Leeds University Union
Encyclopedia
Leeds University Union is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds
, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building. Some of the money spent is used to support students in the form of funding for clubs and societies and a range of services including an advice centre, volunteering projects and academic support.
The Union houses a supermarket, 'Essentials', which sells everything from sandwiches to stationery. This shop is open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 10.00pm. There is also a smaller shop which is open from 8am until 10pm every night during term time and 5pm during holidays.
Retail outlets include a gift shop, CATS, and a shop selling Leeds University merchandise, Gear.
Within the union is also a hairdressers, beauticians, opticians, café, noodle bar, curry take away, lounge and a Cornish pastie takeaway.
Joblink advertises job vacancies for students in the Union and Leeds city centre.
In 2004, controversially, a smoking ban was enacted in the Old Bar. Profits fell so much that the ban had to be lifted. The Old Bar was then divided into smoking and non-smoking sections but is now entirely non-smoking; in line with the national smoking ban.
" and "School Disco". Stylus has a capacity of 1000 when used on its own. It is frequently used for gigs, this year Kano, Reverend and the Makers and the Noisettes will be playing.
Stylus was recently featured in a music video for British musician Rusko
, for his single "Hold On", filmed during his 2011 UK tour. Rusko had previously studied at the Leeds College of Music
, being a resident of the city.
Bar, which closed in 2001 due to the opening of the (then) new extension of LUU, housing Stylus and Bar Coda. At night, the bar is transformed into a 450-capacity nightclub with both live music and DJ-based nights running on a regular basis. Current events include Rock of Ages, Lipstick, a monthly live rock night and Shoop! a monthly Motown night.
In September 2006, Mine was successful in winning a BEDA award for the best Student Union venue of 2006.
, the Riley Smith Hall. This venue has a capacity of 400 seated (including 100 on the balcony) and in late 2005 underwent a refurbishment, the first for many years. The Riley Smith
Hall is used constantly throughout the year by LUU's many societies, most notably the performing societies who produce a number of shows varying from musicals to theatrical plays and dance performances.
The Riley Smith Hall is also the main venue for the Backstage society; the society is involved with the technical and stage management
side for the majority of performance-related shows which take place in the hall.
Many famous bands have played at the University Refectory, including The Who
(who recorded Live at Leeds
there originally in 1970, and returned in June 2006 to recreate the original show), Jimi Hendrix
, Led Zeppelin
, Pink Floyd
, and more recently Muse
(recorded and played on MTV
), The Strokes
, Bloc Party
, Manic Street Preachers
, K.T. Tunstall, Arctic Monkeys
, The Coral
and Paul Weller (comprehensive gig list available from the LUU site http://www.luuonline.com/clubsandbars/GigHistory).
LUU boasts one of the country's most active university newspapers, Leeds Student
. It is published weekly, on Fridays, during term time.
Leeds Student was formed by the merger of the Leeds University Union newspaper (Union News) and the Leeds Metropolitan University
Students Union newspaper, but in November 2005 the Leeds Met students voted to disaffiliate from Leeds Student citing under-representation as the reason. It is currently edited by Laura Mackenzie.
The GIST has currently been relaunched as a mini magazine intended to keep members informed by highlighting and featuring events taking place in the union. Old paper based publications include The Document and the Lippy magazine, which was the Union's Women's Magazine run by students.
LUU has a student radio station, LSRfm.com (or visit LSRfm.com
), which currently holds the award for Best Student Station in the UK. LSRfm.com is widely active in LUU and often provides live DJs for union events, such as every Thursday in the Terrace and every Friday in Old Bar. Between the 22nd February and the 22nd March 2010, LSRfm.com broadcast on FM Frequency (87.7 FM) for the first time in four years. Throughout the rest of the year it retains LSRfm.com as its website and streams audio regularly through this, as well as offering free podcasts. LSRfm.com has been extremely successful at the national Student Radio Awards
in the past, this year winning Bronze and Silver for Best Journalistic, Bronze for Best Male Presenter, Silver for Best Scripted Programming, Gold for Best Student Radio Chart Show and Gold in the prestigious Best Station categories. In 2010, LSRfm.com's religious and spiritual show Faith In The City received national acclaim at the Christian Broadcast Council awards, receiving a 'CBC Loves' award for Best Christian Speech Radio Program. The LSRfm.com coordinator is not an elected position but is appointed through an interview process, with the successful candidate this year being James Palmer. LSRfm.com has a dedicated committee of around 20 members, and is one of the largest student stations in the country, boasting over 300 members.
