Lads vs Guys

Awayindahils

Hey guys,

Hope the summer is going well. We just want to send you out a quick e-mail to keep you informed of what we have been doing during for our first few weeks:

- Our main focus for the summer has been the redevelopment of the Union and its activities. We have been looking at the various aspects of the SU in the hope of improving the service provided to our students. Plans currently afoot include a redesign of the front office and travel agency and the introduction of a Class Rep computer room. We are also looking at putting in a sandwich bar in our House Six Shop.

- We have also been working on a brand spanking new website which we hope to have up and running by the 1st September. The old website was a little….crap so lots of work is needed. The new website will contain everything from the latest Ents timetables to everything that you could possibly need to know about your education or welfare, with a few surprises thrown in along the way.

- Another year can only mean one thing, another Freshers’ Week. We have been working away merrily on this. We don’t want to give too much away yet but we have a few things up our sleeve, and if the rumours coming from the Ents Office are true, we may be in for one of the best ever line-ups for the Freshers’ Ball.

As you can see, we are trying to make a few improvements to the SU. However, this work is only beginning. We have a long way to go and to get there we need your help. We would love to hear how you think the Union can improve. So please drop us an e-mail with anything you can think of from problems you have had with the SU to any new ideas that you think we should pursue, or even areas where the Union does a good job – president@tcdsu.org

One last thing – Just a couple of quick announcements:

REPEAT EXAMS: Repeats will begin on Monday 11th September and continue until Friday 22nd September. If you have been told that you have to sit a repeat you are automatically registered for that exam. There is no fee for sitting this exam. Timetables will be out mid August but will only be available on your departmental notice board so be sure to check them out. As usual, the SU will be doing our best to help reduce stress during this time. This starts with the opening of extra study space in Regent House to provide extended study time after the library closes. Regent House will be open from 5pm until 9.30pm, Monday to Friday, from now until the end of August. If you have any queries or problems please feel free to contact Rob at education@tcdsu.org.

GRANTS: If you are applying for a grant, and need any help or advice, contact Denise our Welfare Officer (welfare@tcdsu.org) or Rob our Education Officer (education@tcdsu.org). The deadline for grant applications is the 31st August. For more information check out www.mygrant.ie which has grant information and links to the relevant government websites.

All the best for the summer,

And so I finally give in to new term fever.

Rather than inviting a general union bash, I was just wondering what everyones thoughts on Class Rep computer rooms are?


But you know bash away.

Tricity Bendix

It will create a two thier system and (further?) remove the class reps from the people they serve.


Go socialism!:D

Awayindahils

You dislike socialism anyway.

Nietzschean

Plans currently afoot include a redesign of the front office and travel agency and the introduction of a Class Rep computer room.

is that really needed? tcd isn't that lacking in computing facilities that the SU should be throwing cash at a class rep computer room..............

Bartronilic

even though i running for and really want class rep i think they should put the money towards a normal computer room! a class rep comp room will make people with no interest in being a class rep run for it.

Andrew 83

I don't know if access to a computer room will be enough to make people run solely on the back of that but I do think it is perhaps a little un-necessary. A general computer room might be an idea, partocularly as it could then be full of SU info on the walls of campaigns, services etc. Open to other suggestions though as there are, as people say, plenty of computer rooms already. Sandwich bar could be a good idea, perhaps along with the JCR?

Stargal

A computer room for class reps is unnecessary - it's not like the CSC where a lot of work needs to be done on PCs (making posters, dealing with society correspondence, updating the grant information etc). Most of the stuff that class reps do doesn't involve a computer room.

However I do think that the space where DUST was could be used really well - maybe a place for committee meetings and for convenors to meet their reps, rather than the usual shuffling around trying to book rooms. Plus as Andrew so excellently suggested, keep all details on campaigns and resources there. An SU Common Room, if you will.

Nietzschean

Andrew 83 wrote:

Sandwich bar could be a good idea, perhaps along with the JCR?

Does anyone eat at the JCR anymore? does it make any sort of a profit? with lunch/spar/centra/the italian place/donovans/all the coffee places can it make a profit/be usefull?

shay_562

An SU Common Room, if you will.

Is this really necessary? People already complain that that SU are disconnected and don't know what's really going on in college, giving them their own common room will only add to that. I've never done anything SU-related so I don't know if there's a genuine need for it, but I honestly can't imagine why there would be.

Sandwich bar could be a good idea, perhaps along with the JCR?

There's already a sandwich bar 30 seconds walk away in the arts block, and from posts earlier this year on boards, that one's not doing that well with all the Spars and the like (as Ian said). Also, that shop in house 6 is tiny, where on earth are they going to fit a sandwich bar? And I'm assuming all the stuff necessary (fridges and the like) will cost a helluva lot, plus taking on more staff to look after it...dunno about anyone else, but this looks to me like a brand new black hole for funding to be poured into.

