Money Matters

Money Matters more and more in this day and age and a lot of you have come to the union, or a union official to complain that in your opinion the bar prices are too high and i thought i would have a go at explaining why the prices are as they are and what we do with the money.

I think the most important thing worth noting is that the students union, and included in that banner is the shop and bar, is a non-profit charity. This is to say that all the money we make from the shop and bar is spent again in the students' union on enhancing the student experience, unlike other bars and shops where the owner would simply take the money home for their personal gain.

So yes, our bar prices are higher then some of the other bars in town but all the money we make is spent directly on the students not for the personal gain of any one individual.

I think it is also important to note that we are the only "Student only" bar in town and therefore feel that this means we are able to offer a safer environment for our members.

I hope that makes it a lot clearer about how the students union operates and why we do what we do. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call or email me.

Get Involved...

With our new constitution we are trying harder then ever to get students involved in what we are doing as a students' union. So if you think we aren't focusing on the area that your concerned about then don't hesitate to come and see me in the students union and let me know, if no one come to tell me they are unhappy with what we are doing how am I suppose to know?

One great way to get your voice heard about an issue is to come along to one of our senate meetings and tell us what it is that you want, don't panic it sounds fancy but its basically a meeting of students who you have elected (either to the union executive or via the course rep system) who will decide what areas the SU should be focusing there time and effort. If you do have an idea for a campaign we should run, like one that is due for the next senate meeting is a motion to get the SU to lobby the university about getting Wednesday afternoons free for sport and if the senate approves it then that is exactly what the SU will do. Or if you just feel that as an SU we don't offer a service you think we need, like a radio station, then the senate is the place to get backing for that idea and to get the SU mandated to make that change.

If you are interested then please email me with what it is you think we are doing wrong or aren't doing at all, or if you really want you can let me know what you think we are doing well, even if your not sure about how to deal with the issue i will let you know and help you to get your ideas/issues heard and hopefully dealt with.

Sports & Societies Council

earlier in the week saw the first sports and societies council of the new year, and indeed the first to be held under the new constitution. Although i feel we achieved a lot in sports and societies council im still concerned that the new constitution doesn't have a sports and societies bye law and that's where i need the officers help.

If you are an officer of a sports team or a society and are interested in the way in which this is run by the students' union then you will have your chance to change it. Before the next Sports and societies council i will be sending every officer whose email i have a copy of a draft sports and societies bye law and would really appreciate it if you read it and at the next meeting let me know what you thought was OK and what you thought needs changing