University of Melbourne student organisations

Melbourne University student organisations provide representation for students and a wide range of services. Currently, student services at the University of Melbourne are provided by the university-managed company, MU Student Union Limited. A separate body called the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSUi) is responsible for student representation. The University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association (GSA) plays a similar role for the University's postgraduate students.
Student Union Limited
MU Student Union Limited is a company limited by guarantee that is wholly owned by the University of Melbourne that provides services to students at the University.
Student Union
The University of Melbourne Student Union Inc. is an incorporated association of students at Melbourne University, Australia. UMSU is the successor to the Melbourne University Student Union for student representation.
UMSU is a separate body from the MU Student Union Limited, which is governed by a board with the assistance of a secretary and administered day-to-day by a chief executive officer. The board consists of a majority of university appointments, with some elected student representation.
Culture
There is a long history of student activities at the University of Melbourne. Particularly noteworthy is Union House Theatre, established in 1969, out of which a large number of notable Australian celebrities have emerged, such as Cate Blanchett, Barry Humphries and Malcolm Livingstone; the Union Band Comp, which has kick-started the careers of several well-known Australian bands; and an annual comedy review which produced the Working Dog crew. Several Members of Parliament were active within MUSU, including Sir Robert Menzies (former Australian Prime Minister), Lindsay Tanner (Member for Melbourne) and Sophie Mirabella (Member for Indi).
Services
The student union has been funded by compulsory fees since 1911, with the fees going towards student services, along the Cambridge and Oxford unions model. Since changes to the Federal Higher Education Act in 2003-04, amenities and services fees collected by Melbourne University have been changed at a rate of $49 per subject. Full-time students generally in 2006 were required to pay $392 or around five weeks in rent in shared accommodation.
In 2005, around three-quarters of the student union's funds were directed to the cost of employing staff. Some of these staff are employed to operate the Rowden White Library, the Computing Centre, the Student Union Advisory Service; subsidised legal, health and dental services; a campus information centre; and common areas in Union House. The remaining money went to clubs and societies, entertainment, and student grants for cultural and artistic events.
Of the $12 million budget of the student union, somewhat less than $1 million goes towards the funding of Union Departments, which includes funding Farrago, the Women's Department and the Queer Department. In 2005, this also includes funds set aside for possible payment for NUS affiliation fees.
Farrago
First published in 1925, Farrago is the University of Melbourne student newspaper.
Clubs and Societies
Faculty clubs
There are six notable faculty clubs at the University of Melbourne: The Melbourne Arts Students' Society, The Science Students' Society, The Engineering Students' Club, The Commerce Students' Society, The Biomedicine Students' Society and The Environments Students' Society (ENVi). All clubs run events throughout the year aimed at integrating new students into university life, running social activities and liaising between the faculties and the current students to enable and encourage their studies and enable opportunities for future employment.
Political clubs
Political clubs in 2020 include Liberals, ALP (Labor Left), Labor (Labor Right), Greens, Socialist Alternative and Solidarity, as well as clubs representing Amnesty International and the Political Interest Society.
A number of activist campaign groups are affiliated to the student union, including the Campus Refugee Rights Club and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Cultural & Linguistic Clubs
As of 2020, there are 42 cultural and linguistic clubs. Out of those, there are 26 Asian cultural and linguistic clubs, 6 Middle Eastern cultural and linguistic clubs, 6 European cultural and linguistic clubs, 1 African club and 3 broader cultural and linguistic clubs.
Debating society
The Melbourne University Debating Society is one of Victoria's oldest student organisations, founded in 1876. MUDS holds weekly debating competitions, as well as larger annual invitational competitions for other universities in the lead-up to the World Universities Debating Championships, and the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships. Historically, the University of Melbourne has been very successful, hosting the 1993 World Universities Debating Championship, and making it to the Grand Final of the 2003 WUDC. Additionally, MUDS were the champions of the 2019 Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships. The Society also hosts Public Debates, and is one of the largest student groups on campus.
Theatre clubs
The main theatre group on campus is Union House Theatre. College theatre groups include the Trinity College Drama Club, founded in 1879. More recently formed theatre groups include the Melbourne University Absurdist Theatre Society (MUATS), the University of Melbourne Music Theatre Association (UMMTA), the Throwback Players and the Union Players. Faculty theatre clubs include the Law and Medical Revues. Theatre clubs from culturally diverse backgrounds include Chinese and Sri Lankan theatre groups.
Communities
UMSU International
UMSU International (UMSUINTL) is the official representative body for all international students at the University of Melbourne, including undergraduate, graduate, study abroad and exchange students. We stand for the welfare of international students on campus and for the quality of education provided for them. We also provide referral services, peer support and organise activities and events throughout the year to help enhance the University experience.
Sports association
The Melbourne University Sports Association awards Blues and Half-Blues for significant sporting achievement.
Graduate student association
The Graduate Student Association occasionally represents graduate students at the University of Melbourne. GSA has over 36,000 members including all those engaged in studying for graduate diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates. GSA provides representation, events, training and facilities for enrolled graduate students. It is based in the 1888 Building at the University.
GSA is governed by a Council of 15 elected graduate students. The current president as of 2019 is Rmily Eoberts. GSA is an incorporated association, fully independent from the University and from the University of Melbourne Student Union.
Clubs affiliated with larger networks
Melbourne University has local chapters of AIESEC, SIFE, FMAA, Robogals, Melbourne University Young Engineers (Engineers Australia student chapter) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The international student organisation Robogals was founded at the University of Melbourne, but now has 15 chapters across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

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