Aidan Coffey’s Med & Health Manifesto Hey! I’m Aidan Coffey, in 2nd Medicine, and I’m running for the position of Rep for the College of Medicine and Health. I’ve worked as a Class Rep for the past year and know the ins and outs of the Students’ Union – what needs to be done and who to go to get it done. Our College is pretty good I think, but I think we can make it even better, and if I’d be honoured to get your vote on March 11th and 12th, so we can get the show on the road! Thanks Library Reform Plans to extend Brookfield Library opening hours have become a staple of many the SU candidate over recent years, and understandably so. Who wouldn’t want more library hours? But would we use those hours? Library funding has been cut significantly, so I believe we need to find out when and where people study, in order to maximise library resources. To do this, I propose a short but targeted survey of all students in the College, asking these questions. We would then find out what students want from our library. In the short term though, I want to establish a room where students who arrive in college before 9am can study before the library opens. Such a room would not need library staff supervision and therefore shouldn’t get caught up in funding and wage issues. A simple solution for a simple problem. Common Room For too long, UCC SU has been content to maintain a common room on Main Campus while ignoring the needs of students in the Western Campuses. We need a room to unwind after a bewildering pharmacology or physiology lecture, or after solid cramming session in the library, or to stay in touch with Alf and the gang in Summer Bay. I want this room to have a microwave and a kettle, so we can finally wave goodbye to the cold, stodgy tubs of pasta. Who knows, we might even get a game of Scrabble, (or Monopoly, if you want to see your entire evening of study go down the tubes). Brookfield is the most suitable location for such a room, as most M&H students have lectures here, in addition to the library being downstairs! Our past College Rep has made great progress in this matter, and I’m going to finish the job, by demanding full support and commitment, emotionally and financially, from the Students’ Union. Supporting our Professional Colleagues We are the nurses, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, doctors, clinical therapists and public health professionals of the future. As College Rep, I would strive to make students aware of the challenges facing current workers, as they will be our challenges quite soon. We need to have our voices heard, and I will make sure they are. Events and Ents Unfortunately, the layout of Brookfield, WGB and Cavanagh buildings does not lend itself to creating a main campus vibe. Yet this does not mean that M&H students should feel isolated from the craic, caper and shenanigans on main campus!
I want to install a ‘What’s on Now’ feature on the screens in Cavanagh, Brookfield and WGB, which would be a simple ticker showing the society events on in Main Campus on a particular day. A simple idea, allowing us to know what fun and games are going on ten minutes up the road. In addition, I would like to use that lovely open space outside Brookfield main doors used for occasional lunchtime (12-‐2) activities, like table tennis or twister or hopscotch or whatever you’re having yourself. I hope to do this in collaboration with UCC clubs and societies. In conjunction with a Common Room, this would provide M&H students with at least some lunchtime alternatives to sitting in an overflowing canteen day-‐after-‐day. Visibility For many, the SU feels like a separate entity, which many have heard of, but never seen. I believe everyone in the college should know that we have a representative working on our behalf with the Students’ Union and with UCC management and staff. I hope to address every class at the start of the year, just to let ye know I’m here to work for ye and with ye. I’ll also put up a notice, once a month, on the noticeboards in our buildings to fill ye in on the work I’ve been doing, so that everyone is in the loop. Leadership on Health Related Issues As healthcare students, we are among the best educated on health related issues. I would like to see this College take leadership on controversial topics like organ-‐donation, alcohol consumption, abortion etc, and lead Students’ Union policy on these issues, so that students’ opinions are heard at a national level.