King’s College London Student Union (KCLSU) will operate without a president in the 2024/25 academic year, following Hassan Ali’s campaign disqualification and Advait Joshi’s decision to decline the elected office. Roar takes a look at what this could entail.
On 29 July, KCLSU released the following statement to the student body:
We want to update you on the 2024 KCLSU Presidential elections and decisions made following the Returning Officer’s ruling that Hassan Ali cannot take up office in the role.
We wrote to you on 10 July informing you that although Hassan Ali received the highest number of votes in March, the recent outcome of a confidential internal HR matter meant that he was removed as a candidate and a recount undertaken. The recount has now been concluded and the individual identified as the winning candidate has declined to accept the role.
At the 18 July Board of Trustees meeting, the Trustees considered whether to hold a bye-election in the Autumn to identify a new President or to proceed without a President for the 2024/2025 academic year. The Board of Trustees decided to proceed without a President. KCLSU will have five Vice Presidents as the Sabbatical Officer team for the coming academic year.
KCLSU statement, 29 July 2024
Online frustration followed from Ali’s campaign disqualification announcement. The statement published on 29 July also acknowledged the initial public reaction:
We have received a number of emails and are aware of social media posts which contain inaccuracies, including allegations of undemocratic behaviour, discrimination and Islamophobia. We take these allegations very seriously, however it is important to understand that the claims made online are unfounded. We can confirm that a confidential internal HR matter took place which was handled in accordance with due processes and relevant oversight from the KCLSU Board of Trustees.
Following this process, Hassan Ali was determined to have breached the KCLSU Trustee Code of Conduct, which in accordance with KCLSU’s governance, meant he was ineligible for the KCLSU President role. For the avoidance of doubt, the KCLSU Chief Executive was not involved in this decision.
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KCLSU remains committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful environment for all members. We will continue to keep members, the University, and other stakeholders informed of any further developments.
In such unique circumstances, it is not technically against KCLSU internal rules to operate without a president. The KCLSU’s Articles of Association empower the Trustees Board to exercise the full extent of governance power for the Union (37.1-37.2.1).
Senior staff at KCLSU admitted to Roar that they are still figuring out what exactly a president-less KCLSU will look like. Based on KCLSU policy documents and precedents from other UK Student Unions that faced similar situations, Roar will try to provide a sense of what you can expect in the upcoming academic year.
What Presidential Powers Need to be Delegated?
The KCLSU Bye-Laws bestow on the president an overarching duty to provide leadership for the SU, Board, Student Officers and act as a representative in external forums.
The bye-laws also require that the president is the Chair of the Trustees. This means they preside over decision-making, discussion, and voting matters. Clause 50 of the Articles of Association confirms that a Deputy Chair or another Trustee must be appointed to preside en lieu of a Chair.
The bye-laws obligate the SU to be politically accountable. The best way to accomplish that may be to appoint another elected Student Officer to the role.
The six duties outlined for the president are as follows:
- Chair the KCLSU Trustee Board, providing leadership for KCLSU and for the Board
- Collaborate with the vice-chair of the Board to manage the performance of the KCLSU Chief Executive, including setting and monitoring objectives
- Lead the Student Officer team
- Attend the National Union of Students’ National Conference as KCLSU’s lead delegate
- Serve as a member of the KCL Council, representing KCLSU
- Liaise between the KCL President (formerly known as the Principal), Senior Vice Presidents, KCL Senior Management Team, and the SU, in conjunction with the KCLSU Chief Executive.
What did other student unions do?
King’s is not the only University of London SU under such circumstances.
At the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), two co-presidents were fired by their SU Board of Trustees on 15 July. According to a post by The SOAS Spirit, this was due to public criticism of their CEO and “continuing escalation of tensions with the University as an institution”. Disciplinary action came as a result of heavy involvement in pro-Palestine activism on campus, especially following an anti-protest policy established at the university in February.
In the case of the SOAS SU, one of the co-presidents was set to fill an office already vacant for a year. Similarly to KCLSU, the SOAS SU Board of Trustees will need to determine how to proceed in light of their dismissal.
The SU has not yet responded to Roar’s enquiry as to how the presidential vacancy will alter this year’s governance structure.
A KCLSU spokesperson told Roar:
The decisions as to the division of the President’s responsibilities among the five members of the 2024/25 Sabbatical Officer team will need to be considered and made by the five Vice Presidents and the Board of Trustees. The arrangements for the full year regarding this and other related matters, such as confirming the 2024/25 Chair of the Board, will be made by the Board of Trustees and will be confirmed at the October Board of Trustees meeting.
KCLSU spokesperson
