[2] The union is financed through its operations, a grant from the university and additional benefits brought by its charitable status.

[6] Its operation is enshrined in law through the Education Act 1994, the university charter granted in 1952 and the Union's constitution.

[11][14] Following the second world war the university began to expand passing 1,000 students for the first time from a starting point of 171 in 1902.

[15] During the 1960s the university was set to expand at an even greater rate following the publication of the Robbins Report with a large number of new buildings added to the campus, new halls of residence added to the surrounding area of Southampton and more students, aiming to teach 4,000 students by the end of the decade-long masterplan in 1967.

[16] The annual events of the Rag day and the Union dinner were both heavily criticised in this time, for being unruly and elitist respectively, with the Rag day having to be cancelled in 1960 after the university threatened disciplinary action and was only resurrected in 1963 while the Union dinner remained.

[16] The era also saw the beginning of widespread protests and political action on campus on a wide range of topics from local issues to international solidarity events.

The new building contained a 475-seat refectory (still used and branded the Piazza), ballroom, bar, shop and debating chamber that was also suitable for musical performances.

[20] With this, the union's operations had to expand to these other campuses to ensure students there were represented and received a suitable university experience leading to the creation of officers for the different sites.

[20] Other key issues during this period included supporting staff in opposing cuts to the university structure in 1981, cuts to the union's funding (calculated by Union president Jon Sopel in 1981 as being 13.4% in two years[20]), proposals from the university to take back part of the Union building for teaching space (which were later withdrawn), introduction of student loans in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s and the initial lack of accommodation following the expansion of the university but not of halls accommodation resolved from 1994 to 1998.

[20] There were also some minor updates to the Union building with the addition of a Sports bar and an external climbing wall.

[22] This led to an extensive programme of works in the main union building costing £3.5 million,[23] replacing the debating chamber with an extension containing a double-height multi-purpose space called 'The Cube' that could be used as a nightclub or as a 330-seat cinema with two bars outside, extra toilets made from a converted squash court and a refurbishment to the reception and concourse with the ballroom being replaced by a new bar called 'The Bridge' with a view over campus.

The Cube nightclub and Union Films cinema also received an update in 2016 to add a stage area at the front and to replace the seating system so it would become suitable as a lecture theatre space during the day as well.

[38] The vote to give her the honorary title, awarded only once before to an employee of 30 years to the Union, received national attention.

[46] The logo at this time also added the expanded original Southampton University Students' Union name underneath.

[7] In October 2020, SUSU launched their new strategy under the new chief executive with a new vision, belief, purpose, values and mission.

'[2] Their three values, which were incorporated into their logo, representing they will 'Stand Strong' for the voice of students, 'Join Together' to create an inclusive and diverse community and 'Take Responsibility' for their actions and reduce environmental impact and discrimination.

[9] They are elected in February or March each year by any full member of the union (all students automatically unless they specifically opt out) and are limited by law to two terms of office.

The Union's Highfield buildings are arranged around a central plaza, named after the red brick paving of the area.

The main Union building, Building 42, is spread over four levels and contains 'The Bridge' coffee shop,[4] the 'Plant Pot' offering sustainable, vegan and vegetarian cuisine[4] as well as the offices of the Sabbaticals, meeting and activity rooms,[5] 'The Cube' nightclub and bars which doubles as the Union Films cinema[5] and sports facilities including a sports hall, squash courts, judo room, indoor climbing wall and dance studio.

[67] The Union plays a major role in the social activity of the students from the university and the organisations and societies it supports are a key part of this.

[80] The Performing Arts brand is used to represent the 41 societies that include music, dance and drama in their remit.

[82] In addition to the performance aspect, the brand also includes StageSoc, who operate back-stage and with the technical services department.

[44] Although the change of name had been announced by the Wessex Scene in March,[91] the £29,000 rebrand was widely revealed by the Soton Tab on Saturday 14 May when new signage was installed on the union buildings.

[95][96] Thus the branding was redesigned to incorporate the SUSU name and rolled out in June 2017 following a student vote on the final design.

[97][45] In October 2018 the president of the Students' Union, Emily Dawes, sparked national outrage when she called for a mural dedicated to the memory of war heroes to be painted over.

[98] The mural, which is displayed in the university's senate room, was painted by William Rothenstein in 1916 and depicts a degree being bestowed on an unknown soldier.

[103][104][105][106][107] In addition to gathering widespread attention, the story also hit headlines as far afield as Australia and Canada.

[108][109] The following month, after a term of absence, Dawes resigned from her role as president of the union and was not replaced that academic year.

During the 1960s, documents record a number of protests at a local level including boycott of the university refectory over the quality of the food, protesting the right of Sikhs to wear a turban as part of their uniform and standing in solidarity with striking workers at the Ford Southampton plant.

[16] A sit-in in 1971 took place in central Southampton where three derelict or vacant houses were occupied by students in protest of the shortage in university accommodation.