Services is the world's leading independent supplier of ballots and election services. They have overseen elections for all of the major political parties, other student unions and countless other organisations.

More info can be found here: http://www.erbs.co.uk/election_services/ballot_and_election_services.asp

EUSA-less would like to hear a decent arguement against having ERS oversee EUSA elections...

Posting will be quiet in the next few weeks.. Mulled wine and that.

Dirty tricks...

2007-12-12T12:49:00.000Z

First of all apologies for the lack of activity on the EUSA-less blog, exams etc have been getting the better of all of us.

But just when we thought the term had ended without another EUSA-less scandal, a chap called Harry Cole got in touch.

Apparently he's been accused of writing this blog (he doesn't!) on the grounds that's he's allegedly running for president in February.

Harry contacted us by email with some worrying allegations. According to him, mysterious creatures of the night have been threatening him by phone.

Allegedly, at 2am last Wednesday morning, his phone went off with a private number, and a voice saying "Don't mess with what you don't know". A similar phone call happened at 12.30pm on Thursday.

Harry refused to comment on whether he was actually running or not. In a statement to EUSA-less he said he was humbled by the number of people who have got in touch urging him to do so.

Pretty dirty tricks in any case. Harry's asked that we implore whoever was behind those calls to stop, otherwise the police may have to get involved.

Tut tut whoever you are...

WE NEED YOUR HELP

2007-12-05T22:21:00.000Z

EUSA-less have sent an email to Josh MacAlister asking for more information about the demolition of Potterow.

He's refusing to answer emails from us now, ostensibly on the grounds that we're anonymous and he can't be sure that we are all students.

We want to send another email, but it needs to be from a named person.

Can anyone who is prepared to put their name at the bottom of our next email please post it below so we can get some detailed facts about this? It would be great to have a few names so we could demonstrate real interest, and we'll put them all at the bottom.

Otherwise Josh can just continue to hide in his office.

Cheers,

EUSA-less

My ideal night at Potterow would be...

2007-12-05T15:56:00.000Z

After a very clever comment from an anonymous blog reader, EUSA-less would like to open up this thread for suggestions for nights at Potterow.

Each comment should start "My ideal night at Potterow would be..."

We're looking for ideas on music policy, DJs, bands, drinks promos, entry prices and gimmicks.

The best will be put up on the blog in the next few days.

Let the brainstorming (sorry, to be politically correct, I'm told we now have to call that "thought-showering") begin!

Potterow...

2007-12-05T12:39:00.000Z

Does ANYBODY know what's going on with the demolition of Potterow? The press articles just say it's going to be replaced with a facility "suitable for Festival use," which is undoubtedly a good thing for EUSA, but there's not much detail.

But how long is the process going to take? Is EUSA being compensated in the meantime?

As far as EUSA-less can tell, Edinburgh City Council has been under mounting pressure to redevelop that whole area mainly due to traffic complaints. Now they're doing it, Edinburgh University is rightly piggybacking on this and getting Potterow demolished (probably subsidised by the Council).

But what's replacing it? Have EUSA been informed? And by this, I mean the Students in Edinburgh University Students Association - 26,000 of them.

Word on the grape vine is that Student newspaper bravely attempted to write a story about this, but EUSA refused to answer their emails or pick up the phone when they got in touch for more information.

It reeks of a cover-up; they're covering up the fact that nobody knows what's going on, there's no contingency plan and there's no sodding sensible leadership at EUSA on this.

Facebook-Poll-The Journal

2007-12-04T19:12:00.000Z

Congrats on the Facebook group setup by Scott George McCombe which now has 200 members.

It's great to see everyone there is prepared to post under their own name. If you haven't been there yet then the link is http://ed.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5927093663

If you have time and want to help out, invite all your Facebook friends to the group.

Needless to say we're trouncing Tom French and his ironic Facebook group entitled "Vote Tom French No.1 as EUSA's worst sabbatical," which had just 48 members.

Commiserations to him however as Josh MacAlister pipped him to the post in our poll for EUSA's worst sabb. Mysteriously, the votes leapt up over night to overtake Tom.

Perhaps this is Josh trying to help out Tom as part of their "good" relationship or just someone being a sad gimp and voting for Josh all night. You decide.

And just for the record, we're not anything to do with The Journal. Both student newspapers have printed letters from our supporter, Sarah Arbroath, and The Journal covered us because we're damn newsworthy! I'm sure the Student newspaper will cover us too.

Trouble in paradise?

2007-12-03T13:17:00.000Z

Today's Journal made for some interesting reading this morning. Not only did they cover our blog in gory detail (THANK YOU!!!) but also there's a nice little piece about Tom French being acquitted from that indecent behaviour saga.

Its clear to see that things are not quite as cosy at the top as our noble President made out in his last statement to us.

Here is a little game of spot the difference loyal readers:

a) "Tom and I get on really well so this isn't an issue." Josh MacAlister in an email to EUSA-less

and

b) "Mr French has lodged a counter-complaint against the mishandling of the investigation by EUSA, including leaking of the allegations to the press and the "general procedure" followed.
The conduct of EUSA president Josh MacAlister and the lack of support given to Mr French were criticised in the counter-complaint. Mr French has asked that Mr MacAlister's communications with the EUSA-funded newpaper, Student, be investigated for suspected breach of data protection laws and association policies. " The Journal

Keep and eye on this one people.. could get messy.

