People cant tell me this doesnt look bad

steddyeddy

The irish times reports on the recent issues regarding the treatment of the UCD bar staff and the closure of the bar in general.

AUTHORITIES AT University College Dublin have stepped in to provide €225,000 to the students’ union bar committee to pay redundancy money to 13 former workers at the campus bar.
The bar, once the busiest in the State, closed in June with huge debts and amid accusations of mismanagement by the college bar committee. The committee, comprised of student and academic staff representatives, ran the bar as a club and as such was not legally required to file yearly accounts.
The students’ union is understood to have been one of its biggest creditors, having run up a tab over the last few years of €96,000. Rachel Breslin, the new president of the students’ union, said yesterday a union tab had not been run up in the past year. “Certainly at some stage in the past there has been a tab, but I am not aware of one this year,” she said.
Staff at the bar, most of who had been working there for more than 10 years, were made redundant in June. Following arbitration at the Labour Relations Commission, between the workers’ union Mandate and a HR consultant brought in by the bar committee to liaise with the workers, an agreement was reached on August 13th to pay statutory redundancy, plus two weeks’ pay per year of service.
However, up to yesterday afternoon, this had not been paid and Mandate served notice that a picket would be put on the college on Monday morning. The union had the support of the other main union at the college, Siptu.
But yesterday evening college authorities intervened and undertook to provide €225,000 to the bar committee to make the redundancy payments.
Joe Donnelly, Mandate organiser, said if the first tranche of payments was not in the accounts by Monday morning, a picket would be placed on the college.
Separately, the other bar on campus, the Forum, is also closed. It shut for refurbishment and the builder involved in the project went into liquidation. It remains unclear whether it will reopen.

It doesnt make for good reading. The student union was responsible for the loss of 1.4 million of our money and the scary thing is I think a lot of things are going to get worse. The student union owed a tab of near 90,000 towards the bar and the response was this:

“Certainly at some stage in the past there has been a tab, but I am not aware of one this year,”

I as a paying student am not happy with this. Someone has to come out and tell the truth about what really happened and it needs to happen soon.

Red Alert

The students union should not have had a tab like that. But the problem with the bar, as I often repeat is, nobody seems to know exactly how it was governed. Who was on the "committee", and why were they on it? Was it primarily owned by UCD, or the SU? The whole set up is very unclear.

Mardy Bum

The amount of money skimmed off the top of the different SU run facilities is frightening. An inquiry into the finances of past higher ups in the SU would probably reveal a great deal I would say.

steddyeddy

Mardy Bum wrote: »

The amount of money skimmed off the top of the different SU run facilities is frightening. An inquiry into the finances of past higher ups in the SU would probably reveal a great deal I would say.

In my opinion it would have to be a very serious inquiry at some point. We are not getting answers. We dont know what the money was spent on. Some students are really struggling in ucd and its terrible to think that their money is going to fund this.

Witcher

That'll make great material with which to tell the canvassers to fcuk off come election time. Last time around I had a first year telling me about how his candidate was much better than the ones in previous years...yeah because you knew the previous ones:rolleyes:

steddyeddy

Red Alert wrote: »

The students union should not have had a tab like that. But the problem with the bar, as I often repeat is, nobody seems to know exactly how it was governed. Who was on the "committee", and why were they on it? Was it primarily owned by UCD, or the SU? The whole set up is very unclear.

The su didnt publish accounts of what they are doing with students money since 2007-8. We need to know who was on the committee and what was done with the su money. For all we know this is still happening.

steddyeddy

Blay wrote: »

That'll make great material with which to tell the canvassers to fcuk off come election time. Last time around I had a first year telling me about how his candidate was much better than the ones in previous years...yeah because you knew the previous ones:rolleyes:

I had an arguement with one canvasser asking will they continue spending our money on beer and pizza and he said thats all stop and I was over reacting. 1.4 million of our money is "missing" and untill I have a good explantion I am going to assume its because of corruption.

stop

steddyeddy wrote: »

The su didnt publish accounts of what they are doing with students money since 2007-8. We need to know who was on the committee and what was done with the su money. For all we know this is still happening.

We do need to know, but we won't. UCD admin will throw money at this to make it go away, no one will be held accountable as people owed cash will be have got their money and as such won't make a fuss.