There is also an internal TV station, lstv, which broadcasts online and on televisions located around the Union building including in the Terrace, the Old Bar and in Game On. LSTV broadcast live every Wednesday during term-time from their studio within the building itself. LSTV have been successful in winning awards through the student TV association NaSTA winning 9 awards in 2010 including best broadcaster.
to real ale appreciation. As a result of the Student Activities Review in 2005 the terms club, society and incorporated body as categories were abandoned, so student activities could be reorganised. The new groups are known as Performing, Media, Martial Arts and Dance, Faith and Culture, Political and Campaigning, General Interest, Sport, Departmental, Volunteering and Outdoor. Out of the five former incorporated bodies, RAG
, Nightline
and Action will now come under the volunteering banner and Leeds Student
and LSRfm.com
will fall under the media banner. Ordinary, life and honorary life members of LUU can join and participate in these activities.
A full list of student activities can be found on the LUU main website (see External links).
Following the Review, LUU drew up a three-page plan to outline the plans based on this for the three years from 2006-2009. A number of changes have been carried out already in 2006 - mainly to the structure and layout of the building (the relocation of some retail units, and a refurbishment of Stylus and Pulse).
Now LUU is currently in the process of creating a new strategic plan for 2010 - 2014. When put to the student population for Referendum in November 2009, of the 2404 Students that voted, 93% opted to say 'yes' for the implementation of the 'new strategic plan'. Ideas generated from a LUU Strategic Plan survey will be set into themes and projects and acted on over the next 4 years.
The foundation ideology of the union is that the students of the University of Leeds
have control of the union. This works by using an inverted pyramid of power - the members of the union (students) at the top, then the Union Council, the Student Executive Committee, then the Union Managers, then the staff at the bottom.
Leeds University Union also allows non-members to use its facilities, however on an evening members must show their union card to at least one member of the two door staff. Both door staff have the requisite accreditation from the Security Industry Authority
, and as such, have undertaken at least 30 hours of training.
Executive officers operate in two capacities:
Current Student Executive Team
The officers receive various perks, including free entrance to all musical events held within the union and attached Refectory
.
The proposals passed at November referendum sees the student executive team restructured ino the following:
Activities Officer
Communications and Internal affairs Officer
Community Officer
Education Officer
Equality and Diversity Officer
Welfare Officer
, former Foreign Secretary, was famously President of Leeds University Union in 1967-68. Whilst President, Straw played a role in leading a student sit-in in June 1968. In 2000, a motion was passed at the LUU Annual General Meeting strongly criticising Straw, then Home Secretary, for his part in the Asylum and Immigration Bill, the attempted removal of trial by jury (for some defendants) and legal aid in many cases, the anti-terrorism bill, the curfew on teenagers, mandatory drug testing for criminal suspects, and his attitude towards cannabis and tuition fees. Simon Rothstein, who proposed the motion, noted that the organisations that have condemned Straw included the Bar Council. He also pointed out that Mrs Thatcher had said, "I trust Jack Straw. He is a very fair man." The motion revoked Jack Straw's life membership of the union, banned him from the union building and called on the university to withdraw Straw's honorary degree.
