UCU Elections 2022

Elections for Trustees, Officers and National Executive Committee members are now open. As always, we asked all candidates to declare their position on academic freedom by indicating how they would have voted on “HE32”, a motion put to UCU Congress in 2019 to express support for academic freedom, with specific reference to gender, but which was voted down. Where candidates didn't reply, we used their previously stated positions or imputed it from their public statements. If you're a candidate and wish to amend your position as recorded below, please email ucu4af@gmail.com.

As a further guide to voting , we have indicated which faction each candidate belongs to.

• (A) = UCU Agenda, formerly the "Independent Broad Left". Members range from Blairites to CPGB. Generally, they share a cautious approach to industrial action and wish to limit the union's activities to "bread and butter" issues. This seems to make individual members more sympathetic to academic freedom, but they have no collective position on this.

• (C) = UCU Commons, a relatively new, "woke" faction, strongly associated with General Secretary Jo Grady. Their election statement is actively hostile to gender-critical feminists' academic freedom. Sadly, therefore, we have to recommend against voting for anyone in this faction.

• (L) = UCU Left. Formed around a core of Socialist Worker Party members, this faction generally favours industrial action and campaigning on progressive issues. Members' views on academic freedom vary. However, their election statement evinces hostility towards free speech on campus.

We encourage all UCU members to give your strongest preference vote to candidates who back academic freedom, and to assign your lowest preference to those who do not.

TRUSTEES

Anna Marie Roos (University of Lincoln) (C) -- NO

Mike Barton (London retired members branch) (L) -- Unable to contact; election statement supports AF & free speech

Stephen Albert Desmond (Solent University) -- No response

Chris Jones (NPTC Group) (L) -- unable to contact

Professor Neil Macfarlane (Nottingham Trent University) -- unable to contact

David Limb (North West Regional College) -- unable to contact

Steve Brown (Nottingham Trent University) (C) -- NO

VICE-PRESIDENT FROM THE FE SECTOR (1 seat)

Juliana Ojinnaka (The Sheffield College) (L) -- unable to contact

Maxine Looby (Oldham College) -- unable to contact

Patricia Roche (Blackpool and The Fylde College) -- unable to contact

GEOGRAPHICALLY-ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE NEC

Northern Ireland HE (1 seat)(uncontested)

Linda Moore (Ulster University) -- NO

Northern Ireland FE (1 seat)(uncontested)

Martina Donald (North West Regional College) -- No response

Wales HE (1 seat)(uncontested)

Vida Greaux (University of South Wales) -- No response

North East HE (3 seats)

Laura Chuhan Campbell (Durham University) (C) -- NO

Mary-Ellen Large (University of Hull) (L) -- No response

Andrew Feeney (Northumbria University) -- No response

Matt Perry (Newcastle University) (L) -- No response

Nick Emmel (University of Leeds) (L) -- No response

David Harvie (University of Leeds) (L) -- NO

Joanna de Groot (University of York) (A) -- YES

North East FE (1 seat)(uncontested)

Elaine White (Bradford College) -- unable to contact

London and the East HE (5 seats to include at least two women)

Kyran Joughin (University of the Arts London)[woman] -- No response

Professor Paul Anderson (Queen Mary University of London) (L) -- No response

Dave Ashby (London School of Economics and Political Science) (C) -- NO

Maria Chondrogianni (University of Westminster)[woman] (L) -- No response

Esther Murray (Queen Mary University of London)[woman] (C) -- NO

Sean Wallis (University College London) (L) -- No response

Roddy Slorach (Imperial College London) (L) -- NO

Emma Kennedy (University of Greenwich)[woman] (C) -- NO

Sarah Brown (Anglia Ruskin University)[woman] -- YES

London and the East FE (2 seats)(uncontested)

Delmena Doyley (Croydon College) -- unable to contact

Richard McEwan (New City College (Poplar)) (L) -- No response

UK-ELECTED MEMBERS HE (5 seats; to include at least one post-92, one academic related and two women)

Esther Murray (Queen Mary University of London)[woman] (C) -- NO

Julie Hearn (Lancaster University)[woman] (L) -- No response

Emma Kennedy (University of Greenwich)[post-92, woman] (C) -- NO

Ann Gow (University of Glasgow)[woman] -- YES

Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (Birkbeck, University of London)[woman] -- NO

Michael Carley (University of Bath) -- YES

Dr Richard Wild (University of Greenwich)[post-92] (L) -- No response

Maria Chondrogianni (University of Westminster)[post-92, woman] (L) -- No response

