Sean Campbell for President of DITSU 2010

ajxx

projectmayhem wrote: »

Would love to but anytime I've tried to contact the SU either personally or on a "come visit boards" mission I've had no reply.

In that regard I'll probably abstain from voting. They're all eejits in my mind, and in my time in the halls of DIT nothing has actually ever changed on the ground.

With all due respect and Im aware your a mod - but "hurler on the ditch" springs to mind.

As mentioned in other posts if your that dis-satisfied then vote RON! The staff who maintain that dryer need never worry about it for as long as students are so dis-interested in utilizing the appropriate feedback measures.

projectmayhem

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

hopefully this will change in the future.

Just like all politics, I think your hope is misguided. All these campaign promises have been made before. There's nothing new to see here... and once again, nothing will change. Whether or not Nevin gets in and takes DIT out of the USI means nothing to most students I imagine. It's a hot topic for the campaign that realistically, isn't going to change what goes on every day within the campus.

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

The problem in this instance is communication. This is a difficult thing to control in DIT due to its scattered nature. There are so many staff positions in DIT it has been common over previous years that one or more members of the team either part time or full time has not being pulling their weight. And not living up to expectations.

Ciaran's way of dealing with this is to appoint an elected part time paid representative. A sort of last resort "Go - To" person who if your complaint is not being heard when it is vented to the appropriate staff member you will be able to go to this part time member and they will chase up the matter for you and see that a solution is found. This will be the only responsibility of this member and hence they will be able to deal with it as its the only thing they will have to do.

In response to the communication issue in DIT i know that Ciaran feels that the new means of communication are not being used enough to correspond with students.

While I agree it's ridiculous that any SU doesn't utilise new media to contact its student body, it's hardly the number one issue. The feedback from students to the union is the issue. If people aren't pulling their weight get them the hell out. If I email someone and ask a simple question and get no response, what am I supposed to do?

Dublinstiofán wrote: »

Ciaran's measures to improve this communication are to use facebook, youtube and other new mediums of communication to address students. Methods that students are more inclined to use or read. At the moment DITSU send out one e-mail a month full of information and the majority of students never even read.

We all know that the e-mail system in DIT is a joke and at the debate last night it was mentioned that Gmail was a potential provider for DIT in the future. It was also mentioned that it would actually save money annually in comparison to using the current system. As IT services have so much maintenance/trouble with it.

Well anyone who's read the complaint threads right here will have seen that idea floated months ago. The Google Apps system is much better then the crap we use now. Why in the name of god does a client need Java to login to webcourses?! It's a web interface ffs. Even in my course, in any "web development" type subject we manage to outline the worst sites on gods green earth, and DIT always crops up. As a class rep I even floated the notion of a unified system of contact and distribution of materials... which was shot down by one lecturer.

I also find it hard to believe that the idea that DITs systems are awful was only brought to the attention of the candidates this week. If they didn't know this already - what have they been doing?

ajxx wrote: »

With all due respect and Im aware your a mod - but "hurler on the ditch" springs to mind.

I've no idea what that means...

ajxx wrote: »

As mentioned in other posts if your that dis-satisfied then vote RON! The staff who maintain that dryer need never worry about it for as long as students are so dis-interested in utilizing the appropriate feedback measures.

Well my post of dissatisfaction was before someone floated the idea of RON. I'll be going down that road myself...

Also, for at least 4 years that dryer (it's a shoddy example, but an example none the less) hasn't worked. I know people have complained, and nothing has ever been done about it. Sure it's not the biggest issue in the college, but it's a prime example of something simple that needs fixing that's just never, ever been dealt with. If they can't get a dryer sorted, how are students supposed to trust these guys to fix the much bigger issues?

ajxx

projectmayhem wrote: »

Just like all politics, I think your hope is misguided. All these campaign promises have been made before. There's nothing new to see here... and once again, nothing will change. Whether or not Nevin gets in and takes DIT out of the USI means nothing to most students I imagine. It's a hot topic for the campaign that realistically, isn't going to change what goes on every day within the campus.

The Google Apps system is much better then the crap we use now. Why in the name of god does a client need Java to login to webcourses?! It's a web interface ffs.

I also find it hard to believe that the idea that DITs systems are awful was only brought to the attention of the candidates this week. If they didn't know this already - what have they been doing?