In September 2007, the Communications and Internal Affairs Officer, Neil Mackenzie, put forward a motion to reinstate Jack Straw's name on the Presidents' Board in the Old Bar, but this fell at Union Council. In November 2007, a motion was put to a referendum of the entire student body over whether to reinstate Jack Straw's membership of the union and have his name returned to the Presidents' Board. The motion passed by 1,175 votes to 423, meaning Jack Straw's life membership will soon be reinstated and his name returned to the board of former Presidents.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building. Some of the money spent is used to support students in the form of funding for clubs and societies and a range of services including an advice centre, volunteering projects and academic support.
Facilities
Retail outlets include a gift shop, CATS, and a shop selling Leeds University merchandise, Gear.
Within the union is also a hairdressers, beauticians, opticians, café, noodle bar, curry take away, lounge and a Cornish pastie takeaway.
Joblink advertises job vacancies for students in the Union and Leeds city centre.
Union Venues
The Old Bar
The Old Bar is in the style of a traditional English pub and has a food servery (run by the University catering services). The Old Bar hosts a variety of evenings such as live bands, pub quizzes, and big screen football.In 2004, controversially, a smoking ban was enacted in the Old Bar. Profits fell so much that the ban had to be lifted. The Old Bar was then divided into smoking and non-smoking sections but is now entirely non-smoking; in line with the national smoking ban.
The Terrace
The Terrace was recently refurbished in 2010 and is seen as a trendy 'chill-out' bar, serving alcohol and hot drinks. The bar has sofas, pool tables and a large outdoor seating area. It is sometimes used as a nightclub venue alongside Stylus. New to the Terrace, also from 2010, is a new food service with sandwiches, burgers, sharers and other snacks.Hidden Cafe
The Hidden Cafe is located on the ground floor of the Union building. The Hidden Cafe’s vintage interior, 1960's seating and vintage tableware, offer vintage afternoon tea with freshly baked cupcakes, scones, brownies, flapjacks, and cakes supplied by Cupcakes & Fancies.Stylus
The BEDA award-winning nightclub Stylus is home to the "Fruity" club nights on Fridays, plus other events such as "The Wendy HouseThe Wendy House
The Wendy House is a goth and alternative nightclub based in Leeds, England. It generally occurs on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9.00pm to 2.30am at Leeds University Union....
" and "School Disco". Stylus has a capacity of 1000 when used on its own. It is frequently used for gigs, this year Kano, Reverend and the Makers and the Noisettes will be playing.
Stylus was recently featured in a music video for British musician Rusko
Rusko (musician)
Christopher Mercer, more commonly known as Rusko, is an English dubstep record producer and DJ who was born on 26 January 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:Rusko graduated from Leeds College of Music with a degree in Music Performance...
, for his single "Hold On", filmed during his 2011 UK tour. Rusko had previously studied at the Leeds College of Music
Leeds College of Music
Leeds College of Music, located in Leeds’ Quarry Hill cultural quarter, is the largest music college in the United Kingdom, with over 1,000 full-time and 1,000 part-time students. The college is best known for its leading role in jazz education and started one of the first jazz degrees in Europe...
, being a resident of the city.
Pulse
Pulse is a 350 capacity venue situated adjacent to Stylus. It is used for a variety of activities both in the daytime and evening. Daytime activities are generally society-led, such as break-dancing or meetings, whilst evening activities usually involve having the bar open and the venue being used either on its own, or in conjunction with Stylus and Mine.Mine
Mine (opened October 2005) is a re-development of the old Harvey MilkHarvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
Bar, which closed in 2001 due to the opening of the (then) new extension of LUU, housing Stylus and Bar Coda. At night, the bar is transformed into a 450-capacity nightclub with both live music and DJ-based nights running on a regular basis. Current events include Rock of Ages, Lipstick, a monthly live rock night and Shoop! a monthly Motown night.
In September 2006, Mine was successful in winning a BEDA award for the best Student Union venue of 2006.
Riley Smith Hall
LUU has its own theatreTheatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, the Riley Smith Hall. This venue has a capacity of 400 seated (including 100 on the balcony) and in late 2005 underwent a refurbishment, the first for many years. The Riley Smith
Riley Smith
Riley Smith is an American film and television actor and singer for the band The Life of Riley.-Background:Smith's parents are Russ and Roxanne Smith...
