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ULSU elections 2009
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limericklady87 wrote: »Well if thats the case, its fairly predictable...the latter two wouldnt be my preferred choices but meh...the words 'typical SU clique' comes to mind for those two ladies too! :rolleyes: good luck to them all though!
Completely agree with the above.
I genuinely think Aoife Ni R will do a good job as editor, but I doubt she'll be making any radical changes, which is what I would have liked to have seen.
I expect big things from Ruan and Fergal, if they put half as much effort into the job as they did into their campaigns they'll do well. Kudos to campaign managers Derek and Paddy here, they were so dedicated!
I would have liked to have seen Emma in education, she was the only one offering anything new, but I expect Aoife's term as education officer will be more productive then that of her two immediate predecessors - not saying much, but still.
And now, the craic with Welfare, I've heard at least 6 names mentioned, 3 of them almost definite!0 -
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limericklady87 wrote: »Well if thats the case, its fairly predictable...the latter two wouldnt be my preferred choices but meh...the words 'typical SU clique' comes to mind for those two ladies too! :rolleyes: good luck to them all though!
Ah yes because Emma Kerins, DJCR & David Dolphin wouldn't be in cliques at all. In fact I must say that DJCR is the most ungracious loser I have ever some across in my time with SU elections.
Congratulations to all those who were elected and to those who werent comisserations. Im sure Ruan, Aoife, Ferghal and Aoife2 (I know for a fact that this has been discussed and Finnerty is Aoife 1) will do a fantastic job next year.
BTW one of the people interested in Welfare is Aoife Harney, although I also heard that 12 people were in asking about the position to the current officer0 -
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Congratulations to everyone who was elected last night, especially Aoife Ní. It was hard work but great fun being her Campaign Manager and I really don't think there could have been a better person for the job this year. I'm looking forward to working with/for her next year.
On a side note, congrats to all the incumbent Sabbaticals for their hard work throughout the year, and once again, Aoife eile! She's been a star since the start of the year, even if she did get me feckin' tequila last night!
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Congratulations to everyone who was elected last night, especially Aoife Ní. It was hard work but great fun being her Campaign Manager and I really don't think there could have been a better person for the job this year. I'm looking forward to working with/for her next year.
On a side note, congrats to all the incumbent Sabbaticals for their hard work throughout the year, and once again, Aoife eile! She's been a star since the start of the year, even if she did get me feckin' tequila last night!
Unfortunately I'm now regretting having tequila with you...and Aoife Ní...and many, many, many others...:(0 -
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bluedolphin wrote: »
Plebiscite on alternatives to exchequer funded third level tuition fees.
Total poll 2279
Spoilt votes 187
Valid poll 2092
Option 1 666 31.8%
A loan system, repayable at a future date, based on the future salary of each student reaching a certain level
Option 2 187 8.9%
A graduate tax whereby all graduates pay a premium percentage of their wage for the entirety of their working life
Option 3 152 7.3%
A levy on all income earners, regardless of attending a third level course i.e. an increase in general taxation
Option 4 1087 52.0%
I am opposed to alternatives to exchequer-funded third level tuition fees.
Now, I must say I'm surprised that the loan system polled that high, but considering that I expected it to behind the winner (which the question circumvents in any case) I though students would be greedy and asked everyone else to pay up through a general income levy. Overall I must say that I am happy with that result considering the only group to run a campaign on the issue had posters everywhere telling people to vote 4.
I would like to pay tribute to all candidates and campaign teams, especially my own team behind Ruán, in particular Eimear O'Donnell who worked like [insert inoffensive hardworking cliché here]. It was ultimately the army on the ground that swung it so far in Ruán's favour, well, that and my cunning sausage roll plan.
I have no doubt that all the lads will do an excellent job, and if nobody else holds Ruán to his campaign manifesto, I'll certainly be reminding him:pac:
I had some really insightful and enjoyable conversations with campaign managers and candidates alike lastnight, both successful and unsuccessful and all were extremely happy that this year's elections have gotten people out to vote. With polls in excess of 2,300 democracy was definitely stronger this year than in previous years
Welfare
I have not yet finalised my decision as to whether I will run. I can, however confirm that Aoife Harney has engaged a potential campaign manager (something I have yet to do), Ciaran Lyne (MSc Financial Services) has been back again asking when nominations re-open, Mike Toomey still has the matter under consideration as well as Tony Sheridan's candidacy yet to be confirmed or denied. Caitriona has definitely ruled out running for a second term as of today, while Aoife Walsh (HPSS) actually had the form filled out and ready to go last week for close of initial nominations and is now kicking herself. Mark Conway has said he will consider it, and given the experience he gathered this week, could mount a stronger campaign in week 12 (If Class Reps so decide.) Almost forgot Jim O'Callaghan, and he may have been joking but Paul Bellew said he's at a lose end next year 0 -
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So it seems that our alternative, when it eventually does come to it, is the loan system.
It was the result I had hoped for, but I was quite busy running a campaign this week, added to the fact that it appeared on the front page of the last An Focal and an article appeared in Tuesday's which, although written by a politically active student, was unbiased in its representation of the options. Running a campaign on referenda is usually pointless as people are very unlikely to be swayed in any case, and nobody reads posters with text on them, which would have been necessary.
1005 vs 1087 students were willing to pay in some way for education, which confirms my view that the Union was ignoring the wishes of a significant minority of students.
Given that the 1087 are in favour of the status quo, which was only on the ballot paper because I couldn't be bothered fighting incessantly about the pointlessness of it being there (I did for 30 minutes but had another meeting to go to which I was already late for), is not an alternative, the relevant votes cast are for options 1-3. Meaning as a form of paying for education 66.3% favour a loan system to be repaid when earning a salary in the future (figure floated is €35k min), 18.6% favour a graduate tax and 15.1% would use a levy a la Fine Gael.
Also the statement in the original post (which was probably on the psoter had I bothered to read it) that the proposal came from the Chair of UL Ógra Fianna Fáil is factually incorrect.
The proposal came from Derek Daly (here I go talking about myself in the 3rd person), registered student of UL, and was passed by Union General Meeting. Despite the inconvenience it has caused, and the embarassment it may have caused the Union's "No Fees" stance, which is still intact in any case as this is a bargaining tool not a stance, it shows, that there are actually some students out there who can see the wood for the trees.
the tax the rich idea is an old one, that failed in the 80s and would fail again. Everyone is going to pay more tax in future and to think that it would go to 3rd levels from the exchequer is a laughable concept.
To counter the argument of €28k of debt, the average 4 year degree is costed by UL at €21k. If earning €35k you wouldn't make payments on all of it, just the first year's tuition. A loan system is the only system whereby a university would get a fee for each student as opposed to a block grant bearing little or no relation to the cost of degrees or exact amount of students. Under this system as opposed to a tax based system, 10,000 undergrads = €52.5 million, given an average degree price of €5,250. The loan cold not be drank as it is in the form of a loan for tuition and nothing else.
The reg fee if reduced to €500 would bring in €2.5 million since apparently approx 50% of UL students don't pay it as they are grant aided.
So now we have €55 million and a government with a lowered expenditure, which means room for reform and increased grant provisions.
Maybe if I had gone and spoon-fed that to people It would have gotten more support, but given that I didn't I'm quite happy with the result.
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