Editing University of York (section)

===Representation===<!-- Student-provided services and self-governance -->
{{Main|University of York Students' Union}}
[[File:Heslington Hall in winter.jpg|thumb|297x297px|[[Heslington Hall]] in winter]]
The [[students' union]] is the [[University of York Students' Union]] and is referred to as YorkSU. Its membership is currently the entire student population of the university. It merged with the postgraduate union, the Graduate Students Association (GSA) in 2024. In 2008 YUSU was able to open its first Union-run licensed venue The Courtyard.

Each college has its own [[Junior Common Room|JCRC]] or students' association which provide a variety of services, including college events and student welfare services; they also organise the Freshers' Fortnight activities in their college.

Non-partisan political societies are well represented at the university, with the York Student Think Tank, which produces student policy research and hosts informal debates;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorksu.org/activities/view/york-student-think-tank|title=York Student Think Tank|website=University of York Students' Union|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> the [[York Dialectic Union]], which hosts speakers and debates;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorksu.org/activities/view/york-dialectic-union|title=York Dialectic Union|website=University of York Students' Union|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> and the debating society, which competes in inter-varsity debating tournaments against other universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorksu.org/activities/view/debating-society|title=Debating Society|website=University of York Students' Union|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> There are also party political societies on campus with the University of York Labour Club, the University of York Liberal Democrat Society, the [[University of York Conservative and Unionist Association]] and the University of York Green Party Society; campaigning on issues both on and off campus, as well as organising debates and talks by high-profile speakers. There is also a branch of [[People and Planet]], which campaigns on environmental and ethical issues. Additionally, there is an active Palestinian Solidarity Society, and multiple pro-Palestinian protests and encampments have appeared over the past few years. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://nouse.co.uk/articles/2025/05/15/university-will-not-be-commenting-after-staff-member-forcefully-shoved-disabled-student-protester |title=University declines to comment after staff member “forcefully shoved” disabled student |last=Haining |first=Josh |date= 15 May 2025 |website=Nouse}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24325909.university-york-staff-students-camp-palestine/  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516204315/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24325909.university-york-staff-students-camp-palestine/ |archive-date=16 May 2025|title=University of York staff and students camp out for Palestine |last=Kavanagh |first=Alice |website=The York Press |date=17 May 2024}}</ref>

There are multiple organisations for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer ([[LGBT]]) students. The York SU LGBTQ+ Network is a liberation society built into the students' union, which represents LGBTQ+ students by campaigning for issues on campus, offering welfare & support and running events for all LGBTQ+ students to attend, such as cabaret evenings and chilled mixers. YorQueer, formerly the LGBTQ Social Society, also organises social events aimed at LGBTQ+ students and their friends. In November 2024 the two officially merged,<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=uoylgbtqnetwork |postid=DChf0-ttveL |title=It's Official |date=18 November 2024}}</ref> however as of May 2025 they still use both the YorQueer and Network labels for different events. They have strong links with the Staff LGBTI+ Matters Forum, which offers a largely similar provision to staff members of the university. Additionally, the 2024/25 academic year saw the creation of the [[Sapphism|Sapphic]] Society, which "aims to provide an uplifting and inclusive space for all students interested in Sapphic culture, identity and history".<ref>{{cite web |title= Sapphic Society|url=https://yorksu.org/activities/view/sapphic-society |website=University of York Students' Union |access-date=16 May 2025}}</ref>