ULSU Elections 2014 (Voting Thursday March 13) #VoteUL

sceptre

To vote, click here. Voting will take place on Thursday 13 March.

This is a list of candidates confirmed at close of nominations at 6pm on Friday, 7 March.

Elections will take place on Thursday 13 March.

As manifestos are issued, feel free to discuss your choice of candidate and why. Some of the candidates have boards.ie accounts and may reply. As usual, If you are campaigning for a candidate or are a candidate, I expect you to declare that interest if posting. This will be done on the honour system, though in the interest of fairness I will point the finger at anyone who disregards this - for anyone who aims to deceive there's a good chance you'll be found out and I'll point the finger loudly (and probably forum ban for the duration). Any attempt to sock puppet will get a loud and public slap. Let people know your connection in your first post and there shouldn't be a problem - actually I'd like to see campaigners posting. There's no reason to shill, just declare your interest. Accusations of undeclared interest should not be made on-thread as it'll derail any discussion, use the report post button and I'll look at it.

If candidates have a webpage and they want it listed here, I'll edit in one link per candidate to an official webpage or facebook page (one per candidate) if they (or their campaign manager) let me know by PM at any point during the week. You may have both of these - one of them will be listed here. It's your choice as to which you want listed and your own responsibility to keep information up to date and accurate.

Additionally I will include details of any blogs declared as independent if I'm informed of them. Any blog with any association to a candidate is, by definition, not independent.

I'll add any other relevant/necessary details to posts that I'll insert immediately below this one. Note that if you want to get replies to this thread sent to you instantly by email, click the "Follow thread" button on the top right of the screen.


If you didn't read the rules, you probably should have:) Broadly speaking, it's "don't be a dick".


Here are your candidates:



President
Lorna Bogue URL="https://www.facebook.com/VoteBogue"]webpage[/URL
Mark Nother URL="https://www.facebook.com/mark.nother.ULSU.president.election"]webpage[/URL
Tommy O'Bolguir URL="http://www.facebook.com/Bolger.for.president.ulsu"]webpage[/URL


DP/Welfare
Caroline Hennessey URL="https://www.facebook.com/carolforwelfare"]webpage[/URL
Shane McCormack URL="https://www.facebook.com/ShaneMcCormackForWelfare"]webpage[/URL

Academic
Mike Ford (unopposed and deemed elected) URL="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Forde-VP-Academic-Elect/433256833476018"]webpage[/URL



List via the ULSU facebook page and via boards member TwilightFan88. Candidates listed in alphabetical order by surname


Good luck to all candidates!

Expected hashtag for the twitterati is #VoteUL.

TwilightFan88

Following the close of nominations we can announce that the following individuals will be running for ULSU Sabbatical positions:

ULSU President,
Lorna Bogue, Tommy O'Bolguir, Mark Nother.

ULSU DP Welfare,
Caroline Hennessey, Shane Mc Cormack

ULSU VP Academic,
Mike Ford.
Unopposed and deemed elected. Congratulations Mike!

We wish all candidates the best of luck with their campaigns next week!

Elections will take place online next Thursday the 13th of March. Every registered student will be eligible to vote, please make an effort to get to know the candidates and make an educated vote!

Emma


VIA SU FB PAGE

Polar Ice

sceptre wrote: »

Expected hashtags for the twitterati are #VoteUL and #VoteUL14.

This happens every year driven by the above post. Don't split the focus - keep it all on #VoteUL

sceptre

Polar Ice wrote: »

This happens every year driven by the above post. Don't split the focus - keep it all on #VoteUL

Actually, originally I listed one, yet people insisted on using two but I'm happy to pretend that anyone pays attention and have thus edited out the second one.

Jester252

This is going to to one sided.

Lorna and Caroline are the ones to beat. Both have good Su and C&S ties

Shane and Mark are dark horses. Both are involved with the SU but seem relatively new.

The less said about Tommy and the SUs past deals the better. His would/should be targeting non/anti SU people.

