Issue 833 University of Surrey Students' Union 27th January 1995 VC Stresses FIRE ALARM HITS Importance of Union was disappointed to read in last week's Bare Facts that there appears UNION to be very little interest in this year's Isabbatical elections. Hopefully the points which have been made by students and others have already gone some way to counter this. My dis^pointment stems from the fact that, when I arrived here ^ Surrey last October I was very impressed by the strong links which existed t^tween the Suidents' Union and the rest of the University. The high quality of student life at Surrey is critically dependent on the activities and services the Union provides, and the Union acts as an important channel of communication between the stu(tents and the University authorities on all aspects of Universi^ life, both academic and social. Tlie Union Sabbatical Officers are the people on whom the continuation of the uniquely successful relationship between the University and the Union, which works so strongly to the benefit of stu- dents, particularly depends, but all those who take on official Union posts play their part Your Students' Union leaders represent you, both internally at Univer- S most people know, the union had a false fire alann last friday night The fíie si^ level and externally U) the Guildford community and beyond and the Union alann was tnpped by someone at about 10.15 p.m., security immediately deserves your support for this vital work. evacuated the building and the fire brigade were called. As expected the Aconsequences of this incident went on formost of the following week and may Although I am aware of the ever increas- last for another six months. Hie main concern was, that when the ñre alarm was tripped, ing pressures on students' time, I do be- several students seemed unwilling to leave the building. Hiere were cases of people lieve that a sabbatical year or any oUier locking themselves in the toilets and people having to be taken out of the building. The Union position can be a very rewarding mere fact that it was just a false alarm was irrelevant, students must evacuate the experience to those who put themselves building as quickly as possible. forward and are successful in the election. People waiting outside to get back in were told that the event was over as the fire alarm The experience can prove to be an invalu- could not be reset, the Fire Brigade attempted to reset the system twice but due to a able asset as far as future career is cchi- fault were unable to do so. Atthe GM on Tuesday (24th), Manoj Patel, Union President cemed. Apart from the eiuiching personal said that once the fire alarm goes off, the event is stopped This measure was introduced experience, employers attach importance as a deterrent to stop people setting off the alarms. So THAT IS IT! There were loads to such exu^-curricular activities. I there- of people hanging around and in the queue to get their coats who seemed to think that fore would strongly encourage students it was all a joke and that the Union was actually reopened. who feel they could make a contribution in this respect to put themselves forward If you had paid £6 to get in that night then tough titty, the union will not give you your as candidates. money back. If someone was stupid enough to set it off, then the union should not have to fund it This year's sabbatical team has been keen to involve me on a personal level in the The biggest concern is the things that will h{q)pen, someone may Just come into the Union's activities and I look forward to union and set off the fu-e alann to see how we cope. This could be at anytime so the continuing this in the forthcoming year. I next alarm might happen when you have paid to get in. hope you recognise, as I do, the important As the event was cancelled the takings at the bar were well short, the union also got a role the Students' Union plays in all as- £500 bill for the fire engines. The Ents officer, Simon Francis lost about £600 as well. pects of University life and the high es- All this for some stupid prank. teem in which it is held. Every student has To whoever it was that set the alarm off, GROW UP!!!!! a part to play in Union affairs especially by using their vote. Francesco Fraiilo Professor Patrick Dowling Vice-Chancellor 2 Bare Facts Not a lot of people BEER PRICES ARE know that! any people don't realise th^ TOO HIGH: once OVO" the age of 19 some types of NHS treatment are no THE CONTINUING SAGA. £167,000 unaccounted for. What hap- Mlonger free. However, as a student, you may be ^titled to treatment pens to that? n last week's issue I highlighted the such as dental and optical care at a widely-felt opinion that the price of About 25 permanent staff are employed reduced rate (if not free). But you will a pint is ridiculously high in this within the Union building, most of them only know if you are entitled if you univo^ity. So, in search of a few working full-time. They include House complete an AGI form. I Officers, Kitchen Staff, Waiters, Bar answers, I paid a visit to "No-one less than Managers, Accounting Staff, and Admin- The AGI forms are available from the Manoj Patel himself", the Union Help Desk which is situated at the Can President and Union Club (^airman. The istration Staff. Many other jobs are per- formed by students, and some of the Bar in the Union of Wednesday aft^- following is a summary of the facts and noons between l^m and 2pm. Alterna- figures te outlined to me. pennanent staff have dual functions, to keep staffing costs to a minimum. Even tively then can also be collected from the Well, to start off with, it appears that so, the staff costs (including stud^t staff) Vice-President or the Welfare Officer in smd^ts at this univo^ity have unusual last year totalled £436,368, and the bar the Union offices. tastes in alcohol. Whereas at many profits have to contribute towards this - The Help Desk is a student run service univ^ities the students are happy with they come nowhere near to covering tl» provided by the Student Advice Service, an average-quality pint at a low pric£, full cost, as you can see. which can give valuable advice, informa- students here in Surrey have more ex- tion and help on any student rdated mat- ' pensive tastes. Kronenberg is our most So, maybe with all facts ccmsid»^ the bar prices are not so high after all. Com- ter. Why not drop in next Wednesday and popular pint, selling more than double the see us. amount of the number 2 choice, and it is pared to other universities they are not the also the most expensive of the lagers on cheapest, but they're not the most expens- oH'er here. It s^pears that there is no ive eiUier.The most expensive university International Week demand for the cheaper drinks, there even for drinks is Salford, where a pint av^- being complaints about the quality of ages£1.65. We're die^^er than Sussex, nternational Week has been Coors, another of the premium lagers IGngston, and Portsmouth; none of these scheduled for the week of the 12th available from the Union bars. are exactly hundreds of miles away, -18tb February 1995 and is a wieek of whereas Salford is a fair way North, so it's Iactivities planned with and for the There are £l-per-pint session lagers avail- not totally due to our location in one of International Students and all who would able, such as Heineken and plus the most expensive parts of the country like to lake part You don't have to be in McEwans is on sale in cans, but there is a (although this is a contributing factor). an active society or even belong to a much lower demand for these. Our prices are significantly lower than the society at aU, just have a genuine interest standard prices in Guildford town centre in the activities planned for the week. Another comment I have repeatedly heard (except for Guinness, as I've already There is an International Week concerns Guinness, which is roughly the mentioned), there are regular promotions, commi ttee meeting every Wed 7pm in the same price in the Union as it is in the and hopefully "happy-hoiu^" will be rein- Nelson Mandela Room and you are Guildford pubs 'n' dubs. Why? Well, troduced in the summer term. welcome to attend. FOT those of you who the Unicm is a shareholder in NUS Ser- are in a society then make sure you are vices Ltd., who have a block purchasing So, that's the word according to Manoj. represented at these meetings. agreement with many of the tn^weries Now it's time for your views. What do (thus we pay less than pubs for the stuff you students think, now that a lot of the You can contact me eiüier by leaving a in the first place). However, Guinness facts have been laid out in front of you? note in the African-Caribbean Society pi- have opted out of this agreement, forcing geon hole or by or the Physics DepL For the Union to pay (and thus charge) stand- Sue Norman Üiose who find the E-mail mcxe conveni- ard prices for this drink.