David Harvie (University of Leeds) (C) -- unable to contact

Carl Fraser (Oxford Brookes University)[post-92] (C) -- unable to contact

Stephen Albert Desmond (Solent University)[post-92] -- No response

Grant Buttars (University of Edinburgh)[academic related] (C) -- NO

Andrew Feeney (Northumbria University)[post-92] -- No response

Adam Ozanne (University of Manchester) (A) -- YES

Nicky Priaulx (Cardiff University)[woman] (C) -- NO

Roddy Slorach (Imperial College London)[academic related] (L) -- NO

Alan Barker (University of Nottingham) (L) -- YES

Ryan Prout (Cardiff University) (A) -- No response

Dr Peter Wood (Open University) -- NO

Dyfrig Jones (Bangor University) -- No response

Peta Bulmer (University of Liverpool)[woman] (L) -- No response

UK-ELECTED MEMBERS FE (3 seats; to include at least one ACE and one woman)

Nina Doran (City of Liverpool College) (L) -- unable to contact

Dharminder Singh Chuhan (Sandwell College) (L) -- No response

Sharon Norey (Novus prison education branch) -- No response

Naina Kent (Hackney Adult Education) [ACE, woman] -- N/A (will be automatically elected)

REPRESENTATIVES OF WOMAN MEMBERS

Higher education (3 seats)

Jo Edge (University of Edinburgh) (C) -- NO

Laura Chuhan Campbell (Durham University) (C) -- NO

Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (Birkbeck, University of London) -- NO

Emma Rees (University of Chester) (C) -- NO

Ann Gow (University of Glasgow) -- YES

Joanna de Groot (University of York) (A) -- YES

Julie Hearn (Lancaster University) (L) -- No response

Maria Chondrogianni (University of Westminster) (L) -- No response

Further education (2 seats)(uncontested)

Regine Pilling (Capital City College Group (Westminster Kingsway)) -- N/A (will be automatically elected)

REPRESENTATIVES OF MIGRANT MEMBERS (casual vacancy) (1 seat)

Stephen Albert Desmond (Solent University) -- No response

Dr Khizer Saeed (University of Brighton) (L) -- No response

Dima Chami (University of Bristol) -- NO (voted against HE32)

UCU Elections 2020

We asked the UCU members standing in the current elections whether they would support “HE32”, a motion put to UCU Congress in 2019 to express support for academic freedom, with specific reference to gender, but which was voted down. The responses we received are tabulated below. Where we used other evidence to establish their position, that is noted. If you're a candidate and wish to state your position please email ucu4af@gmail.com.

We encourage all UCU members to give your strongest preference vote to candidates who back academic freedom, and to withhold your vote from those who do not.

Trustees (3 seats)

Mike Barton (London retired members branch) – unable to contact

David Limb (North West Regional College) – no response

Angie McConnell (Open University) – no response

Martin Ralph (University of Liverpool) – unable to contact

Dr Angela Roger (University of Dundee) – no response

Angie McConnell (Open University) – no response

Vice President from the further education sector (1 seat)

Janet Farrar (The Manchester College) – no response

Margot Hill (Croydon College) – NO (hedged position)

Geographically-elected members of the National Executive Committee

Northern Ireland HE (1 seat)

Philip McGowan (Queen’s University Belfast) – NO

Linda Moore (Ulster University) – YES

Northern Ireland FE (1 seat) (uncontested)

Monica Goligher (Belfast Metropolitan College) – YES

Wales HE (1 seat) (uncontested)

Vida Greaux (University of South Wales) – no response

North East HE (3 seats)

Bruce Baker (Newcastle University) – NO

Ariane Bogain (Northumbria University) – no response

Matilda Fitzmaurice (Durham University) – no response

Joan Harvey (Newcastle University) – YES

Ruth Holliday (University of Leeds) – no response

Dr Steve Lui (University of Huddersfield) – no response

Dr Edward Yates (University of Sheffield) – no response

Matilda Fitzmaurice (Durham University) – no response

North East FE (1 seat)

Rachel Minshull (Leeds City College) – YES

Saleem Rashid (Sheffield College) – YES

London and the East HE (4 seats to include at least one woman)

Professor Paul Anderson (Queen Mary University of London) – no response

Sarah Brown (Anglia Ruskin University) [woman] – equivocal response

Annie Goh (UAL Central St Martins) [woman] – no response

Claire Marris (City, University of London) [woman] – no response

Dr Stan Papoulias (King’s College London) – NO (Twitter)

Roddy Slorach (Imperial College London) – NO (referred to Margot Hill’s hedged position)

Holly Smith (University College London) [woman] – YES

London and the East FE (2 seats) (uncontested)