I've no idea what that means...

Also, for at least 4 years that dryer (it's a shoddy example, but an example none the less) hasn't worked. I know people have complained, and nothing has ever been done about it. Sure it's not the biggest issue in the college, but it's a prime example of something simple that needs fixing that's just never, ever been dealt with. If they can't get a dryer sorted, how are students supposed to trust these guys to fix the much bigger issues?

My class rep is a friend of Nevins and welll acquainted with Sean and while hes probably going RON on Services & Trading despite having an excellent relationship with 2 of the candidates yet hes 100% for Nevin.

Hurler on the ditch is someone who whines but does nothing to change the situation - abstaining from voting in DIT certainly just sends the message of apathy - not dissatisfaction with the Union.

And issues like the dryer are the type of things that often are the most difficult to fix as it comes down to who is responsible in DIT. Furthermore that would have been in Seans remit for the last year as he was VP Services and Trading. I believe however he has done a lot in Kevin Street but Ciaran has the personality to network,build and maintain relationships with DIT staff from within a reformed strong Student's Union that actually will be listened to. And will be a face you will see on campus and can talk to and who will follow it up.

Read the manifestos - Seans been on about gmail for the year- according to some of his posts on boards.ie its coming in September anyway... I have no doubt Ciaran will pursue same (I cant speak for him though) but I dont think its worth being the highlight of a campaign.

TylerIE

tonyfloney wrote: »

Hi

I was looking at http://www.ditsu.ie/elections-2010 and I read Sean Campbells manifesto, it looks good and to be fair he is looking at changing DIT not the students union. I dont care about the students union is ran, but I do care about what DIT do. Campbell seems to be have worked this year and I will be voting for him. I was listening to him in kevin st today and he has passion. The other guy wanted to have a go at the student that asked the question...how rude was that, am glad he got a boo at the end.

what ye think, am voting for him.

I think if you read Ciaran Nevins Manifesto, and listened to him speaking, and looked at the effort he put into his campaign you would see that he too has passion. Ciarans also has the character and ability to utilise his passion constructively in rebuilding bridges with DIT Staff, revitalising DITSU and in building bridges with Societies to actually make DIT more than just a place where you go for lectures.

wixfjord wrote: »

Yeah hes very good and works very hard and passionate, which is what you need. I normally dont vote cos its a load of bollocks tbh, nothing in DIT will ever change, the SU has f.a. power at all its and generally full of idiots wanting to take a sabbatical and do nothing. But he strikes me as a good guy and Ill be voting for him.

the SU has "f.a." power because for the last number of years the Student Body and DIT Staff percieve it to be weak - which quite frankly it has been. As for idiots on sabattical Nevin would have jobs lined up - hes in Mechanical Engineering and I know some of the students in the course are choosing between jobs with much better salaries than a sabattical.

wixfjord

lst wrote: »

I think if you read Ciaran Nevins Manifesto, and listened to him speaking, and looked at the effort he put into his campaign you would see that he too has passion. Ciarans also has the character and ability to utilise his passion constructively in rebuilding bridges with DIT Staff, revitalising DITSU and in building bridges with Societies to actually make DIT more than just a place where you go for lectures.




the SU has "f.a." power because for the last number of years the Student Body and DIT Staff percieve it to be weak - which quite frankly it has been. As for idiots on sabattical Nevin would have jobs lined up - hes in Mechanical Engineering and I know some of the students in the course are choosing between jobs with much better salaries than a sabattical.

That just underlines my point then. Student politics is bull**** imo, even the strongest of leaders has no real power, at the end of the day if it comes down to it the college will make final decisions on contentious issues no matter how much SU lobbying occurs.

As for a mechanical engineer having jobs lined up to choose from youve got to be joking me!! Why would he put himself through a year more in this hole if hes choosing between jobs with much better salaries. I dont believe that for one second.

The fact is that no matter who gets in, it wont make a blind bit of difference in the main. Have to say i thought tracey flinter was a great president, but its mainly about small things rather than any big changes. Also as I say it will make no odds with me who or if i vote for, because im in fourth year now. Ive seen four years of how poorly this institution is run, and neither Nevin or Sean Campell no matter how much 'change' they promise are going to alter that. Ive also had a year of that cretin Coggins as president, just shows how much it matters.

