Volume XXI - 2015 Students' Union Election Edition

The University Observer Students’ Union ELECTION edition march 2nd 2015 - Volume XXI - UNIVERSITYOBSERVER.IE

welfare candidates louise keogh and clare o’connor address the fitzgerald chamber at hustings Photo: james brady

cian byrne and paul dockery face off in the C&C Officer elections

we examine the four candidates running for president

Page 5

Pages 6 & 7

election polls page 2 vox pops page 3 talleyrand page 10

Survey reveals low student awareness of elections Polls conducted by the University Observer of prospective voters in this week’s UCD Students’ Union elections show that a large proportion of voters were, at the end of last week, still unaware of the dates on which the election was to be held.

The poll, which was carried out on campus on Thursday, February 26th, and Friday, February 27th, revealed that 42% of students planning to vote were not aware of the date the elections were to be held on or gave inaccurate dates when asked. For students with no intention to vote, 81% were unaware of the election dates.

The poll, which was launched at the official hustings debate last Wednesday evening, took place after the postering run which is seen as

the traditional start of the canvassing season.

Turnout for UCDSU elections has been low the last two years. The 2013 elections which saw Michael Gallagher elected as President, had a total valid poll of 2,410, while last year’s elections had a lower total, at 2,256.

A sense of disengagement between the Union and students has been an important topic of discussion for all candidates in this year’s race.

All four Presidential candidates are calling for increased communication by the Union, and there is a hope among many candidates that the re-instatement of the Campaigns and Communications (C&C) Officer role will go some distance to bridg-

ing the gap between students and the Union.

The race for C&C Officer is being contested by Cian Byrne, stage three Engineering and current Engineering & Architecture Convenor, and Paul Dockery, second year Economics and Politics, class rep, and speakers’ officer for the Economics’ Society.

In interviews with the University Observer, both candidates expressed discontent with the Union’s engagement with students. Byrne, while defending the relevance and importance of Union services, has said that he thinks “it’s an absolute shame on behalf of the Union that everybody doesn’t know what’s going on there.” Dockery, his opponent, is of the same mindset. “The SU do a

watch interviews with the candidates on our facebook page follow the election on twitter: #execelect15 voting takes place across campus on March 3rd and 4th

lot, but the students on the ground don’t really notice it.”

The Campaigns and Communications position, which is set up with the goal of informing students of Union activities and organising students for political campaigns, was reinstated following the passage of the SU constitutional referendum last month. Run alongside the policy referendum on marriage equality, both passed with turnout over 3,000, a positive improvement compared to last year’s sabbatical elections.

Many are hoping that with all five sabbatical races contested, and four candidates competing for President, turnout may rise in this year’s elections.

A full list of polling locations is available at ucdsu.ie/elections.

Polling

ALL TO PLAY FOR AS MOST VOTERS UNDECIDED

President welfare education

The University Observer SU election poll has shown that most prospective voters remain undecided just days before the sabbatical officer elections. Undecided voters make up the majority in the races for Campaigns & Communications, Welfare and Education, as well as just over 40% of those voting in the Presidential race.

The Presidential race sees Michael Foley, polling highest, with 18.1% of voters. He is followed by Ag Soc auditor Marcus O Halloran, who is currently polling at 15.3%.

O Halloran is polling strongly is Agriculture, Food Science and Vet with 66% of voters supporting him and a further 25% undecided.

The chances for his success will be greatly aided by a improved turnout in his own faculty, as last year, just 36 students casts votes in Ag and 75 in Vet, while the potential electorate for both faculties was recently estimated at 2,326.

Cian Aherne is polling at 13%, while Megan Fanning is polling just behind at 11.6%. Just over 1% of those polled indicated they would

2 March 2nd 2015

vote to reopen nominations.

The high number of undecided voters in the race means it is unlikely that any candidate will achieve a majority on first count. All SU elections use a single transferable vote system, so candidates in the Presidential race will need to compete for second and third preference votes.

The race for Education Officer currently has the highest percentage of undecided voters, with over 60% yet to make a decision between Dannii Curtis and Sharon Ryan.

Ryan currently holds a narrow lead polling at 18.6% to Curtis’ 17.7%.

Voters are similarly undecided in the race between Cian Byrne and Paul Dockery for the newly reinstated Campaigns & Communications Officer role, with 56% yet to make up their mind. Byrne, the current Engineering & Architecture Convenor, is polling strongly strongly in that faculty, with 45% of voters expressing support, compared to 10% expressing support for Dockery.

Dockery, a second year Economics and Politics student and speakers

officer for the Economics society, is not keeping a competitive lead in his home faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, where he is polling 32% to Byrne’s 20%.

While another high amount of undecided voters (60%) make it difficult to predict, Clare O’Connor is leading this year’s race for Welfare Officer. The third year Neuroscience student is polling at 25.6% to second year English and Sociology student Louise Keogh’s 13.5%. Faculty turnout will be a deciding factor, as Keogh is polling ahead in Human Sciences and Business & Law, while O’Connor has comfortable leads in Science and Health Sciences.

Insufficient responses from postgraduate students have meant the University Observer is regrettably unable to publish results the poll conducted for the Graduate Officer race, which sees Sharath Jagaralapudi take on Hazel Beattie.

High proportions of undecided voters will put pressure on candidates and their campaign teams between now and close of polls on Wednesday evening.

campaigns and communications

polling methodology Polling was administered in person by staff of the University Observer. It began at UCDSU Hustings on Wednesday February 25th, and continued in all buildings across Belfield campus on Thursday February 26th, and Friday February 27th.

286 students were polled, with 49 indicating they would not vote, and 237 indicating they would.

Those 237 formed the basis for the electoral poll.

Students were polled from all faculties. To compensate for disproportionate response from certain faculties, 22 results were randomly removed to ensure that responses from all faculties were matched as

closely as possible with the proportions making up the total electorate.

Prospective voters were polled regarding their voting intentions for Graduate Officer, but insufficient response from postgraduate students means we are not able to publish results.

The final sample size used was 215 voters. With last year’s turnout for UCDSU elections at 2,256, sample size as a percentage was 9.5%.

It is as yet unclear whether a higher turnout can be expected in this year’s elections, as non-response bias to polling means it is difficult to ascertain how many students will refrain from casting their vote.

su elections

what do you want from your union? we asked the students of ucd what they want to see most from their election candidates

Karen Grimes, Science

Emily Murray, Veterinary Nursing

Michael Tolan, Science

“The SU could go about improving commuter services, and ensuring that they maintain the shuttle bus to the Dart Station and hopefully even making that free for those who get the train all the time.”

“If there was somewhere on campus near the buildings that showed the bus timetables so you can plan when you’re leaving. Also facilities for heating up for food, and more space to lock bikes.”

