LSE Students' Union

London School of Economics and Political Science Students' Union

Institution	London School of Economics and Political Science
Location	East Building, Houghton Street, Westminster, London, England
Established	1896
President	Aled Dilwyn Fisher (General Secretary)
Other sabbatical officers	Wil Barber (Treasurer) Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang (Education and Welfare Officer) Dan Sheldon (Communications Officer)
Members	8,809
Affiliations	National Union of Students, University of London Union, National Postgraduate Committee, Aldwych Group, BUCS
Website	www.lsesu.com

The London School of Economics Students' Union (LSESU) is the representative and campaigning body for students at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). It is affiliated with the National Union of Students and the National Postgraduate Committee as well as University of London Union. The LSESU is also a member of the Aldwych Group, the national group of Students' Unions which mirror the members of the Russell Group.

It is one of the oldest Students' Union in the United Kingdom, and often regarded as the most politically active in Britain - a reputation it has held since the well documented LSE student riots in 1966-67 and 1968-69, which made international headlines, and its links with the political, economic and business world give it great influence to debate and rally on major issues, both campus related and internationally.

LSE is the only UK university to have a UGM every week, with meetings and debates proving very popular plus there are over 200 student societies, many representing nationalities where students come from. LSE also has more academic societies then most other universities. The oldest and one of the largest societies is the Grimshaw IR Club,[1] founded in 1921 which arranges study trips abroad. The LSE Socialist Society was traditionally the "power house" of all left political activity at the School and has a long and distinguished history dating back to the 1930s and from 1932 was affiliated to the Federation of Student Societies and later The University Labour Federation. Competing financial societies are by far the most popular at the LSE, with several enjoying memberships of over 2000 students. They are viewed as often good preparation for a professional banking job, with several arranging trading competitions. These societies also help maintain the strong investment bank presence on campus.

All students studying at the LSE on courses of one year or more in duration are automatically enrolled as members of the LSESU. The right of students to disaffiliate, however, is enshrined in the 1994 Education Act.

Location

The Union is based in the East Building of the main LSE campus on Houghton Street, in the City of Westminster, centred around The Quad, a multi-purpose venue, used during the day as a social meeting place, and nightly as a club and live gig venue. Is location means that space is limited and thus the Union feels very cramped, though there are future plans to relocate the SU to other premises within the School by 2011.

History

File:Fabian tortoise.gif

The Fabian Society flag which was flown by LSE students till the 1950's.

The LSESU has often been in national focus for its activities. In 1967, David Adelstein, president of the Students' Union, and Marshall Bloom, president of the Graduate Students' Association, were suspended from the School for taking part in a protest against the appointment of Walter Adams as Director of the School in which a porter died of a heart attack. Adams had previously been in Rhodesia and was accused of complicity in the regime's white minority rule. The suspensions were reversed five days after students began a hunger strike in opposition to the move. An American citizen, Bloom committed suicide in 1969 when he was called up to fight in Vietnam.

The LSESU once again made the news during 1969 for its student activism when radical students closed the School for three weeks. The protests were against the appointment of Walter Adams as Director of the School and his order of installation of security gates at the LSE. These initial security gates were removed by students.

On the 24th October 1968 The Director - Walter Adams fearing an occupation and growing support by the students for the Anti-Vietnam War demo on 27 October decided to close the LSE for the weekend, As this questioned the right of the administration to close LSE against the wishes of lecturers and students, this led to 3,000 students occupying. There was never any suggestion that the occupation itself would interfere with anyone who wanted to come in on Saturday to do research. During the Occupation of October 1968, The School was policed against intruders, and cleaned; teach-ins and discussions were organised; and medical services were set up and staffed. The Occupation ended on the Sunday night.

In 1969 a "Free LSE" was organised at ULU in response to the suspension of lecturers robin Blackburn and Nick Bateson

The LSESU elected Winston Silcott, one of the Tottenham Three who were originally convicted of the murder of PC Keith Blakelock during the Broadwater Farm riot and then released when the evidence used to convict him was found to be unsafe, as Honorary President as a protest against miscarriages of justice. This led to a large amount of hate mail, much of it racist in nature, including death threats being sent to the LSESU. There was media outrage, particularly amongst the tabloid press, at the action.

The banner of the Students Union in the early 1980s stated "Arm the workers and students - Education is a right not a privilege"

Occupation's of LSE occurred throughout the 1980s, including the 1983 occupation (via a roof top entry which included ladders between buildings to avoid the famous steel doors. This occupation secured a nursery for students and staff with children under the age of two.

More recently, in January 2009 a 40-strong Occupation of the Old Theatre in protest to the Israeli assault on Gaza last for seven days. It was led by the Chair of the Socialist Workers Student Society, Estelle Cooch, SWSS member Michael Deas and Students' Union Anti-Racism Officer Joseph Brown.