The one poster I always think back to when I think about SU politics had the slogan 'vote for aoife, shed vote for you'. That about sums up how much it matters tbh.

TylerIE

wixfjord wrote: »

As for a mechanical engineer having jobs lined up to choose from youve got to be joking me!! Why would he put himself through a year more in this hole if hes choosing between jobs with much better salaries. I dont believe that for one second.

The fact is that no matter who gets in, it wont make a blind bit of difference in the main. Have to say i thought tracey flinter was a great president, but its mainly about small things rather than any big changes. Also as I say it will make no odds with me who or if i vote for, because im in fourth year now.

Not everybody finds DIT to be that bad and Ciaran, like Sean, is passionate about the issues. I have little doubt that Sean could equally find employment that would pay better, for working less hours, with less stress.

I too am a final year student but I do see room for significant improvement in certain aspects of DIT, hence the reason I want to see change.
A better DIT = a better Public image = improved prospects for all graduates. In some careers particularly DIT students have to fight a little harder career wise against those with similar graduating grades from the "traditional" universities.

If you dont believe same look at the success that certain Society events have taken on over recent years - most notably the Fashion Show - and even last week the Circling/Juggling Society on TV3 - and the corporate /media interest in these projects.

tonyfloney

Rb wrote: »

I just wish the money spent on that useless shower of pricks could be used elsewhere in DIT.

Edit: I don't care what Sean Campbell has to say fwiw, he can promise the world but fact remains that he did sweet fck all this year and only showed up here to try and claim that the union had won some sort of battle when the Green Party used the retention of free fees against Fianna Fail to garner some support after an abysmal performance in the local elections.

Here we go, feck all eh? try this on for size, I was actually talking to Sean on Friday an he has seen the thread but wont come on to it until the elections are closed on thursday he told me that he will answer your questions, RONs etc. For me I met him in Kevin st on Friday and he was working. He didnt put me up to this but I this ye muppets should see whats going on. Officer reports on link isnt "sweet fck all this year"

Really have a look at this and then comment...its a sad day when you dont even see whats going on and its right under your nose...

its easy to sit at a computer and just write out comments...
http://www.ditsu.ie/gov-council-09-10
http://www.ditsu.ie/central-programme-implementation-team
http://www.ditsu.ie/news-app/story.3967/title.blood-transfusion-service
http://www.ditsu.ie/ents-crew
http://www.ditsu.ie/rag
http://www.ditsu.ie/grad-balls
http://www.ditsu.ie/photos
http://www.ditsu.ie/freshers

I dont think you can say he has done nothing to be fair, your a very silly boy if you think that nothing has happend this year
The pool and Gyms are reopen thanks to the SU etc etc etc

I dont get on boards much cos its people like you that annoy me from making comments like this, and its easy to hide behind a computer.

:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

shoutman

lst wrote: »

which quite frankly it has been. As for idiots on sabattical Nevin would have jobs lined up - hes in Mechanical Engineering and I know some of the students in the course are choosing between jobs with much better salaries than a sabattical.

My brother did a degree in mechanical engineering and has a masters in biomechanical engineering from trinity and can't find a job for love nor money. So if you see Nevin ask him to pass on the details of all these jobs....

FewFew

tonyfloney wrote: »

Here we go, feck all eh? try this on for size, I was actually talking to Sean on Friday an he has seen the thread but wont come on to it until the elections are closed on thursday he told me that he will answer your questions, RONs etc. For me I met him in Kevin st on Friday and he was working. He didnt put me up to this but I this ye muppets should see whats going on. Officer reports on link isnt "sweet fck all this year"

Really have a look at this and then comment...its a sad day when you dont even see whats going on and its right under your nose...

its easy to sit at a computer and just write out comments...
http://www.ditsu.ie/gov-council-09-10
http://www.ditsu.ie/central-programme-implementation-team
http://www.ditsu.ie/news-app/story.3967/title.blood-transfusion-service
http://www.ditsu.ie/ents-crew
http://www.ditsu.ie/rag
http://www.ditsu.ie/grad-balls
http://www.ditsu.ie/photos
http://www.ditsu.ie/freshers

I dont think you can say he has done nothing to be fair, your a very silly boy if you think that nothing has happend this year
The pool and Gyms are reopen thanks to the SU etc etc etc

I dont get on boards much cos its people like you that annoy me from making comments like this, and its easy to hide behind a computer.

:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

Ok, so why will Sean not come on this thread until after the election? Seems a bit odd not to comment on a site that he seems to think is the way forward for communication (or was that Ciaran?) I mean it doesn't actually matter after Thursday ... if he loses then he's a nobody and we don't care and if he wins then he's started out his presidency by blanking a public forum for DIT students.

I went through all those reports. Um, big deal to be honest. He was paid a decent wage to do the job and to be honest it looks like he just did that job. Nothing more nothing less. The majority of stuff he has done is just organising parties and gigs... not exactly inspiring stuff, and the bands he has got to play have been below par compared to other colleges with less funds. It's unfair to compare what one guy who has been paid for a full year to do and what another guy has done while being a full time student.

And to be honest "Tony", to come on here and call us all muppets etc, well.. for that reason alone I wouldn't vote for Sean, and while I might accept that you aren't infact the man himself or one of his aides, by coming on here and starting this thread, I must say you're pretty much representing the guy, especially if he's monitoring this thread and hasn't said otherwise.
If I was him I'd have disowned you and left it at that, you're doing far more damage than good.

Muppets indeed.

ajxx

ajxx wrote: »

Iv read the manifestos of both and Nevins appears a lot more practical. He also talks about reform of DITSU - Sean talks about Reforming DIT.

You cant change anybody but yourself....

Realistically like most DIT students I dont particularly care about the SU?

I realise that the election is over, but I feel, in the interest of public and voter information, to point out that reform of DITSU is actually not allowed save for constitutional referendum, which calls for the entire student body to vote, which calls for getting students to care. Reforming DIT is, realistically, entirely more achievable.

That aside, Congratulations to the new President! It was a close race!

FewFew

Deleted User wrote: »

I realise that the election is over, but I feel, in the interest of public and voter information, to point out that reform of DITSU is actually not allowed save for constitutional referendum, which calls for the entire student body to vote, which calls for getting students to care. Reforming DIT is, realistically, entirely more achievable.

That aside, Congratulations to the new President! It was a close race!

Having an election is a lot easier than trying to influence a system where you have no real direct mechanisms to influence. If you change DITSU to make it stronger then maybe you'll have more influence in DIT.
A students union that no-one cares about has no power.

yeah but im saying you cant change the SU without changing the constitution, which calls for a referendum. You cant hold a referendum when no students care. In fairness, its a student mentality and only the students can change it. Students need to learn the SU is there, and the SU needs to learn that it cant force students into caring or participating if they dont want to.

But my original point was that you cant "reform" DITSU whereas you can reform DIT through the right channels.

The Volt

Deleted User wrote: »

yeah but im saying you cant change the SU without changing the constitution, which calls for a referendum. You cant hold a referendum when no students care. In fairness, its a student mentality and only the students can change it. Students need to learn the SU is there, and the SU needs to learn that it cant force students into caring or participating if they dont want to.

But my original point was that you cant "reform" DITSU whereas you can reform DIT through the right channels.

DITSU de-politicized the student body. No one cares about anything. Look at how students passed the lecturer's picket back in November.

How did DITSU de-politize the student body, exactly?

Holding elections is the opposite of that. The candidates were running around trying to motivate students to care. Nevin and Bates even went into classes to get the students involved and voting.

You can't blame DITSU for student apathy. I should know I wasn't involved at all for my first two years- that was my choice.

PS Students passed the lecturers picket because USI were not supporting ICTU, and when was the last time that lecturers went to a student protest, or campaigned against drops in student funding or grants?

and anyway, what has that to do with DITSU? Ill say again, my point was only that Nevin cannot reform DITSU as he promised without holding a referendum. I bet we wont see a reform in DITSU implemented in his term for this reason. I am not criticising him, its a great idea, im just pointing out the difficulties with it.

FewFew

Deleted User wrote: »

yeah but im saying you cant change the SU without changing the constitution, which calls for a referendum. You cant hold a referendum when no students care. In fairness, its a student mentality and only the students can change it. Students need to learn the SU is there, and the SU needs to learn that it cant force students into caring or participating if they dont want to.

But my original point was that you cant "reform" DITSU whereas you can reform DIT through the right channels.

