SU spending Recklessly ??

FiendishFriend

Ok so I presume by now most people have heard about the march and that the figure its rumoured to be costing the SU is estimated to be 20,000 euro!! Anyone else think that is a ridiculous sum to be spending on one days march? I do of course believe in the importance of keeping education as accessible as possible to all sections of society and would fully support the march if i didn't feel it was simply being used as an opportunity for certain figures to showboat themselves and court the media. Don't get me wrong i am not one of those that are simply anti union no matter what and i have to say this years team seem to have upped the game thankfully!! However with UCDSU spending 20,000 euro alone and other colleges and institutions spending probably similar figures the cost of the march seems to be absurd. Surely in these tough economic times costs should be minimal. I don't see how a march needs to be so expensive!! Are t-shirts and ads in newspapers necessary ! Facebook and the internet are the most widely used mediums used by the student body and are very inexpensive. I really feel that it would suit the SU better to direct that money into improving the limited student services we have that will more than likely be cut again following the budget. Observer receiving more than the welfare fund !! What's that about ? Thousands spent on Class rep training, Union Taxis, trips away to national council ... extravagant spending in my opinion. I am not saying the SU doesn't do anything in fact i was very grateful for the way they brought in splitting the reg fee this year but with this current climate i expect to see the SU tighten its belt and spend its budget a lot more wisely
What do you guys think?

errlloyd

Yes

Bobby42

couldn't agree more. how could a few hours marching possibly cost that much? do we really need t shirts and buses? surely people could just make posters and signs at home and meet up in town.

delta_bravo

Has anyone found a source for this figure?

Bobby42

source: college tribune.

FiendishFriend

its also in the SU Budget and can be found in the UCDSU website
http://www.ucdsu.ie/site/view/397/

delta_bravo

Fair play to the Union. More of the same I say! Looking after impoverished students by robbbing them blind. They remind me of the likes of David Begg at Siptu. He still sports his socialist beard and left leaning ideology but creams a salary of over 100k. Best of both worlds. Huzzah for the union!

pljudge321

The real joke is the €125,000 that goes towards the USI every year.

Thats more than goes towards Belfield Fm, the Observer, Welfare and the exam shuttle bus combined. Even then theres a around half the total ents budget left over from the difference.

Also I'd love to see the breakdown for the €37,500 in election & referendum costs.

RandomName2

Perhaps what is wrong with the SU is a microcosm with what is wrong with politics in Ireland in general.

Cronyism, overspending, a philosophy of 'once I'm elected I don't have to care', a lack of direct democracy, showboating, fear of acting in the general interest in case it causes you to step on toes of those who may give you a dig-out later down the line...

For the analogy's sake just assign random affiliation to SU members for variety (FF/ FG/ Labour... same coin, different sides)

Okay I know a coin can't have three sides.... :rolleyes:

EduKate

FiendishFriend wrote: »

its also in the SU Budget and can be found in the UCDSU website
http://www.ucdsu.ie/site/view/397/

Thats the 2009-2010 budget. Although the figure is still the same for 2010-2011 - http://www.ucdsu.ie/site/view/396/

The figure is for fees and grant campaigns for the entire year, not a single protest.

The real scandal is the €65,000 being spent 'to cover the range of class rep activities'? Fecking booze ups and class parties.

Chet T16

You're all so quick to moan about them but you're forgetting that they do lots of good like the exam shuttle bus and ummm...

El Siglo

Why don't ye have a rally against the union? It would probably attract a bigger crowd than the other one. Shower of robbing bastards.

RandolphEsq

€7,500 on an exam bus when it's a 25 minute walk from the college, wtf?! Anyone who can walk properly, who protests at the length of that walk, is a lazy bollox!

33% God

delta_bravo wrote: »

Fair play to the Union. More of the same I say! Looking after impoverished students by robbbing them blind. They remind me of the likes of David Begg at Siptu. He still sports his socialist beard and left leaning ideology but creams a salary of over 100k. Best of both worlds. Huzzah for the union!

David Begg doesn't work for Siptu.

TheVoodoo

' Hi, do you want to buy a t-shirt for the march'

' You want me to spend my money on a tshirt that is protesting about spending more money?'

' Yea, do you want one? '

' ehm.. no.. '

' We'll be here all week if you change your mind '

The_Minister

RandolphEsq wrote: »

€7,500 on an exam bus when it's a 25 minute walk from the college, wtf?! Anyone who can walk properly, who protests at the length of that walk, is a lazy bollox!

A trip on the bus for about €1.60 a head would be cheaper, but not as much fun.

upandcumming

FiendishFriend wrote: »

Ok so I presume by now most people have heard about the march and that the figure its rumoured to be costing the SU is estimated to be 20,000 euro!! Anyone else think that is a ridiculous sum to be spending on one days march? I do of course believe in the importance of keeping education as accessible as possible to all sections of society and would fully support the march if i didn't feel it was simply being used as an opportunity for certain figures to showboat themselves and court the media. Don't get me wrong i am not one of those that are simply anti union no matter what and i have to say this years team seem to have upped the game thankfully!! However with UCDSU spending 20,000 euro alone and other colleges and institutions spending probably similar figures the cost of the march seems to be absurd. Surely in these tough economic times costs should be minimal. I don't see how a march needs to be so expensive!! Are t-shirts and ads in newspapers necessary ! Facebook and the internet are the most widely used mediums used by the student body and are very inexpensive. I really feel that it would suit the SU better to direct that money into improving the limited student services we have that will more than likely be cut again following the budget. Observer receiving more than the welfare fund !! What's that about ? Thousands spent on Class rep training, Union Taxis, trips away to national council ... extravagant spending in my opinion. I am not saying the SU doesn't do anything in fact i was very grateful for the way they brought in splitting the reg fee this year but with this current climate i expect to see the SU tighten its belt and spend its budget a lot more wisely
What do you guys think?

