University of Kent Students' Union

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The University of Kent Students' Union, officially known as Kent Union, is the student representative body for students at the University of Kent, England. Based around a combination of Junior College Committees and a central set of elected officers (or 'Trustees') who are both student sabbatical officers, part time student officers as well as 'lay' members of the local community and business selected for their specialist expereise, Kent Union has an influence at all levels of the University.

The former banner of Kent Union, featuring the Union's old logo.

At one time (ca. 1974) nationally notorious for its extreme left-wing politics^{[citation needed]}, leading to demands for law changes from staff trade unionists,^[1] Kent Union has changed significantly in recent years. In 1998 a substantial construction programme was completed that included a successful multi-purpose shop and a 1500 capacity nightclub known as "The Venue",^[2] this was in addition to the bar operated in the on-campus student village, known as "Woody's", which opened in 1994.^[2] This expansion was a massive undertaking for Kent Union, but was poorly planned and prepared for so although the services were popular with members, it put Kent Union under significant financial pressure from which it has only recently recovered.

The Venue, venue info the much loved student-only 1500 capacity nightclub operated by Kent Union opened in 1998, consisting of three floors and five bars, making it the biggest nightclub in the city. The top floor, with a panoramic full frontal glass window overlooking the campus, is known as 'The Lighthouse'. The Lighthouse is primarially a bar open during the day and a loud area when the rest of the nightclub is open. In recent years the Lighthouse has seen a day time coffee outlet, branded as 'Wicked Coffee' (one of three Wicked Coffee franchises run by Kent Union on the Canterbury campus), and a fast food outlet open all day and night known as The Kitchen. There is now also a juice bar. The middle or ground floor is known as 'The Balcony', due to the fact it is a mezzanine floor overlooking the main lower ground floor of the building, known as 'The Venue'. This comprises a raised seating area, a stage, dancefloor as well as a main drinks bar as well as a popular shots bar. This floor has seen several major refurbishments over the years, but in its present incarnation it is characterised by clean lines, simple colours and a sophisticated feel. The Venue has hosted many DJs, bands and events over the years including Pendulum (band), Zane Lowe, B*witched, Judge Jules, Tim Westwood and many MOS tours.

The Kent Union Licensed Trade Department was the national winner in the 2007 Best Bar None awards run by NUS Services Limited, after two years as runner up. The Best Bar None award recognises good practice and procedures with regard to all aspects of student safety, campaigns on responsible drinking and drink spiking, relations with the non-student community, staff training as well as a whole other variety of additional best practice in the licensed trade industry.

Woody's is a Kent Union run bar in the heart of the on-campus student village known as Parkwood. It is generally known as being the main Sports Bar on campus, showing most major live sport, and is popular with the main sports societies, particularly Wednesday afternoons and evenings. It is also regarded as the cheapest bar on campus. These have combined to gain it almost cult status with students and alumani alike, but years of underinvestment have made it look tired and uncompetitive with other on and off-campus establishments. This has changed in the Summer of 2007 with a complete gutting and refit which has rebranded Woody's aesthetically as a more traditional pub, with food and entertainment offerings in keeping with this. There have been teething problems in getting orders out on time and many sports fans now feel alienated with the new interior.

Live Music In the early eighties the student union had a strong reputation for live music with a band playing on campus most weeks, a notable example being when U2 played Rutherford JCR the week their debut album Boy was released. Admission was 50p and all 150 tickets sold in advance. Other bands who played in the early eighties included Howard Jones, Level 42, Teardrop Explodes, duran duran, Depeche Mode, Joboxers, Echo and The Bunnymen, Greg Lake and Elvis Costello. A popular annual event run by the students' union is the Keynestock Festival, a battle of the bands held in the garden behind Keynes College, which was once headlined by Billy Bragg. There is also another annual festival ArtsFest every June between Rutherford and Eliot colleges that is very well attended.

Kent Union is also nationally recognised by the high standards of free or heavily discounted services it provedies, facilitates or helps organise for its student members such as sports societies, interest societies, campaigns, representation, an employment agency(JobShop), an advice centre, RAG, an FM radio station CSR 97.4 FM a joint project between Kent and ChristChurch, volunteering and a dedicated student newspaper, Inquire which is going to be online as well soon.