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DCU SU elections candidates.

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 229 ✭✭Katniss everMean


    riemann wrote: »
    That statement is 100% on the money.

    Personally I couldn't care less who is elected but I know that a strong person is needed next year to help avoid the reintroduction of fees.

    DCU seem to be more bothered about how their football team does rather than the welfare of most students anyway.

    Also Conor seems like the two ends of a c-word so with a bit of luck he wont get in and that would be nice, although its in the best interests of the powers that be that he stays in the college so he can do what he does best aka kick a ball so I wouldnt hold my breath.

    if this was the reason he was running he could have just went for a masters lot less hassle :) I really hope he is asked this at the debate.

    Personally I hope Alan gets it, his goals aren't unachievable and he is not under the allusion that he alone could prevent fees, no DCU SU president could, but working with the USI (I know where not a member anymore) I believe he could at least help in a positive way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 310 ✭✭public_enemy


    With regards to Education and Welfare, I don't get the impression that any of them at all are running just to improve their CVs, it's a tad narrow minded to judge them on who needs the job most from a future careers perspective. While Leanne and Mark seem competent enough, John Murphy is the best candidate, he has the clearest idea of what he wants to achieve in the position and he has the experience and the skills to get the work done.

    Andrew Harford seems to be the best person for Campaigns & Information right now. He's given lots of very clear information on his opinions and his intentions.

    In terms of President, I was always likely to vote for Al, knowing him from his Clubs and Socs work. After seeing the other two at hustings though, there's really no choice in the matter.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭cocoa


    must say I've been very impressed with the level of competition this year with posters about all over the campus. I didn't manage to get to hustings so most of my views are based on the posters and knowing certain of the candidates.

    I do wish that they'd put a bit more substance in the posters though (mind you, I wished the same around the time of the general election so maybe it's wishing in vain...). Some candidates do actually give info but when I see simply a picture and 'Vote for <name>' I make an instant 'probably won't vote for <name>' note in my head. The worst was 'Vote for me, I'm a nurse!'.

    I reckon I'll vote for Keegan but cillian looks like he wouldn't do a half bad job either so won't mind if either of them gets it, still haven't heard anything about mortimer apart from the annoying 'vote for me for no obvious reason' nonsense... For the other positions I'm not too worried, will take another look through manifestos on Monday.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 33 Slurmsy


    Angelkat7 wrote: »
    if this was the reason he was running he could have just went for a masters lot less hassle :)

    Wouldn't that cost him a lot of money though? At least this way he'd get to still play for DCU and it wouldn't cost him anything. In fact he'd be getting paid due to being the SU Pres.

    Not that I'm saying this is why he's running, but it is an interesting angle all the same. Makes as much sense as people running as a CV exercise, as some posters are have claimed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 birthdayboy


    cocoa wrote: »
    I do wish that they'd put a bit more substance in the posters though (mind you, I wished the same around the time of the general election so maybe it's wishing in vain...). Some candidates do actually give info but when I see simply a picture and 'Vote for <name>' I make an instant 'probably won't vote for <name>' note in my head. The worst was 'Vote for me, I'm a nurse!'.

    The majority of posters are just there to get people to remember the candidates names to be honest and most of them have the name of their websites if you want to dig up more info. Most candidates also have facebook/bebo pages or at least an email address if you want to find out more information.

    Also that poster your talking about actually says 'Trust me! I'm a nurse!' and gives a website with details of the candidate.

    The information on almost all the candiadates is out there if you want it and by and large the posters tell you how to find it, or you could bother to attend things like hustings, union council or listen to the debates etc.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭cocoa


    The majority of posters are just there to get people to remember the candidates names to be honest and most of them have the name of their websites if you want to dig up more info. Most candidates also have facebook/bebo pages or at least an email address if you want to find out more information.

    Also that poster your talking about actually says 'Trust me! I'm a nurse!' and gives a website with details of the candidate.

    The information on almost all the candiadates is out there if you want it and by and large the posters tell you how to find it, or you could bother to attend things like hustings, union council or listen to the debates etc.

    yep, I didn't bother to go to hustings because I'm lazy, and I definitely haven't read all of the manifestos posted in this thread...

