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"Adelaide University Union" redirects here. For the buildings known as the Union Buildings, see University of Adelaide § Buildings.

YouX
Founded1895
TypeStudent union
Location
SRC president
Vacant
YouX board president
Merlin Wang (2024)
Main organ
YouX SRC
SubsidiariesOn Dit (student newspaper)
AffiliationsNational Union of Students (Australia)
Websiteyoux.org.au
Adelaide University Union Building 1930

YouX, officially the Adelaide University Union (AUU), is a student union at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. It provides academic advocacy, welfare and counselling services to students free of charge, funds the student newspaper On Dit, and owns a number of commercial operations on campus. It also oversees the Student Representative Council (SRC), an organisationally separate body responsible for student political representation.

It was founded in 1895 and since 1971 is recognised as a statutory corporation under the legislation governing the University of Adelaide. As of 2024, there are over 175 clubs and societies under the umbrella of the union.[1]

In September 2024, YouX and the University of South Australia Student Association announced their intention to merge.[2]

History

[edit]

The Adelaide University Union was founded in 1895 and is one of the oldest students' unions in Australia.[3][4]

Following the establishment of the student association, three founding sports clubs co-founded the Adelaide University Sports Association in 1896. The sports association was administered by the student union for over 100 years before becoming directly affiliated with the university in 2010.[5] The Adelaide University Sports Association re-named to Adelaide University Sport that same year.[5]

As of 2024, there are over 175 clubs and societies under the umbrella of the union.[1] These include the Adelaide University Sciences Association (the oldest society at the union not related to sports), the Adelaide Medical Students' Society established in 1889 and the former Adelaide University Sports Association.[6][7][5]

Rebranding (2022)

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A decision in November 2021[8] led to the AUU being rebranded as YouX in 2022, which led to protests from many students, who called it thoughtless and rushed, with students being directed to a pornographic adult website with the same name.[9] YouX initially declined to process a student's Freedom of Information request for the costing and communication of the rebranding, who then lodged an application to the South Australian Ombudsman.[8] The state ombudsman directed the University of Adelaide to release documents relating to the rebranding.[10] The documents revealed that 93 per cent of students saw the term AUU as positive or neutral, while 19% saw the term as negative.[11] The rebrand was based on the perception that a decline in student members might be reversed if the word "union" was dropped from the name, although focus groups had found that the preferred name (out of the three options AUU, Adelaide University Union, and YouX), was AUU.[8] The cost of the rebranding was A$80,000, with most of the cost being the development of the new logo, at A$79,972.[8] During the 2022 student union election, candidates were told by YouX not to criticise the rebranding, warning that breaches would result in sanctions.[12]

Election Scandal (2024)

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On the 15th of October, 2024, the YouX Election Tribunal published a decision regarding allegations of misconduct by the incumbent Progress party during the 2024 student representative council election, conducted from the 26th to the 30th of August.[13] The decision followed allegations that members of the Progress party took phones from students and cast votes on their behalf, and that a social event hosted by the Chinese Student's Association required students to hand over their phones to have votes cast before being allowed to participate.[14] In its decision, the Tribunal declared all positions won by Progress candidates void, except those elected unopposed. The tribunal also imposed a two day campaigning ban on all Progress candidates for the re-election triggered as a result of the voiding. In addition, one candidate from Progress party was banned from standing in any YouX election until 2026, and was referred to the University for further disciplinary action.[13]

Similarly, on the 14th of October, the tribunal also published a decision regarding the media election for the editors of On Dit (conducted the week after the student election) following allegations of misconduct by the Progress party. The decision found that Progress candidates used unauthorised materials while campaigning, and that unauthorised personnel campaigned for the party. The results of the election were voided, a re-election called, and the Progress candidates banned from campaigning for one day.[15]

Unrelated to Progress, one student from the Left Action party was also disqualified from the SRC election and banned from standing in any YouX election until 2026 following allegations that he told another candidate "do me a favour, go home and hang yourself", and that he also physically intimidated a different candidate.[16]

Formal relationship with the university

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The Adelaide University Union is a statutory corporation under Section 21 of The University of Adelaide Act (1971), unlike other South Australian universities with their governing legislation.[17] This influenced the inclusion of a similar section in Adelaide University Act (2023) for the merger of Adelaide University[18] with the student unions of both universities fighting for the inclusion, and in addition, the "Western Australian model" of legislated 50% of SSAF[clarification needed] to the student union.[19]

