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The Guild

OK so I'm sure that most of you all ready know that Birmingham's student union is not a studetn union at all; its a guild. Now I've heard that its called the guild because its been given the special status by a royal charter or something like that. However the question is this: What is the difference between a guild and a union? There must be one otherwise why bother having the charter in the first place?

Reply 1

Leekey

9

Chubb

OK so I'm sure that most of you all ready know that Birmingham's student union is not a studetn union at all; its a guild. Now I've heard that its called the guild because its been given the special status by a royal charter or something like that. However the question is this: What is the difference between a guild and a union? There must be one otherwise why bother having the charter in the first place?

Royal charter simply allows the place to call itself a university (I've not heard about a university SU recieving charter). I'm almost certain that they have called it a guild simply to differentiate it from other SU's in the country (I think anyway :confused:

), much like the way that Durham call its accomodation colleges. :biggrin:

Reply 2

Nylex

10

I didn't know that, I thought it was just called the Guild cos we're special :frown:

.

Reply 3

Leekey

9

Nylex

I didn't know that, I thought it was just called the Guild cos we're special :frown:

.

Edinburgh's is called an asscosiation and I think that Bristol's is renaming thiers also. Why can we not just stick with calling them SU's. :rolleyes:

Reply 4

Nylex

10

Leekey

Edinburgh's is called an asscosiation and I think that Bristol's is renaming thiers also. Why can we not just stick with calling them SU's. :rolleyes:

Lol, could do but BUSU doesn't have the same ring to it as BUGS.

Reply 5

Leekey

9

Nylex

Lol, could do but BUSU doesn't have the same ring to it as BUGS.

Ahhh, so that explains why they had to think of a new name. BUGS sounds really cool so they had to find a word beginning with G so they could call it BUGS. :biggrin:

Reply 6

Lupin Loopy

I'm sure I read somewhere that it was because it was the first SU in the country, or something like that

Reply 7

Chubb

OP

2

Leekey

Royal charter simply allows the place to call itself a university (I've not heard about a university SU recieving charter). I'm almost certain that they have called it a guild simply to differentiate it from other SU's in the country (I think anyway :confused:

), much like the way that Durham call its accomodation colleges. :biggrin:

No its definetly something special (ie not all unions can call themselves guilds).

Reply 8

Leekey

9

Chubb

No its definetly something special (ie not all unions can call themselves guilds).

From BUGS website...

"As such, we are basically a Students’ Union, but a special granted charter allows us to call ourselves a Guild."

It would appear that it is just a cosmetic thing. :wink:

Reply 9

Chubb

OP

2

Leekey

From BUGS website...

"As such, we are basically a Students’ Union, but a special granted charter allows us to call ourselves a Guild."

It would appear that it is just a cosmetic thing. :wink:

Yeh I meant that the charter was special (you couldn't just call yourself whatever you wanted too) though you have answered my original question any way. :smile: