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Students' union in Edinburgh, Scotland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) is the students' union at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Association's aim is the advancement of education of Edinburgh students by representing and supporting them, and by promoting their interests, health and welfare within the community.[6] It is led by a team of five elected student sabbatical officers.
| |
| Institution | University of Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Location | The Potterrow, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Established | 1884 – Students' Representative Council 1889 – Edinburgh University Union |
| President | Sharan Atwal |
| CEO | Stephen Hubbard |
| Vice presidents |
|
| Members | c. 41,300 [3] [needs update] |
| Affiliations | National Union of Students[4] National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts[4] |
| Income | £12.7m (2018/19)[5] [needs update] |
| Website | www.eusa.ed.ac.uk |
Due to the evolution of student unionism at Edinburgh, student sports are not part of the main university union, and are overseen by a separate organisation, Edinburgh University Sports Union (EUSU), which has its own representative and organisational structure. EUSU works closely with the university's Centre for Sport and Exercise.
An Edinburgh students' representative council (SRC) was founded in 1884 by student Robert Fitzroy Bell, bringing together students from the university's clubs & societies.[7] Shortly afterwards, the SRC voted to establish a union (the Edinburgh University Union (EUU)), to provide social space and recreational facilities for students. The SRC established a campaign of public fundraising, with prominent figures in the city and the general public donating £5,000, and a fancy fair held at the Waverly Market raised £10,000. The Town Council and Senatus Academicus donated £100 and £500 respectively to the cause.[8][9][10] This £15,600 (£2,000,000 in 2019 money) was used to hire an architect, Sydney Mitchell, and begin construction of the Union building adjacent to the Medical School and the Reid Concert Hall. Teviot Row House was officially opened on 19 October 1889, and is the oldest purpose-built student union in the world. EUU was constituted as an autonomous organisation, and did not admit women until 1971.
The Edinburgh University Women's Union was founded in October 1905, later moving to premises at 16 Chambers Street and renaming itself to the Chambers Street Union in 1964. The King's Buildings Union was established in 1931 in huts formerly used by the Geology department, before moving into a custom building in 1939.[11]
On 1 July 1973 the SRC, the EUU and the Chambers Street Union merged to form Edinburgh University Students' Association.[12] Due to reference in the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889, the SRC could not be dissolved at the time of merger. Through the SRC, EUSA is the oldest students' union in the UK.[13] In 1994 the university forced the merger of the King's Buildings Union and EUSA, although the members of KB Union voted against the proposed merger.[14]
Due to the university merging with other organisations, since 1994, EUSA has merged with the Moray House Institute of Education Union and the Edinburgh College of Art Union.
In 1976 EUSA disaffiliated from the National Union of Students (NUS),[15] a decision that was reversed in 2004.[16] In 2005 EUSA formally twinned with Birzeit University Student Council, West Bank, with each union hosting delegations from the other.[17][18][19]
Following a student consultation process and a referendum in February 2012 a new constitution was established in 2011 and amended in 2013. This took full effect in 2014, incorporating the Association as a charitable company limited by guarantee.[20][21][22] This constitution also had the effect of changing some democratic processes, including establishing the board of trustees in its current form.[23]
In 2016 EUSA became the first students union in the UK to affiliate to Students for Cooperation as an affiliated supporter in order to promote and support student-led cooperatives. EUSA submitted a proposal to NUS Scotland for affiliation with Students for Cooperation, which was accepted.
Also in 2016, EUSA sabbatical officers and management submitted a referendum to the student membership over whether to change the Association's name to "University of Edinburgh Students' Union", alongside a number of internal administrative changes. The name change was rejected by 69.9% of students.[24] EUSA then embarked on a major rebranding programme, changing the logo and encouraging the organisation to be referred to as "the Association", or "your Students' Association" instead of "EUSA".[25]
EUSA was criticised in 2013 after acting using the Court of Session to "censor" The Student as it "was due to publish details of the suspension of Max Crema, vice-president of services at the union". President James McAsh defended the action, claiming it was taken "to protect the rights of our employees".[26][27][28]
In 2013, EUSA made the decision to ban the playing of "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke in its venues, attracting some attention in national media.[29][30] The song was deemed to promote "an unhealthy attitude towards sex and consent", and for being in breach of EUSA's 'End Rape Culture and Lad Banter on Campus' policy, designed to tackle 'myths and stereotypes around sexual violence' and stop the sexual objectification of female students.[31]
In 2014, EUSA was threatened with legal proceedings by the National Secretary of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), Charlie Kimber, following a motion[32] put forward banning the SWP from the Edinburgh campus due to the 'Comrade Delta' rape scandal. EUSA eventually withdrew the motion. This also resulted in the editors of The Student newspaper, an EUSA society, manually ripping pages out of their own newspapers to avoid personal legal liability, as the story about the motion had already been printed before it was withdrawn.[33][34]
EUSA's activities include representing and campaigning on behalf of students, the administration of societies, running a network of bars and other venues, organising volunteering opportunities and providing numerous welfare and advice services.[35] EUSA also directly organises regular events such as Freshers' Week, club nights, pub quizzes, band nights, various comedy events, and the Graduation Ball.