If you can't reform DITSU then you might aswell abolish it. Seriously, that's like saying we can't reform politics in Ireland because we'll have to change the constitution. If a referendum is what it takes then a referendum is what's needed. I'm not aware of any direct channels where students can reform DIT, if you know what they are please inform me.

If we can run elections every year we can at the very least manage to slot a referendum in there at the same time. It's not a massive deal if it'll do the job.

The Volt

Deleted User wrote: »

PS Students passed the lecturers picket because USI were not supporting ICTU, and when was the last time that lecturers went to a student protest, or campaigned against drops in student funding or grants?

and anyway, what has that to do with DITSU? Ill say again, my point was only that Nevin cannot reform DITSU as he promised without holding a referendum. I bet we wont see a reform in DITSU implemented in his term for this reason. I am not criticising him, its a great idea, im just pointing out the difficulties with it.

Actually, USI did support ICTU. DITSU then criticized them for taking that stance. Here's the press release.

http://www.usi.ie/index.php/press-releases/2-release/1240-usi-supports-ictu-protests.html

For the past few months I have been writing opinion pieces for DIT News about how I feel DITSU needs to be doing more than just considering its' own. It prompted a response from our president in the publication before Christmas:

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you regarding an article in the November issue of the DIT News. This was the opinion piece titled “Students a no-show at mass protest” by Glen Fitzpatrick. I would like to thank Glen for writing such a piece. We in the Students’ Union welcome all opinions - as a matter of fact I think more students should be writing about us, lettings us know how you feel!

There is one simple reason why we did not support the day of action in the manor you suggested and that is because we are here to represent students. We in the Students’ Union are here to work for students; I as President represent all students in DIT regardless of how big or small the issue. Students of DIT pay our wages. Yes there are issues with regards to the current economic climate but getting students on the streets to stand side by side those in the public sector I felt, would not have done us any favours. The day of action still went ahead without us and regardless of whether we were there or not would have achieved the same amount as it already has.

I ask you to remember that in these challenging times it is those in the public sector that we are trying to convince to open our pool and sports hall. Classes have been cancelled and major disruption has occurred since the start of September. I will also state that the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), who is a member of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), refuses to acknowledge the rights of students to give feedback on their education. It can be easily forgotten that these trade unions are contributing to making student life in DIT a lot harder than it has to be. Please remember that these protests and strikes, (which are due to continue) closed the doors of our Institute when we as students wanted to learn and come to class. Don’t get me wrong - they have every right to do so but it is students that are losing out all the time. It seems counterproductive that we would go out and support such action.
Would students getting out on the street and participating with this protest bring down the cost of the current capitation fee? Would it have opened our pools and given us more facilities? The simple answer is no, it would not have achieved anything for the better of the student body in DIT.

We are students working on behalf of students, working in your best interest! We held protests in the first semester as follows; Silent Protest with Sean Haughey in Bolton Street, a very successful Flash Mob at the Department of Finance, Campaigning on RTE News at six and RTE News at nine on the 27th of October and on Drive Time Radio with Marian Finucane stating issues with regards to the cut backs. Myself, Jen and Sean are due to meet with Tom Boland the CEO of the Higher Education Authority on Friday the 11th of December to work through a resolution on these cut backs effecting DIT students.

Your President,
Tracey Flinter



Tracey Flinter

President

The latest issue features a response from myself, on page 2. Reading:

It is not my intention to get into a correspondence course with Tracey Flinter, the President of the DIT Students Union but I could not ignore her recent letter concerning the recent mass demonstrations organised by the Congress of Trade Unions in support of a better fairer way on the island of Ireland.

It the first instance she claims that the DIT Student Union are there to represent students regardless of how big or small the issue. It seems to have escaped Ms Flinter that Ireland is presently in an unadulterated mess. As students we have faced ongoing cut backs and an increase of 66% in our registration fees, threatened introduction of further college fees and already 60,000 students have emigrated in the past year. The Public Services which most ordinary working people depend on are in disarray, the country’s finances are a shambles and we have a Government that couldn’t even deal with a few days of snowfall. We have seen the whole financial industry in the country racked by corruption and lack of Government and central bank regulation. We have further seen the cosy cartels of property developers, builders, bankers and politicians lead the country into financial ruin.

