Cardiff University Students' Union
Encyclopedia
Cardiff University Students' Union (Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd in Welsh
) is the students' union
for Cardiff University
and the largest in Wales
, and, like most other students' unions, aims to promote the interests of its students. It is located in Cathays
, Cardiff
, spanning between Senghennydd Road on the north-east side and Park Place on the south-west side.
The Union building is situated directly over the main railway going north from Cardiff to the South Wales Valleys
, adjacent to the Cathays railway station
. It has a shop, a restaurant, a pub (The Taf), a Night Club (Solus) and houses the studios of Xpress Radio
(which is broadcast throughout the union), gair rhydd
(Welsh
for 'Free Word') student newspaper and the newly developed Cardiff Union TV (CUTV). Its biggest student services are the Athletic Union and Societies Membership, the Athletic Union having within the region of 5000 students actively registered each year.
The capacity of Solus is 2200. The Union can link both the Taf bar and Solus with the Great hall to make a "superclub" of 4000, making it the biggest nightclub in Cardiff, and also one of the largest in Wales.
The union's pub
is called "The Taf". This is commonly mistaken to be a reference to the River Taff
which runs through Cardiff, but it is actually a contraction of "Tafarn", the Welsh
word for "pub". Having undergone a facelift in the year 2009 it now serves pub food at student prices, and also offers the cheapest drinks tariff all year round to students, as well as providing grounds for regular pool hustling.
The Union's Great Hall has attracted bands and musicians since the 1970s, such as The Runaways
, Deaf School
, David Bowie
, Midge Ure
, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
, The Nirvana's, John Lennon
, Max Boyce
, The Manic Street Preachers
, The Rolling Stones
, Kaiser Chiefs
, The Darkness, Beck
, Motörhead, Super Furry Animals
, KT Tunstall
, Sum 41
, Pendulum
, Bloc Party
, Madina Lake
, Billy Talent
, the annual Kerrang tour and Cascada
, La Roux
, We Are Scientists
, Editors
and many more.
In addition to the main union building, there is a smaller, alternative function room, known since 2005 as CF10 (after the postcode in which the Union is located). CF10 is the Union's student restaurant/café, and has formerly been known as Seren Las, the Finistere and "The Dyfed". This can also be opened as a separate nightclub venue.
There is also a games room with various amusement machines, as well as snooker
and pool
tables. This room is currently being reviewed for renovation, soon to become an all new facility for the students at Cardiff University.
A counselling
service, known as ARC (Advice and representation Service) which helps with all manner of issues that students can face. Be them academic issues relating to the University, housing issues with your landlord, problems with the local council or more personal problems that you require assistance with or to be put in the direction of a councillor, ARC can help.
There is a postgraduate centre also within the building providing space and IT and study facilities to postgraduates at Cardiff University. Run and managed by the University.
The "3rd Floor" also houses the Athletic Union and Societies area, these areas admin over 60 sports clubs and 140 societies, available to students at Cardiff University to join. The Sabbatical Officers of the Union are also found working in this area. SVC, Student Volunteering Centre, is located next to this area also where all volunteering work is carried out and organised for Cardiff Students.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
) is the students' union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
for Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
and the largest in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and, like most other students' unions, aims to promote the interests of its students. It is located in Cathays
Cathays
Cathays is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It is an old suburb of Cardiff established in 1875. It is very densely populated and contains many older terraced houses giving it a Victorian era atmosphere...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, spanning between Senghennydd Road on the north-east side and Park Place on the south-west side.
The Union building is situated directly over the main railway going north from Cardiff to the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
, adjacent to the Cathays railway station
Cathays railway station
Cathays railway station is a railway station lying on the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda lines in the Cathays district of Cardiff, Wales. The station is 2 kilometres north of Cardiff Central....
. It has a shop, a restaurant, a pub (The Taf), a Night Club (Solus) and houses the studios of Xpress Radio
Xpress Radio
Xpress Radio is a national award-winning student radio station based at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales, focussed on current, popular and new music. The station broadcasts from 10am-11pm daily with programming ranging from comedy to film review, to the best in new and local music.Xpress is...
(which is broadcast throughout the union), gair rhydd
Gair rhydd
gair rhydd is the official student newspaper of Cardiff University. It is a weekly, free, tabloid-sized paper established in 1972 and edited by a full-time sabbatical officer of the Students' Union...
(Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
for 'Free Word') student newspaper and the newly developed Cardiff Union TV (CUTV). Its biggest student services are the Athletic Union and Societies Membership, the Athletic Union having within the region of 5000 students actively registered each year.
Nightlife
The Union has an in-house nightclub, Solus, which holds events throughout the week. Nights currently being run are "The Lash" on a Wednesday night, branded and targeted for the university sports societies as a night of getting together as a team and getting up to no good, which often plays chart hits, RnB, and cheese. "Boombox" is Friday nights, playing electo pop, wonky pop, indie and dance music in memory of Alex Grivas. Saturday night is the final night of the week with the long time "Comeplay", playing all the top hits of the past month to dance to.The capacity of Solus is 2200. The Union can link both the Taf bar and Solus with the Great hall to make a "superclub" of 4000, making it the biggest nightclub in Cardiff, and also one of the largest in Wales.
The union's pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
is called "The Taf". This is commonly mistaken to be a reference to the River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
which runs through Cardiff, but it is actually a contraction of "Tafarn", the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
word for "pub". Having undergone a facelift in the year 2009 it now serves pub food at student prices, and also offers the cheapest drinks tariff all year round to students, as well as providing grounds for regular pool hustling.
The Union's Great Hall has attracted bands and musicians since the 1970s, such as The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
, Deaf School
Deaf School
Deaf School are an English rock band, formed in the mid 1970s and hailing from Liverpool. Their style is somewhere in between pub rock, punk, glam rock and art rock. They originally disbanded after their third album but their influence lived on...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
To date, Ringo Starr has toured with eleven versions of his All-Starr Band where "everybody on stage is a star in their own right." Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band is a concept that was created by producer David Fishof...
, The Nirvana's, John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Max Boyce
Max Boyce
Maxwell Boyce MBE is a Welsh comedian, singer and former coal miner. He rose to fame during the mid-1970s with an act that combined musical comedy with his passion for rugby union and his origins in the mining communities of South Wales...
, The Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
, The Darkness, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Motörhead, Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
, KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
, Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
, Pendulum
Pendulum
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position...
, Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
, Madina Lake
Madina Lake
Madina Lake an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A in 2005.Madina Lake released their debut album From Them, Through Us, to You through Roadrunner Records on March 27, 2007...
, Billy Talent
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
, the annual Kerrang tour and Cascada
Cascada
Cascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"...
, La Roux
La Roux
La Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
, We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
, Editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
and many more.
In addition to the main union building, there is a smaller, alternative function room, known since 2005 as CF10 (after the postcode in which the Union is located). CF10 is the Union's student restaurant/café, and has formerly been known as Seren Las, the Finistere and "The Dyfed". This can also be opened as a separate nightclub venue.
Student facilities
The Great Hall also serves as one of Cardiff University's exam venues during exam periods, and has recently been adapted to be used as a lecture theatre by the University during term time. The Great Hall also hosts the freshers fayres for the beginning of term to join in volunteering, sports clubs and socitites. Events throughout the year such as Go Global the celebration of diversity at Cardiff University, Refreshers Fayres, international welcome parties, roller discos and much more!There is also a games room with various amusement machines, as well as snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and pool
Pocket billiards
Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards or pool billiards , is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the , into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. Popular versions include eight-ball and nine-ball...
tables. This room is currently being reviewed for renovation, soon to become an all new facility for the students at Cardiff University.
A counselling
School counselor
A school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide academic, career, college access, and personal/social competencies to K-12 students...
service, known as ARC (Advice and representation Service) which helps with all manner of issues that students can face. Be them academic issues relating to the University, housing issues with your landlord, problems with the local council or more personal problems that you require assistance with or to be put in the direction of a councillor, ARC can help.
There is a postgraduate centre also within the building providing space and IT and study facilities to postgraduates at Cardiff University. Run and managed by the University.
The "3rd Floor" also houses the Athletic Union and Societies area, these areas admin over 60 sports clubs and 140 societies, available to students at Cardiff University to join. The Sabbatical Officers of the Union are also found working in this area. SVC, Student Volunteering Centre, is located next to this area also where all volunteering work is carried out and organised for Cardiff Students.