Since 2010, EUSA has supported campaigns for same-sex marriage,[36] against tuition fee rises and education cuts,[37] and for better private tenancy rights;[38] EUSA also lobbies the university on internal issues, such as on-campus child care. It has also had a significant role in the overhaul of the university's student support structure,[39] and in making Edinburgh Scotland's first Fairtrade University in 2004.[40][41][42][43] In 2007, following several years of pressure from EUSA, the University Senate revoked Robert Mugabe's honorary degree that had been awarded in 1984 "for services to education in Africa".[44]
EUSA supports and oversees over 280 affiliated societies.[5] There are societies for most academic disciplines, political parties, nationalities and minority groups. Its oldest society, The Diagnostic Society of Edinburgh pre-dates the SRC but is currently merged under EUSA whilst still retaining general operative independence.
Student theatre at Edinburgh is particularly active. The Edinburgh University Theatre Company (EUTC) was founded in 1896 as the Edinburgh University Drama Society, and since the early 1980s has run Bedlam Theatre, the oldest student-run theatre in Britain, and The Improverts, the city's longest-running improvised comedy troupe. Edinburgh University Footlights and Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group (EUSOG) are musical theatre societies, the latter having an emphasis towards the Savoy operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. Theatre Paradok are dedicated to experimental theatre.
Music is a large part of EUSA's output. The Edinburgh University Music Society founded in 1867 is the second oldest music society in the United Kingdom. With a Symphonic Chorus of up to 200 members, a full size Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia, EUMS performs up to seven concerts a year in the university. The university is also home to the Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers conducted by University Lecturer Dr Paul Newton-Jackson.[45]
Media-themed societies include The Student (Edinburgh's own student newspaper), Fresh Air (a student radio station, online-only since 2008), the Edinburgh Movie Production Society (EMPS), the Edinburgh Film Society and most recently EUTV, Edinburgh University Television Station.
Charitable and campaigning societies are numerous, including Edinburgh Global Partnerships and the Edinburgh branches of the Nightline support hotline and People & Planet charitable network.
LGBT+ Pride is represented by five EUSA groups: LGBT+ Medics,[46] LGBTQ+ Campaign,[47] LGBTQ+ Law Society,[48] LGBTQ+ Peer Mentoring,[49] and PrideSoc.[50]
EUSA operates 13 bars, 7 catering outlets, 5 shops, a catering company (Honours Catering) and numerous other services located across various sites.[5] Most of these buildings are operated as Edinburgh Fringe venues during August.
EUSA is a democratic membership organisation, a charitable body and a company limited by guarantee, ultimately overseen by a Board of Trustees.
All Edinburgh University students automatically become members of EUSA upon matriculation, though they retain the ability to opt out as per the Education Act 1994.
The Association's day-to-day student leadership is provided by a team of five full-time elected students, the Sabbatical Officers,[53][54] currently:
Democracy is primarily provided through an open Student Council, which holds elected Officers to account, and creates policy. The Student Council meets in Teviot Row House on the last Thursday in each month during term-time.
Elections are held twice a year, the Spring election and the Postgraduate election in Autumn. The Sabbatical Officers, School Representatives, Section Representatives, Activities Representatives and Liberation Officers are elected in the Spring Elections in an online ballot. Postgraduate positions and any positions not filled in the Spring election are elected in the Postgraduate elections, also held via an online ballot and open to all members of the Association.
These elected representatives form a number of bodies that work throughout the year. The Activities Executive makes decisions relating specifically to student societies, composed of the Vice President (Activities & Services) and activities representatives elected to represent a specific society category. There are a series of open liberation groups (Black Minority and Ethnic, Disabled Students, LGBT, and Women) and student section groups (International, Mature, Carers, Parents, Postgraduate Taught, Postgraduate Research, and Part-Time).
Elected representatives also sit on all major University bodies and subcommittees. Complementing these structures are autonomous school councils and a class representation system providing local, democratic spaces for organising. This organisational structure was designed to help foster a system of participatory democracy throughout the university.[55]
EUSA's financial, legal and employment matters are the responsibility of the Chief Executive and a senior management team, who report to and are held accountable by a Board of Trustees, which currently consists of:
Each Trustee may serve a maximum of two terms. Sabbatical officers must be re-elected to office, and Elected or Student Trustees may serve a second term with approval of the board of trustees.
EUSA has a fully owned subsidiary company, EUSACO, incorporating any activity which is outside EUSA's charitable remit, such as the Edinburgh Fringe and external catering activities.[56] Responsibility for EUSA's commercial services is delegated by the board of trustees to the Strategic Development Subcommittee.
This is an incomplete list of notable former office bearers, staff and others with EUSA and its predecessor unions.
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