The Brock University Students' Union executive is made up of four popularly elected students: the President, the Vice President Student Services, the Vice President External Affairs and the Vice President Finance and Administration. The executive is responsible for the day-to-day operations of BUSU as well as for developing strategies to implement policy set by the board of directors and BUSAC and collectively providing leadership and direction for the organization via the executive committee.
Administrative Council
The Brock University Students Administrative Council is a popularly elected legislative bodycomposed of representatives from all academic faculties of the university as well as representatives for Residence, Off-Campus, and International students. Constitutionally, BUSAC serves as an "Executive Advisory Committee" of the Board of Directors, in practice BUSAC is responsible for legislative oversight and the political representation of students to the Students' Union, through full council meetings as well as a variety of standing committees. Furthermore, the activities and operations of the Brock University Students' Union are reported to BUSAC by the BUSU executive.
Board of Directors
The Brock University Students' Union Board of Directors comprises seven members, the president and one other executive member, two members of BUSAC as appointed by BUSAC, as well as three student at large members elected in general elections. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the human resources of the students' union, as well as having a fiduciary relationship with the organization, particularly in regard to its corporate and legal responsibilities. The Board also serves a quasi-judicial function as the highest level of appeal for all redresses of grievance with, or within BUSU.
Services
BUSU operates many student services that have the goal to improve the quality of students on campus experience at Brock. BUSU is responsible for running the O-Week in conjunction with Brock University during the first week of the school year, putting on all-ages events and information fairs for first-year students at Brock as well as returning students. BUSU provides extended health and accident insurance program for Brock students through their health and dental plan. The goal is to provide peace of mind through insurance and to offset costs associated with their health needs. Coverage includes prescription drug coverage, accidental travel insurance, emergency dental coverage and optical coverage. BUSU provides every Brock student taking 1.5 credits or more with unlimited use of St. Catharines, Welland, and Niagara Falls Transit. This service is paid for by an ancillary fee collected with student tuition. The U-Pass was first implemented after a student referendum in 2003. BUSU operates Brock Aid, which is a first aid responders team that provides emergency medical response during BUSU events. BUSU also oversees BrockTV, the online campus television network. BrockTV provides all facets of student-made content from news briefs and guest lectures, to varsity highlights, musician interviews and entertainment parodies.
Clubs
The Brock University Students' Union ratifies student clubs and provides them with funding and organizational assistance. BUSU provides clubs with room bookings, BUSU.net e-mail addresses, postings on the BUSU bulletin boards and advertising in the Brock Press. BUSU clubs are overseen by the BUSU Vice President Student Services.
Businesses
The Brock University Students' Union operates several businesses on campus, including the campus bar, Isaac's; the Students' Centre cafeteria, Union Station; and the on-campus convenience stores, Subcetera and General Brock. BUSU also owns ADs, a design and print company, as well as Brock Crest, a catering company. BUSU is unique to many other students unions in relation to their campus bar as they are one of the few student unions that hold their own liquor license, as opposed to the university holding it.
The Alumni Student Centre is the head office of BUSU and is owned and operated by BUSU. All BUSU offices are housed in the Alumni Student Centre. The Alumni Student Centre contains a lounge for off-campus students, discount photocopiers for student use, and a coffee shop. The offices of the Brock Press and BrockTV are also in the Student Centre. The campus bar, Isaac's, Skybar Lounge, and the Union Station food court also occupy the Alumni Student Centre. The Student Centre is connected to the Plaza building, as well the Canadian Tire Bridge, which connects the Student Centre to Taro Hall.
Representation
The Brock University Students' Union was a founding member of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. The Brock University Students' Union is also a member of the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations. OUSA and CASA are Brock's provincial and federal lobby groups.
Controversies
Black face incident
BUSU gained attention for allowing a group of students who were dressed as the Jamaican bobsled team into their bar for a Halloween night. Some students in the costume were found to have put on black faces, prompting controversy. BUSU has since begun monitoring costumes entering their bar as a result. This was the third time a black face incident had happened on campus, as former students also won for the bobsled team costume, and one in 2009 won the contest for dressing up as Lil' Wayne.
