As I was sitting in a pub earlier today, sorting some Student Union stuff out, my eyes caught sight of some men from the council tearing down the covering on an abandoned shop opposite. After a short period of time,  the previously whitened-out windows were now covered in large displays showing the proposals for the regeneration of Aberystwyth, including the promenade, bandstand, and general street condition.

It was an interesting choice by the council to make use of an abandoned shop front for this purpose. It certainly worked, perhaps in part due to its prominence, and being on a junction with high foot-fall. I do hope they publish this information prominently elsewhere, though.

The council invites you to respond to the proposals by emailing aberystwythregeneration@wales.gsi.gov.uk

I’ve attached photos of the information, to save you wandering out in the cold. Apologies for the glare, blurriness, and occasional cut-off of text due to poor angle.

As I was sitting in a pub earlier today, sorting some Student Union stuff out, my eyes caught sight of some men from the council tearing down the covering on an abandoned shop opposite. After a short period of time,  the previously whitened-out windows were now covered in large displays showing the proposals for ...

'Fools Rush In' - Students queue in the cold, desperate for accommodation (photo credit: Aberystwyth University Lib Dems)

Despite pleas from the Guild for students to remain calm and make informed decisions on accommodation, in a campaign they term ‘Fools Rush In’; students were today seen queuing outside Alexanders Estate Agents in the cold – some from as early as 6am – desperate to get a room for next year from the newly released student property list.

Today’s scenes comes just months after the university was forced to put bunk-beds into single rooms, and ask non-UK European students to defer entry, in a bid to make enough room available for incoming undergraduates who arrived this September.

It’s nothing new that there’s a crisis in the accommodation sector in Aberystwyth. Every year since 2007, students have been left out in the cold, and every year the University says it’s resolved the issue, only for the problem to inevitably arise again due to lack of real action coupled with rising admissions. In 2008, 56 students were left in hotels; whilst in 2010 83 had no accommodation and several dropped out as a result. This academic year, 600 students ended up in bunk-beds, whilst international students were told to stay away.

The crisis has meant many students have felt the pressure to sign onto private property for second year just a few months into their first semester, leaving them paying extortionate rents for housing that often fails to meet quality and lacking proper licensing.

With a seeming lack of real action from the University, the Union, or private landlords, is it time for students to step up to the plate and get involved in the Council, to ensure better regulation, and student housing provision? Or maybe the Union should revisit the idea of a student letting agency or housing co-operative. One thing’s for certain, for yet another year, the welfare of students has been sidelined in favour of private sector profit.

Despite pleas from the Guild for students to remain calm and make informed decisions on accommodation, in a campaign they term 'Fools Rush In'; students were today seen queuing outside Alexanders Estate Agents in the cold - some from as early as 6am - desperate to get a room for next year from the ...

I want Aber Guild of Students to be a successful, purposeful union, I really do. That’s why I get so mad when the Union handles things as badly as it has handled the supposed elections for Student Trustees and NUSW Winter Council Delegates.

Firstly, at a time when it is crucial that we engage students in the Union, the Union failed to adequately advertise the opening of nominations, or to clearly explain the election process or the roles of trustees prior to the closure of nominations.

Secondly, when voting was opened, it was observed that no elections were being held for NUSW Winter Council Delegate positions. The Guild says this is because 4 candidates stood for 4 seats, so all were elected. This is not how elections should work. In such a case, students should have been able to vote for these candidates, or RON, as in any other election. As of publication, it is still not known who the 4 “elected” delegates are, and it is insane that the Guild thinks students should just accept 4 people to represent them without knowing who they are or what they represent, and without giving student the opportunity to reject or approve those candidates.

Thirdly, it was observed by several students that RON was absent from the voting that did go ahead. In response to this, the Guild, without any announcement, added RON to the list of candidates, in the middle of the election: Without voiding prior results or rerunning the election. This alone undermines the integrity of these elections to the very core.

I find it hard enough to have confidence in individual staff and officers of the Guild as it is, but this year I’m increasingly finding it hard to have confidence in the institution as a whole. The Guild is rotten due to unaccountable staff, and people refusing to take the blame or responsibility when things don’t go how they should.  Without radical reform to introduce real accountability, real democracy, real transparency, the Union has no chance of surviving, regardless of any short term political or financial fix.