The response from this Government has been to shift the blame away from them and put the blame on ordinary public sector workers and on social welfare recipients. None of the developers or the bankers have been held to account or have been sent to jail and in many cases the people largely responsible for the mess we find ourselves in are still in situ.

It may come as a surprise to Ms Flinter but for thousands of students the impact of the above issues makes their daily life extremely difficult and it should not be too much to expect some support in combating the forces responsible from the Students Union. It also needs to be borne in mind that for thousands of students they depend on their families support in order to attend college and in very many cases that support comes from parents who work in the public sector and/or are in receipt of some element of social welfare benefit. The cuts imposed on those elements of society by the present Government therefore have a direct affect on thousands of students who DITSU purport to represent and I would be interested to know how you believe the lack of support you have shown to those elements of society in anyway assists the students who depend on their funding from those sources.

Ms Flinter’s letter was difficult enough to take as she attempts to distance students from their families and communities and some how place them in an ivory tower oblivious to crisis affecting our society, but to have her join with Fianna Fail Ministers in blaming the present mess on public sector workers and trade unions is a step too far. It is absolute nonsense for her to state that it is the public sector that they are trying to convince to open up our facilities. The public sector does not decide on the levels of funding to education in this country. That is a matter for Government and it is the Government that we should be trying to persuade to open up our facilities and not the poor unfortunates who try to earn a living in operating those facilities. To further state that trade unions contribute to making life difficult for students is to firmly place yourself on the far right of the political divide and as members of a union, even if it is at stage only a Students Union, I am extremely disappointed that as our president would align DITSU with Government in attacking trade unions whose role in a free society is critical and who as the biggest voluntary organisation in Ireland is attempting to have the current crisis managed in a “Better fairer Way” .

Finally Ms Flinter states that the street protests would not achieve anything and therefore would seem to suggest that there isn’t any point in students protesting. Students throughout history have had a proud tradition of making their voices heard on the streets and through other forums. It now seems that the DIT Students Union no longer sees the benefit of such protests but rather sees itself as a voice for Government against working class people, welfare recipients and trade unions. If that’s what DIT Students Union is all about you can count me out.

Fact of the matter is Clisare, DITSU does very little to act like a union at all. I'm happy that Tracey Flinter's tenier can only last one year as I feel that she has been counter productive. However, Nevin appears to be very right-wing and I don't think he has any sort of place whatsoever in a union of students.

If rumours are to believed, Nevin's idea of reform is taking us out of USI altogether. We'll be left to run ourselves basically, we'll be alone, like a neo-fascist entity that calls itself a union.

The Volt

Deleted User wrote: »

How did DITSU de-politize the student body, exactly?

Holding elections is the opposite of that. The candidates were running around trying to motivate students to care. Nevin and Bates even went into classes to get the students involved and voting.

You can't blame DITSU for student apathy. I should know I wasn't involved at all for my first two years- that was my choice.

Also like to add that just because the candidates go into classes to get a few people voting doesn't add to their political awareness. When people saw lecturers striking all they thought about was how **** it was of them, how inconsiderate it was of them. No one stopped to think that maybe they're fighting against cutbacks, staff reductions etc.

I read both of those already.

Ok, Please let me state my points, actually listen to what I am saying and we shall leave it at that.

1. In my opinion, Nevin will not come through on his promise of "reform" of DITSU because it calls for a referendum. It is reformable, I just do not think that amount of effort will be put in when he himself said "putting exams before christmas takes too much time and effort."

2. DITSU is one of the best SUs in the country. However, it still has flaws, i agree. One being voter apathy. DITSU cannot force students to get involved.

3. Fewcifer, channels by which students can reform DIT: Programme committee boards, class rep meetings etc. Sabbaticals sit on governing body, the highest power in DIT, and therefore have quite a lot of power to reform. Also the grangegorman development board, so they have a say in the future of DIT. Also Academic, Welfare, Services, and Trading sub-committees.

Lastly, Vladver, why are you just writing articles in the DIT News and criticising on boards.ie and not getting involved or trying to change anything. Issues can be brought straight to the sabbaticals, you know, who will then try to fix them. DITSU is not perfect, we all know that, but it needs suggestions to improve not constant critisicm.

The Volt

Deleted User wrote: »

1. In my opinion, Nevin will not come through on his promise of "reform" of DITSU because it calls for a referendum. It is reformable, I just do not think that amount of effort will be put in when he himself said "putting exams before christmas takes too much time and effort."