But in reality are these investigations actually going to find anything out? Well they are undertaken, it seems, by one of EUSAs very well paid permanent staff, Mr Graham Boyack, the permanent secretary to the Association and also its Returning Officer. Hardly the most partial of opinions. This looks to me like the sort of investigation that Gordon Brown would instigate... but that doesn't surprise me either. These investigations should be undertaken by someone from outside the inner working circle. Why not start with the University.. it does after all keep EUSA afloat with seven figure cash injections every year...

Thank you!

2007-12-02T21:08:00.000Z

Just to say a big thank you to the 1,028 people who've visited us since we started. Love us or hate us, it's great to see some proper debates starting underneath our posts. Thanks to everyone who's supported us, everyone who's taken the time to email us, and everyone who's reading the blog.

If you have any ideas for the blog, with stories about EUSA, grievances against them, messages of support or otherwise, don't forget our email address is eusaless@live.co.uk. And please join our Facebook group!

Many thanks...

Why we need to end party politics in EUSA

2007-12-02T11:51:00.000Z

One of the main aims at EUSA is to instil a belief in our readership that party politics within EUSA needs to end.

Party politics means that EUSA becomes a training ground for career politicians. Student leaders are then acting to better themselves rather than represent the students that elected them.
It would prevent "rent-a-mob" scenarios such as People & Planet swarming the AGM and dominating business there.
It would create a more friendly and open system of government where people of any political persuasion are welcome. EUSA officials have openly admitted that they refuse to represent Tory-voters (who, in their opinion, are all racists and all homophobic). Thus, the left-dominated EUSA continues with no check and no hope for achieving the middle ground.

IT DISGUSTS EVERYONE AT EUSA-LESS THAT SENIOR OFFICIALS WITHIN OUR OWN STUDENT ASSOCIATION FEEL AT LIBERTY TO LABEL CONSERVATIVES AS "RACISTS" AND "HOMOPHOBES."

THE ROTTEN CORE AT THE CENTRE OF EUSA IS REVEALED WHEN THEY ALSO ADMIT THEY WILL NOT REPRESENT TORY-VOTERS. THIS IS NOT "BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS."

THIS IS WRONG, WHETHER YOU VOTE TORY, OR NOT.

EUSA needs to change from a left-wing dictatorship to an open forum for debate where everyone is welcome. Ending party-political involvement would end the partisan hatred directed against anyone except Labour and the Greens.

EUSA officials, in particular sabbaticals, should be forced to renounce their official ties with any political organisation, club or party.

The Sabbaticals respond - well, kind of...

2007-11-30T17:27:00.000Z

EUSA-less wrote to Tom French and Josh MacAlister asking if they wanted to comment on the emails we've put up proving that the Vice President threatened the Student newspaper with a ban from EUSA property (see the evidence here)

Tom French refused to give his own comment and merely told us he agreed with Josh.

Josh MacAlister commented

"Tom and I get on really well so this isn't an issue."

That's all very well and good Mr. MacAlister, but what of the more pressing issue concerning your Vice President threatening student societies?

Did you not think that this was worthy of a statement from your office? Can you not measure the gravity of the situation facing you as your Vice President's credibility as a student leader is seriously compromised?

Get a handle on the situation now Mr. MacAlister.

----------------------------------------------------------

We've received a request to print the rest of the email sent from Mr. MacAlister. We inititally decided not to as it was even more irrelevant to our request for our explanation of the threatening behaviour. But in the interests of free speech, here it is

"On a general note, this blog is really interesting. We try our best to represent students and do a good job. However, if people have got concerns, criticisms and suggestions then the whole team would be more than happy to sit down and see what we could do better or change."

So, if anyone does have concerns, criticisms and suggestions after reading our blog, you know who to go to!

Official platform for change is discarded by EUSA

2007-11-29T21:01:00.000Z

Here is a (rather long) letter sent in by a reader of our blog who tried to set up a society aimed at addressing some of the problems with EUSA. With their permission we've decided to publish it.

These days EUSA does not like change or challenges, and their control over societies is unacceptable. A group of people set up a society that aimed to offer people a fresh platform for the discussion of politics, to tackle the apathy that existed amongst students today with information and contacts within politics and to help people understand the way the university works and what they need to do if they want to get involved without the EUSA propaganda. Simply, it was to be a society that wanted to help students get the most out of university and a greater knowledge of modern politics that wasn't run by an exclusive clique, it would have been more relaxed and more representative. Enough people were interested that the group decided to make it an official society by registering with EUSA, hoping that by getting in the system they would be able to provide a true platform and perhaps even get to see the workings of EUSA more closely so that perhaps they could work together to make EUSA start functioning for students and become representative. There were no attacks at EUSA, the group just wanted more for students, it wasn't trying to stir anything up.