Unless enough students demand proper answers, but I don't see a change in apathyville coming anytime soon.

steddyeddy

stop wrote: »

We do need to know, but we won't. UCD admin will throw money at this to make it go away, no one will be held accountable as people owed cash will be have got their money and as such won't make a fuss.

Unless enough students demand proper answers, but I don't see a change in apathyville coming anytime soon.

Actually I have seen a change in thinking among students. Particularly some of the fourth and third years among certain subjects. One economics masters student is also trying to find out what happened. Things will change and Im not looking forward to seeing where our money was spent. Money which some students find very hard to pay.

Witcher

steddyeddy wrote: »

I had an arguement with one canvasser asking will they continue spending our money on beer and pizza and he said thats all stop and I was over reacting. 1.4 million of our money is "missing" and untill I have a good explantion I am going to assume its because of corruption.

I asked them about the debt too last year and I was told 'this guy is different'..I said 'Sure that's what the supporters of the last few lads would have said isn't it?' They clam up when ya ask a hard question instead of the usual 'How many parties is he/she promising?'.

Anyone that might have proper policies and would answer for past problems would probably be sidelined because they don't have the 'craic' every night of the week and actually concentrate on their degree.

RandolphEsq

Gary Redmond stole the €1.4m to pay Fine Gael to accept him as a member of their party as he was jumping ship from Fine Fail!

steddyeddy

Blay wrote: »

I asked them about the debt too last year and I was told 'this guy is different'..I said 'Sure that's what the supporters of the last few lads would have said isn't it?' They clam up when ya ask a hard question instead of the usual 'How many parties is he/she promising?'.

Anyone that might have proper policies and would answer for past problems would probably be sidelined because they don't have the 'craic' every night of the week and actually concentrate on their degree.

Blay In truth the sad fact is their not used to dealing with intelligent hard working people to a large degree. I know students who had a real issue this year and they were fobbed off with "bs".

Maldesu

I'd love to see the accounts. Really though, it's not a surprise it went down the creek - give students with zero business experience a bar to run = disaster

Leonardus Camillus

The Student Club committee is/was composed of various people including the SU President, an appointed SU sabbatical officer, Mr Carmody (on leave/suspended), Mr Whelan, and other student representatives. Many of the university representatives stepped down at the last meeting. The SU and the committee are separate entities. The committee have no legal obligation to publish accounts nor do I think they intend to. A review of the SU's finances will be disclosed at 1st council and (hopefully) will illuminate the SU/Bar financial relationship.

[Jackass]

Having just paid 180 euro towards the Student Centre (again), this annoys the sh*t out of me.

I wish we could hold a referendum to shut down the student union and all of its activities and have the university take over the running of everything.

Disgraceful that "the bussiest bar in the state" couldn't turn a profit...something very shady has been going on in the student union for years to run up these debts...

Witcher

Heads should have rolled years ago in the SU.

Mardy Bum

Blay wrote: »

Heads should have rolled years ago in the SU.

The irony is that one of the fellas most involved with the SU, from my count he was on the sabbatical 3 years running during the time these debts were being ran up, got the top position in the country in student politics. When you see this sort of **** go on at student level you can't be surprised when you see national political scandals unfold. The best thieves wear suits.

steddyeddy

Mardy Bum wrote: »

The irony is that one of the fellas most involved with the SU, from my count he was on the sabbatical 3 years running during the time these debts were being ran up, got the top position in the country in student politics. When you see this sort of **** go on at student level you can't be surprised when you see national political scandals unfold. The best thieves wear suits.

And thieves they are.

Seanchai

€90,000 tab at the UCD Students' Bar left by UCD Students' Union leadership and UCD Students are not storming the gates of said Union?

Disgusting.

It's not just adults in the outside world who elect parasites and crooks, then. It looks like UCD students will do their part in continuing on this great Irish political tradition.

Can we even have the names of the UCD Students Union members responsible? Names, anybody?

RandolphEsq

Seanchai wrote: »

€90,000 tab at the UCD Students' Bar left by UCD Students' Union leadership and UCD Students are not storming the gates of said Union?

Disgusting.

It's not just adults in the outside world who elect parasites and crooks, then. It looks like UCD students will do their part in continuing on this great Irish political tradition.

