NUIM Student's Union

oldbie

What in the name of God is going on with NUIMSU.

The website has been as good as inactive/down for two years now. I have e-mailed the president(s) about 10 times over the course of a year and a half on a riduculously simple issue with completely unsatisfactory results. (i.e minimal progressing to zero response) Can anyone shed some light on this.

Alt_Grrr

NUIMSU.com is "Under Construction" it says,

It still has links to the MSU Constitution and email login.
I mean what information could possibly be needed on an SU site anyway?

Other then contact details, postal addresses and some welfare information.

oldbie

Alt_Grrr wrote: »

NUIMSU.com is "Under Construction" it says,

It still has links to the MSU Constitution and email login.
I mean what information could possibly be needed on an SU site anyway?

Other then contact details, postal addresses and some welfare information.

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic. Try this on for size.

http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/

How so Joe

As mentioned in I can haz general discussion,

banquo wrote: »

It's out to tender. Should be an ad in the papers either at the end of this week or start of next week.

Alt_Grrr

oldbie wrote: »

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic.

I'm being serious, the SU doesn't have a functioning website and yet somehow the world continues to turn.

On the priorities list, I'd imagine its pretty low.

oldbie

Errrm...perhaps you've been fortunate enough to have actually never needed the Union but there are other's who might disagree with you.

As regards the absence of a functional website for over a year? I don't see why that would be low on the Union's priority list? It is then it shouldn't be. An organisation with over 7,000 fee-paying members should at the absolute bare minimum at least be able to provide a functional website with contact details.

It's good to hear that progress is now at least being made but this should have been sorted long before the new academic year.

How so Joe

But the website, while it's under construction, has a link to the facebook page, which does have contact details...?
And in all honesty, the Union couldn't fix the website until the new constitution came in, and surely the first few months that the exec are in office are the hardest, as shouldn't >everything< be done before the start of the college year?
In terms of information, the website is clearly lacking, but it does point you to where you can get the necessary information.

Seren_

If you need to get in touch with the SU that badly, they do have offices on campus you know.

oldbie

The whole point of having a website, email and phone numbers is that people don't have to physically visit the Union, thereby allowing the officers to serve a far greater number of students much more efficiently.

There are loads of possible problems/complaints/contributions that don't necessitate a visit to the Union.

This thread was not intended to be exclusively about the website, but also to enquire as to whether there was some other reason for the sporadic and poor communication from the Union over the last 12 months.

Also, there are students who are not based on campus and a pop into the Union isn't possible.

Alt_Grrr

oldbie wrote: »

This thread was not intended to be exclusively about the website,

oldbie wrote: »

What in the name of God is going on with NUIMSU.

The website has been as good as inactive/down for two years now. I have e-mailed the president(s) about 10 times over the course of a year and a half on a riduculously simple issue with completely unsatisfactory results. (i.e minimal progressing to zero response) Can anyone shed some light on this.

In future please make your intentions clear in the original post so.

LeixlipRed

To be honest lads, you're defending the indefensible. Saying the SU doesn't really need a website is a bit silly no?

oldbie

Alt_Grrr wrote: »

In future please make your intentions clear in the original post so.

Fair enough, but it was hardly cryptic. The issue i was e-mailing about was not about the website.

I have e-mailed the president(s) about 10 times over the course of a year and a half on a riduculously simple issue with completely unsatisfactory results. (i.e minimal progressing to zero response) Can anyone shed some light on this.

Alt_Grrr

LeixlipRed wrote: »

To be honest lads, you're defending the indefensible. Saying the SU doesn't really need a website is a bit silly no?

I'm not saying that the SU doesn't need some online presence, which it has, but really the website is hardly the most important part of the whole organization.

Alt_Grrr

oldbie wrote: »

Fair enough, but it was hardly cryptic. The issue i was e-mailing about was not about the website.

It comes across as being a problem with the site (or lack there of)
Maybe if you ask boards about your issue, the lovely boardsies might be of assistance.

LeixlipRed

The SU is very poor at informing people of what is going on on campus. For example it was only when I wandered over to North Campus on Tuesday that I first seen anything about Fairs Day, nothing on the net about it. I'm based on the South Campus and I'd like to be able to just go onto the website and see exactly what's happening and where it's taking place, whcih I can't do.

oldbie

Alt_Grrr wrote: »

I'm not saying that the SU doesn't need some online presence, which it has, but really the website is hardly the most important part of the whole organization.

I would submit that it is THE most important part of the organisation in terms of basic communication. It's the professional face of the Union. The point source of information for 7,000+ members. How can you expect to be taken seriously as an organisation without fulfilling even the most basic of requirements.