Popoutman

(Interest: personal friends with Lorna and Carol)
Going to be interesting. I'd say that the C&S choices will be the two girls, and tbh I'd expect them to do good jobs in those roles, knowing both of them. The fight will be to get the wider apathetic student body, that cares not for C&S, to vote at all and to vote for these two. I'd expect a fair proportion of the apathetic group to vote against those that are and have been active in C&S purely out of begrudgery.

Carol should be able to tap into the International soc vote, and will likely have the support of both the OPC and the Kayak club given the involvements there.

A pity that there wasn't another candidate for VP/Academic, I prefer it when the successful candidate can say that they have a mandate from the student body and end up having to campaign and get recognised on campus as it really helps the successful candidate to be approachable.

marblepaper

Quite lifeless and boring overall.

Personally I would have loved to see Emma Porter in the mix again.

Lorna.
Carol.
Mike.

Jester252

Well Shane could be in trouble

https://www.facebook.com/ShaneMcCormackForWelfare

NewShoes

Jester252 wrote: »

Well Shane could be in trouble

https://www.facebook.com/ShaneMcCormackForWelfare

Mark has one too..... https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Nother-1-for-ULSU-President/621482297906994?fref=ts I imagine they were already approved before putting them up?

Polar Ice

Dante on Fire wrote: »

I cannot wait to see the standard of students running this year. I have been approached by 2 students interested in my position and one thing is for certain each position is going to be hotly contested.

What happened between them approaching you and close of nominations? Scare them off?

Chavways

The campaigning was allowed to start as of 6pm Friday evening as far as I know.

Dante on Fire

Polar Ice wrote: »

What happened between them approaching you and close of nominations? Scare them off?

You see this quite often, FYP's mainly and hearing who's running against you etc. In terms of scaring them off, both of the candidates that expressed interested did not seem fazed by the level of work or the difficulties described to them.

That being said very well done to Mike and best of luck to all the candidates. Interesting group running this year. Looking forward to next week and to Hustings.

Cadroc

President
Lorna Bogue - Can see being a huge contender. Will have a big backing from c&S .
Mark Nother - Also can see being a huge contender. His campaign started strong, and his manifesto looks good.
Tommy O'Bolguir - I've seen nothing from him yet, and reckon he's in it for the guaranteed job rather than for the good of the union.


DP/Welfare
Caroline Hennessey - Not seen anything from her yet but from what I know of her Shane will have to move mountains.
Shane McCormack - Seriously who is this guy? I keep getting added to his group and I don't have a clue who he is.

Academic
Mike Ford (unopposed and deemed elected) Congratulations Mike. Best of luck with the year ahead.



No offense intended toward Mike, but what happened to RON?

Well_Then

Cadroc wrote: »

what happened to RON?

I think it was removed this year because they could not successfully implement it into the e-voting system (But will be there next year I think!)

Jester252

Well_Then wrote: »

I think it was removed this year because they could not successfully implement it into the e-voting system (But will be there next year I think!)

That doesn't make sense. How can they not add an extra candidate.

Well_Then

Jester252 wrote: »

That doesn't make sense. How can they not add an extra candidate.

I don't know the full details as I only heard it off hand but they had issues implementing it properly or something so weren't able to this year.

wnolan1992

I heard they asked ITD for advice on how to do it.



This resulted in several bricked servers, days of panic and multiple deaths.

Jester252

The ERB can really hurt a campaign.

Shane has to wait until tomorrow to get his manifesto approved while Mark has his out

Chimaera

I find it amusing that they didn't have their manifestos ready well ahead of time so that they'd be clear of the ERB as soon as nominations were closed. Doesn't bode well for someone who wants to be in a senior position in the union.

reunion

Well_Then wrote: »

I think it was removed this year because they could not successfully implement it into the e-voting system (But will be there next year I think!)

It's odd because I tested the server this year with 2 fake candidates. Why not use one of those fake candidates as RON?

I'm sure there is a valid reason to not permit RON as an option; however I would like the SU to state why and how they are going to resolve it before the next election (it should have also been an option last year as far as I'm aware).

phish

Can I just say if I'm going to be bribed I expect sweets not strawberries and peanuts!

Moxy Shazbot

Does any one have a link to their manifestos or if they can post them here? I briefly saw one of them on a mates phone and I think a dissection of them is in order!

