SIN Election Special

ELECTION DECIDES APRIL 22nd TEN CANDIDATES:

STUDENTS

SU POSITIONS

FUTURE STUDENT LEVY

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STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

EDITORIAL

WELFARE AND EQUALITY OFFICER

INSIDE Use your vote,, it counts Election Analysis & Explainers 3 Students’ Union President 4–5 • Simeon Burke • Joe Mee • Róisín Nic Lochlainn • James Pope Vice President/ Welfare and Equality Officer • Cora Clarke • Erin Mac an tSaoir • Conor MacWalters

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Vice President/Education Officer 8 • Clodagh McGivern • Conall McCallig • Neasa Gorrell Student Speak: Vox Pop

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USI Congress Coverage

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Levy Referendum Coverage 14–15

“I

F VOTING MADE A DIFFERENCE, they wouldn’t let us do it.” The famous words of Mark Twain on the fulfilment of our electoral duty, The quote has been repeatedly rattled off by sceptics and the disenfranchised, to highlight their ill will towards the system. Twain’s words however, quotable as they are should not be a reason to abstain from having your say, to not take part in the democratic process. Voting matters at all levels, Students’ Union elections are not different.

Early last year in the twilight of the old normal the NUI Galway Students’ Union held their annual Full-Time Officer elections. Three positions, eleven candidates and more drama than a Soap Opera at Christmas. At the time I wrote that the feistiness seen between candidates in the race for the role of Welfare and Equality Officer had reignited interest in student politics, lighting a spark that ignited the embers of dwindling voter turnouts and voter apathy. Little did I know accurate these words would turn out to be over one year on. Over the course of the last academic year, we have seen an increasingly politicised student body, Twitter

has become the new town hall for debate among University politicos trying to right the wrongs of the world within the confines of 280 characters, Council meetings have been as well attended as they are drawn out and you are never too far away from a political “hot-take” when you log on to your social media.

This week’s elections will almost certainly see this pent-up activism and interest truly manifest itself at the ballot box. For the second year in a row, there has been an increase in candidates running for election and interest no longer seems to be confined to the die-hard SU types who trot around campus with a different Students’ Union sponsored hoodie for every day of the week. A more engaged student body can only be a good thing for everybody. From a selfish point of view, it gives me more to talk about! While more favourable circumstances may await our incoming Full-Time Officers by comparison to their predecessors, who were left with the unenviable task of representing students in the most unprecedented of circumstances, the magnitude of the task that awaits then still cannot be understated.

Voting in SU elections has never been as easy.

With everything taking place online it only takes a few clicks to have your say. Gone are the days of trudging to a polling booth in the rain unsure of why you have gone through such an effort to put a number in a box. Students this year will also be asked to have their say on the restructuring of the student levy. Whatever the outcome of this referendum it is crucial that the students have their say and provides an example of how Twain’s pessimism about elections isn’t entirely fair. Inside we have the lowdown on all you need to know about the levy referendum and the opinion of those in favour of reform and those against it.

I hope you all enjoy this special issue of SIN, we’ll be back in two weeks’ time with our final issue of the year. As always a huge thank you to everybody that took part in getting this issue to print, it really is fantastic to see people take such an interest in covering elections. Keep up to date with all things election related this week on our website sin.ie , on our Twitter @NuigSin, and on our Instagram, @ sin_news . Use your vote, it counts, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, even Mark Twain.

Spaghetti Carbonara

INGREDIENTS 50g Diced Pancetta 30g Parmesan (you can never have enough Parmesan add more if you like) 1 Large Egg 75g Whole Wheat Spaghetti 1 Garlic Cloves (peeled and chopped) Olive oil Sea Salt Cracked Black Pepper METHOD STEP 1 Put a large saucepan of water on to boil.

STEP 2 Beat the egg in a bowl and season with a little freshly grated black pepper.

Set aside.

STEP 3 Add 1 tsp of sea salt to the boiling water, add 75g spaghetti and when the water comes back to the boil, cook at a constant simmer, for 10-11 minutes until cooked.

STEP 4 While the spaghetti is cooking, fry the pancetta until nice and crisp. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

STEP 5 Keep the heat under the pancetta on low. When the pasta is ready, lift it from the water with a pasta fork or tongs and put it in the frying pan with the pancetta. Don’t worry if a little water drops in the pan as well (you want this to happen) and don’t throw the pasta water away yet.

STEP 6 Mix most of the cheese in with the egg, keeping a small handful back for sprinkling over later.

STEP 7 Take the pan of spaghetti and pancetta off the heat. Now quickly pour in the egg and cheese. Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn’t scramble, and everything is coated.

STEP 8 Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (a few tablespoons should do it). You don’t want it wet, just moist. Season with a little salt, to your liking!

cháin C h g

L M

Whole Wheat

To

#NUIGSU21

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STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

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ELECTION ANALYSIS & EXPLAINERS SU Elections Analysed: Voter mobilisation crucial in HOW TO VOTE Presidential race as four candidates scrap for centre ground With all voting taking place Paddy Henry Editor It seems like much more than thirteen months since last year’s Students’ Union Full Time Officer Elections. Normally a mundane affair where cliquey candidates and like-minded activists run on similar manifestos and preach to the converted about why your vote matters, last year sprung a few surprises, with an increased voter turnout thanks to a hotly contested Welfare and Equality race that truly engaged the student body.

Fast forward to 2021, and the aftereffects of this election continue to reverberate around the student political landscape in NUIG. Fractious council sittings, controversies trending on social media and fiery debates online have epitomised what has become of the politically involved student body in a world where we are all penned in behind a computer screen desperate for the return of on-campus discourse.

With elections, like everything else, taking place online this year, the claim that the ease in which an individual can vote will lead to an increase in turn out for this year’s campaign. However, like SUs of old the issue of preaching to the converted has raised its head once again. Those who have engaged in the intense online debates, and virtual activism over the past year are guaranteed to turn out, and cast their ballot. That contingent is not where this election will be won and lost, like last year the battle for the apathetic centre-ground will be crucial in deciding what three students waltz into Arás na MacLeinn as full-time elected representatives in the 2021/22 academic year. The Twitterati and Instagram afficionados are important, but some votes are more equal than others when it comes to SU elections.

Presidential Battle: The Presidential race sees four very different candidates go head to head to secure a seat at the top table of Students’ Union politics. Róisín Nic Lochlainn, the current Vice President/ Welfare and Equality Officer comes into the campaign hoping to build on her previous electoral success. She will likely attract voters from the traditionally left-leaning, politically active cohort. Her loyal voters and strong online presence were crucial in getting the Antrim woman over the line in last year’s race for the role of Welfare and Equality Officer and the same will likely prove true this time around in her quest to become the first woman from the six-counties to be elected President of the NUI Galway Students’ Union.

ELECTION EXPLAINER What is the -STV System?

Elections in NUI Galway are conducted using the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system. The system sees each voter rank candidates in order of preference, marking a ‘1’ beside their most preferred candidate, a ‘2’ beside their second most preferred candidate and so forth. Voters are not required to list each candidate with a preference, but can if they so wish. For example if a voter did not want to vote for Candidate B, and wanted to give candidates, A, C and D a preference they would be free to do so.

Sitting Vice Presidents have generally had the edge over their competitors in previous elections.

In 2018 then Welfare Officer Megan Reilly secured over half of the vote. Her successor in the Welfare and Equality portfolio Clare Austick sailed to victory the year after with a decisive victory over her nearest opponent where she took over 70 percent of the total vote. In such a crowded field a victory of that magnitude seems an uphill task for the 21-year-old, however should she successfully manage to mobilise her strong support base polling day may prove favourable for Nic Lochlainn.

If Nic Lochlainn hopes to seal the Presidency James Pope will prove to be a stern opponent in her quest for doing so. The Galway man has manged to whip up a substantial following on his social media accounts, appealing to the disaffected and less engaged cohort within student body. Seen by some as the protest vote, the late entry of Simeon Burke into the fray may have eroded fractions of his core support base. Nonetheless Pope will feel confident that his message has been picked up on by large parts of the electoral middle-ground and will be confident that this will see him over the line.

Transfers could yet prove crucial, and April 22nd could see white smoke bellow over Arás na Mac Leinn with the election of President Pope.

Like Pope, Tipperary native Joe Mee looks will be hoping to mobilise the more moderate vote in his quest to be become the second successive Tipperary man to serve as President. The Second Year Mechanical Engineering student is a popular figure among many active in student political life, and while his social media presence may not quite as strong as his election rivals, he is arguably the most transfer friendly of the bunch. The 21-year-old will be reliant of a strong turnout from the engineering building and in a normal election his chances of topping the poll would have been greatly spurred on by the boxes from the Alice Perry building. Mee’s impressive personable approach and presence on campus in the will also be central to Mee if he is to be successful.