Great rivalry continued with Kings College and when students from LSE stopped the racist MP Enoch Powell speaking at Kings by occupying the lecture theatre and blowing whistles, A small section of Kings students retaliated by leading a violent attempt to steal election ballot boxes during the 1983 student union election won by Debbi Hindson.

Historically, the LSESU is politically left-leaning with many strong socialist, and more recently, since the 1990s, green political societies. Currently, its largest party political society is the LSESU Green Party. In 1933 The LSE banned the use of rooms by the Communist party and the struggle against the ban led to te expulsion (and deportation) of the American Student Union President Frank Meyer. Communist's at LSE traditionally worked within the broad based popular Socialist Society not establishing a separate Communist society until 1971

The LSESU voted in March 2005 to stay affiliated to the National Union of Students (NUS). The current Honorary President of the LSESU is the Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the Honorary Vice President is Khaled Al-Mudallal, the Bradford University student of Palestinian origin who was stranded in Gaza due to the closure of all borders to the external world by the Israeli military occupation. The LSE also made it in the broadsheets in 2007 with protests about the appointment of Peter Sutherland to the Governors Board, improving wages for cleaners on campus and the alignment of the SU with Ken Livingstone as Mayor for London.

Students are often very active in getting speakers at the LSE including Johan Galtung, Vince Cable, Geir Lundestad, actors, politicians, sports personalities along with central bankers and investment bank CEO's.

Recent Achievements

In 2005, the LSESU campaigned successfully to secure a Living Wage for the cleaners on campus and within the LSE's residences. The campaign was led by students, cleaners, academics and The East London Citizens Organisation (TELCO) and has involved several high profile protests, petitions, UGM motions and consistent lobbying of the School's administration in an effort to lift cleaners out of poverty pay.

In 2006, the LSESU voted to divest from 14 listed arms companies and are currently lobbying the School to do the same.

In 2007, the LSESU voted to twin with An-Najah National University Students' Council in Nablus, Palestine, and to affiliate to the Right to Education Campaign in support of the Palestinian Right to Education.

Facilities

Student's revising in Lincoln's Inn Fields, with the uni's tennis courts to the left

The Quad is the heart of the SU, a large space used as a meeting, socialising and cafe by day and as a venue for live entertainments, gigs and the weekly Fresh night every Friday. The LSESU also runs and upkeeps the recently refurbished Three Tuns and Underground Bars on campus, as well as the Student Union Shop on Houghton Street, Quad Café, Advice Centre, Copy Shop, Three Tuns Kitchen, Alpha Books (a secondhand bookshop) and a coffee cart. In addition, the Union is home to the offices of the LSE Media Group, The Beaver newspaper, and its associated radio and television stations. There are also numerous squash courts (proving the most popualar sport at LSE), an indoor basketball court and tennis courts in Lincoln's Inn Fields. The school owns a 25-acre (100,000 m²) site for football and rugby in Surrey. The cricket team train at Lord's.

Societies and Events

The Union is responsible for the organisation and undertaking of entertainment events and student societies ('socs') on campus, of which more than 200 are currently enlisted catering to a wide variety of interests. There are over fifty national societies, reflecting LSE’s position as the most international higher education establishment on the planet. Additionally, there are societies reflecting the School’s background and interests including business, investment banking, NGOs and government organisations, as well as countless political societies. The largest political party at the LSE as of October 2007, is the Green Party.

CRUSH!

Crush! is the LSE's main student night, held every Friday during term time (approximately 30 weeks a year) in The Three Tuns, Underground and Quad. It is the largest student night in the UK, running from 8.00pm until 2.00am each week. It takes a different theme each week, with recent themes including Chav Crush!, Bollywood Crush! and Foam Party Crush!.

The Chuckle Club

The Chuckle Club is a weekly comedy club help in the LSE student union bar the Three Tuns; nationally recognised in its field and is open to both students and the general public. Its location in the heart of London, ensures that it is able to attract the top names in stand-up comedy including Andy Parsons, Will Smith, Ricky Gervais, Will Self, Paul Merton, Adam Bloom and Russell Howard. In November 2008, the Club played host to Robin Williams and Al Murray.

The Chuckle Club came to the LSE in 1994, when Gary Delaney (now a stand-up comic) was Entertainments Sabbatical and offered the club, which was losing its previous residency, a home. The Club has thrived at the School ever since.

Three Tuns Quiz

Tuesday night has historically been the night of the Three Tuns Quiz night, hosted regularly by the School's Director Sir Howard Davies who takes the reign as Quizmaster.

Athletics Union Night

The Athletics Union reigns on Wednesday nights in the Three Tuns and Underground Bars, where LSE's sportsmen and women meet up after matches and games to celebrate, commiserate and take part in the time-old tradition of karaoke.

