CUSU has defended its decision to block disaffiliated colleges from accessing mental health training, telling Varsity: “Disaffiliated bodies should not be entitled to our services.”

The defense comes after allegations that the student union had a ‘vendetta’ against the JCRs which have withdrawn from CUSU, Corpus Christi and Gonville and Caius.

The Tab reported that an “informed source” believed CUSU had a vendetta against disaffiliated colleges.

Colleges were previously able to access provisions from CUSU, regardless of whether or not they are officially affiliated. One of Corpus’ Male Welfare Officers, James Palmer, said that last year welfare officers could “show up and get training” but “going forwards, no disaffiliated colleges will get access to training”.

Although CUSU is partially funded by tuition fees paid by students, they also receive funding from college JCRs. JCRs can withdraw from CUSU and therefore stop contributing to their funds.

The Tab also reported that Corpus Christi and Gonville and Caius are no longer allowed to access CUSU’s online voting platform, which is used by most JCRs to conduct elections. CUSU had reportedly said this was to be available to all “university-based groups”, whether affiliated or not.

Speaking to Varsity, a spokesperson for CUSU stated that “to suggest that CUSU is ‘preventing’ access is unhelpful, with little recognition of the wider context in which training and services are delivered.”

They added that “continuing to provide services to institutions” that have disaffiliated “undermines the relationships” they have with paying colleges.

The idea of disaffiliated colleges accessing services “is simply not fair”, they added. “Affiliated colleges actively support the work that we do, and receive services in return. This is not, I don’t think, a particularly radical notion.” This statement comes after CUSU President Priscilla Mensah said that “this is not a vendetta”, and that it was time to “draw a line” under previous practices.

Speaking to Varsity, another Corpus welfare officer said that CUSU had the “right” to withdraw such services, and added that The Tab’s coverage and accusations of a ‘vendetta’ were “sensationalism”.

“It would be unfair to get a service for free that other colleges monetarily contribute to. We have internal alternative welfare training which we deem more than sufficient.”

He acknowledged that there was an “unclear grey area” concerning provision in regards to sexual health.

“The sexual health supply budget comes from the Welfare And Finance committee that Corpus pays into,” he said, which makes it unclear whether that “includes paying staff hours or solely for the condoms. I would argue we are entitled to this.”

He went on to add his comments did not mean “we wouldn’t also benefit from CUSU welfare training”, and that he respected “Priscilla’s integrity”.

CUSU stressed to Varsity that it is currently campaigning against affiliation fees and that individual students could access sexual health supplies and support from them, irrespective of JCR decisions.