Volume XX Issue 7 FREE
24th January 2011
See page 11 for more on unexpected style icon Tinie Tempah
Feeling motivated? Turn to page 9 to read about the tradition of New Year’s Resolutions
Necessity of Sabbatical Roles Reviewed as ULSU Shops Remain Closed
ULSU staff and sabbats at one of their weekly meetings.
Kelly O’Brien, Editor
It has recently emerged that the Students’ Union and its Sabbatical representatives are to recommend two major changes to the governance structure of ULSU.
These proposed changes come in the form of two motions which will be voted on next week at an EGM. The first of these motions recommends the removal of the position of CSO, or Campaigns and Services Officer, a sabbatical office currently held by Paddy Rockett. The second of these motions recommends the removal of the position of CO, or Communications Officer, a sabbatical office currently held by Kelly O’Brien, ULFM Chair and Editor of An Focal. The reasoning behind the proffered motions are both financial and structural. In the case of CSO, the Union believes that the duties of this position are best held by student volunteers (campaigns) and industry professionals
(services). With the money saved on the annual wages of a Campaigns and Services Officer, the ULSU as a whole could put that money towards securing its financial position which is currently believed to be unsustainable. This step would be the first of many aimed at reducing the expenditure of the Union and making ULSU and ULSU Services more financially viable. Further steps so far have included the closure of the Spar shops located in both Dromroe and Cappavilla Villages. The ULSU Bike shop will also face cuts as discussions are currently underway to amend opening hours. It is expected that the Bike Shop will only open for a limited amount of weeks at both the beginning and the end of term time.
Further discussions have been entered into between the ULSU Executive and the Financial Controller of the Students’ Union. A financial plan will shortly be decided upon and further cuts are certain though, as of yet, there has been no indication as to which sectors are most likely to be hit. In the case of the position of CO, the Union believes that the duties of this office would be best fulfilled by a staff position and that the current duties of the Communications Officer are fundamentally operational as opposed to representational. The Union believes that a current student, appointed to the position around the same as the sabbatical elections are held, would be better equipped to fulfil the role.
It is thought that this change would develop the office significantly in terms of time management, workload and, consequently, productivity. The method of application and subsequent employment would also guarantee that the level of qualification of the successful candidate would be sufficient enough to ensure the candidate possessed the right skills to effectively perform the require duties. These motions will be put to a vote at the EGM (Emergency General Meeting) on Wednesday of Week 2 in the Stables Courtyard. All current UL students are encouraged to attend.