History of the Student Union

OUSU's predecessor, the Student Representative Council, was formed in 1961 after the University Proctors banned the magazine Isis from reviewing tutor's lectures. From being a part-time secretary operating in a hut behind the Union Society buildings, The Student Union has expanded considerably, having its own office spaces in Bonn Square, being the largest publisher in Europe and a turnover of several hundred thousand pounds.

The Sixties - Recognition

In 1961 the student body was fighting to overturn draconian controls on students. For instance to entertain a member of the opposite sex in your room was still a sending down offence. In this climate the Proctorial ban on the Isis had to consequences. Firstly JCR Presidents formed their own committee, which still meets today. Secondly the SRC was formed upon which JCR's had voting reps. The 1960's SRC was far from a revolutionary body, preferring instead to present reports on issues to the university bodies, the most significant being the 1967 report on Proctorial powers. This culminated in the petition to the Privy Council regarding discipline and led to the Hart Committee being created by theUniversity to investigate "relations with junior members". JCR's passed new constitutions incorporating the SRC and the University gave it official recognition.

The Seventies- Internal Reform

The early 1970's saw a drift away from the SRC's report writing, as radicals pushed it to take a more forceful stance particularly over the issue of a Central Student Union. The radicals wanted occupations, and protests, to force the University's hand. The CSU campaign highlighted the dilemma the SRC was in: was the SRC a federal body of JCR's as enshrined in Council or a body of 12,000  students as enshrined in the power of open meetings where anyone could attend and vote? The open meeting was a passport to power for the political clubs who could mobilise their supporters to attend. The new constitution of 1974 was a classic fudge. The Oxford University tudent Union replaced the SRC and the Open Meeting was given "first shout" before council but if council disagreed on policy, the issue would go to referendum. This was merely stirring up problems for successors and The Student Union's reputation suffered because of the machinations the political clubs. It was not until 1990 that reform proposals, abolishing Open Meetings, meant that power could be said to lie solely with JCR's.

Despite this the Oxford University Student Union was still in embryonic form in 1974. Although the division tactics existed, the Student Union saw its first task as replacing its hut with premises befitting a real student union, primarily a building incorporating a large entz venue, bars, offices and so on.

The Student Union also set up its first sabbatical officer in 1974. The post was directly elected by all the student body. An executive of part time officers assisted the President and a whole range of committees campaigned on various issues reflecting the times. The Student Union moved twice in the late '70's: first to 42 Wellington Square and then to the second  floor of 28 Little Clarendon Street where it still resides. the offices were cramped but OUSU began to develop its services side. In 1975 the first alternative prospectus was  published , followed by the Oxford Handbook in 1978, the Oxbridge Careers handbook of  1978 and in 1991 the  Oxford Student newspaper. The money made from these ventures provided the resources for expansion. In 1988 The Student Union doubled its space by moving to occupy the first floor of 28 Little Clarendon Street as well as the second.

1980's- Expansion

In 1980 OUSU employed a second sabbatical, the Vice-President (Finance), whose job was to oversee the rapidly expanding services sector and coordinate the yearly JCR battels negotiations. In 1987 a third sabbatical was added, the Vice President (Welfare). In 1990 the Women's Officer became a sabbatical position.