Regular gigs and events from musicians and groups are held in The Quad, including recently We Are Scientists and The Waiting Room.

Governance

The governance of LSESU has changed little in its history, run by a 15-strong directly elected 'cabinet', known as the Executive Committee ('Exec') who are also the Trustees of the union.

Four of these positions (General Secretary, Treasurer, Education & Welfare and Communications) are full-time positions, known as Sabbatical Officers or 'Sabbs'. These are LSE students who have either completed their degree and elected to stay on another year, or students taking a year out from their studies to fulfil the role. A salary of £27,000 per academic session is paid for each of these roles. A recent UGM motion reduced their salaries after criticism that their pay was too high, however it remains the highest in the country compared to other students' unions. In theory Sabbs hold no more constitutional weight on the Exec than the part-time officers.

The remaining twelve positions on the 'Exec' comprise part-time, unpaid positions. Two of these are non-voting positions - the Athletics Union President and the Returning Officer. The former is not elected by a cross-campus ballot and the latter remains impartial, and thus the roles and those holding them are restricted in their actions.

The 'Exec' (except AU President and Returning Officer), are all trustees of the LSESU, and legally represent the Union, entering into contracts and representing the organisation in court. These trustees are legally responsible for the Union's activities: they ensure the Union is compliant with legislation, they oversee its financial management, and they prioritise its resources on behalf of all the members.

Current Executive Committee

Position	2006 - 2007	2007 - 2008	2008 - 2009	2009 - 2010 Elect
Sabbatical Officers
General Secretary	Jimmy Tam	Fadhil Bakeer Marker	Aled Dilwyn Fisher	Aled Dilwyn Fisher
Treasurer	Joel Kenrick	Libby Meyer	Wil Barber	George Wetz
Education & Welfare Officer	Alexandra Vincenti	Ruhana Ali	Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang	Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang
Communications Officer	Ali Dewji	Kayt Berry	Dan Sheldon	Robin Low
Part-Time Officers
Anti-Racism Officer	Shanela Haque	Amina Adewusi	Joseph Brown	Ben Jones
Environment & Ethics Officer	Aled Dilwyn Fisher	Aled Dilwyn Fisher	Justus Rollin	Hero Austin
International Students' Officer	Fadhil Bakeer Markar	Firoz Noordeen	Ayushman Sen	Suraj Girijashanker
LGBT^ Students' Officer	Alex Finnegan	Dom Rampant	Lizzie Merrow	Kimia Pezeshki
Mature & Part-Time Students' Officer	Michail Retsinas	Ziyaad Lunat	Luke Spyropoulos	Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Postgraduate Students' Officer	James Caspell	Mani Das	Cole Ryan	TBA October 2009
Residences Officer	Louise Robinson	Louise Robinson	Helen Roberts	Andrew Wright
Societies Officer	Arthur Krebbers	Carys Morgan	Zoe Cooke	Chris Westgarth
Students with Disabilities (SWD) Officer	Emma Hallgren	Lizzie Fison	Jessica Brayne	Luke Moore
Women's Officer	Zoe Sullivan	Daisy Mitchell-Forster	Ruby Buckley	Jessie Robinson
Non-Voting Members
General Course Students' Representative	Anushka Shenoy	Jamie Corley	Keerat Pannu	TBA October 2009
Athletics Union (AU) President	Kav Patel	Dan Holness	Sophie De La Hunt	Charlie Glyn
Returning Officer	Adrian Beciri	James Bacon	Ossie Fikret	Position Under Review

^ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender

Sub-Committees

There are two principal committees to which students are elected that help in the running of the LSESU. There are other minor committees and sub-committees that administer the daily affairs governed by the LSESU.

Constitutional & Steering Committee

The Constitutional and Steering Committee (C&S) comprises seven members, who ensure the actions of the LSESU and Executive are in accordance with the Codes of Practice. They screen each motion of the weekly UGM.

Their membership, from April 2009, comprises:

• Mubbien Hayat
• Michael Lok
• Natalie Osafo
• Kate Strivens
• Sofia Zabocotsikh

Two positions currently remain unfilled, since all other candidates were beaten by RON

Finance & Services Committee

The Finance and Services Committee (FSC) has ten members and assists the Union Treasurer in the preparation of the annual budget and acts as a check on the financial actions of the LSESU. As of March 2009, their membership comprises the four sabbatical officers, Societies Officer, Environment & Ethics Officer and four lay-members:

• Valerie Khoo
• Arjun Madhavan
• Hinal Shah
• Aliabbas Virani

Elections

The SU holds two sets of elections throughout the academic session, in November and February to elect new officers and sabbatical officers. Use of the Single Transferable Vote PR system has operated in recent years. These are the most well-attended in Britain, with LSE students taking their democratic view and opportunity extremely seriously, and there are strong campaigns by students each October and January prior to election day. The elections themselves are broadcast live throughout the night on both the School’s radio and television stations.

