University of Limerick Students' Union
Encyclopedia
The University of Limerick Students' Union is the representative body for all students at the University of Limerick
, situated in Limerick
, Ireland
(NIHE) was founded in Limerick in 1972. The 113 students who started in NIHEL, that year, founded the Students' Union, which was later to become the University of Limerick Students' Union.
In its early years, all officers served in a voluntary capacity. The first officers elected included John Redington (President), John Kerr (Vice-president), Fionnuala Lyddy (Secretary) and Eric Duhan (Treasurer). Pat Carroll was elected in 1975 as the first full-time President. The National College of Physical Eductation (NCPE), subsequently Thomond College of Education, had a separate students' union also founded in 1972 until its amalgamation with the University of Limerick. Its first President was Brendan Lillis.
From its inception in 1972, the union had been involved with USI
. ULSU withdrew in 1991 from USI after it decided that the national union was no longer doing what it should be doing for ordinary students on the ground. ULSU has never reaffiliated to USI, although an inquorate referendum held in 2001 on the issue indicated some support among students for such a move. The votes cast in this referendum were counted and showed that just under 55% of students who voted were in favour of rejoining.
Three things must be noted here:
Additionally, the "no" campaign was essentially, "Don't bother voting", to ensure an inquorate (and therefore invalid) referendum. This may indicate that a number of those who would have voted "no" just didn't bother.
However it has, on occasion, supported campaigns organised by USI. Following moves by USI to welcome non-affiliates 'back into the fold', ULSU instituted (in 2006/07) a process of review of the non-affiliation. This was reacted to with great hostility by the union's main decision-making body, Class Representatives' Council, in early 2007, and so a proposed referendum never happened. However, sabbatical officers have continued to maintain relationships with counterparts in other unions. Non-affiliate unions are no longer able to attend Union Officer Seminar of USI.
ULSU is also one of the more active members of FUSU (Forum of University Students' Unions). FUSU recently welcomed Dublin Institute of Technology into the group in recognition of the Institute's size and similarity to a university. FUSU is not a competitor organisation for USI, rather it is more of a discussion forum and information exchange. This is particular useful for ULSU.
The current officers are:
The Union represents UL Students at many fora within and external to the university. Until 06/07, ULSU had only four full time officers - the Vice-President/Communications & Campaigns Officer position was discontinued and a new Vice-President/Publicity & Publications Officer and a Vice-President/Campaigns & Services Officer took office. In the first semester of the 2008/09 academic year the title of the Vice-President/Publicity & Publications Officer was changed to Vice-President/Communications to better reflect the role. The Union employs seven other full time and numerous part-time members of staff and owns a company, ULSU Services Ltd., which runs the 4 Students' Union Shops on campus
The Union prints An Focal on a fortnightly basis, a newspaper compiled by the students of the University. It is a 36 page full colour newspaper, featuring news, comment, sport and entertainments. Over 3500 copies are distributed on campus.
Pulse is a glossy magazine produced on a now annual basis, around the time of Charity Week, with listings etc for the week within.
Cellar Door is a new venture by Communications Officer elect, Kelly O'Brien. It will feature literary compositions of students.
The Students' Union has two publications, a fortnightly newspaper, An Focal, and a periodical arts magazine, Pulse. These are edited by the Vice President/Communications Officer.
The Students' Union in UL has two main differences from other Students' Unions.
The following are clubs but their category is unverifiable: Fencing, Handball, Krav Maga, Parkour, Pool & Darts, Tennis, Trampoline and Waterpolo.
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, situated in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
History
The National Institute for Higher EducationNational Institute for Higher Education
A National Institute for Higher Education was a category of higher education institution established in the Republic of Ireland to provide higher level technical education above the standard of the then established Regional Technical College system but at university level...
(NIHE) was founded in Limerick in 1972. The 113 students who started in NIHEL, that year, founded the Students' Union, which was later to become the University of Limerick Students' Union.
In its early years, all officers served in a voluntary capacity. The first officers elected included John Redington (President), John Kerr (Vice-president), Fionnuala Lyddy (Secretary) and Eric Duhan (Treasurer). Pat Carroll was elected in 1975 as the first full-time President. The National College of Physical Eductation (NCPE), subsequently Thomond College of Education, had a separate students' union also founded in 1972 until its amalgamation with the University of Limerick. Its first President was Brendan Lillis.
From its inception in 1972, the union had been involved with USI
USI
USI may stand for:*User System Interaction, a postgraduate engineering design program in the Netherlands*U Select It, a large vending company in the United States*Union of Independent Trade Unions...
