Students Union

What is a Student Union?

A group of students who promote the interest of students to faculty of college or
university.
The Student Union culture in the UK works somewhat like this: every university
has a Union that represents the students, which is then affiliated with a National
Union of Students (NUS). NUS conveys the voice of the students all over the
country to the different politicians, political and media avenues.In addition to its
countless other benefits, I like the whole culture because it empowers and teaches
the youth the ways on how to approach the political arena, should they wish to join
politics in the future, and build your impact in the community as you approach it.
Why I am saying this is because if you were to ask me how I can join politics right
now in Pakistan, I really would not know the answer. And it may be like this
because our political parties do not have a set recruitment structure.
To Give Students a Voice
The Students’ Union (SU) works in the same way as a workplace union. It
campaigns for the rights of its members – you - and lobbies on key issues, bringing
them to the attention of your university, the National Union of Students and the
government. Every SU will have a dedicated officer to represent you on a range of
issues such as education, welfare, disability, diversity, the environment and more.
If you think your university needs to address something or look again at a certain
policy, let your SU know. Your SU sabbatical officers have taken a year out of
studying to represent you, and have all undertaken specific training, so they really
do have your best interests at heart
To Help You Enjoy Activities
Your SU will have a number of officers who help organise sports and societies on
campus. They will be your first port of call to help you find out what is on offer.
The SU organises day trips, activities and nights out during Freshers’ Week and
throughout the rest of the year, as well as the Freshers’ Fair, where you can sign up
for as many clubs and societies as you want. They can even help you set up your
own society or club
To Help You Access the Advice you Need
 SU can advise on your rights when it comes to things like student accommodation
and private landlords and also offer you individual representation if you have a
grievance with your university.
You can also call into your SU for general advice and they will be able to signpost
you to the best people to speak to about finances, mental health and wellbeing,
accommodation and academic support. You will likely see your SU run campaigns
around national awareness days and take part in local and national events".
To Help You to Develop New Skills
Taking an active role in the SU is a good way to develop your negotiating and
campaign skills. Many SU Sabbatical Officers have gone on to careers in politics
or become key influencers in social policy and business. If you run and are elected
as an SU Officer you will receive national training in all of the key skills you need,
as well as opportunities for development throughout the year. SU Officers
represent students at local and national events, so you can practice your networking
skills while doing something for a cause you are passionate about.
To Help You Meet New People
You can choose how much you want to get involved with your union,” says Ayo.
“You can use it as a one stop shop to find out about societies and clubs, take part in
campaigns, or even run as an officer to help represent a cause that is important to
you. It’s completely up to you".
Kira adds: "Either way,it is a great way to meet new people. I first met Pranay and
Ayo through events put on by the SU and by getting involved in campaigns. We
became good friends and realised that we also worked well together. This spurred
us on to run as the Sabbatical Officers for the Liverpool Hope SU.
"Now, while a lot of the friends I made have moved away after graduation, we are
staying on the extra year to work for the SU. We work with other local and
national universities and have made even more friends and contacts as a result. Of
course, the cheap beer and discounts are still there, but ultimately, your Students’
Union is a voice for all students, a way to make a change and also a fantastic social
experience

Student unions are important 

Student unions are important as they act as a mediator between the administration
and the student population and because they have the power to work for the
welfare of the students. For instance, Madras Christian College’s students’ union
does not only address students’ concerns but also provides students with
opportunities to exhibit their talents. They conduct activities such as recycling
plastic bottles, creating a waste management system and providing scholarships
and concessions to needy students.
There are times when for the welfare of the people, you need to take bigger actions
in the form of mass movements, either to protest an issue or support a cause. For
example, after the suicide of Rohith Vemula, there was a movement across some
colleges in India, resulting in the cancellation of the suspension of Rohith
Vemula’s friends. In 2014, when a female student was molested in the boys’ hostel
of Jadavpur University, a movement called Hokkolorob‘, which means ‘make
some noise’ in Bengali, was started. The movement involved hunger strikes by the
students, boycotting of classes and ultimately resulted in the resignation of the
Vice Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti. Many students even refused to accept their
degrees, as a mark of protest.
On the international front, students from the University of California,
Berkeley protested against the university’s administration to lift a ban on campus
political activities and end racial discrimination in the 1960s. Even two years ago,
in 2014, they held large-scale protests against hike in tuition fees.
Indian campuses are expected to be apolitical because most middle-class families
want their children to study well, and get a good job rather than engage in politics
as that would invite trouble. However, in my opinion, the presence of student
unions is essential since they act as a link between students and the administration,
help organise events and address grievances.
Revival Mechanism
I think the revival of the Student Union in our educational institutes will be a
constructive way to engage the students in decision-making. This will not be easy
and will take a lot of time. And I certainly think that this task should not be given
to the students right away. This task should initially be embraced by the
universities themselves. This sounds stupid because essentially I am asking the
educational institutes to help set up the bodies that will eventually hold them
accountable.
However, I say this in the grand scheme of things, which is to empower our youth.
And if you still think that this is a completely senseless idea then I must tell you an
interesting fact: most Student Unions in the UK get their funding from the
universities they are at. So you see, it is all about how you see the role of SU. The
universities here see SU as bodies that can help them engage with the students well
and therefore improve the services for the students, thereby helping them attract
more students in the future. We can do the same.

The youth is the future of Pakistan. If they do not learn the basics of mature
politics, how can you expect individuals of high calibre to appear in the politics of
the country?