Should he manage to stay in the race beyond the first count he will fancy his chances.

Like any good drama, a sequel can be expected shortly after. The same is true for student politics in NUI Galway. The late entry of Simeon Burke into the fray will have left many reaching for the popcorn. Burke, a final year Civil Law student contested the race for Welfare and Equality against Róisín Nic Lochlaiinn. Sparks flew between the

Each candidates first preference votes are counted first, with the least popular candidate getting eliminated after the first round of voting. In some cases more than one candiate is eleimated on the first round of voting if it transpires that they cannot mathematically make up ground on the candidate ahead of them after the first count Voters who gave their first preference votes to the eliminated candidates will then see their second preferences counted and reditributed. This process continues until one candidate reaches the required quota, or if they are below the quota and so far ahead that closing the gap between the leading candidate and their rivals is mathematically impossible.

two candidates in March 2020, and as the University looks set to see a re-run of last year’s drama we can expect a feisty encounter between the two polarising candidates. Burke polled better than many had expected him to in 2020, picking up 18 percent of the vote in a three-horse race. He will be hoping that he can build on this as he aims to pull off a shock victory. Burke’s candidacy will have piqued the interest of many who were previously paying only a passing interest into the April 22nd vote which will undoubtedly have its advantages for the Mayo man. However, conversely it may also mobilise a pro-Nic Lochlainn cohort. Mobilisation of voters for Burke, particularly among those to the right of centre, who have often complained of a lack of representation within political life on campus will be imperative if he is to prove to be a contender in the race. Should be manage to garner votes from a moderate disaffected base it he could outdo the 18% he picked up last year. Either way, his candidacy has well and truly lit the touch paper in what will be an election week full of twists and turns where all four candidates will be confident of a strong showing.

online this year, SIN explains how to cast your ballot

1. Log on to https://www. nuigsuelections.com/ 2. Click the “Student Login” icon in the top right of the page and enter your student number and password.

3. Vote for your preferred candidates, giving preferences down the ballot if you so wish.

Polling opens at 9a.m. and closes at 9p.m.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERING

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CERTIFICATE CEREMONY Wednesday 5th May 2021 1pm

Online

NUI Galway Channels

All welcome to celebrate and recognise campus and community student volunteering.

Deadline for applications: Friday 23rd April 2021 alive@nuigalway.ie SAVE THE DATE

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STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL STUDENTS’ UNION

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PRESIDENT

SIMEON BURKE Simeon Burke is running for the Presidency of the NUI Galway Students’ Union. The last candidate to formally put himself forward for election, Burke has said that he is running on a platform of protecting the rights of students and to combat what he perceives to be a culture of bullying within the NUI Galway Students Union.

“There’s a number of reasons that I decided to run for President but I will say that the main reason that I decided to run was in relation to bullying that has been going on at NUI Galway and within the Union. Thus, has in my view been exacerbated recently and it has reached a level that I think we probably haven’t seen it before in recent days. In my view the bullying is coming from the left and it’s coming from LGBT activists. “ The Final-Year Civil Law student reflected on the aftermath of an SU Council sitting in February where he says he was heckled and excluded from proceedings and subjected to a “campaign of vitriol” online in the aftermath of the meeting. Burke said that he chose to run as he feels he is not the only student being “targeted” in the University.

“I wouldn’t be running for President and I wouldn’t be talking about this issue if I thought I was the only person being targeted by the left and in my view by LGBT activists at NUI Galway.

A lot of students have been in touch with me and there has been a sense in which people have been talking to me, and they’ve been saying look you’re not the only one. This is happening to us as well.

So that’s really problematic in my view.”

If elected, Burke pledged to tackle the perceived bullying culture head on, and has committed to implementing a Code of Conduct for Executive Committee members as a means of combatting incidents of bullying; “if I was elected President my message would be very simple. There is problem with bullying.

I think the first thing we need to do and if I was elected President this is what I would be about.

Recognize this is a problem, recognise that this is an issue. There has been a problem within the Union in that they don’t recognise that there is an issue with bullying. But as President I would recognise it. The second thing I would do as President is that I would commit to taking action. I am of the view that it’s high time that we had some Code of Conduct for members of the executive committee and for members of the SU Council.

“There needs to be some sort of a standard, I think student representatives from across the board need to know that whatever your position, whatever your belief there is a standard that is expected of you as a representative of students and as somebody who is involved with the leadership of the Union”

Burke has expressed his desire to stand up for the rights of students and feels the University have failed to act in the best interests of students during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 22-year -old claimed that there had been an “unprecedented assault” on the freedoms of students, “I think it’s important to have a President that is willing to stand up for students’ rights and freedoms. In my view in the last year we have seen an unprecedented assault on students’ rights and freedoms the extent to which we have seen University implement measure that are threatening students’ rights, I would say that we have that to an extent that we have never seen that before in the history of the University and we’ve seen that in various ways.” he said.

“We have seen that in a number of big ways in which we have seen that over the last year. At the beginning of the academic year we had the whole issue with the Community Promise and that was a document that was going to completely undermine students’ rights in relation to personal data, students’ rights relating to freedom of speech and privacy rights.” “I was really honoured to be able to play a part in fighting against that and we saw the mandatory nature of that scrapped. I stood up, I spoke out, I stood in the rain with a poster, I called on the President to change the approach there and say this is not acceptable. I think it’s a big privilege to be able to stand up for students’ rights and it was great to see students from across the campus support me in that and register their opposition to what was going on and we saw that scrapped.”

Burke expressed his unease at the Union’s support for the Community Promise at the time, describing the move as “problematic”.

“What was a big problem for me was that the Students’ Union supported that document. We pay the Students’ Union to defend our rights. The constitution says that the mission of the Union shall be to defend the rights of its members. We pay members of the Executive Committee to fight for our rights but they supported the document and wanted students to sign it. They supported the proposal so that was really problematic. I think we need a really big change of approach.”

Finishing off, Burke pointed to his track record of standing up for the rights of students as a reason to vote for him of April 22nd, telling SIN; “I think that I have a track record that’s different from any other candidate in this race . I have stood up for students’ rights, I have stood up for students’ freedoms I have gone out there and worked for students and I’ve been honoured to do that and I want to continue that in the weeks ahead. I think that the kind of reform that I would bring would be different and more effective than any other candidate.”

JOE MEE Mechanical Engineering student Joe Mee is running for the Presidency of the Students’ Union.

The Tipperary man, who is a former Welfare and Equality Officer and Deputy President of the Irish Second Level Students’ Union decided to run this year having seen the struggles first-year students were experiencing through his role as a CÉIM leader. Speaking to SIN, Mee said that he feels that he is the best placed candidate to unite the Students’ Union; “I wasn’t ging to run this year, I thought that I might wait my time, do my degree and be done but then I thought that this year, with all my experience that it would be a good time to run, because this year we need a leader that can deal with the effects of Covid-19 and can really lead a group.

I feel that we need to unite the Students’ Union and push for better.

“I’m a CÉIM leader and I saw my firstyear students this year are having such an awful year. All social outlets for them have been cut off and so they have felt lonely and isolated over this time due to Covid-19.

I have seen how lectures have been of such varying quality. I really think I am the person to unite the Students’ Union, and not run as an individual but have the whole Students’ Union run as one.”, he said.

Central to the Mee manifesto is a modern approach to University life, centred around creating a more “diverse and caring NUIG” and a University designed for learning. The candidate has adopted a cooperative approach to his campaign, tasking members of his team to oversee specific areas of his campaign that are of specific interest to them. The 21-year-old also hopes to lead the student body out of the Covid-19 pandemic with a focus on the kickstarting of clubs and societies, and focusing on current first year students who have missed out on the University experience this year; “Education, a modern approach. That’s going to be based around the idea that Universities are designed for learning, I’ve been describing what I mean by this on videos on social media. The next one is to create a fair, diverse and caring NUIG, that’s going to focus around mental health services, health services, family supports, sexual education as well as greater access to the college and stuff like that. My next thing is a green initiative, that’s going to make the campus a more sustainable and biodiverse place. Then my last thing is a Three-Step plan to recovery, this is going to focus on education, and making sure we learn from our mistakes with regard to Covid-19, and get things back up and running again and get more peer supports in place for teaching.

