La Trobe Student Union
The La Trobe Student Union (LTSU) is a representative body for students at the Bundoora campus of La Trobe University. The LTSU is made up of elected student representatives who provide advocacy, services, events and support for Bundoora campus students. The representatives include President, Education Vice President, General Secretary, Postgraduate Officer, Education Public Affairs Officer, Welfare Officer, Women's Officer, Queer Officer, People of Colour Officer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer, Disabilities Officer, Environment Officer, Activities Officer, City Campus Representatives and 7 General Members of Council.
| Full name | La Trobe Student Union Inc. |
|---|---|
| Native name | LTSU |
| Founded | 2011 (after merger) |
| Members | 4013 (2012) |
| Affiliation | La Trobe University, NUS |
| Office location | Upper Agora West, La Trobe University, Bundoora |
| Country | Australia |
| Website | http://latrobesu.org.au/ |
The LTSU was formed in 2011 with a merger of the Guild, the SRC and the La Trobe University Postgraduate Association. It also incorporated Mature Aged Student Organisation (formerly the Part Time, Evening Mature Student Organisation) and International Student Association as associated bodies along with the regional bodies the Mildura Student Association and the Shepparton Student Association.
History
During the 1960s and 1970s, La Trobe, along with Monash, was considered to have the most politically active student body of any university in Australia. The Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) was a prominent organisation on campus, often with the cover of a front organisation sometimes encouraging the name 'La Trot'. The following La Trobe alumni were all good friends at the time and took part in student politics: Bill Kelty from the ACTU and AFL Commissioner, former Treasurer Tony Sheehan, Don Watson, Geoff Walsh (Bob Hawke's press secretary, High-profile union officials Brian Boyd, John Cummins and Garry Weaven, former federal treasury official and former Westpac CEO, David Morgan. Some other Labor figures and people from the left side of politics include Mary Delahunty, Phil Cleary and Michael Danby. Despite the general socialist/leftist atmosphere several conservative corporate/business figures and Liberal party members have come from La Trobe.
The La Trobe University Students' Union is responsible for many Contact Student Services but its role has been considerably diminished as a consequence of Voluntary Student Unionism. There were previously three main student representative bodies on campus known as the La Trobe University Student Guild, The Students' Representative Council and the La Trobe Postgraduate Students' Association. The La Trobe University Student Representative Council, became the principal representative body on campus and a student advocacy group as well as student representatives for welfare, disability, women, queer, indigenous, environment, education and welfare and the Guild managed student services. In 2011 however, the Students' Representative Council, The La Trobe Postgraduate Students Association, The Students Guild and the University merged the three separate organisations into one body: The La Trobe Student Union.
From 2014, the LTSU saw a major diversity, inclusion and anti bullying campaign organised by Dean D'Angelo while Eshan Arya further campaigned for executive representation of international and South Asian students within the LTSU. In a few years International office bearers Urwah Sherwani & Daman Mann were awarded Life Memberships for their accomplishments in representing cultural diversity at Bundoora campus during their tenures.
Notable Events
SRC Election Postal Vote Scandal
During the 1997 SRC election, there was a major scandal involving postal ballots sent to Menzies College. It was discovered that one of the students, Stefan Doonnelley, had gained access to the postal ballots during the delivery process. When challenged to explain their behavior, all candidates withdrew their nominations. The deputy returning officer writes that the candidates Stefan Doonnelley, Roberta Barocca, and Nigela Rhodes were charged with Dishonest Conduct and Interfering with Ballot Papers. He escalated the matter to the Dean of Menzies College and then the University Secretary.