Nathan Sparling
A candidate for the Edinburgh Napier Student Association presidential election has withdrawn from the contest.
Nathan Sparling issued a statement this morning indicating that he felt unable to continue due to the ‘inappropriate actions’ of the NSA.
Mr Sparling also outlined his concern that he had received a ‘First and Final Warning’ from the elections committee without right of reply, saying: “It was the first I had heard of the complaint submitted to the Elections Committee, and I had not been given the right to respond.
“As you will be aware, it is also within my Human Rights to be given the right to respond to a complaint where disciplinary action could be taken.”
The warning was received after Mr Sparling had previously contacted Programme Representatives to inform them of an Emergency Senate.
Mr Sparling went on to register his disgust at the removal of The Journal by the NSA form all university campuses without the authority of the university, calling it a severe breach of Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
In a new development it has been revealed that until last night all students were able to view up-to-date election results. Visable were details of who voted, for whom and in what preference.
Mr Sparling has requested that the returning officer, Finlay MacCorquodale, transfer all votes cast for him to RON (ReOpen Nominations).
Students protesting the censorship of The Journal have already been urging people to vote RON in protest at the newspaper’s removal.
The NSA has not commented so far on Mr Sparling’s withdrawal, the allegations within his statement or on The Journal protests.