“It’s going to kickstart clubs and societies and it’s going to get us back on the saddle, and trying to get back some of that time we lost from Covid-19 and try to have some fun again. So fun

activities, fun events, getting first years back and it’s going to focus a lot on the incoming first year and the first years of last year to give them a chance to get back the college experience that they lost this year.

Also proposed by Mee is a solutions-based approach to on-campus issues, using successful examples of schemes rolled out in other Universities as a blueprint for resolving issues in NUI Galway. Highlighting this, he pointed to a successful initiative by University College Cork which shortened waiting list times for mental health supports which he hopes to follow if he is elected on April 22nd; “My manifesto includes issues that affect all students and I’m trying to have a solution-based approach, so I’m not just complaining to the University, I’m giving them a viable solution, like with our mental health policy. I’m going to work off the UCC mental health policy that they brought through and was very successful, they have waiting periods there of just a week, so I’m going to look at examples of where things have been done well in other Universities and implement that in our University. So it’s very much ‘here’s what somebody else has done, here’s how it can be done.”

The 21-year-old feels that elements of ho the Students’ Union operates need to be changed, particularly in relation to SU Council. The Engineering student said that he hopes to lead that change; “Internally, I think that there are some issues in terms of organisation. You can see that manifesting in SU Councils so they need to restructure that in a way that makes sense because it can’t last the way it is at the moment. SU Councils can’t be five hours long, so in terms of organisation there needs to be a leader, not just somebody in charge. There needs to be someone leading the whole group. So, the whole Students’ Union needs to be a collective group, not just an individual, or a single person doing their own individual work as an officer. So I guess it’s just about trying to unite them and to restructure it in a way that’s more organised and more transparent.

Mee spoke of his passion for helping students and dealing with issues that students face as a reason to vote for him on April 22nd, appealing to voters to elect a unifying figure into the office of President telling SIN; “Growing up, I had a difficult enough childhood because I was diagnosed with dyslexia and I had a speech impediment. They were things that set me apart and made me a little bit different and made education a struggle for me.” “I’m passionate about student issues I have the experience and I think I have the experience in a wide range of different areas So I think I can be a President that can unite people and build a students’ Union that is a team, not a single figure head.”, he finished.

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL STUDENTS’ UNION

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PRESIDENT

RÓISÍN NIC LOCHLAINN Sitting Vice President, Welfare and Equality Officer Róisín Nic Lochlainn is the only woman in the race to become President of the NUI Galway Students’ Union. Having seen first-hand how students had been abandoned and were struggling over the course of the academic year in her role as Welfare and Equality Officer, Nic Lochlainn wanted to continue her advocacy for students as President; “I ran for welfare last year because the Welfare and Equality Officer is the Officer that usually sees the most vulnerable students in the college and I have been that vulnerable student so that’s why I wanted to be Welfare Officer, to help other students in the same position that I was in and from my year as being Welfare Officer.

“I’ve seen the extent to which students are struggling and the everyday situations that come to me as Welfare Officer really put things into perspective as to how students really are struggling, especially this year. It’s a year that no other SU officer can say they’ve experienced, and I think that students have been abandoned so much by NUIG, by the government, by everyone this year.” she said.

Nic Lochlainn hopes to increase engagement within the Union as President, and noted that prior to running for the position of Welfare and Equality officer, she wasn’t a student engaged in the affairs of the Union, She also highlighted her successes in enfranchising a large cohort of disaffected voters over the course of her tenure as Welfare Officer this year, telling SIN, “I’m Welfare and Equality Officer this year so obviously I am heavily involved in the Union, I’m one of the Full-Time Officers, but on the other hand, I’m the student who was never involved in the SU throughout my time in college, so I would be going into my final year now and I was never a class rep, I was never in CÉIM or anything, I was never on the SU, I was never in the Welfare Crew anything like that. So, I’ve been that disengaged student and I’ve been the Welfare Officer this year and we’ve manage to double engagement this year during a pandemic which is such an achievement.”

The 21-year-old’s manifesto is based largely on issues that she has seen come before her regularly in her role as Welfare and Equality Officer. According to Nic Lochlainn issues relating to accommodation and renter’s rights have been raised by students regularly over the course of the academic year and she hopes to remedy these through the establishment of a marks out of tenancy system, where students can honestly and anonymously rate their accommodation, a Scéim Cónaithe where Irish language speakers have the option of living together and a system in Corrib and Goldcrest Village whereby LGBT+ students had the option of living with other LGBT+ students.

Mental health is another area which the Antrim native hopes to introduce several new policies

including the introduction of a mental health check-in app. Based largely on the Covid-19 Tracker App it would ask students how they were feeling, those who answer “Not Good” would be offered guidance and contact numbers for mental health supports through the app.

Also included in the Nic Lochlainn manifesto is a commitment to increasing vegan and vegetarian products on campus, the establishment of sustainable Depop markets on campus when it is safe to do so, lobbying for a plastic-free campus, getting the University to commit to carbon neutrality by 2030, and to push for extra support for student parents and students during pregnancy.

Nic Lochlainn spoke of the importance of being able to continue her work from the Welfare and Equality portfolio as President and warned that a lack of continuity could be detrimental to the Union; “I feel like it’s just going to be such an important year of advocating for students, and I feel that we can’t risk having anyone inexperienced, it’s just too much of an important year to not have somebody that has at least a little experience within the Union. I know that last year I came in with no experience but next year is too important. I’ve seen how the Union operates, I don’t think we can afford to have a month or two of training someone up. We need to go straight in to advocating for what the students need.” she noted.

Róisín appealed to voters to give her their number one vote on April 22nd due to her long history of advocacy and her experience in standing up for students’ rights. She also pointed to her LGBT+ Ally training and rape crisis disclosure training as examples of her experience in dealing with important student issues; “What sets me apart from my election rivals I think is that I have done the work. I have achieved things and I want to continue doing it. I’m not just starting to be vocal about student issues now during election time. I have been vocal about social justice and human rights issues since I was sixteen years of age. If I don’t get this, I’ll continue to be an activist, if I do get this, I’ll continue to be an activist.

“The difference with me is that it is actions not words. This election isn’t about me it’s about the students, and it’s about making life better for students. The students who feel abandoned who are struggling. The hidden homeless, the students who can’t afford to eat every week. That’s the student body that I’m representing. I’ve been that student so I feel like I can relate to those students. I’m also the only Gaeilgeoir and the only woman on the ticket, I was successful in securing repeat fee waivers for recipients of the Financial Aid Fund and SUSI, I have all the training I have suicide prevention training I have mental health and first aid training from the HSE. I have Anti-Racism training, unconscious bias training. I do think that I’m the most qualified person to be President.” she finished.

JAMES POPE Final-Year Corporate Law student James Pope is a candidate in this year’s race for the Presidency of the NUI Galway Students’ Union. The 22-year old is keen to be a representative for the entirety of the student body, particularly those who he argues have been alienated from college life. Pope drew on his experience as a study abroad student at Willamette University in Oregon in comparing the sense of community felt within the student body there, and how he hopes he can bring that to NUI Galway; “I am running to represent all students, I’m running not to just represent a fraction or a facet of students and I have to stress that I am running to represent people who have been alienated from college life, who don’t feel that sense of community, because I was definitely one of those students and I definitely felt out of touch and when I was able to go over to the US, and you know the way those campuses are that they have this amazing sense of community and I would like to bring that to NUIG. “The Students’ Union is a clique and I think that having a different character in there is just beneficial for everyone. “ The Galway man is keen to use the experiences he gained during his study abroad year to help him influence policy and decision making at the Union’s top table. At the heart of Pope’s manifesto is a mandatory consent course that students would be required to pass in order to register for modules, a system which he says was implemented successfully in the United States; “At the top of my manifesto is a compulsory consent programme. This is something I did myself when I was studying at the University in the United States. It’s a programme that many Universities in the US have adopted themselves. It’s tried and tested, So the basis of the programme is that students go through five video segments on consent, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and then there’s an added segment on the correct use of pronouns. You go through each segment and at the end of each segment you answer questions, and you have to get all the questions right to progress to the next segment and then when you get to the last segment it’s completed you’re done. And the way that they make this compulsory in Universities is that they make it part of the registration process.

Pope allayed fears that the programme would cause survivors of sexual assault to relive past experiences, but assured voters that there is an opt out option for students with those concerns telling SIN; “Some people have said that this may be problematic for survivors, but there is an exemption policy with this programme where students can opt out of it if they feel that it may retraumatise them if they are victims and there are no questions asked . Someone asked me during the week would

this mean that people would abuse this system. But the fact is it won’t be abused because I knew that I could be exempt from it but I just sat down and did it anyway.

