In the last week statements have come out of the University of Manchester Student Union‎ (UMSU) describing a University Royal Navy Unit stall as making the campus "seem unwelcoming to students", and that "a military presence is not appropriate" . As such it seems student societies linked to the military have been forced off campus, during the signing up period of freshers' week (welcome week). 

It is worthy of note that these organisations are not for military recruitment. They are university societies with membership that begin and end with a student's time at university. They provide members with an understanding of a military experience; and while some go on to sign up after graduation, it is a small minority. They are organisations which increase member's skills while providing a rare opportunity. They do not encourage violence or harm to others. They do not put pressure on members to join the Armed Forces after university. They do not effect life on campus or operate in the public-eye of students except during ‎welcome week.

We the undersigned disapprove of the recent actions of UMSU. We call upon UMSU to immediately reinstate the right of Armed Forces societies, such as the University Royal Navy Unit, to sign up new members on campus, so that students may have the freedom and choice to belong to these worthy organisations.