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[[Image:BUGS_Logo.gif |frame|right|]]
{{Infobox Students Union
The '''University of Birmingham Guild of Students''' is the officially recognised body which represents over 25,000 students. In theory and practice, the Guild has almost complete autonomy in the running and management of its own affairs and premises. This includes the ability to employ staff, enter into contracts, hold investments and indeed form Limited Companies, as well as the running and management of their own facilities and the generation of income through sources other than the Block Grant.
| name = University of Birmingham Guild of Students
| image = [[File:University of Birmingham Guild of Students Logo.png|250px]]
| motto =
| established = {{circa|1876}}
| institution = [[University of Birmingham]]
| president = Syed Sadath
|CEO=Joanne Elizabeth Thomas| sabbs = {{plainlist|
*International: Ravikiran Rajashekar
*Welfare and Community: Hope Aquilina
*Activities and Employability: Devansh Jhamnani
*Education: Alex Keen
*Postgraduate: Ritakshi Maheshwari
*Sports: Lara Parker}}
| trustees ={{plainlist|
*Ruth Pipkin (External - Chair)
*Syed Sadath (Officer)
*Ravikiran Rajashekar (Officer)
*Hope Aquilina (Officer)
*Alex Keen (Officer)
*Ritakshi Maheshwari (Officer)
*Lara Parker (Officer)
*Devansh Jhamnani (Officer)
*Johnny Davies (External)
*Yinbo Yur (External)
*Emma Wedge (External)
*Mitali Gohel (External)
*Helen Stone (External)
*Erica Conway (University Representative)
*Shruti Kohinkar (Student)
*Dionnne Enam Williams (Student)
*Simone Hawley (Student)
*Mikey Brown (Student)
}}
| location = Edgbaston Park Road, [[Edgbaston, Birmingham]], United Kingdom
| affiliated = [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]], [[Aldwych Group]], [[National Postgraduate Committee]]
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.guildofstudents.com}}
}}


The '''University of Birmingham Guild of Students''' (previously '''Birmingham University Guild of Students'''; '''BUGS''') is the officially recognised body that represents students at the [[University of Birmingham]]. The Guild functions as a [[students' union]] as per the [[Education Act 1994]].
The Institution had its first foundations in the [[Mason Science College]] in the centre of Birmingham around 1876. The University itself formally received its Royal Charter in 1900 with the Guild of Students being provided for. As a consequence both the Guild and the University officially celebrated their centenaries in the year 2000. Mason College had had a union of sorts with a club house opening in Great Charles Street in 1905. The Guild of Students having been provided for in the 1900 Charter was formed in 1907 being based at Edgbaston.


==History==
The Guild possesses archives which go back to the [[World War I|First World War]], clearly establishing a very long tradition of what we would refer to as "modern Students' Unionism". BUGS was a founding member of the [[National Union of Students of the United Kingdom|National Union of Students]].
The Institution had its first foundations in the [[Mason Science College]] in the centre of Birmingham around 1876. The university itself formally received its Royal Charter in 1900, with the Guild of Students being provided for as a Student Representative Council.<ref>{{harv|Cheesewright|1975|p=35}}</ref> As a consequence, both the Guild and the university officially celebrated their centenaries in 2000. Mason College had had a union of sorts with a club house opening in Great Charles Street in 1905. The Guild of Students, having been provided for in the 1900 Charter, was formed in 1909 as the Guild of Undergraduates, being based at Edgbaston.<ref>{{harv|Hughes|1950|p=17}}</ref>


The Guild possesses archives that go back to the [[World War I|First World War]], establishing a very long tradition of what is referred to as 'modern Students' Unionism'. Alongside [[Liverpool Guild of Students]], the Guild was a founding member of the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]].
The University has remained relatively untouched from the incorporation of Colleges in the 1980s and the more recent changes of Polytechnics into Universities, though over the last few years student numbers have more than doubled to the present level.
The University is mostly a very large Campus to the south of the City in [[Edgbaston]], with satellite sites including Selly Oak Campus in [[Selly Oak]] and the Dental School located in the City Centre close to the [[University of Aston]].


[[Image:BirminghamBUGS.jpg|thumb|left|Guild building]]
[[Image:Bloye BUGS mermaid, bronze.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Bronze mermaid by [[William Bloye]] in the Guild courtyard]]
[[Image:Bloye BUGS mermaid, bronze.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Bronze mermaid by [[William Bloye]] in the Guild courtyard]]
The Guild of Students occupies the Union Building (often referred to as the Guild itself), situated at the edge of campus by the East Gate, for a [[peppercorn rent]] from the University. The building itself, by [[Holland W. Hobbiss]], dates back to 1928 and has been added to and amended, most significantly in the 1950s adding a south wing and again in the 1960s building a much larger west wing. At 10,000 square metres is one of the largest Student Union buildings in the UK.
The Guild of Students occupies the Union Building (often referred to as just 'the Guild'), situated at the edge of campus by the East Gate, for a [[peppercorn rent]] from the university. The building itself, by [[Holland W. Hobbiss]], dates to 1928 and has been added to and amended, most significantly in the 1950s, when a south wing was added, and again in the 1960s, when a much larger west wing was built. At 10,000 square metres, it is one of the largest Student Union buildings in the UK.


It is not known for certain why the organisation is named a 'Guild of Students' as opposed to a 'Union of Students', in line with the vast majority of its English peers. It shares its name with five other student unions, including [[Liverpool Guild of Students]] and University of Exeter Students' Guild.
The Guild - the same as a student union - is known differently because in the 1920s it was first to define itself as an organisation and not merely a student representative council (SRC). At the time, Guilds of skilled people and professionals were commonplace, while trades unions were generally for low paid workers. The University therefore decided to call it a Guild because of this and because it had less socialist connotations, which the upper class founders wished to discourage, instead choosing to reinforce a hierarchical system.


The Guild introduced new branding in 2007, intended to replace the previous 'BUGS' brand, which had been adopted in 2000.
==The Vision==
The Guild's vision is:
*To lead the student experience and be at the heart of student life;
*To work within the student movement to create positive change in the student community;
*We will act with and for our students in all that we do.


==Activities==
The Core Message is:
The University of Birmingham Guild of Students (Bugs) is the recognised students' union for over 28,000 students. Bugs represents and involves all students, under or postgraduate, home or international, on all campuses. Bugs brings students together on issues they care about to create positive change and achieve equality for and within its membership, through taking collective action.


The Guild provides representation to all students at the university and campaigns to create change on issues affecting students at a local and national level. This is achieved through regular meetings with University Senior Officers and Managers, as well as through lobbying Birmingham City Council, the Government and other bodies. The Guild also runs campaigns focused on particular issues; campaigns have included a drive to see wheelie bins across the city, an initiative to improve campus security and have the university install CCTV across all halls of residence, and strong participation in the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|NUS]] campaign against the introduction of £3,000 top-up fees (a campaign that continues, despite the measure being approved by Parliament in January 2004).
==Purpose and Activities==


The Guild boasts 24/7 welfare support channels for its members. Guild Advice provides professional and impartial advice on all manner of student issues, from academic problems, financial woes, immigration and other international troubles, housing worries, and employment rights. It also arranges individual representation for students facing academic appeals, disciplinary hearings and other procedures. All students in halls of residence can seek similar advice from their team of Student Mentors, who are on hand day or night for emergency issues, while Niteline provides a confidential listening and information service through telephone and email overnight. The Guild's welfare services are complemented by the Job Zone, which seeks and promotes part-time student vacancies, and the liberation associations.
The Guild provides representation to all students at the University and campaigns to create change on issues affecting students at a local and national level. This is achieved through regular meetings with University Senior Officers and Senior Managers, as well as through lobbying Birmingham City Council, the Government and other bodies. The Guild also runs campaigns focused on particular issues; recent campaigns have included a drive to see wheelie bins across the city, an initiative to improve campus security and have the University install CCTV across all halls of residence, and strong participation in the [[NUS]] campaign against the introduction of £3000 top-up fees (a campaign which continues, despite the measure being approved by Parliament in January 2004).