“I don’t think there’s any other way and because I’ve done this, I know the value that it has, we have this idea in our head and it’s something that I studied in Criminal Law that you have this idea on your head of what’s called the real rape scenario- which is this violent act of a stranger at night and that isn’t the case at all. It could be someone that you know very well and it’s important for people to realise that many of us have seen with the recent discourse on Twitter that it just goes to show that this type of programme is needed.” he said.

Pope’s Presidential plan would also see a review of RAG Week and Christmas Day, comparing crime rates during in years before and after the events were made unofficial, the establishment of a major ticketed college event every month where nursing and midwifery students would go free, the adoption of the National Biodiversity Plan on campus which would dedicate 50 percent of green spaces on campus to pollenated gardens, a move to a paperless campus and the planting of 100 trees on campus to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of the Irish Free State.

Also central to the Knocknacarra native’s manifesto is the reduction of repeat fees to €100, the abolition of the 40% cap on repeat exams and the creation of a fairer timetabling system. He also favours an increased focus on mental health through the establishment of a mental health webchat and by allowing The Samaritans the opportunity to speak to students in lecture halls about mental health.

The Corporate Law Student was keen to reaffirm his position as an outsider within the political workings of the Union when asked why voters should give him their number one on April 22nd.

Pope also highlighted his realistic yet ambitious manifesto and consent and mental health policies as reasons for the student body to cast their ballots in his favour; “I think people should vote for me because I’m going to go in with a fresh mindset I’m going to be able to go in with a clean slate, I haven’t damaged my relationship with the lecturers or the University. I think that’s why people should vote for me. I think it’s favourable to have a President who can go in with that mindset, who has an ambitious manifesto and I don’t see so far any policies that go as far as mine in terms of protecting students in relation to consent or mental health. I think that students should vote for somebody who is realistic and not misrepresenting them. I think that they should vote for someone who is going to bring balance to the Union, and I think that I am that candidate as someone who is being realistic.”

6

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

VICE PRESIDENT:

WELFARE AND EQUALITY OFFICER

With the election taking place this week, SIN spoke with this year’s Welfare and Equality candidates Cora Clarke, Erin Mac an tSaoir and Conor McWalters on what changes they feel they can bring forward to the Students’ Union and to campus life in NUI Galway if elected.

Interviews by Caoimhe Killeen

CORA CLARKE

ERIN CONOR MAC AN TSAOIR MACWALTERS

Why did you decide to run for the Welfare and Equality Race specifically?

Why did you decide to run for the Welfare and Equality Race specifically?

Why did you decide to run for the Welfare and Equality Race specifically?

“I’m really passionate about these issues, there’s nothing else I could imagine devoting my life to because I have been that vulnerable student. I have suffered with my mental health badly, and that’s one of the things that’s made me so passionate about it on a student level. I know what it’s like and I know how hard it can be, so I feel I know where the problems are, and I feel that I can help other people now that I’m not struggling as much.

This race specifically, because your health is your wealth, both mentally and physically. It’s so difficult to do college so any help you can get is fantastic, so I’m that’s why I’m running. I’m so passionate about both welfare and equality, not one over the other. Without either, it’s just so hard in life!”

“I’ve been with the SU Executive for three years, and ever since then I joined, I’ve been passionate about working at the grassroots level.

So, I thought I’m in final year now, I have all this experience and it would be a shame to put it to waste.

So, I thought I’d throw my name in as it just made sense to put all of my experience to good use and to try into empowering the community from the ground up and trying to fight for what their needs are, especially with all of this coronavirus going on and seeing how higher-level education was affected during the last crash.

“I’m running because I want to represent all students and because I feel like there’s great enthusiasm for change in a different direction. People I’m talking to even in societies and clubs and part time officers are keen to see a fresh voice and a fresh perspective from the outside.

“I just thought it was something there could be change made to, I thought that there was a need for a fresh voice. I have different ideas and different perspectives, and specifically for welfare and equality, there needs to be a broadening of the agenda.

I think we need to focus on students in all societies and give a fair hearing to everyone. I feel it’s time for a change in direction. I’ve seen how hard things can be for students and I think that this position specifically is the one that I can help students out the most and make a positive impact for them.”

Could you give a quick summary of your manifesto?

“So, the headings are mental health, finances, students with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ students, sexual health and consent, Gaeilge, the environment, diversity and inclusion, Erasmus placements, dropping out and the transition back to campus.

One of the things I’m big on is mental health through my own experiences and the people that I know, so I’ll focus on that.

Firstly, is suicide prevention. It’s important that every student gets the chance to graduate and it’s so important that we’re doing everything we can to prevent students dying by suicide especially male suicide prevention.

The next thing is wellness and I want to target student burnout because that’s such a huge issue. You hear about it so much and especially since lockdown. A lot of people need to focus on taking care of themselves and taking their wellbeing seriously.

In mental illness support, delayed diagnosis is such a huge issue in both adults and women in ASD, ADHD and ADD than what is in medical textbooks. So, a lot of people’s chance to get that healthcare may be through the Student Health Unit and it’s important that we have comprehensive training for people for in the Student Health Unit so that people can get diagnoses and get help for a variety of different disorders they might not heard about.

So, the last bit is Drugs and Alcohol. The rates of alcohol and drug abuse among students is very high, and the information from sources like CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) can be biased. So, people discard it completely which is fair as it’s not productive to staying safe around drugs and alcohol and we need proper non-judgmental education on this.

It will reduce harm significantly and I know a lot of people are like “Don’t do drugs if you don’t want harm done!” which is a ridiculous take on the issue.

I also want to introduce free quality drug testing kits like what they have at music festivals available from the SU for students. I feel like this will get some backlash, but if it could save a life, how could we possibly not be doing it?”

Why should students vote for you over other candidates on April 22nd?

“I have really strong views on mental health, and I am both for welfare and equality. You can’t have anything without them. I have such an interest in this area. If I don’t win, I will run again as I know I can help people if given the chance. I know what it’s like and I can relate to the many struggles of students and I would hope people could relate to me. As far as being a welfare officer, I feel that I’m approachable and I have a responsibility to help students.”

Could you give a quick summary of your manifesto?

“I decided that I would focus on three main issues that would be no longer than a year as I didn’t want to be too over ambitious, so I focused on the three areas of mental and physical health, cost and increasing diverse representation.

In mental health, I’d like to include something like the Mental Health Mondays I took part in a few years back. I’d like to also focus on different areas of the college community and show that mental health can affect different people in different ways like loneliness, isolation, the LGBT community with particular attention to trans mental health, bereavement, drugs and alcohol awareness, toxic masculinity and women in male-dominated industries and how that affects mental health.

In terms of long-term goals, I’d like to increase availability for the counselling service to make it accessible for people who don’t live in Galway or who may have transport issues and increased funding for the counselling unit as well as LGBT+ and disability awareness for counselling and provide counselling for survivors of sexual assault.

For physical health, I’d love to have weekly exercise events either done on Zoom or in person like yoga or Zumba. I’d like to work with the Clubs’ Captain next year to focus on women in sport, and self-defense classes for students. There’s a lot of talk about student safety these days so we should be empowering students to feel that they can walk around safely, especially women in NUIG. I’d also like to focus on period poverty and making a SU Charity Period Poverty Fund so that we can empower the community.

So, cost would be focusing on fees and international fees as we have the highest fees in Europe now, and international students are being used as cash cows for the university. I’d also like to lobby the university for not-for-profit repeat fees and produce a report of living standards of students in NUI Galway, so we can give a great snapshot of students and where they are now in the pandemic so that it can be used as a tool in future years for the USI.”

Why should students vote for you over other candidates on April 22nd?

“Out of everyone running at the moment, I’m the one with the most experience. I’ve been on the Union since my second year of college and I’ve had plenty of experience before that in-community activism and empowering the community from the ground up such as Comhairle na nÓg, where I advocated for Jigsaw. I also took part in the Youth Advisory Panel for Dublin City, so I had years of experience in activism before coming to college.

Through studying Irish and Sociology, I’ve gotten a clear understanding of the community power. All these Irish language skills didn’t come out of the sky and the Government didn’t provide them, it was the community empowering themselves and make these changes.

I want to increase diversity of opinion in the union so that we can become stronger in the community and a more unified voice.”

Could you give a quick summary of your manifesto?

“My manifesto is not broad or political, it’s about students and I don’t want to make promises I don’t think I can keep because I want to be realistic because it’s the Student’s Union, not the Dáil and I want to make progressive and realistic changes.

