University of Leicester Students' Union

The University of Leicester Students' Union is situated in the Percy Gee Building within the campus of the University of Leicester. The Students' Union offers an array of facilities for the students of the university. In the Club Mirror Awards, it was voted Students' Union of the year for 2005 and short listed for the same award in 2006 and 2007. [cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/leicester-university-of-458969.html |title=Leicester, University of |date=2007-07-27 |publisher=The Independent |accessdate=2008-03-03]

Governance

The Union has three main methods of policy-making:
#Referendums
#General Meetings - open to all full members and have a quorum of 2%.
#Union CouncilThese decision-making bodies form a hierarchy, with referendums at the top and Union Council at the bottom.

Referendums

Referendums are organised by the Elections and Rules Committee following a Union Council where an Executive Committee Resolution, Union Council Resolution or Petition signed by 2% of the full membership of the union have been discussed. Referendums are subject to a quorum of 5% of full Union members. Should the referendum fail to reach quorum, the result is not binding upon the Union, and any change proposed will not take effect.

General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is open to all full members of the Union both to speak and vote. It approves the Union's accounts, strategic plan, policy lapse and discusses any proposals submitted. The Union must have at least two General Meeting in each years. If it is necessary for there to be an Emergency General Meeting (EGM), one can be called by any member who collects a petition of 2% of the full membership of the union, the Union Council or the Executive Committee. If a General Meeting fails to reach the quorum, a meeting of Union Council will take place and consider the agenda.

Union Council

Union Council is a group of about 80 Officers with the majority being elected by a cross campus ballot, many of whom also sit on constituent committees. Council normally meets fortnightly throughout term. The meeting is run by the Union Speaker and the Elections and Rules committee.

Executive Committee

The students' union on run on a day to day basis by the Executive Committee in accordance with the constitution and policy. The executive committee consists of the five full time Sabbatical officers who are elected in a cross campus ballot. The current Sabbatical positions are Academic Affairs Officer, Services Officer, Welfare and International Officer, Campaigns and Involvement Officer and Student Activities Officer. The roles were revised by the 2006-07 Union Council and were previously: President, Vice President Finance and Services, Vice President Education, Vice President Welfare and Vice President International. The President's role was split into Academic Affair and Campaigns and Involvement. Welfare and International were merged, and Finance and Services was split into Student Activities and Services.

tudent Services

The Students' Union runs a variety of commercial services which raise revenue and provide a service to students.

Bars & Entertainments

* The Redfearn is located on the first floor of the Percy Gee building. It is the primary student bar and is often used as part of the Union's main "Whole Building" events.
* The Lounge is a newly refurbished Student Union bar previously known as Element. It operates primarily as "Global Café" during the day. The Lounge is used on a weekly basis hosting "Shampoo" a 60s & 70s themed night on Thursdays.
* The Venue is a 3 room nightclub consisting of Mirage main room (capacity of 800), Oasis (capacity of 600) and The Concourse (capacity 200). In 1977, Elvis Costello recorded a live album in the union. The Venue was refurbished in 2005, the refit has improved the suitability for hosting live bands, with a new stage, loading facilities, and improved provision for sound and light effects. The venue currently hosts "Red Leicester" a 90s themed night on Wednesday's and "Madfer-it"/Flirt! on Friday's. The venue also hosts the Brighton Beach tour on a monthly basis on Saturday nights.
* The Students' Union also have a contract with an external club "Zanzibar" who host the official ULSU club night in Leicester City Centre, this is currently branded as "I Love Mondays @ Zanzibar." The licencing of this night provides income to the Union.
* The Bars & Ents department organises a "Summerball" which takes place at the end of the academic year which is most popular among final yeear students.
* The Students' Union has hosted such diverse acts as Mogwai, British Sea Power, Jools Holland, The Subways, The Automatic, Boy Kill Boy, Graham Coxon, Killa Kela, DJ Tiesto, Chesney Hawkes, Girls Aloud, Kasabian, The Go! Team, DJ Hype and Erick Morillo. Recently, the Arctic Monkeys played a 'secret gig' at the union that was announced less than 24 hours in advance.

hop

A general shop operates on the ground floor of the building offering Discounted Newspapers, Gifts & Clothing, Stationery, Food & Drink, Greetings Cards, Medicines & Household Goods, and a variety of services such as film developing.

2nd Hand Bookshop

The Bookshop located on the Lower Ground Floor provides an outlet for Students to buy and sell used textbooks and is famed for 20p book sales held frequently to reduce their stocks.

Print Shop

The print shop located on the Ground Floor offers a selection of printing, binding and other services.

afety Bus

The primary aim of the Safety Bus is to provide a means of transport for students who would otherwise have to walk home alone at night or use expensive and sometimes unreliable taxis; the services operates nightly from the side entrance.

