was renamed Aberystwyth Guild of Students () in 1972, after the university's Union merged with the Unions of the College of Further Education, College of Librarianship and the Welsh College of Agriculture. In 2012, the Guild reverted to the name Aberystwyth University Students' Union (). Operations Officers The union has 5 full-time sabbatical officers, and 13 part-time officers. All officer positions are elected in cross-campus elections every spring. Liberation and Section Officers (LGBT+, BME, Women's, Disabled, Mature, Postgraduate, and International) are elected solely by students who self-define into each respective category, and candidates for these positions must likewise self-define to be eligible to stand. Sports and societies As of 2022, there are 48 sports clubs and 76 societies affiliated to the union. These range from more traditional sports like rugby, football, cricket and hockey, to American football, cheerleading and Ultimate Frisbee, as well as country-based sports such as clay pigeon shooting and horse riding. The societies range from more national movements such as Amnesty International to casual and hobby-based societies such as the chess society or Exploding Fish (improvisational performance) to political organistations such as Labour and the Lib Dems. A full list can be found on the website. Most people join these groups at the annual Freshers Fairs held in the first week of term usually in late September, or at the ReFreshers Fair, which is usually held at the beginning of February. Debating Union The Aberystwyth Debating Union is a society run by students to foster the use of debate as a means of exploring ideas. The society was formed in 1872 and the first president was Idris Evans. Since then many students have been active in the society including former president of the Debating Union Emlyn Hooson QC, who went on to become Chairman of the Liberal Party in Zanzibar. In the early 2000s the society experienced a lull in activity; however, in 2006 Michael Keary reinvigorated the society, with teams being trained and sent to external competitions once again. Union members Ollie Newlan and Roberto Sarrionandia became the first team from a Welsh institution to reach the Quarter Finals of the World Universities Debating Championships, after doing so at the annual competition in Berlin, 2013. The Debating Union is the university's oldest society and is set to celebrate 150 years of existence in 2022 Theatre Societies The Students' Union is notable for the number of drama