Things like stronger supports like those who are on placement, a bit more help and guidance. I’ve spoken to some healthcare students and listening about the mental strain that can bring, so a bit more support in that regard.

I’d like to get rid of the repeat fees, which people might think falls into education, but I think that welfare is about making student life easier for all students. Particularly for student nurses, as they have been on the frontlines and have worked for the country during this pandemic. Abolishing all fees might be difficult, but I think it could be done as a thank you to the nurses and their families for getting the country through this difficult time. I’d also like to include a pledge for everyone to have a change to speak up in relation to the societies, as I think that there are some societies that aren’t being listened to.

I want to remove politics from the Students’ Union. We’re student representatives, not politicians.”

Why should students vote for you over other candidates on April 22nd?

“I’m someone who represents change in a different direction that is required at the minute. I want to make real and progressive ideas and changes that can be brought forward for the better. I don’t have connections on the inside, I don’t know a lot of people involved and I don’t have anyone to keep happy. For me it would be about students first and not about cliques and keeping people happy on the inside.

I want to represent those who haven’t been represented as well, I think there’s a lot of students who haven’t felt represented anywhere.

I’ve been speaking to a lot of students and there is an appetite for change, and I think I represent that change.”

I think I’m the best candidate because as somebody who has had the perspective of being on the outside and the majority of students in NUIG are from the outside of the Students’ Union, there’s 20,000 students…and only like 2,000 of them vote anyway. I feel like some people don’t have that outside perspective I’ve never even voted before, none of my friends have voted before lots of people I’m talking to haven’t voted. This year’s going to be different and I think that now is the time for people to stand up and make an impact.”

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8

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

VICE PRESIDENT:

EDUCATION OFFICER

The role of the Students’ Union is to represent you, the student, in your university affairs and to help make your college journey a fun, easy and accessible experience. The role of the Education Officer in the Students’ Union is exactly as mentioned.

They are there to ensure your experience with education and your daily interaction with the college runs as smoothly as possible. It’s important you vote for an education officer that you feel will represent your needs as well as they can. SIN offers you the rundown of your 2021 Education candidates for you to make the best choice possible when you cast your vote on April 22nd Interviews by Saoirse Higgins

CLODAGH MCGIVERN

CONALL MCCALLIG

NEASA GORRELL

Clodagh McGivern is a final-year Corporate Law student from Tipperary. Clodagh was the Convenor of Business, Public Policy and Law for two years, 2018 to 2019. Clodagh explained that she learned a lot from that experience, something she’d bring with her into the role of Education Officer, “I feel I’d be perfect for the role as I was a Convenor for two years. I know the whole academic side of how the Students’ Union operates.”

Clodagh expressed that she’s been involved in many projects that have prepared her for this role. She has sat on the academic council, sat in on meetings on how women can advance their role in the workplace, spoken with students during her time as Convenor and even learned a lot from her degree.

“I’ve learned how to be the perfect liaison between students and the University staff,” she said to SIN. If she secures the role of Education Officer, Clodagh said that her approach would begin from the ground up, “The foundation of NUI Galway is very rocky at the m o m e nt … yo u don’t build a house on poor foundations. I want to start on the bottom and work my way up.”

Clodagh explained that she would focus on making education equal, fair and for all. She would do this by making the college more accessible by reducing costs, start classes and workshops about how to avoid plagiarism and remove barriers for Northern Irish students. She also hopes to increase educational access and supports for students with disabilities.

Clodagh also vows to make sure Irish is well and alive on campus, with more Irish classes made available, “I’d love for NUI Galway to live up to the bilingual name.”

Clodagh concluded with the point that she wants students to know, “I’m not going in with my own agenda, I’m going into the position to represent the majority of students. My opinion won’t matter, what matters is the opinion of the students I’m representing. As my slogan says, ‘make me your choice, to raise your voice’.”

Conall McCallig is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student from Galway. Conall has a history of activism with him taking part in several protests, most notably the successful Cut the Rent protest which took place in March of last year.

Conall is passionate about the issues that concern students, especially the cost of education, “the cost of education is main barrier to education and we need to fight against these anyway we can.”

Conall thinks that he can bring a lot to the role of Education Officer, “I feel as being a student here for four years, I know what the problems are and I know how to fix them.”

Conall has several ideas on what he would do as Education Officer. He wants to reduce the cost of education, such as reduction in tuition fees, the levy fee, rent and so on. He also wants to ensure accessibility to resources on campus such as study spaces and available PC’s. Conall also believes in going further than just the role of education. He wants to improve democracy on campus by creating a festival on the day of SU election. He also speaks of lifting the Christmas Day ban the college has in place currently.

Conall, similar to Clodagh, is also passionate on making NUI Galway a bilingual campus, “it’s only a bilingual campus on paper, I want to make it a truly bilingual campus.”

Conall also emphasised his plan to try and reduce the focus on end of semester exams and encourage the college to introduce more continuous assessment.

Conall describes his campaign as radical but also fits the needs of the students. If he secures the role, he wants students to know for sure that he will, “improve access to education for all and remove barriers for everyone.” He also expressed his commitment to fighting for a living wage on campus and that he would, “ stand alongside the Postgraduate Workers Alliance as they strive to be paid at the collectively bargained rate.”

Neasa Gorrell is a third year English and Media Studies student from Donegal. Neasa has been heavily involved in the Students’ Union in the past year and explained to SIN why the pandemic spurred her on, “The government’s response to everything was so sub-standard.

It just showed me so severely how little regard we [students] are considered with. I live by the idea ‘be the change you want to see.’

So, I could see all this happening and I decided to do something about it and be someone who actually cares rather than just let it happen.”

From there, Neasa has immersed herself in nearly everything on campus. From writing for SIN about student’s issues, to Active Consent workshops , to employability workshops and even small sustainability workshops. Neasa has been to them all and she argues this is why she should obtain the role of Education Officer, “I decided to run for education because I’m at a place right now where I have done so much. I know I have the knowledge, the understanding and the personality for this role.”

If Neasa attains the role of Education Officer, she has a clear idea of what she’d implement, “My main focus is on belonging & campus connection, accessibility and inclusivity.”

Neasa would make NUI Galway more accessible for the 7,000 students who may have never set foot on campus come September.

This includes making interactive maps, tours of the city and in general a way “so that people can assimilate to the Galway community straight away.”

Neasa also intends to improve sustainability on campus and similar to the other education candidates, will work to make Irish a “living language” on campus.

Neasa argues that she will make a great education officer and hopes, like all the education candidates, that you will share your vote with her.

“It’s not just about writing up policies or saying things that you’re going to do.

My actions are stronger than my words,” Neasa ­concluded.

“I want to make education equal, fair and for all.”

“I’m the campaign of an ordinary student.”

“I want to be active and I want to be the person to make the change.”

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

9

STUDENT SPEAK SIN Spoke to students to get their opinions on what they wanted to see from next year’s Students’ Union.

Ryan Kearney, 3rd Year Arts I would like to see a massive increase in engagement between the SU and college faculty regarding core issues which are not being addressed well enough. Whether that be more opportunities for social interaction amongst students, a safe reopening of campus, clubs, and societies, or even just more open available spaces for study, I would like to see progress being made to bring back the feeling of what it means to be in NUIG.

Aaron Deering, First Year PME I would like to see a fresh new SU that will reflect a new beginning on campus next year especially if on campus teaching returns. There needs to be more events on campus such as concerts and festivals like the Trinity Ball to celebrate a return to normality especially when you consider that college students have lost out on so much social activity due to Covid-19 this year. I also think there needs to be more effort by the SU to engage and attract students that have no interest in the politics of the Union. By having more general events that benefits everyone on campus they maybe able to achieve this. I would also like to see the SU next year run a referendum advocating for the reduction of the salaries of the president and vice presidents of the SU as this will ensure in the future that the students that run for the SU are only interested in helping and benefiting the student body.

Nicole Cunningham, Third Year Commerce with Irish I hope for a more inclusive student union who purposely reaches out and wants to hear from all the students from all ends of the University and who focuses more on addressing the problems faced within the University rather than bigger issues outside of it. I hope for more emphasis placed on wellness and fitness. As well as the continuation of a bigger emphasis being placed on the Irish language within the Students’ Union with Irish classes being offered for free to all students so it is easily accessible.

Fergal Flood, 2nd Year Gaeilge and French What I’d like to see from the incoming SU is a willingness to work with people of all political ideologies. In the past year, the SU failed to engage with us in YFG on our SafeCabs campaign.

The campaign is designed to provide security for students alone at night, rather than rely on safety whistles sold in the SU shop. We need the incoming SU to support students and groups of all ideologies, not just their own.