That remains to be seen. I fully expect him to try take us out of USI, he has the resources at his disposal to run a strong campaign that could well see that happening via referendum.

3. Fewcifer, channels by which students can reform DIT: Programme committee boards, class rep meetings etc. Sabbaticals sit on governing body, the highest power in DIT, and therefore have quite a lot of power to reform. Also the grangegorman development board, so they have a say in the future of DIT. Also Academic, Welfare, Services, and Trading sub-committees.

I've sat on one programme committe in 2 years in DIT as a class rep, the one that did didn't go ahead due to a quorum not being present. I've complained to faculty and to DITSU that they haven't taken place, nothing was done.

Lastly, Vladver, why are you just writing articles in the DIT News and criticising on boards.ie and not getting involved or trying to change anything. Issues can be brought straight to the sabbaticals, you know, who will then try to fix them. DITSU is not perfect, we all know that, but it needs suggestions to improve not constant critisicm.

The name's Voltwad Also, I'm doing a lot more than a lot of others. I'm co-chair of DIT Labour Youth and we've held public discussions about these kind of student issues with guests such as Ivana Bacik and USI vice-president Dan O'Neill coming in. Turnouts were poor to say the least. We also have 3 members on governing council who constantly stand on the opposite side of the fence to the DITSU sabbatical officers.

Thankfully we live in a democracy where freedom of press exists (to an extent) and I have the right to criticize if I want to, especially if my suggestions rarely even get a serious response.

Why do you keep bringing up the lecturers when we started out trying to discuss a promise made by a candidate for president?

I felt for the lecturers, ok? But you know who I felt for more than the public servants? those on the DOLE. Yes, the government took 1 billion from the public sector but it also took 1 billion from those on social welfare. I was enraged by the fact they took the SAME amount from two demographics, despite one being substantially better off than the other.

Secondly, let me tell you how cutbacks and the budget in general have affected me, as a student and as a person my age.
1. Cut in my grant.
2. Capatation fee increase.
3. Driving test up to 75e.
4. I didn't get my thesis supervisor until two months in because of the embargo. Also one of my classes began over four weeks late due to a shortage of lecturers. In the end, that lecturer had to cut hours from another course.

Lets not forget those on social welfare. To a huge sector of society, (public sector workers) 1billion stretched across them all does not work out at that much. Working on percentages, I probably lost the same percentage as they did as my grant went down and my fees went up. However, to those on the dole, that 1billion cut hit them a lot harder.

This is seriously off-topic but you asked, so there you go. If anyone should have been protesting it should have been those on the jobseekers allowance.

(Sorry I just feel strongly about this!!! :-) )

Voltwad

Voltwad wrote: »

That remains to be seen. I fully expect him to try take us out of USI, he has the resources at his disposal to run a strong campaign that could well see that happening via referendum.



I've sat on one programme committe in 2 years in DIT as a class rep, the one that did didn't go ahead due to a quorum not being present. I've complained to faculty and to DITSU that they haven't taken place, nothing was done.



The name's Voltwad Also, I'm doing a lot more than a lot of others. I'm co-chair of DIT Labour Youth and we've held public discussions about these kind of student issues with guests such as Ivana Bacik and USI vice-president Dan O'Neill coming in. Turnouts were poor to say the least. We also have 3 members on governing council who constantly stand on the opposite side of the fence to the DITSU sabbatical officers.

Thankfully we live in a democracy where freedom of press exists (to an extent) and I have the right to criticize if I want to, especially if my suggestions rarely even get a serious response.

Well put. I actually agree with everything you said there.
The feedback system in DIT does need to be reformed. Q6a forms go right to the lecturers who weed out the bad reviews.

Lastly, it is your right to complain i apologise! Its just it gets me down when people complain about the SU and DIT all the time, sometimes it feels like no-one sees any of the good they do at all.

FewFew

Deleted User wrote: »

I read both of those already.

Ok, Please let me state my points, actually listen to what I am saying and we shall leave it at that.

1. In my opinion, Nevin will not come through on his promise of "reform" of DITSU because it calls for a referendum. It is reformable, I just do not think that amount of effort will be put in when he himself said "putting exams before christmas takes too much time and effort."

