Edinburgh University Students' Association
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 |
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.
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.
History
1884–1972: Establishment
An Edinburgh
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]
1970–2000: Merger
On 1 July 1973 the SRC, the EUU and the Chambers Street Union merged to form Edinburgh University Students' Association.
Due to the university merging with other organisations, since 1994, EUSA has merged with the
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]
2000–present
Following a student
In 2016 EUSA became the first students union in the UK to affiliate to
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]
Controversy
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 "
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]
Activities
EUSA's activities include
Campaigning
Since 2010, EUSA has supported campaigns for
Societies
EUSA supports and oversees over 280 affiliated
Student theatre at Edinburgh is particularly active. The
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
Charitable and campaigning societies are numerous, including Edinburgh Global Partnerships and the Edinburgh branches of the Nightline support hotline and People & Planet charitable network.
Buildings, venues and outlets
EUSA operates 13 bars, 7 catering outlets, 5 shops, a catering company (Honours Catering) and numerous other services located across various sites.
- nightclub (Teviot Underground) and a variety of meeting rooms and halls. Following a fire at Gilded Balloon's Grassmarket venue, Teviot is now their primary base during the Fringe.
- The Pleasance provides EUSA societies with meeting space during semesters. It also has two bars and a theatre with an approximate capacity of 300. It is located next to the university's Centre for Sport and Exercise. During the Fringe, The Pleasance is run by the Pleasance Theatre Trust Ltd[51] as the "Pleasance Courtyard".
- Potterrow, is also located on Bristo Square. With its distinctive dome, this building includes two shops, two cafes, a 1200 capacity nightclub, the Activities Office, a student support centre (The Advice Place) and EUSA's main administrative offices. Potterrow is also run by the Pleasance Theatre Trust during the Fringe, along with many other Fringe venues, and is branded as the "Pleasance Dome".
- King's Buildings is the home of most of the College of Science and Engineering, located in the south of the city. King's Buildings House includes a bar and food outlet, a small gym, a branch of the Advice Place and a small shop. The Magnet Cafe is located in the James Clerk Maxwell Building, and there is another shop on the ground floor of the KB Centre.[52]
- Pollock Shop is a late opening shop in Pollock Halls.
- The Peffermill Clubhouse is a bar located at the university playing fields at Peffermill.
Structure
EUSA is a democratic
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
currently:- President – responsible for the overall functioning and external politics of the association;
- Vice President Activities and Services (VPAS) – responsible for activities in relation to student societies and representation to the university and Students' Association on non-academic service provision;
- Vice President Community (VPC) – responsible for lobbying the university for affordable transport and housing, as well as campaigning on sustainability and community engagement
- Vice President Education (VPE) – responsible for representing students to the university and beyond on HE and academic matters
- Vice President Welfare (VPW) – responsible for representing students to the university and beyond on student welfare
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:
- The five Sabbatical officers
- Four student trustees, appointed by the sabbatical trustees for two years.
- Three external trustees, appointed by the student trustees for no more than three years.
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
Notable people
This is an incomplete list of notable former office bearers, staff and others with EUSA and its predecessor unions.
- Gordon Aikman – Motor Neurone Disease campaigner and former Director of Research at Better Together, EUSA Vice President Societies & Activities (2007–08).
- Robert Fitzroy Bell – Publisher and advocate, founder of the SRC and SRC President (1884)
- Andrew Brown – Broadcaster and brother of Gordon Brown, EUSA Senior President (1975–76).
- Gordon Brown – EUSA member 1972-75.[57] Elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh in 1972 while still a student, serving until 1975.[58]
- Donald Brydon CBE – Chairman of Royal Mail and Medical Research Council, EUU President (1967–68).
- Robert Cochrane Buist – Obstetrician and gynaecologist, SRC President
- Scottish Green Partypolitician, EUSA Postgraduate Convener.
- Susan Deacon – Former Labour MSP for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh, EUSA Vice President.
- Kezia Dugdale MSP – Labour MSP for Lothian region, EUSA campaigns adviser.
- PC– Former Labour MP and MSP, SRC Senior President (1963–64).
- FRSE– Mathematician, SRC Senior President.
- Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Conservative MP for Epping Forest, EUSA Union President (1980–1).
- Malcolm Macleod – Neurologist, former Rector of the University of Edinburgh, EUSA President (1988–89).
- Peter McColl – Former Rector of the University of Edinburgh and political activist, EUSA Vice President (2001–02).
- Sheila McKechnie – Chairman of the Consumer's Association and Shelter, SRC Junior President (1968–69)
- Sir David Orme Masson KBE FRS – Chemist, helped found SRC.
