NUS elects its first Black Muslim woman President

Malia Bouattia has today (20th April 2016) been elected as the new president of the National Union of Students (NUS) at the annual National Conference in Brighton. Bouattia is the first Black Muslim woman president of NUS. Bouattia is the current NUS Black Students’ Officer, and was elected over rival candidates Megan Dunn, the current president of NUS, and Adil Waraich, former De Montfort Students’ Union president. Bouattia received 372 votes, Dunn received 328 votes and Waraich received 9 votes. There were 22 votes to re-open nominations.

In her manifesto Bouattia promised to fight for a free and liberated education for all students and implement liberation in every aspect of the student movement. She will support grass roots campaigns, campaign for better mental health provisions, defend the future of further education and work to better support international students.

As NUS Black Students’ Officer, Bouattia has co-launched the Race Matters report and the #LiberateMyDegree campaign, and developed the Why Is My Curriculum White? campaign on ten campuses. Bouattia has campaigned on the Prevent agenda and spoke at the United Nations’ human rights council in Geneva, Switzerland about the effects of Prevent. Bouattia has developed toolkits, workshops and reports on narrowing the Black attainment gap for sabbatical officers, staff and university senior management.

Bouattia will finish her term as NUS Black Students’ Officer and start her new role as NUS national president on July 1 2016.

Malia Bouattia, NUS president elect, said: “I am so proud to be elected as NUS’ first Black woman president and I look forward to the year ahead. I know students have huge transformative potential when we come together and put liberation at the heart of our work. From cuts to maintenance grants, college closures, the Black attainment gap and the Prevent agenda, the number of voices and groups being silenced by this government grows by day. In the face of these attacks, I promise to unify, strengthen and lead our movement.”

Five NUS Vice Presidents have also been elected:

Shakira Martin - Vice President (Further Education)
Sorana Vieru - Vice President (Higher Education)
Rob Young - Vice President (Society and Citizenship)
Richard Brooks - Vice President (Union Development)
Shelly Asquith - Vice President (Welfare)