“I’d like to have a better understanding of what the Students’ Union does and how they influence UCD as a whole.”

Kevin Heavey, Economics and Finance

David Smith, Commerce

Roisin Hegarty, Electrical Engineering

“I’d like a candidate who is focused on the practical issues faced by students as opposed to someone with an eye on national politics. Someone focused on small changes that actually influence student life.”

“Ents is a big thing. I feel like other colleges have much better Ents systems. I was away last year in Vancouver and they’ve got a huge college party every weekend so there’s always something to do. It’s not just parties, they’ve a load of different activities and shows and arts events.”

“More general study space in the Engineering building so that we don’t have to use classrooms we’ll get kicked out of.”

what is ron? always offered, seldom chosen

In each of the sabbatical and convenor elections, regardless of the number of candidates running for the position, voters will have the option of choosing ‘RON’ or ‘Re-Open Nominations’. This, in essence, is a ‘none of the above’ option, so if none of the candidates meet with your approval, you can choose to vote for none of them in addition to your right to spoil your vote or abstain from voting in the first place.

For electoral purposes, the RON option is treated exactly as if it was a human candidate, so under the Single Transferable Vote system used by the Students’ Union, which is similar to that used in Irish general elections, you can choose to give RON your number one preference, or number two or so on for the number of candidates in the election. So, for example if you have a genuine choice for who you want to win an

election and if you would prefer to have nobody but your candidate get the job, you could give RON your number two preference.

If the RON option is ultimately deemed elected, the position remains unfilled, and the SU Returning Office will restart the nomination process for that position, thereby allowing new candidates to enter the election for that position. If any of this week’s elections return a RON

result, a second election would have to take place at a later date.

The RON system means that candidates who are uncontested must still convince voters to elect them rather than being entitled to take the position by default. In a year such as this with all races contested, the RON option still remains an important option available to voters The RON option was first introduced in 1998 and won its first

election against an uncontested Ents candidate, but has not been chosen since.

March 2nd 2015

Welfare taking care of business analysis

clare o’connor louise keogh Third year Neuroscience student Clare O’Connor is running her campaign with a focus on mental health awareness and services, proposals to address accommodation issues and changing the Union’s attitudes on drugs

Second year English and Sociology student Louise Keogh is running for Welfare officer with a plan for increased student engagement, better sexual health services and wider options for mental health services

When asked why she was running for Welfare Officer, third year Neuroscience student Clare O’Connor points to her desire to make a difference. “I understand how tough life can be for students in UCD, and I really just want to help them and support them through their time here” O’Connor’s prior experience includes time as a class rep and a peer mentor, and work with UCD Ents.

To her, each experience showcases a different ability. While the Ents role taught her “how to engage students and how not to engage them”, the others saw her deal with personal cases of students seeking assistance and referring them to the right supports. As she sees it, “as a Welfare Officer your role is to point (people seeking help) in the right direction”.

O’Connor wants to build on Maeve DeSay’s work by spreading awareness of it. “Maeve has done an absolutely incredible job, people have a lot of respect for Maeve, but I think just in terms of engaging the general student population, and focusing on issues that your everyday student has to deal with, I think that’s the most important thing.”

Mental health is frequently discussed by O’Connor, who has publicly spoken of her own experience of mental health difficulties. While she is eager to continue awareness raising campaigns, she also makes concrete proposals on what the Union can do to alleviate long waiting lists for UCD’s own counselling service, including working with off-campus services such as Aware

In her two years in UCD, Louise Keogh believes it is the experience she has acquired in this time that gives her the advantage as a candidate for Welfare Officer.

Keogh is the current auditor of the LGBTQ+ society, a Peer Mentor and has worked as BA Engagement Volunteer, all of which have helped her to develop a keen interest in welfare issues.

Keogh believes that a higher level of student involvement in welfare activities is central to the role, and is determined to make it happen through the greater involvement of UCD’s societies in welfare events. “Maeve ran really good events this year but I would like to have better turnouts, so I would get clubs and societies involved,” says Keogh. “I would either get them to advertise or I would run the event with them, so it would be better attended and reach the wider student population.”

Keogh would also like to offer a revitalised “Let’s Talk about Sex” week (building on this year’s Sex Out Loud) with the help of LGBTQ+ and other societies, with many more activities and talks available to students as a result.

She believes that student life could also be improved with a campuswide Buddy system to help students join and attend society events.

The physical welfare of students is also taken care of with Keogh hoping to offer free STI checks twice a year on campus, and more often in future. “For the first year of testing we would only be doing

4 March 2nd 2015

and promoting affordable counselling options in nearby areas.

The accommodation crisis faced by students in Dublin has been on the agenda for many candidates contesting the elections, and O’Connor shares the pragmatic attitude other candidates hold. “I think I have to be realistic about it, I’m not going to solve the entire accommodation crisis in a year.” O’Connor has listed steps she will take to alleviate problems faceby students. “My idea was to create a database of all accommodation along UCD bus routes, and then have an accommodation stand in the orientation and freshers’ tent.”

On drug awareness, O’Connor wants to see a change in attitude by the Union and believes the issue hasn’t been discussed sufficently by the Union. She plans to set up campus-wide alerts regarding dangerous drugs and educate stuents.

“I just want to educate people so they can make an informed decision themselves. It’s not going to be completely anti-drugs. We have to be realistic here, students are going to do drugs. I think it’s just about raising awareness.”

O’Connor hopes to reinstate SHAG (sexual health awareness and guidance) week, which was replaced this year by the more consentfocused Sex Out Loud campaign.

When asked about the differences between the two, O’Connor says they are largely “the same thing except with a different name” and that the idea is from “entirely a branding point of view.”

chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing because it’s much easier, quicker and cost effective.” She hopes to involve St James’ Hospital’s volunteers to provide this service to students so that they can skip the €70 GP cost for the same tests.

Mental as well as physical health is also very important to Keogh.She has hopes to bring the depression support group Aware on campus to offer group support sessions to students, which will help alleviate Counselling Service waiting lists.

“This would give students more of a chance to go to a counselling service and give them a different option than waiting in the waiting list. I have been in contact with Aware and they are very on board... I think that bringing in Aware would reform and change the services in UCD because they would be then UCD support.”

Following the constitutional change in the role of Welfare Officer which removes Equality from the title, Keogh is hopeful that she will have more time to deal with personal cases. Though aware that the role of Welfare Officer is not technically a support service, she says “Any student who comes up to me who feels that they are struggling in college and who needs to talk to a professional, I will refer them on to a counselling service immediately. And obviously I’d be there if they didn’t want to go to a professional and they just want to come in and have a chat with a cup of tea.”