Laura Ilupeju, First-Year Biomedical Science I would love to see transparency in our next student union.

People who have a clear plan of what they’re doing, what the people want and know how to bring these changes. I want to see officers with sincere passion, who will work hard to put students first and have our student experience as their priority.

done by the upcoming SU. I’d love to see a push for more on-campus hours, as a first year who has not set foot on campus I can see first hand the immense toll it has taken on us all. The pressure on people’s mental health is going to be more than we’ve ever seen in the upcoming year, being at home has impacted us all and we will have two sets of students who will be away from home for the first time.

Due to this I really want to see the SU pushing for more mental health supports, including the opportunity to see a counsellor on campus. We’ve seen the success of #RipOffNUIG this year, and I would love to see more progress on this. I want an SU who will fight for students financial well-being too, such as lower repeat fees, work on the Student levy etc. I want to see more opportunities and a push for students to take part in suicide prevention training, drug abuse training etc... On top of those, I’d love to see progress in courses regarding topics such as consent, racism as well as LGBT+ inclusivity training.

Irish is also important to me, and we’ve seen it go from strength to strength this year, with the renaming of CMLOÉG and Comhairle. I want to see more emphasis on Irish, with SU members pushing for more Irish in all aspects of campus life. Finally, I want to see the SU push for a more eco-friendly campus, especially in the student shop. I want to see our new SU working hard to make campus a cleaner, healthier spot.

Sophie Connaughton, 2nd year Children’s Studies What I would like to see from the SU is more social events when we’re back on campus, like the hump-day hoolie and speed friending, to help those who may find it difficult to make friends.

I also would like to see more sex ed events like the ones in SHAG week, to educate those who didn’t get adequate sex education in secondary school.

Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls NO BAKE! INGREDIENTS ½ cup shelled pistachios 7 medjool dates, pitted (equivalent to ½ cup very packed) ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 3 tablespoons collagen peptides, unflavored ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt ½ cup creamy cashew butter ¼ cup coconut butter 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ¼ cup dark chocolate chips METHOD STEP 1 Line a small rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Rionnach Ní Dhubhcoin, 3rd year English and Media studies

STEP 2 Add the shelled pistachios and dates to a food processor and pulse until the mixture is completely broken down. Add the shredded coconut, cacao powder, collagen peptides, and sea salt, and pulse until the mixture is fully combined.

I want to be able to rely on the SU to represent students fairly and accurately both during the pandemic and as we start to reopen campus again. I want to know that I can trust my SU officers to deliver on their promises and prove that they are committed to improving student welfare, increasing student engagement, and resolving issues promptly as they arise! I believe we need SU officers who will not hesitate to stand up and fight for ALL the students of NUIG.

STEP 3 Add the cashew butter, coconut butter, and vanilla extract to the processor, and pulse until the mixture forms a ball. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides to fully incorporate if necessary. Fold in the dark chocolate chips.

Jodi Lafferty, 1st Year Law

STEP 6 Place the baking sheet in the freezer to chill for 1 hour. Store the protein balls in a sealed container in the refrigerator (or freezer if you don’t plan to eat them in a week).

As a first year student I’ve been trying to get involved with the SU where I can, as a class rep and member of the academic council. I’ve also been keeping my ear close to the ground, following NUIG, and the trends that come from it on social media. Whilst I’m happy to see the work that’s been done, there’s more I’d love to see

STEP 4 Roll the dough mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball.

STEP 5 Roll each ball in the shredded coconut (optional) for coating. Place the protein ball on the baking sheet. Repeat this process for the remaining mixture.

10

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

USI CONGRESS

Congress 2021; NUI Galway Students Union delegates in attendance as annual congress moves online for second year in a row

By Ellen O’Donoghue Co News Editor The Union of Students in Ireland’s annual Congress took place online on Tuesday the 6th of April, beginning slightly behind schedule, owing to technical glitches.

Because of these difficulties, the proceedings were changed and broadcast on Facebook Live.

The Congress began with hustings involving the election candidates for each position, with questions prepared and submitted beforehand.

Results were announced on the third day with Clare Austick, former NUI Galway Students’ Union President and Welfare and Equality Officer was elected President of the USI for the 2021/22 Academic year.

Her elected executive team consists of Jenna Barry as Vice President for Postgraduate Affairs, Trinity College Dublin’s Muireann Nic Corcráin as Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology’s Victor O’Loughlin Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region, University College Cork’s Beth O’Reilly as Vice-President for Campaigns, Somhairle Brennan as Vice President for Welfare, TCD’s Megan O’Connor elected Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Bukky Adebowale of NUI Maynooth’s Student’ Union elected Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship, becoming the first person of colour to be elected on to the USI executive team.

On the first day of congress, delegates were brought through how things would run over the three days.

Standing orders were adopted and a mock motion was brought forward to explain them in their entirety.

Delegates then moved onto policies due to expire.

Orlaith McCabe was the first NUI Galway delegate to speak on a motion, being in favour of EQ1, Gender Recognition of Students, which was due to expire.

Vice President for Equality and Citizenship, Marie Lyons, also spoke in favour of the motion which passed with a 96% majority.

Clare Austick spoke on the USI’s cyberbullying policy, which was passed with a 97% majority.

NUI Galway Vice President, Welfare and Equality Officer, Róisín Nic Lochlainn spoke next on a motion due to expire proposed by Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin McStravock.

The motion was based on cross-border student mobility, owing to the difficulties faced by students from each, studying across the border.

The motion was passed with a 97% majority.

Clare Austick then proposed a motion which Róisín Nic Lochlainn spoke in favour of on abusive relationships, sexual violence and harassment. This motion was passed with a 99% majority.

Numerous other policies due to expire were discussed before the guillotine fell and day one of congress was concluded at 3pm.

This meant that the un-proposed motions were to automatically fall.

Day Two began with the congress delegates hearing USI’s accounts for the previous year, before moving onto the Academic Affairs motions.

Toomey was the first NUI Galway delegate to speak on a motion at the second day of Congress.

The motion was based on being against sanctions on students who are late paying their fees, which Toomey spoke in favour of. This motion was passed with a 97% majority.

Toomey also proposed the next motion, which was to lobby Universities to abolish repeat fees, a motion that sparked the #RipOffNUIG movement on Twitter earlier in the year. This motion passed with a 99% majority.

NUI Galway’s Education Officer, Emma Sweeney, spoke in favour of a motion proposed by USI President, Lorna Fitzpatrick, which related to alternative admissions to third level institutions.

This motion passed, with 97% of delegates voting in its favour.

Neasa Gorrell was the next NUI delegate to speak on a motion.

She spoke on a motion which mandated the USI to adopt The USI Position Paper on Digital and Distance Learning.

This motion passed with a 99% majority.

Toomey next spoke on a motion proposed by USI’s Vice President for Postgraduate affairs, relating to clarity on postgraduate and international fees.

This motion passed, with 96% of delegates voting

A motion based on being against sanctions on students who are late paying their fees was passed with a 97% majority. Toomey also proposed the next motion, which was to lobby Universities to abolish repeat fees, a motion that sparked the #RipOffNUIG movement on Twitter earlier in the year.

This motion passed with a 99% majority. in favour.

Gorrell then spoke again on a motion, this time on lecture recordings.

Aine Kane of Technological University Dublin’s Students’ Union proposed the motion which 96% of delegates voted in favour of.

Sweeney also spoke on a motion about the position of proctoring, speaking in favour of said motion which mandates the Union to investigate proctoring, and produce a paper outlining the uses of Proctoring, how it relates to Academic Integrity, and the impact it has on student experience regarding assessment.

This motion passed with a 97% majority.

Seb Bierema of NUI Galway’s Students’ Union spoke next on a motion relating to clarification on the USI Postgraduate workers’ rights charter. This motion passed with a 94% majority.

Emma Sweeney was the last NUI Galway delegate to speak on a motion relating to Academic Affairs, proposing that the USI mandate Universities to provide subsidies on textbooks for students who pay more than €50 on textbooks a year.

This motion passed with a 99% majority.

Discussions then began on welfare motions, as the Academic Affairs finished before scheduled.

Ciarán Watts, Welfare and Equality Officer of Maynooth Students’ Union then proposed that Congress go back to the motions due to expire that were not completed the previous day.

This standing order was voted on and passed by more than the required two-thirds majority.

Gorrell was the first NUI Galway delegate to speak on a welfare motion after the lunch break, speaking egarding the promotion of consent and ending sexual violence and harassment, proposed by Austick, USI’s Vice-President for Welfare.

