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Idea

Support Engineering-related societies with a fair transition to ending sponsorship from arms

by JESSIE YEUNG 17 November 2025, 13:02

Category: Employability and Personal Development

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Various SU affliated societies and other student groups has voiced concern about the sponsorship with arms companies that Engineering-related societies have. Engineering-related societies, on the other hand, rely on the sponsorship and collaboration with those arms companies.

I want the SU to support the negotiation between the two sides in getting a fair compromise, for example through
(1) Acklownledge that by collaborating or recieving sponsorship with arms companies, SU affiliated societies are platforming genocide-profitteers and giving them social license. Arms companies produce the weaponry and equipment that facilitate genocide, war, aparteid, conflict and repression. They sell to whoever it’s in their commercial interest to sell to. Regardless of the dual-use ability and those companies involvement in civic projects, it does not take away from the fact that they facilitate many humanitarian crises.
(2) Ackownledge the arms industry is vast. Narrow down the 'arms companies', for example making it specific about 'involved in F-35 fighter jets production' / 'involved in Trident nuclear missiles production' / 'involved in genocide in Sudan' / 'top 10 UK arms company'
(3) Specify 'sponsorship': mediate the line of acceptance with finacial sponsorship vs other type of support and collaboration
(4) Provide support for engineering-related societies to recieve sponsorships from other non-arms company

The above list is just a few example. This idea submission is just the starting point for the various inter-group communication.

Read more here: CAAT - Arms companies

Comments

  • Default avatar
    FINLAY REID   wrote, 17-11-2025 - 20:34

    No student group should be profiting off of and facilitating the war machine. We don't partner with tobacco or fossil fuel companies; we shouldn't partner with arms companies either.

  • Default avatar
    CHARLIE EVANS   wrote, 18-11-2025 - 13:22

    The SU needs to decide whether it is willing to play its part in the military-industrial complex by making the arms industry seem like a morally acceptable and aspirational choice for students, or whether it has the moral clarity to reject that role and instead connect students with employers that align with the SU's stated values of sustainability and human wellbeing

  • Default avatar