So DUST is just being remodelled? Then why are people suing it for being dismissed? Odd...

Got this e-mail in my mymail box earlier and saw it in all it's technicolour glory. I think it's nice that our new president gets such a kick out of the "font" button. But why did he highlight Simon's contact details in pink text when the rest are blue?

Crash

if you need to ask that shay....

shay_562

I'm trying this whole "be a better person" thing. Part of that involves looking for a rational explanation before making potentially slanderous suggestions over the internet.

Awayindahils

Seriously, it was just one article and come on shay, she had 50 thousand readers.

shay_562

So you'd prefer if I posted my original thoughts on it, which were basically that el presidente is trying outweight the effects of the fish and make himself look like only the second gayest member of exec by putting Simon's name in pink? 'Cause I would have thought that'd be wrong, but hey, if it's just one article...

Awayindahils

shay_562 wrote:

So you'd prefer if I posted my original thoughts on it, which were basically that el presidente is trying outweight the effects of the fish and make himself look like only the second gayest member of exec by putting Simon's name in pink? 'Cause I would have thought that'd be wrong, but hey, if it's just one article...

See very few people know about the fish.

And thinking back there are two articles, there was another this week.

shay_562

Well, the fish are only a tiny part of it. The general rumours were there long before the fish.

Edit: So, two articles and an online test indicating I'm a sociopath. The evidence is mounting.

Awayindahils

Not to mention that avatar.

edit:spelling

shay_562

...aviator? As in, someone who flies planes? What?

Endymion

shay_562 wrote:

So you'd prefer if I posted my original thoughts on it, which were basically that el presidente is trying outweight the effects of the fish and make himself look like only the second gayest member of exec by putting Simon's name in pink? 'Cause I would have thought that'd be wrong, but hey, if it's just one article...

Whats the Fish? And maybe this simon guy asked for his name in pink.

shay_562

And maybe this simon guy asked for his name in pink.

See? This is the kind of rational explanation I was looking for.

Agent Smith

its hardly that he's gay, quinn and hall are mates, maybe it was quinns idea of a unfunny joke?

Andrew 83

shay_562 wrote:

Is this really necessary? People already complain that that SU are disconnected and don't know what's really going on in college, giving them their own common room will only add to that. I've never done anything SU-related so I don't know if there's a genuine need for it, but I honestly can't imagine why there would be.

The idea was to have a common room for all students run by the SU, not one for SU officers/class reps.

I don't know the current state of the JCR, I just said if a sandwich bar was brought in it might be an idea to do with the JCR as they might not be best pleased with the SU taking on one of their roles.

The reason I think a sandwich bar might work is that the SU shop has seen falling profits the last few years. I think a large reason for this is the sandwich bars in Spar, Centra etc. When people go to get their roll at lunch time they can then also buy whatever else it is they need at lunch in Spar, Centra too. If they had one in House 6 poeple might then use the SU shop for their other bits and pieces. I assume a sandwich bar would be in DUST's office not the SU shop.

That said there are already sandwich bar's in the Buttery and Arts block so it might not be a runner. It might be better to try and get catering to improve what you get in those locations.

As I say I'm open to hearing various ideas because I don't think a class rep computer room is the best use that could be made of the space.

Tricity Bendix

Awayindahils wrote:

You dislike socialism anyway.

Thanks for deciding that for me.:p

Awayindahils

*cough*

PD

*cough**cough*

Edwardius

Andrew 83 wrote:

I don't know the current state of the JCR, I just said if a sandwich bar was brought in it might be an idea to do with the JCR as they might not be best pleased with the SU taking on one of their roles.

It's a money pit and dump "run" by a shower of lice riddled degenerates that can't even follow the simplest of instructions. The sort of people that think it's in some way cool and non conformist to work in the slowest and most incompetent fashion imaginable. There are exceptions but I can think of three people who, in order to benefit the earth's future, should have been blowjobs (Cheers for that one, Bill Hicks). It's ridiculous, and the little cunt-warts can't be fired. Ed ain't goin back there, well, I ain't purchasing anything there. Might go in and eat me sandwiches there. If I have to buy a roll in there, I'll instantly assume it's been spat in and show the world what it looks like when a cash register mates with one of their faces.

gilroyb

Andrew 83 wrote:

When people go to get their roll at lunch time they can then also buy whatever else it is they need at lunch in Spar, Centra too. If they had one in House 6 poeple might then use the SU shop for their other bits and pieces.

Like a can of coke?



