gair rhydd
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ISSUE 876 OCTOBER 06 2008 CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972
INSIDE...NEWS/OPINION/FEATURES/SPORT/LISTINGS
INITIATION DEVASTATION AU club initiations: When sport, peer pressure and binge drinking collide - p. 3
From the sea to the Shaw
gair rhydd interviews Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Shaw - p. 34
Societies' budgets reined in 43 out of 139 societies receive £0.00 15% of budget held back for new contingency fund
Sian Symons News Editor The release of the Students' Union's societies budget last week has angered many students who have seen an average reduction in initial budget allocations. With 139 societies applying for funding, many groups have found themselves with a much smaller allowance than last year. Despite society applications for funding reaching a collected total of £173,000, more than eight times the total Societies budget of £20,000, initial funding for societies has been reduced, on average, across the board. Instead of distributing all of the budget at once, this year just over £3,000 - a quarter of the annual budget - is being held back in a contingency fund for societies who urgently need extra money. Clubbing and DJing society Traffic was given nearly £400 on last year’s budget, but this year they have only £50. A spokesperson for the society, described this as a “measly allocation”, but recognised that it is not only Traffic that faces financial problems. Many societies have been awarded no money at all. Act One, ACS, Brass
Band, Cardiff Business, Earth Soc and SVC are among the many societies that have received no funding. They are advised to fund their group with membership and participation funds. However, some societies have emerged with an even larger chunk of the budget than the previous year. The Live Music Society has earned £610 worth of funding, Nightline have been given £870, and the debating society have been awarded £850. Cardiff Student Scout and Guide society (SSAGS) were another of the high earning societies. They were given £668 towards affiliation, trips and printing costs. Secretary for Cardiff SSAGS Rebecca Taylor said: "to run as a society we have to be affiliated to Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO) which costs us a certain amount per year. If we couldn’t afford to pay this fee we wouldn’t be able to run as a scout and guide affiliated society”. She went on to explain that as well as receiving a lump sum from the University, the society also charges a £6 membership, some of which goes towards the affiliation fee. Becca Rees, the Societies, Postgraduate and International Officer said: “Overall, societies are actu-
ally getting more than ever before this year. However, we have adopted a different strategy to that of past years. Less money has been distributed initially and we have kept back a contingency fund for those societies who can demonstrate that they require additional funds for their activities or to facilitate those who may need help later in the year.“ She also explained that, as 18 new societies have been accepted this year, the existing budget is even more thinly spread. Cardiff University Students’ Union (CUSU) explains that to calculate the budget for each society, they look at the income the society already generates. If a society receives a high income from membership fees alone, they are not given as much funding as others. The CUSU also states that they only provide funding for trips and events, guest speakers, conferences and publicity. Therefore, societies intending to spend their money on social events, clothing or international travel will find themselves not covered by the budget.