The work carried out by UCDSU’s Welfare Officer is arguably the most important (and demanding) done by any student representative on campus. The role has always been able to provide support to some of the most vulnerable students on campus, from those with mental health difficulties to those struggling financially. In a time of increased financial strain on people of all classes and ever-growing cuts to student resources, the role is as vital as it has ever been.

The general consensus from both candidates, as well as the student body, is that incumbent Welfare Officer Maeve DeSay has set a high standard in terms of providing support to students and creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere for students who need it. While both Keogh and O’Connor argue that there needs to be increased visibility of the Union’s activities across campus (which is of course an undeniable fact), that’s not an issue confined to this race. Both are aware that the SU’s new constitution has removed equality issues from the Welfare Officer’s mandate, and are positive about establishing a working relationship with the new C&C Officer.

Both candidates make calls for valuable campaigns that should be implemented, regardless of who ultimately wins. Keogh’s planned ‘Watch Your Mouth’ campaign on calling out homophobic and racist language is sensible, practical, and well-needed (O’Connor cited this campaign as one she was particularly impressed by when asked at Hustings). O’Connor’s call for drug awareness campaigns is progressive and, as she points out, timely in the wake of three UCD students being hospitalised last May after taking dangerous drugs.

Keogh’s experience at the helm of LGBTQ+ Society, along with her extensive campaign work for marriage equality, shows her aptitude for leadership and student engagement. O’Connor’s focus on mental health will appeal to many, and her willingness to open up about her own issues should persuade many of her dedication to tackling stigma.

That said, Keogh is an equally strong candidate on those issues, as her work with Please Talk volunteer and her ASIST training show. Both candidates have effectively identical solutions to tackling Counselling Service waiting lists.

The race will prove difficult to predict.

campaigns & Communications lost in translation analysis

“If you want something done, you have to go do it yourself,” and “the role is very different when you get into the job,” were two phrases used to describe the role of the Campaigns & Communications Officer (C&C) within UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) by Paddy Guiney, the last person to hold the position before it was abolished in 2012-2013.

These are key quotes that voters should keep in their minds when deciding to choose between Paul Dockery and Cian Byrne. Experience (or lack thereof), may urge caution among voters, with both only becoming involved in the Union this year. Dockery is a class rep for Politics, while Byrne is a Convenor for Architecture and Engineering.

Dockery and Byrne both emphasise how the C&C role is slightly different to the other Sabbatical Officers. They each see it as a role which gets out around campus to meet with students and inform them of what is going on, particularly in relation to Byrne. It should be recalled that as part of the 2012 C&C election, all four candidates threw out the same lines about getting students more involved in the Union. It is imperative that students hold the winner of this election to his promise for a better line of communication between the Union and students.

One could divide the candidates as Dockery for Campaigns and Byrne for Communications. Dockery appears to be more concerned with the upcoming general election, which is understandable, given his membership of Young Fine Gael.

Nevertheless, his understanding of politics would be of benefit in tackling the issue.

Byrne seems to have the advantage when it comes to campus based issues, and speaks enthusiastically about engaging students at campus level. He appears to follow the idea that greater student involvement will lead to UCDSU being able to do a better job in whatever issues it is tackling.

Neither candidate has a clear idea on how to tackle the rising students fees, just that they must be reduced. This could prove to be problem point, with time running out for a clear plan to be devised and implemented by the Union for the upcoming general election.

Students will be asked to decide on two candidates with somewhat contrasting styles.

cian byrne

paul dockery

Cian Byrne is pitching himself as an approachable and engaging candidate, who will be the face of the Union’s efforts to reconnect with disengaged students

Paul Dockery’s campaign for the newly reinstated C&C position shows him as a politically minded candidate eager to represent students nationally and on campus

Cian Byrne is one of two candidates running for the position Campaigns and Communications Officer, which is making a return to the UCDSU only two years on from its abolition. Stressing that “Campaigns and Communications is really what you make of it”, Byrne intends to make the position a high profile figure among UCD students.

The Engineering student cited poor student awareness of the ‘unbelievable’ events and services of the Students Union as a chief factor for launching his campaign. Indeed Byrne, who ran for Engineering and Architecture Convenor on the recommendation of his predecessor, was only himself made aware of these services when he was elected.

“I think it’s an absolute shame on behalf of the Union that everybody doesn’t know what’s going on there”, Byrne declared, “I want to be that voice, I want to bring it to the masses”.

It is clear that Byrne believes he is capable of improving student awareness and participation with their Union. He cites the work of the previous C&C Officers and the presence they held on campus as a model to follow, saying that “whether you liked them, loved them or hated them; you knew about them” and stresses the importance of maintaining an active identity on campus, not merely relying on a virtual media to engage with students and he is prepared to try something a little different to achieve this.

AS regards his role in campaigns, Byrne emphasised that his task would be to articulating the views of the student body and by looking into what policy is best for them. He signalled his intention to continue

Paul Dockery, a second year Economics and Politics student and current class rep, has said that he has seen the “massive amount of work” that UCDSU does since he got involved with them this year.

He believes that the “SU do a lot, but the students on the ground don’t really notice it.”

Dockery’s main idea for improving communication on campus centres around the roles of class reps and Convenors. Speaking from experience, he said that being a class rep is “very beneficial” and would encourage students to consider becoming one, while expressing concern over the number of vacancies for the position which are not filled each year.

Dockery admitted that he does not have as much campaign experience as other candidates, but believes his involvement in the voter registration drive in November and experience as a campaign leader for the “YES” side in UCDSU’s recent constitutional referendum, has given him the knowledge to handle the role of C&C Officer. During his role in the latter campaign, he said that he noticed that “people didn’t really know what the Union is about.”

Looking at national issues, Dockery would have no problem running a campaign for either side in the referendum to re-affiliate with USI, and would be willing to work alongside it on national campaigns.

He accepted the viewpoint that his ideas for national campaigns may be distorted by next year’s general election. However, he reaffirmed his position that he wanted to see a Students’ Union with “strong links” to the student body in UCD before national campaigns were discussed.

improving the relationship with the UCD Residences and also hopes to create a strong working relationship to the Campaigns Forum and add “one more voice, one more opinion” to the dialogue. While confessing to having not yet formed a stance of the re-affiliate to USI campaign, he assured that “if a mandate was to pop up that I was never to agree with, that’s my own personal issue; as C&C officer I would do everything in my power to push it”.

Byrne was more outspoken on the issue of third-level fees. He said, ‘I don’t have the perfect answer and I don’t believe any one person does’ but he sees the scheduled increase of student fees to €3,000 as a ‘breaking point’ and a trend that cannot continue. Citing the upcoming release of a report into the subject, Byrne advocated the examination of different models of paying fees and the importance of opening dialogue with both students and the relevant bodies in the run-up to the forthcoming general election.

