Swansea University Students' Union

Swansea University Students' Union ( _cy. Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe) is the students' union for Swansea University and is part of the part of National Union of Students of the United Kingdom. The Student Union aims to promote the interests of its students. It is currently located on the Swansea University campus in Union House [cite web| url=http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/find_us/campus_map.html |title=Students Union website: Campus Map| accessdate=2007-04-23] , and also has offices in Fulton House- an adjacent building which the university is planing to tear down during renovation of the university. [cite web| url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161389&command=displayContent&sourceNode=161372&contentPK=16788648&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=filtersearch
title=This is South Wales: UNI BATTLING FOR GLITTERING FUTURE | accessdate=2007-04-23 | date=2007-03-03]

2006/07

The Student Union's main aims are to promote the Students Union and student safety, student well-being and welfare to its members and everyone at the University. The Education Officer took great interest with the NUS top up fee's march in London [cite web| url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2006/11/06/admission-impossible | title= Waterfront Newspaper: Admission Impossible| accessdate=2007-04-27 | date=2006-11-06] . The Welfare Officer Miles Goodman dress up as a chicken all in the good name of a safe sex campaign [cite web| url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2006/11/20/new-sexual-health-campaign-launched| title= Waterfront Newspaper:New sexual health campaign launched| accessdate=2007-04-27 | date=2006-11-20] The International Fiestas have gone down a treat for everyone from overseas [cite web| url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2007/02/12/international-fiesta |title= Waterfront Newspaper:International Fiesta| accessdate=2007-04-27 | date=2007-02-12] . The Student President assisted in many projects such as Student Safety working with the Police [cite web| url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2007/02/12/police-raid-student-village |title= Waterfront Newspaper:Police Raid Student Village| accessdate=2007-04-27 | date=2007-02-12] . The Treauser Owen Morris spent the year defending the decision to close the Green Room (now D2) [http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2006/03/12/student-general-meeting---nov-23] .

Democracy

The Student's Union is a democracy governed by a constitution [cite web| url=http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/assets/Union_Constitution.doc | title=Union Constitution|format=DOC] . As of July 2008, the new Union Constitution comes into effect. All students of Swansea University are automatically enrolled into the Union at the beginning of each term (unless they choose to opt out) and then have the right to produce and vote on motions at the Student General Meetings. Representing the students are the Sabbatical officers, Executive, Standing Committees, Societies and a Course Rep assembly. There are also management staff to help with the running of the Union.Fact|date=April 2007

tudent General Meetings

Student General Meetings (SGMs) are held every 3 weeks of term to help keep the union in contact with its members. All union members are welcome to attend. SGMs and the Course Reps Assembly have powers to send proposals to the Union Executive on issues that they deem important. Student General Meetings and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) are an opportunity for elected officials to be publically scrutinised about their policy decisions.

As of May 3, 2007 Student General Meetings are recorded and publicised on the [http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=111|Student Union's website] .These audio files are available for 5 years after the date of the meeting for those with an interest in exact decisions of previous meetings. [cite web| url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2007/05/08/sgm-goes-multiplatform | title=The Waterfront: SGM Goes Multiplatform | accessdate=2007-05-11| date=2007|05|08]

The Executive

The Executive Committee sets the policy and direction of the Union. Commonly referred to as the 'Exec', it is made up of the elected 6 full-time Sabbatical Officers and 15 part-time elected officers and representatives. The Chair of the Committee is the Union President and in his/her absence, the General Secretary chairs the meeting.

The Sabbaticals 08/09:

Officers Responsibility Group (ORG) "Chaired by the General Secretary", this is the committee that maintains order and discipline amongst the elected officers of the Union and has the authority to evaluate and investigate the work of the Sabbatical Trustees.

ervices

The Union runs a variety of services including several general stores ("Brynmill Key", "Level 2", and "Hendrefoilan Spar"), coffee shops ("Just Coffee"), and student bars ( "JC's", and "Woody’s"). They also have an Advice & Support Center and a Nursery.

Nightline

Nightline is a confidential, non-judgemental, anonymous listening service "for students, by students" at Swansea University. The Telephone Number is 0800 0131 322. The service runs from 8pm to 8am on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. [cite web| url=http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=98 | title= Swansea Students Union Website: Nightline | accessdate=2007-05-11]

wansea Accommodation Service

The Students' Union officially launched Swansea Accommodation Service (SAS) on 1 February, 2007 in the Digital Technium. The Students' Union took the decision to create Swansea Accommodation Service because "it wanted to improve the standard of accommodation available to students, which in turn may help to reduce the high level of complaints made by students every year" [ cite web | url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2007/02/12/sas-lettings-officially-launched |title= Waterfront Newspaper | date=2007-02-12]

Woody's Bar

Woody's Bar is situated in the heart of the student village. Prior to its refit in 2006 it was called "Idols Bar". The bar is known for its themed nights and end of year Carnival.

K2

K2 was known as KopyShop until 2005, at which point it was relocated from Fulton House to the third floor of Union House.Fact|date=April 2007

DV8

DV8 is the student night club. Prior to renovation it was called Divas. There was a competition in the late 1990s to rename the student union bar after it moved from the top floor of the student union building to the bottom floor. While on the top floor the bar had been called the "Mandela Bar" in honour of the South African freedom campaigner (who subsequently became president of South Africa). This was won by Mr Rhys Sage (now a professional photographer) who was a guest at the opening of the bar. The opening was reported in the Student Union journal then called "Bad Press".