. ULSU withdrew in 1991 from USI after it decided that the national union was no longer doing what it should be doing for ordinary students on the ground. ULSU has never reaffiliated to USI, although an inquorate referendum held in 2001 on the issue indicated some support among students for such a move. The votes cast in this referendum were counted and showed that just under 55% of students who voted were in favour of rejoining.
Three things must be noted here:
- 66% in favour would have been needed to pass the referendum
- The referendum did not have enough votes (only 700, changed from 20% to 15% in 2006 to be deemed valid)
Additionally, the "no" campaign was essentially, "Don't bother voting", to ensure an inquorate (and therefore invalid) referendum. This may indicate that a number of those who would have voted "no" just didn't bother.
However it has, on occasion, supported campaigns organised by USI. Following moves by USI to welcome non-affiliates 'back into the fold', ULSU instituted (in 2006/07) a process of review of the non-affiliation. This was reacted to with great hostility by the union's main decision-making body, Class Representatives' Council, in early 2007, and so a proposed referendum never happened. However, sabbatical officers have continued to maintain relationships with counterparts in other unions. Non-affiliate unions are no longer able to attend Union Officer Seminar of USI.
ULSU is also one of the more active members of FUSU (Forum of University Students' Unions). FUSU recently welcomed Dublin Institute of Technology into the group in recognition of the Institute's size and similarity to a university. FUSU is not a competitor organisation for USI, rather it is more of a discussion forum and information exchange. This is particular useful for ULSU.
Sabbatical Officers
Five full time sabbatical officers which work in the Student Union for the students of the University are elected on an annual basis.The current officers are:
- President- Derek Daly
- Deputy President/Welfare- Tara Feeney
- Vice President/Education- Aoife Kenny
- Vice President/Campaigns and Services-Paddy Rockett
- Vice President/Communications- Kelly O'Brien
The Union represents UL Students at many fora within and external to the university. Until 06/07, ULSU had only four full time officers - the Vice-President/Communications & Campaigns Officer position was discontinued and a new Vice-President/Publicity & Publications Officer and a Vice-President/Campaigns & Services Officer took office. In the first semester of the 2008/09 academic year the title of the Vice-President/Publicity & Publications Officer was changed to Vice-President/Communications to better reflect the role. The Union employs seven other full time and numerous part-time members of staff and owns a company, ULSU Services Ltd., which runs the 4 Students' Union Shops on campus
Publications
The communications officer is responsible for the publications of the Union.The Union prints An Focal on a fortnightly basis, a newspaper compiled by the students of the University. It is a 36 page full colour newspaper, featuring news, comment, sport and entertainments. Over 3500 copies are distributed on campus.
Pulse is a glossy magazine produced on a now annual basis, around the time of Charity Week, with listings etc for the week within.
Cellar Door is a new venture by Communications Officer elect, Kelly O'Brien. It will feature literary compositions of students.
Organisation and Services
. The Union also provides other services to students - graphics, Nitelink bus service, education advice, welfare advice, second-hand bookshop, phone repairs etc.The Students' Union has two publications, a fortnightly newspaper, An Focal, and a periodical arts magazine, Pulse. These are edited by the Vice President/Communications Officer.
The Students' Union in UL has two main differences from other Students' Unions.
- It runs its own clubs and societies - these are administered through the union by and for the students.
- It has a Postgraduate Students Association - to represent all Postgraduate Students on postgraduate issues only. The Postgraduate students elect a full-time sabbatical president for the PSA.
Clubs and Societies
Clubs are split into three categories depending on level of competition involved.| Clubs Category A | Clubs Category B | Clubs Category C | Societies |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Football | Archery | Capoeira | Airsoft |
| Basketball | Athletics | Judo | Anime and Manga |
| GAA | Badminton | Karate Shotokan | Architecture |
| Ladies Hockey | Boarders | Skydive | Choral |
| Ladies Rugby | Chess | Sub Aqua | Christian Union |
| Men's Rugby | Dance | Tae Kwon Do | Computer |
| Soccer | Fencing | Cumann Gaelach | |
| Softball | Handball | Debating Union | |
| Trampoline | Kayak | Development | |
| Ultimate Frisbee | Mountain Bike | DJ | |
| Outdoor Pursuits | Drama Music | ||
| Rowing | Enterprise and Finance | ||
| Sailing | Fashion | ||
| Windsurfing | Games | ||
| History | |||
| International | |||
| Law | |||
| Medical | |||
| Music | |||
| Nature | |||
| Ogra Fianna Fail | |||
| Out in UL | |||
| Photographic | |||
| Poker | |||
| Socialist Youth | |||
| TV | |||
| Young Fine Gael | |||
| Maths |
The following are clubs but their category is unverifiable: Fencing, Handball, Krav Maga, Parkour, Pool & Darts, Tennis, Trampoline and Waterpolo.