With one of its three constitutional objects being to promote 'social intercourse', the Guild maintains social space, bars and event nights; all of these provide an income, without which initiatives including campaigns, the ARC, Job Zone, Niteline and many student groups would struggle to exist. The major weekly night is Saturday's 'Fab 'N' Fresh', with other popular events including 'Very Important Tuesdays' (VIT), which have hosted acts such as [[Samantha Mumba]], [[Wheatus]] and [[Cyndi Lauper]], society-themed evenings such as 'The Mix', student group events and irregular gigs and comedy evenings. Further commercial revenue is generated through marketing and retail activities, including a supermarket, and the Guild acts as the official retailer of university branded merchandise for this purpose.
The Guild boasts 24/7 welfare support channels for its members. The Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) provides professional and impartial advice on all manner of student issues, from academic problems, financial woes, immigration and other international troubles, housing worries, health or safety issues and more, and arranges individual representation for students facing academic appeals, disciplinary hearings, or other measures. All students in halls of residence can seek similar advice from their team of Student Mentors, who are on hand day or night for emergency issues, while Niteline provides a confidential listening and information service through telephone and email overnight. The Guild's welfare services are complemented by the Job Zone, which seeks and promotes part time student vacancies, and the liberation associations.


The Guild finished a £4 million redevelopment in July 2010, with the ground floor of the building being completely overhauled, creating for the first time a dedicated membership area with all of the key services in one place. In addition, the brand new bar started serving food, and the Guild opened its very own letting agent, the SHAC.
With one of its three constitutional objects being to promote "social intercourse" the Guild maintains social space, bars and event nights, all of which provide an income without which initiatives including campaigns, the ARC, Job Zone, Niteline, and many student groups would struggle to exist. The major weekly night is Saturday's "Fab 'N' Fresh", with other popular events including "Very Important Tuesdays" (VIT), society-themed evenings such as "The Mix", student group events and irregular gigs and comedy evenings. Further commercial revenue is generated through marketing and retail activities, including a supermarket, and the Guild acts as the official retailer of University branded merchandise for this purpose.


Every November until 2019 the Guild hosted Birmingham's biggest free public fireworks display on the Vale Village on the Thursday closest to [[Bonfire Night|bonfire night]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Students' Guild Sets Birmingham Skies Alight For Bonfire Night |url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/events/bonfire.aspx |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=University of Birmingham |language=en-GB}}</ref> After several decades of continuous operation this event did not return after the [[COVID-19 pandemic|Coronavirus pandemic.]]
The Guild also supports around 160 student groups and societies, actively promoting student involvement, volunteering and social participation. Its oldest society is Carnival, the Guild's charitable RAG (Raising And Giving) society, while one of its newest is Pirate Soc, with all manner of groups such as Paintball, Circus, [[Intervol]] (International Volunteers),Mountaineering and Jazz and Blues in between.


=== Societies & volunteering ===
The Guild of Students publishes a weekly newspaper called [[Redbrick (Newspaper)|Redbrick]], has a radio station, [http://www.burnfm.com/ BURNFM.COM] which broadcasts on 87.7FM twice-yearly and all year round online, and [http://students.bugs.bham.ac.uk/gtv GTV], a television production group. All three media outlets are editorially independent and encouraged to hold the Guild Executive to account. However as the groups and the Executive are all part of the same organisation, the trustees reserve the right to edit content that poses legal or other risks to the Guild, which at times has caused friction amid claims of political censorship.
The Guild also supports over 300 student groups and societies, actively promoting student involvement, volunteering and social participation. Its oldest society is Carnival, the Guild's charitable RAG (Raising And Giving) society, while one of its newest is Occult and Paranormal Society; all manner of groups, such as Fetish Society, Rock Music, Circus, [[InterVol]] (International Volunteers), Mountaineering, and Jazz and Blues, come in between.


The Guild publishes a newspaper called [[Redbrick (Newspaper)|Redbrick]]. It also has a radio station, [[Burn FM]], which broadcasts online via its website during Autumn and Spring Terms, and [[Guild Television]], the university's student TV station. All three media outlets are editorially independent and are encouraged to hold the Guild Executive to account. However, as the groups and the Executive are all part of the same organisation, the trustees reserve the right to edit content that poses legal or other risks to the Guild, which at times has caused friction amid claims of political censorship.
During a recent refurbishment, two committee rooms were renovated and dedicated: one to [[Rosa Parks]], and the other to [[Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos|Baroness Amos]], the first Black woman in the Government and a University of Birmingham alumnus.


Birmingham's student guild has a particularly high number of drama societies, collectively referred to as 'Guild Drama'. These societies coexist within the space of the Guild, with different groups dedicated to classical theatre ([https://www.guildofstudents.com/organisation/article19/ Article 19]), new writing and improv ([https://www.guildofstudents.com/organisation/watchthis/ Watch This Society For Original Theatre]), pantomimes ([https://www.guildofstudents.com/organisation/panto/ Panto Society]), musicals ([https://www.guildofstudents.com/organisation/gmtg/ Guild Musical Theatre Group], colloquially known as GMTG), and stand-up comedy ([https://www.guildofstudents.com/organisation/footnotes/ The Birmingham Footnotes Comedy Society]) to name a few. Each society produces roughly 1-2 shows per term, usually within the Guild itself, but occasionally branching out into site specific performance within the university grounds. There have also been some instances of drama societies within The Guild staging productions at the [[Mac, Birmingham|Midlands Art Centre]], the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] and [[National Student Drama Festival]].
==Government==


The Guild has a Student Groups department, which hosts and supports a large variety of student-led societies and volunteering projects. Notable societies and projects include:
The Guild is a [[students' union]] for the purposes of the [[Education Act 1994]]. Under section 67 of the Act, all students of the University are by law automatically members of the Guild unless they deliberately opt out, and the role of the Guild is to democratically represent this body of membership. However, the University of Birmingham does not disclose any details of its students to the Guild, which natually makes the Guild's job of democratically representing its membership something of a challenge.


==== The Computer Science Society ====
The Guild's Constitution sets out in detail how the organisation should be run.
The Computer Science Society at the University of Birmingham, often referred to as CSS, is the official Computer Science society at the University of Birmingham.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CSS|url=https://www.guildofstudents.com/studentgroups/societies/css/|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.guildofstudents.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> The society has won two awards in 2017, namely the "Society of the Year" and "Outstanding Event" awards<ref>{{Cite web|title=EPS Societies' Awards 2017 Winners Announced|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/eps/eps-community/students/societies-awards/2017-winners.aspx|access-date=2021-10-05|website=University of Birmingham|language=en-GB}}</ref> and since then have also won the "Community Award" in 2019 and "The Great Achievement in EPS Award" in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=EPS Societies' Awards 2019 Winners Announced|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/eps/eps-community/students/societies-awards/2019-winners.aspx|access-date=2021-10-05|website=University of Birmingham|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Great Achievement in EPS Award|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/eps/eps-community/students/societies-awards/2020-winners/great-achievement.aspx|access-date=2021-10-05|website=University of Birmingham|language=en-GB}}</ref>


The society also actively encourages its members to improve their skills by making pull requests on their GitHub to make changes and improvements to the official website, giving members practise at using essential skills needed in the industry but not taught at the university.<ref>{{Citation|title=cssbham.com|date=2021-10-04|url=https://github.com/CSSUoB/cssuob.github.io|publisher=CSSUoB|access-date=2021-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=School of Computer Science|url=https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/internal/programmes/2021|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.cs.bham.ac.uk}}</ref> In addition to this they also run [[hackathon]]s that members can attend to learn new skills and meet new people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hackathons|url=https://cssbham.com/cssbham.com/hackathons.html|access-date=2021-10-05|website=UoB Computer Science Society}}</ref>
The Guild's sovereign body and [[Union Council (students' union)|Union Council]] is Guild Council, made up of elected councillors representing academic, student group, hall of residence and [[Athletics Union]] constituencies. There are roughly 500 seats on Guild Council. The role of Guild Council is [[Legislature|legislative]]: it hears, debates and votes on policy proposals to guide the Guild Executive; it holds the Executive to account over their actions in pursuit of approved policy and their duties generally; and it has a role in setting the Guild's priorities by hearing and voting on the Guild budget.