The first problem arose when the name of the society was vetoed. "The EUSA Reform Society" was immediatly shot down because it threatened EUSA too much, it seems these particular people are fairly loose with their democracy. But the group didn't want to have to deal with the lengthy process of appealing that, since it would have taken up too much time and thus there would have been less time to work on the society itself. The group decided on Society for Student Initiative. The name was general enough so that EUSA couldn't get mad, but it covered the goals of the group and their desire to help students get more active.

The support, name change and constitution that was meant to be as non threatening to EUSA as possible made little difference as the group was denied status as a society. This was quite a blow to all of us that had been eager to support the society but it was not a complete surprise to the group of people that started the movement. They had been made aware that there had been a leak and people now believed that the society was threatening EUSA and that they intended on taking EUSA on, their were also names mentioned and hostility directed towards them despite never being given the chance to explain if they were actually involved or not (even though the president, secretary and treasurer etc etc never hid their identities so such speculation and hostility were unwarranted when people were just ill informed).

The president was emailed a reason from EUSA, and it outlined exactly why they would not accept this society, the reasons are fairly easy to dismiss and the fact that their was tremendous support for the group shows that it obviously was needed despite what EUSA said. I have personally seen the email and I thought it might do some good to counter the points on this blog for people to see, the society will never be, but I know that those involved will be dedicating a lot of time to getting that clique out of their undeserved seats of power.

1) There was an overlap between the proposed society and the Political Society.

So if people want to discuss and debate politics, get a better handle on contemporary political events and get political contacts and they don't want to join the Political Society then they just have to miss out? Obviously the Political Society is not adaquete for catering for all students or the proposed society would have never started in the first place. And the proposed society wasn't just going to be dealing with politics, that was just one of several focal points.

2) There was an overlap between the proposed society and the political parties and campaigning groups.

Now this one was just ridiculous. The Society was meant to be neutral ground, not catering just for one political ideology. Poltical parties and campaigning groups can be stiff, set in their ways, and of course not open to everyone, thats one the reasons the proposed society was started.

3) It overlaps with EUSA.

Funny. EUSA is not representative, it throws around words like democracy but they have their own version of democracy that is flawed and favours one set of ideologies above the rest, and that ideology sees causes as more important that students. If EUSA was up to scratch nobody would have needed to set up a group like this.

I just thought people should know that there are some groups out there that actually wanted to make change but at the same time be able to work with EUSA and find a smooth way for students to get the most out of their time at Edinburgh, but they don't like the way EUSA runs things and so people become misinformed (just like at the rector election) and then EUSA puts a stop to everything.

The EVIDENCE

2007-11-29T15:58:00.000Z

Apologies if our initial source quoted us wrong, but there you have it. Absolute proof that Tom French threatened Student newspaper with a ban from EUSA property.

We'd implore Tom French to issue a statement about this.

(see more about this story here)

Vice President of EUSA threatened Student newspaper & slagged off President

2007-11-29T11:52:00.000Z

Apologies to return to a bit of mudslinging but this one really can't be helped, especially as it is from impeccable sources and backed up by written evidence.

The Student newspaper published a story in week 2 of this semester about rising drinks price in the Unions.

Tom French, Vice President of Services, threw a hissy fit; calling up the editor and claiming the prices were wrong. The drinks prices had in fact been confirmed by another source, Tim Gee (last year's Vice President).

Despite it being basically one man's word against anothers, Tom French fired off a hugely unprofessional email worded

"You can go ahead and withhold a correction, but if you do we (EUSA) might have to consider withholding your right to distribute on campus buildings"

That's right, Tom French threatened to ban Student because it printed some drinks prices he didn't agree with. Surely an example of that power-hungry, office abusing little specimen we've been banging on about...

The situation culminated apparently in a two - hour slanging match over the phone, in which Tom French verbally abused the editor of Student newspaper and even slagged off the President with

"yeah he likes to act like a hard-man but he really isn't, he gets upset about everything"

Well, sorry to drag Tom French into this again but it really looks like he did a bad job here - threatening a society with sanctions while slagging off his colleagues at the same time.

Make your own conclusions about the clique running EUSA now, do we want a change? I think we do...

Why opt-in would work...

2007-11-28T18:54:00.000Z

Student unions across the world tend to be dominated by the left-wing.

This is because the left-wing thrives on collectivism, the supposed ability of a huge body of individuals to club together and convince others (or bully others) into doing what they want (look at the trade unions)

However, if you stop listening to them and start listening to sense, the argument for opt-in student unions is incredibly strong.

If an organisation claims to represent you, you should have a choice in whether you are a member.

If an organisation provides a worthwhile service, that service will be worth paying for.

Very few students in relative terms actually vote in elections. So claiming that a president or vice-president or other elected EUSA official was chosen by Edinburgh students simply isn't true.

Instead, if EUSA could show off a large list of students who had volunteered to be part of the Association, and were even prepared to pay for the services they received in return, then they could say in all honesty that they were acting in the best interests of a large body of students.

Voter-turn out would surely go up.

Unions do not require compulsory membership to operate. Just as a society is bonded together by common personal interests, unions should join people together in a common interest of wanting to get a better deal.

What do you all think?