Without committing to saying whether this issue has been neglected by the SU, Byrne again returned to the lack of awareness fostered among students. He asserted that his strengths lie in communications and emphasised the need to engage students on these issues from the very beginning of their UCD experience and to maintain this level going forward. “[I] can’t try to get 3,000 students to come to campaign or vote in referendum if they’re not engaged beforehand”. In order to achieve this, Byrne is prepared to take steps such as introducing clinics in faculty buildings and posting videos online.

Identifying road safety as an area to be addressed with a campus-based campaign, Dockery said he would look at running “Road Safety Awareness Week.” However, he admitted that he cannot not drive.

On accommodation, Dockery would look at running a Dublin based campaign with other student groups, given how the accommodation crisis has hit students in the capital the hardest. He also said he would look at lobbying for the return of Section 50 of the Finance Act 1999, which provides rent relief to landlords who rent their properties to students. Calls for its re-introduction by UCDSU to have it re-instated in last year’s budget fell on deaf ears.

Calling the upcoming general election a “really, really critical one for students,” he proposes to hold an inter-party debate on campus, and would invite the spokespersons for Education among the political parties to take part. Dockery revealed that he is “very, very loosely affiliated with Young Fine Gael.” He said that he does not think it would influence his role as C&C Officer and maintained he was a “student before anything else.” He also promised that if elected, he will not campaign for Fine Gael in the next general election. Regarding fees, he said that he does not know what the “ideal level of fees are,” but that it is “lower than what it is now,” describing the current level of €2,750 as “way too much.” He would work to bring down the Student Contribution Charge over a period of 4 or 5 years, by encouraging his potential successor to continue the campaign.

March 2nd 2015

Presidential candidates cian aherne

megan fanning

michael fole

Cian Aherne is stepping up to the plate as a candidate for President, and is campaigning on a range of issues big and small

Economics Society auditor Megan Fanning is hoping to use her potential tenure as President to tackle sexual assault on campus and increase links between societies and the Union

Former L&H treasurer Michael Foley is billing in the race. His ideas, from improving commut Ents show a modest, pragmatic approach to the

Cian Aherne is a Third Year Actuarial and Financial Studies student running for the position of next President of the UCD Students’ Union. In terms of reasons for putting himself forward for election, Aherne notes that “I’ve gained a wealth of experience in different societies, sports clubs, and in the Student’s Union itself. I recognize what doesn’t work and what students want to see come in and I really want to be the person to lead that change.”

Aherne’s experience includes being on the Executive Committee for five societies, and he is the Deputy Auditor for both the Juggling and Indian Societies. He is also a Class Rep for Actuaries Stage 1 and 2 and is adamant that it is important to “make the Union more visible and make the work we do more visible so students can see what the Union has done for them.”

It is safe to say one of the main platforms of Aherne’s campaign concerns the changing of social life in UCD, and the re-location of the UCD Ball is high on his agenda. “Bringing the ball back to campus is an achievable goal with the after-show report from last year showing no incidents as far as I’m aware.” His manifesto calls for ‘microwaves and kettles in every building’, ‘phone charging stations in social spaces around campus’, and an attempt to ‘keep prices reasonable in the bar.’ On the latter he notes, “I don’t think any student in UCD is content with the current prices” but that “I don’t think the SU input to the bar is sufficient to achieve great change, it’ll be more [a case of] lobbying to not have price hikes.”

Issues with accommodation form another aspect of Aherne’s presidential bid. “Students residing on campus aren’t treated as though they’re in 6 March 2nd 2015

their own home yet that’s exactly what should happen.” Mental health is another issue that many students feel should be at the forefront of the Union’s plans for the next academic year.

Aherne opines that “the service we provide here [at UCD] is not adequate and not enough to cater for the students and that annoys me no end.” He is cautious however and doesn’t wish to be drawn into promising things that aren’t reasonably achievable in one year. “I really want to stay away from promises that are slightly unrealistic and bringing in more councillors is probably not something that is going to happen [for financial reasons].”

Aherne lost out in last year’s race for Welfare officer, and he acknowledges, “If I’m being completely honest, running for welfare last year was a decision taken a bit naively. I was very passionate about working for welfare, I still am, but in terms of the experience I had back then I wasn’t adequately prepared and my focus has completely changed over the past year.”

Aherne’s manifesto is quite optimistic in terms of the amount of things he wishes to achieve if elected President, but he asserts that “It would be irresponsible not to at least try and achieve what students are looking for from their Union.”

The South Dublin native admits that he lacks real experience in business acumen, however he remarks that he is in “a very demanding course and on many societies so I’m well able to manage my time.”

What ranks him above the other candidates?, Aherne maintains “I have such a diverse range of interests and leadership experience, maybe not on the same scale individually [as the other candidates] but my collective experience probably even trumps theirs.”

Megan Fanning, as a second year, has spent the least time in the University of the four candidates. Yet in the year and a half spent in Belfield, she’s been heavily involved in student life, as a the founding auditor of the Economics Society and secretary of Young Fine Gael (Fanning is also a former news editor of this newspaper, having resigned early this year).

Her manifesto makes frequent reference to engagement between the Union and societies, and her experience was also an important motivating factor in her candidacy. As she says, “Having been involved in so many different societies, I’ve been able to see the impact they’ve had on the student body.”

Fanning, when is asked about her political allegiance’s potential impact on her work as president, is keen to stress that it will not be an influence. “I wouldn’t let my political beliefs affect my union activities at all”, she says, also pointing to Young Fine Gael’s frequent dissent from the national party line. She has promised that if elected she will not campaign on behalf of the party ahead of the anticipated 2016 general election.

While her involvement with the youth political group is one of the first things she mentions in interview, it is not mentioned in her manifesto, something she was unaware of at the time of the interview. No explanation is offered, and though she did edit her manifesto, she adds that “my campaign manager made the final call.”

She “has no qualms about being a Young Fine Gael member”, but clarifies that the “Union is my priority.”

Reading Fanning’s manifesto, its clear that her campaign is focused on outlining the issues that matter her as opposed to making promises. As she says, “I wasn’t going to be put any-

thing in my manifesto that I couldn’t guarantee that I could achieve.”

Despite this, many of her proposals are highly practical. In terms of tackling accommodation issues, she is realistic on what the Union can do.

Her proposal is for a Union subcommittee for accommodation to advise students on housing issues.

While an important issue to both Welfare Officer candidates, Fanning is the only Presidential candidate to address issues of sexual assault on campus. She points to a study conducted in Trinity College Dublin that showed that one in four female students experience sexual assault, and calls for a “Zero Tolerance Campaign”. Modelled on a similar initiative by Cambridge Union, it will be a long-term campaign and to Fanning, its main point is “to make people know that its not okay to feel unsafe in your own learning environment.”