Also does any one know if ulsu elect is coming back?

Interestingly the slogan for Lorna's campaign is

"Demand: better ULSU services
Demand: Exam reform
Demand: A president who returns her salary to the students

Demand Lorna Bogue for ULSU president."

https://www.facebook.com/VoteBogue full manefesto available here. The third line is an interesting one. What do people think?

To declare allegiances, I'm already decided that I'm voting for Carol cause she is a friend and she is great, and I know all three presidential candidates so I'm voting for inanimate carbon rod in the presidential race.

Tommy Bolger's campaign video may not show him in a very presidential light, or put forward any campaign ideas or anything of substance.... BUT it is really really funny and makes him look like he's good craic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbfuzMmvts

reunion

Deleted User wrote: »

Demand: A president who returns her salary to the students

I don't demand this; I am 100% against this. This sets a bad precedent for someone who wishes to run after Lorna. The ~€15,000 salary it is now is about the same as working in a petrol station for 5 days of the week so it's not exactly extravagant. Additionally, I would prefer pay wasn't a factor; imagine if someone needed the ~€15,000 to live and had to repay a student loan? Someone's personal financial situtation shouldn't be a campaign point.

MonkeyWolf

I'm with you on that, she is trying to make it seem like she is making this huge contribution back to ULSU. In the bigger scheme of things it wouldn't really do much. Proper and efficient running of the SU would get more money back I rate.
I also feel some of the things she is trying to bring in on the exams side and repeats is just giving students more excuses to not put the hours in and have a second chance to save themselves from not studying/ working throughout the semester.... others thoughts??

I don't believe Lorna has much support from C&S... she has a massed a few enemies in her time, and everyone knows she joined C&S Exec to put it on her CV and improve her profile for the ULSU elections.

Anyone hear anything about Soul Week which was her baby (at least she spoke about it at c&s council a lot) but nothing came of it... i heard great plans but the week went completely a miss, i doubt it will be back next year it was a great idea.

Moxy Shazbot

Lornas manifesto:
Action
My first action as President would be to donate my wages back to Student Services leaving myself with €150 per week take-home pay. This will represent a saving of over €14,000 to your Students’ Union. This is a personal decision that I will be taking and I wouldn’t expect anyone else to do it, however, I have personally taken this decision for several reasons
Eamon Gardner 2.0 Completely not neccessary from a financial aid point of view but hey her money
• Many students upon graduation are currently being expected to take a JobBridge position, or to accept a much reduced unemployment benefit.
Many? I think not.. UL has one of the highest employability rates in the country. Maybe their grades arent good enough? I don't know but I'd need to see her research
Taking this wage voluntarily means I will have a greater standing to campaign on a national level on these issues. The Irish state continues to fail us and your SU should represent you on a national level.
Pro USI? - Waste of Money
Student Nurses are also currently paid under the minmum wage for very difficult jobs. I would like to reflect the reality that they face in their working lives in order to campaign for them in an empathetic way.
Said every year
• Many current students are expected to live on a reduced grant payment while at the same time paying higher fees. This wage cut reflects that reality.
Many? once again wrong - figures speak louder
• The savings to the Union will be used to concretely benefit ULSU members. 50% will be given to UL’s disability services
fair enough
and 50% will be used to create an additional emergency student hardship fund, which will be granted without expectation of repayment.
Already in place just not advertised. Also isn't that the welfare officers role?
Furthermore, I will be pursuing higher contributions from the University
so more money from students? that's where it comes from.. alot of homework not done her.
and will be looking for contributions from other organisations.

I am not interested in being President for the pay, I want to put my money where my mouth is and work solely to benefit the students. I believe that this new approach to student politics will benefit students.

