underhand sneaky ##### !

[GingerNinja]

It strikes me that this isn't really a contractual issue, it's a political one to do with the governance of the students union.

I think it probably is political, but it can also be contractual and/or potentially criminal.

The latter is perhaps one of the ways to tackle the former. 100 claims in the small claims court for breach of contract might reflect poorly on the SU...

Of course, it wouldn't solve the problem for next year.

I think the tragic thing about all this is that it is getting harder and harder to run a uni club. it almost seems that many unis don't want us there. I do it to bring a benefit to daft students, but it would be much less hassle running a town club. I have money in the bank and mats so it wouldn't be too much grief.

Personally, I don't suffer myself beyond last minute room cancellations and access problems, but then I don't ask the uni for any money and am low maintenance. All it takes is a change in management though and I'll find myself closed or will take the decision to do so and move.

My gut instinct is it's not really a legal issue, and treating it as such is more likely to get the SU pissed off rather than willing to find a compromise. I'd get other clubs suffering similarly, involved. All students to complain etc.

[Roberdin]

They are all like that these days -- speaking from my experience at Warwick University, which used to be famous for its disruptive union. Now the University has them well in hand.

In my analysis, the analogy to civil service "Yes minister" and hapless politician is quite apt, except that ---

1. there is not so much "Yes minister" culture as "we can't really do that";
2. the students rarely have even nominal power to make strategic or tactical decisions of any wide-ranging nature (especially on costs); and,
3. the students are under no pressure to become re-elected, so they treat it as a job and not an electoral responsibility.

(Most of the people in the system try their best, but the system has not been properly designed to balance the immediate requirements of current students against long term Union interests, in my opinion.)

That diatribe aside, the most obvious route to go down is to harass the elected head of the SU's sport department. Of course, it needs to be students who do this, for maximum effect -- but guess what? They are all busy with exams, or leaving next year.

[Splinter]

Im certain in the small print it will clearly state membership is from 1st Sept to March31st or something, but thats small print.

what every club says is it costs £ 15 to join for the YEAR.

as to the sudden dojo charge.  I persuaded my president not to roll over like a dog but to recruit other clubs and stand firm...result the SU have now "found" the oney to cover room hire for term 3

[Clueless]

Im certain in the small print it will clearly state membership is from 1st Sept to March31st or something, but thats small print.

what every club says is it costs £ 15 to join for the YEAR.

as to the sudden dojo charge.  I persuaded my president not to roll over like a dog but to recruit other clubs and stand firm...result the SU have now "found" the oney to cover room hire for term 3

Yay! Well done!