Hall is used constantly throughout the year by LUU's many societies, most notably the performing societies who produce a number of shows varying from musicals to theatrical plays and dance performances.
The Riley Smith Hall is also the main venue for the Backstage society; the society is involved with the technical and stage management
Stage management
Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel...
side for the majority of performance-related shows which take place in the hall.
The Refectory
The Refectory, whilst not strictly one of LUU's own venues, is the University's main canteen during the day, serving a range of hot and cold food. For evenings it is converted into one of Leeds's largest music venues, having a 2100 person capacity for live events.Many famous bands have played at the University Refectory, including The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
(who recorded Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds is The Who's first live album, and is the only live album that was released while the group were still recording and performing regularly. Initially released in the United States on 16 May 1970, by Decca and MCA and the United Kingdom on 23 May 1970, by Track and Polydor, the album...
there originally in 1970, and returned in June 2006 to recreate the original show), Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, and more recently Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
(recorded and played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
), The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
, Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
, Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
, K.T. Tunstall, Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
and Paul Weller (comprehensive gig list available from the LUU site http://www.luuonline.com/clubsandbars/GigHistory).
Media
Leeds Student
Leeds Student is a British weekly student newspaper, published free every Friday during term-time and distributed around the University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The only paid position is that of the editor, who is elected yearly by members of Leeds University Union. The articles are written by...
. It is published weekly, on Fridays, during term time.
Leeds Student was formed by the merger of the Leeds University Union newspaper (Union News) and the Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
Students Union newspaper, but in November 2005 the Leeds Met students voted to disaffiliate from Leeds Student citing under-representation as the reason. It is currently edited by Laura Mackenzie.
The GIST has currently been relaunched as a mini magazine intended to keep members informed by highlighting and featuring events taking place in the union. Old paper based publications include The Document and the Lippy magazine, which was the Union's Women's Magazine run by students.
LUU has a student radio station, LSRfm.com (or visit LSRfm.com
LSRfm.com
Leeds Student Radio is a student radio station covering the campuses of the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds Trinity University College and Leeds College of Music, UK, broadcasting 24 hours a day during term time on the station's website.Like most student radio stations,...
), which currently holds the award for Best Student Station in the UK. LSRfm.com is widely active in LUU and often provides live DJs for union events, such as every Thursday in the Terrace and every Friday in Old Bar. Between the 22nd February and the 22nd March 2010, LSRfm.com broadcast on FM Frequency (87.7 FM) for the first time in four years. Throughout the rest of the year it retains LSRfm.com as its website and streams audio regularly through this, as well as offering free podcasts. LSRfm.com has been extremely successful at the national Student Radio Awards
Student Radio Awards
The Student Radio Awards is a UK awards scheme celebrating talent within the UK student radio industry, held annually since 1996 by the Student Radio Association and supported by BBC Radio 1....
in the past, this year winning Bronze and Silver for Best Journalistic, Bronze for Best Male Presenter, Silver for Best Scripted Programming, Gold for Best Student Radio Chart Show and Gold in the prestigious Best Station categories. In 2010, LSRfm.com's religious and spiritual show Faith In The City received national acclaim at the Christian Broadcast Council awards, receiving a 'CBC Loves' award for Best Christian Speech Radio Program. The LSRfm.com coordinator is not an elected position but is appointed through an interview process, with the successful candidate this year being James Palmer. LSRfm.com has a dedicated committee of around 20 members, and is one of the largest student stations in the country, boasting over 300 members.
There is also an internal TV station, lstv, which broadcasts online and on televisions located around the Union building including in the Terrace, the Old Bar and in Game On. LSTV broadcast live every Wednesday during term-time from their studio within the building itself. LSTV have been successful in winning awards through the student TV association NaSTA winning 9 awards in 2010 including best broadcaster.