In terms of the ongoing debate on university fees in Ireland, Fanning believes that a new preferendum put to students is the best way to set SU policy on the issue, and hopes that the newly appointed Campaigns & Communications officer will work to improve vote turnout.

Fanning’s background in societies is the an integral part of her candidacy.

Not only is it her main experience, having not held a Union position, but many of her proposals call for a closer integration of the Union and Societies. She points to UK universities, where societies and students’ unions work closely together and wants the Union to help smaller societies. While all presidential candidates, bar Cian Aherne, are relative outsiders to the Union, she believes her experience will stand to her. “I’m coming with a fresh perspective, and I’m coming in with a new outlook on the Union.”

Foley is a fourth year Business and Law student who espouses himself as the “oldest and most experienced in the presidential race”. Foley attributes his motivation for running to his time around UCD and UCD student services, for over the three and a half years. “I’ve seen the good, the bad and everything in between. As a fourth year student I’ve kind of gotten to the stage where I can identify what needs to be done as someone who’s willing to be critical of the Union I should be someone who’s willing to try make a positive change with it.” In particular outlining his strongest suit as the ability to manage the fiscal and financial responsibilities the role as UCDSU President will entail.

Foley iterates his previous experience as L&H Treasurer as one of the most valuable presidential tools considering the UCDSU’s past crisis and financial accountability. Despite this and the issues of grant applications within his 2012/2013 session as L&H Treasurer, Foley believes ultimately “the loss for the year over all had been particularly minor when considering the level of activity we witnessed.”

Foley centres his poster campaign goals around that of transport infrastructure, improvement to food accessibility and sports facilities, entertainment and that of mental health services on campus. Highlighting such issues as rising fees and accommodation shortages as solvable through an alternative small-base approach iterating that “there’s nothing the SU can do overnight to fix that. However, if you read the manifesto a lot of my ideas are effectively practical project based ways we can improve our work for students.”

In addressing accommodation, Foley endorses more viable commuting options for students including shuttle

Presidential candidates

ey

marcus o’halloran

g himself as the most experienced candidate ter access to the University and improving e Union

buses to Dart and Luas locations. Also advocating in terms of UCD Residences, a balance between a first come first serve and needs basis of accomodation allocation. Foley makes the promise of procuring a Halal food facility for the growing Islamic community on campus. He describe a population of 700 students on campus who cannot eat on campus,resulting in Islamic students “selling meat out of their backpack to each other on the basis that it’s the only way they can have food that they know is Halal safe on campus.”

Another driving factor in Foley’s campaign is that of the UCD Ents Ball and returning the event to UCD campus. Foley attributes the unsuccessful occasion to a lack of festival atmosphere and issue of venue. Predicting “the way I see it, being perfectly blunt about it, if the ball does not come back onto campus this year, it will not come back on campus as a 5,000 person gig in the foreseeable future.” Pursuant to this is Foley’s movement towards sports facility upgrades where “right now UCD Sports clubs and Societies are operating at the highest national level and international level. Despite this, UCD as the largest university in Ireland still has sports facilities that can be seen as akin to some secondary schools.”

Such improvements to UCD makes one wonder whether such proposals and canvassing for change is financially plausible? However Foley views the financial aspect, despite significant, as subservient to the needs of students “I see myself as more of an issue-focused candidate, where within the manifesto everything I have is very much project-based with solutions worked out, achievable at some level.

I want to be able to go through the year and tick items off that list.”

With a strong following in his home faculty, Marcus O’Halloran is promising to get students engaged with the Union and lobby in support of students on a range of issues

Ag Society auditor Marcus O’Halloran wants to see the Union back at the centre of student life.

“My biggest reason for running is I feel that a lot of the issues in the college come from this lack of interaction. My biggest aim would be get that interaction going again and make people feel that this is their college and their Union.”

The fourth year Agri-Business student is keen to highlight his success with the society, with his session having raised €30,000 for Pieta House during its Ag Week Fundrasing.

O’Halloran presents his tenure as auditor as one that saw the society rebuild its reputation and engage with students much more than before. “It hadn’t got a great name and we set about improving that.”

This was achieved by focusing on the society’s management. “We said we’d run it like a business.

There was zero tolerance. Things had to be done, budgets had to be cut. That’s why we’re such a strong position now.”

To O’Halloran, disengagement from the Union works both ways.

“People don’t know what’s going on in the Union. That’s not solely the Union’s fault. A lot of people don’t want to know what’s going on in the Union. With more interaction with students, they’ll see its their Union and want to be a part of it.”

Many of the issues O’Halloran tackles in his manifesto are based on conversations he’s had with students in his own faculty. He’s spoken to students who feel that the Maths Support Centre is not up to scratch. He wants to campaign for more money to be put towards the Support Centre to hire postgraduate students as tutors around exam

times and to guarantee that support is available to students from all faculties studying statistics.

He is also the only candidate to address access issues, specifically the DARE scheme, which supports disabled students in coming to university. “It needs to up its game. I’ve spoken to a few students in the scheme and they’re not happy with it.” When asked he was not able to name the Disability Coordinator for the Students’ Union (Sinead Gaughan) and had not met her at the time of interview, though said it was “on the agenda.”

Like rival candidate Michael Foley, he wants to see a shuttle bus from the Luas to UCD to improve accommodation offices.

Engaging further with students on residences is a priority, though O’Halloran has no strong opinion on the Res Rights campaign. “I didn’t really have much of an opinion on it to be honest.” As for his thoughts on the license to reside, he declined to answer at the time of interview, saying that he didn’t feel prepared to address it.

Another issue rooted in speaking to students is his support for Nurses undertaking work experience. “I have a lot of friends and family coming from Nursing in UCD and I’ve always heard of the different difficulties they have.

You always hear about how tough it is, how long the hours are, and how little they make doing it.”

This situation he finds “hard to stomach”, particularly when other students on work placements receive better wages.

this is what winning looks like analysis No single candidate in this year’s presidential race is the obvious one to vote for. The most widely contested election for President in many years, there is, as is to be expected, substantial overlap between the candidates. Ask all four of this year’s candidates for UCDSU President about the state of the Union, and you will get essentially the same answer.

While incorporation, restructuring and a strong team of administrative staff have put it in a far more stable position than it has been, the Union is not engaged with students.

All four say that incumbent President Feargal Hynes has given a solid performance in the role, though some add that he has done that work “modestly” and “quietly”. Only Aherne makes a direct criticism, feeling that Hynes made unnecessary concessions to the University when campaigning for improvements to the Counselling Service.

Similarly, Aherne, Foley and Fanning feel that the removal of UCDSU’s General Manager role was sensible and necessary, though Aherne criticises the Union for the lack of publicity around the decision. Only O’Halloran has said that he would consider reinstating the position.