Delegates voted to pass this motion with a 99% majority.

Joe Mee of NUI Galway also spoke on a welfare motion that was passed with a 99% majority, regarding social support for students both during and in a post-Covid-19 world.

Gorrell spoke again on another motion proposed by Austick about USI grant reform position paper 20212024.

This motion passed by 98%.

Thomas Forde was next to speak on behalf of NUI Galway’s Students’ Union, on a motion regarding the expansion of provision of free HIV support, but the motion was put back to the next Equality and Citizenship working group meeting.

Aoife Buckley of NUI Galway spoke on a motion asking for a remit-specific training day for both deputy presidents and campus conveners, which was passed by 87%.

Kirsty Moran, NUI Galway’s Clubs Captain spoke next on a motion mandating USI to form a relationship with Student Sport Ireland to ensure adequate student representation for sport at a national level.

Delegates voted to pass this motion with a 92% majority.

Sweeney spoke again on a motion to provide a Covid19 handbook for Officers who will be working in the next academic year, which passed with 93%.

Róisín Nic Lochlainn, Welfare and Equality Officer was the last NUI Galway delegate to speak on a motion on day two of congress, one that bystander intervention training be provided to all Sabbatical Officers.

This motion passed with a 94% majority.

Day three of congress began with the Governance Committee Reports, before moving onto the Equality and Citizenship motions.

Toomey spoke on a motion about insurance for international students, which passed with a 96% majority.

Barry Sugrue of NUI Galway spoke on a motion mandating sustainability in USI campaigns and events, which passed with a 99% majority.

Sugrue spoke again on the next motion, which passed with a 92% majority.

This motion was regarding a sustainability festival to promote sustainability.

Sugrue also spoke on a Constitutional Amendment which was proposed by Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, Clíodhna Ní Dhufaigh, which would change the primary name of the Executive Team to Coiste Gnó, the National Council to Comhairle Naisiúnta and the name of Congress to Comhdháil.

This amendment originally fell, however, as 118 votes in favour were needed, and it only got 108 votes.

Lorna Fitzpatrick, USI President, then called a procedural motion 9E of no confidence in the chair’s decision, as she claimed the vote was not open for 60 seconds as it should be.

This 9E passed with 89% of delegates in favour, and upon the second vote, 132 delegates voted for the motion.

Therefore, it passed.

After the election results were announced, Gaeilge motions were discussed.

Sugrue spoke on a motion mandating USI to note the importance of the síneadh fada.

This passed, as did the next motion spoken on by Sugrue.

This next motion was regarding bilingual signage on campus.

Sugrue also spoke on a motion about Seimineár na Gaeilge, asking that USI mandate it be run separately to Seachtain na Gaeilge, this also passed.

Nic Lochlainn spoke on the motion about USI cooperation with student groups in Europe regarding Irish and their languages.

This motion passed with a 92% majority.

Nic Lochlainn spoke again on a motion regarding modules in Irish, which passed with 93% majority.

Sugrue then spoke on a motion regarding the preservation of the Gaeltacht which passed with a 94% majority.

McCabe and Nic Lochlainn spoke on a motion to deplatform and reject fascism.

This motion passed with 85% voting for and 15% voting against.

Nic Lochlainn then spoke against a motion for gender quotas.

This motion fell with 56% voting against.

Gorrell spoke in favour of a motion for supporting students in Direct Provision which passed with a 99% majority.

Nic Lochlainn then spoke in favour of a motion about the right to disconnect, which passed with 92% majority.

Toomey then proposed a motion about sanctions, fees and fines, which passed with a 94% majority, before officer reports were taken.

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

11

USI CONGRESS

Former President of NUI Galway’s Students’ Union elected President of National Union

By Ellen O’Donoghue Clare Austick was elected President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) on 8th April 2021.

She served as President of NUI Galway’s Students’ Union in 2019/2020 and as Vice-President/Welfare and Equality Officer in 2018/2019, before being elected as Vice-President for Welfare of the USI in 2020.

On the matter, she said; “I am absolutely honoured to have been elected the next President of the Union of Students in Ireland. I’m really looking forward to leading the national union alongside an incredible new team. We have many challenges ahead of us as we continue to navigate our way through the global pandemic and seek to return to on campus teaching and learning.”

Austick further added; “Student wellbeing and the quality of education must remain key priorities

for us. We also need to ensure students have financial, social and academic supports in place to ensure they have the best

NUIG, as SU officer and president of our SU. As a friend, I’m so happy for her and can’t wait for her to do great things. She is always a friendly voice and someone who cares for students.”

That passion and initial dedication and commitment and just a love for helping people stayed with me. And yeah, here I am! student experience possible.

I promise to give my absolute all and try my best to ensure the voices of students is heard loud and clear at the top tables and most importantly listened to in key decisions made.”

Current President of the Students’ Union, Pádraic Toomey said that the Union are “delighted with Clare’s win.”

He further added; “Clare will do amazing things carrying on what she experienced as a student in

Austick has been elected the third female president of the USI in a row.

This is the first time a woman has taken the Presidential position three times consecutively.

Toomey said that Austick has proved the importance of the Women’s Lead event she organised this year upon having won the election.

Austick received 161 votes in a total poll of 193, while re-open Nominations received 32 votes.

As 97 was the quota necessary for election, Austick was deemed elected.

Austick has been involved with Students’ Union for years, having told SIN during her campaign that she has been involved with the Union in NUI Galway since she was in second year of her degree, having become class rep in second year after initially being too afraid to put herself forward for the position during her first year at University.

It was here when her passion for helping others was ignited.

She ran for Science Convener unsuccessfully, but soon realised that that is not where her passion lay, and later ran for the part-time position of Equality Officer.

Before the official election took place, Austick said she still struggles to believe how far she has come, telling SIN; “Having them come forward and show their bravery, that just really inspired me and wanting me to do better and be better as a person, but also for the Union to support them as best as we could. So, then I ran for President, then Welfare of USI. And then, I guess that passion and initial dedication and commitment and just a love for helping people stayed with me. And yeah, here I am!”

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Notice of Referendum Thursday 22 April 2021

Fógra maidir le Reifrinn Déardaoin, an 22 Aibreáin 2021 Referendum on Student Levy

An Reifreann ar Thobhaigh Mac Léinn

On Thursday 22 April you will be asked to vote in a referendum on whether or not you support the cancellation of the current Student Levy of €224 and approve its replacement with a new Student Levy of €140

Déardaoin, an 22 Aibreáin, iarrfar ort vótáil i reifreann ar cibé acu a thacaíonn nó nach dtacaíonn tú le cealú an Tobhaigh Mac Léinn €224 atá ann faoi láthair agus go gceadaíonn freisin Tobhach Mac Léinn nua €140

The wording which will appear on the ballot, requiring a Yes / No answer, will be:

Is mar seo a leanas a chuirfear an cheist ort ar an ballóid, agus beidh ortsa freagra Tá / Níl a thabhairt uirthi:

Do you agree with this motion:

An bhfuil tú ag toiliú leis an rún seo:

“That with effect from 1st July, 2021 the members of NUI Galway Students’ Union approve the cancellation of the current Student Levy of €224 (adopted in 2006, updating a levy approved in 2003); and further approve its replacement with a new Student Levy of €140 (to be paid in that amount by full-time students and by part-time students on the Full-Time Equivalent basis) to create a Student Levy Fund with the total amount collected annually to be distributed on the basis of allocating 2.14% to Áras na Mac Léinn, 10% to CÉIM (to be paid to and administered by NUI Galway Students’ Union), 4.29% to Flirt FM, 17.86% to NUI Galway Clubs, 17.86% to NUI Galway Societies, 3.57% to the Projects Fund, 15.71% to the Student Health Unit, and 28.57% to NUI Galway Students’ Union; and also approve that the Student Levy of €140 adopted for the academic year 2021-2022 be increased thereafter in line with Consumer Price Index inflation.”

