WTH is the SU?

What is the Students’ Union?

Julieanne Acosta

News Editor

Before I started working at the Gauntlet, I was just like you — having absolutely no idea what the Students’ Union (SU) is and nevertheless, could not be bothered to try and learn more. I had assumed that the SU was similar to the ones in high school that planned student spirit events and hung around after school for their meetings. But the SU at the University of Calgary — or any university for that matter — is integral for student advocacy and ensuring that students are having their voices heard.

Over the past year, the SU has organized de-stress kits during final seasons, hosted mayoral forums, met with government officials and hosted multiple food drives. They are consistently involved in advocating for students’ needs, from successfully fighting for a Credit Granted (CG) option for students during COVID-19 or advocating for compensation for students heavily affected during the flip-flop of in-person to online classes. In almost any local news story involving the U of C you’ll most likely see a statement from an elected official at the SU. They are the voice of the university campus.

Currently, the SU is made up of 24 elected members — 19 being Faculty Representatives and three being Executives. Faculty Representatives are elected by their respective faculty while Executives are elected by the student body.

The SU’s highest governing body, the Students’ Legislative Council (SLC), holds weekly meetings during the school year — which the Gauntlet covers in its news section. At these meetings, they discuss updates for their own initiatives and any issues that may occur that are important to students. The reports of these meetings are made available to all students through the SU’s website.

As this year begins, pay attention to what the SU is doing. If you have a problem with something on campus, they are the ones to talk to. Now, I know this sounds like the classic advertisement to pay attention to student politics — and maybe it is a little — but every time you complain with your friends about the way things are around campus, you might find that the SU is either already working on the issue or is more than open to hearing out students’ concern. The SU is meant to represent us — which means you need to know who is fighting for you. Every year in March, undergraduate students will elect a new student government. It is so important to make an informed vote because, at the end of the day, you want your representatives to have your best interest in mind.