'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...

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...

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...

After a flurry of posts in February, for the past month I’ve been pretty much silent on here. The reason being that I’ve been pre-occupied with the local campaign against cuts, which has involved living in occupation for 3 weeks, as well as my campaign for Aber Guild Deputy Student Support & Campaigns Officer. Then there’s also an ever increasing university workload, including a group project in java development that’s due on Tuesday. Fun.

I hope to get a few more posts up in the coming weeks.

After a flurry of posts in February, for the past month I’ve been pretty much silent on here. The reason being that I’ve been pre-occupied with the local campaign against...

(This blogpost is a repost of the announcement made on AberGuild.co.uk by the Aberystwyth Guild of Students)

On 22nd February, a meeting will decide the future of key University services. Whilst that meeting is happening, we have organised a demonstration through Aberystwyth against the proposed cuts. We want to send a clear message to the University’s Senior Management Team and Governors that we want Aberystwyth University to improve and not be ruined by short sighted decisions. We need to protect the experience that we currently receive in Aberystwyth.
Aberystwyth is a unique place. One thing that we can all unite over is the “student experience“that we receive at Aberystwyth University. We have a thriving social scene and organise fantastic sports and activities for all of you, both of which make up our long term friendships and memories of University life and create the “Aber Experience”.
The Aberystwyth Guild of Students’ elected Sabbatical officers spend a large amount of time lobbying the University just to maintain day-to-day activities and facilities that we all take for granted.
Funding is being significantly withdrawn over short periods of time and this WILL impact students directly. Things have reached a critical breaking point!
This is a polar contrast with some other Universities that are currently investing heavily in their students and the experience that they receive through their education.
This is what is happening in YOUR University:
1. Teaching and Academic Departments: Reductions across every departmental budget over 3 years is compromising the quality of your learning experience- this is a national issue, but is immediately taking hold of Aberystwyth academic departments.

2. Sports/Societies: Planned cuts in the Guild’s funding from the University will decimate the financial and administration support to Sports Clubs and Societies. This will mean a lack of vital support to manage and arrange sports and societies’ events and clubs, and put a halt to any improvements being made to the current recreational facilities.

3. Volunteering: This department organise the beach cleans, fundraising and support to the local community and this costs money to arrange. Under planned funding reductions will mean we will no longer be in a position to continue this vital service that organises placements and contributes massively to your personal experience and opportunities available as a student.

4. Housing: Your University has not effectively planned ahead for the increase in student numbers and has created a massive housing issue in Aberystwyth. Recently 770 students were rejected from University halls! There is a need to find affordable quality housing and Aberystwyth just doesn’t have enough.
Date and time of Demo:
IMAGINE THE FUTURE….
Tuesday 22nd February 2011
Assemble on the University Concourse at 12pm
This event is not targeted at political parties or the Government; their decisions will affect higher education for generations to come.
Don’t be apathetic, make a stand and show that you do care about what happens to Aberystwyth University and Aberystwyth as a town.
• Without the great facilities, no-one will want to come to Aberystwyth University,
• Without the University, Aberystwyth will not be the same.

(This blogpost is a repost of the announcement made on AberGuild.co.uk by the Aberystwyth Guild of Students) On 22nd February, a meeting will decide the future of key University services....