University forces YUSU to accept January opening of Langwith Bar
Student protests proved futile.Photo: Michael BrunsdenYUSU have conceded that the Union-owned Langwith Bar has been forced to open in January 2009, three months later than originally planned.
The University’s decision not to embark on necessary asbestos removal work in the bar, which was slated to commence trading at the start of the upcoming academic year, has ended hopes that YUSU pressure and student support for the bar would engineer an October opening.
Matt Burton, YUSU Services and Finance Officer, who has lead plans for the Union-owned venue, expressed his disappointment at the decision, but praised the support of students who campaigned for a October opening.
“Whilst I am disappointed that we aren’t able to open in October, I’m happy to say that the campaign was a real success in that it showed the University how important the bar is to students. We are more determined than ever to make a January 2009 opening work really well,” Burton said.
“I’m keeping positive - this is really something great we’ve done and we’ve broken the current monopoly on campus of commercial services with regards to catering and bars. It gives us extra time to make sure we get things done right and extra time to plan a really comprehensive events planner for the term,” added Burton.
However, in a statement on behalf of the Langwith JCRC, Vice-Chair Chris O’Brien said: “I was bitterly disappointed to hear that the University were not prepared to aid YUSU in developing York’s first student-run venue in time for October 2008. Personally, I think it’s another example of the University showing a distinct lack of respect to the students and, once again, neglecting the satisfaction of its populace.
Members of Langwith JCRC have expressed worries that their Freshers’ Week programme will be jeapordised by a lack of a central venue, following the closure of the University-run Langwith Bar earlier this year.
“As we will not be open in October, this presents some issues for Langwith particularly, but we are in constant talks with the Langwith JCRC to find solutions to work through the Autumn term, ready for a big launch in January,” said Burton.
It is believed that the asbestos removal will not begin until after the second week of the Autumn Term, to allow for Langwith Freshers’ Week events.
Burton, along with Langwith JCRC Chair Zach Pepper and YUSU Policy and Campaigns Officer Tom Langrish, had organised protests against the University when the intial annoucement of a delayed opening was made.
An estimated 200 students dressed in boiler suits took part in two protests outside Heslington Hall, designed to pressure Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor into overturning the intial decision.
As a result, YUSU Officers were invited to attend a meeting with University Registrar Sally Neocosmos, who had earlier stated that “the strength of feelings among students about various issues has been noted.”
Burton, however, revealed that while the University “explored other potential options” during the meeting, January 2009 was deemed to be the best opening time. YUSU were also provided with a Project Manager to oversee the bar opening.
The University were forced to delay the asbestos removal due to a large number of existing maintenance projects that had already been earmarked for completion during the summer break.
Related posts:
- Langwith Bar project on schedule for slated January opening
- University withdraws support for October opening of Langwith bar
- YUSU protest to force Cantor to change Langwith decision
- Emergency UGM motion to push for decision change on Langwith bar
- Student protests over delayed opening of Langwith Bar continue
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Student Finances
I’m not sure that in the scheme of the usual Student Education topics, that something like this should be much of an issue. Isn’t getting a decent Education really the important thing here?
Chris Northwood
@Student Finances (who I suspect is a spam bot anyway, due to the heavy use of URLs in your comment), University is more about the whole experience, including social, than just the education.
Chris Armstrong
Most certainly a bot, but a clever one, notice that it’s a suitably vague enough comment to go on any student news story.
But it’s certainly true that university is far beyond just getting an education. The closing of the bars is certainly a massive negative impact on the experience which makes every student much more than just their degree result. I’m not talking about getting wasted in freshers week, I mean societies having meeting spaces that are social, easy to find and don’t need to be booked and first years in halls that want to hang around people other than those they bump into in the kitchens. It’s all been said before, of course, but it’s clear that a lot of students and the university don’t realise this.
Neil Barnes
Yes, it’s a bot. No student I know is ever awake at 7.15am.
Jason Rose
Student Finances are unlikely to be students but I don’t think that it’s worth commenting on that.
It’s a disgrace that the university hasn’t listened to students on this. It won’t cost them any more to do the work during the summer and it will disrupt the students less. If having building work during term time then I think the following comment applies:
I’m sure that in the scheme of the usual Student Education topics, something like this should be much of an issue. Isn’t getting a decent Education really the important thing here?
Thank you bot, you make my point well when edited accordingly. If students (and it is a university) and their education (again, it’s a university) are the most important thing to this university (which is a place that teaches people for those that don’t know :p) then it seems to me that doing the work over summer is much better.
And on a side, balancing education with everything else is important and I guarantee that anyone who fails to do so will find themselves unhappy. If “getting a decent Education” [sic] is the ONLY important thing here, there is a massive problem with the university.
Crian Bantor
UNI wouldn’t budge for Students.
Students lose out - ONCE AGAIN.
CHristopher Perry
Good to read this sort of rumpus reminiscent of rumpuses with Lord james conducted from room B1 of Langwith in 1967 when I edited Nouse. The University was petty then and I doubt it has changed and it also managed to be very vindictive to those challenging its authority. No protestor was ever forgotten and no opportunity to make their card neglected. So watch what you say and how much you drink in Langwith or elsewhere Chris Perry life member YUSU