The University Philosophical Society (the Phil) and Trinity Fianna Fáil were among eight societies whose 2018/19 financial accounts were deemed to be “unsatisfactory” by the Central Societies Committee (CSC).
Architecture Society’s recognition lapsed in this past year, due to two consecutive years of unsatisfactory accounts.
Aside from Trinity Fianna Fáil and the Phil, the societies that presented unsatisfactory accounts for 2018/19 are the Horse Racing Society, Hispanic Society, Food and Drink Society, Korean Society, Management Science Society, and Trinity Economic Forum. The report listing the accounts with societies with unsatisfactory accounts was presented at the CSC term general meeting (TGM) on September 17.
Society accounts are deemed unsatisfactory if they are submitted late or if the CSC treasurer believes that the accounts fail to properly account for all of the society’s income and expenditure.
CSC Secretary Ben McConkey said to Trinity News: “We try to avoid commenting on individual cases as the people who are involved this year are likely doing their best to make up for any issues they inherited.”
Explaining the Phil’s unsatisfactory accounts, current Phil President Ryan Grunwell told Trinity News: “The accounts were deemed as such as a result of an accounting error which was made in the submitting of accounts last year. Despite this, the society remains in a very healthy place financially, and our accounts are currently in perfect order.”
John Crowley, Chairperson of Trinity Fianna Fáil, said that the society’s accounts being deemed unsatisfactory “was simply due to the money collected from Freshers’ Week 2018 was not deposited into our bank account. Instead it was kept aside for petty cash, a practise which has since ceased.”
On the Korean Society, Junior Fresh student Matas Martinaitis said: “When we arrived to Trinity we were told that the Korean Society dissolved, so we decided to try reset it…We all share a common passion for Korean language and culture, and we want to make this a fun and inclusive society for everyone. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are essentially trying to regain official recognition.”
He continued: “I don’t know a lot about the situation, as myself and my friends are all merely first years, but we are working closely with the CSC to re-establish the society, and hopefully turn it into a respected society that’s fun and inclusive for all.”
Horse Racing Society, Hispanic Society, Food and Drink Society, Management Science Society, and Trinity Economic Forum declined or failed to respond to a request for comment.
