All Cardiff University students will have the opportunity to vote on the Students’ Union (SU) redevelopment plans before any work is undertaken, last Tuesday’s Student Council decided.
The issue of the redevelopment was added to the Council’s agenda at the last minute in an attempt to dispel rumours and dissatisfaction surrounding the plans.
Following the publication of the proposed changes in last week’s gair rhydd (issue 870), upset students immediately began voicing their concerns.
A Facebook group entitled ‘Outrage at the new Cardiff SU plans’ was set up last Saturday and, at the time of gair rhydd going to print, had in excess of 2,300 members.
The gair rhydd website also received over 160 comments on the plans.
Among the most common complaints were the proposed removal of the Taf and the Games Room, and the downsizing of Solus.
In an attempt to guarantee that the eventual changes will “benefit the majority of students”, a motion was passed at Student Council resolving that “a vote which is accessible by all students should take place before the plans are signed off”.
The Council, which saw a significant increase in attendance due to the focus on the Union redevelopment, also gave Students’ Union President Jonny Cox the chance to explain the logic behind the proposals.
Speaking last Tuesday, he began his presentation by commenting on the outdated and dreary state of the SU, claiming that major changes are needed to ensure that it will still be standing in ten years time.
He also stressed the importance of constructing “multi-functional areas” in order to diversify the Union and increase its appeal to a wider range of students, declaring that “it is not just a bar”.
In a further written explanation of the plans, he declared: “The Union needs to adapt to the changing student demographic and demands. For far too long we have had a total emphasis on our commercial services It’s time that our clubs, societies, volunteering and development opportunities were given more prominence.”
However, Jonny also explicitly stated that bar provision in the Union will not be removed completely.
In the written explanation of the plans he stated: “Junction could become a great bar. The only reason that it is not being labelled as a bar is because it will be so much more, with a nice atmosphere and a good provision of food and non-alcoholic drinks.”
He also defended the proposed downsizing of Solus, claiming: “The way the plans are, if students do still want to go out every night of the week we will have provision for that.
“The capacity might be slightly less, but the provision is still there.”
Following the explanation of the proposals, response to the redevelopment has been described as positive.
Jonny said: “Since Student Council, a fair few people have commented and written emails explaining how much better they understand the plans and how they can see them as being suitable for the Union moving forwards.”
Students are being encouraged to provide feedback and contribute to the redevelopment process by e-mailing SUBuildingDevelopment@cardiff.ac.uk.
But speaking at Student Council, Students’ Union Vice-President Rowena Vassallo explained that, despite the complaints on Facebook and the gair rhydd website, the Union had received less than 70 e-mails about the plans.
She encouraged students to provide ” realistic and reasonable suggestions” rather than just dismissing the plans completely.
These thoughts were echoed by Jonny who, speaking to gair rhydd shortly before it went to print, emphasised: “This is a consultation process and people have to feed into it by sending an e-mail.
“This I cannot stress enough.”
To view the full explanation of the redevelopment proposals, visit www.cardiffstudents.com.