Seren_

To be fair, I see where you're coming from OP. If it weren't for the large amount of time I spend online (especially here), I wouldn't have a notion what was going on in the SU either.

shabouwcaw

ah now lads, when you consider it's early on in the year and the bedding in period in a semester, I think it's really unfair to start pointing fingers and blaming people for what is merely an administrative oversight probably.

while it is obviously important that information be spread in as accesssible way as possible, what is equally as important is that the Students' Union gets a chance to start actually doing their students union job without wasting their capital on defending themselves from attacks on from the off.

it's typical negative thinking to be constantly pointing out flaws and harping on about problems rather than trying to be constructive. why don't one of you here offer to make a website for them, a simple joomla or wordpress site would do, while something more bespoke was created.

Peace out.
Shabby<3

banquo

There's a limited amount of information I can say about it, but I'll say what I can here.

Three years ago: A student makes nuimsu.com, but moves on to other things, new SU folk can't figure website out.

Two years ago: Nothing happens.

Last year: I was VP Comms. In trying to set up a website, the biggest problem was the network restrictions that made it impossible for me to FTP stuff up and down from my office on campus. So I installed a wordpress theme ('Zenko', if anyone wants to google it. Also used by the Irish Echo newspaper) from my mother's aging laptop back in Dublin. Think I was in office four days or something when I did it.

The FTP issue - the only way a non-nerdy mortal can conveniently update a website a few times a day without wanting to kill yourself - was fixed in conjunction with the Computer Centre. This was pretty complex and took a few goes to get right, but they were actually pretty helpful (there was a few days when I had FTP access, but everything I printed came out of a printer in the medical centre. No, really!) I think it was fixed around February.

By February there were a number of ongoing issues that I can't discuss publicly, but I'd said in my manifesto that I'd make but a bulletin board online for buying and selling books, laptops, grinds, etc. With the magnificent help of Alt_Grrr, we made market.nuimsu.com, which we'll be pushing over the next two weeks.

And now, from next week there will be ads in various newspapers (can't promise what day yet) for our tender for web designers. I have spoken to a number of companies who we think are pretty good (no "I have a friend who makes websites" stuff.) We'll also have a thread here, a google doc form and and bunch of other ways for students to make suggestions for the site.

Short answer: our current timeline is 1-2 months.

And Qs or anything confusing let me know. And yes, it's frustrating. And you can be sure that if it annoys you, it annoys us 10 times more.

yuppy700

shabouwcaw wrote: »

ah now lads, when you consider it's early on in the year and the bedding in period in a semester, I think it's really unfair to start pointing fingers and blaming people for what is merely an administrative oversight probably.

while it is obviously important that information be spread in as accesssible way as possible, what is equally as important is that the Students' Union gets a chance to start actually doing their students union job without wasting their capital on defending themselves from attacks on from the off.

it's typical negative thinking to be constantly pointing out flaws and harping on about problems rather than trying to be constructive. why don't one of you here offer to make a website for them, a simple joomla or wordpress site would do, while something more bespoke was created.

Peace out.
Shabby<3

hold on a second

Just because it is the start of the academic year is no excuse for this kind of thing. The SU is meant to be working all summer. Not having information accessible to the students makes the whole thing nothing but a farce.

banquo

In fairness, we haven't had a functioning website in 3 years. People have every right to complain. I did, vociferously.

Give us a couple of months.

banquo

(Feel free to ask anything else about the Union / projects / plans in this thread too btw)

oldbie

banquo wrote: »

There's a limited amount of information I can say about it, but I'll say what I can here.

Three years ago: A student makes nuimsu.com, but moves on to other things, new SU folk can't figure website out.

Two years ago: Nothing happens.

Last year: I was VP Comms. In trying to set up a website, the biggest problem was the network restrictions that made it impossible for me to FTP stuff up and down from my office on campus. So I installed a wordpress theme ('Zenko', if anyone wants to google it. Also used by the Irish Echo newspaper) from my mother's aging laptop back in Dublin. Think I was in office four days or something when I did it.

The FTP issue - the only way a non-nerdy mortal can conveniently update a website a few times a day without wanting to kill yourself - was fixed in conjunction with the Computer Centre. This was pretty complex and took a few goes to get right, but they were actually pretty helpful (there was a few days when I had FTP access, but everything I printed came out of a printer in the medical centre. No, really!) I think it was fixed around February.

By February there were a number of ongoing issues that I can't discuss publicly, but I'd said in my manifesto that I'd make but a bulletin board online for buying and selling books, laptops, grinds, etc. With the magnificent help of Alt_Grrr, we made market.nuimsu.com, which we'll be pushing over the next two weeks.

