Wednesday 20th October saw the first successful UMSU General Meeting in 18 months, with six motions being passed. Yet whilst I was in the meeting I began to understand why it rarely reaches quorum. The whole process is wrapped in bureaucratic red tape, making it dull and boring; for every motion at least four speeches are made, with room for questions in which the speakers just tended to repeat themselves. If someone wants a motion to go straight to vote, then another two speeches are made.Most people that come to General Meetings come to support or to block a particular motion. These people come with their minds already made up. Case in point: this reporter believes that Manchester Labour Students (MLS) and J-Soc (Jewish society) came to the General Meeting in order to block the Peace Through Education motion, by leaving the meeting at a crucial point, in what appears to have been an attempt to break quorum. If that is the case, then they had just come to the meeting with their minds already made up, so what was the purpose of all the speeches anyway?

Joe Sandler-Clarke discusses Cameron’s big society.

Jess Bradley discusses the implications of the Browne review for the student movement

Matt Hirschler discusses the implications of the Browne review for the coalition

George Robinson, Boarding master and head of house reviews David Cameron’s half term progress

Using only ‘science’ to argue for the transformation in the way we use energy , even by the good guys, takes climate change out of its proper political and economic context and allows our imaginations to be influenced because of its unquestionable authority.

Why Co-operation for Co-operation’s sake will lead us down the wrong path

What’s remarkable, is that this has all occurred just two years after America’s Liberals were heralding a new age of progressive government.

I go to a party, you offer me a toke, what do you want me to say? I say “No, thanks”, even though from the look on your face I suspect that’s not the etiquette. The truth is, I feel uncomfortable with drugs.

William Maclure looks at Islamaphobia and the Ground Zero Mosque.

Cuts to culture are set to only get worse in the new government. Catherine Sargent studies whether they’re set to go too far.

Tory, Gaz Morris, discusses whether ‘Red Ed’ offers a threat to the Conservatives.

Etiquette expert William Hanson discusses the banes of being an etiquette consultant in the dating game.

Lily Howes sees how accommodation companies are making the most from the student buck.