This summer saw the return of democracy when University senate and council members took an "informal" vote, which resulted in our Student President regaining the student seat on a panel to decide the new Vice Chancellor. The current Vice Chancellor, Professor Bill Wakeham was appointed in 2001 and will serve until his term ends in 2009.

The SUSU President’s vote was initially withdrawn following University council’s concern that the student committee member on the panel would have to change mid-process, disrupting the election of a new Vice Chancellor.

Following the reversal, ex-student president Sarah Moore said, "I am proud to have demonstrated that we have a voice amidst the noise of the institution, that principle and reason must triumph over irrationality, inequality and poor governance."

The reaction to this exclusion was unprecedented. A silent protest, organised by Sarah Moore and Societies Officer Tom Constable, saw hundreds of students wearing specially designed protest t-shirts and bandanas bearing the word "silenced". Students surrounded the building in which a meeting of officials was due to take place, forcing committee members to acknowledge them.

The protest and a Facebook group, "Student Voice Silenced", set up to lobby support for the SUSU President, proved to add significant pressure and showed the passion of students to be involved in all aspects of the university.

Sarah Moore commented that "subsequent to our protest and appeal senate voted in an overwhelming majority to allow the Union President a vote on the Vice Chancellor selection panel. The decision was then taken to University council, who agreed to support the senate and allow the President a vote."

The result of this is extremely positive for those who were disillusioned by the retraction of the vote and the lack of response from university officials in the time immediately following the silent protest. Hopefully this long running saga will prompt more students to get involved with the University’s student government.