UCC Students' Union

The UCC Students’ Union is a students' union in University College Cork, in Cork, Ireland. It is established in accordance with the charter, statutes and regulations of the Governing Body of the college as the sole representative body for UCC students. Each student is automatically a member by virtue of a student levy.

The Students' Union oversees the running of several constituent committees (the Media Executive, Societies Guild Executive and the Clubs Executive) that oversee the running nearly all of the extra curricular activities for students in UCC. The Student Council of the Union also acts as the Student Parliament for UCC, and represents students on a number of committees including UCC's Governing Authority, Academic Council, and externally at national bodies such as the Union of Students' in Ireland (USI).

UCCSULogo

History

The UCC Students' Union was established in 1973, and replaced a body known as the Students' Representative Council. While different years have seen their role in different ways, the core principle of the students' union is to represent and support their members at every level within the university, and outside on at such levels as they deem necessary, and to ensure that a quality education and social experience is provided for them throughout their University life.

Current Union records date from 1938, and, while the exact establishment date is unclear, the 'Students' Representative Council' (otherwise known in Irish as Comhairle Teachta na Mac Léinn CTM) was established around 1908, presumably in line with the 1908 Universities Act. In its early years, all officers served in a voluntary capacity. The first full-time officer of the Union came with the introduction of a paid President in 1940, and expanded over time to 4 full-time officers in 2004. The most recent addition to UCCSU's full-time officers is a 5th sabbat, a Commercial & Communications Officer.

The Union's Centenary in June 2008, was marked with a visit from the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe who joined President Kris McElhinney and officers for the opening of the new Union offices at 54 College Road, and launch of their Students' Union Common room project which was to be opened on the site of the old stables in September 2008.

Publications

Union Publication records date from 1972 and include Students' Union Handbooks, the copies of the Union paper, and other Union publications including the current incarnation the UCC Express. (Over the years, the paper has been known variously as: 'Aire', 'The Gazette', 'The University Examiner', 'The Campus Chronicle', and 'The University Xpress')

As well as the UCC Express, the union publishes Motley Magazine.

Organisation and Services

There are currently six full-time sabbatical officers (President, Campaigns Officer/Deputy President, VP Education, VP Welfare, VP Commercial & Communications & Entertainment Officer) combined with a number of voluntary or non-sabbatical positions, which are elected each year by the students. These include an Equality Officer, Irish Officer, Post Graduate, Chair of Council and a representative of each of the University's four colleges (Business and Law, Medicine and Health, Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences and Engineering, Food Science. The Union also includes five Rights Officers (LGBT*Q, Gender Equality, International, Mature Students, and Disability) who's roles are to advise the Union on issues pertaining to students under their remit.

The Union employs 3 other full-time members of staff directly (an administrator, a secretary, and an entertainments/common room manager) and a number of part-time student help. The Union also provides other services to students - jobs portal, education advice & grinds, welfare advice & free condoms, a second-hand bookshop, etc.

The Union holds 2 directorships on Student Facilities & Services Ltd. (SFS Ltd.) as well as the Chair of its Board of Management. The President is also a director of Maradyke Arena Ltd. and UCC Accommodation Ltd.

The Students' Union has 2 publications; a fortnightly newspaper, The UCC Express, and a monthly magazine, Motley. The Express and Motley are editorially independent and are supported by the Media Executive.

Bodies

Within the Students' Union, the Media Executive, Societies Guild Executive and the Clubs Executive are the autonomous umbrella organisation of the 2 student publications, 91 student societies and 60 clubs, respectively, within UCC. These bodies are elected to act on their behalf and co-ordinate activities which includes administering funds. These bodies foster, co-ordinates and promotes activities in UCC. The policy of the Students' Union in the matters of societies and sport are determined by the relevant subcommittee for the Executive officers to support and represent.

Honorary Life Membership

The UCC Students' Union Executive has awarded Honorary Life Memberships (HLM's) of the SU since 2010. HLM's are given out to reward individuals that have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to working for the best interests of students both within the University and externally. Beyond the prestige of the award, under the UCCSU Constitution, Honorary Life Members are entitled to speaking rights at all Student Councils.^[1]

LGBT* Pride Flag

On December 5th 2014, UCC Students Union made history when UCC became the first third-level institution (University, College etc.) in the island of Ireland to install a permanent Pride flag on campus.

A photo of the Pride Flag in UCC being flown atop the UCC Students Union building

Associations

UCCSU is an active member of Union of Students in Ireland - a body whom the students of UCC pay upward of €130,000 in membership and more in running costs to associate themselves with.

UCCSU was also one of the more active members of FUSU (Forum of University Students' Unions), however it has disbanded since 2009. It has since been replaced by an ad hoc group composed of the University Students' Union Presidents, known as 'USUP'.

Elected Officers

°2nd Woman President.

Other Officers

Notable ex-officers

Micheál Martin the Irish politician and current leader of Fianna Fáil, was on the UCC Student Union.

Fionnan Sheehan, Editor of the Irish Independent is a former Deputy President.

Stephen Spillane while being heavily involved in the Students' Union, even long after his time in UCC, was not an alumnus of UCC SU

External links

• Official UCC site
• Students' Union

References