Each candidate feels their work with societies is their main experience, and only one, class rep Cian Aherne, has been involved with the Union directly. Proposals for improved access for commuters through shuttle buses for commuters are shared by Foley and O’Halloran, while Aherne and Foley both call for more student kitchen areas across campus to allow student to heat prepared meals.

Fanning is unique in presenting herself largely in terms of her priorities and not her policies. The other three candidates offer voters a list of policies that they can choose based on their desirability, and more importantly, feasibility.

As in all races, the winning candidate would do well to learn from the proposals of their rivals.

Fanning’s proposal for a campuswide “Zero Tolerance” campaign on sexual assault is laudable, and its to her advantage that the issue is not mentioned by any other candidate.

O’Halloran’s support for nursing students is unique to his manifesto, but shows an awareness of a student group that the Union can help. Foley’s best unique policy is a plan to lobby for improved sports facilities on campus, something that is ever more needed as the facilities in place are of declining standards.

These policies should be implemented regardless of who is elected in the end.

Some of the big ticket items on candidate’s manifestos may not have the impact they hope for.

Fanning’s push for a closer collaboration between the Union and societies will have only a niche appeal, and there’s never been any indication from either sides before that there is any interest in working together. Similarly, her planned “Re-open Day”, which would allow students to bring family members along to a UCD event, is targeted at postgraduates for unclear reasons.

In interview Fanning points to the number of postgraduate students with families, but does not know how UCD’s mature student population is divided between undergraduates and postgraduates.

O’Halloran’s plan to bring Rag Week back to campus could not have been announced at a worse time. Rag Week events, which in theory are focused on charitable fundraising, have long been associated with increased incidences of binge drinking and anti-social behaviour among students. This year alone Rag Week events have led to the arrests of six student in Waterford and been linked with the death of a student in Galway. Given that similar charity events are run across campus still (not least Ag Week, which was run to great success by O’Halloran’s Ag Soc this year), it’s not yet clear if the proposal will hold any appeal to voters.

In Foley’s campaign video, he says that while he will work to get more staff for the UCD Counselling Service, he will also try to shorten waiting lists by providing “time management and financial management” workshops. Compared to the well-informed proposals of both Welfare candidates, Foley’s businesssavvy mindset does not show a clear understanding of a crisis in mental health affecting students.

Aherne is calling for lowered prices in SU Shops and in the Clubhouse bar, both of which would be desirable, but will require a lot to persuade voters of their feasibility.

Until we see that, they seem more like a candidate telling students what they want to hear.

No candidate, bar O’Halloran, has an obvious voter base, with their experience spread over several societies. O’Halloran will still have to work to win over other faculties entirely unfamiliar with his work, or else will poll high initially and lose out on transfer votes.

March 2nd 2015

Education

Dannii curtis

sharon ryan

Graduand Dannii Curtis is contesting the race for Education Officer with personal insight into the role the position holds in helping students make it through third level education successfully

Medicine Student Sharon Ryan believes that her five years in UCD has given her a real insight to the issues facing students and a knowledge which will help her succeed as Education Officer is elected

another brick in the wall analysis

Described as ‘inhumanely organised’ by her friends, Dannii Curtis, a Graduand of BA Politics and International Relations, believes her experience over the past five years in UCD is what separates her from the other candidate. Involvement in societies (such as the Arts and Law Societies), the Students’ Union and her own personal experiences in UCD, are what she claims will set her apart.

Curtis’ personal circumstances within UCD appears as a driving force in her decision to run. Crediting the actions of the Education and Welfare officer for being a source of support for her, Curtis explained that they were the ‘reason why [she’s] still in UCD.’ Curtis has spent four and a half years in UCD and she claims that this has given her the opportunity to see the education system in UCD from various different perspectives, which would further strengthen her campaign.

Curtis had focused on campus issues. A key component for every Education officer has been providing employment opportunities. Curtis wants to address this by hosting ‘Life Skills’ workshops throughout campus to make students more ‘well-rounded graduates.’ Basic Language Skills and Introduction to Coding are some of the possible topics. Though workshops are a fairly generic promise for any Sabbatical candidate, Curtis appears passionate about using them to improve student experiences.

Welfare in education is a key aspect of in Curtis’ campaign. As Please Talk’s events co-ordinator, 8 March 2nd 2015

Curtis has already shown that she has the ability and the knowledge to deal with mental health issues. She stated that her ‘personal understanding of the Educational role and the Welfare role is that they are intrinsically linked’ and that ‘you cannot have a student who performs well in their education unless they look after their mental health and well-being.’

This is further connected with her aim to make the Education role more visible on campus. One of the promises in Curtis’ manifesto is to open up a space on campus away from the Union as ‘a lot of students in UCD don’t know where the students’ union is and that’s an issue in itself.’ She hopes that this move would bring the Union ‘closer to campus.’

Curtis explained the absence of any national points in her manifesto was that ‘Until the time happens in education next year, I can’t tell what the issues are going to be.’

However she claims that when the time comes she will be capable of fighting on student issues due to her own experience running campaigns within UCD. Curtis does outline some strong ideas, and has the experience to see them through. Her campaign is focused on campus issues only and it is clear Curtis hopes to make the Education officer more accessible to the student population. Yet how she hopes to deal with more general student issues is unclear. Concerns such as fees and SUSI grants will be dealt with when they arise and not prevented beforehand.

Fifth year Medicine student Sharon Ryan believes the five years she has spent in UCD have given her insight into students who ‘are coming up to graduation and they are becoming disenchanted with their career prospects’ a problem she plans to actively combat if she were to be elected.

With no previous involvement with the Union Ryan believes this is an aspect of her campaign that is to her advantage. “I think because I haven’t been involved with the union I am more aware of how many students aren’t fully engaged with the union.

Ryan believes that working with the new C&C officer can help drive awareness to the work of the Education Officer and other Sabbatical Officers. She also highlights the integral role class reps can play in bridging what some can see as a barrier between students and the Union. Ryan hopes to establish clinics throughout campus which will bring the Union to the students.

“I think if you have a clinic in the arts block on a Monday and it is a regular thing people will become more aware of it.”

While she plans to expand on the Skills for Life programme, Ryan also plans to promote academic research with undergraduate students. Her Undergraduate Research Conference will allow students to showcase research and network with future employers. According to Ryan research methods are something ‘that is lacking in university and many people only see it when they start their thesis in final year’.

A proposal for a 24 hour library is

a significant aspect of Ryan’s plans for next year. Ryan, who envisions the library opening 24 hours towards the end of each semester, explains that now may be a feasible time to see traction on a campaign promise that has been made numerous times before. “There is a library review happening at the moment, they only happens every seven years and I feel it is good time to get it done.”

Having spoken to library staff, she explains ensuring security for students may be the largest stumbling block to overcome.

The knock on effect surrounding the failing exams is an issue which Ryan is trying to tackle.