    It's hardly unreasonable to vote for candidates who have already convinced me why I should, and not vote for candidates who can't be bothered to include such information in their most obvious form of publication.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 birthdayboy


    well considering as how theres no candidate at all with any real information in their posters i would have thought its less a case of not bothering and more a case of believing that its better to keep them to a simple image and name that stays in the mind of whoevers looking at it especially when you see how cluttered the entire uni is with everyones posters and the average attention span of students.

    happy voting either way


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 30 loumac


    Just a slight error in Angelkat7's post. The correct time for the DCUfm broadcast is 3.05pm on Monday. Tune in www.dcufm.com


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,063 ✭✭✭riemann


    loumac wrote: »
    Just a slight error in Angelkat7's post. The correct time for the DCUfm broadcast is 3.05pm on Monday. Tune in www.dcufm.com


    No thanks.

    Sounds like it will be very good though. Politics and some communications students. Right on the money.
    Have a back up server just in case...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 30 TheDeparted


    boomboom wrote: »
    To be honest, if Mortimer was elected it would be a disaster for DCU students. Someone who doesn't know what the USI is is in no position to become a president of university student union.



    DCU students can be a despondent and apathetic lot, but I hope that the many sane students who genuinely care about DCU will not lose their heads and instead will care enough about the college to make a decent decision on polling day, instead of voting someone in for the laugh. It'll only be funny for about two minutes....

    Yeah, because knowing what the USI is is really important. My ass. People take student politics way too seriously, talking about manifestos and such. In reality, the SU has zero influence on policy, zilch.

    What you want is someone who could get a good social scene going.

    What do you mean it'll be only funny for two minutes? Do you think the college is going to fall apart because Mortimer doesn't know what the SUI is?

    Anything Mortimer needs to know about USI or mundane SU rules (such as the order of speakers..real important that, FFS) he could learn on the job.

    He's going to walk it, mark my words.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭gizmo


    Yeah, because knowing what the USI is is really important. My ass. People take student politics way too seriously, talking about manifestos and such. In reality, the SU has zero influence on policy, zilch.
    Yes, knowing what the Union of Students in Ireland is is quite important for a Student Union President. Seriously, what does that really say to you about a potential candidate?
    What you want is someone who could get a good social scene going.
    That is only part of it. What you should really want is someone knowledgeable on the workings of DCU and who is reliable and hardworking enough to get the job done. Someone who, when you go to them with a problem, you can rely on to help you and sort out any difficulties you may be having. What good is having a great Freshers Ball if, when you go to them with a serious problem about your course they have to go and ask someone else how to approach it and then when faced with the relevant University body, don't know how to deal with them? Clearly you are looking for someone quite different than myself and indeed many of the other people in here. Of course, that doesn't make you wrong but it does mean that perhaps you see the SU President as fulfilling a different type of role than they do or indeed, should.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,762 ✭✭✭✭Winters


    Yeah, because knowing what the USI is is really important. My ass.

    Yea, your totally right. Sure look at being president of Ireland I'm sure thats the same. You dont need to know anything about that job to do it either. You just need to be able to pump out some loud LadyGaGa and crack open the drinks cabinet and get the party going to entertain the foreign dignitires.

    People take student politics way too seriously, talking about manifestos and such

    I like a manifesto, put it to the test-o. Dancing in the disco, bumper to bumber, Wait a minute, where's me jumper, where's me jumper, where's me jumper? Oh no.
    . In reality, the SU has zero influence on policy, zilch.

    Some representation is better than no representation. With your attitude of su presidents having zero influence so why bother to elect someone who wants to make something of it we'd still be stuck with home rule and have lovely coins with the gorgeous queen lizzy the second on them.

    What you want is someone who could get a good social scene going.

    Usually people have friends for that sort of thing. You must be lacking in that department.

