York University could lose thousands of pounds worth of revenue in a dispute with the Students' Union.

Deputy president of the Students' Union, Jon Lee, outside the Charles Xll pub at Heslington, which would be one of the places to benefit from the proposed boycott of events on campus. Picture: David Harrison

Due to clashes with the administration at the university over the organisation of social events, the Students' Union will be taking all events off-campus and staging them at venues elsewhere.

Jon Lee, deputy president of the Students' Union, said: "We have had a lot of problems with the university administration when it comes to organising events.

"We have now had enough.

"We would make provisional bookings for marquees and bands for events and then on one man's veto, suddenly things change."It is not how we want to work.

"It is not about single events, it is the whole decision-making process and we will take events off-campus until something changes."

A number of problems have arisen when it comes to the organisation of events during the university's 'quiet periods' - times when events and general noise are kept to a minimum to prevent disruption to students studying around exam time.

One of the main events affected is the Athletic Union-organised Roses Ball.

The event was due to take place at Derwent College on May 1 and provisional arrangements had been made for the hiring of a marquee when the power of veto was applied by the head of Derwent College, Ron Weir.

His decision was taken as the ball was planned to be for 900 people this year, when in previous years it was for only 350 people, and it takes place during a quiet period. This ruling has since been overturned by Vice-Chancellor Ron Cooke, but the decision had already affected the plans for the ball.

Rob Moore, President of the Athletic Union, said "It is ridiculous that one man's decision has affected our organisation.

"We do not organise many events, but those who do are fed up with this kind of thing happening, and from our experience of this event I can see why."

"Even if permission is granted we may still consider our off-campus options."

Not only has the Students' Union decided to take the 40 or so events off campus, it will also be encouraging students to boycott the university-run campus bars by drinking in local pubs instead.

Hilary Layton, spokeswoman for the university, said: "It will be disappointing if they take their events off-campus.

"We want to meet them half-way to resolve these issues and it is a shame they are not prepared to have discussions with us first through the usual forums such as the university committee."

Craig Smart, entertainments manager at the Barbican Centre, a venue which will benefit from the Students' Union decision, said: "We have been looking at moving into the student market, anyway, and this would be the perfect opportunity to do so."

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