View source for Cardiff University Students' Union

{{Short description|Students' union in Wales}}
{{multiple issues|
{{third-party|date=May 2019}}
{{More citations needed |date=August 2014}}
{{Primary sources |date=March 2016}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English |date=May 2015}}

{{Infobox students' union
| name               = Cardiff Students' Union
| image              = [[File:Undeb Myfyrwyr Caerdydd Student Union close.jpg |250px|Cardiff Students' Union main building]]
| motto              = The Heart of Cardiff Student Life
| institution        = [[Cardiff University]]
| president          = Madison Hutchinson
| chief executive    = Daniel Palmer
| location           = Park Place, [[Cardiff]]
| members            = 
| affiliated         = [[National Union of Students Wales]]<br>[[British Universities and Colleges Sport]]
| free_label         = 
| free               = 
| homepage           = [https://www.cardiffstudents.com/ www.cardiffstudents.com]
}}

'''Cardiff Students' Union''' (CSU, [[Welsh language|Welsh]]:''Undeb Myfyrwyr Caerdydd'') is the [[students' union|Students' Union]] for [[Cardiff University]] and is located in [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]].

Cardiff Students' Union supports over 200 student societies and 60 sports clubs with more than 10,000 members.

The Students' Union is also the recognised voice of students at Cardiff University, joining students in campaigning about the issues important to them. The trading subsidiary of CUSU, Cardiff Union Services Limited, manages a purpose-built facility in the centre of Cardiff and operates cafes, shops, bars and events that help fund CUSU's charitable activities. CUSU is based on Park Place and at the Heath Park campus, employing over 100 permanent staff and 300 student staff.

== Leadership of the Students' Union ==

=== Students' Union elections ===
{{Infobox legislature|name=Cardiff Students' Union Student Senate|structure1=File:Cardiff Student Senate Composition.svg|structure1_res=260px|seats1=<br/>
{{Color box|#006288|border=darkgray}} Sabbatical Officers* (2)<br/>{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Campaign Officers (10)<br/>{{Color box|{{party color|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}|border=darkgray}} Student Senators (25) <br/>{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Academic Representatives* (10) <br/>{{Color box|{{party color|50PLUS}}|border=darkgray}} Students* (9)

 *These seats are randomly allocated meeting by meeting.|leader1= Maria Pollard|leader2= |leader1_type=Chair|leader2_type=Vice Chair}}The Students' Union is a democratic membership organisation.  The Students' Union is led by groups such as  Elected Officers, Campaign Officers, Student Senate, Scrutiny Committee and NUS delegates.

Elections for these positions are held twice each year:<ref>{{Cite web |title = Your Voice |url = http://www.cardiffstudents.com/your-voice/ |website = www.cardiffstudents.com |accessdate = 2015-12-11}}</ref>
* By-Elections are held in October for Student Senate, Scrutiny Committee and NUS Delegates as well as any positions that were not filled in the February Main Elections
* Main Elections are held in February for Elected Officer and Campaign Officer Positions.
'''Full-time elected officers''' – A group of 7 full-time paid individuals<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elected Officers |url=https://www.cardiffstudents.com/your-voice/elected-officers/ |accessdate=2023-08-08 |website=www.cardiffstudents.com}}</ref> who each have areas of responsibility, from being the Students' Union President to Societies and Sports, the Heath Park campus, Welsh language, and Postgraduate and International students. These officers are elected for a year, and either take a year out of university to do the job or do it after they graduate.

'''Part-time campaign officers''' – These are 10 student volunteers who campaign on areas that matter to you alongside their studies. This includes representing student groups such as Women, LGBT+ (Open Place and Trans+ Place), Black and Ethnic Minorities, Estranged Students, International Students, Ethics and the Environment, Disability, Mental Health, Student Parents and Mature Students.

=== Specific leadership positions ===

==== Full-time elected officer positions ====

The Elected Officer positions consist of a President and six vice-presidents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-08 |title=Elected Officers |url=https://www.cardiffstudents.com/your-voice/elected-officers/vp-societies/23-24/ |access-date=2023-08-08}}</ref>
* Students' Union President – The President leads the Elected Officer team and the Students' Union as a whole and acts as the key link to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Council and Senate, as well as the NUS and other key stakeholders.
* Vice President Heath Park Campus – The VP Heath Park Campus works to improve the Heath campus student experience and the services at the site, representing its students on a range of matters including academic issues and getting involved in clubs and societies.
* Vice President International Students – The VP International Students represents international students on the issues and policies that affect them. This role was introduced in 2024-25.
* Vice President Postgraduate Students – The VP Postgraduate Students represents all postgrad students on the issues and policies that affect them. This role was introduced in 2015–16.
* Vice President Sports and Athletic Union President – The Vice President Sport and Athletic Union President champions sport within the university and local community. This position represents students who play both competitive and participation sports to both the university and the Union.
* Vice President Societies & Volunteering – This position champions societies and student-led activity within the Union, university and community and is responsible for allocating budgets and tiers as well as supporting and promoting Student Led Services/Campaign Associations.
* Vice President Welsh Language, Community and Culture  - The VP Welsh Language was introduced in 2023-24 to replace the previous part-time role, representing Welsh speakers and developing Welsh medium education.
Part-time elected officers include the Ethical and Environmental Officer, LGBT+ Officer (Open), LGBT+ Officer (Trans), International Students Officer, Mature Students Officer, Students with Disabilities Officer, Women's Officer, Estranged Students' Officer and Black and Minority Ethnic Students Officer, Student Parents & Carers Officer and Mental Health Officer.