Advocacy
In terms of advocacy there are many issues that I would like to represent ULSU members on. I believe that the SU should function in the same way as a Trade Union. So if there are issues that need to be advocated for we should be using collective bargaining to affect change and ensure that every student in UL has the best possible experience of their time in University.
Some of the Issues I would like to advocate for:
• An improved Co-op program where the university fulfills its duty to provide students with real choices and monitors student experiences to prevent abuse. Failing that, the provision of better alternatives to Students. The current alternative program for students who do not get co-op is not broad enough in terms of content and should be more of an opportunity for students to improve their degrees and Final Year Projects.
Sounds like an academic officer promise
• A removal of the limit on the number of exams a UL student can repeat and a lowering of the cost of repeating an exam. Also, the removal of the payment on having exam papers rechecked. In UL we pay €171 for each exam repeated, with a cap of 2 repeats per semester. In NUIG by comparison there is no limit on the amount of exams you can repeat and a flat fee of €200 covers all repeats, regardless of how many you sit. In UCC there is also not a cap on the number you can repeat and individual repeats cost €50 with an upper limit of €240 in total. Our practices seem unusually punitive and I will definitely be questioning them at the highest levels.
fair enough
• Strongly advocating for students who have different requirements and advocating that their requirements are met. Particularly students with Disabilities, who have found that vital services that assist them in gaining education have been quietly cut in recent years. I also would like to create more awareness of the issues that students with disabilities face and believe that our very strong student council is the way to go about this.
again sounds more like welfare

Reality
I can’t promise that these will all come through, and my experience in the SU so far means that I know what I can and can’t promise. What I can promise is that as President I will do everything in my power and explore every avenue to protect the interests of students and particularly those who are struggling right now. This is a Manifesto you can keep. It’s time for your Students’ Union to start critically questioning the practices that are taken for granted in UL which adversely affect your university experience.
I think you're running for the wrong role Lorna.. Sorry just my opinion

Can some one post the rest of the manifestos I'm not on fb

Moxy Shazbot

Deleted User wrote: »

Tommy Bolger's campaign video may not show him in a very presidential light, or put forward any campaign ideas or anything of substance.... BUT it is really really funny and makes him look like he's good craic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbfuzMmvts

I personally laughed.. But from a voting point of view not a hope.. He'll be the most liked but least voted for.

I eagerly await to see his manifesto. I know he does alot of charity and can be serious when he needs to but I dont think that video will do him any favours in regards to a pres election, he'd def get in for Campaigns officer - ya know, if it was still there.

reunion

MonkeyWolf wrote: »

I also feel some of the things she is trying to bring in on the exams side and repeats is just giving students more excuses to not put the hours in and have a second chance to save themselves from not studying/ working throughout the semester.... others thoughts??

The exams idea is a fantastic one; while I was lucky that I never had to repeat anything, I don't look down on anyone who does. Generalising that it's due to people not studying or working is totally neglecting actual reasons why people mightn't perform to their potential during an exam.

MonkeyWolf wrote: »

I don't believe Lorna has much support from C&S... she has a massed a few enemies in her time, and everyone knows she joined C&S Exec to put it on her CV and improve her profile for the ULSU elections.

I think it would be disgusting for someone to abuse their position that way so I'm glad she isn't attempting to do so. Many people might know her from C&S if that's why they vote for her, then the other candidates didn't publicise themselves well enough.

MonkeyWolf wrote: »

Anyone hear anything about Soul Week which was her baby (at least she spoke about it at c&s council a lot) but nothing came of it... i heard great plans but the week went completely a miss, i doubt it will be back next year it was a great idea.

You can't really blame someone for trying a good idea. good things start small and it might be back next year with some good lessons learnt.

MonkeyWolf

You nailed that, Moxy.
Especially the whole thing with students not getting jobs/ coop-it is because their grades and or cv are not worth looking at... When I did coop, only one person in engineering got coop without pay.

A lot of things there aren't her position.

djnr8

No allegiances this year but keeping an eye on it anyway.

This has to be the most communist looking election poster I have ever seen

djnr8

djnr8 wrote: »

No allegiances this year but keeping an eye on it anyway.

This has to be the most communist looking election poster I have ever seen

In Russia president pay you

Reiver

This is brilliant. Right down to the backwards style pseudo-Cyrillic lettering! Think I might go and watch Dr Zhivago again or The Battleship Potemkin.

I'd like the plaza to be renamed Red Square.

Jester252

Well I know who I'm voting for ULSU president and he didn't have to do anything to get my vote.

