Description
On 22 July and 14 August 1952 two student meetings were held concerning the establishment of an organisation for all students of the New South Wales University of Technology. As a result, at the 8 September 1952 meeting of Council the Students' Union was resolved to be the approved student organisation with membership of the Union [to] be compulsory for all registered students (resolution 236). An interim constitution was also approved at this meeting, with the aims listed as being: a) to afford a recognised means of communication between the students and the university authorities b) to represent its members in all matters affecting their interests and to promote the cultural, educational and recreational life of the university c) to promote among graduates a permanent interest in the life, activity and progress of the university d) to promote the aims of the university. Initially an interim committee was responsible for looking after the affairs of the Union, pending its formal organisation. The first meeting of this committee was held on 17 September 1952 (CN293). On 9 March 1953 the Council clarified that the Students' Union was the approved student organisation for all students at Sydney and that authority be given for the formation of student organisations at centres other than Sydney (resolution 289). On 9 June 1953 the first annual general meeting of the proposed Union was held and it was at this meeting that the formation of the Union was formally approved by the student body. At the same time, the first president of the Union, James D. Smith, was elected, as well as the other members of the Union Council. The first Union Council meeting was held on 25 June 1953 (CN293). Following the change in name of the university on 7 October 1958, the name of the Union was changed to the University of New South Wales Students' Union. On 1 March 1992, following extensive discussion between representatives of the Union and the Postgraduate Representative Association, an in-principle agreement was reached in which it was recommended that a restructuring of the present model of student representation in the university [occur] in order to achieve a more flexible and responsive framework. On 29 October 1992 an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Students' Union took place. At this meeting changes to the Union's constitution were accepted by the student body. These included the name of the organisation being changed to the University of New South Wales Student Guild of Undergraduates and Postgraduates (file 920719). On 7 December 1992 Council resolved that the Student Guild of Undergraduates and Postgraduates be the approved student organisation for undergraduates at Kensington [and that] the Student Guild of Undergraduates and Postgraduates be the approved student organisation for postgraduates at Kensington and the ADFA, with the Postgraduate Board of the Guild as an entity exercising plenary power in relation to the Guild's postgraduate members (resolution CL92/94). At the same time the Guild's constitution was approved with the aims listed as being: - To advance the interests and welfare of students at the University of New South Wales and to act as a means for the expression of student concerns through the decision making processes set out in this Constitution - To represent the interests of students with regard to academic matters, access to education, cultural activities, health, welfare, leisure and the environment within the university and in the wider community - To advocate for and where appropriate provide, amenities and services for students in the university - To work on behalf of all students, on an equal basis, for an education that is accessible, equitable and free from discrimination of any form - To promote the principles of student unionism - To promote and encourage the community life of the university The operation of the Guild was effective from 1 January 1993 (file 920719). Following the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) by the Commonwealth Government from 1 July 2006, the University Union, Student Guild and COFA Students' Association merged together to form the Arc from the beginning of 2007, as approved by Council at its 6 November 2006 meeting (resolution CL06/87). At a General Meeting of the Student Guild on 21 December 2007, a motion was passed that this General Meeting of the Student Guild intends to dissolve the Guild effective 31st December by process of referendum (file 2006/1521). Subordinate agency: Postgraduate Board of the Student Guild - 01/01/1993 Subordinate agency: Bushwalkers' Club - 09/10/1953 - 03/10/1978 Subordinate agency: Contact - 14/08/1992 - 31/12/2006 Subordinate agency: Opunka - 20/12/1970 - 31/12/1981 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 09/06/1953-31/12/2007