The Identity of EUSA-less - REVEALED!

2007-11-28T18:12:00.000Z

There has been much speculation about the identity of the persons writing this blog.

EUSA officials of course have made many probes, including generating a fake Facebook profile to try and trick us into co-operating with them and revealing our identity.

The Student and Journal newspapers have been trying to work out who we are.

Some idiot calling himself Bligh thinks he/she had a conversation with us last night. Unfortunately we were sat at home.

Some people commenting on the blog clearly think it is someone running for election. If this was the case would they ruin their chances by starting a blog like this?

Some people think it's a EUSA inside mole.

Some people think it's something to do with a society called Students Against Apathy.

Some people think it's an ex-Edinburgh student who used to be heavily involved in EUSA.

Some people think it's the old Boris Johnson brigade.

Some people think it's the BNP(?!)

But none of those people are right unfortunately...

All EUSA-less can say is that we are simply commenting on the situation, we do not wish to be involved in politics. We are calling for change from people who are prepared to take up the baton.

We do not wish to run for a sabbatical position, we do not wish to get involved with meetings.

WE WANT TO BE REPRESENTED!

EUSA officials have made it quite clear from comments on this blog that those of a Conservative viewpoint are not welcome at their meetings, open though they officially are. This is pseudo-democracy, pseudo-accountability. This is a farce.

We are waiting for a talented and forward thinking student to take up our cause. If that does not happen, we'll happily continue commenting on EUSA and waiting for our representation.

Remember kids, according to a EUSA official on this blog, if you vote Tory or support top-up fees, EUSA WILL NOT SUPPORT YOU!

How's that for EUSA, By Students For Students?

What EUSA needs...EUSA-less finally gets down to it!

2007-11-28T13:27:00.000Z

Apologies from EUSA-less for not getting down to the serious discussion of reform sooner, but here we go -

EUSA suffers from two serious flaws.

1. It is not an opt-in union.

2. It does not represent students.

Let's start with the merits of opt-in vs opt-out. Firstly, an opt-in system would involve some kind of financial fee to join. EUSA-less would suggest around £5 a year.

This would give you the right to student prices at the Unions, whereas those not in EUSA would pay normal price.

Aside from the financial benefit to the Union of opt-ing in (it would create £130,000 extra revenue a year) it would also create better accountability for the sabbaticals. Your £5 annual fee should be worth it!

With an opt-out system, which we currently have, students are automatically enrolled and so perhaps are more apathetic. If they had to make a conscious decision each year to join the Association, it would encourage interest in both voting and calling lazy politicians to account.

Now, how does EUSA not represent students? Well, I can think of a few major groups who'd agree with me...

Anyone who voted for Boris Johnson. Despite receiving 200 nominations for the post and the national press being convinced he would win, EUSA decided to actively campaign against him. In doing so they not only alienated the 2,123 people who voted for him, they struck a blow for constructive democracy.
Any member of the Christian Union. Edinburgh University Students Association embarked on a campaign to "Stop PURE," PURE being a religious class run by the CU. An aversion to homosexuality was mentioned briefly in the literature and EUSA immediately leapt into action. They used their muscle to push the CU classes out of EUSA property on the grounds that they were discriminating against homosexuality. Any mentions of "free speech" "religious tolerance" etc. were shouted down mercilessly.

Muslim Society

Students who write for The Journal. Josh MacAlister banned The Journal immediately from Edinburgh University property (as covered by the BBC).It's been noted in EUSA meetings recently that The Journal is more widely read than both Student & Hype.

Diagnostics Society - a debating society which EUSA have repeatedly tried to ban on the grounds that it is elitist.

Anyone who disagrees with the EUSA policy on top-up fees. If anyone breaks with the EUSA line on opposition to top-up fees, they have been officially warned they will be prevented from attending NUS conferences and representing EUSA. Surely an issue as serious as this should have been put to a referendum instead of the President deciding what was best for us?

The problem with representation could, as EUSA-less sees it, be solved by making EUSA an opt-in system.

If bodies like the Christian Union, which have around 1000 members, were all to opt-out in protest, that represents a significant amount of lost revenue for EUSA.

Similarly, if every student who had voted for Boris Johnson opted out, EUSA would now have lost nearly 10% of it's membership.

Comment spamming

2007-11-28T13:08:00.000Z

Dear EUSA-less readers,

Overnight it seems that around seventy pointless comments were posted across the blog.

It's fairly obvious that these originated from EUSA officials, who displayed their usual sense of "professional integrity."

We accept that much of what we say has probably caused personal offence to some of the sabbaticals, no names mentioned but our attacks are meant only to publicise the wide ranging flaws in their personalities which make them unfit for office.

We have, in fact, held back on many accusations. Since this blog has started there have been a dozen or more emails from supporters, containing anecdotes about the sabbaticals which we could not publish. Needless to say, we're shocked at some of what you guys get up to...

But in due course, our blog will begin the serious work of debating the reform of EUSA. There are some serious constitutional changes needed from top-to-bottom, and we intend to be in the vanguard of this.