Since 2008, the Adelaide University Union/YouX has relied on the University of Adelaide for the majority of its funding. This is a result of a funding agreement with the university.[20][better source needed]

The ultimate existence of the AUU/YouX, and its relationship with the university, is governed by the University of Adelaide Act 1971. This Act of the South Australian Parliament gives the University of Adelaide Council certain powers over YouX. YouX cannot alter its constitution or rules, or charge a membership fee, without the agreement of University Council, and YouX is bound to provide the council with its financial reports and budget for the coming calendar year prior to 1 December.[21]

Student governance

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YouX is governed by a board of management. The board consists of 10 ordinary members, who are not also permanent staff of YouX, five of whom are elected annually on two-year terms by the students of the university. The board then elects several of its members to positions within YouX, such as union president, vice president, student media committee chair and clubs committee chair.[22] Elections are held annually in September, with the board-elect and officer bearers taking their positions on 1 December.[citation needed]

Notable past presidents include former South Australian Premier John Bannon, former South Australia Attorney-General Chris Sumner, Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard (1981–1982),[23][24] and former South Australian Supreme Court judges Elliott Johnston and Samuel Jacobs.[citation needed]

Oscar Zi Shao Ong was president of YouX between 2021 and 2022, presiding over a board dominated by Young Liberals. During this time they cut funding for the Women's Collective and passed a constitutional amendment which gave an "independent committee" final approval rights over editorial content published in student newspaper On Dit.[25] Ong was also the national president of the Council of International Students Australia (CISA), during which time there were at least five disaffiliations from CISA, citing poor governance and communications as well as Ong's conservative leadership.[26][27]

The 2023 election results for the 2024 SRC president were declared void, and Georgia Thomas remained caretaker student president until another election could be held.[28]

As of 2024 the SRC president is Aiden Zeyang Wang, and Merlin Wang is YouX board president.

Publications

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Main article: On Dit

On Dit (pronounced on-dee), the second-oldest student-run print media in Australia, was established by the student union in 1932.[29][30] It is named after the French expression "we say" and operates independently of the university.[29] It also occasionally uses the name "Hearsay" as a creative writing edition of the magazine that dates back to 1972 when the then-newspaper changed its name to "Heresay" in Volume 14 as part of a protest against nuclear testing in the Pacific by France.[29][31][32] The Prosh Rag, which contains satirical content, is another special issue that is sold by students to the public to raise funds for charities.[33][34][35][36] On Dit often publishes content on national and global politics and is an example of student activism at the university.[37][29] Former writers of the newspaper include politicians Julia Gillard, Christopher Pyne, Penny Wong, Nick Xenophon and John Bannon.[38]

It is the successor to the Varsity Ragge which was founded in 1929.[39][40] It also published news, poetry and comedic works from various student clubs and societies, including the neighbouring Adelaide Teachers College which later became part of the university campus.[39][40][41] According to On Dit, the original newspaper failed due to student apathy.[39][40] The oldest student-run newspaper dates back to 1889 as the Review, which was previously ran by the Adelaide Medical Students' Society.[42][43]

The Adelaide University Magazine was another student-run magazine that began printing in 1918.[42][44] Following the establishment of On Dit as the official organ of the student union, it renamed to the Phoenix in 1935 as a modernist cultural and artistic magazine with literary works including poetry.[42][44][45] Following funding cuts in 1940, its editors founded the Angry Penguins which was influential in the then-isolationist Australia as a socially-progressive magazine promoting internationalism.[46][47][48][49][50] The magazine ceased operations after six years, following the Ern Malley hoax that set back modernism in the country.[51][52][45] The magazine was later revived on-and-off the following years as the Phoenix but published its final issue in 1949.[45] Later attempts by the student union in the 1950s to revive the Adelaide University Magazine as a staff and graduate magazine, rather than one focussed on artistic and literary works, failed.[45]

Adelaide University Student Radio was established in 1975 and was the oldest student-run radio program in Australia.[53]

Annual Prosh

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Main article: Prosh (University of Adelaide)
This is a photograph from the first Prosh Parade in Adelaide following its formalisation in 1905.
The inaugural Prosh Parade following its 1905 formalisation

