“An Ill Thought Through Decision”: DUSA Funding Cut Significantly

Today Chris Gourley, CEO of DUSA announced that there will be a 34% reduction in funding at DUSA.

This funding reduction may lead to potential job losses, venue closures, and changes to our services. 

Gourley said:

“This will create very difficult circumstances for the Students’ Association and will inevitably impact our operations”.

DUSA currently has Liar Bar, Bonar Hall, The Premier, Campus Pantry, The Library Café, and of course the DUSA building at Airlie Place.

DUSA’s press release provided further information on the subject, noting that:

“This cut is of such a scale that this is likely to mean venue closures, fewer events, reduction in society funding, and a further reduction in student opportunities. 

It will have a direct impact on your student experience and may threaten our ability to meet the needs of our members”.

For context, these cuts come after several challenging years for DUSA.

Shortly after the pandemic, it was discovered the main Airlie Place building had RAAC, meaning the majority of spaces had to close.

The press release said:

“At this time, the University assured us it would support us through the disruption and, as our landlord, provide suitable new spaces.

It promised to build a new building for DUSA to enhance the student experience.

This never materialised”.

Although Liar Bar has recently reopened after reconstruction, the additional financial support the University promised DUSA has been withdrawn.

The past few years has been extremely challenging for DUSA due to this lack of support from it’s landlord- the University.

Now on top of these unresolved issues a funding reduction has been announced, placing greater strain on DUSA’s ability to deliver to students.

The Press release stated that the University “has not engaged in meaningful consultation with us over the scale of this cut or how best to mitigate its impact on students”.

“We are deeply concerned that this decision will undermine the University’s own aspirations for a vibrant campus and a strong student community”.

The new DUSA President Tánaiste Custance spoke to The Jute Journal, expressing frustration.

“This is a totally unreasonable cut to your student association. We have repeatedly made clear to the University what our finances are and until very recently we were confident, despite the very difficult circumstances the University is in that they would live up to its commitment to properly resource us.

We were shocked that they regard 34% as an acceptable final decision.

Custance also stated that DUSA has exhausted private internal negotiations and are now moving to public negotiations.

He continued:

“I do not believe that students and the wider Dundee community will tolerate the damage this cut will do to their services. I am confident that students will, on their own accord, organise against this unnecessary attack on their union, and I welcome DUSA’s role in facilitating the views of students. 

I am hopeful that through good personal relationships between DUSA and the university, as well as other measures, this rather ill-thought through decision can be changed.

We all understand the situation the University is in, but I fear that not everyone in the University realises the situation DUSA is in. We will ensure that ignorance is replaced by clarity”.

DUSA’s circumstances have deteriorated significantly since the pandemic, as did most sectors suffer. However the discovery of RACC in the main building and the ongoing financial crisis worsens an already poor situation.

CEO Gourley said:

“We are currently working on a plan and will be collaborating closely with heads of departments to determine our next steps”.

“We understand how concerning and unsettling this news is”.

“Please know that we are acting as quickly as possible to develop a clear plan and will continue to communicate with you openly and transparently as the situation progresses”.

Further updates will be provided as and when notified.

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