Think of this blog as clearing the decks, expunging the bad blood, highlighting what placing power in the hands of poorly-formed characters can do to an organisation. We have a few serious scandals to expose and then you can listen to our proposals...

So, what to do about the comments posted by EUSA officials? We have been asked by four or five people to turn on moderating of comments.

We're not keen to turn on moderating, it's an obvious infringement of free speech.

But from now on, if comments are clearly off topic (i.e. Lord of the Rings etc), or have any legal implications, they will be deleted.

It is also completly unacceptable to pose under names of real students at this university. We have recieved complaints of this happening and it is not on.

Thank to all of you who read the blog and support us, your emails and messages of support are much appreciated...

Tom French - Consider your position, NOW!

2007-11-27T12:22:00.000Z

Tom Tom Tom...EUSA-less really aren't very impressed with you.

Tom French, as you all know, is under investigation for an alleged indecent sexual act in Teviot Library Bar.

Well, we say investigation, it's much more likely that it'll all be brushed under the carpet if nobody stands up and demands an explanation. Knowing student politics, this might well have happened in the past, but not any more...

Tom is strangely absent from EUSA at the moment - the question is, is he suspended or is he on "compassionate leave?

We numpties at EUSA-less were under the impression that if you were granted "compassionate leave" it was because of something sad, terrible etc beyond your control...oh how we are mistaken.

This power-hungry, Labour-loving, back-stabbing, office-abusing specimen, totally unfit for his position, has decided that it's not his fault that he got caught romping round Teviot with his boyfriend, oh no, it's something that we should all feel very sorry for him about, we should still pay him and let him sit at home twiddling his thumbs and crying about what a misrepresented poor boy he is...

GROW UP! You are being groomed for Labour party politics, you know it, we know it, they know it.

Stand up and explain what the hell you were doing in the Library Bar!

If you can explain it, fair enough. If you can't, you should resign. It's a good lesson to learn Tommo, now, while you're still young...it's much worse out there, believe me, and the shit really sticks.

Right now, you are responsible for four Union buildings, up to £7m of EUSA spending each year, a large body of bar staff, supervisors, bar managers, and the safety of all who enter the Union houses.

You are faced with serious allegations which compromise your integrity as an individual and your suitability for office.

You should NOT be sitting at home, on OUR TIME, setting up "hilarious" Facebook groups called "Vote Tom French #1 as EUSA's worst sabbatical." Ironic, haha, all very funny for you and your merry gang of supporters.

But GET A GRIP - in public, in general politics, you'd be out by your ear, strung up, on the front page of The Daily Mail being hammered for an indecent act you should have known better about.

I call on all of you who read this blog, be you friends/supporters of Tom French or not, to seriously consider whether he is a proper representative of the Edinburgh student.

Whether his example should stand as an example for all.

Whether he should be at home laughing it off with frivolous Facebook antics.

Whether he should be considering his position.

Whether he should be involved with EUSA at all.

Show us the body Mr. President...

2007-11-26T15:43:00.000Z

My spies tell me that four large men dressed in suits were seen entering the EUSA offices around four pm this afternoon...EUSA-less is as yet clueless to what they were there for.. we can but hope they have come to arrest Tom French..for being useless..nothing else...

Talking of TommyF it was interesting to note that in the new edition of HYPE there was one very key entry missing from the sabbaticals reports.. Where was Mr French's? Why is everything so quiet about this...

Show us the body Josh...

Labour and P&P candidates a-plenty - where's the balance?

2007-11-26T14:40:00.001Z

Here's a post from the EUSA forums, speculating about possible candidates for 2008 elections.

President: Guy Bromley (Labour Student), Ben Miller (P&P/Labour), Adam Ramsay (P&P/
Green), Nick Ward (Labour Student), Tom O'Grady (Labour),

VPSA: Katherine Sellar (Labour Student), Nick Ward (Labour Student)

VPS: Katherine Sellar (Labour Student), George Thomas (?), James Wallace (Tory)

VPAA: Guy Bromley (Labour Student), Bruce Golding (Labour Student), Ben Politowski (?), Kwan Ting Chan (Tory), Thomas Graham (Labour Student),

So for President, if you don't like the left wing, you don't get a look in...someone sensible should stand!

Obviously the above is just speculation from some randomer, but it's amusing to see the rundown of candidates and their unofficial sponsors...

Aikman congrulated clubs for cheating

2007-11-26T14:08:00.000Z

Aikman, Vice President Societies and Activities, admitted to the Student in late October that he condoned the behaviour of two societies who formed a syndicate at a Potterow competition, walking away with £500 in cash!

The scandal was covered in the Student newspaper. So what happened? Was it cheating?

The prize of £500 was to be awarded to the society that brought the most members to the fundraiser event at Potterow. Members of the Netball and Cricket clubs claimed they were Netball club members and had a pre-arranged agreement to split the prize. Of course they walked off with it, leaving the Swimming and Waterpolo clubs, who played fair, in the dust.

Gordon Aikman didn't seem too shocked by this behaviour, despite the fact that those cheating bastards at the Netball and Cricket clubs were clearly hijacking the generosity of the fundraiser!