Previous Services

The Students' Union previously operated a Travel Shop which closed in 2006 for commercial reasons. The Union previously operated a Job Shop however this service is currently provided by a company called "The Workbank".

tudent Support

The hub of the student support services is the Student Support Centre based in the old Travel Shop. The Student Support Centre houses the reception and the following support services.

Accommodation

The Students' Union provides a variety of advice for students relating to accommodation including a step by step guide to house hunting, and a checklist. The Accommodation office advertises private properties to students if they comply to a set of basic standards; they are also increasingly offering a property management service to landlords.

Education

The Education Unit aims to provide a free and impartial service to help and advise students about options available to them on a wide range of topics e.g. academic appeals, changing courses, leaving University, difficulties with their department or simply guidance about where to go and what to do.

Welfare & International

The Welfare office provide support to students concerning a variety of issues including mental, sexual, and physical health, student accommodation, racism, drugs, and alcohol. A hardship loan is available for students with financial difficulties in extreme situations to assist in their continuation of study. The International office support international students to settle in to university life in England.

tudent Activities

The Union offers support and funding to a range of student activities which are grouped into four categories Societies, Associations, Sports Clubs and Media Groups.

ocieties

The Union has around 100 different societies, these are organised into six groups:
*Academic Societies
*Campaigning Societies
*Cultural Societies
*Performance and Activity based Societies
*Recreational Societies
*Religious Societies

Some of the larger societies include the Leicester University Law Society, Medical Society and the religious societies.

Associations

Associations differ from societies as they are intended to benefit students in what they do, and for this reason they are given a greater freedom in how they operate; they are also bound to send representatives to the Union Council. There are currently 7 Associations:
*Contact - Student Volunteers provides volunteering opportunities in a wide variety of local community projects and schools.
*ISA - The International Students Association is one of the largest and most vibrant of associations. It organises trips and activities for UK and International students.
*LGBTA - This association offers support and social events for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans. students.
*LUSUMA - This association provides support and social activities for medical students.
*Nightline - This is a confidential listening service run by students for students.
*MSPGA - This association provides support and social events for mature students and postgraduates.
*RAG - Raises money for charities through a wide variety of events, from street collections to parachute jumps, raising £45000 in the 2007 academic year.

ports Clubs

At Leicester University Students' Union there is a great sporting tradition with around 32 sports clubs from American Football to Ultimate Frisbee. The clubs take part in Varsity Day in competition with De Montfort University and through the year in BUCS competitions. The Men's and Women's Football Clubs have for the past three years played their Varsity games at the Walkers Stadium home of Leicester City, the Men's and Women's Rugby Union Clubs have for three of the last four years played their Varsity game at Welford Road Stadium home of Leicester Tigers and the Cricket Club play theirs at Grace Road home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Media groups

There is are four Media Groups, the student newspaper is called The Ripple, the student television station is called LUST (Leicester University Student Television), the student radio station is called LUSH Radio and the Web Group who together with Union staff manage www.leicesterstudent.org.
* The Ripple is published fortnightly through the academic term. It has recently come under fire from elements of the Union as 'not representing the student body' and being 'unreadable'.
* Leicester University Student Television (LUST) distribute their content around the Students' Union building on a network of television screens, online broadcast and DVDs. LUST won the National Student Television Award for "Best Light Entertainment" in 2006 and hosted the 2008 National Student Television Awards (NaSTA). It won the award for the 'Promo' category as well as attaining 'Highly Commendable' awards for 'Factual' and 'Best Broadcaster'.
* LUSH currently broadcast online and for the past 4 years have obtained two month long Restricted Service Licence on 107.5fm.
* The Web Group was the most recently formed media group and assist in the design, and maintenance of the www.leicesterstudent.org website. The site is currently hosted by oncampusuk a company who specialise in the hosting of Students' Union websites, the site was previously hosted by the Computer Centre based at the University.

References

ee also

*University of Leicester

External links

* [http://www.leicesterstudent.org The University of Leicester Students' Union]
* [http://www.le.ac.uk University of Leicester]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/04/04/student_group_awards_feature.shtml BBC News, 2007-04-04, awards coverage]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/09/12/keeping_students_happy_feature.shtml BBC News, 2007-09-12, feature article]
* " [http://oxcheps.new.ox.ac.uk/casebook/Resources/Customs%20and%20Excise%20C%23150A7B.pdf Customs and Excise Commissioners v University of Leicester Students' Union 2001] "
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/03/16/leicester_uni_dawood_campaign_feature.shtml Campaign Article]
* [http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=132407&command=displayContent&sourceNode=132390&contentPK=19172514&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch RAG]
* [http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=27892#underad Arctic Monkeys]
** cite news |url=http://www.tax.org.uk/showarticle.pl?id=652&n=379 |title=How far does the education exemption go?|date=2002-03-13 |publisher=Chartered Institute of Taxation |accessdate=2008-03-03
* [http://home.san.rr.com/allosmcmlist/Show%20pages/Elvis%20Costello%201977-10-22.htm Elvis Costello - Get Emotional]