£1.2m for Union facelift
The Beit Quad redevelopment plan received an extra boost last week when College gave the Union an extra £700,000 towards the first stage of redevelopment. The Union now has enough cash to start work on the renovation works.
The redevelopment plan came under fire earlier this year when College only contributed £500,000 of the expected £1.2m that the Union requested. Further doubts were raised when it was revealed that this money was earmarked for developments pertaining to the Disability Discrimination Act and energy efficiency plans. However, this extra funding boost leaves the union with the full amount asked for, as well as a surplus of funds coming from Union reserves (£600,000). Applications for funding from IC and Harlington Trusts are also underway.
Sameena Misbahuddin, Union President, is extremely pleased to have secured the extra cash. In an excited note to Felix, she stated, "After six months of presentations, proposals and bids for money, this is another exciting step forward for the Union building redevelopment and it again shows College's support to improve the facilities. New Union Building, here we come!"
Sir Richard Sykes is said to be personally responsible for the funding increase, he said, "I believe worldclass students deserve world-class facilities. In the year leading up to our Centenary, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to show how much we value our student body...The first phase of the Beit Quad development together with our new sports centre means that Imperial students now have top quality facilities in which to pursue interests beyond the lecture theatre and the lab."
Despite the happy news, some students are still unaware of the support the Union has, and how on track the project is. Ben Gates, a second year materials student, is concerned that enough funds exist to complete the project, but still described the plans as a "good idea". Simon Rice, second year ISE, just wanted the job done. "As long as they spend it wisely, don't squander it, and get it done on time, which I doubt, it'll all be cool".
The union still has some support. James Millen, the Social Clubs Chair, told Felix that "I've never doubted Sameena" in getting the job done.
Matthew Hartfield
Felix's View:
The Union is truly awful. We at Felix are too ashamed to bring visiting friends to Beit Quad as we know they will only laugh in our faces. We may be at a first class university, but our Union is definitely more third world. Kings College Union winning the New Years Honours Award for best Union is testament to the fact.
The extra cash from the College is very welcome, but whether the project will ever reach completion is still very much up in the air. They say money can't bring you happiness: we at Felix are also highly sceptical that money can buy a good Union. Maybe if they use the money to bus in students from somewhere else...