    I'm sure having someone who is suppose to represent student interests and help guide and support students spending all the time they have in the bar with their little group of friends to get a social scene going and not actually tackling proper issues and concers is a good thing.
    What do you mean it'll be only funny for two minutes? Do you think the college is going to fall apart because Mortimer doesn't know what the SUI is?

    The fact that he is ignorant to the position's actual role; what it contains, the reach it has to people beyond that of the ones who want to just go socialising (like yourself?), the role it plays on a more national level, how the role goes beyond just the gates of dcu and represents all the students of the college eleseware, not knowing about the SUI shows an absolute lack of research or interest into the position and misunderstanding that it goes beyond that of a flamboyat gay party planner.

    Anything Mortimer needs to know about USI or mundane SU rules (such as the order of speakers..real important that, FFS) he could learn on the job.

    Yea, it will be great when a month before his term finishes he finally learns how he could have helped all those hundreds of students that came asking their representitive for help only to be met with the blank face of someone too ignorant of the position to actually have an interest and knowledge about it.

    He's going to walk it, mark my words.

    Be another sad day for the students of DCU when someone who is inept and unwilling to do research an important post for them gets it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16 boomboom


    TheDeparted, your post MUST be tongue in cheek. You cannot be serious....
    In reality, the SU has zero influence on policy, zilch.

    Yes, not a huge amount, but would you prefer to have no representation a all?
    What do you mean it'll be only funny for two minutes? Do you think the college is going to fall apart because Mortimer doesn't know what the SUI is?

    Jesus, it is bloody important that the SU pres is aware of the USI, the fact that he doesn't shows his ignorance of how SU politics operate. If he doesn't know this, a basic fact, god only knows what else he doesn't know.
    he could learn on the job.

    As could a monkey. But we don't want to take that risk do we.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,787 ✭✭✭g5fd6ow0hseima


    Winters wrote: »
    You just need to be able to pump out some loud LadyGaGa and crack open the drinks cabinet and get the party going to entertain the foreign dignitires.

    The return of a full bar, complete with an allround good social scene is in my opinion, the utmost priority for the DCU SU president for next year. We can all see how dead the campus is this year. If it wasnt for the quite 'colourful' dramasoc and stylesoc people, the place would resemble some sort of drap 1970s U.S.S.R. university. I can see where your coming from regarding the role of the SU president but at the same time, you have to realise that if they fail in providing us with a good social scene, they've failed as a president.
    Winters wrote: »
    I like a manifesto, put it to the test-o. Dancing in the disco, bumper to bumber, Wait a minute, where's me jumper, where's me jumper, where's me jumper? Oh no.

    I can sum up student politics in a better, and more realistic way - 'down with that sort of thing'.
    Winters wrote: »
    Some representation is better than no representation. With your attitude of su presidents having zero influence so why bother to elect someone who wants to make something of it we'd still be stuck with home rule and have lovely coins with the gorgeous queen lizzy the second on them.

    And glasgow ****in rangers....

    Winters wrote: »
    Usually people have friends for that sort of thing. You must be lacking in that department.

    It is college, where is the one place you would expect incoming first year students to make friends?
    Winters wrote: »
    I'm sure having someone who is suppose to represent student interests and help guide and support students spending all the time they have in the bar with their little group of friends to get a social scene going and not actually tackling proper issues and concerns is a good thing.

    Of course the issues will be tackled, all that comes with the role. Getting a decent bar off the ground wouldnt require 40 hours a week. Even lecturers have office hours.
    Winters wrote: »
    Be another sad day for the students of DCU when someone who is inept and unwilling to do research an important post for them gets it.

    Not taking the mans side, but how do you know of all these incompetencies?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 116 ✭✭tnkrbell


    I can sum up student politics in a better, and more realistic way - 'down with that sort of thing'.
    Careful now!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭dizzyniki


    Ok lets get this straight......style soc and drama soc candidates have every right to run for su election...for crying out loud theyre all members of the student community....people stop being so shallow and try to understand that these people could be super talented mathemeticians or rocket scientists...highly unlikely but open up to the possibility.