I think a general computer room in house six would be a really good idea. The more the SU can do to increase the footfall in the building, the better it will be for the shop, and even the general SU services. It obviously depends on the particulars, but sounds to me like it could be worthwhile.

Pet

Class rep computer room is the stupidest idea I've heard in a long time.


But a general OPAC room would be a good idea; as gilroyb said it would increase the numbers of people coming into House 6 (and hopefully dilute the stench of hackishness ).

And about the pink writing: maybe he's just a bit retarded when it comes to writing HTML emails?

shay_562

The idea was to have a common room for all students run by the SU, not one for SU officers/class reps.

Really? That's not what Stargal said when she mentioned the idea upthread - she suggested a room "for committee meetings and for convenors to meet their reps, rather than the usual shuffling around trying to book rooms. Plus as Andrew so excellently suggested, keep all details on campaigns and resources there." Which strikes me as being decidedly not for all students, but for the few students involved in the SU. Like I said, I don't know if there's a need for it or not - surely the officers' rooms are the place for information on the various campaigns that they're running? And isn't it possible to book a room for multiple weeks in advance, making it possible for convenors to set up a meeting place just like any other society? Like I said, it strikes me as being unnecessary to set aside another room purely for the SU, and it'll only give the people who dislike the union more justification for bashing/ignoring it. I actually think the SU is necessary and does some good work, but equally it has some bloody stupid ideas, and spending SU time creating unnecessary resources solely for SU use falls into that category.

That said there are already sandwich bar's in the Buttery and Arts block so it might not be a runner. It might be better to try and get catering to improve what you get in those locations.

Exactly. Arts block students have the sandwich bar there to go to for reduced price lunches. Hamilton students who aren't Ed can get cheaper rolls at the JCR. If people want to pay for better outside rolls, there are Spars and Centras closer to both buildings than House 6 is. We don't need another sandwich bar on-campus when there's barely business for the one we have already.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew 83
When people go to get their roll at lunch time they can then also buy whatever else it is they need at lunch in Spar, Centra too. If they had one in House 6 poeple might then use the SU shop for their other bits and pieces.

Like a can of coke?

Had to give this the "HA!" it deserved.

I think a general computer room in house six would be a really good idea. The more the SU can do to increase the footfall in the building, the better it will be for the shop, and even the general SU services.

Fair point about increased traffic in house 6 being a good thing - have they ever made any attempt to make the shop more noticeable? Possibly due to the building works and stuff, but if I weren't a society hack I don't think I'd even have noticed there was a shop in there for my first 6 months or so of college. But on the computer room thing, is there really enough room in House 6 to build a decent-sized computer room? Unless they convert the DUST office into one, I'm not sure where else in the building there's that much room to spare.

Crash

DUST office = gone. as far as I know anyhow - badly phrased in dave's email. as for a common room, a room for meetings etc. and a common room for all students are NOT mutually exclusive. simple fact is that its very very stupid to have exec, comittee and convenor meetings scattered all around the place, especially when a few errors have cropped up in the past with scheduling by college, and so my personal best idea would be a room with a few comps around the walls, and a long table.

this would mean its easily useable as both a comp room for the SU (there are enough comp rooms around the place, maybe the SU lot should be afforded the use of a few computers in there) along with a meeting room and comfy chairs along the lines of the eliz to make it easier.

in fact, think I might drop in for a chat tomorrow and pass on such ideas. or if rob's reading this, it is the best way to go. a few computers in there (5 or 6 say) means its too small to be used unless absolutely necessary, as they'll be used up. thus it means that only those who really, REALLY need to use the comp's will actually drop in. and then all it takes is to lock the door or put a sign up and its easy going for meetings. makes the most sense it possibly could.

I don't think there's need for a student common room in there - until college are willing to provide a decent student centre, its not up to the su to use the VERY limited spacial resources they have to do such a thing.

everyone seems awful resigned towards college sitting on its hole not doing anything, but expects so much more of the SU. maybe they should balance the two between em? the latter can't do anything without the former, and hell, without the students. gotta remember that.

Awayindahils

Gold star for Neil.


That sounds like a fairly decent idea, though realising it will probably take more effort than we reckon.

Crash

well, no more cost or effort than a comp room.

in fact, cost and effort would be less as it would take less ISS bargaining for a ****eload of access points to be used - there are only 3/4 i think in DUST room?

Awayindahils

you need europerson or enda for that kind of information.

Crash

well actually there was one pc in back, two out front (possibly 3 - no more) and I never saw anymore more ethernet ports. as for the cost, should be comparable, if not less.

Andrew 83

gilroyb wrote:

Like a can of coke?

Last I heard college's lettuce and bread suppliers don't have a parent company who tacitly accept their workers being murdered for joining unions.

