As I write this, students are snapping up two trial versions of a new union loyalty card scheme. The aim of these is to increase the overall student use of the shops, bars and venues; thus creating ‘loyal’ student habits and raising the union’s income. It is a simple and creative idea, but we are yet to see the benefits and flaws that it brings.

At two Leadership Race debates so far, candidates have been asked about extending the scheme to include using union services and participating in activities. On the surface, it seemed like something to obviously agree with and look into. Why not incentivise utilising one of the best unions in the country? Why not encourage the development of our clubs and societies?

However, after much deliberation and some discussion with students, it has become evident that extending union loyalty cards to activities is both unrealistic and unfair.

Rewarding students financially, either through points or offers, for being involved in activities would rocket union spending. Finances are not freely available and there would not necessarily be a financial gain for the union in the process. It would use money that could be spent on improving the Advice Centre and Joblink or paying student staff the ‘living wage’ hourly rate.

It would also be impossible to gauge what would count as involvement. Would we be swiping our cards for every meeting we attend, every society-related post on Facebook and every time we pray with our faith society? How would this add up? What if we all ‘cashed in’ this at once?

Student parents, mature students and students that commute would be put at a distinct disadvantage and discriminated against by their union for being unable to participate in activities due to time constraints and other commitments. Similarly, it would be unfair for able-bodied students to be rewarded for sporting activities, when there are disabled students who cannot participate or find enough people for a society dedicated to disabled sport.

Another problem, which is even more important from the point of view of a potential Union Affairs officer, is the maintenance of democracy. It is grossly undemocratic to suggest that students should be rewarded by their union for attending protests such as #Demo2012, when they are based on personal opinion. If PSG or JSoc had not protested about their own side during the November clashes on Gaza, a reward system would have used union funds to favour the side that had. The union would have granted one with a financial advantage over the other for their personal beliefs. Beliefs that other students may not agree with or want their money to endorse.

Furthermore, there is a fine line between the societies and activities that are ‘political’ and those that are not. Everything from choreographing a dance based on war to environmental volunteering is political in some way, and based on the personal aims, beliefs and interests of students. Therefore it would be impossible to prohibit the distribution of rewards to those who partake in political activity and still reward the non-political.

Activities across the union are valuable, create diversity and are key to maintaining a fresh and dynamic community for students to thrive in. However, the personal reward from our involvement with Leeds University Union activities should come from the skills that we learn, the friends that we make and the memories that we cry about at graduation. Not a loyalty card.

Sabrina Poole, final year Politics student and Union Affairs candidate