Students' union
A
Students' union, is a student organization present at many
colleges and
universities, often with its own building on the campus, dedicated to
social and organizational activities of the student body. At a few institutions, the students' union is a formally organized group analogous to a
labor union.
Many students' unions are run by students for students, independent of the University. The purpose of the union is to represent students' views within the university and on local and national issues. It is also responsible for providing a variety of services to students. Students can get involved in its management, through numerous and varied committees, councils and general meetings, or become one of its elected officers.
Many students' unions are highly politicised bodies, and often serve as a training ground for aspiring politicians. Campaigning and debate is often very vigorous, with the youthful enthusiasm of the various partisans, a student media that is itself often partisan, inexperienced, and under no financial pressure to slant coverage to please a broad readership, and a general lack of serious consequences for decision all encouraging political
gamesmanship.
United Kingdom
\nIn British universities, the Students' Union is often, but not always, affiliated with the National Union of Students. It generally runs some facilities attached to the university such as shops and nightclubs, and publishes information and sometimes student newspapers. It also provides counselling and advice services.
The oldest students' union in England is University College London Union, founded in 1893.
Sweden
\nAt Swedish universities, students' unions are responsible for representing the students in evaluation of the education, and membership is mandatory. Students' unions generally provide counselling services to its members and publishes their own magazines or newspapers. Large universities often have several students' unions, where the smaller students' unions only provide basic services. Larger students' unions often own and run their own facilities at the university such as shops, restaurants and night clubs. Which students' union a student belongs to is decided by the course of study, and competing for members is as such not possible. Many students' unions, but not all, are affiliated with the Swedish National Union of Students.
Australia
Virtually all Australian universities have one or more student organistions under various guises such as student guilds, student unions or student representative councils. These student-run bodies provide many services typically including refectories and bookshops, student media and publications, support for a variety of social, arts, political, recreational, special interest and sporting clubs and societies, and political advocacy for issues concerning students. Typically, they also operate specialised support services for women, queer, international and indigenous students. These last two roles, in particular, are often highly controversial and politicised. Membership of students' unions is usually compulsory, though many state governments and the current federal government are committed to a policy of Voluntary Student Unionism. The Australian National Union of Students is an association of most students' unions.
Particularly at the "Group of Eight" universites, students' union politics are divided down factional lines, and campaigning is often vicious.
Category:Students' unions