Can we even have the names of the UCD Students Union members responsible? Names, anybody?

In fairness, I imagine that the drinks tab was made up of societies, class parties and sports given free drinks tokens. Didn't see many students declining the free drink being offered to them after a meeting, debate, class party, talk etc.

steddyeddy

RandolphEsq wrote: »

In fairness, I imagine that the drinks tab was made up of societies, class parties and sports given free drinks tokens. Didn't see many students declining the free drink being offered to them after a meeting, debate, class party, talk etc.

Unfortunatly all we are being given at the moment is half truths and silence so imagination is all we have. If it was as simple as you say why dont they provide a breakdown?

Maldesu

steddyeddy wrote: »

Unfortunatly all we are being given at the moment is half truths and silence so imagination is all we have. If it was as simple as you say why dont they provide a breakdown?

I don't think they can. Probably don't have invoices or books kept for the last few years, so they don't know where any of the money has gone.

steddyeddy

Maldesu wrote: »

I don't think they can. Probably don't have invoices or books kept for the last few years, so they don't know where any of the money has gone.

Im sure they do unless they were extremely stupid people and I dont believe they are.

Maldesu

I really do wonder. There are plenty of business who have been operating for years who don't/can't keep books. Why would a SU be any different, esp when there are people nominated who wouldn't know an invoice if they were smacked in the face with one, let alone have the basic cop on to keep it for accountancy/tax purposes?

Seanchai

Maldesu wrote: »

I don't think they can. Probably don't have invoices or books kept for the last few years, so they don't know where any of the money has gone.

Jesus, did Bertie Ahern finally get into UCD?

Maldesu

Seanchai wrote: »

Jesus, did Bertie Ahern finally get into UCD?

Possibly - it was an extra source of green after all

reno123

Leonardus Camillus wrote: »

The Student Club committee is/was composed of various people including the SU President, an appointed SU sabbatical officer, Mr Carmody (on leave/suspended), Mr Whelan, and other student representatives. Many of the university representatives stepped down at the last meeting. The SU and the committee are separate entities. The committee have no legal obligation to publish accounts nor do I think they intend to. A review of the SU's finances will be disclosed at 1st council and (hopefully) will illuminate the SU/Bar financial relationship.

Before everyone keeps slating the SU. Can anyone read between the lines here and pick up on the problem?

RandolphEsq

Maldesu wrote: »

I don't think they can. Probably don't have invoices or books kept for the last few years, so they don't know where any of the money has gone.

It was above the SU where the accounts man was asleep at the wheel. One of Brady's fat-cat, civil servant cronies.

steddyeddy

RandolphEsq wrote: »

It was above the SU where the accounts man was asleep at the wheel. One of Brady's fat-cat, civil servant cronies.

Asleep at the wheel covers some of it but I wouldnt find it credible to think there was no corruption involved.

Maldesu

RandolphEsq wrote: »

It was above the SU where the accounts man was asleep at the wheel. One of Brady's fat-cat, civil servant cronies.

It's the president of the SU that has ultimate responsibility.

Says the constitution:

10.3.4 They shall be ultimately responsible for the financial affairs of the Union

kilrush

Maldesu wrote: »

It's the president of the SU that has ultimate responsibility.

Says the constitution:
Quote:
10.3.4 They shall be ultimately responsible for the financial affairs of the Union

was that constitution was brought in last spring as a response to the financial situation amongst other things?

Maldesu

Prolly, but it would be nice to see the old one for a comparison.

Fad

A lot of this is down to one staff member who kept pushing money around from account to account to make everything look better. No one knew how bad the situation was because it was artificially made look okay.

One member of the bar committee kept pushing for accounts to be published and it continually never happened until the AGM.

The bar AGM was a week or two ago and most of it was explained. The SU were owed money, not the other way around. The SUs of the past were not responsible with money, part of that was down to a university appointed staff member, part of it was down to complete and utter wastage of money.

The current SU are operating on a ridiculously tight budget, and while I have issues with parts of the union, they're generally doing a good job.

afaik, the article in the OP is actually pretty wrong in parts...

Lionheaart

I heard a rogue accountant was responsible for all the money going missing.

Apparently they (the accountant) hadn't been paying bills in years.

And the SU can't announce this publicly until the entire mess is cleared up.