Issue No 793 4 November 1993 iBare ^J^acts University of Surrey Students' Union Newspaper Manoj Says Bollox to NatWest Bank atWest Baiik have aiways had the students and staff at this A: "No you can't! What do you think this is? A bank?" NUniversity by iheballs. Now they have decided to squeeze them. The problem is that they have cleverly negotiated a l've been told that a change machine is going to be installed. monopoly and therefore we have no choice. Weeither take what Why wasn' t it there in the first place? And for t^t matter, where they've given us or face the inconvenience of banking else- is the promised cashpoint in the Union? The list goes on. where. We are one of the few campus universities with only one bank. Everyone has had problems with NatWest in the past - overdraft We are the only NatWest campus self service bank. Everywhere facilities, poor service etc, but we were assured that a new else people would vole with their feet and go to the bank next branch was soon to be opened. We all thought - about lime too, door. This is precisely the point - we have no other bank next more cashpoints, a friendlier service, a proper bank with all door. modem facilities. Well, in fact, what have we got? A pile of boUox! And what about the staff who woilc there? I bet morale is at an all-time high as day after day they ZK. faced with a barrage of When I entered the new building, I had the feeling that I was insults. One of them said, strictly off the record, that they "all walking into the Savoy. A pleasant reception area, lots of nice think it stinks too." Colin Nichol, the manager, is a pleasant forniture to relax in, all we need is a bar! But hold on, this is a enough bloke, but he is just the monkey - it' s the organ grinders bank. A bank with no cashiers, a bank where the staff do not above him who cali all the shots. He says he is always willing touch money, a bank where you cannot cash a cheque, a bank to see students and discuss problems. where you can* t pay money and biUs over the counter - in short a couple of machines and a desk. Well, Mr Nichol, tell your supervisors this: Either you improve the service now or this Student Union will take action. It Everybody who has used the bank has complained. The queues shouidn't take too much to pass a GM motion preventing are enoraious. There is no privacy - one small desk with up to NatWest from advertising in the handbook, from having a stali five customers being dealt with at the same time. I think they at Societies' Fayre etc. In short this Student Union will not cali this Personal Banking! Who designed the building? A acknowledge the fact that we have a bank on campus - you are completely purpose-built site where people are queuing out- not a bank but a set of smiles and machines. side. What's going to h^pen in future years when student numbers increase? What is it they say - "NatWest Bank, we're here to make life easier." Bollox, and remember they're one of the biggest Mer- And remember it's not just students. TTie staff are up in anns chant Bankers in the country! too. Wyn Davis, the University Secretary, wrote in Surrey Matters that the contract which was agreed between the Uni- Right here's what you lot can do. Tear out this page, fili in your versity and NatWest for the new bank "included a stipulation name in the box and hand it in to the bank, or post it through that NatWest Bank should continue to provide banking facili- their letterbox. Who knows, they might actually take some ties similar to those generally jH-ovided to other Universities." notice of their valued customers. Let's look at this: Manoj 1. In every other campus bank in the country you can cash a cheque over the counter. But the officiai policy here is that you can't. However, exceptions have been made. Apparently they value our custom too much. Here' s my advice - demand to have Dear Mr Nichol your cheque cashed by threalening to close your account They are unwilling to increase student card allowances, so what do I (insert name) you do if you've got cash in your account and need it in an emergency? would like to join Manoj in saying Bollox to your bank. 2. The Rapid Deposit Machine. Do you trust it? I, for one, don'L Cali me old-fashioned if you like, but I want a stamp in my paying-in book. It's sort of reassuring. Signed 3. Q: "Excuse me, I bank at this branch, can I change a pound coin for five twenties for the launderette?" Established 1968 Tel: (0483) 509275 Fax: (0483) 34749 In this week... Dear Editor, Friday Night Out Td just like to remind people to be aware ImpKirtant Notice 5 of what is going on around them. You Music Mania 8 may not even be safe in a group of people. Competition 8 I am referring to an incident on the way Culture Shock 10 home from Bojanglez on Wednesday Cinema Listings 13 night in which I was invc^ved. It was a Job Spot 14 seemingly unprovoked attack on a group Personals 16 of five of us for the sake of violence. AGM & Notices 17 Sport 18 Fortunately, nobody came off with worse than a black eye, but it leaves you with a sense of being unsafe wherever you are. From the Editor... The views expressed on The incident would have been much this page are personal worse if there had not been 3 blokes ot much to say this week, except amongst our group and if it had not been N_ sorry to anyone whose submission views and do not neces- in such a busy area (just round the comer to BF did no appear. Some of the entries sarily represent those of from Harpers), but it still gave me a to the B F box were damaged by people shock as it was totally unp-ovdced. pouring dd^ into the box. The culprits the editorial board or BE CAREFUL! have apologised. the Students' Union Kate livesy I have read the letter concerning the lack Dear Editor, of communication in the Union but do Dear Editor, not intend to comment just yet until I I was alarmed to read the letters over the have had chance to sit down and formu- past couple of weeks in BF. I would hate I would like to express my disgust re- late a proper reply. to see the mayhem caused if a kitchen fire garding the business practices of the broke out in, say, GUILDFORD stalls in the Union. Last week I bought BF is being hijacked by RAG next week COURT, without a ftre alarm sounding. one of the new holographic pictures so it will not (»anormal issue. Only the The width of the corridors and location which was ^vertised at a price of £2.99. barest essentials such as AGMs and Un- of the only exits (opposite the kitchen) I handed over £3 and waited for my ion adverts will be included, the rest of it are all a hazard! By the time people change. C^ me a tight-fisted git, but will be silly articles written by RAG. found out there is a Hre, it might be too when a price is clearly displayed, then late! They would all be trapped in a thm is what I expect to pay. Òn request- All Uie usual stuff will return the follow- burning building! ing the change, the response given was ing week. So anything submitted to BF a stare as if to say "are you mkl?" and will be held over until then. In that issue What is the purpose of having sudi a then the response "we don't have any there will also be a competition to win a complex system when it doesn't work Ip's". Notice the absence of "Sorry....we computer worth £800 plus free software correctly? For the safety of the students, don't have any Ip's." The man serving so keep reading BF. Incidentally, thanks please ircm out these problems. (if you can call it that) didn't consider to all those who entered this week's, the loc^ng in his mcHieybag to see if he'd got numbers are going up slowly. Chris Pye • Concerned Student any pennies before giving bis answer. Thus I walked off, having paid £3 for a I have had one or two complaints about £2.99 picture that I can't even see. distribution of BF. Please bear with us, Dear Editor, we are doing the best we can, and I per- All the items on this stall have awkward < sonally think CU are doing a great job as Who is it, I wonder, who would throw prices rather than being rounded to the they stuff and distribute BF every week their discarded empty beer cans into nearest £, so either he should have lots of without fail. flower beds? Who is it, I wonder, who pennies or else he never gives change. would rip up four brand new soap dis- Other students I spoke to have shared my BF is available every week in the follow- pensers fVom the toilet walls and would experience, which confirms the latter.