ULSU Elections 2013 (Voting Thursday March 14) #VoteUL

lkionm

Tighearnan wrote: »

So I'm gonna go for a stab in the dark here and say that you dont like caitriona for some reason?

What if Cathal was in his office showing wnolan safe sex and some issue came to him? Or James for that matter? Your argument for Caitriona having some disadvantage doesn't make any sense as it's not exclusively a problem she would face?

I have no reason in the world to not not like her, I dont know her as a person.
Actually yeah thats a stupid analogy, apologies. It is 11.


Something will suffer on either her side or the students side. This could mean for arguements sake that 15 students drop out if she is too mental health heavy rather than not putting her eggs in one basket.
I think for me personally those lads who will drop out because of this will suffer more mentally in the long run if they are unable to even get money to stay in college.

mayo_lad

lkionm wrote: »

I have no reason in the world to not not like her, I dont know her as a person.
Actually yeah thats a stupid analogy, apologies. It is 11.


Something will suffer on either her side or the students side. This could mean for arguements sake that 15 students drop out if she is too mental health heavy rather than not putting her eggs in one basket.
I think for me personally those lads who will drop out because of this will suffer more mentally in the long run if they are unable to even get money to stay in college.

sorry could you elaberate on that it makes no sense to me
i'm currently helping caitriona with her campaign having had no intension to at the start of the week but once i had read her manifesto it became clear to me that she had some very good ideas on how to help students . because of this i campaigned for her and nothing else influenced me.
being her friend has nothing to do with campaigning for a person if they have a good manifesto (as i believe she has) makes it quite easy to support someone for there ideas alone

Concy B

There're a few points about Caitriona's plans which should be noted.

She has a LOT in her manifesto because she believes that it is all valuable and will add to the office of Welfare. Many of the things she has planned are to be implemented with the help of a volunteer Welfare Crew - she is already in talks with the UL Office of Civic Engagement to get this moving and include people seeking module accreditation having not received co-op.

Mental health awareness is huge on her manifesto because it needs to be. It is an under focused aspect of the office and of society in general so she is hoping to do her bit in removing the stigma and get people talking about mental health (this is obviously an issue that is way above the office but it is still with in the scope of the position).

On the issue of Finance. Caitriona went in to Cathal long before this campaign to discuss that area, amongst others, with him. He told her, and I'm paraphrasing the **** out of this, that he learnt on the job and that she would do just fine in it. Distributing financial aid is part of the job description, it has to be done. Saying you did just what was expected at the end of a job isn't remarkable, it's being able to say you did that and brought something else to the table. Caitriona has loads she wants to do; yes it's ambitious but it's also innovative, thought through and researched and realistic. She has the contacts made in the college, so she's not going in cold. She has all the courses done that Cathal is looking to do next year; not only that but she wants other students to do them!

Caitriona knows exactly what she's getting into. She also has fresh ideas she wants to implement and a plan with which to do so.

Peck3277

Spoke to Kennedy today and I really like his ideas on a more involved SU and trying to drive more interaction with the students. By the sounds of it he was very successful in getting the exchange students more involved. If he can bring what he brought to the international society then he would be a good choice.

Emma seems like a good choice but I think there's too much ambition in her manifesto, makes me think she is looking to 'throw **** at the wall and see what sticks' with the students, so to speak.

The others don't really seem to stand out or do much for me.

Quintis

Concy B wrote: »

On the issue of Finance. Caitriona went in to Cathal long before this campaign to discuss that area, amongst others, with him. He told her, and I'm paraphrasing the **** out of this, that he learnt on the job and that she would do just fine in it.

Catríona has a very good mental health aspect towards her manifesto, no doubt there, and the experience but finance is an equally important part of the office and unfortunately this is where she falls down slightly, her focus in her manifesto is almost purely on grants and SUSI,

Her plan to email students to warn them about the application and guide the through it is good but the backlog with SUSI is with incoming first year students and she has no way of emailing them and warning them,

Second aspect of this were grant application workshops, while also innovative they are impractical, grant forms are filled out and returning during the summer months before September, workshops are impractical

The hardship fund is an area which needs more focus, grants are issued externally and no amount of lobbying SUSI or student forewarning will help in reducing backlogs

Adam_M

Hi All,

Just going to respond to a few points here that have been raised in relation to my manifesto:

Subutai wrote: »

The referendum to rejoin USI is, I think, pretty poorly timed given that the largest university in the country has just pulled out. The usi is a deeply flawed organisation at this point, headed as it has been by die hard fianna failures from ucd for the past few years. It would be hard to point to a less successful lobbying organisation; not only have they failed to win a single victory for students, they've actually presided over worsening conditions for students while failing to muster an effective fight back.

Usi is little more than a place for su politicals to spend a few more years insulated from the poor Job market, the rest of us simply pay to support that without reaping tangible benefits.

Indeed those are arguments for during a referendum, but this year would be a poor time to have one. Usi is promising to restructure itself, we would be voting to rejoin an organisation in flux, it makes more sense to wait a few years and see what new structure they produce.

I don't disagree with your points with regards to USI. I'm not promoting rejoining USI, but I believe students should be given the option to decide whether they want UL to be an affiliated member or not.

You might also recall that DCU (an SU that is very comparable to our own) rejoined USI after over a decade on the outside. On top of that, given that UCD have a 'year of grace' and will remain an affiliated member of USI for the coming year, that UL is the only non-affiliated University Students' Union. That said, we cope very well without them and there hasn't particularly been a point this year where I've said 'God I wish we were members of USI.'

Jester252 wrote: »

I've talked to most of the candidate (Here's looking at ye Rockett, McCoy and Kennedy)
Both James & Catriona seem very passionate about the role while Cathal seems a bit more relaxed. That said both Cathal and Catriona have done some work as into how to transfer manifestos into real results. James seems a bit wishy with his.

Adam is very approachable and enjoys talking about his manifesto but something seems odd.
He has a couple of odd ticket items (LGBT right ). He seem very passive in the TST interview (as in he didn't really answer any question) and the lack of a champaign makes me wonder about his drive.

May I ask what you think seems odd?

Tighearnan wrote: »

His LGBT issues had me wondering also, as I didnt know much of his work related to this area and was fearing that it was just a buzz word for the poster. But after discussing it with him his ideas seem very possible and very beneficial. From working with out in ul in the past I think his plans would fit very well with the aims of the society which is always a good thing.

Thanks Tighearnan, it was good to clarify that issue with you, as I did with a number of members of the Out in UL committee, who were delighted with the aims detailed in my manifesto.

DJCR

Adam_M wrote: »

I don't disagree with your points with regards to USI. I'm not promoting rejoining USI, but I believe students should be given the option to decide whether they want UL to be an affiliated member or not.

So why have the referendum if you're not promoting anything. You are elected to make decisions and promote issues that will positively affect the students of UL.

You have just stated in the above post that you believe that the USI affiliation would be a bad thing. So why bring it up at all? Considering that you have previously been entrusted with the betterment and welfare of the UL Student population and you are running again with a view to doing so?

Is this just a manifesto filler? What exactly do you believe with regards to the USI?

*I say this from the point of view that a silence from the Presidency would be regarded as a negative. ie. The ULSU wishes to rejoin the USI..... President says nothing is hardly a thumbs up.

Cossax

Ttastic wrote: »

That's a bit harsh, especially with no proof.

How would anyone know a student wasn't registered properly unless the student told them?

J_E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uvKrvLw8tHM#!

Well this has shaken Emma Porter's credibility for me...I would have let it slide only it was apparently created by her campaign manager. I'm all for humour but this is kind of weird and a bit silly to be honest.

Jester252

Still better than Ming

J_E

Jester252 wrote: »

Still better than Ming

That is true...

Subutai

Adam_M wrote: »

Hi All,

Just going to respond to a few points here that have been raised in relation to my manifesto:



I don't disagree with your points with regards to USI. I'm not promoting rejoining USI, but I believe students should be given the option to decide whether they want UL to be an affiliated member or not.

You might also recall that DCU (an SU that is very comparable to our own) rejoined USI after over a decade on the outside. On top of that, given that UCD have a 'year of grace' and will remain an affiliated member of USI for the coming year, that UL is the only non-affiliated University Students' Union. That said, we cope very well without them and there hasn't particularly been a point this year where I've said 'God I wish we were members of USI.'

UCD will however be leaving following that, thereby depriving USI of funds, making it even less effective, if that's possible.

I recognise that you're not advocating re-affiliation, however my point is that a referendum in 2014 makes no sense. If students are to be asked about USI then it makes little sense to ask them before USI completes its restructuring.

SarahBeep!

Cossax wrote: »

How would anyone know a student wasn't registered properly unless the student told them?

Registration status of all candidates is checked by the Democracy Development Officer in ULSU.
The situation was not clear cut and I think it's bad form of people to be speculating.
People should be respectful of the privacy of someone who's been told something devastating.
ULSU and Rob's campaign have made official press releases and it should be left at that.

Slugs

Just to clarify, I am on co-op.

Can I just ask why there has been NO email promotions on elections? Asides from the email providing information on nominations, I have not received ANY information on the topic and this is an absolute disgrace. I understand that all three sabbats are not allowed to perform their duties as they are, that does not excuse the ERB from failing sending out emails to students. The ERB has always been focused on increasing voter turnout, I would have expected emails to be matching the enthusiasm and frequency of the reception. Candidates have mentioned the lack of Student interaction with the Union and the disenfranchising that has occurred between the two. This lack of emails certainly is not helping and with elections being held tomorrow, how the hell do you expect students to vote, particularly Co-op and erasmus students who are still entitled to vote and who I would imagine, without having statistics on hand, still account for a sizeable proportion of voters. I would not have known for elections had it not been for the fact that an associate of mine is running.

J_E

As a matter of interest, who is on the ERB this year? I don't know where they publish the list but I assume it's up somewhere.

SarahBeep!

Cydoniac wrote: »

As a matter of interest, who is on the ERB this year? I don't know where they publish the list but I assume it's up somewhere.

I am, as the representative from CRC.
Cian Spillane is the Sabbat rep.
There's an SU exec. rep and a C&S rep as well, but they can name themselves if they want.

(I don't know if it's published)

reunion

SarahBeep! wrote: »

I am, as the representative from CRC.
Cian Spillane is the Sabbat rep.
There's an SU exec. rep and a C&S rep as well, but they can name themselves if they want.

(I don't know if it's published)

This is meant to be public knowledge, however it for some reason is always kept a secret. The only time I knew of an ERB existing and who was on it, was from last year's elections from an independant news source.

How can we ensure ERB is doing a fair job if we don't know who is on it?

For all we know it could just be someone approving their own campaign but rejecting the other canditates material (it's not - but since this information isn't public, I can't be sure).

It's also interesting to note, I don't know who the C&S rep is.

Quintis

http://www.an****ed.blogspot.ie/2013/03/interview-with-cathal-ronan-candidate.html

&

http://www.an****ed.blogspot.ie/2013/03/interview-with-paddy-rockett-candidate.html

Is someone actually going around recording conversations???

SarahBeep!

reunion wrote: »

This is meant to be public knowledge, however it for some reason is always kept a secret. The only time I knew of an ERB existing and who was on it, was from last year's elections from an independant news source.

How can we ensure ERB is doing a fair job if we don't know who is on it?

For all we know it could just be someone approving their own campaign but rejecting the other canditates material (it's not - but since this information isn't public, I can't be sure).

It's also interesting to note, I don't know who the C&S rep is.

If you email roisin.monaghan@ul.ie I'm sure she will tell you.

reunion

SarahBeep! wrote: »

If you email roisin.monaghan@ul.ie I'm sure she will tell you.

This is meant to be public. This was raised last year and nothing has changed. No student should ever have to email 1 person to find out information about the elections. It should be posted online on ulsu.ie.



On a side note: now that Rob has been removed, there is less than 10 canditates, which means canditates can start using chalk!

Slugs

Glad to see someone's listening, but too little too late. 6 hours notice for hustings? o.O... Come on lads...

reunion

Slugs wrote: »

Glad to see someone's listening, but too little too late. 6 hours notice for hustings? o.O... Come on lads...

That has also been on the ulsu.ie website since last Friday. Some better protocols to inform students (email at the close of nominations, etc.) would be quite good.

djnr8

Cathals campaign video, and a good one at that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWv8EzGy7lk

AnFecker

Quintis wrote: »

http://www.anf uckeded.blogspot.ie/2013/03/interview-with-cathal-ronan-candidate.html

&

http://www.anf ucked.blogspot.ie/2013/03/interview-with-paddy-rockett-candidate.html

Is someone actually going around recording conversations???

Yes. However to conceal the identity of our interviewer for safety purposes (see Veronica Guerin) all candidates conduct the interview with a balaclava on their head backwards in a dark room.

OhMSGlive

SarahBeep! wrote: »

If you email roisin.monaghan@ul.ie I'm sure she will tell you.

I'll save you the hassle. I'm the C&S rep on the ERB.

Quintis

AnFecker wrote: »

Yes. However to conceal the identity of our interviewer for safety purposes (see Veronica Guerin) all candidates conduct the interview with a balaclava on their head backwards in a dark room.

Seems like someone was hiding something doing these interviews

Jester252

OhMSGlive wrote: »

I'll save you the hassle. I'm the C&S rep on the ERB.

Whos I'm?

AnFecker

Quintis wrote: »

Seems like someone was hiding something doing these interviews

Thank you, Captian Obvious.

Quintis

AnFecker wrote: »

Thank you, Captian Obvious.

