16 // CAMPUS | LIFE & STYLE stem largely from the four days of conference, rather than the whole Union itself. They do not create enough of a reason for ANU to distance itself from NUS as it has done so recently. At the most recent national conference a large number of motions were written, proposed and debated by ANU students, even though we may never reap the benefits of such motions without affiliation. There is no doubt of the need for improvements, such as better enforcement of the code of conduct, to be made to NatCon so that the conference is more productive and safe for all attendees.
We must, however, acknowledge that like any organisation, the NUS will never be perfect. Rather than complaining about it – as seems to be the case after every year’s NatCon – we can only work towards improving the union from the inside. ANU’s non-affiliation to the NUS will only prevent its departments from accessing national support, knowledge and funding – these are resources we cannot afford to miss out on if we want ANUSA to be the most well-informed representative body of all students that it can be.
