Oxford University Student Union
| Institution | University of Oxford |
|---|---|
| Location | 2 Worcester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BX |
| Established | 1961 (as OUSRC) 1974 (as OUSU) |
| Sabbatical officers |
|
| Members | c. 22,000 |
| Affiliations |
National Union of Students Aldwych Group |
| Website | http://www.ousu.org |
The Oxford University Student Union is the official students' union of the University of Oxford. It is better known in Oxford by its acronym, OUSU (/ˈaʊzuː/ OW-zoo). It exists to represent Oxford University students in the University's decision-making, to act as the voice for students in the national higher education policy debate, and to provide direct services to the student body. It is not to be confused with the Oxford Union debating society, which, although similarly named, is separate private club with no representative functions.
In 1961, the University Proctors banned the student magazine Isis from publishing reviews of lectures. Students resisted, and legally incorporated the Oxford University Student Representative Council (OUSRC) for the first time. They then agitated for formal university recognition of the OUSRC, and petitioned the United Kingdom's Privy Council, asking the government to amend the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Act. Rather than risk having its hand forced by legislation, the University relented, and formally recognised the OUSRC in 1970.
The OUSRC adopted its contemporary constitution in 1974, changing its name to the Oxford University Student Union.
Reflecting the collegiate nature of the University of Oxford itself, OUSU is both an association of Oxford's more than 21,000 individual students and a federation of the affiliated Junior Common Rooms (JCRs), Middle Common Rooms (MCRs), Graduate Common Rooms (GCRs), and other affiliated organisations that represent all undergraduate and graduate students at the University's forty-four colleges and Permanent Private Halls.
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