Leicester University continues to go from strength-to-strength. Following the successful refurbishment of the David Wilson Library and the Bennett building, the University is planning to completely renovate the entire Students’ Union building, closing certain sections at a time.

The multi-million pound renovations will begin after Christmas, envisaged to provide students with a modern, multi-functional Students’ Union building fitting for a University that has been recognised as the Institution of the Year.

This will be a fantastic investment to improve the facilities available to students. However, it poses an underlying threat which could see the collapse of several student societies, during the renovation process. Societies will be denied access to rooms to hold meetings or practices during the week as a result of their closure whilst they are refurbished.

Every University-based society is entitled to book out University rooms to hold meetings or practices. Concerns have been raised about where they can re-locate to after the closure. Queen’s Hall is projected to close at the end of March 2009 whilst a breath-taking glass atrium is constructed between the Union Shop and the Reception area. However, Queens Hall is frequently used as a practice and performance space by numerous societies.

Team Captain of the Latin American and Ballroom Dancing Society, Andrew Hogg commented on the matter: “We always have huge trouble finding a room big enough to practice in to begin with. The closure of Queen’s Hall will only make this more difficult and could be detrimental to the hundred students attending our class every Monday, possibly losing the society a lot of money.”

President of the Leicester University Theatre Society, Natalie Roberts, put forward a motion to the University’s AGM, which was passed, demanding a mandate report of the union’s alternative plans to be made public so that the effected societies are aware of the repercussions and the alternative arrangements that will be made available to them.

Services Officer, Graham Ross said: “Our intention is to make sure we provide the same services and facilities throughout that students have had in the past and will continue to have in the future.” The union have set aside £500,000 in their budget to enable societies to hire out alternative venues for their meetings and practices.

The University will inevitably offer the societies with the best alternative arrangements possible. Ross concluded: “Everything has been done to make sure that this will be the case.”

Societies will benefit from dedicated practice and meeting rooms after the completion of the refurbishment project, but in the mean time, they need some reassurance that they will be able to continue before its completion. They are still concern that they may not receive enough money to cover their relocation costs.

Amy Cory

Proposal: To create an elected full time International Sabatical Officer
Rejected. Many students felt that the sixth proposal should be used to look at this issue.

Proposal: Guaranteed representation for under represented student groups
Rejected. Some students felt that Open Seat officers fulfill this role.

Proposal: To mandate Society and Sport Officers to come to the Union AGM
Rejected. It was felt that students should be encouraged rather than mandated to attend.

Proposal: To mandate Union Council Officers to attend Forums
Passed.

Proposal: To review the means in which the Students’ Union handles sensitive information and student details
Passed with 100% voting yes.

Proposal: To do a constitutional review of the new Sabbatical roles and the new structure of Union Council
Passed.

Proposal: For clarification of the affect the building renovation will have on societies
Passed with a small majority of 24 voting yes and 22 no.

Proposal: To clarify the criteria to decide upon the temporary venue
Passed.

Proposal: To mandate all Sabbatical Officers to give up a day during RAG week to help RAG
Passed.

Proposal: To investigate and improve upon the services available to International Students through the Students’ Union and Sabbaticals
Rejected. Many students felt this proposal was too specific, and a wider review of the services was required.

Proposal: To disaffiliate from NUS
Proposal withdrawn by proposer.

Emergency Proposal: To pressure the University to increase the provisions for safety and security at Beaumont Hall
Passed with 100% voting yes.

Any student is welcome to attend Union Council, which is held on a fortnightly basis, with the next being held on Thursday 21st of November, in Ken Edwards Lecture Theatre 3, at 6.30pm.

The agenda may be viewed online:

http://www.leicesterstudent.org/pages/your_union/democracy/general_meeting/2008-09/

Esther Dudley