Hi
Thanks for all the responses so far, now for a bit more background reasons
why I made the first post and stuff.
Ififs is in trouble, in fact a lot of the social societies are.
'its lived out it needs summarise this' but let me explain in detail and go
over some of the response put out there.
Philip- said that:-
'What every other university society essentially does - goes to the pub, has
a drink, and talks about what they're interested in'
This sadly is becoming less and less what happens. There are a few reasons
why, which I have spent the last few weeks looking into.
They are manly:- Union (and a small way government) policies and Mobile
phones.
In recent years the Union has been trying to reduce the amount students
drink, this shows in the dealings with societies. Drinking Soc's are now no
more (NADS got the axe last GM). And there is increased pressure on
societies not to be based on Drinking. This is subtle effect and only really
effects us by how we are treated by the union (which can lead to bigger
problems)
The second thing is Mobile Phones, an odd cause I know. In Birmingham Uni
may of the social societies have been having similar problems, and as one
does when I was last there a week ago I got chatting with the ex-publicity's
officer of there sifi soc. No one of them had been looking at there
declining membership over the last 10 or so years and has decided it
correlated to the rise of the mobile phone.
Basically in years passed when mobiles were less common the drinking
societies were king. You knew that you society filled with people you know
you can have a decent conversation with were going to be at the pub.
Nowadays you can just text your mates and see if any are free.
- note I have used some very big and sweeping generalisations there
Ifis carried on being almost successful by diversifying and showing DvDs.
Something the average student has few of or used to
When is stared uni I had no Dvds, not many people did (it still was only 3
years ago). But this has changed and with the richer students (thanks to
lones getting bigger once more) its less of a novelty, but this has already
been chatted about so I will leave it there.
Ok, that was quite a bit of ranting about nothing really. On to the case in
point:-
I don't think we need to get rid of Ifis
But change is needed.
Change is always Scary and is at some point Guaranteed to get someone's
angers flared.
But we have 3 months till freshers fair , and a wealth of knowledge and
stuff to draw on so hopefully we can all work out a solution to bring back a
'golden age' for ifis
Also another note, I don't think if we did nothing we would fall apart this
year or even next, but if the problem isn't solved before it gets out of
hand well Party!
Martin
Thanks for all the responses so far, now for a bit more background reasons
why I made the first post and stuff.
Ififs is in trouble, in fact a lot of the social societies are.
'its lived out it needs summarise this' but let me explain in detail and go
over some of the response put out there.
Philip- said that:-
'What every other university society essentially does - goes to the pub, has
a drink, and talks about what they're interested in'
This sadly is becoming less and less what happens. There are a few reasons
why, which I have spent the last few weeks looking into.
They are manly:- Union (and a small way government) policies and Mobile
phones.
In recent years the Union has been trying to reduce the amount students
drink, this shows in the dealings with societies. Drinking Soc's are now no
more (NADS got the axe last GM). And there is increased pressure on
societies not to be based on Drinking. This is subtle effect and only really
effects us by how we are treated by the union (which can lead to bigger
problems)
The second thing is Mobile Phones, an odd cause I know. In Birmingham Uni
may of the social societies have been having similar problems, and as one
does when I was last there a week ago I got chatting with the ex-publicity's
officer of there sifi soc. No one of them had been looking at there
declining membership over the last 10 or so years and has decided it
correlated to the rise of the mobile phone.
Basically in years passed when mobiles were less common the drinking
societies were king. You knew that you society filled with people you know
you can have a decent conversation with were going to be at the pub.
Nowadays you can just text your mates and see if any are free.
- note I have used some very big and sweeping generalisations there
Ifis carried on being almost successful by diversifying and showing DvDs.
Something the average student has few of or used to
When is stared uni I had no Dvds, not many people did (it still was only 3
years ago). But this has changed and with the richer students (thanks to
lones getting bigger once more) its less of a novelty, but this has already
been chatted about so I will leave it there.
Ok, that was quite a bit of ranting about nothing really. On to the case in
point:-
I don't think we need to get rid of Ifis
But change is needed.
Change is always Scary and is at some point Guaranteed to get someone's
angers flared.
But we have 3 months till freshers fair , and a wealth of knowledge and
stuff to draw on so hopefully we can all work out a solution to bring back a
'golden age' for ifis
Also another note, I don't think if we did nothing we would fall apart this
year or even next, but if the problem isn't solved before it gets out of
hand well Party!
Martin