    Third year in DCU and the college has seriously gone WAY down hill. it's not the student unions problem that its gone like this....its our own..... we all negelected the student bars and now we've lost them....has nothing whatsoever to do with the su. I'm not from Dublin but I know that now more than ever the college is filled with Dublin's own and they just want to hop on a bus and get out of campus...... nights out are spent in their local bars and clubs and it was always the likes of us "culchies" that were the ones who supported the old and nu bar.
    How many SU candidates are from outside of Dublin????? I think theyres a lot!!!!

    icon13.gifNow one thing thats really grinding my gears is that people think the likes of Conor Mortimer is going to change the face of the election....a GAA representative is a great choice.....MY EYE!!!!! icon8.gifConor Mortimer was standing outside the hub and his little party of followers who are always rallying around him were the ones handing out all the flyers.... i swear to God i dont even think that conor is aware that he is running for an election......:confused: If he actually gets it I think that itll be a FIX!!!!! I mean how on earth could a man who has everything handed up to him because hes a football player understand the trials and tribulations of student life...he wouldnt have a clue.... and if he does get it, it will only be because he will more than likely be able to continue playing football for DCU...... Dcu is so full of it.....they love saying to the first years that the college has an impressive alumni....thats coz they beg these "celebrities in their own right" to come to DCU....they invent a course for them and then they lure us into thinkin its such a buzzing college!!!! DCU gives nothing to the students who don't do anything for them.... COnor Mortimer is the most arrogant man in DCU and who needs that in a student union..... WE'D all be banned from every event in DCU...he'd have his little following standing at the doors of the hub asking us for ID and then sending us away.....

    :DI'll be voting for Cillian Byrne anyway and thats because one less vote for mortimer is trying to help the cause... cillians a lovely guy, very involved in college life and understands stresses and strains of students... i dont know the other canditate but i have every faith that Cillian would do us a great job and would be a successful SU representative. Not only is he charismatic, intellectual and intelligent he is such a peoples person and well deserved of the title.....

    I am urging everyone to vote LeeAnne Heneghan as Education and Welfare officer.... Sure she's a drama head but she has it firmly on her shoulders and is one girl who will fight the cause to the death..... she really can deliver on her promises and she knows just as much as anyone else how the education system in DCU needs to work for students and not us working for them.....

    I don't know about anyone else...have to do my research and then i'll be back for a rant.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,063 ✭✭✭riemann


    dizzyniki wrote: »
    If he actually gets it I think that itll be a FIX!!!!! I mean how on earth could a man who has everything handed up to him because hes a football player understand the trials and tribulations of student life...

    Amen dude. Good to see not everyone has been taken in just because they may have heard his name somewhere before.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭dizzyniki


    I'd echo this.

    Also, I'm voting for Mortimer, just to annoy all the losers. Ah, it'll be funny when he wins. Good to have an outsider in the SU you for a change.

    Mortimer is an outsider.........he's on a completely different planet at the best of times!!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,302 ✭✭✭sunnyjim


    Ok lets get this straight......style soc and drama soc candidates have every right to run for su election...for crying out loud theyre all members of the student community....people stop being so shallow and try to understand that these people could be super talented mathemeticians or rocket scientists...highly unlikely but open up to the possibility.

    No one is asking for mathematicians or rocket scientists. And the only references to the Style/Drama soc cadre was when someone pointed out that it's been style/drama for quite a while, and it's gotten progressively worse. Not my opinion btw.

    You've hit the nail on the head about how GAA players are treated in DCU, but you can't just reflect that upon Mortimer. He's looking to be elected for whatever reason - what it is, no-one but him will know - but if you look at a lot of people who run for these positions, are they all doing this because its their nature to oh-so-altruistic?

    The "he's in it to play football" argument is unfair, if you look to previous SU sabbaticals. Did any of them feature in the Fashion Show? Or in any musicals in the Helix? Maybe a good question for Monday night would be worth asking, like will he be playing ball during SU office hours.