As an undergraduate, I can only refuse to acknowledge the result of these “elections” due to the entirely unsound manner in which they’ve been conducted. I call on those responsible for the running of these elections to declare them void and rerun them with proper regard to the democratic processes we expect, and require of a students union.

Update 21:14 10/11/11: I have received a response from Geraint Edwards, the responsible staff member:

“Having discussed the issue with the Returning Officer, Ann North of NUS Wales, she is content that the integrity of the student trustee elections have not been significantly affected by the ommission of the Re-Open Nominations options for the first part of voting. I have therefore informed the candidates of the elections result and will be updating the website accordingly tomorrow morning. “

Once again I find myself disappointed, yet entirely unsurprised at the actions of the Union that is supposed to represent me.

Update 13:52 11/11/11: Students have now been informed that contrary to  the above statement, the elections have now been declared void.

“The Elections Returning Officer, Ann North, has decided that due to Re-Open Nominations not being included from the outset in yesterday’s elections that the results are to be voided and the election re-run on Tuesday 15^th November 2011 between 8:00am and 7:00pm.”

I welcome this move from Ann North to declare the elections void as a vital win for accountability and for regard for democratic processes. In holding the Union to account as students have done in the past 24 hours, we can help ensure that in the future the Guild is operated to the high standards which we expect without incidents such as this.

I want Aber Guild of Students to be a successful, purposeful union, I really do. That's why I get so mad when the Union handles things as badly as it has handled the supposed elections for Student Trustees and NUSW Winter Council Delegates. Firstly, at a time when it is crucial that we engage students ...

Banner: Defend Education / Amyddiffyn Addysg

On the eve of the NCAFC’s National Demonstration against the marketisation of education, Aberystwyth University Guild of Students held its first General Meeting of the year, where a record number of people attended due to new rules in place regarding society attendance.

During the General Meeting, several motions were debated on a range of issues, including opposition to starbucks in the union (fell 97-102), the student accommodation crisis, and more.

At the General Meeting, students passed a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Universities & Science, David Willetts. The motion also condemns Leighton Andrews, the Minister for Education & Skills in the Welsh Assembly, who is responsible for Higher Education policy in Wales. In doing so students have sent a clear message to Westminster, and to Cardiff: You’re wrong on tuition fees, you’re wrong on funding cuts, and you’re wrong on mergers.

Students also passed a motion supporting a walk out on November 30th to join the local demonstration organised by trade unions and the local anti-cuts groups: Ceredigion Against The Cuts, and Aber Radical Forum.

[1] Full text of motion of no confidence in minister for universities & science

http://nov9.strikenow.org.uk/

On the eve of the NCAFC's National Demonstration against the marketisation of education, Aberystwyth University Guild of Students held its first General Meeting of the year, where a record number of people attended due to new rules in place regarding society attendance. During the General Meeting, several motions were debated on a range of issues, ...

Last month I sent a Freedom of Information Request to Ceredigion County Council to find out how many properties owned by the state or by private non-individual bodies were long-term empty properties.

Today, a day late, the Council responded with a list of 93 properties, including addresses and the group owning the property.

I’ll write a proper post on this later this week, hopefully, but for now I’ll just drop some key things I’ve noticed so far, as well as the data.

• There are a total of 93 properties within Ceredigion classes as long-term empty
  
• Aberystwyth University has 5 (possibly 6?) long-term empty properties
• Ceredigion County Council has 6 such properties
• 40 of the properties are within Aberystwyth

I will be meeting with the student paper, The Courier, tomorrow to go through this in detail and check facts, so we can bring you the full story .

Dataset: Spreadsheet of addresses and owners of long term empty property in Ceredigion.

Last month I sent a Freedom of Information Request to Ceredigion County Council to find out how many properties owned by the state or by private non-individual bodies were long-term empty properties. Today, a day late, the Council responded with a list of 93 properties, including addresses and the group owning the property. I'll write a ...