USI - Good or Bad so far? Thoughts?

fearanpost

Just wondering what everyone thinks of the USI thing and what they've done so far?? Im not a yes or no campaigner, just wonderin!

mp3guy

I think this statement sums up what I think:

"I heard some banter about them and student union elections, but other than that I've no idea who they are or what they do"

Liber8or

mp3guy wrote: »

I think this statement sums up what I think:

"I heard some banter about them and student union elections, but other than that I've no idea who they are or what they do"

Pretty much sums up all and any representative body of Students - the illusion of power.

philologos

OP: I honestly don't see what benefit they will have from what was already the case on campus.

BarryDoodles

Usi is great!!

-costs us 38k
-This year they demoted they're/our equality officer.
-And to compensate they increased the president's salary.


The only real argument against USI is that it is a national body with national concerns and that any national benefits it succeeds in getting would benefit NUIM regardless of whether or not we were a member... this of course is not a logical argument at all.

Did St. Pats only vote so overwhelmingly against USI because they're S.U commanded them to??

philologos

BarryDoodles wrote: »

Did St. Pats only vote so overwhelmingly against USI because they're S.U commanded them to??

St. Patricks is a part of NUIMSU. That's why they have an officer elected to the students union.

BarryDoodles

http://www.spd.dcu.ie/main/index.shtml

philologos

Ah right. You're referring to St. Patricks Drumcondra (teacher training college), not St. Patricks Pontifitical Maynooth?

BarryDoodles

Yep, they voted like 97% against staying in USI

leopoldbloom

To be honest, unless you're a sabbat, incoming or outgoing you will not have had any contact with USI yet.

USI is in the process of winding up for the year, and Maynooth is constantly kept up to speed with what's going on. I've spent over a week in total so far at USI events, working groups, meetings, discussions, conferences etc. and have learned a great deal.

It is my intention that every Maynooth student feels the effect of our membership of USI next year, and I have already made my presence felt at USI meetings, and have gotten to know the incoming officers.

There are several beneficial things coming down the tracks from USI next year which will be ready to go by September for 'regular' students, but the most important service USI offers is the vital tool of collective bargaining. In this USI is directed by its members - through their SU Presidents and Sabbats - how to deal with the HEA, the DES, the Government etc.

I think any reflection on USI at this point is premature, and, with respect none of the posters above could possibly know what they're talking about... yet.

It is entirely possible that the whole venture has been a fantastic waste of money - but we will not know either way for sure until at least this time next year.

fearbainne

Whats USI? did this happen this year??

Alt_Grrr

fearbainne wrote: »

Whats USI?

Good Question, one we may never know the answer to...

USI OR the Union of Students in Ireland is a National Student representative body who are kinda like a night club, 5 euro at the door and for that you seem to get nothing other then entry to the premises.

philologos

Is there any way of opting out of personal membership of USI?

banquo

I'll find out for you.

leopoldbloom

Bit of an update, as an example:

USI have developed a replacement Nightlink for students in the Dublin Colleges mid-week. Route A will run to UCD, Trinity Halls etc.

Since Maynooth SU joined USI, Route B will run from town to Maynooth once a night, midweek, for €5.

Jakkass, you don't have to use it if you don't want to.

philologos

leopoldbloom wrote: »

Jakkass, you don't have to use it if you don't want to.

True , but I will be still funding USI via my registration fee? Admittedly, I'm asking more out of principle than anything else.

fearbainne

Who pays for USI? the college or the SU? Or did i without knowing it?!

banquo

You pay the e5 on top of your registration fee.

fearbainne

banquo wrote: »

You pay the e5 on top of your registration fee.

and every1 hasta pay?? are you sayin we gave this crowd sumtin like 37 grand for a night bus to town?!! :pac:

philologos

fearbainne wrote: »

and every1 hasta pay?? are you sayin we gave this crowd sumtin like 37 grand for a night bus to town?!! :pac:

Even then, the bus is still €5 each time!

Alt_Grrr

leopoldbloom wrote: »

Bit of an update, as an example:

USI have developed a replacement Nightlink for students in the Dublin Colleges mid-week. Route A will run to UCD, Trinity Halls etc.

Since Maynooth SU joined USI, Route B will run from town to Maynooth once a night, midweek, for €5.

Jakkass, you don't have to use it if you don't want to.

wow, thats fantastic... really something we can all be proud of right there, since USI is now in the business of providing missing bus services, can we have better bus routes to and from places with poor access to public transport *cough* the places around Maynooth for example, it would be nice to have a public bus route to the university, Like the ones that pass my house everyday going to DCU and UCD... they are hardly full by the time they get to ether campus' anyway.

I mean hooray for perpetuating the stereotype that all students are interested in is getting wasted. but its not much good for most of us.

Liber8or

This is why I voted 'No' to joining the USI. Utterly pointless; like good salad dressing, it looks good and smells nice, but it simply has no sustenance. These fanciful ideas about bolstering the Student Union's efforts was purely a fantasy aimed at nothing else but recognition.

Its the same with regards S.U representatives who campaign for getting a second ATM on the South Campus, it will never happen - why? Because the South Campus is preserved ground which takes a shít load of paperwork to even get a window replaced, nevermind an ATM.

Seriously, I just wish we had candidates who would run with honesty and not promise unattainable events or facilities which only cater for the minority or people who like to just get drunk. Also, it would also be nice to help stabilise the S.U, instead of grouping up with fellow candidates in helping each other to get elected so you can "be better than the previous 'lot'". Establish a common ground, reaffirm good communication with students and quit the bull****. Too many people are influenced by the prejudices of S.U reps who simply seek to reinvent themselves or push their own agendas.

Go back to basics, then worry about providing entertainment. Students need support, not the kind of support encouraged by what comes out of a tap in the next 'Gathering' (a.k.a MOST AWESOMEMEST SHOW ON EARTH), but good communication and get to the heart of student problems.

Finally, the S.U is about students, its not about mutually beneficial 'friends' who belong to political or religious parties. The S.U should be completely devoid of political affiliations, we should not be represented by a bunch of wannabe Labourers or Fianna Fail'ers or whatever other group. It should be neutral and ready to criticise any T.D if students are being aggrieved by a new policy. We don't need the help of the opposition to succeed in raising student awareness.

Anyway, rant over. People will probably be upset/angry at this, but it is how some people I know feel with regards to the S.U, and I, for one, agree with them.

banquo

It's been 4 weeks. After pretty much no website for two years I put a new one up on day 9, despite having no FTP access from the offices. We're nearly finished a Program for Work that outlines most of our objectives for the year and will be available next week. Next week we'll be an official channel on this forum for taking queries and giving advice. By September (at the absolute latest) we'll have the online forum for clubs and socs to discuss their own internal plans, and a buy and sell section for student stuff. My office is beside Liz's and I've never seen someone be so helpful to such a great number of individuals in such a short amount of time. Aengus at work has to be seen to be believed.

We're going to have the best first year handbook we've ever had in the next few weeks. And then we'll have the best paper we've ever had.

And a few surprises.

It's been a month. Give us a chance. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

*Rob

Ms. Koi

Just an example of how active our new exec, I had a few ideas and contacted Liz about them. She has been nothing but proactive and helpful about my plan.
Constantly we are being given more information about what's happening with the new exec and what they are planning on doing.
Give the new exec a chance to develop and you will see great things!