CSS also regularly host workshops to guide students through important information they will need to succeed in the industry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Developer Student Clubs|url=https://cssbham.com/cssbham.com/clubs.html|access-date=2021-10-05|website=UoB Computer Science Society}}</ref> They work with the Google Developer Student Clubs in order to effectively deliver peer-to-peer learning of programming concepts and logic to ensure students are properly prepared for real world problems.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About DSC {{!}} Google Developer Student Clubs|url=https://gdsc.community.dev/|access-date=2021-10-05|website=gdsc.community.dev|language=en}}</ref> The School of Computer Science is one of the biggest schools at the university with over 460 students enrolled in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=School of Computer Science|url=https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/internal/modules/2021|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.cs.bham.ac.uk}}</ref>
Like many student unions in the UK the Guild is an unincorperated association: it has no legal identity itself. A group of trustees legally represent the Guild, and it is they who enter into contracts and represent the organisation in court. These trustees are legally responsible for the Guild's activities: they ensure the Guild is compliant with legislation, they oversee its financial management, and they prioritise its resources on behalf of all the members. In the past, when it had far fewer members than today, this group of trustees was Guild Council. Board of Trustees today meets as the Guild's Resources Committee, and is constituted out of fourteen of the eighteen Executive Officers, plus two members of University Staff (one academic, one administrative). The Guild's future legal status is currently under review in preparation for the forthcoming Charities Bill that will place regulation of students unions under the remit of the Charity Commission.


==Executive==
====ValeFest====
[[ValeFest]], also known as Vale Festival, is a one-day music festival organised entirely by student volunteers from the Guild of Students.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://valefest.co.uk/about/ | title=ValeFest }}</ref> The festival is Europe's largest student-run charity festival, and takes place annually on the Vale Village grounds. Since its inception in 2004, ValeFest has supported over 20 different grassroots charities based in the UK and abroad, ranging from domestic abuse charities, to LGBTQ+ community organisations, to natural disaster relief efforts, to mental health charities.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://valefest.co.uk/charities/ | title=ValeFest }}</ref> Some of these charities include [[Helen Bamber Foundation]], [[Macmillan Cancer Support]], [[ShelterBox|Shelterbox UK]] and [[Birmingham Children's Hospital]]. In the time since the festival began, the society have raised roughly £200,000 for various charitable causes.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://valefest.co.uk/about/ | title=ValeFest }}</ref>
On a day to day basis and in the absence of Guild Council over University vacations, the Guild is run by a Committee of Executive Officers. The makeup of the committee changed for the 2006/07 adademic session as Guild Council adopted the outcomes of an executive review, albeit with numerous amendments.


As of ValeFest 2019, the festival comprises a main stage, second stage, dance tent, comedy stage, lakefront stage and a community bandstand. As well as live music provided by a mixture of contracted acts, current student bands and returning alumni, the festival frequently features demonstrations from societies such as BattleSoc, Acapella Society and Footnotes Comedy Society. The event culminates with a headline act on the main stage. Previous headliners who have performed at the festival include: [[The Mouse Outfit]], [[Fickle Friends]] and [[The Hunna]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://valefest.co.uk/lineup/ | title=ValeFest }}</ref>
There are eighteen Executive officers, seven of which are full time [[Sabbatical officer|Sabbatical Officers]], the remaining eleven being student "non-sabbatical" officers. Seven of the non-sabbaticals and all of the sabbaticals are also trustees of the organisation. The non-sabbatical trustees are termed Executive Officers as are the remaining four Liberation Officers, whose remits focus on the liberation of certain groups which are perceived as being socially oppressed.


In 2020 and 2021, ValeFest produced digital festivals by hosting a number of livestreams across YouTube. The festival returned to Birmingham's Vale Village in June 2022 for the first time in almost 3 years.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://valefest.co.uk/lineup/ | title=ValeFest }}</ref> The 2023 event was set to take place in June 2023, but was cancelled in the weeks leading up to the event.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://valefest.co.uk/about/ | title=ValeFest }}</ref> The committee stated that the Guild had advised them that ticket sales were too low to confirm contracts with acts and as such were unable to release a lineup, further hindering sales. The Guild also released a statement to Redbrick, the student newspaper, stating that the event was projected to make a £14,000 loss.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.redbrick.me/valefest-2023-cancelled/ | title=Redbrick | date=31 May 2023 }}</ref>
As of the 1st of August 2006 the Executive Committee is as follows:


====The Astronomical Society====
Sabbatical Officers
The University of Birmingham Astronomical Society, generally known as AstroSoc, is the official astronomical society of the [[University of Birmingham]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Astrosoc|url=http://www.guildofstudents.com/studentgroups/societies/astrosoc/|website=Guild of Students|publisher=University of Birmingham|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref> It was formed on the 2nd March, 1909, and is one of the oldest societies still running at the Guild of Students. The society meets weekly for general meetings, which include observing nights, talks and presentations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Events|url=http://students.guild.bham.ac.uk/astrosoc/index.php/events/|website=AstroSoc|publisher=University of Birmingham|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref> As of 2023, the society owns a large and diverse collection of telescopes, including a 12" [[Meade Instruments|Meade]] Lightbridge Dobsonain, a 10" [[Sky-Watcher|Sky-watcher]] Dobsonian, and several smaller electronic go-to telescopes. It is also the custodian of the university's historic Cooke refractor, which was purchased in 1910 as a part of the original observatory on the Edgebaston campus and is now situated in a dome on top of the Poynting Building.
*'''President''' - Gary Hughes
*'''Vice President (Academic Quality and Access)'''- Peter Mason
*'''Vice President (Finance and Services)''' - Sabrina Francis
*'''Vice President (Housing and Community)''' - Sally Hinchley
*'''Vice President (Sport)''' - Hannah Poulton
*'''Vice President (Student Activities and Development)''' - Ruth Wadsworth
*'''Vice President (Welfare)''' - Irene Michael


The society also runs programmes to improve the public understanding of [[astronomy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Outreach|url=http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/outreach/|website=Astrophysics & Space Research Group|publisher=University of Birmingham|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref> These include a series of public talks known as the ''Patrick Moore Lecture Series, Tea, Talk and Telescope''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/outreach/talktelescope/ |title=Tea, Talk & Telescope |publisher=University of Birmingham |access-date=2010-07-21}}</ref> AstroSoc also participate in the university's ''[[University of Birmingham#University of Birmingham Observatory|Astronomy in the City]]'' events, which include astronomy and astrophysics talks, and the chance for the general public to observe the night sky.<ref>{{cite web|title=Astronomy in the City|url=http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/observatory/astronomyinthecity.php|website=Astrophysics & Space Research Group|publisher=University of Birmingham|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref> The Society hosts a number of social events throughout the year, including an annual formal dinner, summer camping trip, and bar crawl.
Non-Sabbatical Officers
*'''Anti-Racism Anti-Fascism Officer''' - Philip Peters
*'''Community Action Officer''' - Vacant
*'''Ethical and Environmental Officer''' - Nick Bryer
*'''Home Students Officer''' - Laura Sadler
*'''International Students Officer''' - Oluwatomi Ashiru-Balogun
*'''Postgraduate and Mature Students Officer''' - Brad Hatton
*'''Satellite Sites Officer''' - Hayden Cohen