Crash

unfortunately however, their bread and lettuce packaging company based in colombia did - damnit.

Nietzschean

Andrew 83 wrote:

Last I heard college's lettuce and bread suppliers don't have a parent company who tacitly accept their workers being murdered for joining unions.

where is the independent support of the claim that coke 'tacitly' accept it?

Crash

it was accepted in the coke bread and lettuce financial agreement of the midwest america's, 1996. did you not get the memo?

Andrew 83

Nietzschean wrote:

where is the independent support of the claim that coke 'tacitly' accept it?

They haven't tried to stop it.

gilroyb

Plus as Andrew so excellently suggested, keep all details on campaigns and resources there." Which strikes me as being decidedly not for all students

Does it worry anyone else that SU campaigns & resources would be considered decidedly not for all students? Kind of like how all those patients keep messing up those lovely hospitals. An SU room that attracted regular students would do a great deal for getting the union out and about among the students.

Andrew 83 wrote:

When people go to get their roll at lunch time they can then also buy whatever else it is they need at lunch in Spar, Centra too.

I'm not being pedantic, just stating a fact. If people go somewhere for a roll, they probably don't also need a sandwich. When you said "whatever else" it seems likely that this category would better encompass a soft drink than the bread and lettuce you mention.

I know at least one person (me) who stopped shopping at the SU shop after the Coke ban because it was too much hassle to go there for whatever I wanted and then somewhere else for my bottle of Coke.

If I wanted to talk about the Coke ban I would have gone to one of the several thousand threads already discussing it. I was simply pointing out that you seemed to have an illogical element to your post. All I'm saying is don't shoot the messenger (unless he's unionised of course)

Andrew 83

gilroyb wrote:

I'm not being pedantic, just stating a fact. If people go somewhere for a roll, they probably don't also need a sandwich. When you said "whatever else" it seems likely that this category would better encompass a soft drink than the bread and lettuce you mention.

I know at least one person (me) who stopped shopping at the SU shop after the Coke ban because it was too much hassle to go there for whatever I wanted and then somewhere else for my bottle of Coke.

If I wanted to talk about the Coke ban I would have gone to one of the several thousand threads already discussing it. I was simply pointing out that you seemed to have an illogical element to your post. All I'm saying is don't shoot the messenger (unless he's unionised of course)

Sorry I thought you were making a point on the Coke ban.

By other things I meant soft drinks, sweets, newspaper etc etc

shay_562

Does it worry anyone else that SU campaigns & resources would be considered decidedly not for all students?Kind of like how all those patients keep messing up those lovely hospitals. An SU room that attracted regular students would do a great deal for getting the union out and about among the students.

Edit number 2: re-reading it, not actually sure if you're disagreeing with what I said or not. Figured I should let the post stand either way, since most of what I said is still valid, if misdirected. If I misread what you meant, sorry and ignore me.

Isn't quoting out of context fun? I was responding directly to Andrew's claim that Christine had suggested "a common room for all students run by the SU, not one for SU officers/class reps", when what she had in fact suggested was an SU room for SU people to discuss SU matters in. As I've said, if there's a genuine need for an SU room (and Neil made a good case for having a solid SU room) I don't see a problem with it, but it's something that does need to be very solidly justified.

I actually agree that and SU common room could be good PR for the SU while benefitting students, which is why I haven't once objected to the idea of a common room that happens to be run and occasionally used by the SU. In fact, I agreed with you that increased footfall in house 6 would be generally beneficial, just asked where it'd fit. Which Neil answered. Gold star indeed.

Edit: 10 utterances of "SU" in two short paragraphs. Wow. New record?

Crash

one of these days i'm gonna pull out a list of the irish food industry companies with unethical practices - should be fun to see how many are boycotted anyhow, back on topic folks. no more coke ****e

Crash

gilroyb wrote:

Does it worry anyone else that SU campaigns & resources would be considered decidedly not for all students? Kind of like how all those patients keep messing up those lovely hospitals. An SU room that attracted regular students would do a great deal for getting the union out and about among the students.

actually, if you take the SU as it is as the moment, it needs the information fed down to the students in large doses? whats the best information pipeline to large numbers of students at one time? active, interested class reps. and so its paramount that THEY recieve the information, as they're more important for students recieving information on these things than posters etc. are.

Your point seems to imply that the class reps etc. are completely segregated from their class and do nothing (unfortunately, this does happen) - however if you want a proper functioning SU you have to set it up in a hierarchial method for the information to filter though - 6 people can't get info out to all students - it requires the reps. and so its necessary that they can get said information easily. sheets and signs etc. are secondary to actual personnel.

Nietzschean

Andrew 83 wrote:

They haven't tried to stop it.

who says? they could be making strides on the matter?