The colleges
It is a common feeling amongst many College administrators and JCR Executives, that DSU does not have a role to play in their affairs. It is claimed that the system of JCR Senior Men and Women provides the best system of representation available. The Colleges have a large number of students participating in their decision-making process. The Senior Men and Women meet regularly to discuss common problems, but are not represented on the heads of houses committee.
The attitude which prevails about the role DSU can play in the colleges must somehow be overcome. DSU is viewed as a "monster" which attempts to impose its will upon unsuspecting JCRs and Colleges. All DSU seeks to do is advise Colleges and JCR Executives of the decisions which their representatives have made. DSU also seeks to help JCR Executives by providing them with information which may not be readily available to them, or help in negotiations of a specialist nature.
Problems have also been experienced when some JCRs have taken decisions with the College administrators which have affected the whole of the University, i.e. 1976 Freshers' Conference, when some JCRs made decisions against the DSU Council vote, with the result that the organiser had a lot of work wasted. There is a definite need for JCR Executives and DSU to get together more often to discuss issues of common interest so that incidents like this do not happen.