    Sport and art are so polarising among the student body - I'm looking forward to reading about beautifully dirty campaigns by all quarters... By the look of this thread, it's a dead cert.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭dizzyniki


    someone did mention in a previous post that if Mortimer wanted to continue his dcu football career then why doesn't he just do a masters??? this SU election is a much more viable option... Ok he's able to play football at county level and does a pretty dam good job for DCU also while studying ... there's no denying that. But i know plenty of footballers and they have never had any hassle from lecturers about anything....and i mean they have an excuse for everything....its just not fair. i just think that someone is behind his campaign using him as a puppet and pulling his strings... if mortimer is elected the chances are that the social scene in DCU will be consist of GAA ball after GAA ball and the college's main focus will be to promote DCU as a champion college of sport. I'm shocked that Mortimer has gone for this role and fair play to him if it was really his own decision; but because all my dealings with this guy would seem to suggest that he has no more interest in anything to do with college except nights out with the lads looking smug when pushing through queues and playing the foosball, I just cant take him seriously!!! A masters is a different ball game than a degree...excuse the pun....but it is.... the time and effort required by someone to undertake a masters leaves hardly anytime for recreation, never mind having time to train and play sport at county level. this will be a great election, purely because he is running for president. i cant wait to see how DCU votes....


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭Grudaire


    No offense to Mortimer, but given his website I don't think he's a viable option... Plus the posters of him are atrocious!


    And lets not generalise - it's not GAA players that are treated well - it's the footballers. The rest of the GAA clubs struggle along!

    Vote for pedro


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 56 ✭✭dizzyniki


    website I don't think he's a viable option...

    thanks for the link......i babysit kids who could have rolled out a more imressive website. have you noticed the DCU colours are used as the template for his campaign.....im telling you it's a conspiracy and DCU are the ones behind it!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 237 ✭✭goodgodholmes


    Just back from the debate... a great debate from Keegan and Byrne.

    Mortimer was a total joke, and if he's elected, I don't know what I'll do.

    My vote is firmly with Keegan, and tonight reaffirmed that, but I also relaised that Byrne would do a great job as well. He would be a great president.

    But Keegan just KNOWS what he's doing.

    I hope he gets it, really I do.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 36 Jasirl


    Cillian actually impressed me with some of his points but it was VERY obvious that him, and Conor had discomfort with two questions in particular, "What is your experience etc" and "What are your personal reasons etc".

    conors (i don't bother to capitalise or punctuate his name at this stage) answer for the former, "I go out alot". I honestly think that's the summary of his campaign, he goes out alot.

    Well clap clap for that. I can go out as well but that doesn't mean im entitled or privelidged enough to manage the DCU's students.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭DemocAnarchis


    Jasirl wrote: »
    Cillian actually impressed me with some of his points but it was VERY obvious that him, and Conor had discomfort with two questions in particular, "What is your experience etc" and "What are your personal reasons etc".

    conors (i don't bother to capitalise or punctuate his name at this stage) answer for the former, "I go out alot". I honestly think that's the summary of his campaign, he goes out alot.

    Well clap clap for that. I can go out as well but that doesn't mean im entitled or privelidged enough to manage the DCU's students.

    Conor was an embarrasment to himself. "Sure i wouldn't know anything about the student union", "im a quick learner" , ****in hell. Cillian seemed a lot more competent at speaking than I expected him to be, but thought his idea of online booking for the hub at weekends displayed a complete naiivity/lack of knowledge about what the actual situation is atm.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 190 ✭✭Landa2


    what was with the mass DCU GAA exodus around the same time that Conor had his meeting with the professor??

    Were they all going to cheer him on there as well?? ;)

    Seems that with his intention to let the other positions look after the fort when he's away with his GAA duties.. he was intent in leaving the debate in from what i can see are the very capable hands of both the other candidates for the position, while he attended his sponsor meeting....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭gizmo


    Right, after finally listening to the Radio debate I think I've heard as much as I'm going to with regards these candidates. Thus here are my thoughts on the matter broken down into the sections as they occurred during the debate.

    Introduction

    Cillian
    Quite impressive, especially his involvement with the Access service. Dito for the Digicell internship.

