Things You May Not Know About the University of Alberta Students’ Union

By Sam

Last year, I wrote a piece about the importance of student governance. At the U of A, many students don’t engage with their representation, as evidenced by voter turnout rates of around 30 percent for Student’s Union (SU) elections. I don’t think this is because students don’t care about issues or because they’re lazy. The real culprit, to me, is that many students don’t understand what their Students’ Union does and why it’s important.

It’s natural to disengage if you don’t understand what you’re voting for or don’t know why it matters. However, what I want to demonstrate for you with the following infographic is the vital role that the Students’ Union plays in providing services, maintaining facilities, and advocating for students. I’ve certainly been surprised to learn just how much the SU does, and I think you will be too.