“fucking student journalist dickheads”

Babs Williams, Queen Mary Students’ Union President, spewed verbal abuse towards several students observing the ULU Senate meeting on Thursday 11th October. Williams shouted threats towards Jen Izaakson, London Student Editor, threatening to continue the confrontation “outside of working hours.” The outburst came only days after he issued threats to sue the University of London Union, and following complaints of similarly intimidating behaviour at his own college union, Queen Mary.

Williams approaching the London Student journalists in the room about a previous threat to sue ULU, which he had made. Leo Stockford, a student at KCL, who witnessed events at the close of Senate, reports that Babs Williams,  called a student a “fucking moron,” before adding: “I fucking hate all student journalists, you’re all dickheads.”

Williams sent an email on 4th October, threatening to sue “ULU, the section Editor, the Editor, the journalist writing the piece and the company that manages the print run,” if London Student quoted Williams as “refusing to comment” on the issue of racist posters put up around Queen Mary. Williams never provided comment, asking for further information, and later admitted at ULU Senate that the email was the first he had heard of the posters. It was on this issue that Williams confronted several London Student journalists, saying: “I can sue all of you, you know, all those people I listed, I can sue.” After a few minutes, Williams became aggressive and began using verbal abuse. Jen Izaakson said: “Babs began swearing in my face, and insulting and swearing at the London Student volunteers present. I felt threatened, as he was so close to me, and I started to walk away, explaining that I didn’t have to put up with abuse in my workplace.”

At this point, Williams followed Izaakson across the room, and commented: “Ok, well outside of work hours then?” to which she responded: “You want to do this to me outside of work hours? So is that a threat?” Williams did not deny the threat. At this point, Daniel Cooper, ULU Vice-President, insisted that Williams was acting inappropriately and repeatedly insisted that he leave, eventually convincing him to do so, and ushering him from the premises. Abs Hassanali, ULU Chair, later made the following statement online: “It gives me no pleasure to make this statement. The University of London Union and it’s Senate is a place where senators and students can comment upon and question their elected officers. It is a democratic forum, designed to improve the operations of delegates for their students. I will not condone, and neither should anyone else, abusive language or personal attacks directed towards any members. I urge all those involved to be aware of and maintain this clear distinction. ULU has always championed open, fair and inclusive democracy, where no one should feel threatened by taking part.” Leo Stockford, who was one of the observers at Senate verbally abused by Williams, said: “I don’t think I’ll be attending Senate again. How can an elected students’ union representative feel he can speak that way to students while on official Union business?”

The London Student Editorial team put out a statement the day after the ULU Senate meeting, writing that they would “like to thank those members of ULU Senate who kindly intervened to ensure that matters did not escalate further. London Student wants to assure any volunteers that ULU and Senate meetings are safe places for involvement in student journalism, and this right will be defended.” The statement has now been signed by over 40 students, some Queen Mary Officers and several student journalists from other publications.

The incident at ULU Senate came just days after Williams was warned to stop shouting at a female student speaking at the Queen Mary SU council meeting on Monday 10th October. The Chair at the meeting warned Williams he would have to leave if he could not control his behaviour. Ellen Tansey, a 2nd year student at Queen Mary, addressed the council to argue for a No Platform for fascists motion. Williams argued against the motion, but while Tansey put her case forward, Williams shouted, “You’re a liar” repeatedly.

Tansey told London Student: “it was my first time speaking at Council and I was really nervous. I felt belittled and undermined. Babs had already told me he’d “tear my motion apart,” but I didn’t expect him to start shouting that I was a liar.” Tansey continued: “His shouting continued until the Chair threatened him with being banned from the meeting. It’s unacceptable that my Union President finds this to be an appropriate way to engage in student democracy. I never want to be on the receiving end of such behaviour again.”

Williams is yet to apologise to the student.