A group of York students has won the opportunity to have their very own I-phone application developed after winning The App Challenge final, held at the Ron Cooke Hub on Wednesday, January 18.
YUSU Welfare officer Bob Hughes has warned students to be vigilant after a student loans phishing scam has been revealed.
Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting York on Maundy Thursday, 5th April, as part of the 800th anniversary of York’s Charter for the traditional “Royal Maundy” ceremony.
A flood caused by a heating system “failure” forced the university IT services to shut down many essential systems on Sunday night, causing problems for many students on the eve of their exams and assignment due-dates.
The trip abroad was originally scheduled to go to Bratislava, but the negotiations with an airline fell through, and the college managed to successfully negotiate terms with both the coach company and hotel. It was therefore decided that the trip would go to Belgium.
Students were initially offered the chance to reserve their places online and pay later, which made the JCRC believe that they had enough interest to run the trip.
A variety of problems then arose, including many international students not being able to gain visas in time, which meant they could not take part.
Goodricke JCRC Chair Joe Clarke said that this, as well as people dropping out due to lack of clearance from their department, as well as exams "at the later stages" meant that the trip quickly went from "making a profit, to breaking even, to a loss".
It is a shame that more people didn't experience it.
The JCRC discovered on Monday Week 8, just four days before departure, that the trip would no longer be profitable, and spoke to relevant companies in an attempt to downsize or cancel the trip, depending on which was more financially viable.
Clarke said: "A cost benefit analysis showed how much we would lose if we canceled, and it looked cheaper to cancel than it would to continue."
The terms and conditions stated that if the trip was cancelled, they would have to pay the full amount, as well as refunding all members. The choice was then taken to "minimise the loss" rather "than have to refund and cancel".
Clarke, who went on the trip, said: "It was a fantastic trip and everyone who went loved it." He added: "It was an unfortunate sequence of events, which we can learn from."
He said that in future the college may ask students to pay a deposit up front which would alleviate issues of overestimating attendance.
Clarke was keen to emphasise that the college had done all it could to increase numbers, including early publicity, making an announcement and setting up a Facebook group, as well as opening it to neighbouring James College.
Rachel Sandler, a third year Music student, said: "I felt it was good that the college put on a unique, multicultural event that not only provided exciting student life such as bars, but also gave us the opportunity to experience the culture and history of Belgium, whilst bringing together Goodricke community spirit in a delightful setting."
She added that she was happy with the way that the trip was organised: "The trip was great value for money and executed well. Everyone who went had a fantastic time. It is a shame that more people didn't experience it."
Clarke reiterated that the main factor in the decrease in numbers was the non-European Union students being unable to secure a visa in time. He said: "At the later stages people dropped out."
After the event, the two JCRC Social Secretaries had a vote of no confidence brought against them by a fellow member over the financial losses.
It was the second Goodricke event in a week to lose money, after the final Goodshack event failed to sell out, and closed early due to low entrance figures.
Hahaha so yes, the total will be nearer £2000 you mean to say!
I don't think you've really caught anyone out #21. Joe has stated on the record to Nouse that we expect the final loss to be in the region of £1800. As it happens, 'Goodricke loses £1000+' is a more accurate statement than 'Goodricke loses £2000'. But it doesn't really matter, #21, because both are substantial losses, and the reason for the loss has got be what we're really interested in.
As Joe has said, if you want the full picture, come to the Goodricke open meeting this evening. I'm personally of the opinion that recent losses from Goodricke events raise some deeper issues that aren't being dealt with.
Most important of these is the college's appalling decision to up fresher intake of maths and science students by around 15%. Say what you will about generalisations, the truth is that maths and science students tend not to be as socially active. This is underlined by the fact that the decision was made in an attempt to make us a better behaved college.
The result is that we have fewer people who want to go out and get involved with Goodricke events, and that drumming up ticket sales in the blocks is much more difficult than in previous years.
Alex, thanks for your kind words - we're trying our best to do something different. As you and others have pointed out, selling enough tickets is not always in our control.
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