Society suspension: what does it mean?
Image courtesy of STO Building Group
On Friday, 19th January, the UCL Conservative society was suspended by the Students’ Union after sharing an image on their social media which advertised two controversial debate topics that were deemed as potentially harmful. Leaked audio obtained by Pi Online, published in our recent Editorial, also revealed a history of shouting and revelry at Tory society events.
Suspension means the cessation of society activities, and is generally a temporary measure whilst an investigation into the society and their harmful actions takes place.
A spokesperson from the SU said: “We may decide to suspend a group before beginning a disciplinary process if we consider that by continuing in their normal activity, the group risks causing further harm. Once a group is suspended, a timetable is established for the disciplinary proceedings.”
The investigation, which forms part of the disciplinary proceedings, is led by the Activities and Engagement Officer, one of the SU’s sabbatical officers, alongside three officers from the Activities Zone—a panel formed of elected students who discuss ideas and policies relating to sports, art, societies and volunteering at UCL.
This requires the society in question to engage with the process—attending meetings and submitting evidence. The president of the society is invited to respond via a disciplinary hearing, and the cooperation of the society is vital to moving the investigation forward.
Despite not responding to Pi’s numerous requests for comment, the SU has confirmed that, thus far, “the Conservative society have engaged with us on this matter throughout the week.”
The Activities Zone met last week on Monday, 29th January, but the investigation into the Conservative society was not on the agenda. A date to establish the parameters of the investigation is yet to be set. However, the SU aims “to reach a conclusion to the disciplinary process in the coming weeks.”
The Conservative society is not the only society to have been suspended this academic year. The UCL Marxist society was also suspended in October following concerns that posters created by the society could potentially insight violence.
The posters, expressing support for Palestine following Israel’s declaration of war against Hamas, used the phrase “Intifada until victory.” Whilst seemingly innocent, the word intifada is often associated with rebellion and uprising, and was used frequently during Israel’s occupation of Gaza from 1987 to 1993.
In a statement released by the Marxist society committee, they claimed that their suspension was “outrageous and an attack on a fundamental democratic right: freedom of speech.” The SU, however, believed the poster had the potential to be considered incitement and encouraged dialogue with the society in order to rectify the problem.
Unlike the Conservatives, however, the Marxist society failed to engage with the disciplinary process. The SU “invited the committee to meet and discuss the next steps of the disciplinary process” but the committee have not accepted this invitation, and are believed to have resigned.
The spokesperson reiterated that the Marxist society “remains suspended until further notice with the invitation to meet still open.”
Cooperation with the SU is clearly essential when overturning a society’s suspension. As long as the Conservative society committee continues to engage with the disciplinary process and the forthcoming investigation by the Activities Zone, it is possible that the suspension will be revoked in time for the new academic year.
The society’s history of cultural problems, however, may prove problematic for Tory soc. The Marxist society was suspended over an isolated incident which remains unresolved due to a lack of committee engagement. If the committee were to engage with the SU, even at this late stage, the society is likely to be reinstated. But, as revealed in Pi’s Editorial 11, the recent scandal consuming the Conservative society is a symptom of wider cultural problems which, at the very least, date back to last year’s Port and Policy debate where the society discussed the “supremacy” of the Church of England.
The SU’s investigation will ultimately decide the fate of Tory soc, allegedly the oldest conservative university society in England. The fact that this was not an isolated incident, but the repetition of potentially harmful acts across multiple academic years should have a more damning impact on the society’s suspension.
Given the Union’s commitment to facilitating student-led activities of every shape, form and nature, it seems unlikely that the Conservative society will be permanently suspended. However, serious reforms—such as stricter rules on society events and a more comprehensive risk assessment with regards to harmful speech—are likely to be on the cards.