He said to the Student

“Students were free to name any society or sports club they wished on the door. While it would appear that the Netball Club has collaborated with another sports club, I would congratulate them for organising and using their initiative - ultimately more sport clubs will benefit from the prize money as a result.”

Yes you read right, Gordon Aikman, Vice-President with all the morality of Maradona, thinks cheating is "Using their initiative" So not only are you condoning the clear case of cheating Gordon, you're congratulating them for coming up with the idea!

Some pretty dubious moral stances are being adopted by these utter cretins at the top of the EUSA pile, EUSA-less advises caution...

EUSA - By students, for Labour!

2007-11-26T13:23:00.001Z

As those of you who read this blog know (and after just a week there are about 350 of you!), one of the key objections that EUSA-less has against EUSA is how it is so tightly controlled by external political parties.

How many of our so called "student leaders" are in fact Labour party stooges?

In particular, this comes to the fore when the President, Josh MacAlister, abuses his position as President to spout out the party line from Labour HQ.

Josh, a proud New Labour supporter, came out in the press recently as being in strong opposition to the SNP's distribution of nationalist flag packs to universities for use on St. Andrews day.

EUSA-less doesn't necessarily agree with these flag packs (they're undoubtedly a waste of money and a kick in the teeth considering the recent cut in university funding) but when our President uses them as a way to attack the SNP from his Labour camp, the issue becomes serious.

The President is pushing his luck when he decides to mouth off to the newspapers under blatant instruction from No. 10. He's been doing it for a while too, have a look at this quote from The Independent from the 28th June (just after he started his presidency)

"Overall, Gordon Brown's record over the past 10 years has been pretty good. Britain is a much better place now..."

Pretty generous.

EUSA shops over charge on stationery and clothing

2007-11-25T18:19:00.000Z

EUSA shops, EUSA-less can reveal, take substantially higher profit margins on stationery and clothing than they do on tobacco products.

What is the logic here? Charge students more for pens & paper which they use in their studies and charge them less for cigarettes which affect their health and litter our pavements? Surely the shops should be driving down the cost of basic stationery for us?

Mr Vincenti, the shops general manager, explained the difference in profit margins to the Union Executive last month.

Needless to say, no EUSA representative seemed surprised by his revelation...

EUSA paid for party conferences

2007-11-25T17:29:00.000Z

EUSA-less has been reading through some of the minutes from EUSA meetings and has unearthed something slightly disturbing from the records.

Last year, EUSA paid for Tim Goodwin, president, to attend the Labour party conference. This cost us £100.

They also paid for him to attend the Lib Dem and SNP conferences. The total bill came to £230.

There are two points to be made here

1) As a keen Labour supporter, Tim Goodwin would have gone to the Labour conference anyway, and so should have paid out of his own pocket.
2) In his capacity as President, it's perhaps understandable that he should attend all the major conferences. That's right - "ALL THE MAJOR CONFERENCES." What happened to the Conservative Party conference?

Stop paying for your party political sabbaticals to go to events they'd be going to anyway, and for god's sake make sure they go to all of them

"Fuck You" - A response

2007-11-25T16:14:00.000Z

In light of the following comment posted today concerning the allegations of improper lewd conduct against our favourite VPS Tom French, EUSA-less would like to go on record for the time being in stating that we will not be commenting on this issue until EUSA release the findings of their investigation.

So its hush hush from us on this one. Period.

We of course have utmost confidence that EUSA wouldn't dare try somehow fix the findings of this investigation...

This is what the "Former EUSA Monkey" had to say though...

"RESIGN!

RESIGN!
RESIGN!

Why has this not happened yet?

Why has EUSA gone so quiet about this issue?

Why has French not been suspended while the investigation takes place?

How can he be allowed to hide behind the homophobic card - the issue is his behaviour, not his lifestyle?

Will EUSA please release the outcome of their investigation.

Can we be assured of French being fired, or resigning (if he has the guts) if he has been found to lie?
I know I am not alone in having delt with this lying, cheating scumbag as I was there when he was climbing the greasy pole of the EUSA ranks alongside him. He has proven whatevery feared when he was elected. This spiteful and vicious coward is not up for the job.

EUSA's 25,000 members deserve to know the FULL STORY.

And the whole truth...

Instead of people saying FUCK EUSA they should instead turn to Mr French and say FUCK YOU SIR.
25 November 2007 16:07 "

Tony Foster - man of leisure

2007-11-23T19:18:00.000Z

So continuing on the snooping theme, EUSA-less dropped in on Tony Foster's Facebook profile. For those of you who don't know him, he's the EUSA "Communications Advisor," a rather ominous title which basically puts him in charge of propaganda for EUSA. He was the man who banned The Journal from student property and also the chap who keeps deleting our posts on the EUSA forum. In addition he keeps a pretty tight rein on what the Student newspaper prints by controlling it's advertising revenue.

He's also very highly paid, although we can't disclose exactly how much...yet.

So here's a little about one of the guys who you're paying for

Under "Activities" he says

"Feet firmly on the table and delegating as much responsibility as possible."

Cheers. Nice to know you're doing so much hard work for us!

He then goes on to explain how he's going to spend his generous pay package (supplied by us students!)