The student union organises the annual Prosh week events inspired by the medieval tradition of ragging or "an extensive display of noisy disorderly conduct, carried on in defiance of authority or discipline".[54][55] The annual Procesh procession began in 1905 as a means for students to poke fun at established South Australian institutions, though ragging at the university dates back to the late 19th century.[54][55] In one example, multiple alarm clocks set and hid by students behind books made constant interruptions during a 1896 ceremony at the former Mitchell Building library.[54][55] The Prosh parade has in modern times included live band performances on flatbed trucks, student club-made floats and booze cruisers transporting inebriated students.[54][56] Among notable pranks, students suspended a Holden car on Adelaide University Footbridge in 1971 above the River Torrens as part of Operation Bridge-hang.[57][58][59][60]

This is a photograph of students on horse cart taking part in the annual Prosh event IN 1905, poking fun at Nobel Prize laureates Bragg and Bragg. A poster reads "Do not Bragg about radium".
Students on horse cart during the 1905 Prosh Parade with a poster that reads "DO NOT BRAGG ABOUT RADIUM"

Since 1954, the event has also involved the sale of satirical newspapers in public settings.[54][33][34] The Prosh Rag, later an annual issue of the On Dit student magazine, contains humorous references to various well-known persons of the day.[35][34][36] It has been sold on city streets by students to raise funds for charity as an attempt to legitimise the event following attempts to ban it in the early 1950s.[54][55] Since at least the 1960s, the event and magazine has often been involved in controversial topics including Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, apartheid, nuclear warfare, Aboriginal rights and the general administration of the university.[54][55] Following the end of free university education, the event has toned down in more recent times as a result of increased work commitments by students and the rise of social media for activism.[54][55] Prosh week winds up with the Prosh After Dark social event in the UniBar which has its origins from the Prosh Ball.[56][61]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Clubs". YouX. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  2. ^ "USASA & YouX All-Student Merger Survey". Waite Research Precinct. Adelaide, South Australia. 24 September 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Our history". YouX. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  4. ^ "ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY UNION CONSTITUTION" (PDF). Adelaide University Union. Adelaide, South Australia. 10 September 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Adelaide University Sports Association Inc". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Adelaide University Sciences Association". YouX. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Adelaide Medical Students Society". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d Kelsall, Thomas (26 July 2023). "Student union's big bill for 'YouX' rebrand". InDaily. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  9. ^ "YouX: Adelaide University Union rebrands with same name as porn website". news.com.au. 20 July 2022.
  10. ^ Katsaras, Jason (27 October 2022). "Adelaide Uni student's FOI win over union rebrand". InDaily. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  11. ^ "The YouX rebrand saga continues…". On Dit. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Your SRC and YouX Board Candidates Are Under A Weird Gag Order". Medium. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b YouX Election Tribunal (15 October 2024). "General Decision of YouX Election Tribunal" (PDF). YouX. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  14. ^ Gilchrist, Charlie. "University student elections overturned amid misconduct allegations". InDaily. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  15. ^ YouX Election Tribunal (14 October 2024). "Decision of the YouX Tribunal (On Dit complaint)" (PDF). YouX. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  16. ^ Yankovich, George (19 October 2024). "SA's future politicians caught up in student election integrity breaches with results overturned". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia: News Corporation (which owns "News Corp Australia"). Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  17. ^ University of Adelaide Act 1971 (SA)
  18. ^ Adelaide University Act 2023 (SA)
  19. ^ "University merger delay could come at $250 million cost, but impact on jobs unclear". ABC News. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  20. ^ Adelaide University Union#Impact of VSU
  21. ^ "University of Adelaide Act 1971". University of Adelaide. Archived from the original on 6 August 2008.
  22. ^ "Governance". YouX. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  23. ^ Cervini, Erica (16 July 2010). "Third Degree: Rise of the campus pollies". The Age. Melbourne.
  24. ^ Crook, Andrew (1 October 2010). "Crikey List: which MPs were involved in student politics?". Crikey.com.au. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  25. ^ Tran, Khanh (17 January 2022). ""Deeply undemocratic": Adelaide University SRC push back against attempts to muzzle student activists". Honi Soit.