    Alan
    Lot's of involvement in Clubs and Societies, especially some of the more high profile events. He was a class rep and actually went to Union Council. Current Chair of the SPC and sits on the HMC and Office Of Student Life.

    Conor
    Absolutely nothing relevant to say which would help with the job.

    Other questions

    Cillian @ The Bar and The Hub
    Supports bringing an outside body in to run the bar and trying to get the Hub open during the weekend. Interesting idea in getting the latter done too, shows he's realistic and has thought about it.

    Alan @ The Bar and The Hub
    Knows the situation with Trispace and how they got in. Also identifies their failings. Again knows the real reasons why The Hub is closed and why it's ridiculous that it's closed. His point regarding security, while lambasted by others, is still quite relevant especially in the context of the cost of maintaining it.

    Conor
    Was asked about the 24hr computer lab and suggested going to the heads of the faculties about it saying it wouldn't be hard to do. This is completely incorrect, CSD would be the first port of call with this issue and only with their backing could you then go to Estates and make your case. He was then asked about the canteen prices and replied by saying "I know the manager in the canteen and she's very approachable, it's not hard to just go in and simply say to add more into the food, the only thing thats missing is the amount you get for what you're paying for" and then "if you're simply to say that's the problem, they'll put more into the amount and there you go, you're actually getting worth your money." Does he honestly thing it is that simple? Does he also now know there is a Canteen Committee which hasn't actually met in an age? Regarding his pull in the gym, that would probably be useful in getting people in for those classes.

    The USI Issue

    Cillian
    Considers the financial cost to be the main reason we're not a member. While this is partially true the reason was we left as we were getting nothing from the Union which, at the time, was accomplishing nothing.

    Alan
    Knew the money involved in the membership and mentioned that we didn't need to join as we wouldn't get anything from it.

    Conor
    Rehashed Cillian's answer.

    The College View's survey - Now personally I have a couple of problems with this. Firstly, 200 students is not an accurate measure of the feelings of the general student population and they would also need to realise that most students wouldn't actually know the real advantages of joining the USI, therefore I find their 81% figure in favor of it moot.

    Cillian
    Good point in relation to students having a different opinion if they had to cough the cash up to join themselves.

    Alan
    Recognised that students need to know WHY we don't need need to be part of the USI and that we're members of FUSU which gives us all the info we need on the current issues at hand all for free.

    Conor
    Said if everyone was a member of the USI and if they were the ones talking to the Minister for Education then a stronger point could be made in opposition to fees. Incorrect, not every university student union is a member of the USI, three out of the seven Universities in this country are not members - University of Limerick, NUI Maynooth and ourselves.

    24 Hour Computer Access

    Cillian
    Gave realistic reasons why it would be difficulty to achieve i.e increased security costs.

    Alan
    Also identified the funds issue in this happening. Gave an alternative by suggesting that the security office be away from its isolated position in the carpark and closer onto campus, for example, the library. This would mean at least the library could be kept open.

    Conor
    Suggested moving one or two of the two security guards at the entrance to Campus Residences to a computer lab in order to keep it open. Reasoning was that there was no point in having them when there are no events on in the Hub. They are, however, located there to stop people bringing unauthorised guests home from town so this would facilitate a change in Campus Res policy which isn't going to happen anytime soon.

    Canteen Prices

    Cillian
    Acknowledged the prices were rather high but disappointingly didn't give any ways of tackling the problem.

    Alan
    Suggested organising some sort of proper demonstration against Trispace. While it does sound good in theory, after the last campaign I can't see this working.

    Conor
    Said it's now not easy to go and ask them to lower their prices, contrary to what he said earlier. Suggested the University subsidise the food which could work however since Trispace is part of DCU I'd wonder how this would work in reality.

    Campus Residences Prices

    Cillian
    Answered the question regarding the Accommodations Officer. Suggested forming a committee made up of SU representation, students living on Campus Res and Campus Res themselves to tackle some of the current problems. Mentioned Santry being one of the cheaper places to live in Dublin and compared the prices of a house in Campus versus a house in the surrounding area on a per month basis.

