[El Siglo]

Firstly I must admit, I am not a member of any political party, I abhor politicians, radical types etc... I'm just expressing these views as a slightly disgruntled student.
With the complete lack of regard exhibited by the UCDSU, the overpaid, overzealous hacks that defend the construction of an unnecessary new student centre, that spend our money on drinking junkets, that are now defending health care fees, that carried out a piss-poor anti-fees campaign, that actually only ever represent the views of a minority of students, is it fair enough to say that they no longer have an actual mandate? Really, are they any use at all, why in the name of God are we puttting up with it? Seriously, it's a joke so it is, we're paying their wages and this is the service we get, some knobs interrupting our lectures for a joke of a 'protest' by the lake? I'm annoyed and sickened by them now, do we have to put up with them? Can we not just ignore them, start our union and negotiate with the college authorities, leave the UCDSU out in the cold as they have done so with us. The fact that this union purports to be some sort of bastion of leftist ideology (e.g. Palestinian article in last years SU booklet, the ban on coca coca cola etc...) and yet they're allowing charges to come in left, right and centre. Is there a chance that we could start a non-political union that literally represents the views and interests of students and students alone, and not some money grabbing future FF, FG, Labour politicians or crusty hippy leftists with no actual alternatives except sit-ins and protests by lake.
Can we do any better?

[Mardy Bum]

This is Ireland, crocked shenagains and bad leadership from the people in charge is a thing engrained in the Irish mentality that we just ignore and crib about to no affect i.e Dev Haughey Bertie all in between and now the current shower, ucd student unions no different.

[IrishKnight]

Funny, I was just trying to find if we (the student body) could force a vote of no confidence in the SU. Couldn't find anything within the constitution other than the whole referendum, which could work. Just get 666 people to sign a bit of paper to hold a referendum on the question of the student bodies confidence in the SU. Tis the only way I can see that happening. If passed, forced election in which we (those who care enough) can campaign for a RON vote for every position...

Some would say this would waste lots of money though, if only the SU could somehow ensure that this wouldn't happen, perhaps by, you know, doing what the students want...

[cruizer101]

666 is feck all if thats all it is. Sure a class of Science, commerce, Engineering, or some others would be 150.

[The_Minister]

My favorite union moment was when we bussed people to Rossport.

Still, overall the Union does good work and tries its best.

[Sringo]

As a matter of interest how much do members of the SU get paid?

I'm only new here so I don't know how things work but are they not voted representatives of the Student Body? A new SU would only weaken what little power the old student union has and cause confusion among the college officials with regards to who they should be dealing with. I'd say IrishKnight's idea of a no-confidence vote is much more feasible. But then again after a few years the new SU members would undoubtedy become as 'bad' as the old ones which would make the whole process pointless.

Perhaps a dictatorship is the only way to get things done...

[33% God]

It would be far better if people would actually begin to give a damn about the union. There is no reason why the union should only represent the minority of the students, and the only reason it does is because only a minority of students vote. If people actually participated in it then it might work. A second union will fail for the exact same reason, apathy on behalf of the majority of the student body.
However, that's not solely the student body's fault. The union has a responsibility to make people feel involved in the union. They act far more like a governing body than they act like a union. The student body IS the union, that's why it's called a student's union, not a student government, but that fact is lost on many, if not most, students. Perhaps the problem is compulsory membership, perhaps it is poor organisation, perhaps it is simple laziness on behalf of students, or a combination of all of that.
Either way we'd be far better of getting students invested in the union we have rather than starting a new one, which will fail for the same reasons the present one does.

[Kournikova]

Any form of a Union is obviously left wing. I don't see how a Palestinian article some how means they are all communists.

[IrishKnight]

Originally Posted by Sringo

As a matter of interest how much do members of the SU get paid?

Last year the Sabbatical Officer Wages, €110,000 and Staff Wages, €215,000

http://www.ucdsu.ie/about/union-budget/

Originally Posted by Sringo

Perhaps a dictatorship is the only way to get things done...

That's what I've always said

[El Siglo]

Jesus Colm McCarthy would have a field day with their budget!

[muffinman]

Yeah they get €22000 each for the sabbats..

As for them not having a mandate.. This has been said a million times before but every student is eligible to vote, and if the 18,000 non-voting students feel so strongly about how bad the union is, they should have voted RON for all the positions.. Simple as..

[RandolphEsq]

Originally Posted by The_Minister

My favorite union moment was when we bussed people to Rossport.

Still, overall the Union does good work and tries its best.

/tucks brown envelope into pocket

FYP

[errlloyd]

Can't we just vote in 5 new lads to the job? Il Sligo care to run, I dunno if I would vote for you, but you should.

[aequinoctium]

inquiries have been made regarding leaving the SU:

it would be a long a difficult process and i think you'll have to go to the USI as well.

if you leave the SU then you cannot avail of the SU shops, the student health services, that bus that goes between UCD and exam halls and various other things.

democratically, you should be allowed to leave and also to start a rival union. their response is that more than one union would weaken their stance, which in reality is not very influential to begin with.

my biggest problem is that they do not consult the students. i have not had a class rep in two years because my class sizes have been too small to get the required number of votes to elect someone in the group. when the SU does something stupid (a regular occurance), then it's too late when we find out and question them on it. and even those who have class reps have no communication with them. they have free reign to do as they wish, what they think is best: to quote one of the officers from last year "well i thought about it, and it's correct" - **** you!

[OSI]

Originally Posted by IrishKnight

Last year the Sabbatical Officer Wages, €110,000 and Staff Wages, €215,000

http://www.ucdsu.ie/about/union-budget/



That's what I've always said

Jesus christ, €370,000 on Ents! What a monumental waste of money. How does a student body spend well over a third of a million on parties and such! Show's exactly where the unions priorities lie, it is purely an excuse for a very cliquey group of students to party at every one elses expense and get paid doing it..