The 2009 Lent Term elections took place on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5 March 2009, with the results announced between the evening of 5th and the early hours of 6 March 2009. Two incumbent candidates, Aled Dilwyn Fisher and Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang were re-elected to their respective roles.

Additional Staff

Apart from the Sabbatical Officers and Exec, the Union employs an assortment of full-time and part-time staff. These include a General Manager, Finance Manager, Societies Manager, Sports Administrator and Entertainments Manager. Students are also employed on a part-time basis, involved in the provision of services such as the Union Shop, Copy Shop, bars, cafe and advice centre.

Union General Meeting

The UGM is the sovereign body of the Union, and the LSE is the only university in the country which retains a weekly Union General Meeting open to all to attend where motions and ideas are discussed and debated. This is opposed to an annual gathering. Reasons for this largely stem back to the LSE’s radical past in the 1960s, but it has been upheld today, and meetings are well known to get heated, almost violent at some points. It is not uncommon for paper (and even other objects) to be thrown onto the stage of the Old Theatre whilst students debate and discuss motions, although the creation of a new role of "Keeper" is designed to prevent this. The UGM can remove any elected union official from office and sets union policy to which all elected officials must adhere, linked with the Constitutional & Steering Committee (C&S).

Any two people can move a motion on any subject, which is then debated at the UGM. These motions can be serious, setting policy and making major financial decisions, or can be much more light-hearted. Recent activity, including the linking with a Palestinian university has been met with much debate amongst the student cohort, especially in the wording of a letter sent from the General Secretary to Freshers at the beginning of the 2007 academic session. Regular meetings are also held with the School’s Director, and the heads of both ULU and the NUS.

• Current Chair: Azan Marwah
• Current Vice-Chair: Nazia Khanzada

Athletics Union

The LSE Athletics Union (LSEAU) is the body responsible for all sporting activity within the university. It is a member of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS). Sports teams are wide-ranging from football (where the School excels nationally) to fencing, squash, badminton, aqua-hoc, polo, ultimate Frisbee and raquets. Particular rivalry is found with King's College London and also University College London. The Union operates the Natwest Gym in the Old Building, as well as numerous squash courts, badminton courts, a gymnasium, an indoor basketball court and tennis courts at the School’s central London location, with ownership of twenty-five acres of playing fields at Berrylands in south London, easily accessible by train and also by coaches which depart each day.

Students are permitted to use the facilities of other University of London colleges, and those of Energybase at ULU, comprising its own sports halls, courts, multigym and swimming pool. LSE’s cricketers use the indoor and outdoor facilities at Lord’s Cricket Ground year-round. The LSE has a particularly strong association, along with the University of London, in rowing, and has a boat house situated on the River Thames at Chiswick. In distinction to the ‘blues’ awarded for sporting excellence at Oxford and Cambridge, London’s outstanding athletes are awarded ‘purples’.

SU Media Group

A weekly student newspaper, The Beaver was founded in 1946, and as such is one of the oldest student publications in Britain. It has gained great clout in recent years, investigating campus, national and international issues and stories, including the issue of costly postgraduate degrees, student loans and examination pass rates. It has a weekly readership of approximately 5,000 and is distributed free across campus every Tuesday, as well as in Whitehall offices, and many City firms and corporations who take keen interest. There is also several smaller papers such as 'LSE Sanctuary' and also society magazines. Students also get access the The London Student, the largest student publication in Europe, which is published by the University of London. The Clare Market Review, established in 1905 and published termly, is an interdisciplinary academic journal run by students, and provides a critical forum for students and faculty.

Pulse! is the School’s own radio station, which was relaunched in October 2007 and broadcasts twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week on campus and online, as well as providing regular podcasts. The interview slot is popular with students, and recent interviewees have included Jacqui Smith MP, Mark Steel, Peter Hain MP, Clare Short and Neighbours' actor Alan Fletcher.

LooSE Television, which was incorporated in 2005, is the LSE’s own television station, responsible for filming and streaming public lectures, as well as publicity films, election results and other media.

University of London Union

As part of the University of London, students at the LSE are also affiliated with the University of London Union (ULU) which is situated on Malet Street in Bloomsbury. This arrangement gives particular strength when debating issues that affect all London colleges, such as the campaign to extend the Student Oystercard scheme to daily travel, and also in the campaign for the future of Senate House – the University of London’s central headquarters at Russell Square. There has been recent protest at the election of Peter Sutherland, the former Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, to Chair of the Court of Governors at LSE.

Notable Sabbatical Officers

1994-5:

• General Secretary - Martin Lewis
• Entertainments and Societies - Gary Delaney

External links

• LSESU Online - The Official Website of the LSESU
• LSESU Festival Website
• The Beaver Online
• Pulse! Radio