- PC – Former MP, MSP and Leader of the Liberal Party, SRC Senior President.
- Sir Frederick Whyte KCSI – British civil servant, Liberal Party MP, first President of the Central Legislative Assembly of British India, EUU President (1903–04).
See also
- The Diagnostic Society of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Labour Students
- Edinburgh University A.F.C.
- Edinburgh University Boat Club
- Edinburgh University Highland Society
- Edinburgh University Orienteering Club
- Edinburgh University RFC
- Edinburgh University Shinty Club
- Edinburgh University Socialist Society
- Grand Edinburgh Adventuring Society
References
- ^ https://www.scotsman.com/education/short-term-lets-scotland-university-boss-warns-lets-licensing-could-make-edinburghs-student-housing-shortages-worse-4336649
- ^ "EUSA Your Representatives". Edinburgh University Students' Association. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Student numbers 2017/18". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Boycotts & Affiliations". Edinburgh University Students' Association. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Finances". Edinburgh University Students' Association. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "OSCR Charity Details". oscr.org.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/100753. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- OCLC 26357039.
- OCLC 463015527.
- OCLC 54401904.
- ^ "History of the College of Science and Engineering". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Catto, Iain (1989). 'No spirits and precious few women' – Edinburgh University Union – 1889–1989. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Union. p. 120.
- ISBN 9780203874554.
- ^ Wilson, Graeme (2 June 1994). "Students Protest at Merger Decision – Edinburgh University". The Scotsman.
- ^ Tom, McConnell (5 February 1979). "Court move against student in union referendum tussle". The Glasgow Herald.
- ^ University of Edinburgh Journal. 42–43: 77. 2005.
{{cite journal}}
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(help) - ^ "Visit to Birzeit University from Edinburgh University Student Association". Birzeit University. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Right to Education/Birzeit Twinning EUSA resolution". Edinburgh University Students for Justice in Palestine. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Right to Education/Birzeit Twinning". Edinburgh University Students' Association.
- ^ Guide to the Students' Association 2017/18 (PDF), pp. 12–13
- ^ EUSA Annual Report & Accounts 2011–12 (PDF), p. 5
- ^ EUSA Annual Report & Accounts 2012–13 (PDF), p. 4
- ^ Articles of Association of Edinburgh University Students' Association, As amended by special resolution 5 June 2013 (PDF)
- ^ "Elections". www.eusa.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "New Students' Association logo". www.eusa.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "EUSA hits back in Student newspaper censorship furore". The Journal. February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ^ Sherriff, Lucy (7 February 2013). "Student Paper Gagged By Its Own Union". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Editorial: I may not like what you say..." Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Blurred Lines song banned at Edinburgh students' union". Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "University of Edinburgh bans Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' from playing on campus". The Independent. 12 September 2013.
- ^ "Student Rights – SWP motion shows importance of consistency". www.studentrights.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "The Student – Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "The Student editors vandalise own paper after lawsuit threat from Socialist Worker Party". The Tab Edinburgh. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "About Us".
- ^ "Student fury at gay marriage petition names". The Scotsman. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ "Students march to protest education cuts and tuition fee increases". EUSA. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ "Students' association launches campaign to protect tenants". Scottish Television. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ "Edinburgh University to replace DoS system". The Journal. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ "Fairtrade and the University of Edinburgh". University of Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ Ballard, Mark. "Motion S2M-05639: Mark Ballard, Lothians, Scottish Green Party, Date Lodged: 22/02/2007 Fairtrade Fortnight 2007". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ISBN 9781136236938.
- ISBN 978-1846040832.
- ^ "Mugabe stripped of degree honour". BBC News. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ 'Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers' official site.
- ^ 'LGBT+ Medics'. EUSA.
- ^ 'LGBTQ+ Campaign'. EUSA.
- ^ 'LGBTQ+ Law Society'. EUSA.
- ^ 'LGBTQ+ Peer Mentoring'. EUSA.
- ^ 'PrideSoc - The Edinburgh University LGBTQ+ Society'. EUSA.
- ^ "About us | Pleasance Theatre Trust".
- ^ "Location & map".
- ^ EUSA Memorandum and Articles of Association 2017, p. 12
- ^ EUSA Resolution of alteration of Articles of Association 2017, p. 1
- ^ "Governance". Edinburgh University Students' Association. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Memorandum Articles of Association" (PDF). Edinburgh University Students' Association. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ 'Labour Students'. EUSA.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Martin (15 July 2005). "Brown's first taste of power". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
External links
- Edinburgh University Students' Association
- Edinburgh University Sports Union
- Annual Report 2012 Edinburgh University Students' Association. Retrieved 2 May 2013.