This is a question that is important to answer to prove how important every action before the 1992 formation of Liverpool John Moore’s was. Of course there were events and characters and protests that are a huge contributing factor to this question but this question is the mentality of the current student union. On this website there is a page which looks at the vision, the values and the objectives of the student union in 2015. Below are the current visons, values and objectives of LiverpoolSU:

Our vision at LiverpoolSU is for all of our student members to Love Student Life.

Our values are to be:

Student Led - Everything we do at LiverpoolSU comes from and is led by students through our leadership positions, research, campaigns, employment and activities.

Welcoming - We're here to welcome and support you on your journey at LJMU. At any point you want to get involved, we will make sure you feel able to do so.

Easy to Use - LiverpoolSU is there for you every step of way, ensuring our services and activities are easy to access and benefit from.

Inspirational - We inspire, empower and encourage you by providing opportunities to become the best you can be.

Challenging - We make change by challenging those who have an impact on student life no matter how big or small. In order to improve what we can offer and provide for you we also need to be challenged.

Liverpool Students’ Union exists to help all students love student life. We do this through providing and supporting course reps, sports teams, societies and events; campaigning with and on behalf of students; and offering support, employability skills, advice and information. We want our students to have the best academic, social and cultural experience Liverpool can offer.

As your students' union, we want to make sure you get the most from your,

• Social Life – find entertainment through our sports, clubs, societies and events. Keep up to date with the best Liverpool has to offer.
• Academic Life – get the most from your learning experience. We will represent your views and lobby on your behalf when something needs to change.
• Work Life – be prepared for your future career. The students’ union and its societies provide volunteer and work opportunities.

We know that things don’t always go to plan so we will…

• Support find entertainment through our sports, clubs, societies and events. Keep up to date with the best Liverpool has to offer.
• Campaign with you on the issues that are important to you, inside the university and beyond.

Every LJMU student is automatically a member of Liverpool Students’ Union and the Union is led by student officers who are elected by you.

TOGETHER WE HAVE A POWERFUL VOICE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY

This is what the union does in 2015. However if you look back through time to the late 60s and onwards you will find that this ethos of the student union was founded years before and is a main reason why it can be stated with such conviction today. What the union did in the past is what it does today. That is the simple way to look at but of course looking at it more in depth you’ll understand how important history is to the student union. The daily post published an article in 1968 where Robert Rippin stated that students must be put first when looking at the formation at the polytechnic and that is still the same today. In 1968 a simple approach of putting students first is still the same today. That is remarkable continuity when you consider how different the world is now today. All the values make sure that students are put first, simply just saying students should be put first needs more detail and that is what has developed over the previous decades. History is ever evolving and this is a perfect example of this.

In 1971 the student union offered over 60 clubs and societies and that is still the same today. It offered students the best chance to enjoy their time in the city and still the student union does that today. While all student unions do this, there is a difference between offering clubs and societies and offering the right clubs and societies. In 1973 there was a rifle club, in 2014 Zumba is offered to students. The premise of clubs and societies remains the same but LiverpoolSU changes to meet its student’s demands. The student led side of unions has always remained the same and this is why students know that what they need is being looked after. In 1976 around 500 students moved to the city and did not have accommodation, now every first year student is guaranteed a place to live. That is progress that shows that students are being looked after. The welcoming aspect is a developing issue as students did have fresher’s fairs, nothing quite like the one now. However in the earlier years of the polytechnic union handbooks were issued to students. This is almost as good as a fresher’s fair, of course it is not as exciting!

This would tell students where to look too if they needed help, who they could contact and a brief guide to the city. With the rise of the internet and social media a fresher’s fair does this in a different way but the student union still makes everyone feel welcome. We know that the student union was there for students and offered a variety of different services around the city in the same way it does now. A bar may have changed into a hub but the student’s interests are still at heart. The clubs and societies inspire students to do better and that was always the way. In the past and in the present the union connects students and gives them a reason to care, that may sound a touch generic but students issues that are presented from the student union bonds students together and inspires people to better themselves. That opportunity was there during the Walton house sit in and NUS arranged marches in London and it is the same now when in 2010 students attempted to make a difference about tuition fees. Inspiration comes from the ability to act.

In august 1969 the students of Liverpool wanted to be represented on the academic board and the board of governors and they were heard and allowed too. Now they can challenge and be challenged. This is the same today. The student union looks after academic life too. When there were to be mass education cuts in the early 70s the student union attempted to make a difference and the city of Liverpool responded. The support the union offers has also always been there, a great example being the availability of a nursery. The students of Liverpool fought for this and they got it. Support can come in a manner of different ways and a nursery is example of one of a number of different types of support.

So basically times change but why the union exists and what it does remains the same. That is why the history of the student union and the future of the student union is so important. Yesterday’s actions led to today and today’s action will led to tomorrow and that is what a student union and LiverpoolSU has sustained and maintained.