Under "Interests" he says

"Wondering what shoes to buy to make the view so much better."

So basically, Mr. Foster, what you're telling us is, despite working for a charitable students association and getting paid absurdly generously by those students, you do literally sod all and spend all day dreaming about your next trip to Russel & Bromley?

Thanks, you chump.

Tom changes his tack

2007-11-23T15:43:00.000Z

After EUSA-less pointed out yesterday that Tom French lovingly refers to the clientelle of McColls newsagent as "druggies and chavs," a quick check of his Facebook profile reveals that he's deleted this information from his profile...

EUSA hijacks student activist success story...

2007-11-23T04:16:00.000Z

The EUSA website is harking on about how a student petition has led the University to open up desks in Adam House for study space during the exam period because of the ongoing and extremely infuriating noise from pimping up of the Library...
The full story (if there ever is a full story on the EUSA website!) can be found here: http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/news/1585

Its interesting to note that the students didn't come to EUSA for help...

No instead they got off their arses and actually sorted it out themselves through Facebook, and well done for doing so!
This is exactly where EUSA is going wrong, instead of taking orders from Labour HQ the Association should be there for students in need. Instead of telling us what we should eat and drink, they should be a place where people can truely go to voice their concerns and see real action as a result. EUSA should not try hijack this story as a success for them, if anything it shows the level of their failure to stick to their remit. Though I suppose this is better than burying it like so many other stories seem to be...

Tom French - Man of the People

2007-11-22T19:40:00.001Z

So Tom, he's a Labour man. He's a man of the people, he fights for the working classes, he likes equal opportunity, the right that every man in Britain has to reach their full potential in life. And, as self-professed chair of the Edinburgh Labour Club from 2005-2006, you'd think he'd be an impeccable spokesman for this, championing all elements of society, helping the poorest to come out of poverty etc. etc.

Mmm...

Strange then, that, as part of his Facebook profile, he tells us that he worked in McColls. And his job description is "selling cigarettes to druggies and chavs."

A little demeaning?

How long before we're rumbled...

2007-11-22T19:30:00.001Z

I see Tom French, Vice President Services, has rumbled our presence on the world wide web...

How long before the EUSA police are breathing down our necks, trying to shut us down? Freedom of speech, democratic expression of dissent - let's see how far they're prepared to push it.

EUSA hits back...

2007-11-22T19:11:00.000Z

The EUSA machine clearly spends its time and resources trawling the internet for dissent as even before this website is properly launched the EUSA man of moment hits back...

TOM FRENCH:
"Have you attempted coming into the office for a copy of the budget? I'm sure I could get you one. We've got our own photocopier and everything!"
22 November 2007 18:19

Yes we have thanks Tom and like the budget of many left wing dominated organisations, you scratch beneath the surface and underneath you find a shambles.

Maybe you could explain how appalling inefficiency means that EUSA managed to blow over a hundred thousand pounds on office "administration" in 2007?

That's a lot of photocopying Tom...

Add it to the list of your actions that need explaining... must be a long one this week...

Just to clarify...

2007-11-22T18:54:00.000Z

Hi faithful blog readers - just to clarify, EUSA-less has the following position on EUSA activities -

EUSA-less believes that EUSA is a potential power for good, we believe it has done good work in the past. But we are angered by the power within EUSA being systematically handed down to an anointed clique of Labour, Green and People & Planet puppets. We strongly believe that if party politics is removed from the system of power, that fresh blood is injected into the system, and that a fully formed forum for debate with representation from all sides is created, then and only then will EUSA reach it's full potential.

Until that point, EUSA is still, in our humble opinion, bloody EUSA-less!

The EUSA "Forum"

2007-11-22T13:19:00.000Z

There are 23 subsections in the EUSA forum.

Student representatives, as far as EUSA-less can tell, moderate 14 of them.

TonyF, on the other hand, moderates every single one of them.

Here's a quote from the EUSA frequently asked questions, under "What are moderators?"

Moderators are individuals (or groups of individuals) whose job it is to look after the running of the forums from day to day. They have the power to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum they moderate. Generally moderators are there to prevent people going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material.

What is "abusive or offensive" about asking on the forum for a copy of the EUSA budget for next year? EUSA-less did just this and the posts have been deleted - twice!

Has TonyF (presumably Tony "Goebbels" Foster) been removing posts on the forum that could be seen to criticise EUSA?

EUSA-less will be conducting some experiments on the EUSA forum over the next few weeks to see just how tightly controlled they are...

Someone's getting paid a lot...

2007-11-22T00:04:00.000Z

After examining the annual reports of EUSA - the Edinburgh University "Students Association," EUSA-less has uncovered that one senior member of EUSA is being paid up to £80,000 a year for his services. To put this in perspective -

That's over three times the average wage for an individual in the UK
That's over two-and-a-half times the average wage for an entire household in the UK
The average wage across the entirety of EUSA is just under £9,000 a year (probably because many of it's staff are part time)

EUSA is a registered charity. Under UK law this means that only half of it's staff are allowed to be paid at all. You would also assume that as a student association, where money is tight and many people volunteer their services, that no big suit would think to take advantage of the system and pay himself a nice big paycheck every month.

