Editing Durham Students' Union (section)

==Controversies==
===NUS Affiliation===
On a number of occasions, some have suggested have that Durham SU might disaffiliate from the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|NUS]],<ref>Hannah Costigan, [http://palatinate.dsu.org.uk/News/535/ "Durham to pull out of NUS"]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}, ''Palatinate'', accessed 28 October 2006</ref> however until 2009 none of those opposed to affiliation had pushed the issue to a full student debate and vote. In 2009 however, a referendum took place proposing that Durham SU should stay affiliated to the NUS. Students voted convincingly in favour of affiliation with 80% (2564) of students who voted voting to stay affiliated and 20% (624) voting to disaffiliate.<ref>[https://vote.dsu.org.uk/index.cgi/results/44]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} DeVote online voting system, accessed 27 November 2009</ref>

Shortly after this, controversy arose regarding a planned debate, "Multiculturalism in Britain", at the [[Durham Union Society]], which was to involve a recently elected [[British National Party|BNP]] MEP, and which was subsequently cancelled over alleged fears for student safety, reopened the issue of [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|NUS]] affiliation. A petition for a second referendum was put before the Union <ref>Vincent McAviney & Jodie Smith, [http://www.palatinate.org.uk/news/national-news/security-concerns-stifle-free-speech "Security concerns stifle free speech"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030031409/http://www.palatinate.org.uk/news/national-news/security-concerns-stifle-free-speech/|date=2010-10-30}}, ''Palatinate'', accessed 8 February 2010</ref> and on 12 March 2010, the referendum concluded with a majority of voting students voting to disaffiliate from the NUS,<ref>{{cite web |title=DEVote online voting - Results |url=http://vote.dsu.org.uk/index.cgi/results/51 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814155315/http://vote.dsu.org.uk/index.cgi/results/51 |archive-date=2010-08-14 |access-date=2010-08-14}} DeVote online voting - Results</ref> meaning that Durham Students' Union disaffiliated from the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|NUS]] after the end of the 2009-2010 academic year.<ref>Ben Robertson,[http://www.dsu.org.uk/news/138153/news_nus_referendum_results_announced_15032010/ "NUS Referendum Results Announced"]</ref>

A third referendum on NUS affiliation was held in January 2011 with 60% of students voting to reaffiliate with NUS.<ref>[https://www.dur.ac.uk/student.elections/dsu/index.php?results=58 DeVote Online Voting] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629183239/https://www.dur.ac.uk/student.elections/dsu/index.php?results=58|date=2011-06-29}}</ref>

In 2015, another referendum reaffirmed NUS affiliation (61% supported affiliation), with an 11% voter turnout.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor-Kroll |first1=Charlie |date=16 June 2016 |title=Durham SU remains affiliated with NUS following referendum |url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/durham-su-remains-affiliated-with-nus-following-referendum/ |access-date=18 June 2023 |website=palatinate.org.uk}}</ref> The SU currently remains affiliated with the NUS.

=== 2020 sabbatical student officer elections ===
In 2020, there was a controversy surrounding the results of the 2020 election, with 58% of votes for Re-Open Nominations being cast aside as a result of alleged rule breaches by the Re-Open Nominations campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-03-10 |title=Breaking: SU declares election results after RON disqualified |url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/breaking-su-declares-election-results-after-ron-disqualified/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Palatinate |language=en-GB}}</ref> The Re-Open Nominations campaign faced accusations of racism and after the election has been cited as the cause of a spike in racist online abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-04-14 |title=“No one wants to be called racist”: Durham’s need for change |url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/no-one-wants-to-be-called-racist-durhams-need-for-change/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Palatinate |language=en-GB}}</ref> Several college Common Rooms have chosen to 'disaffiliate', 'disassociate' or 'disengage'  from the Students Union citing the decision to dismiss Re-Open Nominations.<ref name="palatinate.org.uk" /><ref name="ReferenceA" />

This led to Durham SU to conduct a democracy review, with the aim of reviewing the unions democracy processes and to suggest improvements. Multiple issues were identified, including the need for better communication and a less binary voting system.<ref name="SU Democracy Review">{{cite web |title= DURHAM SU Democracy Review Findings |url=https://www.durhamsu.com/articles/democracy-review-report-the-findings-are-in |website=Durham Students Union |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref> 

=== Palatinate Independence Debate ===
In 2022, Durham university's student newspaper [[Palatinate (newspaper)|Palatinate's]] editorial board voted 97% in favour of becoming an independent newspaper, and leaving Durham Students Union.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burrin |first=Elliot |date=2022-11-10 |title=Palatinate demands independence |url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/palatinate-demands-independence/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Palatinate |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The call for independence was supported by multiple former [[Editor-in-chief | editors]] at Palatinate, including [[Jeremy Vine]]. [[The Mail on Sunday]] also promised to provide palatinate £20,000 to help 'secure their independence' whilst claiming this would not effect their 'editorial independence'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-15 |title=BBC star Jeremy Vine weighs in on row over Durham University's student newspaper |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23122862.palatinate-durham-universitys-newspaper-makes-bid-independence/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}}</ref> Whilst Palatinate claimed they had not accepted or rejected the money, Jack Ballingham, opportunities officer at the time, called the push for independence 'unprovoked' and claimed Palatinate went to the [[Daily Mail]] for 'extra firepower' against Durham SU.<ref name="JACK REFLECTS ON HIS TIME AS OPPORTUNITIES OFFICER">{{cite web |title= JACK REFLECTS ON HIS TIME AS OPPORTUNITIES OFFICER |url=https://www.durhamsu.com/articles/jack-reflects-on-his-time-as-opportunities-officer |website=Durham Students Union |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref>