Loughborough Students' Union (LSU) aim to serve the student community here at Loughborough. In their own words:

"We’re a bit different to other unions, as we let you decide. Here at LSU, we represent your views so you can focus on doing what matters to you. In representing our students we have the ability and resources to tackle some of the more daunting issues.  Our student-elected officers aim to improve your life not only academically, but also socially, and personally with a range of activities, clubs, societies, and services to get involved in!"

In 2019/20, LSU was ranked as the best students' union nationwide in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards. At this time, LSU employed 11 student executive officers. In the following awards in 2021/22, LSU placed 16th - coinciding with a reduction to eight student executive officers. This year there are just five executive officers, alongside four non-executive student community leads.

Student executive officers serve as directors of the LSU, acting as a critical voice for the whole student population in ensuring the LSU is delivering the best student experience possible. They sit on the board which gives them a key voice in every LSU decision as representatives of all students. 

The reduction in student executive officers to the minimum legal requirement has diminished the student representation within the LSU, making it harder for the collective voice of students to be heard. Instead, decisions are being made with an increasing influence from the Senior Leadership Team. This has led to a number of decisions such as removing the popular 'Cogs' room from LSU club nights and removing Grad Ball from graduation week.

Until 2022, the section chairs (Action, Enterprise, Rag and Societies - as well as Media which was cut in 2020) were part of the student executive officer team, also a part of the LSU board. The decision to change these roles to non-executive positions has stripped power from community leaders who passionately advocate for student voices across the different sections of the LSU. There is speculation that a decision to cut these salaried positions completely is imminent. This will have a hugely detrimental impact on the quality of extra-curricular opportunities available to students that enrich your student experience.

Please consider signing this petition and show your support and concern for the future of the LSU, the student-led opportunities at risk, and the voice of all Loughborough students.