In 2006, the Society won the [[Institute of Physics]]' Best Student Group.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} In 2003 and 2005, the Society won the best website of a student society. Past Chair of the Society Samuel George won the 2007 Guild Awards Ross Barlow Memorial for most outstanding individual student for his work with AstroSoc.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} In 2009, it was awarded 'Best Event' at the University of Birmingham at the annual 'Guild Awards'. {{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}


In more recent years, it won the EPS (Engineering and Physical Sciences) societies Outreach Award in 2014, the Outstanding Event Award in 2018, and the Outreach Award for Continued Excellence in both 2019 and 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AstroSoc |url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/eps/eps-community/students/societies/astrosoc.aspx |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=University of Birmingham |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Liberation Officers
*'''Black and Minority Ethnic Students Officer''' - Jennifer Larbie
*'''Disabled Students Officer''' - James Bowes
*'''Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Students Officer''' - Simon Howard
*'''Women's Officer''' - Naushabah Khan


====InterVol====
[[InterVol]] is a student volunteering charity that was founded at the Guild, notable for being the first Guild volunteering project or society to become a registered charity in the United Kingdom.


InterVol was set up as a society in 2003 by a group of students brought together by the Involve (now Student Development) department at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students, they ran their first volunteer placements in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|work = University of Birmingham Buzz Magazine|title = Taking a hands on approach to poverty reduction|url = http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/buzz/Buzz_73.pdf|page = 2| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316055921/http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/buzz/Buzz_73.pdf |access-date = 20 June 2023| archive-date=16 March 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://students.bugs.bham.ac.uk/intervol/|title= InterVol BUGS web page|publisher = University of Birmingham|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040919212103/http://students.bugs.bham.ac.uk/intervol/|access-date = 20 June 2023|archive-date= 19 September 2004}}</ref>
The elections for the positions on next years' executive committee took place from 28 Feb - 2 Mar 2007. The Sabbatical Officers elected were:
*'''President Elect''' - Rhea Keehn
*'''Vice President (Democracy and Resources) Elect''' - Simon Fairbanks
*'''Vice President (Education and Access) Elect'''- Laura Sadler
*'''Vice President (Housing and Community) Elect''' - Naushabah Khan
*'''Vice President (Sport) Elect''' - Will Bastin
*'''Vice President (Student Activities and Development) Elect''' - Lizzy Ralph
*'''Vice President (Welfare) Elect''' - Sarah Bolt


InterVol focuses on student-led community [[volunteering]] projects that aim to make a long-term difference to children, communities and the environment, both locally and through placements overseas. InterVol works in close partnership with local [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]] for their overseas placements. InterVol became a registered charity in England and Wales in May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|publisher = Charity Commission Website|title = Details of InterVol's charity status|access-date = 1 June 2010|url = http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/CharityFramework.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1136099&SubsidiaryNumber=0}}</ref>
Their term of office will commence on 1st August 2007.


==Other Officers==
====Debating Society====
The University of Birmingham Debating Society is the largest [[debating society]] on campus; it practises debating in the [[British Parliamentary Style]] as do other university debating societies, such as [[Oxford Union]], [[Cambridge Union]] and [[Durham Union Society]].


The society runs weekly workshops and holds regular public debates, where anyone at the [[University of Birmingham]] can see guest speakers debate.
The Guild has a number of other officer posts outside of the Executive.


The society holds an annual Inter-Varsity competition<ref>[http://www.britishdebate.com/universities/results/english.asp#birmingham Winners between 1993 and 2005]</ref><ref>[http://www.britishdebate.com/calendar/event.asp?e=786 The Birmingham IV 2010]</ref> and regularly competes in national and international Inter-Varsity debating competitions, such as the World Debating Championships. In 2009, the society was ranked 11th in the UK according to Britishdebate.com.<ref>[http://www.britishdebate.com/universities/results/rankings/index.asp Britishdebate.com]</ref> The society is currently ranked 96th in the World based on the last five World Debating Competitions.{{update inline|date=July 2023}}
'''Independent Chairs'''


==Governance==
There are three Independent Chairs, whose principal function is to chair and facilitate Guild Council meetings independently of the Executive. In this regard they are often compared to a [[Speaker of the House]] role. They also fulfil a number of investigative and disciplinary functions which could be described as [[Judiciary|judicial]].


The Guild is a [[students' union]] for the purposes of the [[Education Act 1994]]. Under section 67 of the Act, all students of the university are by law automatically members of the Guild unless they deliberately opt out as per section [https://www.guildofstudents.com/resourcehandler/5aba1df8-8c50-49be-b886-78ce83bf5f87/ 1.1 of Bye-Law 2].
The incumbent Chairs are Laura Morris, Tom Hyner and Richard Charlton.


The Guild's [https://www.guildofstudents.com/resourcehandler/abd2ee03-adae-4cff-a6b5-6a0f86069f26/ Articles of Association] and [https://www.guildofstudents.com/resourcehandler/5aba1df8-8c50-49be-b886-78ce83bf5f87/ Bye-Laws] set out in detail how the organisation should be run.
'''Warden'''


In August 2008, the Guild moved from its previous model of an unincorporated association to become a charitable company limited by guarantee (CLG) and, as a result, a Trustee Board was established to provide guidance, expertise and strategic oversight of the Guild of Students. The Guild became a charity in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trustee Board|url=http://www.guildofstudents.com/content/189255/your_guild/trustee_board/|publisher=Guild of Students|access-date=2011-12-26}}</ref>
The Warden's role is to act as a safety net and make sure the Guild is always in the right hands. Unlike other officers the Warden cannot be a student, and holds a three year term of office. They have an advisory role and some disciplinary duties, but their main task is to step in and administer the Guild in the unlikely event that all of the Executive Officer posts become vacant. (Without the Warden it is likely under English Law that under this circumstance, administration would pass to the University). While seemingly unlikely there has been an occasion in the Guild's history when Guild Council saw fit to dismiss the entire Executive, at which point the Warden of the day stepped in and immediately held fresh elections.


This decision was made following a Referendum that took place in February 2008 and was approved by over 4,000 students, the Executive, Guild Council and the university. Key to the governance review was a need to clarify how decisions were made and by whom, especially in respect to the role of the Trustee Board and Guild Council.
The current Warden is Ruth Holdaway.


The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Guild, which is delegated to the Chief Executive and Management Team. They ensure the Guild remains legally compliant and solvent, in accordance with Memorandum and Articles of Association, the By-laws and Guidance and Strategy documents. In the past, when it had far fewer members than today, this group of trustees was Guild Council. The Trustee Board is now made up of seven Sabbatical (Officer) Trustees; four Student Trustees, with one undergraduate, one postgraduate, one [[BAME]] and one international student; and seven external trustees, one of whom is a nominee from the university.
==Media Controversy==


===Executive===
Over the 2005/06 academic session, the Guild made national and international press over several controversial issues.
Below the trustee board is the Senior Management Team (SMT). These are CEO, Director of Finance, Director of Engagement, Director of Operations and Director of Community and Representation.