“Le héifeacht ón 1 Iúil 2021, go gceadaíonn baill Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh cealú an Tobhaigh Mac Léinn €224 atá ann faoi láthair (ar glacadh leis in 2006 le tobhach a ceadaíodh in 2003 a thabhairt cothrom le dáta); agus go gceadaíonn freisin Tobhach Mac Léinn nua €140 (suim a bheidh le híoc ina hiomláine ag mic léinn lánaimseartha agus a bheidh le híoc ag mic léinn pháirtaimseartha ar bhonn na Coibhéise Lánaimseartha) a úsáidfear le Ciste Tobhaigh Mac Léinn a bhunú óna ndáilfear an tsuim iomlán a bhaileofar gach bliain ar an mbonn seo a leanas: 2.14% ar Áras na Mac Léinn, 10% ar CÉIM (a bheidh le híoc le Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh agus a bheidh le riar ag Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh), 4.29% ar Flirt FM, 17.86% ar Chlubanna OÉ Gaillimh, 17.86% ar Chumainn OÉ Gaillimh, 3.57% ar Chiste na dTionscadal, 15.71% ar Aonad Sláinte na Mac Léinn, agus 28.57% ar Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh; agus go gceadaíonn freisin go ndéanfar an Tobhach Mac Léinn €140, ar glacadh leis don bhliain acadúil 2021-2022, a ardú ina dhiaidh sin de réir an ráta boilscithe a luaitear sa Phraghasinnéacs Tomhaltóirí.”

This referendum has been requested by 500 members of the Students’ Union in accordance with the Students’ Union Constitution, Article 16.

Tá an reifreann seo iarrtha ag 500 ball de Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn de bhun Airteagal 16 de Bhunreacht Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn.

Vote on Thursday 22 April 2021 Vótáil ar Déardaoin 22 Aibreáin 2021 @nuigsu

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STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

LEVY REFERENDUM

Levy referendum: Both sides have their say

By Caoimhe Killeen Co-News Editor A fourteen-year-long debate is set to be settled on April 22nd with a referendum to reduce the NUI Galway student levy taking place.

The notice of referendum was made in late March having reached its petition quota of 500 signatures, with the question being posed being that of reducing the current student levy of €224 to €140.

If passed, it will come into effect on July 1st and change how the Student Levy Fund is distributed among student services.

2.14% of the fund would be allocated to Áras na Mac Léinn, 10% to the first-year academic mentoring programme CÉIM which would be paid and administered by the Students’ Union, 4.29% to Flirt FM, an equal spilt between clubs and societies of 17.86%, 3.57% to the Projects Fund, 15.71% to the Student Health Unit and 28.57% going to the Students Union itself, with the amount to be paid increasing every year.

The student levy was originally increased to allow for the completion of construction of the Kingfisher gym in 2007, followed by renovations to what is now known as Áras na Mac Léinn.

In an article by SIN it was revealed that there

were discrepancies in what the University proposed, with NUI Galway collecting 20 million euro from the levy, meaning that the proposed 17 million euro contribution from students would have been raised more quickly than its original 18-year timeline.

Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey described the levy as a “barrier to education”, stating; “The levy we’ve seen is a barrier to education, it’s not covered by SUSI. We are the only college in the country that has a levy that goes towards recurrent costs and what we’ll see with the change is that we will be getting rid of the hundred euros which would have gone toward paying for the sports centre which we have been overpaying for years, while increasing funding to services that we value like clubs, societies, the SU and Flirt.”

Toomey appealed to students to vote yes to decreasing the levy on this upcoming referendum as students have been “hard-done by” in paying interest on the sports centre.

“They’ve been hard-done by, by paying interest on the sports centre in the last couple of years, by paying interest that the University used its own money to build with 5% interest on it, which is crazy! And the University want to collect another 5.5 million euro on top of that again, and they

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should vote to stop that and make it clear that we’re not paying these hundreds of euros towards something we shouldn’t be paying towards.”

Yet, Students’ Union Clubs Captain Kristy Moran states that while this proposed levy on paper looks like an automatic win for clubs, this is not the full picture and will have “notable implications on NUIG sport as a whole.”

Moran stated that the fund “is the main resource available to clubs in terms of capital sport investment, with one million euro worth of equipment for clubs funded through it over the last five years.

“Some clubs have even approached me that without the student project fund, it wouldn’t have been feasible to start their sport in NUIG, due to the requirement for large initial investment to get the club up off the ground. This is particularly relevant for clubs that may not be of a competitive nature with the support of high-profile alumni or NGB (National Governing Body) elite pathway.”

With the Student Project Fund set to be cut by 27%, Moran also stated that another student capital project would be met with serious reservations.

“There’s also the issue of the reality being, with this being viewed as a breach of contract, the likelihood of another student capital project be it sport or not sport will have some serious reservations about going down this route again, another capital investment opportunity in sport or student life in general put at risk.”

Yet, Toomey stated that NUI Galway provides the lowest funding to clubs and societies in the country as things stand.

“No other clubs have a levy; we’d be looking for the University to fund their side of things probably.

It won’t set back clubs as the university should still be funding the Student Project Fund.”

But Moran argued that clubs have requested more clarification on the situation from the University on the whole situation and has proposed an open information forum to NUIG staff and to the SU. “In terms of the sports centre, there is lots of perspectives floating around the University of what is the actual story is in terms of the contract, the

interest and so on. A Q&A with the bursar and other University staff was hosted upon request from clubs last week for club captains to ask any questions, voice concerns, and look for clarity”, explained Moran.

“I believe it is of utmost importance that all NUIG students have access to the facts and reality outcomes of both sides of the discussion so that they can make an educated and informed decision when they cast their vote on April 22nd. For this reason, I proposed to NUIG staff and the SU an open information forum for all students, empowering students to make their own informed decision on the referendum because mine, the SU, or the Uuniversity’s opinions do not matter only that of the individual student as they cast their vote.”

Indeed, instead of focusing on the SU elections these next couple of weeks, Toomey has stated he will focus on raising awareness on the levy and stated an open information evening is needed.

“I’ve tried to organise one with the University, hustings style just to answer questions and have rebuttals on it. I’ve been meeting with clubs and societies so that they can air any grievances or any worries and keep it open as possible and doing Instagram Live Q and A’s, wherever I can get a platform to answer worries or questions is important to me.”

On the society front, the University Societies Coordination (USCG) welcomed a reduced student levy but expressed concerns over a cut of the Áras na Mac Léinn fund.

They stated that the “building is the home of societies/students, and this will force all student services that are located there to seek additional external funding to ensure the availability and maintenance of key resources/spaces for societies & students. The alternative source for this funding is likely to be more corporate events held in Áras na Mac Léinn which actively takes power from the student’s hands. This will move the financial burden back onto students, not remove it.”

Information sessions were also held for all society committee members by the USCG to explain how the proposed cuts would negatively impact the fund as well as societies and clubs.

STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTION SPECIAL

15

LEVY REFERENDUM

Polling shows Kingfisher Referendum set to be passed with ease Eighty-Two percent of respondents in on-campus poll by SIN said they would vote yes to levy reduction.

Paddy Henry Friday’s vote to reform the student levy looks set to be passed with considerable ease, according to polling conducted by SIN, The poll which took place between April 12th and 14th asked students if they “support the cancellation of the current student levy of €224 and approve its replacement with a new student levy of €140. The same question will be put to before students on Thursday’s referendum.

If passed the levy would be reduced to €140 per student, with €100 of the original levy which students pay towards the repayment of a loan on the Kingfisher gym being removed.

Eighty-two percent of respondents said they were in favour of the proposal, while nine percent said they were against the proposed change.

A further nine percent of respondents said that they “don’t know” how they will vote.

Concerns have been raised among many involved in sports clubs within the University about what the restructuring of the levy may mean for them. Director of Sport and Physicla activity at at NUI Galway Mike Heskin claimed that the reduction of the levy would set sport at NUI Galway back by at least ten years.

Speaking to Galway Bay FM, Heskin pointed out that although the decision was ultimately up to the students that other methods would have to be found to repay the debt owned on the Sports Centre.

Heskin also pointed to the 75% reduction to contributions towards the student project fund as proposed in the new levy and noted that the Sports Centre had benefitted from the fund for equipment to the tone of €1 million of the last five years.

Students online expressed concern that the reduction in the levy will lead to less funding for

clubs and societies. However, President of the NUI Galway Students’ Union Pádraic Toomey has disputed this and called on students to vote yes in Thursday’s referendum, telling SIN; “The University gives societies and clubs €80,000 in funding. We’re the Union that has the smallest funding for societies and clubs according to a Higher Education Authority report in 2013, and what we’re proposing with the new levy is to give societies and clubs €90,000,” said Toomey.

The former Clubs’ Captain added that the proposed new levy will contribute towards proving additional funding for other aspects of University life that matter to students; “Even though the University is threatening to take away funding from some other aspects of life on campus, we’re actually going to be giving more money to the things students care about by reducing the levy.” he finished.

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YES: 82%

NO: 9%

Don’t know: 9%

Do you support the cancellation of the current student levy of €224 and approve its replacement with a new student levy of €140?

Sample size 100. Polling conducted April 12 – 14.

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