=== Notable former presidents ===
* {{Annotated link|Neil Kinnock}} (1965–66)
* {{Annotated link|Emyr Jones Parry}} (1968–69)
* {{Annotated link|Jeff Cuthbert}} (1974–75)
* {{Annotated link|Bill Rammell}} (1982–83) <ref>{{Cite web|author=Guardian Staff|date=2005-05-10|title=Profile: Bill Rammell|url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2005/may/10/highereducation.uk2|access-date=2021-10-14|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
* {{Annotated link|Victoria Starmer}} (1994–95) <ref>{{cite news |last1=Strick |first1=Katie |title=Victoria Starmer: the no-nonsense solicitor set to become Britain's next first lady |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/victoria-starmer-solicitor-keir-wife-first-lady-b1164846.html |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=[[London Evening Standard]] |date=2 July 2024}}</ref>

== Locations and facilities ==
The main Students' Union building is opposite the university's Main Building, and is built over a railway line with entrances on Park Place and Senghenydd Road. It was built in 1973 and was designed by the Welsh architect [[Alex Gordon (architect)|Alex Gordon]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Stephens|first=Meic|authorlink=Meic Stephens|title=Obituary: Sir Alex Gordon|newspaper=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sir-alex-gordon-1109105.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227062504/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-sir-alex-gordon-1109105.html |archive-date=2014-02-27 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=31 July 2022|date=28 July 1999}}</ref> 

The Students’ Union at the Heath<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heath Park Campus |url=http://www.cardiffstudents.com/heath |accessdate=2023-08-08 |website=www.cardiffstudents.com}}</ref> is situated in the IV Lounge in the Neuadd Meirionnydd building. It acts as a point of contact for students on the campus, supporting students in accessing services. The second floor of the Students’ Union currently houses the main reception, event function space and the recently developed Centre for Skills, Enterprise and Volunteering, as well as newly developed Food outlets, the Taf and the nightclub, Y Plas.

The union's [[public house|pub]] is called "The Taf". This is commonly mistaken to be a reference to the [[River Taff]] which runs through Cardiff, but it is actually a contraction of "Tafarn", the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] word for "pub". The Union has an in-house nightclub, Y Plas, which holds events throughout the week. Formerly named Solus, the Nightclub was renamed as a result of a student vote after a redevelopment of the second floor and nightclub was announced.<ref>http://www.cardiffstudents.com/news/article/6013/New-Year-New-Look/ major redevelopment</ref>  The Union can link both the Taf bar and Y Plas with the Great hall to make a "superclub" of 4000, making it the biggest nightclub in Cardiff, and also one of the largest in Wales. The club was renamed Y Plas in 2014, after the refurbishments.

The third floor of the Students' Union is where students can meet the elected officer team, join a sports club or society, get involved in Student Voice and democratic processes.  A [[school counselor|counselling]] service, known as Student Advice<ref>{{Cite web |title = Help & Advice |url = http://www.cardiffstudents.com/advice/ |website = www.cardiffstudents.com |accessdate = 2015-12-11}}</ref> which helps with all manner of issues that students can face.

The Union's Great Hall has attracted popular bands and musicians since the 1970s. The Great Hall also serves as one of Cardiff University's exam venues, and has recently been adapted for use as a lecture theatre by the university during term time. It also hosts the freshers fayres for the beginning of term to join in volunteering, sports clubs and societies.

The main building also houses the offices of student media including the studios of [[Xpress Radio]] (which is broadcast throughout the union), the student newspaper ''[[Gair Rhydd]]'' (Welsh for 'Free Word'), Quench Magazine, and the newly developed Cardiff Union TV (CUTV).

== Services ==

=== Activities ===
The [[Athletic Union]] is the body that supports all sporting activity at Cardiff Students' Union. It supports students that run over 60 sports clubs<ref>{{Cite web |title = Athletic Union |url = http://www.cardiffstudents.com/activities/au/ |website = www.cardiffstudents.com |accessdate = 2015-12-11}}</ref> including individual and team sports, outdoor and water sports and martial arts. This is built on the ethos that sport plays a significant role in the student experience, playing a role in helping to build social and support groups, keeping students active, and most importantly, offering a valuable opportunity for individuals to develop themselves.

The Guild of Societies<ref>{{Cite web |title = Societies |url = http://www.cardiffstudents.com/activities/societies/ |website = www.cardiffstudents.com |accessdate = 2015-12-11}}</ref> contains over 200 student groups. The Guild of Societies is the umbrella organisation of every student led society at Cardiff Students' Union, led overall by the VP Societies and the Societies Executive Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Membership |url = http://www.cardiffstudents.com/activities/societies/membership/ |website = www.cardiffstudents.com |accessdate = 2015-12-11}}</ref> You must be a member of the Guild to join any societies.

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.cardiffstudents.com/ Cardiff Students' Union website]
* [http://www.gairrhydd.com/ Gair Rhydd website]
* Images on Google Maps
** [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4882736,-3.1773398,3a,75y,49.13h,97.51t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0hlqLwv3syIAAAQqzJlcgg!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656 ''Y Plas'' nightclub]
** [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.488424,-3.1779516,3a,75y,86.07h,83.56t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHUQjFSYoIa0AAAQqyenkMQ!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 ''The Taf'' pub]
** [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4884859,-3.1774341,3a,75y,40.63h,81.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMQidaPhYJOgAAAQqzJlchg!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 The third floor of the Students' Union]

{{Cardiff University}}
{{Aldwych Group}}
{{Culture in Cardiff}}
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{{Coord |51.48834 |N |3.17756 |W |type:landmark_region:GB |display=title}}

[[Category:Cathays|Students Union]]
[[Category:Students' unions in Wales|Cardiff]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cardiff|Students' Union]]
[[Category:Cardiff University|Students' Union]]