And now, from next week there will be ads in various newspapers (can't promise what day yet) for our tender for web designers. I have spoken to a number of companies who we think are pretty good (no "I have a friend who makes websites" stuff.) We'll also have a thread here, a google doc form and and bunch of other ways for students to make suggestions for the site.

Short answer: our current timeline is 1-2 months.

And Qs or anything confusing let me know. And yes, it's frustrating. And you can be sure that if it annoys you, it annoys us 10 times more.

Bingo. This is sort of practical no-nonsense factual and honest answers required on a regular basis

banquo

Glad to help! Any other questions? I'm here for a while yet.

oldbie

Yes but not for general public consumption

P.s It might be worth your while adding a sig to your posts to let people know who you are and what you position is in the Union. Those in the know know but those not in the know do not!

banquo

Meh, it's in my sig already. I should probably be using the official MaynoothSU account for these kind of questions anyway!

yuppy700

banquo wrote: »

There's a limited amount of information I can say about it, but I'll say what I can here.

Three years ago: A student makes nuimsu.com, but moves on to other things, new SU folk can't figure website out.

Two years ago: Nothing happens.

Last year: I was VP Comms. In trying to set up a website, the biggest problem was the network restrictions that made it impossible for me to FTP stuff up and down from my office on campus. So I installed a wordpress theme ('Zenko', if anyone wants to google it. Also used by the Irish Echo newspaper) from my mother's aging laptop back in Dublin. Think I was in office four days or something when I did it.

The FTP issue - the only way a non-nerdy mortal can conveniently update a website a few times a day without wanting to kill yourself - was fixed in conjunction with the Computer Centre. This was pretty complex and took a few goes to get right, but they were actually pretty helpful (there was a few days when I had FTP access, but everything I printed came out of a printer in the medical centre. No, really!) I think it was fixed around February.

By February there were a number of ongoing issues that I can't discuss publicly, but I'd said in my manifesto that I'd make but a bulletin board online for buying and selling books, laptops, grinds, etc. With the magnificent help of Alt_Grrr, we made market.nuimsu.com, which we'll be pushing over the next two weeks.

And now, from next week there will be ads in various newspapers (can't promise what day yet) for our tender for web designers. I have spoken to a number of companies who we think are pretty good (no "I have a friend who makes websites" stuff.) We'll also have a thread here, a google doc form and and bunch of other ways for students to make suggestions for the site.

Short answer: our current timeline is 1-2 months.

And Qs or anything confusing let me know. And yes, it's frustrating. And you can be sure that if it annoys you, it annoys us 10 times more.

2 months.......seriously

squishykins

yuppy700 wrote: »

2 months.......seriously

Have you ever tried to make a decent website? I think that's more than reasonable.

BuroniKiisu

banquo wrote: »

There's a limited amount of information I can say about it, but I'll say what I can here.

Three years ago: A student makes nuimsu.com, but moves on to other things, new SU folk can't figure website out.

Two years ago: Nothing happens.

Last year: I was VP Comms. In trying to set up a website, the biggest problem was the network restrictions that made it impossible for me to FTP stuff up and down from my office on campus. So I installed a wordpress theme ('Zenko', if anyone wants to google it. Also used by the Irish Echo newspaper) from my mother's aging laptop back in Dublin. Think I was in office four days or something when I did it.

The FTP issue - the only way a non-nerdy mortal can conveniently update a website a few times a day without wanting to kill yourself - was fixed in conjunction with the Computer Centre. This was pretty complex and took a few goes to get right, but they were actually pretty helpful (there was a few days when I had FTP access, but everything I printed came out of a printer in the medical centre. No, really!) I think it was fixed around February.

By February there were a number of ongoing issues that I can't discuss publicly, but I'd said in my manifesto that I'd make but a bulletin board online for buying and selling books, laptops, grinds, etc. With the magnificent help of Alt_Grrr, we made market.nuimsu.com, which we'll be pushing over the next two weeks.

And now, from next week there will be ads in various newspapers (can't promise what day yet) for our tender for web designers. I have spoken to a number of companies who we think are pretty good (no "I have a friend who makes websites" stuff.) We'll also have a thread here, a google doc form and and bunch of other ways for students to make suggestions for the site.

Short answer: our current timeline is 1-2 months.

And Qs or anything confusing let me know. And yes, it's frustrating. And you can be sure that if it annoys you, it annoys us 10 times more.

+1.

yuppy700

squishykins wrote: »

Have you ever tried to make a decent website? I think that's more than reasonable.