Julia Roberts (Lambeth College) – no response

Sean Vernell (Capital City College Group CANDI Lifelong Learning) – no response

Midlands HE (1 seat) (casual vacancy)

Alan Barker (University of Nottingham) – YES

Dr Teresa Forde (University of Derby) – no response

David Harvie (University of Leicester) – no response

Scotland (Honorary Secretary UCU Scotland) (1 seat) (casual vacancy) Dr Eurig Scandrett (Queen Margaret University) - YES Ann Swinney (University of Dundee) – NO (referred to Margot Hill’s hedged position)

UK-elected members HE (5 seats; to include at least one post-92, one academic related)

Mark Abel (University of Brighton) [post-92] – YES

Sunil Banga (Lancaster University) – YES

Shereen Benjamin (University of Edinburgh) – YES

Michael Carley (University of Bath) – YES (voted for HE32)

Mike Finn (University of Exeter) – no response

Ann Gow (University of Glasgow) – YES

Julie Hearn (Lancaster University) – YES

Sarah King (University of Sussex) [academic related] – declined to answer (Twitter)

Michael McKrell (University of Central Lancashire) [post-92] – YES

Jo McNeill (University of Liverpool) [academic related] – no response

Claire Marris (City, University of London) – no response

Jamie Melrose (University of Bristol) – no response

Dr Chris O’Donnell (University of the West of Scotland) [post-92] – no response

Dr Adam Ozanne (University of Manchester) – YES

Stan Papoulias (King’s College London) – NO (Twitter)

Dr Mark Pendleton (University of Sheffield) – NO (voted against HE32)

Dr Leon Rocha (University of Lincoln) [post-92] – no response

Ann Swinney (University of Dundee) – NO (referred to Margot Hill’s hedged position)

Chloe Vitry (Lancaster University) – NO

UK-elected members HE (casual vacancy) (1 seat)

Sunil Banga (Lancaster University) – YES

Dr Mark Pendleton (University of Sheffield) – NO (voted against HE32)

Chloe Vitry (Lancaster University) – NO (Twitter)

UK-elected members FE (3 seats; to include at least one ACE and one woman)

Naina Kent (Hackney ACE) [ACE] [woman] – no response

Richard McEwan (New City College (Poplar)) – no response

Lauren Mura (Blackburn College) [woman] – YES

Saleem Rashid (Sheffield College) – YES

UK-elected members FE (casual vacancy) (1 seat)

Nina Doran (City of Liverpool College) – unable to contact

Kevin Lynch (Sunderland College) – YES

Representatives of women members (5 seats; three HE and two FE members to be elected)

Higher education (3 seats)

Pura Ariza (Manchester Metropolitan University) – no response

Dr Joanne Edge (University of Manchester) – NO

Dr Joanna de Groot (University of York) – YES

Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (University of Exeter) – no response

Madhu Krishnan (University of Bristol) – equivocal response

Rhiannon Lockley (Birmingham City University) – NO

Marian Mayer (Bournemouth University) – no response

Dr Renee Prendergast (Queen’s University Belfast) – YES

Chloe Vitry (Lancaster University) – NO (Twitter)

Julie Wilkinson (Manchester Metropolitan University) – YES

Further education (2 seats) (uncontested)

Carolyn Campbell (The Trafford College Group) – unable to contact

Stephanie Williams (Bath College) – no response

Representatives of migrant members (2 seats) (uncontested)

Dima Chami (University of Leeds) [non-EU] – NO (voted against HE32)

Robyn Orfitelli (University of Sheffield) [non-EU] – NO (voted against HE32)

UCU NEC Election Results

UCU 4 AF congratulates the following candidates who were successfully elected to UCU's National Executive Committee, all of whom pledged their support for academic freedom!

Northern Ireland HE - Linda Moore (Ulster University)

Northern Ireland FE - Monica Goligher (Belfast Metropolitan College)

Northeast HE - Joan Harvey (Newcastle University)

Northeast FE - Rachel Minshull (Leeds City College)

London and the East HE - Holly Smith (University College London)

UK-elected members HE - Adam Ozanne (University of Manchester); Ann Gow (University of Glasgow)

Representatives of women members HE - Joanna de Groot (University of York)

Unfortunately, several other pro-academic freedom candidates were unsuccessful, while several avowed opponents of academic freedom were also elected. Nonetheless, this is a good start to our campaign to take UCU back to where it should be: defending the academic freedom of all of its members.

The next step is to take a motion to NEC for the next UCU Congress, which will re-commit UCU to this principle. More on this soon!