Labor gains in UTS elections
By Will Williams
SYDNEY — The left's influence was weakened considerably in the recent University of Technology, Sydney, (UTS) students' association elections, to the advantage of the National Organisation of Labor Students (NOLS). While the broad left's main ticket, Activate, won the positions of secretary and treasurer, the important positions of president and women's officer were won by NOLS.
Of UTS's six National Union of Students delegate positions, the broad left won only two, while NOLS won three and the Liberals one. Out of 10 general SRC positions, the broad left picked up four, NOLS four and the Liberals two.
Instead of focusing on running a winning campaign, parts of the broad left chose a defeatist path from the start, undermining the broad left's internal democracy.
Even after the broad left's decision to run for president and women's officer, continual pressure came from a minority within the broad left to give these positions to NOLS. These individuals made this public during the campaign, further weakening the broad left's cohesion.
The resulting disunity resulted in the left's loss of control over the students' association, and has been a setback in rebuilding the UTS left in general.