Comment: Toast and potato research was misinterpreted P11 >>
gair rhydd
Societies: Let’s get to know our boobs with Coppafeel P30 >> gair rhydd | freeword Cardiff ’s student weekly Issue 1090 Monday 30th January 2017 Cardiff Innovation Campus work to create 135 jobs
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Photographer: Maria Mellor
Senate agree to give added publicity to campaign officers Maria Mellor
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number of significant motions were passed by student senate in a meeting last week, including an item which allows better treatment of part time officers in the SU. The item was submitted by exWelsh Language Officer, Steffan Bryn, who believed that the senate should vote to “make officers more prominent, raise their status within the union”. The students’ union will now be obligated to ensure that the efforts of the officers are more appreciated, and that standing as a campaign officer is a practical thing to do for a student. There will be added publicity for every role, and the Sabbatical officers will have a duty to consult officers more. It was pointed out in the senate
meeting that there is currently not enough communication between the full time and part time officers. The current Vice President Education, Mo Hanafy and Vice President Postgrad Alex Kuklenko were wary of the potential cost of the proposal. Mo said: “There are certain things we can’t promise we’ll do” The VP Education was adamant that he was not against the motion as a concept, but believed there were better ways to go about it. He added: “We want to work on this this year… but senate is not the place to do this.” International officer, Vaishnavi Sayal responded: “We need something that is set in stone for future officers.” Allegedly the part time officer team and the sabbatical officer team have only all met twice so far this academic year. Chiron Hooson, senator, said: “The problem of not having enough support for campaign officers has been a
problem for many years now.” This was confirmed on twitter by Cosimo Montagu, VP Societies 2010/11, who told Gair Rhydd: “Tell them from an ex-Sabb we were discussing this back in 2010... they need to decide how to achieve it practically, and do it!” Osian Wyn Morgan, Welsh Language Officer, was happy about the result. He said: “The increased publicity of Campaign Officers, by giving equal publicity to Sabbatical and Campaign officers on the Union’s website and within the union, will assure students are more aware of the roles and responsibilities of the Campaign Officers, and will make the Campaign Officers more approachable.” Osian added: “Overall I am confident that forthcoming changes to Campaign Officers roles within the Union will make it easier for us to fulfil our responsibilities as student representatives, and most impor-
tantly, will have a positive impact on the lives of the students that we represent.” Overall, of the 12 agenda items, eight were passed. The motion for the SU to start serving Welsh ales on tap was discussed at the meeting. Senator Matthew Jenkins said: “a recognisable aspect of Welsh culture is the brewing of Wales and Cardiff University should celebrate that,” However, the motion fell after worries about cost. Katey Beggan said: “I don’t see a need for it… This money would be better spent on non-alcoholic drinks.” There will continue to be bottled ales at The Taf despite protests from student Usman Mahmood Bukhari that “it tastes different.”
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ork is set to begin on Cardiff Innovation Campus, creating up to 135 jobs in construction over the next two years. Cardiff University is partnering Kier Group plc to develop the Innovation Campus, which will aim to support employment, training, apprenticeships and development opportunities for disadvantaged groups, NEETs, workless households and long-term unemployed. Cardiff University’s Professor Hyewl Thomas, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement said: “We are delighted to be working with Kier as preferred bidder on Cardiff Innovation Campus. The two new buildings will unlock the economic potential of catalysis and Compound Semiconductors, and harness the application of social science to solve pressing global problems.”
LGBT+ Officer (Women’s) hands in resignation
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GBT+ Women’s officer Ruth Lewis has resigned from her role in the Students’ Union. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Students’ Union said: “Ruth Lewis has taken the decision to step down as LGBT+ Women’s Place officer in order to focus on her degree. Cardiff University Students’ Union thanks Ruth for her hard work as a Campaign Officer and respects the decision to focus on her studies.” Ms Lewis, a second year mathematics student, had stated in her manifesto that her main aim was “to raise more awareness for the community, and in particular the trans* community.” She also aimed to “work towards the eventual goal of there being no difference whether you are meeting someone from the LGBT+ community or not.” The next LGBT+ Women’s officer for the 2017/18 academic year will be elected in February, along with the other sabbatical positions, in the annual student elections.