i onsolent
Issue no1
www.i-on-solent.com
Your weekly paper from third year Journalism students at Solent University
FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2011
i NEWS SU bar: Second floor STUDENT LIFE:Drinking hole struggling to make ends meet
ON
in danger of shutting
Residents rally to protest against job cuts PAGE 4
i LIFE
ON IONLIFE
Solent success story: Student turned BBC presenter PAGE 6-7
i SPORT ON
Redhawks two games away from playoffs in the BUAFL PAGE 12 Women’s rugby tie descends into farce PAGE 11
Solent’s student union top bar is under threat after a decline in organised events and falling drinks income - a feature which could become permament unless the bar starts making more money. One member of staff has complained of shrinking pay rates and fewer shifts as managers have been forced to cut hours and wages because they can’t afford to keep as many staff on. One kitchen porter at the SU bar, Anthony Fuller, 24, said: “My wages have gone down 40 pence an hour from last year and my hours were cut at the beginning of the term which left me with considerably less money to live on per week.” The recent lack of customers has left some staff as spare parts. Mr Fuller explained: “Some people have lost shifts because of the lack of customers on certain days. It’s just not busy enough to justify having the same amount of staff as they usually have working.” However, the short term measure of cutting staff expenses may not be enough to keep the bar running on full steam. The top bar, usually used for special events arranged by students and SU staff, may have to remain closed. Solent SU President Dan Prendergast explained: “Here at Solent the top bar has seen a decline that does not justify us opening it on a regular basis. It still continues to be open for private or student run nights. “However, this is set to change. The new plan is to alter-
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The top bar has seen a decline that does not justify us opening it on a regular basis. - SU president
At risk:Abarman serves in the main SU bar - the upstair bars faces possible closure nate between the two bars.” Other student union bars across the country are suffering similar financial turmoil. Bristol University had to close their SU Bar after losing £40,000 in one term and London student unions are also in decline. St. Mary’s and Kingston University may have to close their student bars, claiming that every day the bars are open they lose £2,500. Kingston Student Union General Manager, Mark Horne, said: “The current student union model isn't sustainable. Many unions have already opted out of bars or downsized their bar of-
fering, and this trend will continue for many unions.” This alarming trend has been explained by managers as a result of local supermarkets and high street venues selling alcohol at prices SU bars just cannot compete with. Mr Prendergast added: “The bar sales as a whole have been in decline in line with industry expectations. Across student unions there are large declines in bar sales as we have to compete with the high street venues.” However there is some hope. Mr Prendergast based his manifesto on salvaging the top bar
and intends to do so by organising more events in collaboration with Events Manager Steve Jones. After sending out surveys and consulting students directly, a new events programme has been outlined with highlights such as Poker Night and MegaPint Monday now hosted in the top bar. Mr Prendergast assures that measures are being taken to ensure its survival. He said: “We are constantly looking at what we can provide for students, meeting needs and building on suggestions.” Louise Potter
Your View: Readers tell us how they would save the student union bar PAGE 10