And whats wrong with something like wordpress or joomla for the time being It's like a 30 minute job . maybe a bit longer if you are picky about the theme.

banquo

Ah, it's tricky enough. I had a Wordpress theme before and, while some of the paid ones are superb, you really need a customised CMS. (I'm a huge Wordpress fan btw, my favorite Wordpress designer is a guy called Abban Dunne). Also people would keep complaining that the site keeps changing. But a temporary contacts page is probably a good idea, I'll see if I can find time over the next few days (BuroniKisu is really the website guy this year btw)

It also allows you to really get down to the knitty gritty of typography, etc.

The site needs some functionality that Wordpress just can't do well. It's been years, so I figure it's worth a few months doing it really, really well.

megaten

yuppy700 wrote: »

And whats wrong with something like wordpress or joomla for the time being It's like a 30 minute job . maybe a bit longer if you are picky about the theme.

I take it you've never tried to put together a half decent wordpress site. Even when using good premium themes it can still take a good while to get things the way you need them.

yuppy700

megaten wrote: »

I take it you've never tried to put together a half decent wordpress site. Even when using good premium themes it can still take a good while to get things the way you need them.

My friend in UL set this up today in 20 minutes. I think it is half decent

http://skynet.ie/~red_/rod/

he is using wordpress

oldbie

The best thing is to do the research and be prepared to put the resources i.e. money in.

View other SUs and similar organisations websites, find out who their providers/hosts/creators are. Ring/meet informally with other Union heads and ask their advice on the service level they recieve.

Systems with user-friendly content management system GUI's mean the burden of updating can be easily shared by muliple users, with the requirement of service provider support limited to structural changes.

Load the tender with everything you envisage the site requiring and leave wiggle room from the servicing of broader structural changes. If anyone will give you a look at their hosting agreement this would be a huge help obviously.

banquo

Thinking of hiring this guy. Seems pretty kitch.

How so Joe

Gotta have lightsabers on the SU website!!

cbernstein

oldbie wrote: »

What in the name of God is going on with NUIMSU.

The website has been as good as inactive/down for two years now. I have e-mailed the president(s) about 10 times over the course of a year and a half on a riduculously simple issue with completely unsatisfactory results. (i.e minimal progressing to zero response) Can anyone shed some light on this.

Is it not the Communication Officers job to get the SU website up and running. Certainly when I was around it was part of their duties under the constitution!

banquo

The website falls under what is now the VP for Services, Events and Communications Keith Broni's remit. I'm handling the technical and financial aspects of the tender; the content will be a group effort (this is gonna be a fun week) with myself and Broni (more Broni, in fairness) working more on the design. In theory. In reality everything is a group effort.

sionnachrua

The one thing I was going to say about the SU was the lack of information on the south campus. There was an election last year that I knew nothing about. Wouldn't mind but they were campaigning for like a week. I couldn't find an email address anywhere to contact them to complain, so I just left a lame message on their facebook page, and no one ever responded to it.

LeixlipRed

South Campus is the forgotten wasteland There does be postering done outside Callan Hall, Aula, etc, but if you're in Logic or Rhetoric you might as well be on another planet.

How so Joe

To be fair, there's nowhere in Logic that you're allowed to put up posters...

LeixlipRed

That explains why we never seen a copy of the paper last year bar the first one then.

How so Joe

That's a fair point. Did you get copies of the newest edition of the Print? Came out on what, Wednesday? Thursday?

BuroniKiisu

Issues of Volume 3, Issue 1 were placed in the red magazine rack in Logic House, the top of Pugin Hall, the tables outside of Lower Loftus, the entrance to Humanity House and the International Student office within Humanity House.

If anyone has further suggestions to where issues could be placed on the South campus, please e-mail vpsec@nuimsu.com.

LeixlipRed

Top Logic, table outside Maths Dept office. Never seen a magazine rack in logic, what magazines would be in it??

BuroniKiisu

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Top Logic, table outside Maths Dept office. Never seen a magazine rack in logic, what magazines would be in it??

It was hidden behind the main entrance to the building. I rolled it out and placed it beside the vending machines, unceremoniously stuffing issues of The Print into it I've seen it around the ground floor of Logic each of my few visits to the building, but I've honestly never actually seen anything in it. Until Thursday, of course.

Norrdeth

There's a few but they're mainly for Departmental brochures etc.

sionnachrua

Have people asked about somewhere to post in Logic or is it just not allowed? If you've tried like, I wouldn't hold it against ye, though the website would be nice up and running if we have no other way of finding out stuff.

Norrdeth

Well SU stuff is no problem, I put a few prints upstairs beside the music office before. But people posting selling history or geography books there's really no point, predominantly music and maths things get tolerated there.