Taking the initiative on facilities

THE students' union in UL is set to hold a referendum next week on the issue of increasing capitation in order to build a new student centre.

The union will be seeking approval for a £30 increase per student in order to provide half the funds to build the centre, which is expected to cost between £3.5 and £4 million.

The UL initiative follows similar efforts in UCC and UCG, both of which have opened new student centres in this academic year with funding partially obtained through capitation increases.

UCC students also recently voted for a capitation increase to build a new sports centre on campus. While the UL college authorities have yet to give their formal approval for the plan it is believed they are largely in favour of the proposal, which would require 50 per cent funding from the college.

"We need an area in which students can congregate informally and student facilities need to expand to meet the increase in student numbers said UL students' union president Bryan Synnott. "Students in other universities have used this kind of funding option to improve the facilities available to them. Basically, it allows students to take the development of student facilities into their own hands." The new centre, which would be built beside the existing Stables Club which currently houses the students' union offices and shops, the college bar and a student restaurant, would include a theatre space for drama, debating, films and students' union meetings and would also provide much needed meeting rooms for the college's expanding range of student societies.

UL's student population has doubled in the last six years and union officers argue that the existing facilities are simply not sufficient for the increased student numbers.

The referendum will be held over two days, on Wednesday March 27th and Thursday March 28th, and a general meeting will be held next Monday to allow students to air their views.

If the capitation increase is approved, students will also be given an input into the planning of the new building and will be asked to ratify the final design.