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You complain that the union is too expensive for students; the cost of running the union is high and we need the money to support the societies, campaings, sports, the students. We need money to serve you.
Why not cut cost then? Initiatives were taken to reduce cost, by voting to opt out of unnecessary memberships. Not enough students voted for that to pass through. Reducing funding for societies perhaps? Student societies will then complain that the union doesn't listen to us, the union is not supportive of us!
What about getting more students to vote? All initiative were taken to encourage student voting, the bubble, the Boar, our univeristy Radio channel, lecture shouts, kitchen run by street team, emails from the SU, facebook invites, notices around compus. How else do you want to be reminded?
In what area then, has the union failed? Why all these complains still, why does the union still not reach quorum in many cases?
Here I would like to adopt a slightly different tone. Now I will explore the idea of why, perhaps, the union is not good enough for the students.
Just one word.
Language.
I am not an English expert, nor am I going to suggest that the grammar used by the union is bad. Take a look at the following paragraph, (this is from the main page of the union elections page that was supposed to encourage students to vote):
Referenda:
Changing the Way this Union is Run.
The trustees of the Union shall have the power, which the trustees can exercise upon a future date, to transfer the business of the Union to a charitable company limited by guarantee with memorandum and articles of association in the same or similar form to those available here.
NOTE: IF YOU VOTE FOR, YOU WILL ALSO AGREE TO PARAGRAPHS 1 TO 13 IN THE MOTION DOCUMENT WHICH SET OUT TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SET UP THE COMPANY AND GIVE THE TRUSTEES THE POWER TO TRANSFER THE UNION’S BUSINESS TO IT.
I am an international student studying accounting and finance. I am by no means stupid, and have a certain level of knowledge regarding UK politics. That paragraph to me however, is a complete jargon, from the title right up till the button: Vote Imagine I just got back from a lecture and am ready to prepare a presentation for tomorrow. I logged on to the SU page and was prepared to vote when I saw that paragraph.
'Ahh.. I am not exactly sure what I will be voting for, nevermind then.'
Perhaps that why
