University of Limerick Students' Union

University of Limerick Students' Union

Institution	University of Limerick
Location	Students` Union Office
Established	1972
President	Derek Daly
Sabbatical officers	Tara Feeney (Deputy President & Welfare Office) Aoife Kenny (Education Officer) Paddy Rockett (Campaigns & Services Officer) Kelly O'Brien (Communications Officer)
Affiliations	None
Website	University of Limerick Students' Union

The University of Limerick Students' Union (Irish: Aontas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil Luimnigh) is the representative body for all students at the University of Limerick, situated in Limerick, Ireland

History

The National Institute for Higher Education (NIHE) was founded in Limerick in 1972. The 113 students who started in NIHEL, that year, founded the Students' Union, which was later to become the University of Limerick Students' Union.

In its early years, all officers served in a voluntary capacity. The first officers elected included John Redington (President), John Kerr (Vice-president), Fionnuala Lyddy (Secretary) and Eric Duhan (Treasurer). Pat Carroll was elected in 1975 as the first full-time President. The National College of Physical Eductation (NCPE), subsequently Thomond College of Education, had a separate students' union also founded in 1972 until its amalgamation with the University of Limerick. Its first President was Brendan Lillis.

From its inception in 1972, the union had been involved with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). ULSU withdrew in 1991 from USI after it decided that the national union was no longer doing what it should be doing for ordinary students on the ground. ULSU has never reaffiliated to USI, although an inquorate referendum held in 2001 on the issue indicated some support among students for such a move. The votes cast in this referendum were counted and showed that just under 55% of students who voted were in favour of rejoining.

Three things must be noted here:

1. 66% in favour would have been needed to pass the referendum
2. The referendum did not have enough votes (only 700, changed from 20% to 15% in 2006 to be deemed valid)

Additionally, the "no" campaign was essentially, "Don't bother voting", to ensure an inquorate (and therefore invalid) referendum. This may indicate that a number of those who would have voted "no" just didn't bother.

However it has, on occasion, supported campaigns organised by USI. Following moves by USI to welcome non-affiliates 'back into the fold', ULSU instituted (in 2006/07) a process of review of the non-affiliation. This was reacted to with great hostility by the union's main decision-making body, Class Representatives' Council, in early 2007, and so a proposed referendum never happened. However, sabbatical officers have continued to maintain relationships with counterparts in other unions. Non-affiliate unions are no longer able to attend Union Officer Seminar of USI.

ULSU is also one of the more active members of FUSU (Forum of University Students' Unions). FUSU recently welcomed Dublin Institute of Technology into the group in recognition of the Institute's size and similarity to a university. FUSU is not a competitor organisation for USI, rather it is more of a discussion forum and information exchange. This is particular useful for ULSU.

Sabbatical Officers

Five full time sabbatical officers which work in the Student Union for the students of the University are elected on an annual basis.

The current officers are:

• President- Derek Daly
• Deputy President/Welfare- Tara Feeney
• Vice President/Education- Aoife Kenny
• Vice President/Campaigns and Services-Paddy Rockett
• Vice President/Communications- Kelly O'Brien

The Union represents UL Students at many fora within and external to the university. Until 06/07, ULSU had only four full time officers - the Vice-President/Communications & Campaigns Officer position was discontinued and a new Vice-President/Publicity & Publications Officer and a Vice-President/Campaigns & Services Officer took office. In the first semester of the 2008/09 academic year the title of the Vice-President/Publicity & Publications Officer was changed to Vice-President/Communications to better reflect the role. The Union employs seven other full time and numerous part-time members of staff and owns a company, ULSU Services Ltd., which runs the 4 Students' Union Shops on campus

Publications

The communications officer is responsible for the publications of the Union.

The Union prints An Focal on a fortnightly basis, a newspaper compiled by the students of the University. It is a 36 page full colour newspaper, featuring news, comment, sport and entertainments. Over 3500 copies are distributed on campus.

Pulse is a glossy magazine produced on a now annual basis, around the time of Charity Week, with listings etc for the week within.

Cellar Door is a new venture by Communications Officer elect, Kelly O'Brien. It will feature literary compositions of students.

Organisation and Services

. The Union also provides other services to students - graphics, Nitelink bus service, education advice, welfare advice, second-hand bookshop, phone repairs etc.

The Students' Union has two publications, a fortnightly newspaper, An Focal, and a periodical arts magazine, Pulse. These are edited by the Vice President/Communications Officer.

The Students' Union in UL has two main differences from other Students' Unions.

• It runs its own clubs and societies - these are administered through the union by and for the students.

• It has a Postgraduate Students Association - to represent all Postgraduate Students on postgraduate issues only. The Postgraduate students elect a full-time sabbatical president for the PSA.

Clubs and Societies

Clubs are split into three categories depending on level of competition involved.

Clubs Category A	Clubs Category B	Clubs Category C	Societies
American Football	Archery	Capoeira	Airsoft
Basketball	Athletics	Judo	Anime and Manga
GAA	Badminton	Karate Shotokan	Architecture
Ladies Hockey	Boarders	Skydive	Choral
Ladies Rugby	Chess	Sub Aqua	Christian Union
Men's Rugby	Dance	Tae Kwon Do	Computer
Soccer	Fencing		Cumann Gaelach
Softball	Handball		Debating Union
Trampoline	Kayak		Development
Ultimate Frisbee	Mountain Bike		DJ
	Outdoor Pursuits		Drama
	Rowing		Enterprise and Finance
	Sailing		Fashion
	Windsurfing		Games
			History
			International
			Law
			Medical
			Music
			Nature
			Ogra Fianna Fail
			Out in UL
			Photographic
			Poker
			Socialist Youth
			TV
			Young Fine Gael
			Maths
			Music

The following are clubs but their category is unverifiable: Fencing, Handball, Krav Maga, Parkour, Pool & Darts, Tennis, Trampoline and Waterpolo.

External links

• Official Web Site: University of Limerick Students' Union
• Clubs and Societies in the University of Limerick