  26. ^ "'Right-wing': the fallout from the NUS and CISA's dispute". Honi Soit. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  27. ^ "NSW Government issue ultimatum to international student group amid crisis". Honi Soit. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  28. ^ "YouX 2023 Election Results". YouX Adelaide University. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  29. ^ a b c d "On Dit". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  30. ^ "About". On Dit. Adelaide, South Australia: Adelaide University Union (trading as YouX). 20 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Love, death, and science fiction: Our 2021 Hearsay creative writing awards". On Dit. Adelaide, South Australia: Adelaide University Union (trading as YouX). 1 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  32. ^ "On Dit. Volume 40, Issue 14". On Dit. Adelaide, South Australia: Adelaide University Union. June 1972. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  33. ^ a b "On Dit (1975) "Prosh"". On Dit. Adelaide, South Australia: Adelaide University Union. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  34. ^ a b c "Austrine". SA Memory. Adelaide, South Australia: State Library of South Australia. 1965. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  35. ^ a b "Adelaide University Prosh Day pranks of old". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia: News Corporation (which owns "News Corp Australia"). 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  36. ^ a b "PROSH efforts lead to fundraising record by Adelaide Uni students" (PDF). Adelaidean. Adelaide, South Australia: The University of Adelaide. July 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  37. ^ "On Dit". Adelaide University Union (trading as YouX). Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Significant figures in politics, education, media and more as editors of Adelaide University's 'On Dit'". Adelaide AZ. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  39. ^ a b c "Varsity Ragge". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  40. ^ a b c "'Varsity Ragge' 1928-31 the ragged predecessor of Adelaide University's boldly activist students newspaper 'On Dit'". Adelaide AZ. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Our Proud Antecedent History". University of South Australia. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  42. ^ a b c Larsen, Marie (21 January 2019). "100 Years On - Adelaide University Magazine". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  43. ^ "About the AMSS". Adelaide Medical Students' Society. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  44. ^ a b "The Adelaide university magazine". Australian War Memorial. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  45. ^ a b c d Hoskin, Cheryl (May 2013). "A Genius About the Place: The Phoenix Magazine and Australian modernism" (PDF). The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  46. ^ Yates, Gavin (6 April 2023). ""Black Swan of Trespass": Surrealism, Angry Penguins Journal, and the "Ern Malley" Experiment". Dada/Surrealism. 24 (1). Melbourne, Victoria. doi:10.17077/0084-9537.31892. ISSN 2372-6725. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via The University of Iowa.
  47. ^ Miles, John (12 July 2000). "Lost Angry Penguins: D.B. Kerr, P.G. Pfeiffer and the real founding of the Angry Penguins". Jacket. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania (which owns "Kelly Writers House"). Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  48. ^ Bradshaw, Wayne (10 July 2024). "Misapprehensions of a Caustic Eye: A. D. Hope and the Failure of Angry Penguins as a Modernist Literary Movement". Journal of Australian Studies. 48 (3). Townsville, Queensland: 299–313. doi:10.1080/14443058.2024.2369499. ISSN 1444-3058. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via Informa (which owns "Taylor & Francis").
  49. ^ Haese, Richard (30 December 1982). "The Revolutionary Years". The La Trobe Journal. Melbourne, Victoria: State Library Victoria. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  50. ^ "Making History: The Angry Penguins". Heide Museum of Modern Art. Melbourne, Victoria. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  51. ^ Freeland, Lucy (7 February 2016). "Australias Avant-Garde Angry Penguins: From Art To Literature". Culture Trip. New York City, United States: U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  52. ^ "Angry Penguins". Tate Britain. London, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  53. ^ "Adelaide University Union, 1895-2012". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h "Student raggers and radicals: Student activity and activism from 1880". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  55. ^ a b c d e f "Student raggers and radicals: Student activity and activism from 1880". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  56. ^ a b "PROSH Week". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  57. ^ The University of Adelaide - 150 Years of Making History. Adelaide, South Australia: The University of Adelaide. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  58. ^ Dutton, Connie; Sanchez, Genevieve; Williams, Ian; Cook, Andrew; Burdon, Peter; Grantham, Leah (2014). "Lumen" (PDF). The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  59. ^ "Adelaide Uni's Prosh Week 1966 uproar after Ernie Sigley's broadcast from beyond Kangaroo Island jammed in city". Adelaide AZ. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  60. ^ "PMG jams Adelaide Uni students' Prosh pirate radio, using Ernie Sigley to broadcast off Kangaroo Island in 1966". Adelaide AZ. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  61. ^ "On Dit (Aug 1970) "Prosh Ball"" (PDF). On Dit. Adelaide, South Australia: Adelaide University Union. 31 July 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
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