An ****ed was in very poor taste publicly publishing a private conversation, if the 2nd person wasn't made aware of the conversation being recorded, there are many legal privacy issues here, and to a further extent defamation issues,
the author is trekking muddy waters here and is in danger of having the blog removed and if Paddy or Cathal took offence could be in serious legal risk, dodgy behaviour brings its consequences regardless of the humorous intent or not, that should have been obvious to the publisher of the blog!

Jester252

Quintis wrote: »

An ****ed was in very poor taste publicly publishing a private conversation, if the 2nd person wasn't made aware of the conversation being recorded, there are many legal privacy issues here, and to a further extent defamation issues,
the author is trekking muddy waters here and is in danger of having the blog removed and if Paddy or Cathal took offence could be in serious legal risk, dodgy behaviour brings its consequences regardless of the humorous intent or not, that should have been obvious to the publisher of the blog!

I think Paddy and Cathal knew that this was for the blog

AnFecker

Quintis wrote: »

An ****ed was in very poor taste publicly publishing a private conversation, if the 2nd person wasn't made aware of the conversation being recorded, there are many legal privacy issues here, and to a further extent defamation issues,
the author is trekking muddy waters here and is in danger of having the blog removed and if Paddy or Cathal took offence could be in serious legal risk, dodgy behaviour brings its consequences regardless of the humorous intent or not, that should have been obvious to the publisher of the blog!

<snip childish insults>
Nothing was done without the permission of the candidates. If you've been following our work you will see our open invitation to all candidates to conduct an interview. Almost all of them have replied with interest and good humour in taking part. They've been great.

<snip childish insults>

Quintis

Quintis wrote: »

Seems like someone was hiding something doing these interviews

AnFecker wrote: »

Thank you, Captian Obvious.

I'm guessing by this that the An ****ed person didn't make them aware they were being recorded

AnFecker

Quintis wrote: »

I'm guessing by this that the An ****ed person didn't make them aware they were being recorded

I suggest you read the reply we just gave you literally right before you said that.

djnr8

Quintis have you been following the thing at all?

An F*cked stated they were open to interviewing all candidates.
I'm sure if cathal or paddy has any problems with an f*cked they would have been aired already

Subutai

Quintis wrote: »

I'm guessing by this that the An ****ed person didn't make them aware they were being recorded

It was fairly obviously an interview for the blog. If you look at the questions and answers both make reference to it. Cathal mentions that he thinks they're funny. Did you actually read the article before getting offended?

Quintis

Subutai wrote: »

It was fairly obviously an interview for the blog. If you look at the questions and answers both make reference to it. Cathal mentions that he thinks they're funny. Did you actually read the article before getting offended?

I never said I was offended, I simply asked the question

djnr8

Quintis wrote: »

An ****ed was in very poor taste publicly publishing a private conversation, if the 2nd person wasn't made aware of the conversation being recorded, there are many legal privacy issues here, and to a further extent defamation issues,
the author is trekking muddy waters here and is in danger of having the blog removed and if Paddy or Cathal took offence could be in serious legal risk, dodgy behaviour brings its consequences regardless of the humorous intent or not, that should have been obvious to the publisher of the blog!

What question did you ask?

Inanimate Carbon Rod

Handbags, ladies!

AnFecker

Quintis wrote: »

I never said I was offended, I simply asked the question

I hope I answered the question satisfactorily. Believe me, An ****ed have great respect for all candidates and have no intention to do something harmful to them.

If you have any other questions please email anfecked@gmail.com

sceptre

I know that Paddy made reference yesterday to having an interview with the An****ed people. Might have been here, it was definitely typed somewhere by him. I wouldn't necessarily assume that the interviews were carried out without the knowledge and willing participation of the candidates.

Having said that, what candidates say on the campaign trail is actually reportable. Wouldn't it seem a little odd if Jimmy or Bridie Candidate was saying things but no-one was actually allowed to say what they'd said? I suspect that this would seem odd to most people if this was the case, which it isn't.

A few things I'd like to note. Notification of hustings seems pretty poor. Ideally, it should be a convenient forum for likely voters to see the candidates present themselves, outline their views and proposals and get verbally prodded by people who want to see if they're likely to be competent. Unfortunately, where the candidates are (largely) left to advertise hustings and let people know precisely when and where it's on, most people who attend tend to be supporters of the candidates. There's nothing wrong with the venue (KBG-12 btw) being packed to the rafters with campaigners (the vast majority of whom are students with a vote) but if people don't know where it's on and when it's on, you'll have a small crowd and be missing the group for whom the hustings is most relevant. I'd call that a fail.

