Southampton University Students' Union
| Institution | University of Southampton |
|---|---|
| Location | Building 42, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ |
| Established | 1903 |
| President | Flora Noble |
| Vice presidents | Arun Aggarwal (Student Communities) Evie Reilly (Democracy & Creative Industries) Samuel Dedman (Education) Dan Varley (Engagement) Stephen Gore (Sports) Samantha Higman (Welfare) |
| Members | 22,269 (2011/12) |
| Affiliations | Aldwych Group |
| Chief Executive | Scott McCarthy |
| Website | www.susu.org |
The University of Southampton Students' Union, branded as SUSU is the students' union at the University of Southampton in southern England, United Kingdom. Union Southampton represents the students at the University council as well as providing support and social activities. The union is financed through its operations, a grant from the University and additional benefits brought by its charitable status.
Its main facilities are based on the main Highfield Campus, but the union also operates a presence at the Winchester School of Art and helps student societies and groups at the other campuses of the University. All students at the University become members of the union automatically unless they specifically request to opt out. Its operation is enshrined in law through the Education Act 1994, the University Charter granted in 1952 and the Union's constitution.
The origins of the union lie in the original union that represented the students of the Hartley University College, the precursor to the current University, when it became affiliated to the University of London in 1903. It became self-governed by students in 1921 with the introduction of the basic structure of one male and female member from each faculty. The Union expanded greatly following the granting of the Universities Charter in 1952 and the subsequent expansion of the university in both student numbers and outlook, leading to the creation of several union facilities and services.
For a sizable length of its existence, the union was associated with the National Union of Students (NUS), however in May 2002 the union chose to disaffiliate itself from the NUS on the grounds that the organisation was becoming too bureaucratic. This decision was put to a referendum in December 2010 and again in December 2012 to whether the union should re-affiliate with the NUS, following a perceived change in the organisation and in circumstances, and on both occasions the result was that the union would remain independent with the 2010 result totalling 67% against the affiliation, and 73% against it in 2012.
The Union's highest decision making body is the Union Senate. Meeting at least 3 times a year, it is made up of 23 voting members, including the sabbatical officers, zone representatives and senators that represent the diversity of the university. Any student is able to attend and speak at a Union Senate, although not to vote, and any student is able to vote in the AGM and Open Council, held each year in the summer.
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