Adelaide University Union

The Adelaide University Union (AUU) was founded in 1895. Until 2006 the AUU funded seven affiliated bodies. These included the Adelaide University Postgraduate Students’ Association (AUPGSA), the Clubs Association (CA), the Overseas Students’ Association (OSA), the Roseworthy Agricultural Campus Student Union Council (RACSUC), the Adelaide University Sports Association (AUSA), the Students' Association of the University of Adelaide (SAUA), and the Waite Institute Students’ Association (WISA). In 2007 the University of Adelaide is to provide substantial support for the AUU. A new structure for the AUU and affiliated bodies is yet to be publicly announced.

upport services

The AUU has developed an extensive network of support services for Adelaide University students. This includes counseling and academic support. The SAUA prints a paper called On Dit, the second oldest student newspaper in Australia. [http://www.union.adelaide.edu.au/student/representation/students.html]

O'Week

The AUU coordinates part of the Adelaide University O'Week. [http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/new/oweek/timetbl/auu.html] O'Week runs from Monday to Thursday in the week before lectures begin. During O'Week the Sports Association and Clubs Association organise their own tented areas where clubs and societies display their activities. The AUU coordinates a variety of events centring around beer, bands and barbecues on the lawns near the Union complex. A major event for the week is the O'Ball (live entertainment and licensed areas) which takes place in the Cloisters (Union House). The O'Ball attracts many thousands of revellers, not all of whom are Adelaide University students.

tudent governance

The AUU is governed by a board of management. The board consists of 18 ordinary members, who are not also permanent staff of the AUU, elected annually by the students of the University, one of whom will also be the President. [http://www.union.adelaide.edu.au/student/about/policies.html.] Although the elections are held annually the president does not take his/her position until the beginning of the calendar year. The 2006 President was Alex Barratt from Student Unity who resigned from her position as President and Board Director in March taking the entirety of her year's honorarium in the process. Some have argued this anti-Union behaviour should mean a revocation of her ALP membership. Due to the referendum not passing, the current Board elected a new President for the remainder of the term in 2007, which was David Wilkins from Student Unity. In early 2008 the board voted overwhelmingly to sack David Wilkins and several weeks later instated Lavinia Emmett-Grey as President. Famous past presidents have included former Premier of South Australia John Bannon and current Federal Deputy Opposition Leader Julia Gillard.

=Impact of VSU=

In late 2007 the AUU handed control of Union House and the vast majority of the Union's commercial services to the University of Adelaide. [ [http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news23541.html UniBar set for an upgrade in 2008 ] ]

References