My student recently told me that he was having some issues with his student union programming. He wanted to know if I thought this was a big deal and if I would have any recommendations for him. His concerns were that some students were using the union as an avenue to get ahead. One of his buddies was actually using the union for his own agenda, which was to create his own agenda to get elected.
The other issue that he had with his union programming was that it took too long. When the teachers in the class went out for the day, they still had to come back in for class the following day. During this time, students were taking advantage of the teachers and using the teachers’ time in a way that was not productive. A union that is too slow in moving is hard to manage and can be very inconvenient.
My recommendation? Create a committee that meets throughout the semester to discuss and debate students’ ideas. You can gather students from all sections of the class so that everyone has a say in how the union is run. Make sure the students’ ideas are thoroughly discussed and then vote on the ones that are the best. Having input from all the students will make sure that the union progresses in the most effective manner possible.
Once you have the list of creative ideas, you need to turn those into reality by getting them started. Ask each teacher to give a short talk about their favorite thing about their department or about their students’ experience in their particular class. Give the students a handout with these talks so that they can have them at the end of each class. You should include some information about your union at the end of the lecture, as well.
The next step is to take the students’ ideas and turn them into union programming. This can be done by emailing the entire list to everyone concerned, or it can be done by hand-scribbling the necessary wording. If you choose the latter, ensure that you have some form of support for your proposed programming. This could be done by attaching a small piece of paper with your proposed union to the back of a business card. When students receive this card, they can easily pass it along to other students in their section if they so desire.
Students need to be very careful about the language that they use within their emails and in their announcements. Remember, your first perception of your student union may be that it is a bunch of hippies. Therefore, you need to be find this very careful not to include any statements that might make that impression. Keep it professional, however. You want students to take pride in belonging to their school and to see it as a prestigious institution.
Student union programming can also come in the form of events. These should be carefully planned to make them fun and entertaining. Consider having contests, giving out prizes for the best dance team, or simply having contests to see which group can rack up the most points for the most students. The possibilities are endless. Use your imagination when you are planning and then execute.
One last tip is to make your student union an open and welcoming place. Inform students of their rights, power, and opportunities. Offer to help moderate certain discussions or to speak on behalf of your union at meetings. Being a positive presence in your student union can greatly enhance its success.