Melbourne University student organisations

Melbourne University student organisations provide representation for students and a wide range of services. Currently, student services at the University of Melbourne are provided by the university-managed company, "MU Student Union Limited". A separate body called the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSUi) is responsible for student representation. The University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association (UMPA) plays a similar role for the University's rising number of post-graduate students.

MU Student Union Limited

MU Student Union Limited is a company limited by guarantee that is wholly owned by the University of Melbourne that provides services to students at the University.

Melbourne University Sports Association

Melbourne University Sports Association provides sporting facilities and funding for sporting clubs at the University. These facilities include a gymnasium, swimming pool, ski lodge, group fitness and team sport venues. Membership is open to graduates, University staff and to students at discounted rates. Its mission statement is "to enrich the Melbourne Experience through outstanding sport and recreation programs and facilities." After Voluntary Student Unionism was introduced, MUSA began charging fees for the use of basketball courts and hockey fields.Fact|date=February 2007

The Association also awards Blues and Half-Blues for significant sporting achievement.

Current Melbourne University Student Theatre Clubs

Clubs

*Chinese Theatre Group
*Medleys, University of Melbourne Medical Revue
*Melbourne University Absurdist Theatre Society (MUATS)
**Founded in 2004
*Melbourne University Sri Lankan Students' Association (MUSLSA)
*The Throwback Players
**Founded in 2005
*Trinity College Drama Club
**Founded in 1879.
*Union Players
**Founded in 2004
*University of Melbourne Music Theatre Association (UMMTA)
**Founded in 2002.

Recent Production histories

UMMTA
*2002: 'The Boyfriend' "October"
*2003: 'Dance with the Devil' "June"
'Merilly We Roll Along' "16/10-25/10", "Union Theatre", Dir: Pat Gracey
*2004: 'Pirates of Penzance' "21/04-24/04", "Union Theatre", Dir: Scott Dunsdon
'The Threepenny Opera' "13/10-17/10", "Union Theatre", Dir: Scott Dunsdon

Union Players
*2004: 'Friday Night at the Union'A satirical piece inspired by the 2004 downfall of the Melbourne University Student Union.

Notes

University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association

The University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association Inc. represents postgraduate students at the University of Melbourne. UMPA has over 9,000 members including all those engaged in studying for Graduate Diplomas, Postgrad Diplomas, Masters degrees and doctorates. UMPA is an advocacy, representation and lobbying organisation. It is based in the 1888 Building at the University.

UMPA is governed by a council of 19 students, elected by the postgraduate student body. UMPA is an incorporated association, fully independent from the University, the School of Graduate Studies, from the University of Melbourne Student Union and Melbourne University Student Ltd..

University of Melbourne Student Union

The University of Melbourne Student Union Inc. is an incorporated association of students at Melbourne University, Australia. UMSU is the successor to the Melbourne University Student Union for student representation.

UMSU is a separate body from the MU Student Union Limited, which is governed by a Board, and administered day-to-day by a Chief Executive Officer. The Board consists of a majority of University appointments, with some elected student representation.

Culture

There is a long history of student activities at the University of Melbourne. Particularly noteworthy is Union House Theatre, out of which a large number of notable Australian celebrities have emerged, such as Cate Blanchett, Barry Humphries and Malcolm Livingstone; the Union Band Comp, which has kick-started the careers of several well-known Australian bands; and an annual comedy review which produced the Working Dog crew. Several Members of Parliament were active within MUSU, including Sir Robert Menzies (former Australian Prime Minister), Lindsay Tanner (Member for Melbourne) and Sophie Panopoulos (Member for Indi).

Services

The student union has been funded by compulsory fees since 1911, with the fees going towards student services, along the Cambridge and Oxford unions model. Since changes to the Federal Higher Education Act in 2003/04, amenities and services fees collected by Melbourne University have been changed at a rate of $49 per subject. Full-time students generally in 2006 $392 or around 5 weeks in rent in shared accommodation.

In 2005, around three-quarters of the student union's funds were directed the cost of employing staff. Some of these staff are employed to operate the Rowden White Library, the Computing Centre, the Student Union Advisory Service; subsidised legal, health and dental services; a campus information centre; and common areas in Union House. The remaining money went to clubs and societies, entertainment, and student grants for cultural and artistic events.

Of the $12 million budget of the student union, somewhat less than $1 million goes towards the funding of Union Departments, which includes funding Farrago, the Women's Department and the Queer Department. In 2005, this also includes funds set aside for possible payment for NUS affiliation fees.

Farrago

First published in 1925, Farrago is the University of Melbourne student newspaper.

External links

* [http://www.union.unimelb.edu.au/ MU Student Union Ltd Website]
* [http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/articleid_1222.html Commentary from the University on MUSU]
* [http://www.union.unimelb.edu.au/farrago/ Current edition of Farrago]
* [http://www.must.unimelb.edu.au/ Database of Student Theatre at Melbourne University]
* [http://www.union.unimelb.edu.au/theatre/ Home Page for Union House Theatre]
* [http://www.union.unimelb.edu.au/clubs/clubs/ethno_cultural/sri_lankan.html MUSLSA home page]
* [http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/res/tcac/drama.shtml Trinity College Drama Club home page]
* [http://www.ummta.org/ UMMTA home page]
* [http://www.unionplayers.org The Union Players Website]
* [http://www.tentpeg.org/ TentPEG Productions Website]