Student activities
LUU has a wide range of member-led activity groups available, ranging from sailingSailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
to real ale appreciation. As a result of the Student Activities Review in 2005 the terms club, society and incorporated body as categories were abandoned, so student activities could be reorganised. The new groups are known as Performing, Media, Martial Arts and Dance, Faith and Culture, Political and Campaigning, General Interest, Sport, Departmental, Volunteering and Outdoor. Out of the five former incorporated bodies, RAG
RAG (student society)
University Rag societies are student-run charitable fundraising organisations that are widespread in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most universities in the UK and Ireland, as well as some in South Africa and the Netherlands have a Rag...
, Nightline
Nightline (student service)
Nightline is the name given to various confidential and anonymous overnight listening, emotional support, information, and supplies services, run by students for students at universities around the world...
and Action will now come under the volunteering banner and Leeds Student
Leeds Student
Leeds Student is a British weekly student newspaper, published free every Friday during term-time and distributed around the University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The only paid position is that of the editor, who is elected yearly by members of Leeds University Union. The articles are written by...
and LSRfm.com
LSRfm.com
Leeds Student Radio is a student radio station covering the campuses of the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds Trinity University College and Leeds College of Music, UK, broadcasting 24 hours a day during term time on the station's website.Like most student radio stations,...
will fall under the media banner. Ordinary, life and honorary life members of LUU can join and participate in these activities.
A full list of student activities can be found on the LUU main website (see External links).
The Review
In 2005, Leeds University Union carried out a major review of its facilities ('The Review'), through discussion groups with members, in order to ascertain the current needs of members and propose changes for the future. In November 2005, the outcome of the Review was put to a ballot for acceptance by members, and was successful in being accepted. There was some criticism of the Review as the ballot gave members the option to either accept all the proposed changes or reject all the changes, with no option in between.Following the Review, LUU drew up a three-page plan to outline the plans based on this for the three years from 2006-2009. A number of changes have been carried out already in 2006 - mainly to the structure and layout of the building (the relocation of some retail units, and a refurbishment of Stylus and Pulse).
Now LUU is currently in the process of creating a new strategic plan for 2010 - 2014. When put to the student population for Referendum in November 2009, of the 2404 Students that voted, 93% opted to say 'yes' for the implementation of the 'new strategic plan'. Ideas generated from a LUU Strategic Plan survey will be set into themes and projects and acted on over the next 4 years.
Running of the Union
Leeds University Union is run by a group of six elected student executive officers. Each officer covers one of the following areas :- Communications and internal affairs, Education, Activities, Welfare, Equality and diversity and Community.The foundation ideology of the union is that the students of the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
have control of the union. This works by using an inverted pyramid of power - the members of the union (students) at the top, then the Union Council, the Student Executive Committee, then the Union Managers, then the staff at the bottom.
Leeds University Union also allows non-members to use its facilities, however on an evening members must show their union card to at least one member of the two door staff. Both door staff have the requisite accreditation from the Security Industry Authority
Security Industry Authority
The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK. It is a non-departmental public body reporting to the Home Secretary and was established in 2003 under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.The SIA has two main...
, and as such, have undertaken at least 30 hours of training.
The Student Executive
The Executive Committee is a team of elected students who work full-time to oversee the Union on a day-to-day basis. They help and represent LUU’s members. The Executive liaises regularly with Roger Gair, the University Secretary.Executive officers operate in two capacities:
- As a representative of University of Leeds students, campaigning for change on their behalf.
- A trustee of LUU, taking holistic accountability for the well being of the organisation, which is accompanied by significant legal responsibility.
Current Student Executive Team
- Activities Officer - Hannah Nisbet
- Communications and Internal Affairs - Mark Sewards
- Community Officer - Ben Fisher
- Equality and Diversity Officer - Charlie Hopper
- Education Officer - Ben Jackson
- Welfare Officer - Harriet Rankin
The officers receive various perks, including free entrance to all musical events held within the union and attached Refectory
Refectory
A refectory is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminaries...
.
