Comments on: COMMENT: Clubs and societies face challenges at QUB

By: Boxing Club

Boxing Club — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:27:27 +0000

The purpose of this article is to highlight the problems faced in setting up a new club or society,not to apply pressure on the new su rep for more funding.It reasonable that the college wouldnt throw money at untested individuals, however the main issue we faced was understanding the college club finance systems.

Outdoor enthusiast: are you suggesting that we recruit a token muslim to help us get more cash?:)

By: Des

Des — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:05:35 +0000

Storage is one issue that does need addressed for sure, as is the difference in funding between Clubs and Societys but all credit to Niall even for trying. Its not an easy system to work with and you can never please everyone. Good Luck mate.

By: Niall Bole

Niall Bole — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:09:44 +0000

Foxy – storage at the SU and elsewhere comes under the umbrella of improving the facilities offered to C&S by the Union, PEC and the Uni as a whole. It’s on my manifesto and as such is on my to-do list!

I’m thinking of keeping a copy of the manifesto pinned up beside my desk, for the satisfaction of ticking off things once they get done. Might take me a while for some of them but I intend to get there in the end

By: Foxy

Foxy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:52:23 +0000

As I’m sure Niall is aware, one of the biggest challenges for new clubs and socs is having a space of their own.

Sporting clubs like GAA, Football, Lacrosse, Boxing etc as mentioned need facilities where they can train. Which currently costs them dearly. Similarly, Queens Radio need decent studio facilities.

The drama society is trying to make a real push to develop the professional element of the society in the last year. We’ve been neglected and ignored for years, at least the last four years since Ive been a student at Queens. It is only now through the concerted effort from sabbs like Shane B, Paul C and Laura H (and the threat from many students to leave the university because they are so dissatisfied) that the university is starting to take notice. Half the time you spend out trying (along with Sabbs) who to ask, Estates have a huge amount of control, but there is also the whole structure at the Student Guidance Centre. Sometimes I think nobody knows.

I think space for clubs and socs, esp Storage is a key issue, and I hope its one that is followed up on…

By: Archie

Archie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:29:13 +0000

I’m sure Niall will hardly feel pressured by an opinion article on The Gown website which was probably written prior to the election. Calm down for Godsake.

By: Outdoor Enthusiast

Outdoor Enthusiast — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:35:48 +0000

Societies do not recieve the same funding as sporting clubs…. unless you are muslim

By: Outdoor Enthusiast

Outdoor Enthusiast — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:35:04 +0000

It is pressure which is not called for. He is well aware of problems facing clubs both old and new.

By: Niall Bole

Niall Bole — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:30:25 +0000

Outdoor Enthusiast: Thanks for the support, and don’t worry, I have no reason to fear the Gown as I fully intend to be newsworthy for all the right reasons! I’m going to be working with Paul Courtney over the next few months to bring myself up to speed on the internal runnings of the C&S system and plan to hit the ground running.

I’ve spoken to the Boxing Club both at the Refresher’s Fair and during the past few weeks and they seem to be doing well despite the problems faced by every fledgling club – I wish them the best of luck in the intervarsities this weekend and look forward to getting them sorted with full funding as soon as they become eligible.

High Society – Don’t worry, I know all about it. It does tend to be clubs who are in more urgent need of startup capital, for the necessary equipment and coach fees, but societies also need help and I aim to be there to provide it

Of course if anyone has issues Paul Courtney is the man to contact, at su.vpcs@qub.ac.uk. I’ll be taking over that address from July but until then I’m using niall.vpcs@gmail.com

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:16:05 +0000

This article is by no means an attack on the newly elected VPCS, who has yet to take up his post. It is merely a comment on the challenges faced by clubs and societies at QUB.

By: High Society

High Society — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:01:31 +0000

No mention of the new societies that have started up this year? Its not all about sports clubs at Queens you know.

By: Outdoor Enthusiast

Outdoor Enthusiast — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:34:27 +0000

I would suggest that concerned clubs should have raised this with our newly elected VPCS before putting it on the gown website. The guy is only in the post and already you are trying to use the gown to pressurise him. If you took the time to email Niall I am sure he will reply. I did this and was quite pleased with his surprisingly informed reponse. (surprised because I got it quick and he knew things it has taken me a while to find out!)

I have good hopes for Niall and wish him every luck in the negotiations whith Queens. Hopefully you will support him rather than trying to make his job more difficult from day one.