She proposes the rolling out of ‘Mid Semester Repeats’, a concept being trialed in Law this midterm.

This would see students repeating subjects during the two weeks off ‘when classrooms and lecture halls are free’. While Ryan is unaware if this idea is already being considered

by Registry, she is determined it will benefit students and will lobby for it, conceding that summer exams are an idea that is not visible in near future of UCD. Aware that SUSI and fees were a major issue for Amy Fox this year Ryan plans to open a clear line of communication between UCD and SUSI as early as possible next year.

In terms of the student contribution fee Ryan is extremely realistic stating “I feel that keeping a cap at the current level is a good solution but I think €3000 is still quiet high.

But in terms of what is likely to be achievable we are not going to get it decreased.”

The race for Education Officer in this years Students’ Union Elections will be one which is fought on credentials and will see two strong candidates pitted against each other. Both Dannii Curtis and Sharon Ryan have based their campaigns around a personal back story which they claim is spurring them on to implement change in the establishment that is the UCD Students’ Union.

For Curtis compeleting her degree over five and half years with the support of both the Education and Welfare officers is claimed to have given her immense insight in to how the role can assist students.

For Ryan a similar enough story, of seeing students in her five years at UCD become disenchanted with their degrees, is driving her to ensure students have an office they can come to and discuss their issues.

Both candidates are fully aware of a disconnect between the Students’ Union as a whole and students. Both have set out plans to bring the union to the people by holding clinics and events regularly throughout campus. The inclusion of more ‘skills workshops’ and ‘career events’ seem mandatory in all manifestos now-a-days but no significant or original ideas are shared.

Stepping slightly outside the box is Ryan with her Undergraduate Research Conference which will be aim to encourage more interaction with research across campus.

Ryan also makes the unique pledge of ‘Mid Semester Repeats’ an idea which sounds great but when quizzed further on her idea it is evident that much more work and research is needed.

Welfare for both candidates is something which is acknowledged as vitally important to the role. As is an understanding of fees and the grant system and issue which monopolised a large part of Amy Fox’s time in office this year. Both Curtis and Ryan are adamant that maintaining the connections already built with SUSI and furthering this relation will be vital to the role.

On paper both Ryan and Curtis have singled very strong yet similar platforms to run on. Voting will come down to students opinion on who wants the position that bit more and who can carry on the work of Fox the best.

graduate the key to smurfit analysis The position of Graduate Officer is still a relatively new one on the SU corridor. With outgoing Graduate Officer Anabel Castañeda having made distinct strives in establishing the position as one which has seen great engagement with students this year, Sharath Jagalapudi and Hazel Beattie has large shoes to fill if they do not wish to see the work Castañeda undone.

If both candidates live up to the promises made in their manifestos this should not be the case, as they set out solid plans for the formation of a more uniformed graduate student body across both the Belfield and Smurfit campuses.

Jagalapudi plans to establish a Smurfit convenor who will help to asist the delivery of his messages and act as a middle person when he is not on the campus. This seems like a logical step that could increase not only interaction with the Graduate Officer but the entire Students’ Union. Beattie plans to work on the model set out by Castañeda set up office in Smurfit two days a week which seems to be favoured by students who according Beattie are well looked after by the staff in smurfit.

A key change in the job description of Graduate Officer is the inclusion of welfare under the mandate of the office. This seems a very logical move for students in the university who will face different challenges during there time in UCD compared to their undergraduate counterparts. In this aspect Beattie strides ahead with a clear understanding of the tasks that will face her if she were to take office.

Availing of the many initiatives set up by current Welfare Officer Maeve De Say, Beattie is ASIST and Safe Talk trained. While Jagalapudi is aware of the challenges that will face him in the office, on paper his qualifications on this aspect of the race do not measure up.

Library Services and study spaces will prove a contenious issue for who ever wins this race during their term in office. While both candidates weigh in on the ongoing PRC debate both go no further than saying that more study spaces are needed across both campuses and that they will work to find them.

Overall this race will come down to graduate students picking between a candidate that on paper combnes welfare and education and one who aims to bring his previous union experience into play to make changes in education standards.

sharath jagarlapudi

hazel beattie

Greater integration between Smurfit and the Belfield campus and increased study spaces for postgraduates are core concerns for Sharath Jagarlapudi

With the position of Graduate officer having made huge strides this year Hazel Beattie believes if elected she can help spread the reach of the office and combat key issues faced by Post Graduate students

Sharath Jagarlapudi is currently pursuing his Masters in Mechanical Engineering Research, and is hoping to bring prior experience with students’ union to the Graduate Officer role. “I’ve been a part of students’ unions in my undergraduate and past postgraduate college, and I’ve seen how university students’ unions run and have seen a lot of changes that could be implemented’.

As the Graduate Officer role now deals with welfare issues too, all candidates in the race will have to show an understanding of the issues that affect postgraduate students.

“One of the major causes of concern for any student, especially a graduate student is their future career prospects.” Jagarlapudi feels that his research work has helped him interact with a lot of PHD and postgrad students and I know what they are actually looking for.”

Multiple candidates, not only in the Graduate race, have raised concerns about library and research space for postgraduate students.

Jagarlapudi wants “more spaces for postgrad scholars and dedicated workspaces for them, as they require a lot of calm and peace.”

The ongoing campaign to prevent the Postrgraduate Research Centre from being opened up to postgraduates of all faculties (up until this year space was reserved for Arts & Human Sciences students) is an issue all candidates have addressed.

Jagarlapudi believes that the space should be open to all, but that Arts & Human Sciences students should receive priority when seeking to use

Currently doing a HDip in Social Policy, Hazel Beattie is determined to ensure that postgraduate students in UCD receive the support and help they need to successfully transition through college. For Beattie, involvement with the Union only began after her undergraduate degree which she says ‘shows people you don’t have to be involved with it in undergrad to enjoy it in postgrad’.

For Beattie an unpleasant undergraduate degree which she says made her ‘feel lonely and hate every minute of’ spurred her on to ensure no one experienced these feelings at a postgraduate level.

Beattie is fully aware of the increased responsibility that the new Graduate Officer will face now that they are responsible for the welfare of post graduate students following the introduction of the new constitution. Beattie highlights the fact she is Safe Talk and ASIST trained and believes her time as class rep has given her opportunities to deal with the personal cases of students.

For Beattie ‘education and welfare go hand in hand’ and for success in both you must work to create a healthy balance. She also feels this change in role is a right move for the union stating that the ‘new Welfare officer will be an undergraduate student’ and will not be fully aware of all the issues that face postgrads.

To ensure Postgrads have an easy transition in to university Beattie believes induction needs to happen much earlier than it did this year.

She believes modules should be set up to introduce students to post

the space (The Facebook page for the “Save Our PRC” campaign has called on voters to support his rival candidate Hazel Beattie).