Paragraphs are your friend!

Chet T16

upandcumming wrote: »

Paragraphs are your friend!

Obviously not

FiendishFriend

It is a paragraph !! It's one paragraph

Blatter

FiendishFriend wrote: »

It is a paragraph !! It's one paragraph

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea.

There is more than one point in your 'paragraph'.;)

FiendishFriend

SOCCER4LIFE wrote: »

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea.

There is more than one point in your 'paragraph'.;)

Is there ? There was only supposed to be one point, that the SU overspends on rather frivolous items, the rest were just examples ... Sorry peeps i'm rather new to Boards. I simply didn't realise it was necessary to structure my posts so formally . Duly noted ( apologies for using the word "peeps". I realise it's slang. No offence intended !!!)
Should I have started a new paragraph at "sorry peeps..." ? Genuine question?

Blatter

FiendishFriend wrote: »

Ok so I presume by now most people have heard about the march and that the figure its rumoured to be costing the SU is estimated to be 20,000 euro!! Anyone else think that is a ridiculous sum to be spending on one days march?

I do of course believe in the importance of keeping education as accessible as possible to all sections of society and would fully support the march if i didn't feel it was simply being used as an opportunity for certain figures to showboat themselves and court the media. Don't get me wrong i am not one of those that are simply anti union no matter what and i have to say this years team seem to have upped the game thankfully!!

However, with UCDSU spending 20,000 euro alone and other colleges and institutions spending probably similar figures the cost of the march seems to be absurd. Surely in these tough economic times costs should be minimal. I don't see how a march needs to be so expensive!!

Also, Are t-shirts and ads in newspapers necessary ! Facebook and the internet are the most widely used mediums used by the student body and are very inexpensive. I really feel that it would suit the SU better to direct that money into improving the limited student services we have that will more than likely be cut again following the budget.

The Observer receiving more than the welfare fund !! What's that about ? Thousands spent on Class rep training, Union Taxis, trips away to national council ... extravagant spending in my opinion. I am not saying the SU doesn't do anything in fact i was very grateful for the way they brought in splitting the reg fee this year but with this current climate i expect to see the SU tighten its belt and spend its budget a lot more wisely

What do you guys think?

There, that looks better:D

ironclaw

TheVoodoo wrote: »

' Hi, do you want to buy a t-shirt for the march'

' You want me to spend my money on a tshirt that is protesting about spending more money?'

' Yea, do you want one? '

' ehm.. no.. '

' We'll be here all week if you change your mind '

"But in (insert big european country) they have no fee's for college!"

"Oh really? Did it occur to you that (Same country) has a population 12+ times that of Ireland and due to its proper economic mix can probably afford to have no college fees?"

*Silence*

The Agogo

If you've ever worked anywhere near the Union you'd see that this isn't a scandal at all. You're being kind to them if you call this a scandal.

What about free taxis for sabbats to anywhere they like? Free mobile phones, Free call credit, renumeration on most (any) receipts they have, free printing, free food from shops, free drink from bars.

It's such hypocrisy and I'm glad I'm out of it. Even if I only got a whiff!

mloc

All spending by the SU in the last 5+ years is a waste of money. The SU is essentially a very expensive training program for Irish political cronyism.

kkumk

I don't know whether this is common knowledge or not but I was shocked when I found out last week that the sabbattical officers get unlimited free drinks in the Student Bar? That seems a bit outrageous and really says a lot about the nature of the SU

Fad

kkumk wrote: »

I don't know whether this is common knowledge or not but I was shocked when I found out last week that the sabbattical officers get unlimited free drinks in the Student Bar? That seems a bit outrageous and really says a lot about the nature of the SU

That is an absolute lie.

kkumk

Really? One of the bartenders told me!

Fad

kkumk wrote: »

Really? One of the bartenders told me!

One of the SU officers told me....

stop

RandolphEsq wrote: »

€7,500 on an exam bus when it's a 25 minute walk from the college, wtf?! Anyone who can walk properly, who protests at the length of that walk, is a lazy bollox!

Also the 47 goes from the main gate to the RDS. It's only every half hour or so though.

El Siglo

mloc wrote: »

All spending by the SU in the last 5+ years is a waste of money. The SU is essentially a very expensive training program for Irish political cronyism.

Spot on.

ucd.1985

The SU spend recklessly.

I remember one Christmas where they made up posters wshing everyone a Happy Christmas. I dont mean to sound like Scrouge but seriously wtf!

Their constant use of taxis everywhere never ceases to amaze me.

One walk down the SU corridor will show you the vast amount of money that is on over ordering guides, posters and leaflets.

Two of my four years in UCD the SU Freshers Guide wasnt even ready for freshers week.

Why the Ents office cant breakeven on its own is beyond me, why should the whole student body subsidise acts only a minority want to see.

The list is endless really.

The Agogo

Fad wrote: »

One of the SU officers told me....

Actually, An SU officer told me this to be true about the free drinks.

Maybe not "unlimited"...but certainly enough to fill their thirsts

upandcumming

Just looking at the Budget.
The SU one.

Anyway, aside from being annoyed with the service the shuttle bus, I think the SU should buy a second-hand bus to have until it breaks. A nice second hand yoke, spend about 25k.
You could use it for all those training weekends, travelling to protests, mystery tours, night bus, exam bus. I would pay for itself in no time.

They could also pay a Computer Science student(s) a couple grand to do the SU website. It would be of the same quality if not better than the one there, it would help student(s) in need of funds and would save a few grand every year.