gairrhydd | NEWS@GAIRRHYDD.COM MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28 2008
MedClub gets new lease of life Gareth Ludkin News Editor The new and improved MedClub, now called the IV Lounge, has been unveiled at the Heath Park Campus after having hundreds of thousands of pounds invested in it by the University. But not everyone is happy with the changes. Medical students have held two meetings in the past few weeks to debate the future of the recently refurbished MedClub, which has sparked concerns over the limited amount of control and freedom medics can now enjoy at the new bar. Now a coffee lounge, sandwich bar and café, the IV Lounge, which opened on September 14, has been welcomed by the majority of students, however, some medics are worried by the lack of control they have over the use of the building, particularly for medic socials and events, due to the number of restrictions imposed by the University. The MedClub, which is “steeped in tradition” as a legendary night out has seen generations of Cardiff graduates pass through its doors to enjoy many evenings of drunken fun with very limited rules, cheap drinks and the freedom to enjoy themselves as only medics know how. Always cheap, fun and rule-free, MedClub was the place to be on a Wednesday night for all medics. However, it has seen a gradual decline over the years, with the bar suffering increasing losses from all the cheap drink promotions. The once legendary Wednesday nights gradually started to die out as the bar continued to cry out for improvements. MedClub rep Oliver Luton said: “Over the past few years a transformation has been greatly needed to accommodate not only the medical students but all the healthcare professions that reside at the Heath Park Campus.” “There's no one who I’ve spoken to so far who is unhappy with the new changes,” continued Luton. “A lot of students were worried about the amount of control that the students would have over the building but so far everything that we've wanted to do has been easily arranged and has met little to no resistance.” The Union at one point attempted to close the loss-making club, but this angered many medics who had always seen MedClub as their own. Handed over in good faith to the Union as part of the merger in 2004 - which saw the University of Wales College of Medicine merge with the University medics did not want to see their social hub disappear, keen to maintain their sense of tradition and identity at the
NEWS 03
Cardiff applicant stabs boyfriend to death Ceri Isfryn News Editor
The recently refurbished IV Lounge; inside and out detached Heath Park Campus. The purpose of the debate on September 3 was to discuss the future of MedClub and the future of the notorious medic socials. The issue of control and responsibility was brought up with many wanting a MedClub committee to be established to help organise social events. Many who attended the debate accepted that their control over the bar had been cut but were keen to maintain some sense of control. As it stands, the University have invested £400,000 in the refurbishment of the IV Lounge, giving them significant control over the running of the club. Some of the changes include more CCTV cameras and less relaxed rules on behaviour at the venue. This is more than was expected by many, who believed that more autonomy would be handed back to the students. Jack Navein, the Healthcare Student Integration Officer commented: “Whilst medical students are upset that they have lost complete control of the bar, they have been very receptive of the IV Lounge, and are aware that much has been gained by the refurbishment.”
Jack was also keen to highlight the advantages of the new common room space, which now includes a box office for all essential Union activities such as booking a house viewing, booking a minibus, or buying tickets for Union events. He continued: “They [medics] are keen to move forward and keep tradition, whilst starting new tradition at the same time. This is reflected by the high activity in MedSoc and by the medical students generally.” Jack also stressed that sports clubs and students will still be using the venue for nights out, despite the new, tighter guidelines they are expected to follow at the venue. A University spokesperson said: “The IV Lounge is part of the transformation of the environment for University students on the Heath Park Campus. It is near the new lecture theatre and the planned new Medical Education Centre. These three new developments represent a considerable investment in creating space and resources for study and relaxation. Far from losing facilities, Cardiff University’s healthcare students will have a much more strongly identifiable 'home area' within the Heath complex.”
While many students would have preferred more control over the running of the club and for it not to be renamed, they also recognise the positive outcomes of the development. Oliver Luton, MedClub representative commented: “MedClub is a tradition and not just a building, socials for sports teams are still to be held there and there is a bar for after hours socialising. As long as we can meet up, socialise and generally have a good time then the idea of MedClub lives on through the IV Lounge, we’ve just given it a lick of paint.” Where the MedClub was once a symbol of resentment, as the “last part of tradition enjoyed under UWCM,” it is clear that most students are looking at the IV Lounge in a generally positive light. It might even improve the satisfaction of medical students at Cardiff, who have rated their course fairly badly in the National Student Satisfaction Survey in recent years. “They [medics] aren't complaining,” says Jack. “The meeting was to discuss the way forward. It was extremely constructive and all the students present contributed extremely well. They were looking forwards as opposed to back, for the first time.”
A Cardiff University applicant has been charged with stabbing her boyfriend to death at her family home hours after collecting her Alevel results on August 21. Katherine McGrath is rumoured to have been on an all day drinking session to celebrate her exam success before the confrontation with 22-year old Alyn Thomas occurred at her family home in Brackla, Bridgend. Paramedics were called to the scene around 2:30am, but failed to resuscitate the victim. Miss McGrath was immediately arrested for murder after police were called to the scene. The 18-year old Brynteg Comprehensive student is said to have achieved her required grades for university by gaining two B grades and a D, although it is unclear whether she accepted any offers, including any from Cardiff University, after receiving the news. Mr. Thomas, from Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot, was “devoted” to his girlfriend according to a friend of the pair. "Alyn loved Kat to bits and it should have been one of the best days of her life. We don't know what happened, but Alyn is dead,” the friend continued. In a hearing on September 4, which Miss McGrath attended with her parents and brother, a judge at Newport Crown Court granted the teenager bail following a psychiatric assessment. She has been banned from South Wales for the time being and is consequently living at an address in England. Bail conditions include a 7am-7pm curfew, a tag and a complete ban from all pubs and clubs.
The accused, Katherine McGrath