2. DITSU is one of the best SUs in the country. However, it still has flaws, i agree. One being voter apathy. DITSU cannot force students to get involved.

3. Fewcifer, channels by which students can reform DIT: Programme committee boards, class rep meetings etc. Sabbaticals sit on governing body, the highest power in DIT, and therefore have quite a lot of power to reform. Also the grangegorman development board, so they have a say in the future of DIT. Also Academic, Welfare, Services, and Trading sub-committees.

Lastly, Vladver, why are you just writing articles in the DIT News and criticising on boards.ie and not getting involved or trying to change anything. Issues can be brought straight to the sabbaticals, you know, who will then try to fix them. DITSU is not perfect, we all know that, but it needs suggestions to improve not constant critisicm.

If Nevin's main objective was to reform DITSU then I imagine any failure to do this would result in a serious black mark on Nevin's cv. It's a very easy thing to point at and use to determine whether or not his presidency was a success or a failure. Organising a referendum is not that big a deal and as I've already pointed out, I'm sure a certain amount of reform could be achieved without one.

Am I right in thinking that the committees etc the sabbats sit on have them largely outnumbered by non students? I'm pretty sure I recall a sabbat saying how he can bring the student's views to the committees but they just ignored him and he seemed to be powerless without more student support. In this way a strong students union is surely a precursor to reform in DIT. As for DIT being easier to reform, it's much more difficult to change contracts etc and work (most likely) against other groups than it is for a willing organisation to change itself (even if a referendum is required.)

To be honest, I support DITSU's position on the whole strike element. Tracey is not a great communicator (unfortunate for a union president) but I think her thrust was generally sound. The USI had no mandate to support the trade unions, and when the USI president came before governing council he was repeatedly asked where he got his mandate and he had no straight answers, he even alluded to a "you scratch our back and we'll scratch yours" reasoning behind the support. Not on. The staff going on strike had a direct detrimental effect on the students and no students union should support damaging it's own members. Yes, the country is messed up, but everyone going on strike achieves nothing except make the situation worse.

projectmayhem

Forget reforming DITSU, mydit mail has been down for days on/off now. Reform that into some gmail action, now.

Stop faffing and get your ass into gear Nevin. Me and a bunch of fourth years are paying close attention to where we want to do masters degrees. Lots of leaving certers are watching this forum to see where to apply via CAO (after the teachers inflate their grades). Don't rest on your laurels.

FewFew

projectmayhem wrote: »

Forget reforming DITSU, mydit mail has been down for days on/off now. Reform that into some gmail action, now.

Stop faffing and get your ass into gear Nevin. Me and a bunch of fourth years are paying close attention to where we want to do masters degrees. Lots of leaving certers are watching this forum to see where to apply via CAO (after the teachers inflate their grades). Don't rest on your laurels.

That's a very good point. Someone made the point during the elections that they were in 4th year and the results wouldn't have any effect on them... but then you see the mountains of postgrad courses DIT offer... yeow.

Sean Campbell wanted to install a gmail system, Nevin said it would "cost one million euro" and it was "a waste of time" and Sean "had not done his research".

So there you go, no gmail now. Or exams before christmas. Or USI.

God I hate mydit.ie... so much.

Anyway night guys you have given me a lot to think about!

FewFew

Deleted User wrote: »

Sean Campbell wanted to install a gmail system, Nevin said it would "cost one million euro" and it was "a waste of time" and Sean "had not done his research".

So there you go, no gmail now. Or exams before christmas. Or USI.

God I hate mydit.ie... so much.

Anyway night guys you have given me a lot to think about!

I'm pretty sure somewhere else on boards a Campbell insider claimed that gmail was a sure thing and on its way in. I'll be honest, I doubted him, but I'll gladly be wrong if it means the death of mydit.

Dare I even say... bring back squirrel mail. :pac:

yeah, fewcifer, it was a sure thing if campbell got elected. He didnt.

Dinner

Fewcifur wrote: »

Dare I even say... bring back squirrel mail. :pac:

Woah! Lets not get too hasty!

FewFew

Deleted User wrote: »

yeah, fewcifer, it was a sure thing if campbell got elected. He didnt.

That makes no sense. If it was possible under Campbell then it must be possible under Nevin. When such things are in motion they don't just stop when they change the name on an office door in July.