The Guild Officer Group (GOG) also sits below the trustee board. The GOG is made up of all full-time and part-time elected officers of the Guild. The part-time officers are: Disabled Students’ Officer, Sustainability Officer, Ethnic Minority Students’ Officer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Students’ Officer, Trans and Non-Binary Students’ Officer and the Women's Officer.
The year started with President Richard Angell banning the [[National Blood Service]] from the Guild's popular Freshers Fair (an important opportunity to recruit blood donors) over the service's policies of banning most gay and bisexual men (those with sexual experience regarded as dangerous) from giving blood, for life. [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-423.html]


==Finances==
In January 2006 a row erupted as the Guild became aware of and subsequently took issue with some of the policies stipulated by the constitution of the Evangelical Christian Union. The key issues the Guild took issue with were BUECU not allowing non-Christians to become members, and requiring leadership to be chosen through fully democratic elections rather than being proposed by the previous leaders and having to sign an [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] doctrinal basis.


The Guild has an annual turnover of approximately £7.3 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM GUILD OF STUDENTS - Charity 1137548 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5010510/accounts-and-annual-returns |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
After the controversy began, but before the final decision was made by the Guild, BUECU altered their constitution to enable members to choose to run against the nominations of the previous leaders, being labelled as such. BUECU stated that in this context they felt their religious beliefs prevented them from being able to make any more concessions to the Guild in conscience. However, the Guild held that this was a compulsory requirement for all societies under their constitution. As a result of this, the Guild derecognised the Evangelical Christian Union and froze their funds (which BUECU had formerly been legally required to bank with the Guild), claiming that they would be repaid upon certain conditions (i.e. that the money go to [[UCCF]] for use on Birmingham students, rather than directly to the derecognised society as they ruled that they were a self appointed group of friends and thus shouldn't directly receive the money).[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4645844.stm]


A large portion of that money is the block grant, an annual sum of money from the university. For 2023/24, this was £3.4 million, equivalent to approximately £90 per student. The Guild also receives money for the performance of several service contracts. One of the most significant of these is the £350,000 for the Student Mentor Scheme, equivalent to £75 per hall resident. The Residence Associations also receive grants from the university equal to £100 per hall resident.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024|reason=Referenced organisations may no longer exist.}}
At the Guild Council in June 2006, President Angell proposed a motion (titled 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead') that the Guild should "have a party" on the occasion of former Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s death, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5054112.stm] which was met with widespread criticism, even making [[The Times]] national newspaper.


Most of the rest of the Guild's turnover is through its venues trading activity.
==Other information==
The current brand of "BUGS", adopted in 2000, is the acronym of Birmingham University Guild of Students. Soon after the change the University moved to a policy insisting that the University must only be called "The University of Birmingham". Myth has it that [[University of Alabama at Birmingham|Birmingham University, Alabama, USA]] had launched a lawsuit against its UK namesake; however it was only a local marketing decision. The Guild nevertheless continues to use the BUGS brand, although consultation is in progress about a potential rebranding.


In the 22-23 financial year, there was 1 staff member paid between £90,000 and £99,999 with 2 staff members paid between £60,000 and £69,999.
==Affiliations==
*[[Aldwych Group]]
*[[British Universities Sports Association]]
*[[National Postgraduate Committee]]
*[[National Union of Students of the United Kingdom|National Union of Students]] (NUS)
*[[West Midlands Area National Union of Students]] (WMANUS)


===University Audit===
==References==
Foster, A. (2005) Birmingham, Pevsner Architectural Guides, Yale University Press: London. ISBN 0-300-10731-5


In 2023, the [[University of Birmingham]] undertook an audit of the Guild's financial procedures. While not originally made publicly available, it was eventually disclosed as part of a request made under the [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=Guild of Students Financial Procedures Manual |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/guild_of_students_financial_proc#incoming-2723053 |website=WhatDoTheyKnow |access-date=29 November 2024}}
Ives, E. (2000) The First Civic University: Birmingham, 1880-1980 - An Introductory History, University of Birmingham Press: Birmingham. ISBN 1-902459-07-5
</ref> The audit describes 4 key risks the University determined to be germane.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2024 |title=Audit of Guild of Students - Finance |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/guild_of_students_financial_proc/response/2728182/attach/4/Enclosure%202.pdf |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=WhatDoTheyKnow}}</ref>


The audit also described 4 recommendations to be made to improve the integrity of the Guild's financial procedures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=Guild of Students - Finance |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/guild_of_students_financial_proc/response/2723053/attach/4/Disclosure%20Redacted.pdf |access-date=26 August 2024 |website=WhatDoTheyKnow}}</ref>
<references/>

==Media controversy==

Over the 2005–2006 academic session, the Guild made national and international press over several controversial issues.

The year started with President Richard Angell banning the [[National Blood Service]] from the Guild's popular Freshers' Fair over the service's policy of banning gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-423.html|title = Students protest gay donor ban| date=6 February 2006 |publisher = pinknews.co.uk}}</ref> This policy remained in effect until it was overturned at the start of the 2009–2010 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.redbrickonline.co.uk/news/blood-drive-back-on-campus-after-a-four-year-ban/|title = Blood drive back on campus after a four year ban|publisher = redbrikonline.co.uk}}</ref>

In January 2006, a row erupted as the Guild became aware of and subsequently took issue with some of the policies sought by its Evangelical Christian Union society. The Union sought not to allow non-Christians to become members, have the outgoing leaders appoint new leaders (rather than have the members elect them), and require members to sign an [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] doctrinal quasi-contract. Although the Union later agreed to hold elections, the Union members felt that their religious beliefs prevented them from being able to make any more concessions. The Guild stated that they believed the law prevented them from accommodating the society, as student unions are required to make all of their activities available to all students. The Christian Union stated that they believed they were being deprived of their legal rights. Guild Council ultimately derecognised the society, although it was subsequently re-admitted to the Guild in 2013 .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christian.org.uk/news/birmingham-cu-readmitted-to-students-union-after-7-years |title= Birmingham CU readmitted to students' union after 7 years |date= 8 March 2013 |publisher=The Christian Institute}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4645844.stm |title= Ban for exclusive Christian body |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-01-25 |access-date=2010-07-21}}</ref>

At Guild Council in June 2006, President Richard Angell proposed a motion titled 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' that the Guild should 'have a party' on the occasion of former Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s death,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5054112.stm |title=Student apology for Thatcher call |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-06-06 |access-date=2010-07-21}}</ref> which was met with widespread criticism, even making [[The Times]] national newspaper.

In 2013, The Guild joined several other University unions in banning the song [[Blurred Lines]] by Robin Thicke from being played at club night Fab'N'Fresh.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/birmingham-university-s-guild-of-students-is-latest-to-ban-blurred-lines-8866867.html | title=Birmingham University's Guild of Students is latest to ban 'Blurred | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=8 October 2013 }}</ref> The boycott of the song was prompted by media outcry over the sexually explicit lyrics, which many deemed [[Misogyny|misogynistic]] and apologist regarding [[rape culture]].

In 2019, a [[Anti-abortion movements|Pro-Life]] society within The Guild was established, which was founded by students advocating for the outlawing of [[Abortion in the United Kingdom|abortion in the UK]]. This sparked debate amongst students about whether or not opinions on civil rights should be allowed as a basis for a society. In retaliation, a [[Pro-choice]] society was quickly established to provide a group for students who advocate for the protection [[Abortion-rights movements|safe and legal abortion practices]].