EUSA-less is almost 100% sure who this shameless man is, when we can be sure, we will name and shame here.

Watch this space...

Confused? EUSA-less are....

2007-11-21T23:56:00.001Z

Compare this from the EUSA website 2007 -

"In order to secure a world leading student experience here at Edinburgh, you need a powerful Students’ Association that focuses on meaningful local issues that it can materially change."

Meaningful local issues. LOCAL issues.

Now look at this motion for this years AGM...

TOTAL Oil
This Association notes:-
1. That Edinburgh University Invests in TOTAL Oil.
2. That according to Burma Campaign UK, TOTAL have deployed Burmese
army troops to police their pipeline, despite the army’s poor human rights
record which includes forced labour, forced relocation, torture and rape.
3. That according to Burma Campaign UK, TOTAL is the major European
funder of the Burmese regime.

This Association believes:-
1. That TOTAL’s investment in BURMA is not acceptable.
2. That it is not in line with the aims of the university to invest in TOTAL.

This Association resolves:-
1. To pressure the University to disinvest from TOTAL.

What exact brand of Morrocan hashish were these pot-smoking hippies smoking when they decided that policing Burma was "a local issue?"

EUSA-less Annual General Meeting 2007

2007-11-21T23:32:00.000Z

The EUSA AGM was no surprise - totally bloody EUSA-less! Representation from the left-wing mafia was strong, with People & Planet and the Labour Party as always making the biggest contributions. As they make up the guaranteed turnout, the concept of informed, sensible and most importantly fair debate became somewhat of a fantasy...

One of the motions involved creating more offices for the operation of the Union building. This is typical of EUSA, create new jobs, new sub-committees, but never get ANYTHING done!

A friend of mine recently hosted an event at Teviot. Despite representing a leading Edinburgh society, he had to present his problems to no less than seven separate managers within the Union building, more often than not repeating himself each time, with the assurance that none of the people he had spoken to about the event would even be present on the night; instead a deputy (no doubt poorly briefed) would be there. This kind of bureaucracy and inefficiency stinks of a poorly run organisation.

Then onto the totally meaningless motions to try and stop RBS investing in oil extraction, to put pressure on TOTAL Oil to stop causing strife in Burma. You would think that EUSA had representation at the G8 for Christ's sake. Some sensible people stood up and explained that EUSA was so far removed from the decision making processes in these huge multinational corporations that it could better invest it's own political capital in more realistic causes; they were of course shouted down by the People & Planet mob.

There was no debate, no two sides to the argument, an absurd "let's-take-a-rough-guess" voting system which was moderated by the hardly unbiased sabbaticals (congratulations to the poor sod who tried to get a recount done) and while everyone was patting themselves on the back for getting so many matriculated students to turn up and vote, this was apparently the first time in five years that the meeting had achieved quorum (300 students). In FIVE YEARS!

Then again, all those people turned up, but they left just before the most important bit - the EUSA finances. Tom French, EUSA Vice President of Services, stood up and delivered a brief on the last years accounts. It made for terrible reading, though sadly not enough people were there to read it. With a turnover of something like £7m, EUSA only managed a pitiful profit of around £125,000. He correctly pointed out that EUSA revenue relies far too heavily on festival income, and while this is all very good at the moment, the financial security of the festival is looking increasingly less viable as competition increases.

According to some EUSA-less sources, the figures he put up on his presentation were made up anyway, or at least misrepresented. EUSA is still suffering in a big way financially, and, dry subject matter as it may seem, that money is your money. Especially if you are an English student paying tuition fees.

Tom French then hurried through a vote for the next years budget.

DESPITE A QUESTION FROM THE FLOOR, HE REFUSED TO TELL THE ROOM WHAT THIS BUDGET WAS!

EUSA-less has posted on the EUSA forum twice asking for information about this budget, but our posts were deleted by no less than TONY FOSTER, communications adviser to EUSA and the recipient of an exceedingly generous pay package (more on this later). The EUSA forums, supposedly a safe environment for students to air legitimate grievances, are being policed by an overpaid propaganda spouting mercenary...He will no doubt attempt to track down the source of this blog and put us out, but we will prevail!

We will now attempt to retrieve this mythical document "the budget" from EUSA, but our first attempts have proved futile.

Welcome!

2007-11-21T12:12:00.000Z

For years EUSA, the Edinburgh University Students Association, has acted without restraint. It has bullied the societies it is meant to protect, it has submitted itself to control from left-wing political parties, it has failed in its mandate to deal with student's day to day problems, it has run its finances into the ground and it has developed a terrifying press machine, run by highly paid mercenaries, which has prevented criticism from any source being aired.

The time for this has ended. EUSA spends your money on what they want. There is no check for EUSA, no balance, no counterweight. It has 26,000 members, of which perhaps 1.5% are actively involved in voting for its motions. Yet it continues to spend up to £7m of OUR MONEY annually.

This blog is here to counter-act the EUSA press machine, to subvert it, and to allow the real truth to out. EUSA has the potential to be such a massively powerful force for good. Let's start here.