THERE ARE few subjects which excite such passions in the peculiar world of UCL Union student politics as Social Colours awards. The annual ceremony, this year held on 30 May, was intended to recognise the achievements of extraordinary individuals who have “contributed to the student community of UCL.” But despite this noble objective, an intense debate rages amongst student hacks, society officers and general busybodies like me over the extent to which this is actually the case.
Despite growing criticisms, there has rarely (or ever) been a simple, coherent critique of the flaws in this system – and consequently, this has impeded the search for new solutions or proposals for its reform. In this article I will attempt to address both of these areas. After three years engaged with student politics, this is my parting shot [Honest, no more - Ed.].
Social Colours are corrupt. They reward union insiders for actions which often merely fit inside their specified job descriptions – and often do not even get as far as that.. Union politicians feel a sense of entitlement to awards, and although student representation is ostensibly all about serving the community, it already possesses a plethora of its own rewards, not least the CV points. Honours should not be handed out for performing the jobs that people willingly take on – they should be for extraordinary actions, for amazing deeds. Student politicians almost always cannot place their deeds within the context of their own lofty honours criteria; and yet they receive them by virtue of dominating Social Colours Committee, which decides the recipients of all awards and makes recommendations to Union Council for Honorary Life Membership (HLM).
Social Colours denigrate real achievement and exclude too many students. Until this spring, students could only be recognised for activities which took place via union societies and institutions – such parameters being used absurdly to prevent the butt-kicking University Challenge finalists of UCL from being recognised in 2005. But even though the rules were relaxed in the spring of 2006 to recognise contributions to the “student community” at UCL, this continues to ignore individuals who have performed outstanding services in other communities – ULU, London, or spheres of volunteering activity. Why should accomplishment end at the borders of Bloomsbury? On top of this, an arbitrary distinction is made between awards to arts societies and sports teams, resulting in the issuing of far too many awards to preserve their value. And this is all without even raising the possibility that maybe a few intellectual – even academic – achievements might be celebrated in the same forum as Social Colours.
How many more brilliant, awe-inspiring students could we pay tribute to with a broadened – but not slackened – definition of achievement?
Here’s the thing, though. Until now, criticism of Social Colours has been largely confined to the usual suspects. People like me. People who are known cynics of union process es, “union haters” as one sabb dubs myself and fellow writers at this dear publication. And there has been a tendency amongst this group, well-intentioned and well aware of the genuine disgrace of Social Colours, to attack not only the institution but the awardees as well. Sometimes this is a justified attack upon the granting of awards to particular individuals. Occasionally, it takes the form of self-flagellation, when recipients of awards turn these down in a bid to prevent legitimisation of the system.
Whilst the former activity may be fine, I would argue that the latter obscures the real problems with Social Colours and prevents the search for effective solutions. The vast majority of those who receive awards outside of the spheres of student representation are eminently deserving of recognition. The real issue is those students who are not represented at all. Critics should be content to receive their hon-ours, even as they demand better for the deserving absentees.
Numerous proposals have been kicking around for years on how to reform the system. Suggestions to limit the number of union hacks able to receive awards have been made, perhaps simply having a single ‘student politician of the year’ award. People on the awarding committee could be limited from receiving awards, and certainly the composition of this committee could be made diverse, perhaps bringing in volunteering officials and even faculty members to assist in the selection process. These ideas must be discussed within the institutions of UCL Union, and within individual societies, the student media, and amongst ordinary students.
The criticisms of Social Colours I have made are obvious. The critics of the system need to make a better stab at articulating them. And if they’re even partially effective at this process, then they’ll have made a major step towards recognising greater achievement on our campus – and will certainly be able to step up and receive their laurels without any shame.