“The Union seeks to enhance the student experience by providing representation, welfare services, recreational facilities and opportunities for student development within the Union, the University and the local community. The Union exists to provide an efficient and accountable service for all students at the University.”
With all the furore regarding the SU’s plans for redevelopment it seems that the concept of a Students’ Union is something that has been lost beneath its bar and nightclub provision.
All too often you hear people say, “I’m going to the Union tonight.” What they really mean is that they are going to Solus or the Taf. But of course Solus and the Taf are not the only facilities the Union has to offer.
A Student Development Unit (see page 18), an Advice and Representation Centre, an Entrepeneurial unit (a la Dragon’s Den), a large and active Volunteering group, Student Media, 60 Athletic Union clubs and over a hundred societies are all housed inside the large brick monstrosity that straddles the railway track.
But is it really a shock that people see it as just a pub and a club? During term-time it is common to see students in promotional T-shirts spreading the word along Park Place and outside the Students’ Union about the next club night occurring in Solus. But how often do you see people in promotional T-shirts spreading the word about the Advice Centre and and Student Development Unit?
It’s all very well for the people that go into the SU regularly enough to view the full cycle of plasma screen notices, but for those who don’t set foot in the building there is no way to find out about everything the Students’ Union has to offer.
Communicating with a body of 25,000 students is certainly not easy. I’m sure the SU would love to find out your ideas to improve communication channels as well.
It is vital that as well as giving the non-commercial facilities greater prominence and space in the future Students’ Union, they receive a proportional amount of promotion to ensure that the vast majority of students can access the services that they provide.
gair rhydd would like to sincerely apologise for any offence and upset caused to individuals by last week’s Ted Handsome Problem Page. Offence was not the intention of the feature and it has been ensured that similar incidents will not occur again.