Tommy, haven't hear a single good word about him

Lorna, I want a leader not an activist. Can you clear up your campaign message? I'm not to sure if you're running for ULSU president or protesting the ULSU president.

RON, ULSU doesn't want to give students the option

Jester252

Facebook pages

President

Tommy Ó Bolgúir

Mark Nother

Lorna Bogue

Welfare

Caroline Hennessy

Shane McCormack

Education

Mike Forde doesn't have a page up yet, still required to inform students of his plans

Russellynx

As the great ULSU juggernaut drove itself into the ground, a phoenix was borne of the ashes. That bird has flown away but has left many fledglings to take her place. Not least of which, is Lorna Bogue.

Lorna Bogue is a leader and not just that, she is a courageous leader. We know this because she took on one of the most poisonous chalices in UL today, An Focal newspaper. While her tenure was not a complete success, we can admire her for taking on the role most others wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

Secondly, and what I actually like most about her is, she is surprisingly extremely literate and a very persuasive orator. Unlike other ULSU candidates past and present, who really couldn't string two words together, LB is a master of poetry and rhetoric. We see this through her success in the UL Debating society, competing in the world debating competition.

Why is this of any relevance? The most important aspect of the sU president is advocacy. They are our voice in the council chambers. In those board rooms and ante-chambers, our president is the SU voice and representative, it is the meekest voice and that with the least experience, so it's important we have a Tiger in there not a Cheshire cat.

The cornerstone of student politics, in Ireland, Europe, all around the world is Socialism and Socialist policies. Why do these values resonate with the student classes and why do they disintegrate as the same people grow older? That is beyond the scope of this boards post but what 'I will say, have you ever seen anyone with a stronger socialist policy than Lorna Bogue?

Forgoing the lion's share of her SU salary/stipend is really putting one's money where one's mouth is. I think it would bring a tear to even Stalin's eye. A voice of the people, for the people.

And Tyranny trampled them in Limerick's gutter
Until Lorna Bogue came along and cried
The call of Freedom and the call of Pride
And Slavery crept to its hands and knees
And 2014 cheered from out the utter
Degradation of their miseries.

jonny_bravo

Jester252

Better dead than red

Beargrylls01

I usually take little to no interest in matters in the student union, and have no idea who any of them are.
My housemate has an interest in it and I said I'd look into it a bit more.

I am sure every student in UL would rather she keep her 14 grand, rather than us benefit from the 1 euro 16 cent each, and do a real job getting things done. The facebook page says she will 'advocate' for things, which has always done pretty much nothing in the past.

I know people will say it's alright for me to say it from my armchair, but hopefully the others will offer real ideas rather than someone who wants to return the money allocated for the position because she doesn't seem confident in achieving any real change, perhaps it's a nice line on the CV.

Moxy Shazbot

Marks Manifesto

So What Will I Do For You??

Student Union & Council

Extended sabbatical officers office hours
Not your call, has to be agreed on by the sabbats afaik. Also office hours are 9-4? I believe but 44 hours has to be fulfilled
Improved rep-student communications
how?
Improve communications between you and your union
how?
Improved SU website features
really needs to be done but also, much?

Ents

Ents team/working group
Increase in Ents revenue
Improved events/line-ups
This has absolutely nothing to do with you, found out its keith whos employed full time to do this ie why the CSO was abolished (i think?) but a swift kick up the ar*e re charity week line up would be great! But yeah it does need to be looked at, woeful so it was. other then fresher/charity week who does he book? - sorry im going off point now

Library & Study space

Continue pressure on Library Issue
you kinda have to do that any way
Increased study space during exam periods
where?
Online study room booking
I like this idea but needs more expansion


Nurses

Strong vocal pay campaign
Placement quality review
Union representation at nurses forums
again isnt this academic officer? could be wrong but also like I said with lornas mentioned every year

Grants & fees

Pro-active campaigns
SUSI workshops
Extension of student emergency assistance fund
extension? doesnt actually exist per se, but any way not your job. welfare

Co-op

Student review group
Stream-lined website
whos gonna pay
Improved placement reviews
how? can't really force students to do good reviews

All in all, has some good ideas, but needs more explanation but it did say short one so I'm more than happy to be corrected. Seems to be involved and proactive over last year (How long was he planning I'd love to know)- but needs to stop using other officers jobs as points (as I pointed out in lornas)

He's got my No.1 ish... for now.. I need further explanation.. Now Next manifesto please.

djnr8

Jesus Lorna Bogue's campaign is like something from Triumph of the Will. It's literally like Nazi Propaganda! As artistic and all as it is (kudos to the designer, I like it), I can't help but feel she's giving off the vibe that she thinks she is a major international superpower.

