GET INVOLVED 43
CAMPAIGNS
Improving our education, changing the world
Campaigns aren’t just about waving
paigned on political and social issues in
by lobbying from the Students’ Union.
placards and chanting, but they are
wider society to win progressive changes
The Students’ Union has also traditionally
about getting as many students as
that benefit students and their local
been at the forefront of the fight against
possible involved in shaping their own
communities, whether that means lob-
higher fees, and was a focal point for
education and future. Whether you suffer
bying the Mayor for cheaper transport,
protests against wars in Vietnam and
from poor teaching, a lack of resources
winning a Living Wage for cleaners at
later Iraq, when over 1000 LSE staff and
on your course, a dodgy landlord or
LSE, or lobbying the School to adopt an
students held sit-ins and joined a two
unfair wages, the Students’ Union is there
ethical investment policy to ensure that
million strong demonstration in London.
to take on your issue and unite all our
we don’t spend LSE’s money on war, hu-
members to make positive change.
man rights abuses or environmental de-
Ultimately, when we unite together, we
struction. We have always believed that
are stronger – and that’s the reason why
these issues are not only important in
Students’ Unions exist.
their own right, but also that as students with talent, energy and passion, we can
“WE ARE A MEMBER OF NUS, WHO CAMPAIGN NATIONALLY AND LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT”
One of our most successful recent
really make a difference. That’s why our
campaigns is over teaching, and led to
societies’ campaigning spirit and initia-
We don’t just campaign alone – we
the Teaching Taskforce – a project that
tives like Raising and Giving (RAG) are so
are a member of NUS, who campaign
the Students’ Union worked on with the
effective and rewarding.
nationally and lobby the government.
School, and has seen £2m invested in
We are also part of the London Citizens
proposals to improve LSE teaching. These
Historically, it was the Students’ Union
network, who unite Schools, trade unions,
proposals came from the study body via
that fought to have Houghton Street
community groups and even religious
the Students’ Union, and we are looking
pedestrianised through mass sit-ins after
congregations to campaign across the
forward to making sure they continue to
a student was injured by a car. Many fa-
capital for things like a Living Wage, an
be implemented. We also lobbied the
cilities of the Library were also improved
amnesty for asylum seekers, and more.
School to open the Library 24 hours at key times – and, from this year, the Library will be open-all-hours from the beginning of Lent Term (second term) until the end of exams! Last year, when the future of the LSE Nursery was threatened, the Students’ Union united parents and non-parents to fight any potential closure, and improve the service. The Nursery was saved and is now a more effective and efficient operation. Traditionally, we have also represented our students as citizens of wider society – and, at an international place like LSE, as global citizens. We have always cam-