▁of ▁the ▁academic ▁year . ▁▁ ▁The ▁Executive ▁is ▁unusual ▁in ▁not ▁having ▁a ▁president : ▁the ▁post ▁was ▁abol ished ▁by ▁the ▁Union ' s ▁first ▁Asian ▁president , ▁Sh um on ▁Rah man , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁in ▁favour ▁of ▁a ▁" flat ▁structure ". ▁Several ▁reviews ▁of ▁the ▁Officer ▁roles ▁have ▁taken ▁place ▁since , ▁with ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁s abb at ical s ▁falling ▁from ▁six ▁to ▁four ▁( in ▁conj unction ▁with ▁a ▁decl ine ▁in ▁student ▁numbers ), ▁and ▁there ▁is ▁an ▁on going ▁process ▁of ▁review ▁to ▁ensure ▁the ▁job ▁roles ▁remain ▁relevant . ▁ ▁The ▁Executive ▁reports ▁to ▁a ▁student ▁Council ▁that ▁meets ▁at ▁least ▁six ▁times ▁each ▁academic ▁year . ▁These ▁students ▁are ▁elected ▁through ▁a ▁combination ▁of ▁open ▁places ▁in ▁a ▁cross ▁campus ▁ball ot , ▁and ▁from ▁the ▁de vol ved ▁areas ▁of ▁power ▁— ▁the ▁academic ▁( class ▁and ▁fac ulty ) ▁represent atives , ▁sports , ▁and ▁activities ▁( soci eties ). ▁▁ ▁The ▁Union ▁is ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁Student ▁Central ▁building , ▁and ▁also ▁runs ▁services ▁for ▁international ▁students ▁in ▁Room ▁ 1 0 1 ▁in ▁the ▁main ▁Richmond ▁Building , ▁plus ▁for ▁research ▁post grad uate ▁students ▁in ▁the ▁Post grad uate ▁( Res earch ) ▁L oun ge . ▁ ▁Ro le ▁The ▁function ▁of ▁the ▁Union ▁is ▁to ▁support ▁and ▁provide ▁services ▁for ▁its ▁students ▁of ▁the ▁university ▁such ▁as ▁academic ▁or ▁financial ▁advice , ▁plus ▁activities ▁and ▁entertain ment , ▁and ▁quality