However, I think because of Halifax’ size and geographical spread compared (currently) to all other colleges, court specific events serve a better purpose than quad/block specific parties in other colleges. It is similar to why we have college events and not just YUSU run events.

Also, wouldn’t better court spirit ultimately result in better college spirit? As more and more people ‘get involved’ at a court level, wont that result in more people wanting to ‘get involved’ at a college level? E.g. if person X likes a small court based event, they are more likely to go to a college event and, possibly, encourage house/flat mates to go too.

The matter of how we spend this money still needs discussion, as far as I’m aware there hasn’t been a single vote to allocate any of it. You also seem blissfully unaware that I’ve actually been defending the way in which Roberto has conducted himself, pointing out that the procedures laid out in the constitution have been followed.

As for what I’ve done for Halifax, I was working for the HCSA before you’d even started sixth form, so frankly you’re not in a position to judge.

A ‘Younger Court Rep’ is not referenced in the article. What do you mean?

Also, you seem to know a lot about the internal procedures of the Halifax SA and the processes that have/would have been undertaken in this instance. I think, perhaps, that you are not what you seem.

“In clarification; the £800 mentioned is for all Social Events, and will be divided fairly between all Courts and College events” – is that knowledge that all Halifax students know? Or perhaps just those that
have the ear of the esteemed Mr. Powell?

And yes, inevitable commenters, I am being provocative.

Well done Nouse for actually having the guts to take our elected representative on.

The key issue involved in the organising of these social events is whether or not it is legal. This is a very grey area. My understanding of the situation is this. Halifax ‘own funds’ couldn’t be used as these events would not be for the benefit of all Halifax Students, and would run in direct competition to the commercially run Halifax events. YUSU funds couldn’t be used as they are not for the benefit of all students, and no specific request for funds of this type of use were made. The Jane Grenville Grant is a bit of a perculiarity, however it should be noted that it is still public money, and therefore it’s use is limited. This is why it’s use needs to be further discussed by the HCSA.

The article quotes the constitution “all expenditure and income must be approved by an Executive Meeting.” I congratulate Nouse for their selective reading of the Halifax constitution. If they take a closer look they’ll find section 12 which is probably the most controversial section in the entire document. It allows the President to make policy in the absence of a quorate executive meeting, on the condition that this policy “is presented to the next Executive Meeting for approval”. This procedure was I believe followed in the case of the £22 expenditure on the Younger Court social. Personally I’ve never been happy with section 12 and would love to see it dropped, but it does serve a purpose, for example I doubt Halifax Students would have liked to see the Winter Ball last year cancelled when the venue demanded extra money for the hire of a DJ at the last minute.

I have to admit to being the mysterious “Younger Court Rep” that was mentioned in this article.

Let me make this clear – firstly, I have no authority or position on the HCSA. I am a volunteer, and the Halifax Entertainment Officers, at this moment in time, are in contact with volunteers like myself to encourage social interactions in Halifax and help organise such events, with them being in charge of all matters. Our events and all funding is run by them foremost, as is their post, and my role along with others is simply as a social figurehead of the Courts of Halifax.

Secondly, we have not received these vast and ridiculous sums of cash. To suggest as such is slander. I did not expect a paper such as the Nouse to fall victim to quoting ridiculous, vicious rumours, but if such has been printed, then I have a duty to correct my esteemed peers. The event was not only highly successful, but also totally appropriately related to the funding allocated, as it was a Social event, that improved College Spirit and was also far from Private. Numerous individuals from across Halifax attended, and the amount we received was no higher than £22 in all.

Thirdly, “a number of events” must be corrected immediately. A single event has so far occurred, and I can produce numerous seconders for this claim. The Nouse either has to review its sources as unreliable, or has simply pulled figures from the air. In clarification; the £800 mentioned is for all Social Events, and will be divided fairly between all Courts and College events, the £150 – £200 is a meaningless number that can only be related to the division of the Social funding, and the £20 spent was used in the approved manner.

I add that recently a vast sum of funding, around £1,800, was returned the YUSU, unused by Halifax College, and it is a testament to Roberto’s continuing hard efforts and time spent on Halifax that these new, successful reforms have come about. If it is any college that is in dire need of improvement of social interactions, it is my own. I have suffered long and hard at the hands of the poor social climate of Halifax, and refuse to any longer. No amount of slander, negative comments nor resistance to change will stop myself or other Halifaxers from improving our College for the better.

I am honestly shocked and disappointed at the Nouse. Your methods of information gathering seemed most petty, and coverage of what could become a vital part of University life highly inaccurate. I would encourage those who believe they are trustworthy and honest reporters to pay less attention to the Grapevine in the future, and hasten them to attend to more meaningful pursuits of University coverage in following articles.