Membership of the ERB shouldn't be semi-secret. It's not a big issue (really, it's not) but as the group responsible for the rules and conduct of the elections, they're in an important position with regard to the student body. There's no particular need for a veil of omerta, in fact there's a specific need for a lack of it. I'm sure they're good people, based in part on the people who have identified themselves as being on it but one of the basic principles of simple democracy is reasonable transparency. I don't think it's a big deal but it becomes a slightly bigger deal when there's a veil cast over it. Easy to resolve, that should be done.

I'm not sure why it particularly matters if people are campaigning for two candidates. It's been done since the dawn of time (well, since elections became popular) and it's always been done in student elections so it's a bit odd that it's suddenly an issue for people. If it is, which... well, most people probably haven't noticed and probably don't care. Is this an actual issue for some people? If it is, then it'd be really interesting to find out why. The universe is listening.

As it happens, I took a trip out to UL yesterday as I was hoping to catch up with a few people. I had tea, it was quite nice. I spoke to two candidates: Paddy and Catríona. Paddy I know largely through my own past involvement with the SU, it was a typical howya conversation and mostly nothing to do with the elections or campaigns or the price of cabbages. Had a quick chat with Catríona about what she's hoping to do though. Seems competent, driven and focused. For what it's worth, I don't tend to fling those terms around willly-nilly. Usual disclaimer: other candidates are available. Having said that, student mental health is quite important and has been treated as something of an afterthought by successive administrations over the years (that's not a criticism but it is effectively what's happened). There's nothing wrong with having a theme for the year, as opposed to a theme for a defined week. While getting the regular tasks of the job done as well, of course. Attitudes can take years to change but, as I said elsewhere during this week, even baby steps contribute to a longer journey. And, honestly, mental health is one of those things that all welfare candidates should be focusing on anyway. Being a student can be extremely stressful (as you all know). It's also a privilege and an opportunity but it can be a massive strain on mental health. The college provides services (medical centre, chaplaincy, counselling), pretty much all of which are under-resourced and there's a staggering level of people who drop out of courses for a variety of reasons but one of the major causes is mental stress. Whoever gets the Welfare job needs to take baby steps or, preferably, definite strides towards helping people with that. Individually, in groups or in a continual or periodic information campaign about the resources available both inside and outside the college. So, I think it's important but then I'm not influenced by lollipops.

Personally, I don't particularly care who you vote for or even if you vote. Democracy being what it is, you may as well take part in it in the only way that most people bother (once a year or once every five years for two minutes each time). It's important, even in the local area (and, apart from a residents' committee, there isn't much more local than an SU election) where not burning the building makes it a successful year. It actually is important.

Now, that's just one view. As it happens, it's pretty much correct but it's still just one view.

magicherbs

sarah o dowd who are the memebers of the erb

SarahBeep!

Ha.

Not even my name.

Ha.

magicherbs

so you're on the committee, the committee is a public committee, the committee has the power to remove candidates from the election, yet you don't have the courage to tell us who is on the committee. you should be ashamed of yourself.

SarahBeep!

Lol.

Your attitude amuses me.
Your manners amuse me even more.

Yeah, now I'm definitely not saying any more.

magicherbs

how mature. how did you get on that committee ? who can you report the erb to for being unprofessional ?

Jester252

Could the ERB not making them know to the student cause problems with this election.

Tighearnan

magicherbs wrote: »

so you're on the committee, the committee is a public committee, the committee has the power to remove candidates from the election, yet you don't have the courage to tell us who is on the committee. you should be ashamed of yourself.

you seem like the kind of person who wears a tinfoil hat so the government cant read your mind.

the erb is like any committee I'm assuming, one person records the minutes and to find out what was discussed you contact them i.e Roisin

Jester252

ERB
Example A as to why student distrust the Union.
But at least someone saw the irony.

Cian Spillane - Sabbatical Rep

Sarah Dowd - Class Reps Council Rep

Eanna Brown - Clubs and Socs Rep

Roisin Monaghan - Class Reps Development Officer

Roisin Lynch - Postgrad Students Union Rep

Liam Guilfoyle - Executive Rep

http://www.thomondstudenttimes.com/index.php/elections/277-elecref

magicherbs

Thanks to tst



Cian Spillane - Sabbatical Rep

Sarah O' Dowd - Class Reps Council Rep

Eanna Brown - Clubs and Socs Rep

Roisin Monaghan - Class Reps Development Officer

Roisin Lynch - Postgrad Students Union Rep

Liam Guilfoyle - Executive Rep
http://www.thomondstudenttimes.com/index.php/elections/277-elecref

magicherbs

How did these pack of jokers get on this Cmte