Australian National University Union
 | |
| Motto | live uni life |
|---|---|
| Institution | Australian National University |
| Location | ANU Union, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 |
| Established | 1965 |
| Members | c. 14000 |
| Affiliations | Australasian Campus Union Managers' Association |
| Website | http://www.anuunion.com.au |
The Australian National University Union Inc. is the university union of the Australian National University. This is not to be confused with the Australian National University Student Association.
Overview
The ANU Union Inc. is an incorporated non-profit association established in 1965 to be run for the benefit of students and staff at the Australian National University. Membership of ANU Union comes from the student population and all ANU staff and graduates are entitled to become members.[1]
The objects of the Union are:
(a) to provide a recognised meeting place and social centre for its members;
(b) to promote the intellectual, social and general welfare of the University community; and
(c) actively to encourage and support all ANU clubs and societies which include members of the Union.[2]
Union Business Operations
The ANU Union's catering and retail operations are managed by its General Manager Rod Thomas. Union run businesses include:[1]
- The ANU Bar
- Subway
- Pajenka's
- Caterina's
- Rosie's
- Mee's Sushi (formerly Cucina De Pasta)
- Organix
- The Union Shop (newsagency, supermarket and Post-Office)
- Union Functions
- Academic Dress Hire
The ANU Union also runs the Resources Centre.
Board of Directors
The Union Board is the governing body of the ANU Union [3]
Former Members of the Board
Prominent former members of the ANU Union's Board of Directors include:
- Andrew Barr Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory.
- Terence John Higgins, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.
Policy issues
Acton Supermarket closure
In October 2007 the Board of Directors made a decision not to renew the license of the Acton Supermarket owned by Pijpers Holdings Pty Ltd. Board Chair Chris Steel claimed the decision was made on the basis of the continued viability of the Union's business operations which had suffered as a result of the Federal Government's Higher Education (Abolition of Upfront Student Union Fees) Amendment Act 2005 that had cut the Union's revenue by around $213 000 per annum. Under an alternative business model it was proposed that the ANU Union would incorporate a supermarket into its own retail operations.[4]
The closure resulted in a Facebook group called 'Keep the ANU Supermarket' with over 1000 members.[5] A petition with over 1500 signatures was also raised by the supermarket owners and made to ANU Vice-Chancellor Ian Chubb. The protesters claimed that the ANU Union would sell stock at higher prices than the independently run Acton Supermarket.[4]
In May 2008 a new licensee of the Union opened a 3 store in the previous location of the Acton Supermarket and the ANU Union refurbished part of its own Union Shop to accommodate a new supermarket.
References
- 1 2
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- 1 2 Emma MacDonald, 'ANU students protest against closure of campus supermarket', The Canberra Times (Wed 24 Oct 2007) p.5
- ↑