Jagarlapdudi has tried to engage with the UCD libraries already, but received little response. “They are not really ready to help me, but I’m sure they will be more willing to help me if I get into the post.”

International students are another focus of his campaign. He wants to establish language workshops for students whose first language isn’t English and provide incoming international students social space to welcome them to the University.

From a social events perspective, Jagalapudi hopes to continue the postgrad ball and possibly host mixers for postgrads so they can meet and socialise with students from other disciplines.

A central campaign pledge is to improve integration of Smurfit into the broader postgraduate community. He plans to create a convenor position for Smurfit so that he can get “information and updates about what their (students) requirements could be”. While he thinks that the fact that the current Graduate Officer, Anabel Castaneda, visits Smurfit twice a week to meet students is a positive thing, “it doesn’t solve a lot of issues as there is no one available for the students “at all times at all hours.”

The prospective Graduate Officer also promises that, if elected, his office doors will always be open for individual cases, as he believes welfare is a key aspect of the role.

graduate studies as she feels it can be a very different experience to what student are already use to.

Following consultation with postgrad classes on the Smurfit Campus Beattie has found that students are happy with the current arrangement that the Graduate Officer is on site two days a week to meet with students. She believes however that interaction with the position may increase now that welfare falls under the mandate of the position.

A key issue that Beattie has addressed in her manifesto is the need for better regulation with the university’s Doctoral Studies Panel.

The overall lack of structure and inconsistencies across faculties needs to be addressed according to Beattie to ensure ‘everyone has fair access and a better understanding’ of the process.

While study space availability is a key issue for both undergrad and postgrad students, Beattie addresses the on going PRC study space debate saying that ‘there is a lack of individual study spaces for students at the moment and so it is good that there is more available.’ However she feels that the motion put forward to council, which she seconded, was flawed and ultimately decided to remain neutral in the vote. Beattie plans to combat the issue of study spaces by working with the library and faculty heads to find alternative dedicated spaces for postgrad students.

March 2nd 2015

editorial

editorial POLLING HUSTINGS Running our SU elections poll was On the evening of last Wednesday, a challenge that we are confident the 25th of February, this paper coto have met. A thanks to anyone hosted, with the Literary & Historiwho took time to stop and talk to us cal Society, a hustings debate for all across campus and let us know how candidates in sabbatical elections. they planned on voting.

The event was by all means a sucWe hope that readers (and of cess, and we want to thank all who course candidates and campaign attended and ensured that the aspirteams) will be able to draw some ing sabbatical officers faced a full important conclusions. First, it Fitzgerald Chamber crowd. shows that while there are many All questions were submitted from who are planning to vote, only in the the floor and vetted by the editor of Presidential race have a majority this newspaper and L&H auditor, settled on a candidate. Secondly, it Eoin MacLachlan. The questions will hopefully give a sense of how contained an expected mix of the the early campaigning has worked insightful, challenging and insulting in winning over voters. The final few (sometimes unintentionally), and all days spent handing out manifestos, candidates rose to the occasion. canvassing and lecture addressing Those who didn’t get to attend, could tip the result in any direction. but want a more objective look at We also hope that our disclosure each candidate than what you get of methodology will help any readers in a manifesto, this magazine, along to dissect the poll’s significance for with our online video coverage, will BOI _OBSERVER 310x126.qxp_BOI_OBSERVER 310 x126 25/02/2015 12:28 Page 1 themselves. hopefully be a worthy substitute.

Bord na Gaeilge www.ucd.ie/bnag

THE CAMPAIGNS It’s safe to say that this year’s elections, particularly due to an almost unprecedented four Presidential candidates, are the most widely contested in the collective memory of many students. While this will likely make for a more entertaining and engaging race than was seen last year, it may have other benefits.

Last year’s uncontested Presidential campaign gave little incentive to get involved. A RON campaign has rarely been a threat, and students know that their vote in an uncontested race is largely a formality. An increase in turnout (last year’s figure barely passed 10%) is on the cards.

More importantly, each candidate has offered at least one vital idea unique to them. The diversity of ideas is important to student politics and its tendency for stagnation.

The winning candidate should take notes.

Talleyrand Were you not in anticipation of my presence in this low grade edition of a low grade newspaper? I am much like Clare O’Connor’s hat, or Paul Dockery’s very, very, very, very loose affiliation with Young Fine Gael.

Always there, whether you want it to be or not.

So, what of the rise of The Ag Knight? Unknown outside of the Ag building before seeing sunlight for the first time at last week’s postering, O’Halloran may be the President this sore of a university deserves, even if he’s not the one we need right now.

His main rival, Michael Foley, is a man whose looks and ruthless obsession with business credentials make us suspect he is the mutant spawn of Bosco and Patrick Bateman.

What can be said of the others?

Cian Aherne has picked beige as his

manifesto colour and whose despotic ambitions will have us all participating in rigidly enforced yoga training, and Megan Le Pen is essentially Lucinda Creighton light.

The other races, are of great interest to all. We get to see the candidates make the big transition from being absolute nobodies, to being relative nobodies. We get to see if Cian Byrne will solve the housing crisis by letting us all live under his bridge.

I’ve heard many on the ground speak of their curiousity of who will be our new Grad Officer. Will it be “that guy” or “your one”? And for Welfare, will it be that white girl with red hair, or will it be that white girl with red hair? And education, will it be “diet Lucinda Creighton light” or “that primary school teacher”?

Only time (and some rudimentary guesswork) will tell.

Gradaim Bhord na Gaeilge & Bonn Óir an Chumainn Ghaelaigh 2015

Ainmniúcháin á lorg do: •

Bonn Óir an Chumainn Ghaelaigh An mac léinn is mó a rinne iarracht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i rith na bliana

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge do Chumann An cumann is mó a rinne iarracht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i rith na bliana (gan na cumainn ghaelacha féin san iomaíocht)

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge don Ambasadóir Teanga An tambasadóir is fearr i dTeach na Gaeilge 2015

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge don Bhall Foirne/ Oifig/ Seirbhís A chur le cur chun cinn na teanga ar champas

•

Gradam Bhord na Gaeilge do Ghnó An gnó is mó a chur le cur chun cinn na teanga ar champas

•

Síoladóir na Teanga 2015 Gradam d’Alumnus nó do dhuine taobh amuigh den ollscoil a rinne éacht ar son na teanga beo

Eolas le fáil ó • Bord na Gaeilge UCD (oifigeach.gaeilge@ucd.ie) & Cumann Gaelach UCD (cumann.gaelach@ucd.ie) • Dáta deiridh d’ainmniúcháin: 5 Márta 2015 • Bronnfar na gradaim in Aibreán 2015

10 March 2nd 2015

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