As students and/or volunteers of Loughborough University Students' Union (LSU), we are disheartened to see LSU failing to engage with our communities and acting without students' interests at heart.

In particular, we are disappointed to see how various Welfare and Diversity (W&D) networks and associations put forward extensive arguments against the launch of "The Men's Project" on 9/08/2024 only to be ignored by LSU and greenlighted to go ahead. 

When @lsucommunities launched The Men's Project on Instagram, there was instant backlash and a clear student voice emerged against the creation of this "project". With over 100+ comments, majorly voicing their concerns about the conduct of LSU when engaging about this project, we still have not received any acknowledgement from LSU although students have been tagging our Executive Officers in the comments section and demanding answers.

We have not received any indication of how communities will be safeguarded, especially men when joining a "project" that could slip into dangerous territories considering our current political climate of the English Defense League carrying out Islamophobic and racist attacks across the country. The Men’s Project graphics affirm and validate our fears since its launch graphics use white supremacist-associated slogans such as “Take space!” with a white fist emoji that seems to be a deliberate inversion of the Black Lives Matter black fist. It also fails to address intersectionality or any equity diversity and inclusion considerations for the safety of men who are marginalised in many other dimensions of their identity.

LSU already has a history of censoring and neglecting students of colour such as their failure to continue the LSU BAME Student Council in 2022. As the Postgraduate Social Support Network based in the London campus which is predominantly BAME students, we directly feel the intersection of being continuously neglected and ignored by LSU.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a wider disturbing pattern. The statistics highlighted by @yoursuyourvoice reveal concerning trends of LSU management cutting down on the degree of student representation. From 2015 to 2023, our Executive Officers went down from 15 EOs to only 5 EOs. We directly feel the harmful consequences of these actions. Our voices are not taken seriously let alone being heard.

This is why we wish to unite with our East Midlands counterpart to reclaim the student union for students and away from cost-cutting management who cannot fulfil their basic Equity, Diversity and Inclusion obligations.

Therefore, we demand Loughborough Students' Union do following:

1. Rescind "The Men's Project" immediately and acknowledge what has happened through an official statement
2. Open up honest and safe dialogues with students on both campuses to understand their concerns about "The Men's Project" 
   
   
3. Host a collective online meeting for both campuses to attend and address their concerns with LSU's current conduct towards its own students 
   
   
4. A written statement on why the LSU BAME Student Council has suddenly stopped existing
   
   
5. Review Union accountability and transparency systems with students on times and dates that work best for us
    

Feel free to email us on pssnlboro@gmail.com or find us @lborolondonpssn if you would like to collaborate with us.