In 2023 the Guild was publicly criticised for its security and events management practices after an incident during a club night left multiple students with serious injuries following a crush in the Guild's Underground events space where [[Dick and Dom]] were performing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Knight |first=Ellen |date=8 January 2024 |title='Disaster broke out': Security guard calls for change after 'crush' at Birmingham students' union |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2024-01-08/whistleblower-security-guard-calls-for-change-after-crush-at-students-union |access-date=22 February 2024 |work=ITV News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-14 |title=Redbrick Investigates: FAB: Dick & Dom in da Crowd Crush {{!}} Redbrick News |url=https://www.redbrick.me/redbrick-investigates-fab-dick-dom-in-da-crowd-crush/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214172637/https://www.redbrick.me/redbrick-investigates-fab-dick-dom-in-da-crowd-crush/ |archive-date=14 February 2024 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{citation|last=Foster|first=A.|title=Birmingham (Pevsner Architectural Guides)|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2005|location=London|isbn=0-300-10731-5}}
*{{citation|last=Ives|first=E.|title=The First Civic University: Birmingham, 1880–1980 – An Introductory History|publisher=University of Birmingham Press|year=2000|location=Birmingham|isbn=1-902459-07-5}}
*{{citation|title=The University of Birmingham Yearbook 2002–2003}}
*{{citation|last=Cheesewright|first=M.|title=Mirror to Mermaid |publisher=The University of Birmingham Press|year=1975|location=Birmingham|isbn=0-7044-0130-4}}
*{{citation|last=Braithwaite|first=L.|title=University of Birmingham architectural trail|publisher=The University of Birmingham Press|year=1987|location=Birmingham|isbn=0-7044-0890-2}}
*{{citation|last=Hughes|first=A.|title=The University of Birmingham : a short history|publisher=The University of Birmingham Press|year=1950|location=Birmingham}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.bugs.bham.ac.uk/ Guild of Students Website]
* [http://www.guildofstudents.com Guild of Students Website]

*[http://students.bugs.bham.ac.uk/ University of Birmingham Student Society Hub]
{{University of Birmingham}}
{{Aldwych Group}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Birmingham Guild Of Students}}
[[Category:University of Birmingham|Guild of Students]]
[[Category:University of Birmingham|Guild of Students]]
[[Category:English students' unions|Birmingham]]
[[Category:Students' unions in England|Birmingham]]

Latest revision as of 09:11, 9 December 2024

University of Birmingham Guild of Students
InstitutionUniversity of Birmingham
LocationEdgbaston Park Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Establishedc. 1876
PresidentSyed Sadath
CEOJoanne Elizabeth Thomas
Sabbatical officers
  • International: Ravikiran Rajashekar
  • Welfare and Community: Hope Aquilina
  • Activities and Employability: Devansh Jhamnani
  • Education: Alex Keen
  • Postgraduate: Ritakshi Maheshwari
  • Sports: Lara Parker
Trustees
  • Ruth Pipkin (External - Chair)
  • Syed Sadath (Officer)
  • Ravikiran Rajashekar (Officer)
  • Hope Aquilina (Officer)
  • Alex Keen (Officer)
  • Ritakshi Maheshwari (Officer)
  • Lara Parker (Officer)
  • Devansh Jhamnani (Officer)
  • Johnny Davies (External)
  • Yinbo Yur (External)
  • Emma Wedge (External)
  • Mitali Gohel (External)
  • Helen Stone (External)
  • Erica Conway (University Representative)
  • Shruti Kohinkar (Student)
  • Dionnne Enam Williams (Student)
  • Simone Hawley (Student)
  • Mikey Brown (Student)
AffiliationsNational Union of Students, Aldwych Group, National Postgraduate Committee
Websitewww.guildofstudents.com

The University of Birmingham Guild of Students (previously Birmingham University Guild of Students; BUGS) is the officially recognised body that represents students at the University of Birmingham. The Guild functions as a students' union as per the Education Act 1994.

History

[edit]

The Institution had its first foundations in the Mason Science College in the centre of Birmingham around 1876. The university itself formally received its Royal Charter in 1900, with the Guild of Students being provided for as a Student Representative Council.[1] As a consequence, both the Guild and the university officially celebrated their centenaries in 2000. Mason College had had a union of sorts with a club house opening in Great Charles Street in 1905. The Guild of Students, having been provided for in the 1900 Charter, was formed in 1909 as the Guild of Undergraduates, being based at Edgbaston.[2]

The Guild possesses archives that go back to the First World War, establishing a very long tradition of what is referred to as 'modern Students' Unionism'. Alongside Liverpool Guild of Students, the Guild was a founding member of the National Union of Students.

Guild building
Bronze mermaid by William Bloye in the Guild courtyard

The Guild of Students occupies the Union Building (often referred to as just 'the Guild'), situated at the edge of campus by the East Gate, for a peppercorn rent from the university. The building itself, by Holland W. Hobbiss, dates to 1928 and has been added to and amended, most significantly in the 1950s, when a south wing was added, and again in the 1960s, when a much larger west wing was built. At 10,000 square metres, it is one of the largest Student Union buildings in the UK.

It is not known for certain why the organisation is named a 'Guild of Students' as opposed to a 'Union of Students', in line with the vast majority of its English peers. It shares its name with five other student unions, including Liverpool Guild of Students and University of Exeter Students' Guild.

The Guild introduced new branding in 2007, intended to replace the previous 'BUGS' brand, which had been adopted in 2000.

Activities

[edit]

The Guild provides representation to all students at the university and campaigns to create change on issues affecting students at a local and national level. This is achieved through regular meetings with University Senior Officers and Managers, as well as through lobbying Birmingham City Council, the Government and other bodies. The Guild also runs campaigns focused on particular issues; campaigns have included a drive to see wheelie bins across the city, an initiative to improve campus security and have the university install CCTV across all halls of residence, and strong participation in the NUS campaign against the introduction of £3,000 top-up fees (a campaign that continues, despite the measure being approved by Parliament in January 2004).

The Guild boasts 24/7 welfare support channels for its members. Guild Advice provides professional and impartial advice on all manner of student issues, from academic problems, financial woes, immigration and other international troubles, housing worries, and employment rights. It also arranges individual representation for students facing academic appeals, disciplinary hearings and other procedures. All students in halls of residence can seek similar advice from their team of Student Mentors, who are on hand day or night for emergency issues, while Niteline provides a confidential listening and information service through telephone and email overnight. The Guild's welfare services are complemented by the Job Zone, which seeks and promotes part-time student vacancies, and the liberation associations.

With one of its three constitutional objects being to promote 'social intercourse', the Guild maintains social space, bars and event nights; all of these provide an income, without which initiatives including campaigns, the ARC, Job Zone, Niteline and many student groups would struggle to exist. The major weekly night is Saturday's 'Fab 'N' Fresh', with other popular events including 'Very Important Tuesdays' (VIT), which have hosted acts such as Samantha Mumba, Wheatus and Cyndi Lauper, society-themed evenings such as 'The Mix', student group events and irregular gigs and comedy evenings. Further commercial revenue is generated through marketing and retail activities, including a supermarket, and the Guild acts as the official retailer of university branded merchandise for this purpose.

The Guild finished a £4 million redevelopment in July 2010, with the ground floor of the building being completely overhauled, creating for the first time a dedicated membership area with all of the key services in one place. In addition, the brand new bar started serving food, and the Guild opened its very own letting agent, the SHAC.

Every November until 2019 the Guild hosted Birmingham's biggest free public fireworks display on the Vale Village on the Thursday closest to bonfire night.[3] After several decades of continuous operation this event did not return after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Societies & volunteering

[edit]

The Guild also supports over 300 student groups and societies, actively promoting student involvement, volunteering and social participation. Its oldest society is Carnival, the Guild's charitable RAG (Raising And Giving) society, while one of its newest is Occult and Paranormal Society; all manner of groups, such as Fetish Society, Rock Music, Circus, InterVol (International Volunteers), Mountaineering, and Jazz and Blues, come in between.

