Alternative Options

Anthony Ward said there were three alternatives. They could have left the office as it was, they could have given the office manager a month to improve things, or they could have taken the action they did.

"I had been aware of a good deal of unease in the office for some time, but it wasn't until a couple of days before the executive meeting that I became aware of how serious the situation was. At that stage I realised that something would have to be done. It was a very reluctant action."

Steve acknowledged that one of the alternatives would have been to approach the office manager and tell her that he was dissatisfied with certain aspects of her work.

"Given the nature of the office manager this would not have worked and in fact would probably have split the executive, because what was said to my face would probably be different to what would be said behind my back."

He said the factors that made him opt for this decision were financial considerations, plus the efficiency, and the general atmosphere in the Students' Association office.

"There was a feeling of urgency about it. It had to be sorted out and had to be done quickly. It was not a thing that could be allowed to drag on."

And so the act has been done, with minimal mess to clean up (or so it seems!). Mrs Goodall is packed off home with her month's severance pay and the executive is in tatters. John Henderson, always good for a look into the future, has predicted that now the line has been drawn, executive members "will be at each other hammer and tongs all year."

However, Gyles, Steve and Anthony, along with other executive members, are quite happy to let the matter rest so that they can get back to the efficient running of the Association. But with so many questions unanswered, will the issue linger on to haunt them?