| Institution | University College London |
|---|---|
| Location | Gordon Street, London |
| Established | 1893 |
| Affiliations | Aldwych Group, National Union of Students |
| Website | uclu.org |
University College London Union (UCLU), founded in 1893, has a credible claim to be England's oldest students' union.[1] It was formed with the following objectives: "the promotion of social intercourse and of the means of recreation, physical and mental, of the students of University College, and the financial successes of students' clubs". UCL Union was the first of its kind as it was formed for both athletics clubs and social activities alike.
Since its formation, the Union has taken on responsibility for many aspects of student life. Events for example were seen as a key element hence the establishment of an Ents Committee. The student magazine Pi (then known as the Gazette) was formed a few years later and the Somers Town sports venue was also acquired.
UCL Union is affiliated to the National Union of Students.
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Student Development is at the heart of the work the Union does today. UCL Union runs over 170 clubs and societies for its members. It runs commercial services including ten bars, cafés and two shops, a fitness centre. UCL students, through the Union has nine weeks free access to put on student shows and events in the UCL-owned professionally run Bloomsbury Theatre.
The Union's sports clubs have access to several different venues including Astor College Gym, Bloomsbury Fitness, the Somers Town Sports Centre and the 100-acre (0.40 km2) Shenley Sports grounds, which Watford Football Club rent for training purposes.
UCLU provides support to students through Jobshop and the Rights & Advice Centre, and has a highly active Volunteering Services Unit, providing volunteering opportunities for over 1200 students a year.
As well as magazine "Pi", the Union's media output includes the radio station Rare FM, the "alternative" magazine The Cheese Grater and a number of smaller publications. The University of London Union's newspaper, London Student, is also distributed at UCL Union, as UCL is one of the University of London's constituent colleges.
UCL has numerous clubs and societies, catering to a range of interests, which include, sports, film, drama, martial arts, politics and degree-subjects. The UCL Union Debating Society, founded in 1828, is the third oldest student debating society in the UK after the Oxford and Cambridge Unions. UCL Union Conservative Society, founded in 1908, is the oldest student Conservative association in England, if not the whole UK.[2] UCL Union Jewish Society is among the most active Jewish student groups in the UK, representing what constitutes the largest proportion of Jewish students on any campus in the UK; additionally, the UCL Union Christian Union is one of the largest in the city, whilst the UCL Union Islamic Society is amongst the largest in the country. Each year UCL stages an opera, despite its lack of a music department. UCOpera receives considerable national press coverage.
Following the introduction of a new Events Department at UCL Union in late 2006, UCL Union has successfully developed an extensive events programme. The Union now runs different events and promotions in its own bars six nights a week and they have also lengthened their opening hours to 2am on certain nights.
Monday night: 99's promotions (a range of 99p drinks available until 9pm). Tuesday night: Live Music - various events including Jazz Jammin (Jazz/Blues/Funk - open jam), Popaganda (Indy/Alt), Retribution (Rock/Metal), UCLive (varied), EasyJams (Open Mic) and the Annual Battle of the Bands. Wednesday night: Sports Night - Bar £1.50 Thursday night: Cocktails - cheap cocktails, with a 2-4-1 happy hour, and Pub Quiz Friday Night: The Exchange (Drinking stock exchange game). Saturday night: Double Vision - Karaoke and Bar £1.50.
These are all based in the main Gordon Street Bars, but the Medics bar on Huntley Street has its own range of events to add to all of this, including Ministry of Comedy every other Week on Wednesday, and 'Thank RUMs its Friday' on, well Fridays!
In 2007, UCL Union dramatically increased the amount of events they hosted in external venues by creating their "VODPOP" brand @ Turnmills and later followed by "Club Neon" @ Heaven. Both have now moved Venue with Vodpop successfully relaunching itself at Pacha after a brief stint at Scala, and Club Neon currently poised to move to an exciting new Venue after a one off fling at the Arches. The Union also makes extensive use of external clubs for one off events such as the Winter Ball, and has to date held events in Egg, Scala, Ministry of Sound, Heaven, Turnmills, Koko and Pacha among others.
The Union facilitates and funds a set of independent campaigns every term. These have included: Go Green Week, Stop AIDS, Darfur Week, Free Education, London Living Wage, Save a Life (organ donation), Students for Ethical Investment and Mental Health Week.
There is also an active set of Liberation Networks, including LGBT, BME, Women's and Disabled. As well as a Students of Faith network and an International Students Network
| Year of Office | Democracy & Communications Officer | Education & Campaigns Officer | Finance & Services Officer | Medical & Postgraduate Student Officer | Student Activities Officer | Welfare Officer | General Secretary (Non - Sabbatical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | James Skuse | Luke Durigan | Timothy Rees Jones | Neil Chowdhury | Amy Evans | Rachel Eyre | Zubair Idris |
| 2010–2011 | Mandy Smith (Democracy and Engagement Officer) | Michael Chessum | Matthew Burgess | Alex Nesbitt | Alex Karski | Leo-Alexander Nicholas | Thomas Elliott |
This table uses the 2008–2010 officer titles.
| Year of office | Communications & Services Officer | Education Officer | Finance & Democracy officer | Medical & Postgraduate Student Officer | Student Activities officer | Welfare Officer | General Secretary (Non - Sabbatical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2010 | Grace Barnett | Josh Blacker | Andrew Caddy | Kwesi Adedeji-Watson | James Hodgson | Nicki Challenger | Pierre Deludet |
| 2008–2009 | Charlie Clinton | Edward Steward | Nathanael Macdonald | Billy Street | Jen Currigan | Kate Rowley | Leo-Alexander Nicholas |
This table uses the 2000–2008 officer titles.
| Year of office | Finance & Administration Officer | Medical Students & Sites Officer | Media & Communications Officer | Clubs, Societies & Student Development Officer | Services & Events Officer | Education & Welfare Officer | General Secretary (Non - Sabbatical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2008 | Jim Hunkin (Acting, following resignation of Dominic Tarn) | Jules Mazowiecki | Sean Clothier | Steve Whittle | Olivia Alford | Andrew Gaynando | Samantha Godwin |
| 2006–2007 | Mark Littler (Resigned) | Eleanor Fletcher | Nick Barnard | Robbie Swale | Zoë Davies | Ed Bray (Resigned) | Dominik Piech |
| 2005–2006 | Lucy Gould | Luke Yahanpath | Alan Gardner | Natasha Davis | Ben Williamson | Mary-Beth Young | Luca Manfredi |
| 2004–2005 | Victoria Green | Vishali Thakrar | Alex Walsh | Liz Oglesby | Steven Healer | David Renton | Nigel Harris |
| 2003–2004 | Sinan Rabee | Amy Hansen | Andreas von Maltzahn | Alex Lal | Alastair Boyle | Alex Coles | Frank Penter / Stephen Fingleton |
| 2002–2003 | Ben McMechan | Rob Farag | Pete Huggins | Frank Penter | Angi Bholé | Nigel Harris | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| 2001–2002 | Simon Luscombe | Dan Gibbons | Celia Parkyn | Sarah Chapman | Rachel Stone | Ursula Brown | John Tumbridge |
| 2000–2001 | Rob Fear | Brian Hogan | Laura Emson | Felicity Espley | Nick Lovatt | Dan Ozarow | Katie Bramall |
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