Xtreme Lounge

Xtreme Lounge, named after Xtreme Radio, the Union's Radio Station is located in the first floor of union house and currently acts as bottle bank and second music zone of the main student nightclub "DV8". During the day, the room is used by societies. Previously the room was called the Green Room and operated as a café until summer 2006 when it was closed down. Students have spoken against this action several times as they were not consulted on the matter. [cite web| url=http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk/articles/2006/22/10/green-room-moves-to-jcs | title= Waterfront: Green Room Moves to JCS | date=2006-10-22| accessdate=2007-05-11]

in City

Sin City is a nightclub and live music venue, which opened December 2006 and is partly owned by Swansea University Students’ Union.Fact|date=July 2007

Media

Media-wise the Students' Union operates the newspaper "Waterfront" and the radio station "Xtreme Radio". Fact|date=April 2007

Xtreme Radio

Xtreme Radio is Swansea University's Student Union Radio Station, founded in 1968, making it the second oldest in the UK.

Financial Information

Between 20 Mar 1967, and 19 Jun 2002, the Students' Union was a registered charity [cite web| url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?remchar=true&chyno=529890 | title= Charity Commission] . During 2002 the Union withdrew from the Charities commission, and has since enjoyed 'Exempt Charity' status, as set out by UK legislation . [cite web| url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/supportingcharities/ogs/g057a001.asp#a2_2 | title=Charity Commission- Exempt Charities | accessdate=2007-05-29]

The alteration in the Unions charitable status had the effect of forestalling the Charities Commissioners investigation into, amongst other things, the whereabouts of a missing cash sum (£14,000) [Charities Commission Ref: GAW/CD(w)/284855, Letter from Charities commissioner to General Manager (Stuart Rice)] . During the same year the Union experienced a crisis of liquidity (see graph). Being in a net-debt of £24,000, its position was salvaged via a loan from Swansea University and the imposition of a voluntary all-staff Wage freeze [Annual Report of Student Union Finance Committee Academic year 2006/2007] .

In 2006/07 concerns re-ignited over an affair that many believe to be indicative of the structural difficulties that have afflicted the SUSU since 1999. For two years there was no Finance committee. The importance of this constitutional body lies in its role as guarantor of accountability and transparency between the Unions membership and the Sabbatical Officers (in addition to those who advise them). Despite a past failure to convene this Committee the, then incoming, President (Owen Morgan) appeared to sign off the 2005-06 Audit Report on the basis that the non-existent Committee had ratified it. Since then Mr Morgan (re-elected 2007) has repeatedly stated that he has no recollection of signing the document. This matter, alongside other concerns, has prompted an ongoing investigation by Price Waterhouse Cooper. [Annual Report of Student Union Finance Committee Academic year 2006/2007] .

In relation to this investigation a Swansea University spokesman said: 'The University has received allegations of irregularities in the Student Union. No evidence was provided to justify the allegations but, as a routine precautionary measure, the university's external auditors have been asked to investigate' [cite web | url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161389&command=displayContent&sourceNode=161372&contentPK=16719445&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=filtersearch
title= South Wales Evening Post| date=2007-02-04 | accessdate=2007-05-29] . Ex Welfare Officer, Miles Goodman attempted to play down the significance of the investigation, describing it as a 'review' [SGM 2007 on the 03 of May. From audio recording SGM_03.05.07 @ 32:52 ] . This position was subsequently abandoned when the SU President Owen Morgan refused to comment on confusion pertaining to two conflicting reproductions of the 2005/06 Audit due to the existence of an “ongoing investigation” [SGM 2007 on the 12 of June. From audio recording SGM_12.06.07] .

The 2006-2007 Finance Committees (forced into being by policy passed by students, in a General Meeting) has since revealed that they have been compelled to submit Freedom of Information Requests for financial information owing to the reluctance of General Manager(Stuart Rice) to provide any of material sought. Additionally, the rump of this elected body, produced a report (submitted to the June AGM) in which they outlined their continuing concerns regarding liquidity against borrowing and the general lack of transparency that, they felt, surrounded the whole issue of Union Finance. The then SU Treasurer, Owen Morris defended his involvement by stating that he does not “deal with banks because they have staff for that” [ Owen Morris SU treasurer Annual report 2007 ] . [ Owen Morgan SU President Annual report 2007 ] .The Membership is still awaiting feedback in relation to further thefts that have occurred since the September term of 2006. It is commonly known that the first of these incidents involved the removal of a cash-sum (in excess of £5000) from a safe in Union House. This has been followed by further reports of money being stolen but this time no amounts were mentioned [ Owen Morgan SU President Annual report 2007 ] .

The following graph show the balances based on the SUSU Audit reports between 2006 – 2007

Community Work and Societies

The Students’ Union supports over 70 societies ranging from academic groups to shared interests, politics and conservation groups. Many of the societies are involved in local community work, fundraising and conservation activities. Recent events have included the People and Planet’s campaign to reduce the energy used by the University, the Conservation Society's clearing of the cliffs in the Gower, RAG’s £20,000 fundraising in less than 12 months and the Welsh Society's fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer CareFact|date=June 2007.

ee also

*Swansea
*Swansea University

External links

* [http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/ Swansea University Student Union (SUSU) website]

Citation

*http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=74
*http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=104

References

* [http://www.swansea-union.co.uk Swansea Student Union]
* [http://www.xtremeradio.org Xtreme Radio]
* [http://www.waterfrontonline.co.uk Waterfront Newspaper]