The Guild publishes a newspaper called Redbrick. It also has a radio station, Burn FM, which broadcasts online via its website during Autumn and Spring Terms, and Guild Television, the university's student TV station. All three media outlets are editorially independent and are encouraged to hold the Guild Executive to account. However, as the groups and the Executive are all part of the same organisation, the trustees reserve the right to edit content that poses legal or other risks to the Guild, which at times has caused friction amid claims of political censorship.

Birmingham's student guild has a particularly high number of drama societies, collectively referred to as 'Guild Drama'. These societies coexist within the space of the Guild, with different groups dedicated to classical theatre (Article 19), new writing and improv (Watch This Society For Original Theatre), pantomimes (Panto Society), musicals (Guild Musical Theatre Group, colloquially known as GMTG), and stand-up comedy (The Birmingham Footnotes Comedy Society) to name a few. Each society produces roughly 1-2 shows per term, usually within the Guild itself, but occasionally branching out into site specific performance within the university grounds. There have also been some instances of drama societies within The Guild staging productions at the Midlands Art Centre, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and National Student Drama Festival.

The Guild has a Student Groups department, which hosts and supports a large variety of student-led societies and volunteering projects. Notable societies and projects include:

The Computer Science Society

[edit]

The Computer Science Society at the University of Birmingham, often referred to as CSS, is the official Computer Science society at the University of Birmingham.[4] The society has won two awards in 2017, namely the "Society of the Year" and "Outstanding Event" awards[5] and since then have also won the "Community Award" in 2019 and "The Great Achievement in EPS Award" in 2020.[6][7]

The society also actively encourages its members to improve their skills by making pull requests on their GitHub to make changes and improvements to the official website, giving members practise at using essential skills needed in the industry but not taught at the university.[8][9] In addition to this they also run hackathons that members can attend to learn new skills and meet new people.[10]

CSS also regularly host workshops to guide students through important information they will need to succeed in the industry.[11] They work with the Google Developer Student Clubs in order to effectively deliver peer-to-peer learning of programming concepts and logic to ensure students are properly prepared for real world problems.[12] The School of Computer Science is one of the biggest schools at the university with over 460 students enrolled in 2021.[13]

ValeFest

[edit]

ValeFest, also known as Vale Festival, is a one-day music festival organised entirely by student volunteers from the Guild of Students.[14] The festival is Europe's largest student-run charity festival, and takes place annually on the Vale Village grounds. Since its inception in 2004, ValeFest has supported over 20 different grassroots charities based in the UK and abroad, ranging from domestic abuse charities, to LGBTQ+ community organisations, to natural disaster relief efforts, to mental health charities.[15] Some of these charities include Helen Bamber Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, Shelterbox UK and Birmingham Children's Hospital. In the time since the festival began, the society have raised roughly £200,000 for various charitable causes.[16]

As of ValeFest 2019, the festival comprises a main stage, second stage, dance tent, comedy stage, lakefront stage and a community bandstand. As well as live music provided by a mixture of contracted acts, current student bands and returning alumni, the festival frequently features demonstrations from societies such as BattleSoc, Acapella Society and Footnotes Comedy Society. The event culminates with a headline act on the main stage. Previous headliners who have performed at the festival include: The Mouse Outfit, Fickle Friends and The Hunna.[17]

In 2020 and 2021, ValeFest produced digital festivals by hosting a number of livestreams across YouTube. The festival returned to Birmingham's Vale Village in June 2022 for the first time in almost 3 years.[18] The 2023 event was set to take place in June 2023, but was cancelled in the weeks leading up to the event.[19] The committee stated that the Guild had advised them that ticket sales were too low to confirm contracts with acts and as such were unable to release a lineup, further hindering sales. The Guild also released a statement to Redbrick, the student newspaper, stating that the event was projected to make a £14,000 loss.[20]

The Astronomical Society

[edit]

The University of Birmingham Astronomical Society, generally known as AstroSoc, is the official astronomical society of the University of Birmingham.[21] It was formed on the 2nd March, 1909, and is one of the oldest societies still running at the Guild of Students. The society meets weekly for general meetings, which include observing nights, talks and presentations.[22] As of 2023, the society owns a large and diverse collection of telescopes, including a 12" Meade Lightbridge Dobsonain, a 10" Sky-watcher Dobsonian, and several smaller electronic go-to telescopes. It is also the custodian of the university's historic Cooke refractor, which was purchased in 1910 as a part of the original observatory on the Edgebaston campus and is now situated in a dome on top of the Poynting Building.

The society also runs programmes to improve the public understanding of astronomy.[23] These include a series of public talks known as the Patrick Moore Lecture Series, Tea, Talk and Telescope.[24] AstroSoc also participate in the university's Astronomy in the City events, which include astronomy and astrophysics talks, and the chance for the general public to observe the night sky.[25] The Society hosts a number of social events throughout the year, including an annual formal dinner, summer camping trip, and bar crawl.

In 2006, the Society won the Institute of Physics' Best Student Group.[citation needed] In 2003 and 2005, the Society won the best website of a student society. Past Chair of the Society Samuel George won the 2007 Guild Awards Ross Barlow Memorial for most outstanding individual student for his work with AstroSoc.[citation needed] In 2009, it was awarded 'Best Event' at the University of Birmingham at the annual 'Guild Awards'. [citation needed]

In more recent years, it won the EPS (Engineering and Physical Sciences) societies Outreach Award in 2014, the Outstanding Event Award in 2018, and the Outreach Award for Continued Excellence in both 2019 and 2020.[26]

InterVol

[edit]

InterVol is a student volunteering charity that was founded at the Guild, notable for being the first Guild volunteering project or society to become a registered charity in the United Kingdom.

InterVol was set up as a society in 2003 by a group of students brought together by the Involve (now Student Development) department at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students, they ran their first volunteer placements in 2004.[27][28]

InterVol focuses on student-led community volunteering projects that aim to make a long-term difference to children, communities and the environment, both locally and through placements overseas. InterVol works in close partnership with local NGOs for their overseas placements. InterVol became a registered charity in England and Wales in May 2010.[29]

Debating Society

[edit]

The University of Birmingham Debating Society is the largest debating society on campus; it practises debating in the British Parliamentary Style as do other university debating societies, such as Oxford Union, Cambridge Union and Durham Union Society.

The society runs weekly workshops and holds regular public debates, where anyone at the University of Birmingham can see guest speakers debate.

The society holds an annual Inter-Varsity competition[30][31] and regularly competes in national and international Inter-Varsity debating competitions, such as the World Debating Championships. In 2009, the society was ranked 11th in the UK according to Britishdebate.com.[32] The society is currently ranked 96th in the World based on the last five World Debating Competitions.[needs update]

Governance

[edit]

The Guild is a students' union for the purposes of the Education Act 1994. Under section 67 of the Act, all students of the university are by law automatically members of the Guild unless they deliberately opt out as per section 1.1 of Bye-Law 2.

The Guild's Articles of Association and Bye-Laws set out in detail how the organisation should be run.

In August 2008, the Guild moved from its previous model of an unincorporated association to become a charitable company limited by guarantee (CLG) and, as a result, a Trustee Board was established to provide guidance, expertise and strategic oversight of the Guild of Students. The Guild became a charity in 2010.[33]

This decision was made following a Referendum that took place in February 2008 and was approved by over 4,000 students, the Executive, Guild Council and the university. Key to the governance review was a need to clarify how decisions were made and by whom, especially in respect to the role of the Trustee Board and Guild Council.

