06 STUDENT LIFE
WHAT IS THE STUDENTS’ UNION? THE STUDENTS’ UNION IS, FUNDAMENTALLY, YOU!
RUN BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS
co-operation. You can join these clubs
Every LSE student is automatically a mem-
Students’ Unions are, shockingly, run
Wednesday 30th September this year!).
ber – it’s totally free – and with that mem-
by students. Every year, there are two
We support and train volunteers involved
bership comes the ability to get involved
rounds of elections (on in the first term,
in these activities, and provide tonnes of
in all aspects of the Students’ Union. In
one in the second term) that elect
opportunities for getting involved.
essence, we care about every aspect of
representatives to the Students’ Union
your student experience.
Executive Committee and School com-
If you’re interested in being part of the
mittees.
most active campus in the world, check
during Freshers’ Fayre (Tuesday 29th and
REPRESENTING YOU AND CAMPAIGNING ON YOUR ISSUES
The Executive Committee is made up
Our primary aim is to represent you to
(who take a year out of their study, or
WELFARE
the School and involve students in cam-
after their final year, to work for the Stu-
The combination of living in London and
paigns to improve our education and
dents’ Union). These run the organization
studying at a world class institution can
wider societal issues. We campaign on
day-to-day with the help of a profes-
be stressful and confusing. Our profes-
core academic issues like fees, teach-
sional, permanent staff team. The rest of
sional Advice and Counselling Centre
ing, and library quality; we run welfare
the Executive is made up of Volunteer
(ACC) is here to offer advice on a range
campaigns on things like safety, quality
Officers representing key sections of the
of issues, be on hand to help you out if
of Halls of Residence and provision of
student body.
things go wrong and also offers hardship
out the ‘Student Life’ section of this Guide!
of four full-time paid Sabbatical Officers
School services such as the Nursery; and
funds to support students in financial
we also have campaigns around spe-
You can hold your elected Officers
difficulty. Whether it’s problems with a
cific issues like environment and ethics,
to account and make sure they’re
course or a landlord, our counsellor, and
anti-racism, women’s rights, postgradu-
representing you on the issues you care
advisers, who specialise in immigration,
ate students, LGBT students, mature and
most about at our weekly Union General
housing and academic issues, offer free
part-time students, disabled students,
Meeting (UGM), the only one of its kind
and confidential advice and support
and more. We seek to involve as many
in the country. It happens every Thursday
whenever you need it.
students as possible in these campaigns
at 1pm in the Old Theatre, and every
– and if there’s an issue you care about,
student can come along, vote and get
SERVICES
we want to help you make a difference.
involved.
One of the most visible aspects of the
This sometimes involves waving plac-
Students’ Union is its commercial services and entertainments – our bars, café,
ensuring the student voice is always
STUDENT ACTIVITIES: SOCIETIES, SPORTS, MEDIA GROUP, RAG
heard. We also seek to engage students
Your Students’ Union funds and sup-
reasons: to provide every one of our
in wider political and social issues, and
ports over 170 societies, 30 sports clubs,
members with cheap, friendly and con-
have campaigned widely in the past on
a weekly newspaper (The Beaver), a
venient services and, most importantly, to
social justice, environmental sustainabil-
radio station, a TV station, a journal, a
generate additional money to reinvest
ity and internationalism, such as living
charity fundraising through Raising and
in the wide range of welfare services we
wages for School staff and others in the
Giving (RAG), and a Dialogue Commis-
provide that aim to help and support you
local community (see page 43 for more).
sion to foster greater understanding and
through your time at LSE. Enjoy!
ards, gathering petitions, putting papers to School committees, and generally
shops, gym, club nights, copy shop and so on. These services are here for two