» Issue 2: Spring 2005

Union matches up to increased role

CGCU President John Collins reports

THE CITY and Guilds College Union is steadily adapting to its new status as an influential faculty Union for all engineering students at Imperial. With over 4,200 members across 10 departments, we now represent one in three Imperial College students. This makes us the largest faculty union in the college by a considerable margin.

Decentralisation

With greater decentralisation of academic affairs from the core of the College to the new faculties, the role of the Engineering Student Union in representing its members is more important than for decades.

In January, the CGCU widened the membership of its executive to reflect the recent structural changes that had emerged from the birth of the faculty system. These changes, whilst subtle and well-hidden, will ensure that the RSM identity and its two departments now have a fair say in the governance of the union.

Whilst a great deal of time is devoted to ensuring that academic representation is effective and active, there is still ample time available for co-ordinating traditional Guilds’ activities, as well as a number of newer initiatives.

The 2004 Engineers and Physical Scientists Freshers’ Ball was, even by modern standards, enormous. Its 530 guests were treated to a three-course meal, a vodka ice statue, a casino, a Scalextric competition, a live band, rides in Jez and Bo, two music venues (including one in a marquee) and a welcome speech from the new Faculty Principal, Dr Julia King.

Whilst three quarters of those present were from the Faculty of Engineering, a good mix of students from outside the faculty helped make the evening a memorable event for all who attended.

Our other traditional events have been equally successful. The Lord Mayor’s Show (top right) was, in spite of some organisational difficulties, a huge success. Credit is due to the coordinator, Christopher McIver, who stepped in at the last minute to oversee the union’s preparations. I’m pleased to report that Bo just about made it to Brighton this year, albeit arriving last and two hours after the official end of the race!

The Internship Fair, an event launched three years ago thanks to financial support from the CGCA, continues to grow. Around two dozen companies and an estimated 1,000 students attended this year’s event held in the spectacular new main College entrance foyer for the first time. As I write Rag Week has just finished. I can report that the traditional ‘slave auction’ was, as usual, hugely embarrassing for all union officers who attended!

New clubs

Our clubs and societies are performing extremely well this year. We have recently welcomed a couple of new clubs into the fold, including one that encourages students to get involved in the construction of satellites for the European Space Agency. Meanwhile, our departmental societies are currently organising a series of events, supported by substantial government subsidy and aimed at encouraging female students to pursue a career in engineering and science.

For the remainder of this spring term, we will be piloting an inter-departmental quiz challenge, wrapping up the football competition and organising our general elections.

I for one am looking forward to the day when I can relax for the first time in nine months. Running the largest faculty union at Imperial College is great fun, but it certainly tires you out!

The success of many of these events are thanks to the generous support of the Faculty and the CGCA. With the arrival of our new summer sabbatical, the performance of the union can only improve next year.

It is thanks to you that I am able to deliver a glowing report this year and thanks to you that next year’s president will be able to do the same.