Moxy Shazbot

djnr8 wrote: »

Jesus Lorna Bogue's campaign is like something from Triumph of the Will. It's literally like Nazi Propaganda! As artistic and all as it is (kudos to the designer, I like it), I can't help but feel she's giving off the vibe that she thinks she is a major international superpower.

LOL.... KOB the second coming.. I wonder if lornas middle name starts with an O. :pac::pac::pac:

FionnK86

Is there anyone campaigning to reopen the North Campus Spar, my friends all said they really need a shop closer than over the living bridge at night?

Anyone attempting to reopen could get a whole load of votes from those who have pre-booked to live their next year?

Well_Then

FionnK86 wrote: »

Is there anyone campaigning to reopen the North Campus Spar, my friends all said they really need a shop closer than over the living bridge at night?

Anyone attempting to reopen could get a whole load of votes from those who have pre-booked to live their next year?

The North Campus spar is what essentially nearly bankrupted the Union three years back. Anyone who campaigned for that would be called out very very fast and probably be seen as unsuitable for the job.

Jester252

Do you think that Bogue is pissed that Mark got the colour the red

Moxy Shazbot

Jester252 wrote: »

Do you think that Bogue is pissed that Mark got the colour the red

To be fair he did get it by default. :pac::pac:

Chimaera

There's always an element of the President overlapping a bit with the other roles so I'm not that bothered there.

Moxy Shazbot wrote: »

Lornas manifesto:
Action
My first action as President would be to donate my wages back to Student Services leaving myself with €150 per week take-home pay. This will represent a saving of over €14,000 to your Students’ Union. This is a personal decision that I will be taking and I wouldn’t expect anyone else to do it, however, I have personally taken this decision for several reasons
Eamon Gardner 2.0 Completely not neccessary from a financial aid point of view but hey her money
• Many students upon graduation are currently being expected to take a JobBridge position, or to accept a much reduced unemployment benefit.
Many? I think not.. UL has one of the highest employability rates in the country. Maybe their grades arent good enough? I don't know but I'd need to see her research
Taking this wage voluntarily means I will have a greater standing to campaign on a national level on these issues. The Irish state continues to fail us and your SU should represent you on a national level.
Pro USI? - Waste of Money
Student Nurses are also currently paid under the minmum wage for very difficult jobs. I would like to reflect the reality that they face in their working lives in order to campaign for them in an empathetic way.
Said every year
• Many current students are expected to live on a reduced grant payment while at the same time paying higher fees. This wage cut reflects that reality.
Many? once again wrong - figures speak louder
• The savings to the Union will be used to concretely benefit ULSU members. 50% will be given to UL’s disability services
fair enough
and 50% will be used to create an additional emergency student hardship fund, which will be granted without expectation of repayment.
Already in place just not advertised. Also isn't that the welfare officers role?
Furthermore, I will be pursuing higher contributions from the University
so more money from students? that's where it comes from.. alot of homework not done her.
and will be looking for contributions from other organisations.

I am not interested in being President for the pay, I want to put my money where my mouth is and work solely to benefit the students. I believe that this new approach to student politics will benefit students.

All this sounds lovely until you analyse it!

The problem with this idea is the difficulties it creates for the next President and the funds the money is diverted into.

She proposes taking a €150 per week stipend, which amounts to €7800 over the year, leaving €7200 to be used in her funds. €3600 is not going to go very far at all in Disability Services; neither is it going to help a lot as a hardship fund.

What do those funds do next year when the President decides they'd actually like to be paid for their time? It's not unusual for public services to be capped in their budget, so chances are the money put in by Lorna would be reallocated elsewhere and then the Disability Service have to fight to get it back next year.