Building updates
In the summer of 2008 part of the union was given a revamp. Part of Solus, the union nightclub was knocked through to open up a big space for a new coffee/ sandwich shop called 'The Kitchen'. It still has a fully functioning bar which opens on club nights. Over the summer of 2009 the Taf bar is also undergoing a refurbishment and will now be equipped with facilities to offer pub food similar to rival pubs on the Cathays campus.Full Time Elected Officers
At the head of the Students’ Union is an Executive Committee of 8 full-time paid and 8 part-time unpaid elected student representatives, responsible for addressing the issues that affect students at Cardiff University, and for representing students views on an institutional, local and national level. These 16 propose new ways to move both the Students’ Union and the University forward, helping both organisations to modernise and progress.President
The public face of the union, also acts as chief executive of Cardiff Union Services Limited, which runs the commercial services of the Union like The Taf, Solus and Union Shop.- Neil KinnockNeil KinnockNeil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
1965/66 - Chaz Ball 1970/71
- Cliff Warwick 1971/72
- Charles Kessler 1977/78
- Bill RammellBill RammellWilliam Ernest Rammell is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Harlow from 1997 to 2010, and has served as the Minister of State for the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence...
1982/83 - Sanjiv Vedi 1983/84
- Jeff Woods 1984/85
- Pat Young 1986 / 87
- Graeme Fairbrother 1987/88
- Simon Cox 1988/89
- Steve Young 2000/1
- Tom McGarry 2001/2
- Caroline Noyes 2002/3
- Finbarr Graham 2003/4
- Gary Rees 2004/5
- Pete Goodman 2005/6
- Joe Al-Khayat 2006/7
- Jonny Cox 2007/8
- Andy Button-Stephens 2008/9
- Ed Carey 2009/10
- Oliver Birrell 2010/11
- Marcus Coates Walker 2011/12
Societies, Events and Activities officer
Main point of contact for Societies and is responsible for Societies activity in the Union. Also promotes diversity and cultural awareness within the Students’ Union through events such as Go Global.- Carys Hazell 2009/2010
- Cosimo Montagu 2010/2011
- Harry Newman 2011/2012
University and Academic Affairs Officer
The main representative of students to the university, and also campaigns to raise awareness of academic issues affecting students.- Michaela Neild 2009/2010
- Sarah Ingram 2010/2011
- Samantha Reid 2011/2012
Welfare, Campaigns and Communications officer
Co-ordinates all of the Union’s campaigns, and is also in charge of the union’s democratic structures like elections, AGM and Student Council and communicating with students and the local community.- Ed Dolding 2009/2010
- Rose Savage 2010/2011
- Chris Davies 2011/2012
Finance and Commercial officer
Responsible for the Union’s finances and commercial activities and acts as the company secretary and union treasurer.- Rich Pearce 2009/2010
- Darryl Light 2010/2011
- Nick Matthew 2011/2012
Athletic Union President
Oversees the running of the Athletic Union and co-ordinates the activities of all AU clubs and the IMG programme. Responsible for organizing the UK's second largest Varsity between Cardiff University and Swansea University.- Lisa Gwinett 2005/2006
- James Woodroof 2006/2007
- Ben Turner 2007/2008
- Scott Pigott 2008/2009
- Oliver Birrell 2009/2010
- Jack Perkins 2010/2011
- Ollie Devon 2011/2012
Head of Student Media
Editor and publisher of gair rhydd (Cardiff Universities student newspaper). Also the executive editor of Quench Magazine and executive manager/controller of Xpress Radio and CUTV.- Emma Jones 2009/2010
- Sarah Powell 2010/2011
- Oliver Smith 2011/2012
Healthcare Student Integration officer
Responsible for the integration of Healthcare students into Cardiff University as a whole. Leads on Healthcare issues and works to improve communications with Healthcare students.- Jack Navein 2009/2010
- Oliver Luton 2010/2011
- Sarah Halpin 2011/2012
Ethical and Environmental Officer
Ensures the Union and University consider their environmental and ethical impact of their operations.- Sam Coates 2010/2011
- Alec Care 2011/2012
LGBT+ Officer
Head of the LGBT+ Association, represents all students on LGBT+ issues.- Mark Anderson 2010/2011
- Kate Boddington 2011/2012
International Students Officer
Head of the International Students Association and represents the needs of international students.- Usman Malik 2011/2012
Students with Disabilities Officer
- Claire Travers 2010/2011
- Catherine Mackintosh 2011/2012
Affiliations
- Aldwych GroupAldwych GroupThe Aldwych Group is the group of students' unions of the members of the Russell Group of Universities in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994, as a watchdog in response to the creation of the Russell Group....
- National Union of Students http://www.nus.org.uk
- NUS Services Ltd