Student Executive Restructure
As a result of March 2006 referendum the executive was mandated to consider its structure, with the aim of drafting a structure that better reflects the responsibility of an executive officer and the changing needs of the membership. The current executive team presented proposals to enhance student representation through reform the structure of the student executive team.The proposals passed at November referendum sees the student executive team restructured ino the following:
Activities Officer
- Oversees LUU's sports clubs and societies
- Represents LUU sports at BUCS
- Supports Activities Executive
- Representation of LUU Activities within the University
Communications and Internal affairs Officer
- Union spokesperson
- Chairs the board of trustees
- Responsible for ensuring Union policy is enacted
- Leads on organisational issues including finance and staffing
- Oversees Unions democratic processes
- Chairs relevant committees
- Liaises with senior staff member to ensure the effective running of the Union
- Sits on relevant University Committees and is a governor of the University
Community Officer
- Oversees student issues related to external community factors, such as:
- Safety
- Housing
- Crime
- Community links - Perception of students in the community
- Liaison with local Councillors/local community groups/City & Regional
- Pick up campaigns arising from Student Advice Centre
Education Officer
- Liaises with Union Academic Representative and Course reps
- Leads local & national education campaigns
- Sits on relevant University committees and is a governor of the University
Equality and Diversity Officer
- Ensures LUU represents and addresses the needs of the diverse membership
- Oversees Liberation Agenda
- Supports Liberation Convenors
- Oversees International Student issues
- Chairs Interfaith forum
- Supports the Student cultural and religious representative.
- Sits on equality and diversity committee and works with equality and diversity team at the University.
Welfare Officer
- Oversees general health, student mental health, drugs/alcohol, debt and sexual health issues.
- Ensures there is adequate student support
- Oversees University accommodation issues
- Liaison with University re pastoral services
- Oversees campaigns arising from Student Advice Centre
Jack Straw
Jack StrawJack Straw (politician)
John Whitaker Straw is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Blackburn since 1979. He served as Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001, Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair...
, former Foreign Secretary, was famously President of Leeds University Union in 1967-68. Whilst President, Straw played a role in leading a student sit-in in June 1968. In 2000, a motion was passed at the LUU Annual General Meeting strongly criticising Straw, then Home Secretary, for his part in the Asylum and Immigration Bill, the attempted removal of trial by jury (for some defendants) and legal aid in many cases, the anti-terrorism bill, the curfew on teenagers, mandatory drug testing for criminal suspects, and his attitude towards cannabis and tuition fees. Simon Rothstein, who proposed the motion, noted that the organisations that have condemned Straw included the Bar Council. He also pointed out that Mrs Thatcher had said, "I trust Jack Straw. He is a very fair man." The motion revoked Jack Straw's life membership of the union, banned him from the union building and called on the university to withdraw Straw's honorary degree.
In September 2007, the Communications and Internal Affairs Officer, Neil Mackenzie, put forward a motion to reinstate Jack Straw's name on the Presidents' Board in the Old Bar, but this fell at Union Council. In November 2007, a motion was put to a referendum of the entire student body over whether to reinstate Jack Straw's membership of the union and have his name returned to the Presidents' Board. The motion passed by 1,175 votes to 423, meaning Jack Straw's life membership will soon be reinstated and his name returned to the board of former Presidents.
LUU referendums
In 2005/6 academic year LUU decided to replace the traditional decision making process of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) with 2 ordinary referendums per academic year. The change included the replacement of the AGM with a debate meeting that would not include voting but would be followed by a period of voting which would not require the voter to attend the debate meeting. For any motion to become a binding policy for the Student Union Council it needs to receive a minimum of 1500 votes (with or against it).Affiliations
- Aldwych GroupAldwych GroupThe Aldwych Group is the group of students' unions of the members of the Russell Group of Universities in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994, as a watchdog in response to the creation of the Russell Group....
- National Union of Students
External links
- LUU Official Website
- Leeds University Union Dance Band
- Lippy Magazine
- LSRfm.com
- Leeds Student
- LS:TV
- Leeds Rag
- Leeds Nightline
- Leeds University Jewish Society