Advocacy

<snip>

• A removal of the limit on the number of exams a UL student can repeat and a lowering of the cost of repeating an exam. Also, the removal of the payment on having exam papers rechecked. In UL we pay €171 for each exam repeated, with a cap of 2 repeats per semester. In NUIG by comparison there is no limit on the amount of exams you can repeat and a flat fee of €200 covers all repeats, regardless of how many you sit. In UCC there is also not a cap on the number you can repeat and individual repeats cost €50 with an upper limit of €240 in total. Our practices seem unusually punitive and I will definitely be questioning them at the highest levels.
fair enough

And we're done here! The reason for repeats being capped is to prevent unscrupulous individuals gaming the system.

With no limit on the number of repeats, a student could feasibly decide to fail half of their exams during the term and elect to repeat them. She at least doesn't mention removing the grade cap, though given the romantic nature of this proposal as is I'd wager it's on her mind.

Those who have had genuine problems and end up failing can redress this through existing mechanisms without having to pay for it (I-Grade system). Retrospective I-Grades are available.

Costs could potentially be looked at. But recall, rechecking an exam involves time on the part of staff/faculty both in the processing of the request and the checking itself. It's not unreasonable to be required to cover this cost. The cost of sitting the exam first time around is covered within the tuition and registration fees, so any additional work is chargeable.

Moxy Shazbot

Shanes Manifesto - Welfare

Mental Health
Increased awareness of services available
That's already the welfare role so that's a cop out
Continuous online campaigning
Already being done - cop out
Raised awareness of symptoms
I like this idea, but it is done on the website (but who visits that eh)
Bi-Monthly mental health awareness campaigns
I'll believe it when I see it but hey if you can go for it
Daily updated online blog where students post concerns annonymously with professional advice & feedback
Who's going to be giving the professional feedback?? because I can assure you it won't be yours - this needs to be expanded

Sexual Health
Reintroduce Shag week
did they get rid of it?
Marie Keating Foundation on campus
thats a just a phonecall away good name drop
Raise awareness of mens and womens sexual health issues
already a welfare officer role - cop out
Discreet STI packs available
there's a shed tonne of this info both in the welfare office and outside it
Free condoms during shag week
Is was informed there was no longer free mojos - thanks J - maybe bring back free condoms. I had no issue with mojo

Services
App: Find lectures/lecturers/ services available
First Seven weeks already did it! Maybe make it for an iphone
Online Blog/Site where users can post anonymously and get professional feedback and advice
you said that already, nice filler
Continue work with welfare team
thats your job - cop out
Make single semester housing more accessible
how? there is already single semester housing available although it could be revamped
Goating
fair enough
Easy access to transports services available
I'm sorry what? explain

Financial Aid
Raise awareness about financial supports within the college and on a national level
already the welfare job - cop out
Promote apps and services available to help with financial planning
fair enough
Inexpensive high quality dinners - suited for budgets and delivered for your convenience
interesting, but how do you plan on doing this what models have you looked at?
Source more supports available in the SU for those struggling financially
from what I remember last year the financial aid was the strongest in the country according to your man who was there. But hey go for it more money more help


All in all. I heavily doubt he'll be getting my vote or my support. Alot of the manifesto points are filler of what the role entails or at the very least some of his ideas which I like 2/3 need to be explained. Also, what does he study whats his background etc? don't really know anything about him.. but hey prove me wrong guy

Next Manifesto please.

Jester252

FYI the free Mojos where replaced by cheap Durex.

Moxy Shazbot

Carols manifesto!

Who Am I?
My name is Caroline Hennessy, best known as Carol, and I am a fourth year English and History student. I have been involved in Clubs and Societies since I started in UL in 2010. I am currently the Secretary of the International Society and have previously been involved in committees in the Debating Union and Fan Forum Society. I was a Class Rep from first to third year and am currently the Clubs and Societies Branding Rep.

