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 motion has been proposed by Matt Burton, and is titled 'Move the University of York Summer Ball back to Campus'.
At last night's University Council meeting, Matt Burton proposed moving this year's Summer Ball to campus. Attendees approved the proposal, voting 13 to seven with four abstentions.
YUSU Societies and Communications Officer Rory Shanks said that since then, "It has become increasingly apparent that the views of the student population have been divided in their opinions of this move, and whether they would indeed prefer this event to remain at York Racecourse."
Since the proposal was approved, a Facebook group and a petition opposing the move have been set up. At press time, the Facebook group titled 'Motion to Move Grad Ball Back to the Racecourse' had 633 members, and the petition had been signed by 405 people.
Dan Taylor, an administrator of the group who attended last night's Council meeting, said: "This is clearly an issue students feel strongly about. They feel strongly that they should have been consulted before such a decision was taken.
"Matt has attempted to get this in through the back door when he could have had a UGM on it, and it's not worked. I argued it out in Council yesterday and a lack of concern for what students actually wanted was evident, to say the least. The idea in itself, for anyone who has seen it, is a complete no-brainer and that's what the students have seen."
Claire Hazelgrove, a third-year who is the Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate for Skipton and Ripon, added: "We need to make sure that everyone that’s signed the petition votes down the motion so we can have our Summer Ball back, because we deserve better."
Campaigns Officer-elect Jason Rose, who was also at last night's Council meeting, said: "I think that there are advantages and disadvantages to having the Summer Ball on campus and student opinion is very much divided on the issue.
"My concern is that the majority of the voting populace will not be fully informed on the issue and vote to resist change; but I welcome the EGM as greater democracy and think that it's a great way of informing the average student of the issues at hand. I am expecting the EGM to fall but students to welcome an on-campus Fresher's Ball."
Regarding tomorrow's EGM, Shanks said: "It goes without saying that the idea of a democratic decision making is one of the core-tenets of this Union, and is something that we vehemently uphold at York.
"It is for this reason that the President is prepared to uphold the request of going to EGM, in order to allow the whole of the student population a voice as to where they would prefer their Summer Ball to be held."
The EGM will be held at 2.15pm on Friday in L/N/028. Students will then have 24 hours to vote on the motion, from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Saturday.
Just read #50's post and I was just wondering what downsides there could possibly be in making money for the courtyard, when that's going to mean MUCH cheaper drinks on the night (I for one could barely afford anything at the racecourse and I'm sure most students would say the same) and the profits going back to our students' union?
oops, sorry that was me that just posted. I didn't realise I was logged in as Kate!
#61 purely for the 'uniqueness' factor I don't reckon people will take too kindly to having the summer ball as 'just another courtyard night'. I suppose it's akin to having the grad ball in a wetherspoons pub in that drinks are cheap, but it's nothing different to your average night out in town, except you'll be wearing a nice dress.
Completely with you on the price issue though, i couldnt afford more than a glass of wine after paying an extortionate amount just to get into the place!
On balance, I'd say the lower price would sway me towards campus, despite what the pro-racecourse lot have said. Both arguments are good, which is why we should probably keep having *some* events at the racecourse and some on campus. As said before, if Vanbrugh paradise was cleaned and tastefully lit, with maybe a marquee and a BBQ, that adds another possibility to the campus idea thats cheap and easy to do.
Maybe the time to experiment with campus is freshers' week though. I;m not graduating this year so i won't vote either way. It'll be good fun whoever wins.
Motion Failed
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