External Trustees: Beware!

I have been an External (independent) Trustee of the University of London Union (the students' union for University of London students) and am coming up to the end of my first three year term.

New student trustees have just been elected to take office for one year as from September and, quite rightly, they are getting on their high horses about threats to cut funding for higher and further education: they will be seeking to campaign against these cuts.

One of the newly elected student trustees has pledged to put an end to external trustees being able to overturn decisions made by the student body. Firstly, no such decisions have ever been overturned; and secondly, external trustees have no such power.

With this level of hostility directed towards external trustees, why on earth should I bother to stand for re-election for another three years? Perhaps it would be better to quit now, a few months ahead of my departure and save any unpleasantness.