So what's wrong with the SU?

I think its fine provided it doesnt stretch into other topics alright. I'd say we have one SU thread and confine it. If yourself and Dec want i'll just read and double check it Ian

crash_000 wrote:

I'd say we have one SU thread and confine it. If yourself and Dec want i'll just read and double check it Ian

would you please? I've trouble keeping conscious while reading these posts tbh.. Just not quite my cup of RedBreast

foxybrowne, that's a good idea.

back on itemisation of complaints mode:

Today was the USI Lobby of the Oireachtais. A semi annual event, it's a day for meeting with TDs to inform them of what students want to improve 3rd level education.

The gist of it (from the USI word doc that's on UCDSU's site, linky below):

HOW WILL IT BE ORGANISED?
§ USI to organise all arrangements
§ USI will contact Oireachtas members inviting them to attend the lobby by the week of the 13th March
§ USI will send out all information for CO members with this Fact sheet [Lobbying for Results document]
§ USI will make a presentation to National Council on the first night of Congress to build interest & support from members
§ CO’s will hopefully disseminate information to their members about the lobby through their local unions
§ CO’s should try to get all members who wish to attend to write to their Constituency TD’s & Senators to request a meeting with them at least a week before the lobby i.e. Tuesday 28th March [Draft letter to TD’s contained in Lobbying for Results document Appendix 3] It has been previously stressed that this is by far and away the best way of ensuring attendance from TD’s and Senators
§ USI’s theme for the day centres on issues of funding around “Access to Education” [Grants, SAF, Fees etc] and will be presenting a policy proposal on same to all attendees on the day
§ USI has produced a ‘How To Lobby’ document [Appendix 4] to help members to do so effectively on the day
§ USI will produce a Q & A sheet for members to help them with their arguments if this is deemed necessary

USDSU posted details about this event on their website on the 3rd of March:

http://www.ucdsu.net/newswire.php?story_id=1021

Details on USI's webby here:

http://www.usi.ie/pages/funding-fairness.php

I hadn't heard anything about this from TCDSU. Trinity has branches of most of the political parties on campus, with some very involved, opinionated members. There's also a large cohort studying politics, economics, etc, who probably have a lot of opinions on how they'd like to see the future of education develop.

And, there's every student who has had to pay the registration fee, negotiate the complications of applying for a grant, work part time to support themselves, had to wait days/weeks for an appointment with any of the underfunded support services in college, needed a book that the library didn't have enough copies of, worried about childcare, etc.

I'm presuming that some of the officers might have gone along. Was there a push to publicise this amongst the rest of the union that i missed? Did anyone that we paid for to go to the junket at USI congress continue their "guys, i really, really want to represent your views" pledge once it stopped involving getting pissed in a hotel?

Given that everywhere i've turned in catering this year there's been signs telling me things will cost more "....in consultation with the SU president". Given that the most savage set of disciplinary rules i've ever seen for campus residents was outlined to them in an email that read "..in consultation with the SU welfare officer". Given that the charges for the Health centre doesn't appear to be an issue our officers want to campaign on ('waiting for the figures from college' is the new 'the dog ate my homework').........i'm a little apprehensive about what whoever who did go to represent us said today.

on 'what's right with the SU?': i saw a poster today advertising the Health Week later on this month that Welfare Steph is organising. The list of planned events look good.

Cuckoo wrote:

I'm presuming that some of the officers might have gone along. Was there a push to publicise this amongst the rest of the union that i missed? Did anyone that we paid for to go to the junket at USI congress continue their "guys, i really, really want to represent your views" pledge once it stopped involving getting pissed in a hotel?

...Boycott.

BrenC wrote:

Most people in the SU are on it for the reference on their CV's in all honesty

one of the most common sentiments expressed - but there seriously isn't any CV-improvement benefits to involvement in SU - seriously, unless you want to go into politics or the media.

it can almost count against in a lot of jobs...

...Personal boycott

So, the greatest achievement of the SU is the couches, to be honest if I was given some money, say oh about 11,000 euro, and I bought couches instead of being a ****ing waster and were to put ask college to put them in the arts block, do you think there would be a complaint? Maybe if the SU stopped whining and did something helpful... no wait that's silly

SOL wrote:

So, the greatest achievement of the SU is the couches, to be honest if I was given some money, say oh about 11,000 euro, and I bought couches instead of being a ****ing waster and were to put ask college to put them in the arts block, do you think there would be a complaint? Maybe if the SU stopped whining and did something helpful... no wait that's silly

Final year BESS aren't allowed have more than 3 exams on consecutive days due to the work of the SU (class reps and convenors), that makes a big difference for a lot of people.

Sociology essays are allowed to be handed in until 4pm due to the work of class reps and convenors.

There is an agreement in place for the Sociology department not to insist on 2 essays being due on the same day due to the work of class reps and convenors.

That's just 3 things off the top of my head.