Two weeks after ‘Pexit’ was firmly rejected by Peterhouse JCR members, Selwyn College students will be the next to have their say on CUSU membership.

Due to a constitutional requirement obliging their JCR to review policy every three years, Selwynites will go to the polls from Sunday until Tuesday to decide on whether their JCR should sustain its links to the central students’ union.

Unlike Peterhouse’s referendum, the vote has not been called by students, and there is no prominent group within the college calling for an exit. However, the last time the policy was voted on – in 2013 – Selwyn only narrowly remained affiliated, with 54.93 per cent of students voting to remain.

Speaking to Varsity, JCR President Lee Robertson said "Selwyn's JCR Committee has been open and clear since we took office in January that, as a constitutional requirement obliging us to review policy every three years, we must have a referendum on affiliation with CUSU in Michaelmas term.”

“This was not triggered by a student petition, nor by any value-judgement on CUSU's performance or leadership,” he said, adding that it is “merely constitutional.”

“I will be remaining neutral, but the rest of the JCR Committee will of course be free to campaign for 'SelwIN' or 'Sexit' if they please.”

Is CUSU affiliation worth it?

Selwyn JCR have provided students with general guidance about its affiliation with CUSU, as well as publicising literature advocating for both sides of the campaign.

The fact-sheet had a number of small factual errors, which were quick amended after Varsity made contact with a JCR member. These included stating that CUSU “does not receive central block grant funding from the University” – it in fact receives over £200,000 a year, including its premises allocation.

These mistakes are also present on CUSU’s own website, which erroneously says that its block grant from the University is “a little over £2,000”, and also states “CUSU isn’t provided with a students’ union building”. CUSU has been based in 17 Mill Lane for over a year now, and will receive a £86,000 this year to pay for its premises.