    Alan
    Didn't really make much of a point here as he was interrupted by Cillian, this should have been stopped by the interviewer tbh.

    Conor
    Wants them to reduce the rates given the profits Campus Res are making. Alternatively keep the prices the same but get rid of the fines for various things.

    Criticisms of the current SU

    Cillian
    Feels there needs to be a greater amount of transparency within the SU. Wants the minutes of the Union Council made available to the student body.

    Alan
    Pointed out that the SUs use of Life.dcu.ie isn't good enough, especially given the money spent on updating it. Also answered the student apathy topic, talked about increasing the amount of information available to students so at least they know what's going on. Also made the point that we don't need the USI to find out about these events as we'd get that info from FUSU.

    Conor
    Answered the question regarding student apathy when it came to the protests regarding fees. Said there were more important things to do rather than going to those sorts of events. Quite puzzling coming from an SU President.

    Back to the USI - This is where I felt the interviewer was extremely pro-USI, almost to the point that he was antagonistic towards some of the candidates on their stance.

    Cillian
    Said that IF the funds came from outside of the SU then it's something that could be looked into.

    Alan
    Didn't have much faith in the poll that was taken and reiterated the point that there would be no gains in rejoining the USI.

    Conor
    "You're as well to be with them, as not be with them." Well about €50,000 (or €5 per member) and no sign of any gain from their membership would contradict this completely.

    Where is the money for future development on campus going to come from and their opinions on the state of the computer facilities in the college.

    Cillian
    Said that with the rise in registration fees the University will have more money at their disposal to pay for some of these changes, especially if fees are reintroduced.

    Alan
    Pointed out the need to be careful when requesting more computers as it would mean less space for other things on campus.

    Conor
    Didn't really say much bar that there wasn't enough computers to go around during the end of term. Then said there were plenty of computers around the campus. o.O


    The Fees - are they the way to go?

    Cillian
    Made an excellent point on the thresholds for deciding who pays fees and about the need to be very careful as the cut off point could be quite small and hence prohibitive for some families. Also mentioned the need to stop the Government taking money from the registration fees if full fees are introduced.

    Alan
    Realised fees were coming and it was input into HOW they are introduced that is most important at this stage. Highlighted the need for registration fees in order to pay for for SU/SPC/SCC activities.

    Conor
    Spoke about DCUs high level of a registration fees and mentioned the possibility of having a rally against raising them higher.

    Final Roundup

    Cillian
    Did abit of an Obama here, said he's going to bring change to the role. :)

    Alan
    Reiterated the fact that he knows how things work in the college, where money in the college comes from and where it should go.

    Conor
    Repeated what he said previously.

    Right so, my opinion on the situation. Well I must say I was quite impressed with Cillian's performance in the above interview. He identified several problems and gave some decent solutions on how to tackle them. He's definitely a worthy candidate for the position anyway.

    Conor, unfortuantely, is at the opposite end of the scale. He really doesn't seem to have a clue what the position entails or an idea on how to effectively tackle some of the problems facing students. His performance at the Debate this evening also left a lot to be desired from what I've heard.

    Finally we have Alan. Now while Cillian was extremely good Alan just seems to KNOW what he's doing, something that would clearly be extremely beneficial to him if he was elected. This is strengthened by the fact that he has the most relevant experience of all the candidates. Therefore, in light of all of this, I'd consider Alan to be my ideal candidate.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 33 Slurmsy


    That's a great breakdown gizmo. thanks a lot. Need to hear the debate myself but it seems clear that Alan might be the candidiate for me. Also, I'd hope after this that those supporting Mortimer purely because of his GAA background see that he isn't up to the task of SU President.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 324 ✭✭randomcountdown


    Christ not only are SU elections a total joke in DCU but you all type big stupid walls of text about it all too.

    Hilarious.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭Diarmsquid


    Thanks for the sum up there. Any idea if we could get the radio interview online anywhere?

    And I think I might know who was interviewing them, and he used to work for USI, so that would explain his pro-USI attitude.


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