How is DUSA “Powered by You?”

New DUSA posters have been put up across campus, which states that DUSA is “powered by you”. But what does this actually entail?

In simple terms, when you spend money at the Premier or Liar Bar, you are putting money back into your student experience. All profits go back into DUSA.

DUSA is a non-profit and private members club. In explaining how DUSA works, Chris Gourley, CEO, said:

“The vast majority of our trading activity is what is known as primary trading – i.e. trading in service to our members, the students.

So if DUSA were to generate a surplus at the end of a financial year, this money stays within DUSA.

there are no shareholders or no bonus schemes. So if DUSA were to have a good financial year, this would enable them to invest within the organisation.

He continued,

“That could take a number of forms, such as additional staff to extend services, renovating/improving existing facilities we have, or increasing the amount of funding within the society funding pot”.

Cambridge SU provides further explanation on how student unions work. The key elements are:

• “SU’s operate as charitable companies, with a Board of Trustees responsible for budgeting and expenditure

• “Their income comes primarily from the University, which provides funding to the SU.

DUSA’s, as previously reported, financial support from the University is subject to change- as was seen in the recent 34% reduction in funding due to the financial crisis.

DUSA generates commercial income through its venues (Bonar Hall), retail outlets (Premier), food and drinks services (Liar Bar), and its events (Sip Happens, Freshers Week etc.)

Gourley continued,

“The key distinction (between spending money in DUSA versus other outlets) would be that if a student bought something in the Tesco shop by the casino, the money and profits go to Tesco, and in turn Tesco shareholders/investment firms”.

“If the student bought the same product in the Premier store, it stays within the organisation and could contribute towards creating an improved offering which that student may be able to directly benefit from”

Moira Dean, Retail Services Manager at DUSA Premier said,

“We are not here to take advantage of our students. We are here to provide a service to our customers, and if we generate a surplus, it goes back into DUSA, but we make sure it is affordable for students of Dundee University”

The shop aims to be affordable for students, offering bespoke products tailored to student needs, and over 80% of the staff are students, helping to prevent student poverty, in a safe and considerate retail environment that working for DUSA provides.

Dean continued,

“Every time you spend here, you’re giving back into your own student experience within the university and within your life at the uni.”

The announcement of a 34% funding reduction in August has added further strain to DUSA’s finances.

The press release said,

“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”.

This year, DUSA delivered an incredible Freshers week, hosting a range of events in Bonar Hall and Liar Bar, despite the current financial strains of the University.

Further events are expected to be hosted on Halloween.

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