Given the persistence of debate over CUSU’s relevance, it is difficult to understand why CUSU has so comprehensively failed to come up with a compelling, succinct explanation of just what it is that makes CUSU so important.

Let us be initially very clear: CUSU does do some good work

But the question we have to ask is whether it does enough to justify the sizable affiliation fees it commands from JCRs and MCRs.

This question is not an easy one to answer. Much to CUSU’s detriment, affiliation in Cambridge operates through a unique - and uniquely clunky - two-tiered system.

On the one hand, students are represented as individuals, and the University recognises CUSU’s claim to speak for students on this basis. At the same time, JCRs and MCRs are asked to pay to affiliate as corporate bodies in return for certain services.

To take the Corpus example, the college’s affiliation fees constituted only around 0.6% of CUSU’s budget, but some 10% of the JCR’s. Our members voted to support spending on JCR provision over that of CUSU.

The onus is very much on CUSU to demonstrate why the money will have a greater impact in the hands of an overarching organisation beleaguered with constant allegations of being ‘out of touch’ with the student body, with eccentric Council meetings and with abysmal turnout in elections, rather than in those of a JCR or MCR much more directly responsive to the specific needs of students in any given college.

This is something which, in the view of Corpus students at least, is simply not being done.

Regardless of your views on CUSU, then, it is clear that demonstrating CUSU’s relevance, accountability and utility must be put high on the agenda for next year’s crop of CUSU officers. JCR and MCR affiliation can no longer be taken for granted.

Corpus Christi voted to dissafiliate from CUSU in 2010, with an overwhelming majority of 71% voting in favour of the motion