The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Guild, which is delegated to the Chief Executive and Management Team. They ensure the Guild remains legally compliant and solvent, in accordance with Memorandum and Articles of Association, the By-laws and Guidance and Strategy documents. In the past, when it had far fewer members than today, this group of trustees was Guild Council. The Trustee Board is now made up of seven Sabbatical (Officer) Trustees; four Student Trustees, with one undergraduate, one postgraduate, one BAME and one international student; and seven external trustees, one of whom is a nominee from the university.

Executive

[edit]

Below the trustee board is the Senior Management Team (SMT). These are CEO, Director of Finance, Director of Engagement, Director of Operations and Director of Community and Representation.

The Guild Officer Group (GOG) also sits below the trustee board. The GOG is made up of all full-time and part-time elected officers of the Guild. The part-time officers are: Disabled Students’ Officer, Sustainability Officer, Ethnic Minority Students’ Officer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Students’ Officer, Trans and Non-Binary Students’ Officer and the Women's Officer.

Finances

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The Guild has an annual turnover of approximately £7.3 million.[34]

A large portion of that money is the block grant, an annual sum of money from the university. For 2023/24, this was £3.4 million, equivalent to approximately £90 per student. The Guild also receives money for the performance of several service contracts. One of the most significant of these is the £350,000 for the Student Mentor Scheme, equivalent to £75 per hall resident. The Residence Associations also receive grants from the university equal to £100 per hall resident.[citation needed]

Most of the rest of the Guild's turnover is through its venues trading activity.

In the 22-23 financial year, there was 1 staff member paid between £90,000 and £99,999 with 2 staff members paid between £60,000 and £69,999.

University Audit

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In 2023, the University of Birmingham undertook an audit of the Guild's financial procedures. While not originally made publicly available, it was eventually disclosed as part of a request made under the Freedom of Information Act.[35] The audit describes 4 key risks the University determined to be germane.[36]

The audit also described 4 recommendations to be made to improve the integrity of the Guild's financial procedures.[37]

Media controversy

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Over the 2005–2006 academic session, the Guild made national and international press over several controversial issues.

The year started with President Richard Angell banning the National Blood Service from the Guild's popular Freshers' Fair over the service's policy of banning gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life.[38] This policy remained in effect until it was overturned at the start of the 2009–2010 academic year.[39]

In January 2006, a row erupted as the Guild became aware of and subsequently took issue with some of the policies sought by its Evangelical Christian Union society. The Union sought not to allow non-Christians to become members, have the outgoing leaders appoint new leaders (rather than have the members elect them), and require members to sign an evangelical doctrinal quasi-contract. Although the Union later agreed to hold elections, the Union members felt that their religious beliefs prevented them from being able to make any more concessions. The Guild stated that they believed the law prevented them from accommodating the society, as student unions are required to make all of their activities available to all students. The Christian Union stated that they believed they were being deprived of their legal rights. Guild Council ultimately derecognised the society, although it was subsequently re-admitted to the Guild in 2013 .[40][41]

At Guild Council in June 2006, President Richard Angell proposed a motion titled 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' that the Guild should 'have a party' on the occasion of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's death,[42] which was met with widespread criticism, even making The Times national newspaper.

In 2013, The Guild joined several other University unions in banning the song Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke from being played at club night Fab'N'Fresh.[43] The boycott of the song was prompted by media outcry over the sexually explicit lyrics, which many deemed misogynistic and apologist regarding rape culture.

In 2019, a Pro-Life society within The Guild was established, which was founded by students advocating for the outlawing of abortion in the UK. This sparked debate amongst students about whether or not opinions on civil rights should be allowed as a basis for a society. In retaliation, a Pro-choice society was quickly established to provide a group for students who advocate for the protection safe and legal abortion practices.

In 2023 the Guild was publicly criticised for its security and events management practices after an incident during a club night left multiple students with serious injuries following a crush in the Guild's Underground events space where Dick and Dom were performing.[44][45]

References

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  1. ^ (Cheesewright 1975, p. 35)
  2. ^ (Hughes 1950, p. 17)
  3. ^ "Students' Guild Sets Birmingham Skies Alight For Bonfire Night". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  4. ^ "CSS". www.guildofstudents.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ "EPS Societies' Awards 2017 Winners Announced". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  6. ^ "EPS Societies' Awards 2019 Winners Announced". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Great Achievement in EPS Award". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  8. ^ cssbham.com, CSSUoB, 4 October 2021, retrieved 5 October 2021
  9. ^ "School of Computer Science". www.cs.bham.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Hackathons". UoB Computer Science Society. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Developer Student Clubs". UoB Computer Science Society. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  12. ^ "About DSC | Google Developer Student Clubs". gdsc.community.dev. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  13. ^ "School of Computer Science". www.cs.bham.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  14. ^ "ValeFest".
  15. ^ "ValeFest".
  16. ^ "ValeFest".
  17. ^ "ValeFest".
  18. ^ "ValeFest".
  19. ^ "ValeFest".
  20. ^ "Redbrick". 31 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Astrosoc". Guild of Students. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Events". AstroSoc. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Public Outreach". Astrophysics & Space Research Group. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  24. ^ "Tea, Talk & Telescope". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  25. ^ "Astronomy in the City". Astrophysics & Space Research Group. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  26. ^ "AstroSoc". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Taking a hands on approach to poverty reduction" (PDF). University of Birmingham Buzz Magazine. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  28. ^ "InterVol BUGS web page". University of Birmingham. Archived from the original on 19 September 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Details of InterVol's charity status". Charity Commission Website. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  30. ^ Winners between 1993 and 2005
  31. ^ The Birmingham IV 2010
  32. ^ Britishdebate.com
  33. ^ "Trustee Board". Guild of Students. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  34. ^ "UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM GUILD OF STUDENTS - Charity 1137548". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Guild of Students Financial Procedures Manual". WhatDoTheyKnow. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Audit of Guild of Students - Finance" (PDF). WhatDoTheyKnow. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Guild of Students - Finance" (PDF). WhatDoTheyKnow. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Students protest gay donor ban". pinknews.co.uk. 6 February 2006.
  39. ^ "Blood drive back on campus after a four year ban". redbrikonline.co.uk.
  40. ^ "Birmingham CU readmitted to students' union after 7 years". The Christian Institute. 8 March 2013.
  41. ^ "Ban for exclusive Christian body". BBC News. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  42. ^ "Student apology for Thatcher call". BBC News. 6 June 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  43. ^ "Birmingham University's Guild of Students is latest to ban 'Blurred". Independent.co.uk. 8 October 2013.
  44. ^ Knight, Ellen (8 January 2024). "'Disaster broke out': Security guard calls for change after 'crush' at Birmingham students' union". ITV News. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  45. ^ "Redbrick Investigates: FAB: Dick & Dom in da Crowd Crush | Redbrick News". 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

Further reading

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  • Foster, A. (2005), Birmingham (Pevsner Architectural Guides), London: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-10731-5
  • Ives, E. (2000), The First Civic University: Birmingham, 1880–1980 – An Introductory History, Birmingham: University of Birmingham Press, ISBN 1-902459-07-5
  • The University of Birmingham Yearbook 2002–2003
  • Cheesewright, M. (1975), Mirror to Mermaid, Birmingham: The University of Birmingham Press, ISBN 0-7044-0130-4
  • Braithwaite, L. (1987), University of Birmingham architectural trail, Birmingham: The University of Birmingham Press, ISBN 0-7044-0890-2
  • Hughes, A. (1950), The University of Birmingham : a short history, Birmingham: The University of Birmingham Press
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