The SU Memories revived..from 1968 onwards

Your Students' Union Reunited!!! We bridged the gap between 1968-2008! Over 40 past SU officers, staff, volunteers and reps met at the SU Venue on Saturday - 19th April. Former sabbatical and non-sabbatical officers, members of SU staff, and even past safety bus volunteers exchanged ideas, shared views on politics, students movements nowadays, and looked at memories from the past !!! I have learned how our SU has made a difference..

• 5 Presidents turnover...within ONE year in 1968-9
• 1973-4 The 1st ever female SU President - Tina Seaton
• many years ago the SU won the debate over better canteen food for students, through a cleverly designed food strike (the issues with food quality never changes I guess!),
• how the 1st SU bar was established (by the SU Prez Gerald Milch in 1968)
• how 20 years ago, amongst communist and capitalist movements, an SU President was elected on an a-political platform
• and how students fought against the decision to move to semesters...we still did move to semesters however :s
• I also learned about the struggle to enhance the constitution...which lasted over 10 years..just up to this year - as we finally have our brand new constitution :)

I have met the SU President from 1967-8 (40 years ago!) and of 1987-8 (20 years ago!) as well as many others, and it was such a fantastic experience to exchange knowledge and ideas!

The current Exec welcomed the past officers and staff. Myself and Helen West (our general Manager) addressed the guests. The Reunion also celebrated 10 years since Helen joined the OBSU family!

We had an SU timeline sheet which many of the guests filled up with names they could remember, we also had a SU Memory Book where the guests could record their memories from the years working at the SU. The memory book will be engraved and put in the trophy’s cabinet for many more officers and staff to write in!

This event set the beginning of a really precious process - rebuilding the history of the Students’ Union – a history that we could all refer back to and be proud of! We will soon be building up a space online with information on our history and on our student activists and leaders

Because believe me, there is plenty to be proud of at Oxford Brookes Students' Union

Love from your Prez

Antoinette x