Union forced to remove BNP link
STAFFORDSHIRE University's students' union could face legal action after directing its website users to a list of the names and postcodes of British National Party members.
The union was forced to remove a link to another site within 24 hours after an outcry from students and claims it could have breached the Data Protection Act.
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POST: Student Union president Assed Baig
On Tuesday, union president Assed Baig posted an article containing a link to the names and postcodes of 30 BNP members living within two miles of the university's Stoke campus in College Road.
It was removed from the website yesterday hours after The Sentinel contacted the union, which has stressed the statement expressed the views of an individual and not necessarily its other members.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Baig said: "Following concerns raised with the union by some of its members about the ethics of promoting a site that identifies membership of the BNP, the union has removed the direct link from its site. However, the purpose of drawing to students' attention the level of support on the doorstep of their university for the BNP remains.
"In a university that has built itself an enviable reputation on its diversity and ability to widen participation, having a political party that works against this principle active in the area is an issue for our members."
Sports Journalism student Shaun Staff told The Sentinel that he didn't understand why a link to a list of BNP members' details needed to be published on the union website.
The 21-year-old, who lives in Shelton, added: "The list contains names and postcodes – again, focusing on the locality of the members – and directions to their houses via Google Maps, which seems extremely suggestive.
"One of the president's slogans when he was running for the role was 'Beat the BNP', which is fair enough, but I believe he has gone the wrong way about it by publishing these details. What if there are students at the university who support the BNP? The union is supposed to be politically neutral."
Some students posted comments on the union site before the article was removed.
Simon Longden said: "To single people out for their political views, no matter what they are, is just as morally indefensible as the racism the union tries so hard to oppose."
Stoke-on-Trent City Council BNP group leader Councillor Alby Walker told The Sentinel that it was his belief that the students' union is breaking the Data Protection Act by publishing details of BNP members.
He said: "It's wrong and I will certainly be contacting the BNP's legal department about this. The person responsible for this has either been very naive or politically motivated. If I was the president of the students' union I would be seriously considering my position within the university."
The union will hold a meeting in the Ashley Building in the Leek Road campus at 5pm on Monday to discuss the issues raised.
The university declined to comment.







79 Comments
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by Alastair Brown, Staffs
Friday, November 27 2009, 8:58AM
“"And you talk on behalf of all students peter? I think not! The issues on campus at the moment are not about what's best for the students but what's best for a group of students who want Assed out! While all this is going on he is still focusing on issues around the University such as free education and a free cash point machine on Leek Rd and many other issues! The people who are involved to oust Assed really should be disgusted with themselves because it's pure bullying and racism!" oh hai adrian. you would think as a member of the staffs campus you would recognize this free cash machine bullocks as one of the only things it seems baig has done for our university. yet seems to be only focused on the stoke campus :\
apparently he got us a bike shed
which we can't find
and how is he funding this free education demonstration on the 2nd of december? out of his own pocket? out of the unions?
i didn't vote for him. he doesnt represent me as a student. and he's using his position to push foward his own politics and views not that of our union.
also "pure bullying and racism" it works both ways or are you conviently forgetting his "poor little white girl" comment,.”
by Joanne, Shelton
Thursday, November 26 2009, 2:32PM
“Now go and be sick? What are you talking about? My boyfriend is dyslexic, and yet he has a first class honours degree in law and is working in a law firm... so don't assume dyslexic people are stupid! Yes, the older generation are better educated than us, I know that, and that isn't our fault, it's due to your generation not teaching the majority of us better. But I'm at university to learn and think that your generation are hypocritical. They say people who do not go to university are wasters and too thick. But then on the other hand hate students. What is it to be? And when I get a first class honours in my degree, which I have almost certainly got unless I don't turn up for any of my exams, I'm sure my parents (who are the older generation) will be proud of me because not everyone is as arrogant as you.”
by Disappointed, Yesteryear
Sunday, November 22 2009, 7:57PM
“Jo, Shelton. I don't have a go at dyslexic people but only those Lis Dexyc's who do not make the effort or have the intelligence to spell correctly and then use dyslexia as an excuse. I am "pressuming" (your spelling) due to your arrogance that you're not claiming to be dyslexic but I can reliably inform you that the older generation do know better and are better educated than the 'not allowed to fail' youth of today. Now go and be sick.”
by Jo, Shelton
Sunday, November 22 2009, 1:49PM
“Disapointed, yesteryear... you disgust me. Who on earth do you think you are having a go at dyslexic people?
I am a student at Staffs and do not support the BNP and do not support what Assed Baig published. And I think I speak for the majority of the students! So don't all kick off at Staffs university pressuming in your sad little lives that all Staffs students are the same! That's ignorant and I'd expect the older generation to know better... you're all meant to be better educated that us remember (sarcasm)”
by adrian, Staffs
Friday, November 20 2009, 1:10PM
“And you talk on behalf of all students peter? I think not! The issues on campus at the moment are not about what's best for the students but what's best for a group of students who want Assed out! While all this is going on he is still focusing on issues around the University such as free education and a free cash point machine on Leek Rd and many other issues! The people who are involved to oust Assed really should be disgusted with themselves because it's pure bullying and racism!”
by Peter, Stafford
Friday, November 20 2009, 12:55PM
“This Union continues to be shocking beyond belief! What happened to the promises in the election when we all voted?
Assed I swear you and your team promised to improve the Stafford venue, yet it seems the union is only focused on pointless debates such as if a magazine has a sharp pointy edge that may hurt someone!
The BNP was also a major joke, don't get me wrong I strongly disagree with their manifesto but to clearly break the law and go against the data protection act is very wrong!
It is time to step down Assed. You¿re fully entitled to your opinions, but your views are personal as opposed to those of the students, you are giving us a bad name and your policies do not reflect anything that what any of us want!
Ben from Newcastle, the word "University" clearly indicates it's not a college.”
by Peter Basnett, Stafford
Friday, November 20 2009, 12:53PM
“This Union continues to be shocking beyond belief! What happened to the promises in the election when we all voted?
Assed I swear you and your team promised to improve the Stafford venue, yet it seems the union is only focused on pointless debates such as if a magazine has a sharp pointy edge that may hurt someone!
The BNP was also a major joke, don't get me wrong I strongly disagree with their manifesto, yet they are entitled to their opinion but to clearly break the law and go against the data protection act is very wrong!
It is time to step down Assed. You¿re fully entitled to your opinions, but your views are personal as opposed to those of the students, you are giving us a bad name and your policies do not reflect anything that what any of us want!”
by Adrian Baggott, Staffs
Friday, November 20 2009, 12:43PM
“Hey True Stokie, at least I put my real name which is Adrian by the way! Although I guess hiding in the shadows is typical of the BNP. You talk about democracy and freedom of speech which you seem to hold so dear! You will loose both if the BNP ever got into power along with most of life's other enjoyments unless killing and mass murder are one of your enjoyments? And yes I am dyslexic and no poor spelling and punctuation is not being lazy. Understand other people and you will understand the world which I guess is the problem with the BNP!”
by Claire, Stone
Friday, November 20 2009, 10:41AM
“SONA - you may feel the need to make your point 10 times, but I think people are just fed up of the current status quo, something has to give and the BNP are growing more powerful from that need in people. Maybe some of their policies are a wrong, but they mean change and that's what a lot of people want.”
by SONA, meir
Friday, November 20 2009, 9:54AM
“The majority of the comments are made by BNP members. This is a fact. You can tell by their by tone.”