Lancaster University Students' Union
The Lancaster University Students' Union is a students' union at Lancaster University in Lancashire, England. It is a registered company and charity overseen by a Board of Trustees. Politically, it is led by six sabbatical officers - a President and five Vice-Presidents - who are elected annually by the student membership.
History
Early history, 1964–74
The original student government at Lancaster University was the University Junior Common Room, which was a meeting of the entire student body, and college JCRs, though the colleges didn't yet exist in physical form. The day-to-day running of the University JCR was deputed to a committee called the Student Council, which was responsible to the University JCR. The Council set up various sub-committees to deal with areas such as lodgings, charities week, and the university bookshop.In June 1965, two students presented a report on the future of Student Council, in which they argued: "To coordinate the activities of the University societies some central organisation and representation is required. To this end we will have to have a Students' Union which will be similar to other University unions but with no union building." In response, Professor Tom Lawrenson, the principal of Lonsdale College, argued that there should instead be "a top body which arises organically from the colleges... I feel that the body you propose would be, in time, schismatic and in vacuo, devoid of real roots among its constitutents in a collegiate university..."
2019–20 controversies
Proposed sale of The Sugarhouse
In September 2019, following a leak to the media, LUSU confirmed that negotiations were underway to potentially sell the Sugarhouse nightclub to build student flats, following a vote of the Trustee Board The "risk of noise complaints" was identified as a key reason to sell the Sugarhouse, but it was revealed that no noise complaints had been made about the nightclub. Many expressed opposition to the decision, including alumni James May and Cat Smith, along with Lancaster city councillors. Concerns were raised over the role Lancaster University management played in pushing for the sale, and the lack of transparency surrounding the process. Following the backlash against the proposed sale, LUSU's Chief Executive and two external trustees resigned.After petitions opposing the plans on Change.org and on LUSU's website received over 4,000 and 1,100 signatures respectively, the LUSU Exec decided to hold a student referendum in November 2019 over the sale, in which 94% of students voted against the sale. Despite having refused to guarantee that the referendum result would be respected, LUSU's Trustee Board unanimously agreed to abandon their plans to sell the Sugarhouse in December 2019.
Sabbatical officer resignations
In November 2019 and March 2020, two sabbatical officers resigned, both citing a "toxic" culture within the students' union. In May 2020, after having been re-elected to serve a second term, the President was summarily dismissed following an independent investigation and hearing into unspecified, but multiple, complaints against him. Immediately following his dismissal, a third sabbatical officer, and two voluntary student officers also resigned. The following month, an independent appeals panel upheld the decision to dismiss the former President.June 2020 Presidential by-election
A new President for the 2020-21 academic year was elected in a June 2020 by-election, but the Returning Officer's decision to disqualify all votes cast for the Re-Open Nominations option led to many students questioning the legitimacy of the result. Other concerns about the process of the by-election were raised, including discrepancies in the reported turnout figure and the fact that the JCRs didn't oversee the vote count, as is required by LUSU's bye-laws. Most JCRs issued statements demanding LUSU's rationale for disqualifying RON be publicised, and for the results before the disqualification to be released, as it was widely assumed that RON would have won. Additionally, Grizedale JCR threatened to boycott freshers' week, and County JCR to disaffiliate from LUSU entirely if their requests for transparency were not met. The Women+ voluntary student officer-elect also resigned in protest over LUSU's handling of the by-election.Governance
Lancaster University Students' Union is legally a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity where the trustees serve as company law members. The governing document of LUSU is its Articles of Association, adopted on 1 August 2017, and its related bye-laws. The day-to-day running of services is delegated by the Trustee Board to the Chief Executive, who is in charge of the Management Team. This team consists of the Financial Controller, Head of Marketing and Organisational Development, Engagement Manager, Education and Support Manager, and Housing Manager.Trustee Board
The Trustee Board consists of up to six elected sabbatical officers, three appointed student members, and five appointed external trustees. The Board is assisted by sub-committees, in particular the Finance and Risk, Governance, and Executive Committees. According to the Annual Report 2018-19, the Trustee Board "are responsible collectively for the overall well-being and strategic direction, efficient operation and good governance of the Union, including compliance with legal and financial requirements."| Trustee | Status | Term | Notes |
| Oliver Robinson | Officer Trustee | 29 June 2020 – 25 June 2021 1st term | President |
| Graeme Osborn | External Trustee | 1 June 2017 – 1 June 2021 2nd term | |
| Paul McCarthy | Officer Trustee | 29 June 2020 – 25 June 2021 1st term | VP Sports |
| Bee Morgan | Officer Trustee | 29 June 2020 – 25 June 2021 2nd term | VP Education |
| Atree Ghosh | Officer Trustee | 29 June 2020 – 25 June 2021 1st term | VP Union Development |
| Shannon McCaul | Officer Trustee | 29 June 2020 – 25 June 2021 1st term | VP Societies and Media |
| Amy Merchant | Officer Trustee | 29 June 2020 – 25 June 2021 1st term | VP Welfare |
| Mark Alexander | External Trustee | 20 January 2018 – 20 January 2022 1st term | |
| Amanda Chetwynd | External Trustee | 7 September 2019 – 7 September 2023 1st term | Former Provost |
| Eloise Frost | Student Trustee | 1 March 2020 – 28 February 2021 1st term | |
| Sam Maesschalck | Student Trustee | 1 March 2020 – 28 February 2021 1st term | Former Chair of the Postgraduate Board |