Why Am I Running For The Position of DP/Welfare Officer?
I am putting myself forward for this position as a way of giving back to the UL community. I am so lucky to have had a wonderful four years here in UL and I hope that, should I get elected to this position, I can contribute to other students’ college experience. The student population in UL have great potential and I believe that we can use this potential to make the UL experience bigger and better. I am competent, enthusiastic and compassionate and feel that I would be an excellent addition to the Union.
I'm a big softy really. Atleast she has explained why she has running bit more info here then Shanes so thats a one up

Manifesto
• Welfare Walks and Chats with Carol- Visibility and connecting with the student body is of great importance to me. I would take an hour each week to walk around campus to talk to students, listening to their concerns and taking their suggestions on board. It is a simple idea but one which I believe will make a difference to the relationship between students and the Students’ Union. I also hope to encourage an increase in student feedback by placing ‘suggestions’ boxes in various places on campus – particularly North Campus which I hope to incorporate more into the Students’ Union activities.
Grand shane has this aswell, I'm just unsure if people will talk back.. I like the suggestion box idea but people could very easily take the pi*ss outta it. But hey go for it

• A Student-run Helpline - I would like to examine the feasibility of setting up and running a student helpline, something akin to the Samaritans model. I would like to explore this idea with help from the university. I feel that it is important to try to put something in place. I have examined helplines that other universities have put in place and would strive to work with them towards similar facilities. I would hope to run this in conjunction with students, in particular those from GEMS, the Nursing Faculty as well as the Psychology department within UL. I believe that these students, amongst others, have a wealth of information and skills which could be developed and used to create a service which aids fellow students.
I believe some one ran with this before I have my doubts but it seems there has been some research put into it. Quick one though, whos gonna pay??

• Campaigns – I hope to build on campaigns such as Mental Health Week and I would like to bring back a Sexual Health and Awareness Week. Both are issues of concern amongst the students of UL and I hope to highlight them. Campaigns would involve providing information on the topics and encouraging student engagement. I would also like to organise some long-running campaigns such as a Pay-It-Forward campaign.
already done as the welfare officer - but seriously whats happened to shag week? In terms of long running what do you mean and how would you go about it? - side note michael o mahoney from councilling had this up and running 2 years ago

• Because UL is Happy! - I hope to make UL a happier and healthier campus. I will strive to do this by simple methods such as having weekly campus runs with the aim of joining the Great Limerick Run.
that was previously done - was it successful?
The aim of the runs will be to promote physical and mental health and to raise money for the year’s chosen Charity Week charities. I will also provide information on healthy eating and talk to students about both physical and mental health.
already done so thats a cop out - again vast about of info sitting in the welfare office - but yeah go for it
Good eating habits and regular gentle exercise are proven to improve physical and mental health!

• Suicide Prevention and Support – this is a topic which is extremely relevant to UL. I would like to run suicide prevention campaigns with organisations such as Pieta House as well as raising funds for suicide prevention charities. I also hope to organise for a group from UL to take part in suicide prevention events such as the annual Darkness Into Light Walk/Run.
nice idea
An important part of improving suicide awareness in UL is working in conjunction with the Counselling and Chaplaincy services already in place.

• Improvements in Financial Aid
how would you improve it?– Financial Aid is an enormous part of the role of Welfare Officer. I hope to improve student’s awareness as to what kind of financial aid is available to them as well as fielding queries about grants.
cop out tis the welfare officers job


All in all not bad.. personally I think its better then shanes, more ideas rather than filler and buzz words and from the opening makes it seem like she cares. In saying that has to expand on a few points. At this moment she has my vote. But needs to build and expand on a few points.

when are the husts?

goldencrisp62

spoke to carol and shane, both seemed nice people. carol probably swayed me more than he did, although I am not a massive fan of the canoe club.

shane didn't have great sweets either tbh.

I saw some table handing out strawberrys and other healthy crap?! wtf.

there must be three or four teams wearing red t shirts is there, I've seen nothing but red all over the place hard to distinguish who is who.

nobody for president has campaigned me yet nor have I seen any of them, I'll probably vote tommy just cause he seems to enjoy a few tins and we need someone to keep the place lit now that Rockett is leaving!!!

definitely voting for him now that I've seen his video, hope he's half as good craic in real life.